Cristiana #2
“There’s no way in hell I’m working when you’re in the ER, Tiana.
Mikhail got me covered for tonight and tomorrow.
And before you protest that I’m missing too much work, let me tell you that I have so much accrued time off that I can take months of leave.
I rarely took any before meeting you. Mikhail won’t begrudge me taking it.
I don’t want you to worry about my job. It’s fine. ”
His Dom voice leaked in a bit. My inner submissive responded. “Alright, I’ll chill. Who was that on the phone? Or is it work and you can’t talk about it?”
“It was Mikhail. He let me know I was covered and that several of our friends are in the waiting room, in case we need them. At least I got him and Tajah to stay at home this time. When I originally called to tell him what happened, he was planning to come. Mikhail did say to tell you, they’re thinking of you and they’ll be by to see you soon, no matter what I say. ” Reuben chuckled.
I pictured Mikhail saying it, which made me laugh.
“Who is out there?” I asked when I was finished.
“I don’t know exactly since he named off several who said they’d come. I’ll look in a minute. Speaking of visitors, do you want me to notify any of your family? They won’t be happy about you being hurt and no one telling them, I imagine.”
“If I tell them, they’ll want to know what happened.
They have no idea that I was part of a club back home, that aspect of my life, or that anyone was stalking me.
I can’t tell them that over the phone. Papá, my brothers, and my brother-in-law would be here, ready to hunt Fisher down.
I never told them to keep them from being hurt or going to jail,” I explained.
“Tiana, I get it, but they need to know sometime.”
“I know, and maybe I can do it the weekend after next.”
“Why then?”
“Mamá called while I was at the apartment. I spoke with her before Fisher arrived. They’re having a party for their wedding anniversary and would like me to attend. I was wondering if you’d be willing to go with me. If you’d rather not, I understand,” I swiftly tacked on.
“Bebé, I would love to meet your family and have you claim me as yours in front of them,” he purred.
A tiny moan escaped. He was making my body react despite my pain.
If my arm wouldn’t scream at me, I’d be climbing onto his lap at this moment, begging him for more than a kiss.
Reuben must’ve seen the passion in my gaze, because he growled and leaned closer again.
Right before our lips were about to meet, there was a brief knock on the door, then it opened, and in came Dr. Lawson and Chad. Reuben straightened.
“Doctor, do you have the test results?” he asked before I could.
“I do. While there is evidence of extensive bruising and contusions as well as some scrapes from the fall, none are life-threatening. They’ll heal with rest and time. Keep the scrapes clean, and I’ll prescribe an ointment to apply daily until they’re gone.
“As for your internal organs, head, and the rest of your body, the good news is there’s no evidence of internal bleeding or damage, nor a head injury, not even a concussion.
The biggest issue is your left arm. Your pain isn’t due to a break, Ms. Perez.
Your shoulder was wrenched out of the socket.
I suspected as much, but didn’t want to put it back in place without knowing for sure.
If I had, and I was wrong, I could’ve made it worse.
We’re here to put it back in the socket for you.
Chad is going to give you pain medication in that IV, and then I’ll perform the reduction.
I won’t lie. It’ll hurt badly, but I’ll make it as quick as I can,” Dr. Lawson explained.
I was relieved that nothing was broken or seriously damaged. I’d heard putting a dislocated joint back into place was extremely painful, but it would be over quickly, he said, and I wouldn’t have to wait six weeks or more for a broken arm to heal.
“Isn’t there a way you can do it without her feeling anything? What about knocking her out and doing it?” Reuben asked.
“Technically, yes, and if we’d known that was all it was when she was unconscious, we would’ve done it then.
However, I don’t do that. It’s a waste of time and manpower, since we’d need an anesthesiologist, and it’s expensive.
Her insurance might not cover it. With this pain medicine, she can stand it for the few seconds it takes,” Dr. Lawson argued.
He wasn’t happy with Reuben questioning him.
“Reuben, it’s fine. I can stand it. Let them get it over with,” I assured him. I wanted to get out of here as fast as possible.
“Like hell you’ll stand it because he doesn’t want to do it.
I’ve had my shoulder dislocated before. It was excruciating, and so was reducing it.
I let a doctor do it the way Dr. Lawson wants, and it was agony.
I have a high pain tolerance, and I screamed and almost blacked out.
Even with anesthesia, it’ll be sore, and you’ll have to be careful as it heals.
No. If he won’t do it with you knocked out, we’ll get a doctor who will,” Reuben snapped.
“Sir, I’ve done this multiple times. I’m a doctor. I know what I’m doing. Not everyone is unable to handle pain like you were,” Dr. Lawson said condescendingly.
I was fine doing it his way until he acted superior to Reuben and implied my man was a pussy. He hadn’t said those words, but his meaning was clear.
“I know Reuben isn’t weak. And he’s right. I shouldn’t experience more pain than necessary. If putting me under reduces it, then I want that instead.”
“Ms. Perez, I’m your doctor and I know best,” Lawson snapped.
“Doctor, have you ever had a joint dislocated and had a reduction?” Reuben asked.
“W-well, no, but I’ve cared for many who have. It’s only painful for a few seconds. Anyone should be able to stand it.” His tone was snide.
Reuben took out his phone and tapped on it. I wondered who he was calling. A few moments later, I found out. He had it on speaker.
“Hello,” a woman’s voice I recognized said.
“Hi, Alex, I hope I’m not interrupting you at work,” Reuben said.
“No, you’re not. In fact, I’m in the waiting room of the hospital. How is Cristiana?”
“Excellent. Would you mind coming back to join us? We have a medical question. We’re in bed nine,” Reuben told her.
“I’ll be right there,” Alex said before she disconnected.
“We don’t have all day, and no more visitors are allowed back here,” Lawson hastily informed us.
He went toward the door. I didn’t know if he planned to leave or block it, so that Alex couldn’t enter, but he backed away when Reuben stood up and reached the door first. My sexy Dom stood there with his arms crossed and legs spread wide.
His expression dared Lawson to attempt to leave.
Wisely, the doctor edged away from my man.
While all this was happening, Chad said nothing, but I noted he had a twist to his mouth that made me think he was fighting not to show his amusement.
When he saw me watching him, he gave me a subtle wink.
I took that to mean he was amused by how the doctor was being schooled.
Lawson refused to meet Reuben’s gaze as we waited. In barely a minute at the most, a body came up behind Reuben. He turned his head, then shifted to allow the person in the room. It was Alex. Her curiosity was clear.
“Thanks for coming, Alex,” Reuben murmured.
“Of course, it’s no problem. Cristiana, honey, I’m so glad to see you. Do you know what they found? What can I do for you?” she asked as she came to the bed and gripped the hand I held out to her.
“Thank you for dropping everything to be here. You have no idea how much that means to me. Dr. Lawson explained that overall, I’m fine except for the dislocation of my left shoulder. Everything else will heal quickly. He wants to do a reduction on my shoulder,” I explained.
“And he wants to do it with some IV pain medication and her awake,” Reuben slipped in.
The appalled look on her face said it all before Alex responded.
“Why in the world would he do that versus knocking you out? It’s going to hurt like hell, especially after the joint being out of place for a few hours.
The longer the joint is like that, the more the surrounding muscles, tendons, and ligaments tense up.
By putting you under, those can be relaxed to make the reduction easier, thus the muscles are less painful afterward. ”
Reuben sent a smug look over to Dr. Lawson. “See. I want another doctor to do this,” he demanded.
“I’m sorry, but who is she to say anything about medical procedures?” Dr. Lawson asked with a bite to his voice.
“I’m a registered nurse who works at the VA. I have plenty of experience and can get doctors to back me up if you think I’m too lowly to know anything. Reuben, she has the right to a second opinion. Don’t let him do this to her. It’ll be horrible, and she doesn’t deserve more pain,” Alex insisted.
“Chad, I hate to ask you to do this, but would you please go find us another doctor? I’d send him, but I don’t trust who he’ll bring,” Reuben asked.
“Absolutely, Mr. Davila. Ms. Perez, I’ll be back as soon as I can,” Chad assured me. He was smiling.
As he headed for the door, Lawson hissed at him, “Don’t you dare. I’m the doctor. You’re just a nurse.”
“And as a nurse, my responsibility is to care for my patients to the best of my abilities. A request has been made. It’s not unreasonable, therefore, I’ll do it,” Chad replied.
Without another word, Chad left the room. Right behind him stormed Lawson. I hoped he wouldn’t cause an issue for Chad.
“What a prick. I hate doctors like that. At least you have a good nurse, it looks like,” Alex said as she sat in the chair Reuben had vacated.
“So far, he seems to be. And I was okay with Lawson until he pushed for the reduction with only the IV pain medicine. I said yes at first, then Reuben told me how badly it hurt without being knocked out when he did it.”
“Worst fucking pain I ever felt, and even if the worst last moments, it lingers,” Reuben confessed as he came to the other side of my bed.
“Anyone I’ve known who did it the way Reuben did swore never again. I watched a guy get it done when I was in nursing school on a clinical rotation. He screamed, and the joint refused to go in on the first try, so they had to do it again. He passed out,” Alex recounted.
“Oh, hell no. I think I have a decent pain threshold, but not for something like that,” I muttered before moving to a new topic.
“Again, thanks for coming. Are there others out in the waiting room?” I asked.
“Oh, yes, there is. Carver said he’ll be by as soon as he can get away from work.
He had meetings he couldn’t reschedule. Hoss is at Lustz, covering for you tonight, Reuben.
Cady is coming as soon as she sees her last furry patient.
And right before I came back, Matvey and Victoria arrived with their entourage. ”
“Why would Matvey and Victoria come?” I gasped.
“Why else? You’re friends with Mikhail, and they consider you part of that family circle, like they do the rest of us.
It’s kinda wild when you first discover it.
It was for me and Carver. However, they’re so sweet.
If Lawson keeps it up, Reuben won’t have to do a thing.
We’ll ask Matvey to let Nikita and Konstantin talk to him.
How much do you want to bet bigheaded Dr. Lawson shits his pants? ” Alex asked, giggling.
Picturing those two with the doctor had me giggling and Reuben chuckling.
After we stopped, we chatted for the next few minutes about my other minor injuries and about how Alex’s day went.
In short order, we were soon interrupted by Chad and a woman in a white lab coat.
When Alex saw her, she smiled and greeted her.
“Dr. Newberry, it’s great to see you. I forgot you work here normally.”
“Alex, it’s so good to see you, too. Yes, this is my regular gig. Chad said that you’re requesting another physician. I’m Dr. Newberry. How may I help you?” she asked pleasantly.
“Thank you for coming. My girlfriend needs her dislocated shoulder reduced. Dr. Lawson refused to put her under for it. He wants to give her some pain meds through her IV, and that’s it,” Reuben told her bluntly.
I had to give her credit. Dr. Newberry kept her expression schooled. If Chad had told her the problem, she was good at hiding it, along with any dislike of Lawson’s intended method.
“While it can be reduced the way Dr. Lawson said, and there are patients who want to do it that way, the preferred and most often chosen option is the other. It prevents the patient from experiencing unnecessary pain, and we can administer medication to relax the muscles, making the reduction easier and causing less harm to the muscles, ligaments, and tendons when the joint is moved back into the socket. If you prefer the latter approach, we’ll see how soon we can arrange for a nurse aesthetician or an anesthesiologist to be present so we can proceed.
I prefer one of them to monitor your breathing while putting you under. ”
My body relaxed at the sound of her saying that. I hadn’t known I was tense until I did. I sighed.
“Are you okay?” Reuben asked immediately.
“I’m fine, just relieved. I didn’t know I was tense over this until she said I could be knocked out.”
“Personally, I wouldn’t do it awake either. Let me see how soon we can do this. We’ll get you out of here as soon as possible,” Dr. Newberry promised.
We thanked her before she left. Chad wasn’t far behind, but before he left, he told us with a grin, “I loved seeing that jerk, Lawson, put in his place. He likes to treat patients, interns, residents, and nurses like we’re idiots.
Thank you. You made my day and several others.
Dr. Newberry is wonderful. She’ll take care of you.
If you need anything, just ring the call bell. ”
Reuben and I thanked him for all his help and care. With that in the works, I tried to get comfortable and wait for the procedure. To help distract me, I had not only Reuben and Alex, but others who rotated through, ignoring Lawson’s edict.