Hey, so all these glitchy changes with Fanfiction.net have apparently interfered with some of the reviews for this story. Specifically, someone who reviewed my story twice this past weekend (once at chapter 2 and again at chapter 19), never got the reviews to post. I just wanted to let you know that I did receive your kind words through my e-mail and you really made me blush. I'm really glad that you have enjoyed my story so far (even if reading it did make you late to your appointments). I have really enjoyed writing it. Thank you to you (I'm sorry I don't remember your handle) and everyone else for the reviews. Y'all rock!
Gallant didn't get much sleep that night and when he walked into the ER for his 9 a.m. shift, his incessant holding in of yawns, caused him to tear up.
"Hey Gallant, growing young boy like yourself miss his 8:00 bedtime last night?" Jerry teased while stuffing the last bit of a cinnamon roll into his mouth.
"Something like that." was the only answer he could muster. It wasn't like Gallant to be unkind but lately he had found himself less willing to but up with the insults he received from his coworkers. He grabbed a couple of charts and went off speedily to the Exam 2 bed. Opening the curtain he saw a handsome looking man in his mid-twenties. The patient's chart told of "flu-like" symptoms but one look at this patient and Gallant knew there was something more going on.
"Mr. Leonard, how long have you been HIV+?"
"Um… about six moths doctor. But I-I think I have already been, uh, helped." He stammered nervously. Though they appeared the same age, he was clearly uncomfortable speaking with Gallant. Sometimes the hospital coats are enough to scare them Michael heard Romano's voice in his head. Other times, I feel the need to do it on my own.
Trying to establish a more comfortable report, Gallant continued, "You play hockey?" Gallant kept his head in the chart as if this question were just as important as any medical question he could have asked.
"Used to."
"What position?"
"D."
"You look too small for defense."
"Well like I said, I used to. You look to small for doctoring."
"Yeah, well I stood on my tip-toes to pass the gate. Shh… don't tell." Gallant looked up at the patient and the patient smiled back. The patient then took a methodical glance up and down the doctor's body. Gallant recognized the visual checking-out he had received but he wasn't offended. In actuality it make a welcome change to be misjudged as gay over being misjudged as an incapable med-student.
Gallant looked down at the chart again, "are you taking the triple cocktail?
"No."
"AZT?"
"No."
Gallant put down his chart and looked him dead in the eyes. "Have you sought any medical assistance for your disease?"
"I am now."
"Fair enough" Gallant answered picking up the chart. "I am going to go ahead and prescribe…"
"Dr. Gallant," a loud voice rang out from behind him, cutting him off. It caught him so off guard that he dropped the chart and pad he was writing on. "I can take it from here, Michael. Go ahead and see if you can be some assistance to Carter."
"Yes Dr. Weaver," he answered gathering his stuff off the floor. He handed the chart over to Kerry and whispered, "I'd like to speak with you when you get the chance."
"Certainly Michael. I will meet you in my office in about an hour, ok?"
"Yes. Dr Weaver. And Mr. Leonard…" he turned his attention back to the patient, "don't be afraid to ask for help."
"Thank you Dr. Gallant." The patient said honestly before noticeably slipping back against his bed, withdrawing again.
Gallant left the Exam room and checked to see that the board was relatively under control before slipping into the lounge and calling Dr. Romano.
"Hello." Romano answered roughly.
"Sorry sir, I didn't mean to wake you."
"There are few things I would rather wake up to. So tell me Watson, everything in order?"
"Watson? Sir."
"Sherlock Holmes…. Tell me you've read The Speckled Band."
"No sir."
"The Hound of the Baskervilles?"
"No, Sir. Sorry. But I've heard of that last one.
"What is our educational system coming to?" Romano muttered under his breath before continuing aloud, "The point, Dr. Gallant, is… are you prepared?"
"Yes Sir. I have a meeting with Kerry in an hour."
"Private location?"
"Her office."
"Excellent."
"I thought you might like that."
"I'll be expecting an update when you are through."
"Of course Sir. Now about the other ways you would prefer to be woken up…"
"Goodbye Dr. Gallant." Robert cut him off.
"Goodbye Sir." Gallant answered before hanging up the phone with a smile.
Gallant knocked lightly on the door and waited for Weaver's permission to enter her office.
"Michael, you have impeccable timing. I was just finishing up some notes on Romano's triple-bypass from last week. Can you sign off on these?" Weaver asked casually passing the chart across her desk to Gallant.
"Actually I wanted to talk with you about that. I am felling a little uneasy about signing off on these charts."
Weaver looked up from her desk and at Gallant for the first time since he walked in. She leaned back in her chair. "What is troubling you?"
"Well, when I first started with Romano I had thought it would make sense for my name to be in charts. I was on a voluntary rotation. It didn't even really bother me when the two of you asked me to sign off on patients that I never assisted with. But now that I will be moving back down to the ER permanently I am concerned with the paper trail I am creating."
"Michael, I understand your hesitation. But I think this is something you should take up with Romano."
"Oh… I'm sorry. I thought with your being Chief of Staff that you were the superior in these matters."
"Well, that's true."
"I mean everything Romano has done has been under your close supervision and approval, right?"
"Yes, when you put it that way. It's true that he wouldn't be practicing at all if I hadn't allowed it. But Michael this is a delicate situation. And you and Romano have developed a relationship that goes beyond the hospital's chain of command. I think you should talk to him."
"Maybe you're right." He finished signing the chart she gave him and passing it back to her. He stood to leave. "Thank you Dr. Weaver."
"Oh, you're welcome Michael." She answered looking back down to her charts, "feel free to stop by if you have any other concerns."
"Oh, I will Ma'am. I will."
After hanging up with Gallant Romano busied himself with reviewing his e-mail box. He created a file on his desktop with those messages that mentioned specifically County General and/or Dr. Weaver. He hadn't realized how easy it was going to be to associate Weaver with his work. He thought for a moment that he might have enough even without Gallant's efforts. "But better safe than sorry," he said aloud, leaning down and rubbing Gretal's ears forcefully.
Romano was surprised when Gallant didn't call after his meeting with Weaver. And when Gallant didn't respond to his pages Romano found he was getting angry with him. Luckily Gallant was able to clear everything up when he came directly to Romano's home after his shift ended. This time it was Gallant who had a plan.