"Nice to meet you. I would like to work together on his care." Faith could tell from the brief interaction they would butt heads.
"How do I even know you are a doctor? Do you have your credentials so I can see them?" Aaron asked bluntly.
"I didn't want to start this way. But your choice." Faith walked to her bag and got out her credentials. Taking a deep breath she quickly turned back and handed them over.
"Fine," Aaron said, shaking his head.
"Do I need to ask for yours as well? Or do you think we can focus on what just happened to Lucas?" Faith was quickly losing her patience with this man.
"Dr. Johnson. Here is the governor's chart." A nurse quickly entered the room handing him the chart and exiting the room as quickly as she entered.
"Proof enough?" The doctor said with a smirk before turning his attention to the chart.
"Lucas" Faith turned her attention back to Lucas who was just starting to gain consciousness.
"Plaie. Que s'est-il passé" Lucas moaned loudly.
"Lucas?" Faith asked again not understanding what he was saying.
"Respirez profondément" Dr. Johnson replied to Lucas.
"Plaie," Lucas repeated with his eyes still closed.
"He is speaking in French right now. I told him to take a deep breath. Lucas is confused, asking what happened and saying that he is sore. It looks like he is settled for the moment and may just sleep." Dr. Johnson wrote notes on his chart before heading towards the door.
"Are you leaving right now?" Faith asked confused.
"Yes, I need to do some research and he looks like he is just sleeping." Dr. Johnson exited the room.
Faith was dumbfounded by this man and his behavior. He was barely in the room and now he was leaving. Maybe she was just a town doctor, but she prioritized the care and well-being of her patients. She would need to put her personal feelings aside and try to find a way to work together so she could get Lucas back to Hope Valley.
Five hours passed with the doctor never returning to the room. Faith stayed next to Lucas in the chair. For a while, she had worked on the paperwork that was needed to transfer him. Then she had made notes of the questions she had for Dr. Johnson if he should ever return.
She read aloud to Lucas as he slept. First was The Time Machine which was a personal favorite of hers. Reading had always been an escape for her. It could transport her to any place or time she wanted to go. Faith could follow as the characters went through challenges, drama, and romance. Though she hated to admit it she was a romantic at heart.
This was the second time she had visited Lucas since the incident. The first time she had stayed for the first three days after the attack. She remembered the confusion and urgency of trying to get to Capitol City.
Faith was the person who got the call of the attack. It came from a man named Zachary Thomas who said he was Lucas's chief of staff. She was listed as his primary doctor and was to be consulted with all major health decisions.
Within an hour of getting the call, she left town. She told Bill and gave him Mr. Thomas's information. Last she called Molly to get a nearby doctor to cover emergencies. Everything else would be put on hold until her return.
The attack happened in a town east a few hours away from the capital. Lucas had been traveling trying to visit as many of the territories to meet the residents. The town had only a midwife who did emergency surgery on his left knee to remove the bullet. After resting the night the next day, he was transferred to Capitol City to the hospital where he currently was.
This made herself and others believe the attack was planned. The local paper had posted his weekly schedule and visits for the weeks leading up to the attack. If there was a planned attack the location, he was attacked was perfect. Luckily only because of the rain and visibility being low, his issues were not fatal.
Faith looked at Lucas sleeping in the bed. It was so hard to imagine the whirlwind of his past few months. She would be there to help in any way she could.
A few minutes later she left the hospital shortly after 10 pm leaving the number for the hotel across the street with the nurse in case anything happened overnight. After a very long trip, she needed a good night's rest before returning in the morning.
Faith barely slept tossing and turning all night long. She was still exhausted from the long train ride the day before. Now she was worried Lucas' health was worsening. Just before 5 am she got up quickly and dressed. For breakfast, she had an apple from her bag that she ate as she left the hotel.
As she walked out of the hotel she saw a familiar face. Dr. Johnson walked into the hospital talking to a nurse. Maybe if she hurried up she could catch up to him.
"Dr. Johnson," Faith called out as she started across the street. She could have sworn he heard her because he looked back after she called his name. Everything happened quickly as she lost focus on where she was walking. Her left heel caught in the cobblestone street. As she tried pulling her heel loose it quickly set free making her lose her balance and fall to her knees.
"Great start to my day," Faith whispered to herself as she stood up and brushed off her dress. She looked down seeing the area around her knees had a streak of mud she was quite certain would not come out until the dress was washed. Luckily there was no one around to witness this current embarrassment.
As she walked into the hospital, she saw Dr. Johnson standing at the nurse's station. He turned as she came closer smirking and saying something to the nurse at the desk she couldn't hear. This man thought he could get away with his charm and good looks which Faith could only assume most women would fall for.
However, she wanted to spend the least amount of time she could with him. She nodded at him as she walked up to the nurse's desk. Hopefully, they could remain professional even if they disliked each other.
"Good morning. I was wondering if you have time to consult today about Lucas's care?" Faith asked politely.
"Sure. I can do it at 10 am. Does that work for you?" Dr. Johnson asked.
"Yes. Do you have a place you would prefer to meet?" Faith asked as she realized from the mirror above the desk her hair and face were covered with mud. Looking down at her hands she saw them caked in mud. In her hurry to catch up with Dr. Johnson, she completely forgot to check.
"There is a room at the end of this hall. It is the last room on the left." Dr. Johnson pointed at the hall behind the nurse's desk.
"Thank you. Excuse me, I need to wash up." Faith quickly walked to the bathroom which was next to the hospital entrance. Her left hand was starting to shake as she opened the door. Looking in the bathroom mirror she wiped her face off with cold water. She restyled her hair into a simple braid.
"Breathe", Faith whispered to herself as she tried to calm her nerves. She needed to relax before she walked back out. As one of the very few women doctors, she needed to portray confidence and determination. She needed to keep ahead knowing all the recent practices and procedures. If her patients and fellow doctors were to respect her, she needed to work harder and longer for the same respect many men took for granted.