Chapter 61: Los Angeles

Monday, January 2nd, Afternoon

She pulled down the sleeves of the long sleeve of her mock turtleneck she wore under her scrubs. Walking down the hall she made sure her stethoscope was present and checked her watch. It was a rough and ready watch she always wore when she was on duty, it was a large cheap Casio Dive Watch, in fact, it was her first watch she bought when she took up diving. Looking away from the watch she turned towards the hallway. Smiling, she walked over to the nurse's station and looked at the floor nurse behind it.

"How was the show last night?" Danielle "Dani" Pina-Carven asked.

"It was okay, went mainly to do a big one for the band," Candi said.

"Really?" Dani asked, "Didn't you know the lead singer?"

"No, Dani, I went to high school with her sister, who was a year behind me in high school, no big deal," Candi said, "Alix is a good singer either way."

"Sorry I couldn't go, already had plans," Dani said.

"No problem, always next time, I never know when Kayla calls," Candi said, "Anyways, speaking of which, James texted me, he's in town this weekend for a couple of games, with both teams, want to go to a game?"

"The Laker Game is when?" Dani asked.

"I believe it's Friday, but let me check," Candi said.

"I'll take you up on that one," Dani said.

"I'll pencil you in," Candi said.

"Would James be mad if I wore my Nathan Scott jersey to the game?" Dani asked.

Candi smiled and shook her head, "I don't know, but I think he's used to it," she replied, "Now onto the business at hand."

"Which would be young Mister Wilson," Dani said.

"Yes, how has he been?" Candi asked.

"Good, Stable, do you really want to go in and operate?" Dani asked.

"It will fix the issue, which could get worse with age," Candi said.

Dani nodded.

"Well, I'm going to take a peek inside," Candi said and walked towards the room.

Candi noticed Lamont Wilson sitting up in his hospital bed. He was looking at his tablet, Ms. Wilson sat in a chair nearby.

"Afternoon Lamont, how are you feeling today?" Candi asked.

"I'm good," Lamont said.

"Ms. Wilson," Candi said, addressing the boy's mother.

"Doctor Scott," Ms. Wilson said, "So, what is the word?"

"Well the good news is Lamont is stable," Candi said and turned to Lamont, "You're scheduled for an MRI today, which will confirm whether or not what you have is what we suspect."

"Thanks, Doc," Lamont said.

"Please call me, Candi," she said, "We're friends and fellow basketball players."

"Okay Candi," Lamont said.

Candi smiled, "I just want to listen to your heart," she said and took her stethoscope and warmed the head. She listened to Lamont's heart and lungs only telling him to breathe in when she needed him to. Candi smiled, "You're doing well there, Lamont," she said.

"Is that good?" Lamont asked.

"We shall see," Candi said.

Lamont nodded, "Thank you, Candi," he said.

"You're welcome and we shall see," Candi said.

Lamont nodded, "Okay Candi," he said.

Candi smiled, "What are you looking up?" she asked.

"I don't want to say," Lamont said.

"Embarrassed?" Candi asked, "I promise I won't tease you."

Lamont nodded, "Are you sure?" he asked.

"Yes, I am," Candi said.

"Well okay," Lamont said, "But I was looking you up, Candi."

Candi looked at him and cocked an eyebrow, "Oh really?" Candi asked.

Lamont nodded, "You said you played basketball at Duke, so I was interested, but I couldn't find you," he said.

"Oh really? What did you use for my last name?" Candi asked.

"I used Candace Scott," Lamont said, "But I got no result."

Candi laughed, "Try Candace Strauss," she said.

"Hmm, that name did come up, but I didn't check," Lamont said.

Candi laughed, "I changed my name after college," she said.

"Did you get married?" Ms. Wilson asked.

Candi shook her head, "Long story, but I took my Dad's last name."

"Really?" Ms. Wilson asked.

Candi nodded, "Really."

"Okay, here it goes," Lamont said and typed it in. A minute later he looked up, "They called you the white mamba?"

Candi shrugged, "Well, not to my face," she said.

Lamont read her profile and stats, "You could have gone pro," he said.

Candi shook her head, "It wasn't for me," she said, "Anyways if I went on to play professional basketball, I wouldn't have met you, so I could take care of you."

"That's okay," Lamont said, "So, how did you get the nickname?"

Candi shrugged, "A teammate called me that once and well, I guess it stuck," she said.

"But why that?" Lamont asked.

"Well, you heard of the Mamba Mentality, right?" Candi asked.

"Of course, it's from Kobe Bryant," Lamont said.

"Yeah, it comes from Kobe," Candi said, "Do you know, what it is?"

"I believe it has something to do about how he described his approach to preparing for and playing basketball," Lamont said.

Candi nodded, "Basically, and it was commented by that same teammate that I had that mentality," she said.

Lamont nodded, "Sad what happened to Kobe and his daughter," he said.

Candi nodded, "Yeah, it was, I remember hearing about it," she said.

"What did you do?" Lamont asked.

"To my embarrassment, I'll tell you," Candi said, "I cried."

Lamont nodded, "Really?" he asked.

Candi nodded, "I never met him, but in a way, he was a role model in my life," she said.

Lamont nodded, "But you're a doctor now," he said.

Candi nodded, "I always wanted to be a doctor. When basketball ended that's where my energy went. Having the Mamba Mentality is really about being your best self," she said.

Lamont nodded, "So, being a Doctor makes you your best self?" he asked.

"Yes, basically," Candi said.

"So, does that mean that Nathan Scott is your uncle?" she asked.

"How did you figure that out?" Candi asked.

Lamont laughed, "It said in your bio, that you were James Scott's cousin, which would make you Nathan Scott's niece," he said.

"Yes, they both are," Candi said.

"Can you do me a favor?" Lamont asked.

"I could try," Candi said.

"Could you get me a visit from Nathan Scott?" Lamont asked.

Candi shrugged, "I don't know, I could ask," she said, "But he lives across the country."

"You could ask," Lamont said.

"Lamont, Doctor Scott said she'll try," Ms. Wilson said.

"Well, in all honesty, I didn't say I'd try, but I will ask him," Candi said.

"Mom," Lamont said.

"Sorry, Doctor Scott, for some reason, Lamont's favorite player is Nathan Scott," Ms. Wilson said.

"It's okay, I'm used to it," Candi said, she sighed, "Lamont, I'm not promising anything, but I'll talk to him, on one condition."

"Okay Candi," Lamont said, "What's the condition?"

"You get to rest, relax, and try to get better," Candi said.

Lamont nodded, "Okay, I'll do that," he said.

Candi smiled, "Good, now I've got other patients to see," she said, "I'll stop by again."

Lamont smiled, "Okay," she said.

"Well, rest up," Candi said and left the room. Not even three steps down the corridor.

"Doctor Scott," Candi heard and turned around to see Ms. Wilson standing there.

"Yes, Ms. Wilson?" Candi asked.

"How serious is Lamont's condition?" Ms. Wilson asked.

Candi sighed, "Not knowing what it is, exactly, well, I'm not sure," she said, "That's why I ordered the MRI."

"Would it tell us what he has?" Ms. Wilson asked.

"It could, again we'd have to do it first," Candi said.

"Is it serious enough for you to try and get your uncle here, make a wish and all that?" Ms. Wilson asked.

Candi shook her head, "I don't think it's that, but it could be serious, but we need the tests," she said.

Ms. Wilson nodded, "I don't want to lose him, he's my world," she said.

Candi rested a hand on Ms. Wilson's shoulder, "I don't tell many people this, but I think it would help," she said.

"What?" Ms. Wilson asked.

"I was born with several holes in my heart, and actually had several heart surgeries before I was five years old," Candi said, "I chose to be a doctor over a basketball player because I wanted to help kids with heart problems."

Ms. Wilson nodded, "You gave up, from what Lamont was saying an athletic career for medicine because you want to help kids?" she asked.

"Yes," Candi said, simply.

"What would happen if the MRI shows nothing?" Ms. Wilson asked.

"I don't know, we'll have to cross that bridge then," Candi said.

"Okay, you'll let us know as soon as possible?" Ms. Wilson asked.

"I plan on it," Candi said, "I also would have to."

"Thank you," Ms. Wilson said.

"You're welcome," Candi said.

Ms. Wilson nodded and walked back into her son's room.

Candi nodded and headed on her rounds. She noted that she didn't lie, they didn't know. That was why she ordered the imagery. Candi put that aside and headed towards her next patient.