The Navajo reservation was the largest reservation in the US. It spanned within the Southwestern states of New Mexico and Arizona with a small portion in Utah. As Dana drove the fifteen minutes to work she tried to still her thoughts of the day and soak in the cool desert air and beautiful landscape. The contrast in surroundings to her home in Baltimore, Maryland was remarkable. She had settled in Baltimore after medical school and residency and was working at John Hopkins Children's Center as a Pediatric infectious disease specialist. She was highly regarded as an expert in her field, and would often guest lecture at her alma mater, The University of Maryland School of Medicine.
The clinic was located in a rural area off route 9 near the small community of Church Rock, New Mexico. Dana specifically requested stateside and the reservation when she applied for Doctors Without Borders. The need was high for pediatricians to aid in the humanitarian effort of childhood vaccinations.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs, along with Indian Health Services (IHS), funded and conducted an in-depth three year long study of childhood illness and vaccinations on tribal land. The study concluded that indigenous children 19 to 35 months living on reservations were 15% less likely to receive their vaccinations. The findings led to a joint campaign effort with IHS and Doctors Without Borders to provide quality healthcare and vaccinations to all children living on the reservations. Doctors Without Borders provided doctors and medical support while IHS provided the clinics, hospitals and local doctors to partner with. Dana knew she had to sign-up. It wasn't a question, it was just a question of time. Did she want to commit to twelve months or nine, she chose twelve. With three months under her belt she was starting to get the hang of her assignment.
As she pulled around to the back of the small clinic. She saw Dr. Albert Hosteen's Chevy blazer was already parked in his usual spot. Dr. Hosteen was the IHS doctor on the reservation. He was Navajo born and raised on the Navajo Nation reservation. He was a quick learner, smart and driven. Graduated Valedictorian of his high school class. He could have gone to any university and medical school in the US for practically free but he chose to stay in the Southwest region of the states to be close to his roots and his family. He was Navajo first. Albert found himself at Baylor University in Waco, Texas then medical school at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. He received a full scholarship, room and board and He finished in six years. He did his residency program in one of the hospitals on the reservation. Dana instantly liked him and she was glad he worked at the clinic with her.
Two things Dr. Hosteen told her when they first met; first to call him Albert, she's still working on that one, and second he would be the one to open the clinic every morning. Not only was Dr. Hosteen, an accomplished doctor, he held the traditions of the Navajo people sacred. He performed a ritual of blessing every morning at the clinic. It was important to not only him but the patients they served.
Parking, Dana hopped out of her jeep, gathered her belongings and stepped through the clinic back door. Right away she was greeted by the clinic nurse, Katy. She was a tall woman, athletic with red hair like hers; Dana wondered if that was a strange anomaly somehow.
"Hi Dr. Scully, Dr Mulder is in the waiting room, he arrived here 10 minutes ago. Albert let him in." Katy said, handing Dana her second cup of coffee for the day.
"Fuuuuuuuck" Dana exclaimed in a breathy tone throwing her hands to her forehead. "Jar" said a voice from the back room.
"Damn it", Dana exclaimed; again from the back "Jar, times two Dr. Scully!"
It was Mrs. Hosteen. She was the keeper of Dana's foul mouth and the clinic's finances. She had a jar in her office and everytime someone would swear, usually it was Dana, she would have them place a quarter in the jar. Dana gave up 2 dollars today, she proactively figured she would go ahead and buy her curse words in advance. She had a feeling she was going to need it today.
Dana made her way to her small office in the back, she needed to find Dr. Mulder's file and fast. Turning the light on to her office and throwing her belongings on her desk, she spoke turning to Nurse Katy, "Katy, I know it's here somewhere, please help me, I don't want to look unprepared when I speak with him." Fact is, she was unprepared, she had completely forgotten to review his file when it was emailed to her over a week ago. She kept putting it off and now she was running around like a mad woman, throwing money in the swear jar and scrambling to find his file. "Shit", Dana braced herself for another correction from Mrs. Hosteen, but it didn't come. Thankful for the missed opportunity, she continued to look through her desk and files while Katy booted up her laptop.
Seconds later, a deep voice filled the silence "Dana, what are you doing?" It was Dr. Hosteen standing in the door of Dana's office. He had on a traditional Navajo print button down shirt with jeans. His white coat casually unbuttoned with his name embroidered on the left breast, Albert Hosteen, MD.
"Dr… uh, Albert, I am looking for Dr. Wolf…Fox what's-his-name's folder." Dana said, motioning her arm up and pointing toward the waiting room. Clearly exasperated, she was beginning to turn a slight shade of pink. Dr. Dana Scully could handle almost anything, however two things she did not handle well; being late and hiding her propensity to blush. Either of these occurrences tended to result in profound frustration.
Then, as if on cue, Mrs. Hosteen appeared in the doorway and took control. "Albert, you go see Dr. Mulder, give him the tour of the clinic and keep him away from Dana while I help her get ready for his intake." She smiled, calmly at her husband and then continued, turning to Nurse Katy, "Katy, you go sit at the front desk while I help with Dana here, as soon as I am done I will relieve you."
As if a general had spoken, Katy and Albert were sent off with their marching orders.