I am trying to keep the medical science to this story as accurate as possible, but as I am only a C.N.A. and not a neurosurgeon please forgive the inaccuracies if they occur. I am learning a lot about back surgery and nerve regeneration, though!
Justifying the Means
"Hatred is gained as much by good works as by evil."
-Niccolo Machiavelli
"The end justifies the means."
-Niccolo Machiavelli
Chapter 3
"You're doing remarkably well, Simon." Dr. Thomas said. "In fact, I'd have to say you've been my best student yet."
"Thank you, sir." Simon tried not to blush as he scrubbed his hands vigorously. The surgery he had just assisted with had lasted twelve hours, and he was exhausted. It wasn't the first time he had assisted Dr. Thomas during a procedure, but it was his longest one yet.
"I think you're almost ready to try one on your own, Simon." Dr. Thomas told him, drying his own hands. "Your technique is flawless, and the stamina you showed in there…not many residents could handle that."
Simon froze, his hands dripping water in the sink. "What? Already?"
Dr. Thomas tossed the paper towel into the wastebasket and smiled at Simon. He was a stately looking man with iron-gray hair, and even though he was built like a football linebacker, when he smiled his face was kind. "I'm serious, Simon. Your control while assisting me with the installation of the titanium rods was remarkable. And your focus is amazing." Dr. Thomas looked at him encouragingly. "You're ready, Simon."
"But-"
"No buts, Simon. Doubt is something a doctor cannot afford to indulge in. You have to trust yourself." Dr. Thomas said, removing his disposable surgical gown and throwing it away in the biohazard bag. "Violet Carrington is due for a minor back surgery soon – nothing major, just a herniated disk. No nerve damage risks. It should be a four hour procedure, tops." The elder doctor opened his locker. "I'd be your assisting physician, of course, just in case there were any complications, but honestly…I don't think there will be."
"You really think I'm ready?" Simon asked.
"No doubts, remember that, Simon. You can't doubt yourself on an operating table." Dr. Thomas looked at him seriously. "You are ready."
Simon grinned. "Okay." Then his face fell. "Oh, no, doctor, I can't. I forgot-"
"Don't worry, Simon." Dr. Thomas patted him on the shoulder. "The surgery isn't scheduled for a month – a full week after you get back from your honeymoon."
"Oh, good." Simon sighed in relief.
"What is it now? Three more days until you tie the knot?"
"Yes." Simon couldn't believe how fast the months had gone. Three days was all he had left. "My bachelor party's tonight."
"That should be fun."
"I guess. I'm just so nervous, though…"
Dr. Thomas laughed and clapped him on the shoulder. "Don't worry, son. All grooms feel that way. You'll do fine."
The door opened to the hospital locker room, and Dr. Pryce walked in. "Hello, Simon." He said politely, nodding his head. "Dr. Thomas."
"Dr. Pryce." The elder doctor inclined his head the slightest bit.
Quentin Pryce was about as different from Francis Thomas as could be. Dr. Thomas was tall and broad, with a kind face and iron-gray hair, while Pryce was shorter – about 5'9", only a little taller than Simon. Pryce had a Mediterranean look to him, with his dark brown hair, olive skin and eyes that were almost black. He was slender and also quite a bit younger, and Simon knew for a fact that many of the female nurses found him attractive. "Nurse Jenkins told me you did an excellent job assisting Dr. Thomas in the O.R., Simon."
"He did perfectly." Dr. Thomas said. He closed his locker with a clang, tossing his suit coat over his shoulder. "I'll see you later, Simon. Again, great job."
"Thanks."
Dr. Thomas didn't say anything to Pryce on his way out. There was no love lost between the two surgeons, as they didn't meet eye to eye on just about anything, but Simon still couldn't help but admire the both of them. Dr. Thomas was teaching him so much, but Simon was unable to keep himself from wondering just what Quentin Pryce could teach him as well. Pryce's work was so groundbreaking, it was almost heart wrenching that he wasn't able to study it with him.
Dr. Pryce unlocked his own locker. "Jenkins even said that Dr. Thomas is thinking of letting you be the primary physician during the Carrington woman's back surgery. Is that true?"
"Boy, news sure travels fast around here." Simon said. "Yes, doctor. He says he thinks I'm ready."
"It's about time." Dr. Pryce said, neatly hanging his coat in his immaculate locker. "In my opinion, you would have been ready to do it today."
Simon frowned. "We were working on someone who had severe nerve damage in the lumbar area, Dr. Pryce." He told him. "Dr. Thomas though it would be better if I wait a while before working with such cases."
"But I thought that's where your interest lies…nerve reconstruction." Dr. Pryce looked at him critically. "I know that's what jumped out at me on your application."
"It is." Simon admitted.
Dr. Pryce closed his locker. "Simon." He said, turning back to him." I have to tell you…I was very disappointed when you chose to work with Dr. Thomas instead of me."
Simon squirmed uncomfortably. "Dr. Pryce, I really admire you, but-"
"I'm not trying to make you uncomfortable, Simon." Pryce told him gently. "Dr. Thomas is an excellent doctor and an exceptional teacher. But I think you have more potential than he realizes – or than you realize."
"He's already putting a lot of faith in me, doctor." Simon pointed out.
"And rightly so. But…I just hope you're not holding yourself back." Dr. Pryce hesitated. "I know you're already swamped, but I would feel remiss if I didn't at least offer you the opportunity…" Dr. Pryce looked at him hopefully. "I'm sure you've heard of the…legal difficulties I've had in the past. Completely groundless charges, I assure you…and I finally convinced the University to reinstate my research grant. I'm going to be continuing my work on reconstructive neural microsurgery. I start in three months." Dr. Pryce paused. "I can think of no better assistant physician to aid in my research than you."
Simon just stood there a moment, shocked. "But, sir, I've only been a resident for-"
"I know how long you've been working here, Simon. But I also know you're the most talented young physician I've ever seen." Dr. Pryce looked at him earnestly. "I'm not just flattering you, either, Simon. I've never seen anyone work as diligently as you have, not only to learn, but to learn, well, everything you can – and I've never seen you make a single mistake. You've made quite an impression on the staff here, Simon, whether you know it or not."
Simon couldn't help it this time, and he blushed. "Thank you, sir. But my residency requires me to –"
"I could work it out with the hospital so that you could use your hours working with me at the research facility to count towards your residency. You would still have to work here, and you'd be working even more hours than you are now…but you would be a part of something that could revolutionize the field of neurology."
It was so tempting…but he was already working so many hours, and he and Jeannette already were having trouble just struggling for time to see each other…"I don't know, sir. I'm flattered, but it's a lot to think about…and I'll have to talk to Jeannette."
"Oh, yes, you're getting married soon, aren't you?" Dr. Pryce smiled at him in a friendly way. "Congratulations."
"Thanks."
"Is it going to be a big wedding?"
Simon laughed a little. "No, very small. Just my close friends and family. Alvin's the one who's having the big wedding."
"Ah, yes." Dr. Pryce seemed to be amused. "I remember a little about your famous brother's antics. He would want the wedding of the century, wouldn't he?"
"Not just him, but his fiancé's just as bad. She seems to want to outdo Princess Diana's wedding, from the sound of it."
"But not you, right?" Dr. Pryce looked at him. "I'm betting you're just having your brothers as your groomsmen, right?"
"Actually, they're both the best man…uh, best men." Simon said. "I couldn't choose."
"I could see that being a problem." Dr. Pryce's gaze turned piercing. "Your other brother's name is Theodore, isn't it?"
"Yes."
"I thought so." Dr. Pryce said, almost to himself. "He's the one who had the accident some years back, isn't he?"
That brought back painful memories, and Simon pushed them away. "Yes."
"He's still in a wheelchair, isn't he? Paralyzed from the waist down, if I remember correctly. The nerves in his back were completely destroyed, weren't they."
Simon nodded solemnly. "Yes."
Dr. Pryce suddenly looked at his watch. "Goodness, look at the time. I've got to get going." He smiled at Simon and patted him gently on the shoulder. "Congratulations on your wedding again, Simon."
"Thank you."
"And please, think about my offer." Dr. Pryce said as he left the room. "I would love to have you on my team…Dr. Seville.
OoooOoooO
"Isabelle, you can not have blue hair if you are going to be in my wedding!"
Jeannette could almost see Isabelle glare at Brittany. "Why in bloody hell not? Are you going to make Eleanor dye her hair?"
Jeannette could hear Brittany sigh exasperatedly outside her dressing room. "Of course not, Belle. She's a natural blonde. Why would she dye her hair?"
"Maybe I'm a natural blue-hair and nature just didn't know it."
Jeannette grinned as she called out over the dressing room door. "I don't care if you keep your hair blue for my wedding, Belle. It'll even match the bridesmaid's dresses."
"Thanks, Jeannette!" Isabelle called back.
"Well, you're no help at all, Jeannette…I thought you'd at least be on my side." Brittany sounded annoyed. "Well? Are we going to see the finished project?"
Jeannette hesitated, looking at herself one last time in the mirror. She couldn't believe her dress was finally finished…after all the alterations, fittings, and countless hours of agonizing over just which dress to buy, it seemed amazing. It was finally happening. She was getting married.
"Blue hair is not appropriate-" Brittany was still arguing with Isabelle as Jeannette left the dressing room, but gasped as she saw her sister for the first time. "Oh, my!"
"Do you like it?" Jeannette spun around. She had based the idea for her wedding gown on the ball gown Audrey Hepburn had worn during the royal ball scene in My Fair Lady. The seamstress had done an exquisite job. It was nearly a perfect replica. The dress was made of pure-white silk, and a nearly transparent shimmering fabric clung to the silk gracefully. A tiara rested on her head, blue jewels dripping from it, and she wore long silk white opera gloves that came up past her elbows. The biggest difference from the Hepburn gown was the ice-blue gems that studded the transparent fabric that covered her upper chest, revealing nothing but suggesting everything.
"I…I…"Brittany seemed at a loss for words. "I never thought I'd say this, Jeannette, but I am so jealous of you right now I could kill myself."
Jeannette laughed. "Oh, Brittany, just wait until your wedding. I'm sure you'll outshine any bride there ever was."
Brittany's confidence started to return. "Of course I will."
Isabelle rolled her eyes. "Oh, brother."
Jeannette nearly laughed at the haughty look Brittany sent Isabelle's way. It was funny, that they had all bonded with Isabelle so well…well, it had taken Brittany some time, but once she had realized that the British punk girl wasn't a threat to her and Alvin she had warmed up considerably. In fact, within a year it was as if she and Isabelle had been friends for life. It had helped considerably when Isabelle had moved out of the Seville's and into her own apartment.
They still had an almost legendary verbal sparring contest going on, though. Jeannette thought it was because, though neither girl would like to admit it, they were just too much alike.
"I'd like you to know, Belle, that I was voted most beaut-"
"Hey, my wedding? Remember?" Jeannette felt it best to interrupt before it went any further. "Seriously, girls. What do you think?"
"You look beautiful, Jeannette." Eleanor assured her. She spun around then too, the blue silk of her skirt twirling around her elegantly. "And I love these bridesmaid's dresses. They're perfect."
"They sure are, pet." Isabelle said, glancing at Brittany. "They match everything perfectly."
Jeannette stifled a laugh. The blue silk did match Isabelle's hair to a tee. Unintentionally, of course, but she had a feeling she would never live it down. "I'm glad you like them."
"Of course we do." Eleanor assured her. The Chippette looked at herself in the three-way mirror critically. "The only thing is…how are we going to tell the maids of honor from the bridesmaid?"
Isabelle barked a laugh. "This has got to be the only wedding I've ever heard of with two maids of honor and only one bridesmaid."
"I couldn't choose between my sisters, Belle." Jeannette said. "So I just decided you'd all wear the same gowns…except for these."
Jeannette walked carefully over to her purse. She didn't want to trip in the white satin pumps she was wearing. More and more she was considering just buying a pair of flats – she could just see herself falling down as she walked towards the judge during their ceremony.
"Here." She handed each of the girls a silk-lined box. "It's traditional to give the bridesmaids gifts, so I got these for you. I hope you like them."
Isabelle gasped as she opened her box. Inside laid a necklace, the chain made of platinum and the gem hanging from it a dazzling topaz. "Oh, Jeannette, I can't take this…"
"I can." Brittany said, already fastening the necklace about her neck. Her jewel was a radiant ruby. "It's beautiful, Jeannette. I love it."
Eleanor's pendant was, to no one's surprise, an emerald that shone like green fire. She just held it in her hand, speechless.
"Do you like them?" Jeannette asked.
She was answered by a breath-taking hug from Isabelle. "It's the most wonderful gift I've ever gotten in my life." Isabelle smiled shyly. "Other than you and Brittany including me in your weddings, of course."
"Oh, that's nothing, Belle." Brittany replied, smiling. "You're like a sister now."
Isabelle suddenly hugged her too. "Thanks, Brittany."
Brittany looked surprised. "For what? Jeannette's the one who bought the gifts."
"I've never really had a family." Isabelle admitted, her eyes looking down shyly. "It's nice…feeling like I have one."
"That's what weddings are all about, Belle." Eleanor told her warmly. "Family."
Jeannette grinned. "Yeah. Family."
"Hey!" Brittany protested. "That's not what weddings are all about."
Jeannette looked at her curiously. "Then what are they about?"
"Get out of that dress and I'll show you." Brittany had a very Alvin-like twinkle in her eye.
"Brittany…"
"Weddings are also about…" Brittany smiled widely. "Bachelorette parties!"
Jeannette looked alarmed. "But, Brittany, I told you –"
"You didn't really expect us to not have a party for you, did you?" Isabelle said, shaking her head ruefully.
"You were in on this too?" Jeannette asked incredulously.
"Of course. And believe me." Isabelle winked at her. "Between me and Brittany, we have got the most amazing party you have ever been to planned for tonight."
Brittany nodded. "You are going to have the time of your life."
Jeannette wondered about that. Brittany and Isabelle…planning a Bachelorette party? It was a recipe for disaster.
Uh-oh.
End of part 3Thanks for the reviews. There is a lot of prologue to this story, which I hope people enjoy, because this is kind of even more of a character story than Neptune's Ocean.
Hugs to you all!
Pyxelle.
