Flame Series #18: Physician Heal Thy Self

Chapter 10

Let's Talk

Calleigh dismounted and tossed Belle's reins over the rail. She was glad that Poppy had decided to watch the kids at her house. They sure didn't need to see their mother in her present condition. A wicked smile would not be suppressed, as she thought of Matt. He was going to have his hands full. Thank heaven she was out of that chaos.

The screaming started, the second she opened the front door. Hadley was rushing toward her from the hall, like a miniature redheaded banshee—screaming with arms up and outstretched. "Sissy! Hewwy, hewwy, get me!"

Cooper was hot on her tail, shadowed by a very beleaguered Poppy. "Calleigh don't pick-"

It was too late. Hadley was safely off the ground and in her sister's arms. The pandemonium had erupted straightaway, not giving Calleigh a chance to assess the situation. She didn't have time to notice the 'brown substance' on the girls face and hands, or that her clothes were wet. Both of those things became glaringly obvious, once she had scooped her up.

The boy heaved an adult-sized sigh, while Poppy just shook his head. It was Cooper that began to explain. "Poppy and me were brushing Toga in the barn and Hadley…" He paused for a second, taking the story on a short detour. "You remember that bucket and shovel that she got for Easter last year?"

Calleigh's eyes began to water and she held up a finger to halt the story. Slipping her hands under the little girl's arms, she held her out for a closer look. Despite the brown smudges and horrendous smell, the grin was as innocent as ever.

"I got dewty."

Calleigh looked down at her own clothes. "Looks like you got us both dirty, baby girl." She returned the girl to her hip and turned her attention back to the exhausted babysitter. "Poppy, I have some clothes in the guest bedroom. If you will get them and something for this little ragamuffin, I think we could both use a bath."

DocCalleighDocCalleighDocCalleigh

Calleigh quietly made her way to the kitchen and headed straight for the coffee. "She's down for a nap. Looks like you two had your hands full today."

Doc stretched back in the sturdy oak chair as much as possible. "That little dickens is so fast. One minute, she was sitting on the ground next to us watching and before I knew it, she was in the corner, shoveling manure into that little bucket."

"How did she get wet?" The two were swept up in a fit of laughter.

His brows arched high and he rolled his eyes as he went on with his story. "I made the mistake of saying she was going to need a bath and she headed straight for the horse trough around back." He started to get up, but dropped back down in the chair. "Think you could warm this up for me?"

Calleigh was quick to comply. "You look tired, Poppy." She sat the fresh brew in front of him. "Are you getting enough rest?"

He knew her question was innocent enough, but it hit that sore spot that had been festering. "What are you trying to do, put me out to pasture!"

"Poppy, don't go all cranky on me. I'm just worried about you." Calleigh reached across the table, placing her hand over his. It wasn't a good time to tell him about Kitty, but she had to know what happened. She reached into her pocket and pulled out the little box she'd found in her mother's reticule. "Did you mix this up for Kitty?"

He took the box and turned it over in his fingers. "Yes. She came back to my room this morning and asked me for something for her headache." He sat the box down on the table, giving it a shove toward Calleigh. "Why are you asking about this?"

Trying to be as concise as possible, Calleigh described Kitty's behavior at the restaurant. "I think she was drugged."

The older man stared at his protégé. Was he suddenly angry because she was accusing him, or was it because he thought she might be right? "You think I… I mixed up the wrong powder? After four decades, you think I can't mix together a harmless concoction of headache powder!"

Calleigh was startled when he jumped up from his chair. "Just come with me, young lady. I'll show you what I put in that powder!"

Every step she took was weighted down with dread. There had to be an acceptable explanation and her Poppy mixing the wrong ingredients was not one of them.

Doc opened the cabinet and pulled out the small bottles. He announced the name printed on each bottle as he placed them out on the counter one by one. "Phenacetin. Sodium bicarbonate. Bromids and Caffeine!"

He folded his arms and leaned back against the cabinet with a surly expression. Something in her eyes robbed him of his confidence. Calleigh couldn't pull her focus from the bottles. "Poppy, this is what you mixed up?"

"Yes, I always keep them together for this very purpose." Doc was confused by the fear emanating from those cool blue eyes.

There was the slightest trembling in her hand as she reached out for the bottle on the end. Pinching the small glass container between her fingers, she brought it closer, to read the small print. "Poppy… this isn't caffeine."

Shock rippled through the older man's features. He took the bottle from her hand and carefully read the word aloud. "Cocaine? It…it says…cocaine." His body went numb and his useless fingers could no longer hold the bottle. Calleigh quickly caught the small glass before it hit the ground.

He staggered back, dropping into the chair beside his desk. "I... I don't know how I could have…" Words failed him, as he stared at the small bottle. His chest rose with a heavy breath, as he pulled his gaze up to the young physician. Fear crept down her spine, its icy tentacles worming its way through her body, as she stared into his faded gray eyes. It was like the man she had loved all of her life was gone, washed away in a sea of fear and shame.

In those few seconds, he had aged a decade. Even his voice had become feeble. "It really is happening. Is she all right?" The only emotion he still maintained was his concern for Kitty.

Calleigh dropped to her knees in front of her beloved Poppy. "She's going to be fine. There was no harm done." She instantly wished to rescind those words, when his old body stiffened and he sucked in a sharp breath.

"Primum non nocere," He whispered.

Newly would have been the only other person to recognize the Latin phrase: First, do no harm. "Poppy, there's an explanation for this. I know there is. You wouldn't make a mistake like this."

Skilled hands that had weathered forty years of service, rose slowly to rub his weary eyes. "Calleigh, I need you to leave. I need… time to…to think."

"No. I'm not leaving you alone." She spoke without hesitation.

All of his fears and anxieties were bubbling to the surface. "I said go! I don't want to talk about this anymore!" He pushed her away and pulled himself up from the chair. "Go!"

Calleigh climbed to her feet. Nothing in her expression indicated she was about to give up, or go away. "I will not leave until we talk about this."

"We're not going to talk. You are going to get out of my room and leave me alone." Doc walked toward the door, holding it open as an invitation for her to go. "I don't need some smart-ass kid trying to tell me what to do!"

Calleigh marched over to the door, but instead of leaving, she pulled the smooth wood from his hands, slamming it into the frame so hard it rattled the wall. "Well you got one anyway! The same smart-ass kid that has come to you all these years for help, for advice, sometimes just for a hug and a kiss. The same one that shares your love of medicine. You have always fought for me and don't you think I'm going to walk away from this." She stood, feet planted firmly, braced for a fight—If it came to that.

There was a strange calm that settled over the two hearts that had long ago pledged to love each other. As the anger left Doc's body, he swiped at his moustache, revealing a faint smile. His arms opened and this was an invitation Calleigh was quick to accept. She rushed toward him, finding her place, as usual, next to his heart.

Calleigh finally broke the silence with an offer. "Let's go get a cup of coffee and talk."

The two walked arm- in-arm to the kitchen. Doc was suddenly exhausted. It took all of his strength to pull the heavy oak chair from the table. Calleigh hurried to retrieve the much needed caffeine. She placed the steaming cup in front of him and took a seat.

"What did you mean, when you said, it really is happening?"

Doc planted his elbow on the table, resting his chin on the palm of his hand. "I'm thinking it might be…Parkinson's." The fear had been replaced with resignation.

"Parkinson's?" Calleigh's blue eyes flashed open wide, as she bolted up in her chair. "What are you talking about?"

"I suspected it, but I didn't want to admit it. The signs are there: Nausea. Fatigue. Confusion." Doc looked at the cup in his hand. The slight tremor caused the brown liquid to swirl around the inside of the cup. He lifted his gaze, until his eyes came into line with hers.

Calleigh's eyes grew dark. The smooth, white skin of her forehead, marred into a mass of wrinkles, while the rest of her face was captured in a scowl. "No. I would have noticed." Her focus returned to the weathered hand, but the trembling had stopped.

"I've been hiding it. Hoping it would go away." There was such sadness in his voice, she hardly recognized it.

Calleigh was steadfast in her refusal to accept his diagnosis. Red spiral curls bounced around, as she defiantly shook head from side-to-side. "No. Unh-uh. I know that you keep a professional eye on all of us. Did you think you hadn't taught me to do the same? I watch you every day too, Poppy. You are too precious to me. If this had been going on, you wouldn't have been able to hide it from me." She reached across the table, squeezing his hand. "When did this start?"

"About a week ago, I guess."

"One week? That's kind of quick to be so… advanced. I mean, so many symptoms—so quickly. I think we need to check some other things before giving in to this. Let's do some tests."

Lancaster,OhioLancaster,Ohio

Vince Morgan had gone without sleep for almost twenty-four hours and his lids felt like they were covering burning coals, every time he blinked. He leaned back in his seat, watching his own image appear like magic, each time the train went into a tunnel. The dusk that was eating up the daylight, was barely strong enough to illuminate the small towns that passed by.

The pale reflection was actually an accurate likeness of his true coloring. He was, in fact, a pasty-faced, nondescript man. It wasn't that he was bad looking; he just had a face that was rarely noticed at all. Vince considered this an advantage in his line of work.

For twenty-two years, the Philadelphia-born man had made a living as a private detective; a damn good one. He had connections and contacts all over the country. When he took the job for Dr. Cannon, it seemed straightforward to begin with. Cannon was sure that a man named Matthew Dillon was his biological father, but he needed proof.

Vince had worked up a complete dossier on the marshal of Dodge City and his family, but he failed to find any link to his young client. He thought it was odd that Cannon was not at all disappointed with the detective's lack of proof on the paternity case. Before closing the investigation, Vince finally agreed to one last search. Cannon was also interested in the comings and goings of Dillon's oldest daughter.

When it came to the seasoned detective's attention that a Boston lawyer was looking into Darcy Cannon, he was instantly suspicious. Vince began an investigation of his own, into his previous client. What he found was disturbing enough to put him on this train to Dodge City. Hoping to catch a little sleep before he arrived in the cattle town, the weary man leaned back in the cushioned seat and closed his eyes. Within a few seconds, the consistent rocking had lulled him to sleep.

LadyKLadyKLadyKLadyKLadyK

Kitty sat up slowly, fighting off the nausea that threatened her. It was just enough to make its presence felt, but not enough to cause her to heave. She threw back the covers and wandered out onto the balcony. Matt was sound asleep on the wrought-iron bench that was pressed against the wall.

She carefully moved his hand aside and settled onto his lap. The gentle hands on his chest and familiar body cuddling close brought him out of his peaceful sleep. Strong hands gripped her shoulders holding her back. "Now Kitty, you need to stop this."

"It's okay." She uttered softly, as she stroked his cheek. "I'm not going to molest you anymore." Matt was still leery, as her actions were definitely more subdued, but she still wore that wicked smile. "Are you all right?"

The big man hid behind a chagrined expression that was showcased in a sea of crimson. "I think that's my line." He brushed the loose curls from her face. "How do you feel?"

"A little naseous." Kitty scrunched her face, implying it was nothing serious. "And tired. Where are my babies?"

"At Calleigh's. Do you have any idea what time it is?" Tiny lines formed on her smooth forehead as she suddenly realized they were surrounded in darkness." Matt pointed toward the muted glow in the sky. "That's the moon up there. The sun gave up on you about six hours ago." He stroked her cheek with the pad of his thumb. "Are you sure you're okay?"

"I don't know what happened to me." Kitty pressed her hand to her temple still feeling the weary after effects

"That headache powder that you took had cocaine in it. Calleigh told me when she came by earlier to check up on you."

"Cocaine?" Kitty pulled away from the comfort of his chest. "But Doc gave it to me."

Matt acknowledged with a nod. "I know he did. I don't know what happened, but I can't believe he would make a mistake like that. Calleigh's trying to get to the bottom of this." He pushed her forward enough to be able to stand up with her in his arms. "I'm just grateful it wasn't any worse than it was."

Matt settled her under the covers and turned out the light before climbing into bed beside her. He was relieved that it was the Kitty he knew, snuggling into his arms. "Do you…remember-?"

"What I did." She finished for him. "Or at least what I tried to do." Even in the dark, he could see her grin. "I remember." Her admission was tempered with a touch of embarrassment. "Calleigh and Tia saw me, didn't they?"

"Yep. In all your glory."

"Oh my gosh," Kitty hid her face in his chest. "I'll never be able to face them. And Calleigh..." She stopped abruptly, as the image of a nosey young redhead became a haunting visual. "She'll never let me forget this one."

Matt chuckled softly and tightened her within his embrace. "You're off the hook this time. Tia respects you too much to ever say anything to anyone. When Calleigh found out your headache powder had been accidently dosed, she was too concerned to tease you about anything." They nestled into a comfortable position, his huge body spooning hers.

"Matt."

"Hmmm." His large hand stroked tenderly, up and down the curve of her back.

"Why didn't you make love to me?" There was a hint of uncertainty in her voice. A part of her worried that he was ashamed of how she had behaved.

"Let's see. How do I answer that? It certainly wasn't because I didn't want to. You were… incapacitated—to say the least. And I didn't know for sure whether or not you were aware of your actions."

She rolled over in his arms. Granted, it had been on rare occasions that she had consumed too much alcohol, leaving her a bit tipsy, but it had happened. Kitty was trying to figure out a way to ask her next question. "There were a couple of times in the past when I might have drunk a little too much and we…"

"Are you trying to find a polite way to say you were drunk on your pretty little butt and trying to ravish my body?" Matt released his hearty laugh into the darkness. "I know what you're saying, but that was your choice. Not someone else's.

Kitty pushed back. Her eyes had become acclimated enough to the dark to see his handsome features. "Still, I am your wife. I mean you could have-"

"I could have." He pulled her back into his embrace, with a kiss to her forehead. "I know that, but when I make love to you, I want to know for sure it's what you want too." He chuckled softly. "I was going to say, when you are of sound mind, but that phrase doesn't seem to encompass redheads. At least not the ones I know."

"Very funny." Slender fingers played at the fine hair on his chest. "Matt."

"What?"

"I think I'm of sound mind right now." The playful singsong tone in her voice caused him to laugh as he propped himself up on one elbow.

"I better just test the waters to make sure." Matt brought his head down slowly, capturing her lips in slow, passionate kiss. Kitty could feel the hardness of his body as he pressed her to him. "I think the water is just right," he whispered.

TBC