Author's note: Hi Everybody. Thanks for the reviews I got on the last chapter, for the three of you that reviewed. Again, thanks to Julie, my beta from Heaven.
DISCLAIMER: This chapter and upcoming chapters will deal with a very serious medical ailment, PTS. For this story, I have researched PTS, and the medications that treat it, extensively. All the information I give here is true. If there are any PTS survivors out there who feel that I have done this condition a disservice, please review or email me and let me know. Finally, this story should in no way be considered a diagnostic tool. If you feel that you or a loved one could be suffering from this disorder, please see a medical or psychiatric professional immediately!
***************************
PDA
Chapter 6: Doctors, Diagnoses and Documents
Lex Luthor stepped off the elevator at Chloe's floor. With a now familiar 'ding' the elevator's doors closed and Lex started walking towards Chloe's room. As he walked past the nurses station he nodded at the nurse he had told to watch Chloe for him. She raised her hand to signify that she had seen him and knew that she was officially relieved from guard duty. Lex was rounding a corner when he was suddenly ambushed bay a short, balding man wearing glasses and a white lab coat.
"Um, Mr. Luthor. I'm Dr. David Krause. I'm Miss Sullivan's physician." He held out his hand for Lex to shake.
Although Lex, as a rule, avoided a lot of personal contact, he reached out to shake the doctors hand. "Yes, Doctor. What can I do for you?"
The smaller man looked at Lex nervously and said, "Mr. Luthor. I wanted to let you know that for Miss Sullivan to leave the hospital, she must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. She is a minor."
"I understand that Dr. Krause, but as Chloe's father isn't here, I will be taking her home."
"Mr. Luthor, you can't do that. What I mean is, it is against hospital policy. We can not release Miss Sullivan to you without her parent's written consent."
"Well, that shouldn't be a problem. A few weeks ago, Gabe Sullivan signed over custody of Chloe to me. My attorney is faxing the paperwork over now."
"Oh, I see. Well then, I don't foresee a problem with you taking Miss Sullivan with you." The Doctor continued, "and as how you are Miss Sullivan's legal guardian, I need to discuss her care with you."
Lex looked at him, "Don't you think that you should wait until Chloe wakes up before assessing her condition?"
"That's just the point, Mr. Luthor. Miss Sullivan should be awake by now. As far as I can tell. She wasn't injured."
"What do you mean 'she wasn't injured?'"
"Just what I said. Miss Sullivan did not suffer a head injury in that car accident. She doesn't have swelling, hemorrhaging, or nerve damage. She doesn't even have a concussion."
"But what about that bruise on her forehead. It's huge."
"Superficial only. Listen to what I'm saying, Mr. Luthor. Chloe has dislocated shoulder, severe whiplash, and several cuts and bruises. What she does not have is a head injury."
"Then why hasn't she woken up?"
"That's what I'd like to know. I've called in a friend of mine, a specialist, Dr. Barnett." I'm hoping that after Miss Sullivan wakes up Dr. Barnett will confirm my suspicions."
"What are your suspicions?"
"I believe that Miss Sullivan is suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder."
"PTS?"
"So you've heard of it?"
"Not really. I took a psychology course in college and it was mentioned in the text. The professor didn't dwell on it though."
"Then let me enlighten you, Mr. Luthor. PTS can cause mood swings, anxiety, personality changes, nightmares, and flashbacks. In very severe cases, it will create an inability to function. The most common signs are increased fear and paranoia."
"How will Chloe be affected?"
"Every case is different. I can not tell you for sure how badly Miss Sullivan will be affected. What I can tell you is how it will be manifested. PTS focuses around the trauma itself. In her case, a car accident. Miss Sullivan may not be able to drive for awhile. She might not even be able to ride in a car unless sedated. In the worst possible scenario, Miss Sullivan will become a true agoraphobic, unable to leave the house."
Lex looked startled, but the doctor wasn't finished. "Her paranoia surrounding cars will also increase. She may not want you traveling in them There have been cases, where victims have destroyed cars to prevent their loved ones from driving. She may also become more violent. Or, possibly, develop an obsessive-compulsive habit such as hand washing. You'll also have to watch her for bulimia and anorexia."
"What?"
"Most people will PTS feel a loss of control. For young women, the only thing that they feel they have control over is their diet. Often, an eating disorder is just a way to gain control over one aspect of life: food."
"I see. Thank you, Dr. Krause. This has been very... enlightening. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go back and sit with Chloe."
"I'm sorry that I couldn't give you a more defined prognosis. Dr. Barnett is a psychiatrist. When she gets here she will be able to tell you more."
"I'm sure she will."
Lex walked down the corridor towards Chloe's room. When he reached it, he slipped inside and closed the door behind him. Lex sat on the edge of Chloe's bed. He looked at her.
"It's okay, Angel. I'm going to make everything all better."
Lex took out his cell phone and began to dial. *Ring....Ring* A groggy voice answered, "Hello?"
"Yeah, Joey, It's Lex Luthor."
"Man, Luthor! Do you know what time it is?"
"I know. Listen, Joey I need a document giving me custody of a minor."
"Christ, Lex what have you gotten yourself into now?"
"Never mind that, can you do it?"
"Custody papers, huh? Hmm. Something like that's gonna need a parent's signature. You have anything like that?"
"Tons. Evaluation reports, canceled pay stubs, interoffice memos."
"Good send me five or six samples for variation."
"Does that mean you can do it?"
"How soon you need it?"
"Two days. Maybe three. Any later that that and the people around here might wonder why I can't produce something that I've already told them I had."
"Right. Okay I need the name, date of birth and the social."
Okay. Chloe Sullivan. 6/11/85. I don't have her social, but she was born at Metropolis Hospital if that helps."
"It's all good. I'll get her birth certificate and just petition the Social Security office for a replacement card. No big deal."
"Great. Thanks Joe."
"Thanks are not necessary. Payment, however, is. My usual fee?"
"Plus a bonus if you step on it."
"No problemo, Luthor. Pleasure doing business with you."
"Bye, Joey."
Lex turned off the power to his phone. He didn't want to be disrupted right now. He settled into the bed next to Chloe. With her petite frame, there was room for two. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. As Lex drifted off to sleep he had only one thought. [This had better work.]
TBC
DISCLAIMER: This chapter and upcoming chapters will deal with a very serious medical ailment, PTS. For this story, I have researched PTS, and the medications that treat it, extensively. All the information I give here is true. If there are any PTS survivors out there who feel that I have done this condition a disservice, please review or email me and let me know. Finally, this story should in no way be considered a diagnostic tool. If you feel that you or a loved one could be suffering from this disorder, please see a medical or psychiatric professional immediately!
***************************
PDA
Chapter 6: Doctors, Diagnoses and Documents
Lex Luthor stepped off the elevator at Chloe's floor. With a now familiar 'ding' the elevator's doors closed and Lex started walking towards Chloe's room. As he walked past the nurses station he nodded at the nurse he had told to watch Chloe for him. She raised her hand to signify that she had seen him and knew that she was officially relieved from guard duty. Lex was rounding a corner when he was suddenly ambushed bay a short, balding man wearing glasses and a white lab coat.
"Um, Mr. Luthor. I'm Dr. David Krause. I'm Miss Sullivan's physician." He held out his hand for Lex to shake.
Although Lex, as a rule, avoided a lot of personal contact, he reached out to shake the doctors hand. "Yes, Doctor. What can I do for you?"
The smaller man looked at Lex nervously and said, "Mr. Luthor. I wanted to let you know that for Miss Sullivan to leave the hospital, she must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. She is a minor."
"I understand that Dr. Krause, but as Chloe's father isn't here, I will be taking her home."
"Mr. Luthor, you can't do that. What I mean is, it is against hospital policy. We can not release Miss Sullivan to you without her parent's written consent."
"Well, that shouldn't be a problem. A few weeks ago, Gabe Sullivan signed over custody of Chloe to me. My attorney is faxing the paperwork over now."
"Oh, I see. Well then, I don't foresee a problem with you taking Miss Sullivan with you." The Doctor continued, "and as how you are Miss Sullivan's legal guardian, I need to discuss her care with you."
Lex looked at him, "Don't you think that you should wait until Chloe wakes up before assessing her condition?"
"That's just the point, Mr. Luthor. Miss Sullivan should be awake by now. As far as I can tell. She wasn't injured."
"What do you mean 'she wasn't injured?'"
"Just what I said. Miss Sullivan did not suffer a head injury in that car accident. She doesn't have swelling, hemorrhaging, or nerve damage. She doesn't even have a concussion."
"But what about that bruise on her forehead. It's huge."
"Superficial only. Listen to what I'm saying, Mr. Luthor. Chloe has dislocated shoulder, severe whiplash, and several cuts and bruises. What she does not have is a head injury."
"Then why hasn't she woken up?"
"That's what I'd like to know. I've called in a friend of mine, a specialist, Dr. Barnett." I'm hoping that after Miss Sullivan wakes up Dr. Barnett will confirm my suspicions."
"What are your suspicions?"
"I believe that Miss Sullivan is suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder."
"PTS?"
"So you've heard of it?"
"Not really. I took a psychology course in college and it was mentioned in the text. The professor didn't dwell on it though."
"Then let me enlighten you, Mr. Luthor. PTS can cause mood swings, anxiety, personality changes, nightmares, and flashbacks. In very severe cases, it will create an inability to function. The most common signs are increased fear and paranoia."
"How will Chloe be affected?"
"Every case is different. I can not tell you for sure how badly Miss Sullivan will be affected. What I can tell you is how it will be manifested. PTS focuses around the trauma itself. In her case, a car accident. Miss Sullivan may not be able to drive for awhile. She might not even be able to ride in a car unless sedated. In the worst possible scenario, Miss Sullivan will become a true agoraphobic, unable to leave the house."
Lex looked startled, but the doctor wasn't finished. "Her paranoia surrounding cars will also increase. She may not want you traveling in them There have been cases, where victims have destroyed cars to prevent their loved ones from driving. She may also become more violent. Or, possibly, develop an obsessive-compulsive habit such as hand washing. You'll also have to watch her for bulimia and anorexia."
"What?"
"Most people will PTS feel a loss of control. For young women, the only thing that they feel they have control over is their diet. Often, an eating disorder is just a way to gain control over one aspect of life: food."
"I see. Thank you, Dr. Krause. This has been very... enlightening. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go back and sit with Chloe."
"I'm sorry that I couldn't give you a more defined prognosis. Dr. Barnett is a psychiatrist. When she gets here she will be able to tell you more."
"I'm sure she will."
Lex walked down the corridor towards Chloe's room. When he reached it, he slipped inside and closed the door behind him. Lex sat on the edge of Chloe's bed. He looked at her.
"It's okay, Angel. I'm going to make everything all better."
Lex took out his cell phone and began to dial. *Ring....Ring* A groggy voice answered, "Hello?"
"Yeah, Joey, It's Lex Luthor."
"Man, Luthor! Do you know what time it is?"
"I know. Listen, Joey I need a document giving me custody of a minor."
"Christ, Lex what have you gotten yourself into now?"
"Never mind that, can you do it?"
"Custody papers, huh? Hmm. Something like that's gonna need a parent's signature. You have anything like that?"
"Tons. Evaluation reports, canceled pay stubs, interoffice memos."
"Good send me five or six samples for variation."
"Does that mean you can do it?"
"How soon you need it?"
"Two days. Maybe three. Any later that that and the people around here might wonder why I can't produce something that I've already told them I had."
"Right. Okay I need the name, date of birth and the social."
Okay. Chloe Sullivan. 6/11/85. I don't have her social, but she was born at Metropolis Hospital if that helps."
"It's all good. I'll get her birth certificate and just petition the Social Security office for a replacement card. No big deal."
"Great. Thanks Joe."
"Thanks are not necessary. Payment, however, is. My usual fee?"
"Plus a bonus if you step on it."
"No problemo, Luthor. Pleasure doing business with you."
"Bye, Joey."
Lex turned off the power to his phone. He didn't want to be disrupted right now. He settled into the bed next to Chloe. With her petite frame, there was room for two. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. As Lex drifted off to sleep he had only one thought. [This had better work.]
TBC
