Friday, October 18th Pt. 4
Leaving her wolf mentally is one of the hardest things I’ve had to do in a long time. While speaking to her, touching her, has likely bought me some time, it's not much. Without a dramatic intervention her wolf will meet its demise in a matter of days. I stay leaning against Jessa’s temple, listening as she cries.
“I’m sorry that caused you pain. I didn’t know it would.” I whisper with genuine sadness.
While death is a common occurrence in the medical field, doing a read on a young wolf who’s yet to truly live is one of the most difficult things I’ve ever done. Death from cancer or an accident is hard enough but this. This was done to her and reversing it will be just as painful.
“How are you at receiving shots?” I continue quietly as I’ve yet to leave them.
“I’m sorry for whatever wrong I have done. I can’t fight. You know that. Please, I beg of you, whatever you force upon me, make it quick.”
The fear in her voice is gut wrenching as she has confirmed that she has indeed been medically abused.
“Nothing I do is in an effort to hurt you. I need you to believe that. There are three medications that I’m going to get you. As much as it scares you I need you to accept that I am going to force a strong antiemetic and Vicodin into you. You have far too much pain and nausea for me to believe that you’re capable of comprehending what the third medication is going to do, let alone why you need it. As difficult as it is, I need you to trust me. I can save your wolf. I can save you.”
“Just give it to me. It doesn’t matter anymore. Just be quick. This has dragged out far too long and I can’t handle it anymore.”
“What are you saying? Is she dying?” Cole finally speaks up within the conversation.
“I’m sorry Cole.” Jessa sobs even harder as he pulls her even tighter against his chest.
“Dr. Leroux. Please.”
There’s a hard whine behind his voice as he starts to realize the conversation that’s being had. I touch his face gently as his tears start to fall.
“It’s a difficult road that she must travel but it can be done. She can be saved. Hold her close. Hold her gently. Let her rest in your comfort. I need to grab some medication and supplies then I’ll come back. I know you don’t like or trust shots but it’s imperative that you trust me. Your trust in me will help her to trust what’s happening. When I come back, she will feel me take her arm, wipe it down and give the shots. It will be quick, only one has a bite.”
He nods his head before gathering her even further into his arms. Her sobs shake her body as I finally step away from the two of them. The feel of the entire room has changed and I’m quickly becoming overwhelmed by the change in everyone’s feelings.
“Demetri, I need you to come with me, sir.” He shakes his head.
“No, I’m not leaving her. She’s in this state because of my negligence. I’m not leaving her to suffer alone.”
It’s been a long time since I’ve seen the alpha of a pack cry for his pack member. His guilt is overwhelming and crippling his ability to recognize his own needs.
“Is everything okay, Dev.”
“No, Cassius.”
I move quickly towards Alpha Black placing my hand upon his cheek, a move I seldom do.
“Look at me Demetri.”
I encourage gently as the man rumored to be merciless is quickly falling apart. I’m surprised when his only reaction is to look into my eyes showing me the very fear and guilt that I feel from him.
“They need a moment alone as much as you do. Your judgment is skewed and I need you to come with me.”
He looks away from me with a shuddering sigh but ultimately stands and follows behind me. I lead him quickly to the medical wing, entering the lab/pharmacy combo at the end of the hall. I look at him when he stops just inside the door.
“Go through the door immediately to your right.” I instruct without hesitation.
He clutches his stomach briefly before moving quickly. He doesn’t even bother closing the door as the sounds of his prayers to the porcelain god exit the room as quickly as the contents of his stomach. I quietly gather all the necessary equipment needed to place an IV into Jessa. If she agrees to the therapy that will ultimately save her life she will need to have one and it’s far easier to turn a blood draw into an IV line than to stick her vein twice.
I add the vials necessary for collecting her blood to the plastic tray before moving to the end of the counter closest to the bathroom. I open the cabinet above it and remove two vials of medication and multiple syringes, placing them all on the counter.
Demetri finally makes his appearance from the bathroom, regaining his strength after losing his battle to keep his stomach in check.
“There’s a mini refrigerator against the wall as you come towards me. We keep it stocked with water. Your throat would certainly appreciate the coolness of it. Have you ever had an empath read you?”
I keep my voice light as I know what I feel before I even touch him.
“I’ve periodically tested Jessa in order to determine her level of empathic ability.”
“What technique does she use?”
“On adults it’s a submission hold on the neck where it meets the skull.”
“That one tends to be very uncomfortable and for some, painful.”
“Yes sir but it’s the only technique that the council seems to be familiar with so we thought it was the only one usable during official reads.”
“Do you know if she has practiced other, less painful techniques?”
“I’ve only been present during her readings when I have specifically asked for one on certain individuals where Dr. Pierce, Dr. Morrison and I are all struggling to pinpoint the issue or we feel that waiting for lab results would be detrimental.”
“Did you know she was sick when you brought her into the pack?”
I remark casually while continuing to look up the medications I wish to use on the computer.
“No sir.” I stop and look at him completely confused.
“Your guilt is so overwhelming that I had to bring you back here just to get a handle on how it was making me feel. You didn’t want to leave her. Made the statement that she’s in this state due to your negligence but you didn’t know she was sick?”
He shakes his head as he slowly meets my gaze. He takes a deep breath before taking a small drink of the water he pulled from the fridge.
“I recently went through Jessa’s records as my lead doctor, Angela Pierce, is one to track everything. Within days of Angela bringing her home from the Purple Mountain pack Jessa called Angela and reported that she was having extreme flu like symptoms and she wasn’t able to report for training. On the third day Angela went to the apartment that we gave Jessa, used the master key card to enter and found Jessa sleeping on the bathroom floor. In her notes she reported that the symptoms matched withdrawal from silver but due to how terrified Jessa was of needles she was unable to obtain a blood sample from her. Instead she resorted to moving Jessa into her home where she could offer supportive care until the worst of it passed. The day that my son crashed my car was the first day she was well enough to start training with Angela. She’s the only empath that I’ve come across so I’m not familiar with what she should have been able to do at nineteen but I was impressed by what I saw. As I told you at the table, before she ever touched him she was able to tell that his wrist and head injuries were worse than Kathy diagnosed. She just hit four years with us and while this is not the first time she’s been ill it is the first time I’ve scrutinized her medical history with us.”
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