Chapter 255 James Became Famous?
As James left her office, a soft smile played on Jennifer's lips. She leaned back, surrendering to the exhaustion that had been plaguing her, and drifted off to sleep.
James had barely stepped out when he spotted an intern approaching, a package clutched in his hands.
"Excuse me," James called out, intercepting the young doctor before he could reach Jennifer's office door. "Dr. Johnson is resting. Anything I can take care of?"
The intern looked up, his face brightening with recognition. "Dr. Smith! You're back! This is for Dr. Johnson, a delivery."
"I'll take it," James said, accepting the package. It was surprisingly light, the contents feeling like simple documents.
He wouldn't normally dream of opening Jennifer's mail, but a prickle of unease ran down his spine. Hesitation battled with curiosity, and curiosity won. He was about to peek inside when a frantic voice shattered the quiet hum of the clinic.
"Doctor! Please, help our baby!"
James looked up to see a young couple rushing towards him, their faces etched with panic. The woman clutched a tiny infant, her eyes red and swollen from crying.
Instinct took over, and James quickly tucked the package into a drawer designated for deliveries. "I'm a doctor," he said, his voice calm and reassuring. "Tell me what's wrong."
"It's our Ondine," the woman sobbed, her voice choked with desperation. "She's just a month old, and yesterday, these awful blisters appeared all over her hands and feet. We're so worried!"
James took the baby girl from her mother's trembling arms, his expert eyes quickly assessing the situation. "Don't worry," he said, offering a reassuring smile. "This is a common ailment in infants, and it's easily treatable."
"But how?" the father, Thaddeus, interjected, his voice tight with concern. "We've been so careful with her hygiene. How could she have caught something like this?"
As James began writing out a prescription, he explained, "Newborns have weaker immune systems than adults, making them more susceptible to infections, especially if hygiene isn't meticulously maintained. However, in Ondine's case, it seems more likely she contracted this through contact with another child. Has she been around any other children recently?"
Elowen, the mother, gasped. "Now that you mention it, yes! There was a child who..." She trailed off, her gaze shooting accusingly at Thaddeus. "It was Casimir, wasn't it? I told you he was too rough, too careless! Now look what's happened to our little Ondine!"
Thaddeus frowned, a defensive edge creeping into his voice. "He just wanted to play with her because he thought she was cute. How were we supposed to know he could make her sick?"
"This is all your fault!" Elowen cried, hugging Ondine closer. "Our poor baby, sick before she's even two months old!"
"Come on, Elowen, that's not fair," Thaddeus protested, his voice rising in frustration. "We didn't know..."
The argument was escalating quickly, their worry transforming into blame.
James, sensing the rising tension, rapped his knuckles lightly on the table. "This isn't helping Ondine," he said, his voice firm but kind. "Do you want to continue arguing, or do you want to get her the treatment she needs?"
The effect was immediate. The couple fell silent, their anger momentarily forgotten in the face of their daughter's illness.
James finished writing the prescription and handed it to a nearby intern. "Get this filled for them," he instructed. Turning back to the couple, he said, "You can settle the bill at the front desk."
"Hold on," Thaddeus said, hesitation flickering in his eyes. "This is a traditional Chinese medicine clinic, right? I read online that this kind of infection needs antibiotics, and that injections at the hospital would be quicker and more effective. Shouldn't we take her there instead?" He looked at Elowen, a silent plea in his eyes.
But Elowen wasn't listening. Her gaze was fixed on James, a look of dawning recognition spreading across her face. Thaddeus, noticing her distraction, felt a surge of annoyance.
"Elowen, what are you staring at?" he hissed, his voice edged with displeasure.
Elowen seemed to snap out of her daze and gasped, her eyes wide open with excitement, "Oh my goodness. You're Dr. Smith, aren't you?"
James blinked, taken aback. "You... know me?"
"It's you! I can't believe it!" Elowen exclaimed, her earlier anxiety forgotten. "Dr. Smith, I'm a huge fan! Could I possibly get your autograph?"
Thaddeus stared at his wife, speechless. This was beyond embarrassing.
James, feeling the awkwardness of his newfound fame, rubbed the back of his neck. "I'm just a doctor, ma'am, not a celebrity. No need for autographs."
"Elowen, what are you doing?" Thaddeus exploded, shooting James a glare. "You're being ridiculous!"
Elowen rolled her eyes. "Honestly, Thaddeus, use your brain for once! This is Dr. Smith, the doctor who gave that amazing speech about traditional medicine on TV yesterday! You were practically singing his praises last night, and now you don't even recognize him?"
Thaddeus froze, his gaze slowly shifting back to James. Recognition dawned, followed by a wave of excitement that eclipsed even his wife's. "Oh my God," he gasped in shock, his eyes widening. "You're right! Dr. Smith! That was incredible! You're my idol! Can I please, please get your autograph?"
James stared at the couple, utterly speechless. He had never considered himself the autograph-signing type.
The two interns, witnessing the scene, exchanged wide-eyed looks of awe. Their respect for James had just soared to new heights.
Thaddeus, caught up in the excitement, had already whipped off his shirt and was holding it out to James with an eager grin.
Trapped, James found himself signing the shirt, a bemused smile playing on his lips.
"Now, about Ondine's treatment," he said, handing the prescription to the couple. "While this isn't a serious condition, it's important to be vigilant with hygiene. Follow the instructions carefully, and she should be back to her usual self within a week."
"Of course, Dr. Smith, we trust you completely!" Elowen gushed. "After seeing you at the conference yesterday, how could we not?"
The couple lingered, showering James with questions and compliments, eagerly snapping pictures on their phones to share with friends.
James, uncomfortable with the sudden attention, did his best to answer politely while subtly trying to extricate himself from the conversation. He couldn't help but wonder how he had become so recognizable in Lindwood City. The medical conference, while prestigious, wasn't exactly known for its appeal to the masses.
"How did you even know about the conference?" he asked the interns curiously. "It wasn't exactly a highly publicized event."
The interns exchanged grins. "Dr. Smith," one of them said, "you have no idea. Your appearance yesterday caused a sensation! The ratings went through the roof!"
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