Chapter 11: Ryan’s Impossible Diagnosis
1318 Words
Several security guards gathered around Ryan, but before they could remove him, he looked at August and said, “You are suffering from a headache and chest pain. It began around eight o’clock yesterday evening. The symptoms could be eased by herbal tea.”
August was taken aback. He walked towards Ryan and in an astonished tone, asked, “How did you know that?” Ryan’s accurate diagnosis impressed him, but what surprised him the most was that Ryan had diagnosed him without even touching him.
“It is what I do,” Ryan replied modestly.
“Please stay and give my father an examination.”
Jason gave August a sullen glare and said, “I told you that I can handle this. Why would you ask him to stay? You are risking your father’s life.”
“You haven’t found the cause of his disease yet,” Ryan spoke firmly.
“I have been practicing medicine longer than you have been alive.” Jason looked at Ryan with contempt. “You are nothing but a brat. Show some respect!”
Jason was indeed an experienced doctor. He had a good reputation, and Ryan had no beef with him. “Let’s wait and see,” he said.
Linnet had the utmost faith in Ryan, so she pulled Blair aside and said, “This is not good. If this turns into a pissing contest, Ryan will win and Jason will lose face.”
Linnet had not always felt so strongly about Ryan, but she had seen him at work, and she knew better than to underestimate him.
“This is ridiculous,” Jason complained.
“That will be enough from you,” August growled. “You have been here for hours and you haven’t made any progress. Now step aside and let this other doctor see what he can do!”
Jason’s face turned red from embarrassment and anger, and he went to stand by the window. As soon as he was out of the way, Ryan took his place at Darry Johnson’s bedside.
Ryan looked Darry over from head to foot. Then, without having to even touch him, he said, “I have good news. I know what is wrong with him, and I can assure you that he will have a full recovery!”
August’s eyes lit up. “Could it be true…?”
“Of course not!” Jason roared. “What is this s**t anyway?!?! This man is a fraud. I have been dealing with patients for decades but even I have no idea what this disease is. How could he? It is impossible. He didn’t even touch him!!!”
August’s face stiffened as he turned to Jason. “I am going to hear this man out,” he said. “If he fails, his reputation will be ruined, you will be reinstated as my father’s physician, and he will be on his ass. However, if you insist on carrying on this way and he succeeds, it will be your reputation and your ass, so I might watch my mouth if I were you.”
Jason’s face turned white, and he closed his mouth.
Now that that was settled, Ryan took out his silver needles. “Shall I proceed?”
Because Ryan had not produced a formal diagnosis, Blair was wary. She looked at her father and said, “This isn’t right. What if his treatment makes grandpa’s condition worse?”
“His life is on the line,” August replied. “He won’t f**k up.”
Ryan took a deep breath, and then he began to treat the old man. Once all of the needles had been inserted, he sat down and said, “He will be awake in an hour.”
***
The next sixty minutes felt like a lifetime, and as they reached their conclusion, August began to lose hope. Just as the time ran out, though, Darry began to cough. Shortly after that, he opened his eyes.
August was so excited that he held his father and began to cry tears of joy.
Jason could not believe what he was seeing. “It’s not possible,” he muttered.
Ryan went over to Jason, patted him on the shoulder, and said, “It is as I said. Is it not? It is not good to look down on young people just because they are young. If you had had your way, this man would still be in a coma.”
“I was wrong,” Jason admitted. “I apologize.”
Ryan nodded, and Jason slipped out of the room unnoticed.
August was so grateful that he knelt in front of Ryan and said, “Thank you so much! We are in your debt.”
Ryan pulled him up right away. He held his shoulders and said, “Please. No more of that. It is too much, sir. I am simply happy to have been able to help.”
Darry sat up and thanked Ryan, and while they were talking, August fetched a bank card from his room. He passed it to Ryan and said, “This card has a balance of fifty million dollars. Please take it as a reward.”
Ryan was delighted beyond measure, but he maintained a professional demeanor as he took the card and slipped it into his pocket. “Thank you, sir.”
“No,” August said. “Thank you.”
“He is not fully recovered,” Ryan noted. “But he is well on his way. Do you understand?”
August nodded and said that he did.
***
Linnet and Blair were chatting in the hallway, and when Jason pushed past them, they shouted after him to watch where he was going.
“If anyone could have saved him, I would have thought it would have been him,” Blair admitted. “I feel embarrassed…”
“You don’t need to.” Linnet smiled and said, “Anyway, what do you think of my friend now?”
"He is incredible,” Blair replied. “I felt like I was watching a magic trick!”
Linnet laughed, but the happy sound was cut short when Ryan pushed past her. He had only come for the money, and now that he had it, she could see that he was anxious to leave. She sighed and said, “I’m sorry, but I’ve got to go.”
“It’s alright. I’d like to spend some time with my grandpa anyway.”
Linnet chased after Ryan and as she got in the car, she asked him if he was available. Ryan raised an eyebrow and said, “Yeah. What’s up?”
“Can you go to a place with me?” she asked.
“Sure. Wherever you want.” Because of Linnet, Ryan had been able to treat Darry, so he figured he owed her. “Why don’t you drive?”
***
As they drove, Linnet suddenly began to feel sick, and she was forced to pull over in front of a strip mall. As she got out of the car, she turned to Ryan and said, “I need to use the restroom. Just stay in the car and wait for me.”
Linnet was gone for a long time, and eventually, Ryan got bored of waiting. He saw a fancy clothing store a short distance away, so he got off the car, and walked into it. As soon as he entered the store, though, he was accosted by his cousin, Bonnie Parker. “What are you doing here?” she growled. “Get out!”
- Writer
