Man, this has just been rough so far. Writer's block and not being home (no, I don't tote my laptop everywhere I go) is a contributing factor. I can give you two updates for this little miniseries.

A/N: Here's the first of the two updates. I told you that this would take a while. I'm probably going to be working on this more in addition to tackling my list. Without further ado, here's what I think will be the shortest chapter in terms of word count. Oh, and this is also the first chapter that isn't entirely in Elena's perspective.

Awkward Exam with My Ex

(Alternate title: Exes and X-rays)

It was awkward, to say the least. Two of the teachers had gotten sick. Ross' instructor got sick, but was back within 3 days. Sophie's instructor was a bit sicker and took a few weeks. I learned that Dr. Clark was expecting her third child. I'm glad I've got Brooke, though.

"What day is it?" I asked Brooke. We were just watching stuff on TV. I don't know how she liked Pretty Little Liars (I haven't figured that show out), but I didn't complain.

She looked at me after turning off the remote. "Monday. Ley, what's wrong?" I took a breath before standing up.

"I'm gonna call aunt Susan and see how the twins are doing," I said. She didn't have to know the full details.

(Monday night)

I decided to call her like I said, but I didn't get an answer the last time. I dialed the landline. "Hello?" aunt Susan said, yawning afterwards.

"Hey. I got your text ...a little over two weeks ago. A lot of stuff happened. A ...friend of ours went into the hospital. Anyway, I didn't quite get your text. What did you mean to 'expect a call'?" She asked me if I was okay. "I'm fine," I lied effortlessly. "Is Uncle Frank up?"

I heard her to tell me to wait for a little bit. I barely heard her say that I was calling. "I'm going to get some milk from the fridge," I heard. I knew she pumped milk.

"Hey. Elena, I ...read your note," uncle Frank began. Oh boy. My skin was beginning to crawl. "I. ...I'm sorry. I just assumed, but I shouldn't have. Especially because of how quiet they were."

I soaked that all in, holding back a sarcastic response. "It took me a few days to do it, but I forgive you. I just... wasn't expecting to be compared to my dad by you of all people," I said, with a little bit of venom on that last part.

There was such a long pause that I thought he hung up. "I ...I understand your frustration. Elena, I've loved you ever since I held you on the day you were born. When your mother died, I didn't know what to think. ...and then until you told me what you learned from Jean about her relationship with Harlan... I had no idea. You could've stayed in Chicago, you know," he said.

Oh, I know that. I have known. "Yeah, but I didn't because that one day you weren't there, Pat made sure I didn't get taken into DSS custody or moved to North Carolina," I said. *

"Okay," he said. "I actually emailed the leading surgeon. I was worried because we hadn't heard from you. He said he'd send over any X-rays. You know you were mine, right?"

My goodness. The number of things that sounded wrong with that question. "Yeah. I do. Alright," I said, looking over my shoulder and clenched my fist. "I'll probably be back by Saturday. Maybe. Goodnight." I ended the call and faced my best friend.

"So, how'd your talk go?" she asked.

I pocketed my phone and crossed my arms. "How much did you hear?" **

Brooke looked at me, as if in disbelief. "Do you think I'd eavesdrop?"

"Dammit, Brooke," I said with a bit of a growl. "I know you would."

She sighed. "Okay, okay. Easy," she said. I really didn't want to calm down. "I heard you saying something about your dad."

She placed a hand on my shoulder. "Sorry, I just. ...I don't know. I guess I'm a bit nervous about these next few days. Mostly tomorrow with Ross," I began as we walked in.

We were mostly quiet as Brooke let me calm down as we got ready for bed. As much as both of us would be up later than what we normally are (and it's only midnight), we had a long day ahead of us.

(Tuesday, June 20. 9AM)

I sighed as I got ready. I was ready to go in my own car to drive to the campus and Brooke stopped me. "Brooke," I began, not sure what to say.

"I'm going with you for moral support and you don't know if Ms. Cohen will show up," she said and I raised a brow. She licked her lips. "Ms. Cohen is my instructor."

I thought it over briefly. "Okay, but we're still going in my car," I said as I tossed her the keys, which she just barely caught.

(Meanwhile on campus. Ross's perspective)

I was so nervous. Didn't get a lot of sleep. You're probably wondering if I'm studying solely to be an X-ray technician. Well, I'm not sure yet, but I was randomly enrolled into the course and got this. Will I work at a dentist's office? I don't know. I look over my appearance in the bathroom. I'm wearing charcoal gray scrubs. Thank God, I'm allowed to wear a short-sleeved scrub top. I take a breath and put my casual clothes in the locker. I've got two people before Elena and the first one has already arrived.

'Guess I'm traveling the body in a way of sorts this morning, aren't I?' I thought to myself. Stay focused. Gotta do that. "Hey there," I said. "Caleb, right?" he nodded.

"You'll have to forgive my son," a woman with him said. Caleb was young and would be my first pediatric patient in a while. I just said, "Yes," without a second thought.

Ngh. Where was she? "Mister Alexander, you seem perplexed. Your first patient of the morning is here."

Stress. Breathe. "I am unsure if Mrs. Cox is permitted to accompany her son," I said honestly. Caleb was only 7 or 8 and his mom had every right to be concerned.

"Oh, I think you know how to answer that," Ms. Davis said and I nodded. She was right. I just had to find the words so I wouldn't end up putting my foot in my mouth.

"It shouldn't take long. When you're ready, Caleb, you can come follow me through this door," I said and on the other end was Mr. Davids.

I felt a beat of nervousness go through me. Before I had Caleb lay back on the X-ray table, I thought I'd talk to him. "You're not being timed, you know," Mr. Davids said to me. To Caleb, he said, "It might seem like forever, but it should be really fast."

Caleb nodded. "So, how'd you hurt your arm there, Caleb?" I asked.

"I got into a fight with my brother Kent," was his reply. "He's bigger than me. I've always been the smallest."

I chose to say nothing as I processed his words. I had to pass. "Well, why don't you get on the table and let's see if you broke anything," I said to him and he nodded. With a little help from me, I got him onto the table. I did take note that he had been rubbing his elbow.

It didn't take long, but Mr. Davids would have to look at it. He did give me the go-ahead to take the lead protection off Caleb. ***

Then we'd have to wait for Dr. Ellis to give him the diagnosis. Caleb had mixed reactions to getting a cast, but that was no longer in my hands. I had to move on to my next patient. "Jennifer Stephens?" I called and a young woman (25 if I had to guess) stood up, reluctantly agreeing to get into the wheelchair.

"Sorry about this," Jennifer said. I maintained a neutral expression. There are questions that you're usually not supposed to ask a woman: how old she is, how much she weighs and if she's pregnant. In my case, I only have to know the first one and the last one.

I smiled. "I'm required to ask these questions. State your name and date of birth?" I asked.

"Jennifer Stephens. August 29, 1992," she said calmly.

I made sure that the information was right and so was my guess. "Okay. Is there any chance you could be pregnant?" I asked.

"No," she said. ****

I nodded, relieved that that was short-lived. I put the lead protection on her and it turned out that I was X-raying her leg and hip. Oh boy. This wasn't going to be easy, but I knew I could get it done. After I made my way out of there, I had to walk down the corridor and take a few turns here and there. I was handed Elena's file along the way and took a few deep breaths. I even looked at the notes. "Okay. Elena Sangster?" I said, trying to hide any feelings in my voice. I heard a moaning sound in pain.

"I don't think it'll interfere with anything. C'mon, Ley, at least let me help you stand up," and I felt my heart skip a couple beats. Brooke. What? Why?

No time for these questions. "Interfere with what?" Mr. Fleming asked.

I watched Brooke force a smile. "Oh. Um, Elena took some painkiller... there are so many," Brooke began and trailed.

Elena winced and said, "Motrin. Ungh. I think I'll need something stronger."

"Are you going to be able to stand up?" I asked. Elena looked at me, pain clear on her face. She just nodded and I looked to Mr. Fleming who remained motionless.

We were in a tight space, as it looked. If things weren't already awkward, then this is where they'd start. "I think we should get the standing up one over with. If memory serves, I think it's called a panoramic. Right?" she asked.

"I uh... Yeah. You're right. Our machine doesn't require you to hunch your back or anything. Just gotta stand straight and still," I said, putting her file down on the shelf. *****

Elena let out a bittersweet, pained laugh. "Hmph. I'd ordinarily joke about not being able to promise that. ...however, I'm being serious in this case."

I gently put the lead apron on her and told her where to position her head so she could bite down on the film. "Okay; this will take a minute at the max," I said and she gave me a thumb's up. I opened the door, went outside to the nearby panel and did what I needed to do. Good. Looks like it went through.

Now for the bitewings. She didn't need a full series, she just needed, "Okay, Elena. Before I uh, go on, you aren't feeling nauseous, are you?" I asked.

She looked at me. "Nah. Just in some pain," was her reply as she sat in the chair. Well, I'm not going to question how she did that maneuver with the lead apron on, so I just thought I'd get to my work and I grabbed a fresh set of gloves.

"You only need to have two on your left side and two on your right, so it should be quick," I said and she tried to smile, but winced. I noticed she was a little swollen and before I did anything, I had Dr. James look at Elena. (1)

I don't know how I got that lucky, but I didn't care. "Hmm. Miss Sangster, just how long has the swelling been present?" Dr. James asked.

"I know that it wasn't there a while ago. I just know I had some pain," Elena said. I got the X-rays done and over with, Dr. James gave her some ice and Brooke said she'd tell me more later.

...I just hope she'd be alright.

(Later that night)

I had gotten a text from Brooke as she explained today's earlier events. I decided to call her. I live in an apartment. "Hey," I said. "how's Elena?"

"A bit better. I finally got her to sleep. Ross. You won't believe this," she said.

Oh? "Try me," I said. I heard her swallow a lump in her throat and wondered what happened.

That's all you can do, Ross. Rundown time.

(*) I tried rewriting this line in my head or removing the last bit altogether. I couldn't do it. Small spoiler.

(**) Part one: yeah, that question could've been interpreted in so many ways. Part two: Elena has sass from both her parents.

(***) Don't know if guys [and I'm just stating my words] need less protection when it comes to X-rays.

(****) This happened to me once at a doctor's office, but the guy said, "but it's my job where at one point I have to ask all 3."

(*****) If you've ever had a panoramic dental X-ray, not all of them are that simple. Some of them require you to hunch your back, hold your arms out on something …or something like that.

Dr. James is an oral and maxillofacial surgeon.

End A/N: So, what'd you think? Is Elena coming down with something? What happened with Brooke? …only I know the answers to those and hopefully, there will be an update later this week. I was thinking Thursday or Friday, but I'm not sure.

As always, R and R, fave and follow (if you want), vote and ask. I guess that's it for now. Bye.

~Queen