Chapter 12

It had taken some time and a lot of patience, but Ray and Emily finally were zipping through Chicago's streets to her doctor's appointment. Ray kept glancing at her, her anxiety not lost on him.

"Em, like I said, you're going to be fine."

"I know!" Emily snapped back, a little too harshly, even for her own standards. "I know," she continued, "I just need some time to think, okay?"

"Sure, sure, no problem," Ray said as he coasted to a stop at a red light. He flipped the radio on. The music transported both of them into their own separate worlds.

When Ray pulled up the building, he saw Emily stiffen. Remembering her reaction earlier, he decided to let it go. He drove around into the parking lot, and searched for an empty space. He unbuckled himself and opened his door, then walked around to help Emily. He took her by the arm and guided her toward the lobby, allowing her to lean on him when she needed to stop and breathe for a moment.

"Do you remember which office she's in?" Ray asked as he scanned the directory.

"No, just that it's the fifth floor."

"Aha! Found it. Room 525."

They made their way to the elevator. They stood in silence as the buttons lit up with each passing floor. When the bell dinged and the doors opened, they disembarked, turning left.

"519, 21, 23," Ray mumbled, scanning the numbers on the doors. "525."

He opened the door and held it open for Emily, who collapsed on the nearest chair. He walked up to the receptionist.

"Hi, Emily's here for her 3:00," he said to the woman. She consulted her patient list.

"Right! Emily Barnett, 3:00. Just sign in right here," she pointed to a clipboard, "And a nurse will call her in a little while."

"Thanks," Ray said as he turned back to sit with Emily. She rested her head on his shoulder as he sat down next to her. The same shoulder, he thought to himself, that Neela was touching not even a half an hour ago. They waited in silence. Ray looked around the waiting room. It was clearly a pediatrician's but without quite as many building blocks and toddler books. He surveyed the other people sitting on the various chairs and couches. Some were probably parents, others were other patients waiting to be seen. He looked down at his shoulder. Emily's eyes were closed.

"Emily? Emily Barnett?" a nurse called from the door, reading off a chart. Ray touched Emily's knee, letting her know it was time to get up.

"Right here," he called out, answering for her. Emily opened her eyes, seeming to take a few minutes to orient herself.

"Come follow me," the nurse said. She reminded Ray of Sam, but her hair was darker and she looked a little bit older. "Okay," she said as she showed them into an exam room. Emily clambered on to the table, and then sat down beside her on a chair. The nurse flipped open her chart and placed it on the counter next to the sink. "I'm Jessica, by the way. And you…?" she trailed off, looking back down at the chart, "Are her brother Ray," she finished, looking at him.

"Doctor, actually, Dr. Ray Barnett. I'm an ER doc at County," Ray said, extending his hand. Jessica shook it.

"So, Emily," she continued, "I see you've had a case of mono, and you're just here for a follow-up. Why don't you change into this," she took out a gown from a cabinet and handed it to her, "And we'll come back and get some vitals out of you." Jessica and Ray both left the room.

Slowly Emily began to undress. Just calm down, okay? She tried to tell herself. This is no big deal. Just relax! She always hated being at the doctor. When she was little, she'd always be the patient that would scream at the top of her lungs whenever anyone approached her with any kind of needle. She remembered with a smile when Neela had taken her blood a few days ago in the ER. It had taken every ounce of self-restraint not to kick and scream and cry like in the old days. Now it looks like you're going to have to do the same thing again.

A knock at the door jolted her from her thoughts. "How're you doing?" Jessica's voice called to her.

"Done!" Emily said back. The door slid open.

"You know the drill; blood pressure, temp, pulse, and resps. Then we'll measure and weigh you. Your brother's going to wait outside until the doctor comes in."

"Okay," Emily said softly, allowing Jessica to conduct her tests.

After a little while, Emily had had her vitals taken. She'd loosened up a little bit, but her palms were still sweaty as the promise of needles hung in the air.

"I'll let your brother know we're done, and send him in," Jessica said as she made a few more notes in her chart. She capped her pen and left.