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Dr. Kate wiped the slight frown on her face as she re-read what Tamara wrote down as Mr. Oswald's symptoms.
The young woman was known to exaggerate, so Kate was determined to clarify things with Leon face to face before she made any assumptions.
"Hello again, Mr. Oswald." She idly noted that his leg continued to bounce a little. She noted down 'jittery' to the list of symptoms. "How are you feeling this morning?"
He felt like he was waiting for his death sentence.
"...Fine, aside from the symptoms previously mentioned."
Kate shifted her feet and made sure to keep the conversation casual. "About your symptoms..." her periwinkle eyes looked down to the clipboard, missing the tenseness of Leon's shoulders. Kate read the 'fuzzy tummy feelings ;P ' written by Tamara and re-worded it in her head. "You are experiencing stomach problems?"
He nodded.
"And have you experienced any vomiting or diarrhea?"
He gave a slow shake in the negative. She noted that down.
"Have you noticed a pattern when these stomach issues occur?"
He nodded, his face grave.
"Is it when you eat?"
He stayed still as he thought about it. Most times, it occurs long after eating... Curious. He had not noted that. So could it still be food related? The idea that it wasn't food related made him more nervous.
"No."
"So it's unlikely to be food allergies," she said to herself. "It says here..."she paused to translate Tamara's words, "that you experience shortness of breath and sweaty palms. Is that correct?"
"Yes."
"Rapid pulse."
"Yes."
"Trouble falling asleep as well as having a full night's worth of rest."
"Most nights."
Her pencil paused over Tamara's diagnostic with little hearts around it. Kate had thought her being ridiculous when she burst out laughing about it, but the more Kate talked with Leon, she was starting to wonder.
I cannot believe I'm going to ask this...
"...would you say the stomach feeling..." her pencil tapped the clipboard a few times, "would you describe it as, oh I don't know...like getting sucker punched right in the gut?"
When Leon suddenly straightened up, she felt her jaw beginning to unhinge, but the professional side of her kept it closed.
"Yes," he said with a decisive nod.
"...a sort of fluttering sensation as well?"
Leon blinked. He hadn't thought of it like that, but now that she mentioned it, it was like that. The corner of Kate's mouth twitched. Leon sobered upon seeing it.
"What is the matter with me?" He grimly asked. "Is it life threatening?"
Her mouth twitched again. "Potentially," she half squeaked out before she cleared her throat. "But if you go through the treatments correctly, it will be life enriching."
That had him confused, but he gave a slow nod to it anyways.
"So, Mr. Oswald, when you experience these symptoms, are there certain people around?" She gave her throat another clearing in an attempt to get rid of the laughter that wanted to come out. "Or even if you're thinking of the same person - or persons - during these reactions?"
This doctor was incredible. She deserves a raise or bonus for her accuracy and acute mind.
"Yes."
She suddenly looked down at the clipboard and started writing. "Now Mr. Oswald, I'm going to give you a simple instruction that is vital for you to do the next time you experience these symptoms." She folded the note and handed it to him. "Do this to the person- or persons- that are around during these reactions."
He did not take the paper yet. "These symptoms...they are not dangerous?"
She couldn't help it, she chuckled. "Some might say they are, but most everyone experiences them at some point in their lives." When he gave a light frown, she added, "As a professional speaking, I say that you are ok, Mr. Oswald. This is normal."
A few seconds passed and then he took the paper.
"I shall follow this instruction," he vowed, and then left the room.
Kate shook her head and laughed to herself. In all her life, she had never diagnosed a 22 year old man with the love bug...If it weren't for the doctor-client privacy, she'd tell Jerry in a heartbeat.
"Well, you were right Tamara."
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AN: My my, Dr. Kate. What did you instruct?