Chapter Four: Doctor's Orders

Hestia prepared for work early. Today was going to be slightly busier than yesterday had been at the office. As much as she tried to forget the events of last night, they seemed to continuously creep up over the duration of her day. What in the world was Oswald doing in their company anyways? He had seemed like a pretty good guy when she had initially spent time with him after their shared incidence outside of the restaurant only three years ago. She decided it was none of her business what he chose to do with his life, but she felt it was such a waste for him to get involved with the mob.

She even felt it a waste for her to help many of the late night patients that she received. Many of them continued to come and go with similar wounds each time until they eventually stopped showing up, or they would die in the alley behind her clinic before she could prep room for them, or they would die on her operating table. There seemed to be a cold going around lately too. It was especially common amongst those that she knew lived on the streets. Maybe she could write some sort of letter to revamp some of the homeless shelters to give them more room and better accommodations. She knew that is why the crime rate in Gotham was so high. There was not enough help for the less fortunate of the city, and because of this they often turned to other means of survival.

She had stopped to take her lunch around noon today, instead of just working throughout her whole day as she normally did. She couldn't help it today, she was starving and Chinese sounded very appetizing to her. She checked out with her nurses so that they knew she would be gone. She wasn't expecting any more appointments until two anyways. She had decided to wear much more comfortable shoes today, and she kept a quick pace as she walked towards the closest Chinese restaurant. It wasn't as busy as it normally was, which she was grateful. That meant she could get her food quickly and head back to the office.

Her eyes browsed the take out menu before she decided on a vegetable stir fry. She also ordered some egg rolls before sitting down in one of the waiting chairs. While she waited she examined the artwork upon the walls, her vivid green orbs finding it hard to focus on just one thing in particular. She had to concentrate on something though, otherwise memories would creep up on her again, and she couldn't have that. She had a hard enough time keeping happy during the day as it was. She didn't need to have to deal with those as well. She turned her attention to spinning the bracelet on her wrist and then to tapping her foot. Perhaps she should have called ahead with her order.

She could hear voices in the kitchen over the light music playing in the restaurant. The sound of clinking dishes and laughter in the dining hall let her know that there were indeed other customers for the chefs to prepare food for. She examined her finger nails and decided she would need to trim them tonight. They were getting too long for her liking, and she worried about them getting in the way of her work. After what seemed an eternity her name was called, and she quickly moved to the pick-up counter. She double checked her food before leaving the building. As she stepped out into the sun, it seemed as if she was on a completely different street. A woman was screaming nearby, and an officer was chasing down some man. Purse snatching, Hestia concluded after listening to the crowd around her. She decided not to become involved, given that no one seemed to be hurt.

She kept her eyes straight forward as she walked back towards her facility. She stopped briefly at the front desk to check for any messages left for her, and then headed to the break room. Her tongue clicked behind her teeth upon seeing two visitors in the room. One had their feet propped up on the table, and the other stood reading the cork announcement board against the wall. She stepped over to the first man and pushed his feet off the table. "People eat here, Mr. Zsasz. What do you two want anyways?" She asked as she turned to glare at the back of Oswald's head.

She stepped to the second table in the room and set her food down before washing her hands. So much for having an enjoyable lunch. She inhaled slowly to keep her calm and decided it was just best to listen than it was to attempt to throw them out. Zsasz continued to read the magazine he held in hands, but he moved his feet to place them on a chair nearby. Oswald pointed to one of the flyers in particular before looking over his shoulder at her. His face was contorted into a smile. "You're going to hold a vote so that your patients get to decide what color to change the waiting room walls to? That is quite endearing. It must make them feel so welcome."

She twirled her chopsticks between her fingers as she kept her calm. "Well, it is a waiting room, and they are the ones that tend to wait in there, so I decided that I would let them pick the color they have to stare at. I am sure they would prefer something more than the white that I currently have out there." She took a bite of her vegetable stir fry and chewed slowly as she glanced between the two men. "Now, what do you want?"

Oswald took a seat across from her. "I came as a friend to speak to you. I really think you should rethink the deal with Don Falcone."

She rolled her eyes. "Of course they sent you here. Are you supposed to scare me? Threaten me?" She stuck her chopsticks abruptly into her stir fry before placing her hands upon the table. "Because I am not accepting that deal. It is not who I am as a doctor to decline service to others simply because of their bosses' feuding. It is no business of mine if they cannot get along with each other. I do not want that money, I just want to treat my patients and stay out of it."

Zsasz turned the page of his magazine and grunted in an interested tone before changing over the position of his feet. Oswald continued to smile at her, but his eyes looked sideways towards Zsasz before he made eye contact with her. "But I am sure running this place gets expensive—"

"I make due, Oswald. It does get tough around here but we always make due." She took up her chopsticks to continue eating. "Would you like an eggroll? I am starting to get full." She asked. Perhaps it would change the subject. She held the bag up towards Oswald.

"Oh, thank you." He carefully slipped one out and took a bite. "Wow, these are pretty good. But what would be better is to know that my friend is being taken care of. Just think of how your patients could benefit from all the extra funds."

Hestia had had enough between last night's events and Oswald's faux friendliness. She stood abruptly and slammed her hands on the table before leaning in towards Oswald. "I will say this one more time, and I really want you to pay attention. I will NOT, I repeat, will absolutely FUCKING not accept the deal. I will continue to run my practice and care for my patients regardless if they are Maroni's or Falcone's or whoever the fuck else's people they may be. I am a doctor, and you—" she said as she jutted a finger out towards Oswald "you will tell Don Falcone that I said thank you for his generous offer, but I decline. That is that. I don't care how much he offers."

Zsasz had simply glanced over his magazine at the noise. He rose an eyebrow as a small grin appeared across his face. Oswald looked pleading at Hestia, his face full of concern. Instead of arguing with her he simply shuffled towards her and hugged her gently. She felt him slip something in her jacket pocket, but she decided it best not to check at the current moment. Oswald exited the room, leaving Hestia alone with the other man. He continued to read his magazine as she sat back down to continue eating. "Aren't you going to go with him?"

He shook his head, but continued reading his magazine. "You know, it is a shame that you are so stubborn. It would have been enjoyable to work with you, but unfortunately, I doubt Don Falcone will give me good news for you."

Hestia avoided looking at him as she slipped her hand into jacket pocket. She pulled out the paper, and it simply stated one word in loopy cursive. "Run." She heard a noise come from somewhere out towards the main desk, and she fixed her bun before checking the time. They wouldn't do anything at this time of day would they? They must know she has patients still coming for the day. Then it dawned on her. She remember the list of new patients starting at two o' clock. Franz. Albert. Louis. Carla. Owen. Nicholas. Edward.

She stood slowly and slipped off her jacket. She decided to make it look as if she was just simply hanging it upon the hook against the wall near the door. Once it was firmly on the hook, she tightened her grasp on the note. She carefully placed it into her mouth and she began to slowly chew it. The bitter taste of ink enveloped her tongue before she swallowed the small bit of paper. She didn't want Oswald to be in trouble too. She noticed many of the lunch bags from her nurses were gone for the day, and many of their badges hung up in their proper place.

She looked over towards Zsasz who was still skimming through his magazine, and then she decided her next course of action.