You're a Doctor aren't you? – Chapter 3
I don't know why but this Chapter was hard to write, so I hope it lives up to expectations, enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own Scorpion, CBS does
She was walking towards the Clinic, this was good Toby thought. She hadn't shied away yet, thankfully though, the building looked more like a hotel than a hospital – otherwise he didn't think Happy would have coped. At least Periya was good with geniuses... she'd been like the older sister he never had, patching him up and after a long night gambling to pay for Harvard. Periya had seen him at his worst and he'd treated her husband for innumerable issues that he had. He'd saved their marriage and now it was time for her to return the favour she kept reminding him she owed. On the phone call to her earlier he had explained the situation, Doctor Patel was adamant that one use of an X-ray machine did not equate to a saved marriage; but she didn't understand what was at stake. Toby knew that if Happy had a passable medical experience, provided by himself of course, it would tackle her phobia, and also win him some points in the romance department – hand holding would definitely be involved, and that was the area he needed the most help with. But by her comment as she was getting out of the car, it was as if the finish line had been moved that little bit closer.
Happy's hands were beginning to shake, as much as this place didn't look like a hospital, or any sort of medical establishment. She knew what awaited her inside, all those doctors and nurses, running around, faking concern, prodding and poking. It was creepy ok? It was wasn't it? She needed the Doc to explain this fear to her, he'd tried a long time ago, tried with all of Scorpion, but they all brushed him off, too busy writing algorithms or in Happy's case, throwing things at the shrink's head for butting into what she thought was her own business. Now she was feeling sorry for him? She supposed his narcissism was justified when none of his friends would talk to him because they didn't want to be analysed, as much as Toby told everyone he wouldn't, it's not something you can turn off. He seems so lonely, especially now, guiding her towards the entrance with a gentle hand on her good elbow, staring off into the distance, a lost little smile gracing his face as Happy snuggled in. It was two in the morning and Happy only had a t-shirt on. Suddenly a jacket appeared around her shoulders, he was a good friend, a good psychiatrist and maybe something more; unless she went crazy in the clinic, which was in fact possible.
It seemed like the walk to the reception went on forever, all this feelings analysis made her head hurt and she just wanted to lie down, but Happy would not show weakness in front of anybody; except maybe Toby, he certainly wouldn't mind if she lay down on his lap. Berating herself for this lapse in concentration, she walked through the automatic doors, hoping against hope that the hotel vibe continued into the interior of the building... Alas not. It looked just like any other hospital reception area, albeit slightly more tastefully decorated. Happy tried not to let her disappointment and fear show because the Doc was looking down at her like a little puppy who had brought back a ball, praying that it would be thrown again. She would do this for him, he deserved more appreciation for his talents, but she was also doing it for herself of course; she couldn't do anything with three busted fingers. "I'll take a seat whilst you sign me in or something, looks like there could be a wait; it's pretty busy in here." Great, she had to sit in a room with ill people, getting progressively more frightened and angry. "As if I'd make you wait, you get special treatment Princess, and your flying carpet waits just beyond that door." Bless him - he was trying to make her angry to take her mind away from her current predicament. It was working, she hated being called Princess. Toby waved to a pretty woman in a white coat waiting by the desk, Doctor Patel, Happy assumed. He led her over and they exchanged pleasantries, surprisingly, Happy liked her. Dr Patel wasn't fake or false, she genuinely cared, and if the crazy shrink trusted her, she supposed she could too.
He nearly had a heart attack when Happy started talking to Periya, of all the possible outcomes he had tried to calculate, tolerance was the best result, he never expected them to get on! Then he caught a snippet of their conversation as he followed them down the sterile hallway, oh. They were discussing his behaviour at university. Happy was now finding out all about those stunts he pulled with modifying the professor's lecture notes, oh yay! Periya had stopped outside a room with warning signs and lights, which he knew were just a formality, Toby was locking that door when they were inside to keep Happy safe from the nosy staff in this place. She didn't know that and was on the brink of bolting out of the building before Periya spoke up.
"Here's your X-ray room and I've cleared Room 302 just down the hallway for you afterwards, call me if you need anything and just pop in to my office to say Ta-ra on your way out, plus I want to see if you can remember how to be a proper doctor after all these years" She said with a grin as she walked off. Happy really did like her. What she didn't like was the bright yellow sign proclaiming DANGER on the door of the room she was about to enter. Knowing the Doc, he had already worked out she was scared out of her wits and was formulating a plan based on his vast knowledge of the human psyche to help her out. But he didn't say anything for the moment, just took her good hand in his, and led her into the room, flicking on the lights as he did. She wished he'd kept them off. It was not good for her anxieties. The stark white walls, the bed with a paper towel over it, the screen to separate her from her doctor, and the x-ray machine itself; taking up most of the room with it's looping cables and poseable arm. Toby busied himself putting a Charge-Coupled-Device on the bed and pulling up a chair next to it, at least she didn't have to feel vulnerable whilst lying down. Happy sat in the chair and glared at the Doc, she couldn't let him know the extent of her fears, worse than her fear of hospitals, was her fear of being weak, and showing fear meant showing weakness, and she couldn't have that; so she turned to her old friend anger.
"It's alright Happs, I'll put your arm on the CCD, go behind the screen, press a button, wait a few seconds and then Hey Presto, one image of your hand pops up on the computer screen. I can even email it to you if you want a copy?" Her stare at that moment could have withered flowers. Toby, however, just found it cute. Time to bring out his training, "You don't like it here, I get it, the machine is freaking you out too, I can tell, so close your eyes and think of the happiest thing you can, okay Happy?" he had to let a giggle out after that masterpiece.
The happiest thing she could think of? Despite her name she had never truly been happy, except that one night when things began to change; when they had babysat Ralph, the night after Walter's accident. She was content playing computer games with the young genius, but not happy, not until he had gone to sleep and she was left alone with the shrink. That was where Happy had been happy, so she closed her eyes and began to relive it.
A/N I was going to put in what happened that fateful babysitting night, but I thought I'd make you wait... Sorry! Hope you enjoyed it and I'd love to know what you thought because it means a lot that people actually read what I write. So thanks basically x