After our meeting with David. Now without the box full of documents in my trunk. We said goodbye to the excited journalist, who could not wait to begin writing such a big story, especially since he had to verify for himself everything we had told him.
With nothing left to do other than have breakfast at the cafeteria, Diane and I decided to spend the rest of the morning in Houston, after all we had already made the trip there and there were a couple of art galleries she wanted to visit.
Later that day, after dropping Diane off at home, I arrived at the hospital thinking about how I could find out whether Vogler had kept his word or not, if the news was not already spreading through the hospital like hot gossip. It was not as if I could just go around asking.
Fortunately I did not have to think too much.
Mandy, who was not behind the reception desk as she normally would be, quickly approached me. "What did you do?" she asked, apparently she had been waiting for some time.
For the sake of my peace of mind, I noticed that despite the way she had approached me, practically running and with apparent anxiety on her face, at no point did I detect that she was actually worried, neither for me nor for her, for anything. She really just seemed completely interested in new gossip, in fact ecstatic to have the scoop.
And given that nothing out of the ordinary had really happened between the previous day and that moment, aside from my visit with Vogler, I could imagine what was happening, even if Mandy herself did not know.
Mentally preparing myself for anything Vogler might have done in a day. "What did I do about what?" I asked immediately, not really expecting an answer.
Shrugging her shoulders. "I don't know" the nurse replied, "Dr. Cuddy wants you to go to her office immediately" nodding slowly she opened her eyes in an exaggerated way.
Exhaling. "How was she?" I asked crossing my arms, "did she seem angry?"
Despite my question I knew, thanks to Mandy's body language at the moment she said it and the immediate reaction to my question, that Dr. Cuddy was not upset at all, I could in fact bet it was completely the opposite.
Shaking her head immediately. "No, no, no" Mandy replied, "not angry, she seemed excited, even euphoric" she added snorting, "what did you do?" she asked again, leaning toward me extremely interested.
Frowning, I shook my head thinking deeply. This time genuinely puzzled.
It was clear that the excitement in Dr. Cuddy had something to do with Vogler's donation, it was quite obvious, the problem was knowing how I was involved... At least publicly.
Thanking Mandy and promising, under pressure from the nurse, an immediate update when I knew what was happening. I continued my way through the hospital corridors, greeting whoever I crossed paths with but, silently, thinking about all the possible reasons or ways in which Vogler could have involved me.
I knew there was no way Vogler would be stupid enough to admit the way I had ensured the donation stayed in the hospital. And, given how arrogant the man was, there was no way he would give me credit for his change of decision making me look good, it had to be another way, definitely.
Upon entering Dr. Cuddy's office, without having to pass first through her secretary since she was not at her desk, I was surprised to find not only the doctor, but a bunch of the suited men whom I recognized only from the few administrative meetings I had attended.
Smiling broadly, an expression that the rest of the administrators in the office imitated, Dr. Cuddy took a couple of steps toward me. "PJ!" she said extremely excited, immediately guiding me to one of the chairs in front of her desk "what was it that you did?"
I was wrong, Vogler had made me look good.
It was the third time I heard the question that day and again, I had no answer, at least not one I was willing to share. "I dont know..." I said shaking my head slowly pretending to be completely puzzled.
Fortunately I was not the only one without an answer to that question in the room, no one there knew more than I would have liked, not about my visit to his hotel and of course not about all the information the nurses had gathered for me.
"Well, whatever it was, it definitely worked" the doctor declared cheerfully, "Vogler will keep the donation in the hospital, this time with no strings attached."
Pretending surprise. "What?" I exclaimed, secretly studying the reactions of everyone present, none suspected my innocence.
Whatever Vogler's move was, it did not put me in danger, at least not immediately.
"I would never have thought that a man like Vogler would do something like that without gaining anything in return" said Dr. Cuddy, practically spitting Vogler's name, "and after the way he left the hospital, it was practically a given it would not be here."
Avoiding smiling. "Yeah... who would have thought" I murmured scratching the back of my neck.
Nodding slowly the doctor smiled excited. "No one, but you, you did something that made him change his mind" she declared snorting, "of course you did" she murmured shaking her head amused a moment later.
"Well, I don't know what it could have been" I said becoming more and more interested in what Vogler had used as an excuse, "what exactly did he say?" I asked, once again searching in the reactions of those present.
"Oh he did not show up here" Dr. Cuddy replied while searching inside her jacket, "he just sent a message for you," she said as she pulled out an envelope, "one of his lawyers delivered it, Vogler had to be in New York for some reason."
I bet he did.
Taking the letter from Dr. Cuddy's hand while checking everyone's expressions for any clue, I mentally debated whether I could find some way to open the letter in private. Unfortunately with so many smiling faces between the door to freedom and me, there was no way I could escape without reading the contents of the letter in front of them.
Clearing my throat, I nodded resignedly completely hiding it from showing on my face.
With a sigh I opened the envelope without much care for what was inside, and slowly took out the letter under the expectant gazes of everyone present.
Taking advantage of the fact that everyone was standing in front of me, I quickly read silently everything I could before noticing nervous movements in my periphery, and having to read out loud.
"Patrick John Duncan" I read with well hidden displeasure, "I realized that in all our conversations" yeah right "I never told you the story of how I started with the support of my father-" after that there was a long, and extremely boring, section of a surely exaggerated story of how he had reached the point where he was, "- in summary, what I mean to say is that, like me, you need someone to bet on you, to cultivate your talent and to believe in you, those of us who can have the obligation to do so" I continued this time making little effort to hide my expressions, "I hope that with this donation the hospital can help many people, but above all you, I will be watching you, never very far. Edward Vogler."
Finishing the letter, I reread it mentally, skipping a large part of the content, before throwing it indifferently onto Dr. Cuddy's desk.
It was obvious, at least to me, that the note did not have a single sincere word. It was a reminder and a threat at the same time, Vogler would not forget about me.
Returning my attention to the hospital administrators, I noticed how all the suited men, having lost their smiles, were speaking in whispers among themselves. Dr. Cuddy meanwhile with a frown remained silent clearly puzzled.
Deciding that the best course of action would be to pretend surprise. "Uh" I exhaled, leaning back into the chair, managing to snap the doctor in front of me out of her trance.
Nodding slowly, with her jaw extremely tense, Dr. Cuddy snorted annoyed. "It was quite obvious what is going on here" she declared pressing her lips, "but even so it is strange to hear it directly" she commented, "given your closeness with House anyone would think that he would bequeath you-"
"Hatred, disgust, repulsion?" I completed for her interested, "yeah" I murmured a moment later while Dr. Cuddy nodded.
Raising her eyebrows. "I don't know how I could not see it before, it is so obvious" Dr. Cuddy crossed her arms, she seemed disappointed in herself.
It was impossible for the doctor to recognize the threat of the letter, and even more impossible for her to suspect me. "What?" I asked.
Smiling ironically, pointing at the letter on her desk with fury in her eyes. "He is trying to recruit you" she declared pressing her lips.
Unable to avoid it as I was caught off guard, I snorted loudly. "Recruit?" I forced myself, holding my chin, not to laugh out loud.
"Yes" crossing her arms, Dr. Cuddy nodded, "regardless of what he thinks of House, he clearly recognizes talent where there is" she pointed at me from head to toe, "I can't belive that bastard" she exclaimed practically spitting bile.
Amused, pressing my lips tightly, since I did not trust myself to avoid laughing any other way, I could only watch as Dr. Cuddy began to hyperventilate in annoyance, with every passing moment the woman, who did not seem able to take her eyes off the letter on her desk, grew more and more upset.
Snatching the letter from her desk, Dr. Cuddy tore the sheet in disgust, throwing the remains into the trash. "Well, very kind of him" she declared biting each word, "unfortunately it is not going to work, your future is much more important for you to end up in that kind of company" she declared raising her finger.
Genuinely moved by how highly the woman thought of me. "Thank you" I said smiling.
Visibly nervous upon hearing Dr. Cuddy's words. "Of course Edward does not need to know that" exclaimed one of the suited men drawing my attention. Together with the rest of the men they approached me until they almost completely surrounded me.
"Yes, in fact if possible it would be a great idea to do the opposite and thank Edward for reconsidering his donation" another man added.
Hell no.
Feigning genuine interest. "You have contact with him, right?" a third asked.
I knew he was pretending because in his poor attempt to seem nonchalant all his body language screamed how nervous he was about my answer, I quickly deduced why.
"Oh yeah" I responded lying naturally, "I have had a way to communicate with Vogler at any time since he arrived at the hospital" I added easily, "it would only take a call."
With a rigid smile on his face. "Oh that's great" the man murmured being echoed by the rest of those present.
Sharing glances, the lawyers, accountants and whatever the rest of those suited men were, nervously returned their attention to me.
They were afraid that anything I do might mean breaking even more bridges with Vogler, thereby losing the opportunity to receive more money, with the 'kind' letter he had sent me it seemed that somehow this time it could depend on me.
The same man who had taken control of the conversation, smiling broadly. "Since we are all here, we were wondering how you have felt at the hospital?" he asked so falsely interested that even Dr. Cuddy frowned in displeasure.
Unable to avoid it I smiled, considering whether or not to play with the feelings of the extremely rigid men. "It's been great" I finally responded after a few seconds of silence, enough to truly make the men nervous.
Breaking into a genuine smile. "Great" the man sighed, "that's amazing" he added visibly relieved, as was the rest.
Snorting, Dr. Cuddy made space between the men in front of me. "All right, that's enough, I'm sure PJ has things to do and learn" she said emphasizing the end.
Murmuring and nodding the men finally stepped away from me, allowing me to stand up.
Sharing a smile with Dr. Cuddy, I nodded to the men ready to leave.
"If you need anything PJ, and I mean anything at all, you let us know" said the man.
Stopping under the doorframe, I thought for a second, maybe Vogler's letter could be useful to me after all.
"Well... now that you mention it" I murmured turning on my feet, "I don't know if you know, but I spend a large part of my day in the skills lab" I declared and I could practically see everyone's posture straighten, including Dr. Cuddy, "and to be honest the place could use better things" I added showing exaggerated disappointment, something that visibly affected everyone.
I knew that the hospital, like many hospitals of similar size in the country, were very behind in high-end equipment, things that cost hundreds of thousands, even millions of dollars but, I also knew that new 'toys' for the skill lab would not be much of a problem, after all the hospital had one hundred million dollars available.
"Better materials to practice sutures, maybe CPR practice mannequins, intubation, laryngoscopies, venipunctures, IV catheters, things like that" I listed remembering everything I had ever had available to practice for hundreds of hours.
If I did not want my technique to rust I needed the best to practice.
Without needing me to say more. "Of course" the man responded, who now it was clear to me was some kind of legal representative or similar for the hospital, perhaps the head of the administrative team, "it was part of our budget plan from before, it is an obvious move to improve the learning tools."
Judging by the micro expressions of both him and the people behind him, including Dr. Cuddy, it was a lie, but it did not matter now.
"In fact, if I can be a little greedy" I said remembering something important, "the mannequins and synthetic simulators are surely excellent for learning, but surely there is nothing better than something real" I added focusing on Dr. Cuddy, "and given that I am not allowed to practice with the hospital's cadavers, maybe getting some pigs to practice procedures?" I asked genuinely hopeful.
I myself had practiced trauma simulations with fully anesthetized pigs, but those simulations had to be shared with several students in one group, if there was a way to practice procedures on my own, it would greatly help my goal of becoming a surgeon.
Immediately, all the suited men joined together to murmur, obviously discussing the pros and cons of fulfilling my request. Dr. Cuddy meanwhile, amused, shook her head.
Finally, as one, the men faced me with smiles on their faces. "There may be some issues with you working on live pigs, but I am sure we can work around it" declared the one who had become the representative.
Nodding, happy with the sudden victory that Vogler, unknowingly, had given me, I said goodbye heading immediately to the diagnostics lounge.
I knew there was no way I could avoid the news of the donation being linked to me from spreading through the hospital, not with so many people in Cuddy's office, so I needed to get to House first in order to control, as best as possible, the inevitable.
Crossing the lounge ignoring that there was no one in the room, I entered House's office knocking on the doorframe without paying attention, I was mentally formulating a plan to break the news to House without appearing more involved than the hospital would know.
"Well, look who is here" House said immediately, "the hospital savior."
Raising my gaze at House's voice, I stopped short upon seeing not only House, but Dr. Wilson who was looking at me with disbelief.
Of course, Dr. Wilson.
Throwing away any half-made plan I had, I nodded. "Yeah well, someone had to do it" I said without losing a second, with exaggerated arrogance.
"Don't inflate your head so much, it's just money" House said with disdain.
"One hundred million actually, which you lost" I commented innocently.
Laughing dryly. "He got you there" Dr. Wilson stretched.
Making an uninterested face. "He definitely thinks so" House commented ironically, "now tell me, what did you do?" he asked me.
Once again I heard the question, and once again I had no answer. At least not without House becoming suspicious.
So I diverged.
Shrugging. "I don't know" I said disinterestedly moving to one of the empty chairs, "what I do know is that now the suits love me" I declared arrogantly, with a bit of luck enough for House to ignore my lack of answer.
Smiling broadly, visibly interested. "What did you get?" Dr. Wilson asked.
"A bunch of new toys for the skills lab, and hopefully a couple of pigs" I responded forcing myself not to study House's reaction, that way I would have no way of knowing if he was suspicious, but I could not give him more reasons to be.
"You can't wait to get something to kill huh?" House asked.
Relieved as it seemed that House had bought my divergence. "Ha ha" I laughed falsely.
Leaning back in his chair, putting his feet up on his desk. "Yeah it's funny isn't" House declared,
"the life of a pig is a joke" he added sarcastically.
"Oh please, you know as well as I do that those pigs are treated in the most humane way possible" Dr. Wilson said annoyed.
"Yeah they are kidnapped, put to sleep and then stabbed so that an idiot who can't tell the difference between red and yellow wets himself trying to save them, the most humane treatment possible" House snorted.
Relieved as it seemed my divergence had worked. "I don't like the selfless treatment of a pig's life more than any other sane person" I said, "but I have to learn somehow."
Looking at me seriously. "I suppose it's true" House murmured, "better a pig than a family man" he added shrugging.
Ready to leave the office and actually return to the skills lab, I was about to stand up, but House stopped me.
"Now, why don't you answer my question?" he asked, placing his arms behind his head smiling meaningfully.
Fuck.
The days passed and aside from getting all the new equipment in the skills lab and several pigs that I could only handle under strict supervision of an anesthesiologist and a doctor to guide me in whatever technique I wanted to learn, nothing new happened in my life, at least not until David's article was finally published.
The day started like any other day, Gabe and I went out for our morning run through the neighborhood as always we greeted the same people who had already started their own routine and we returned home ready to take a shower and break the fast.
Entering the kitchen, each of us taking a glass of water already prepared by mom, Gabe and I hydrated ourselves practically inhaling the water.
Snorting amused at seeing our state. "How was the run?" mom asked.
"A walk in the park" I laughed, coughing a bit as I set the glass back on the kitchen counter.
"It was a great run, we shaved fifteen seconds" Gabe declared with a certain arrogance.
"Really?" I asked surprised.
Gabe just nodded. Proudly I raised my fist which my brother immediately bumped.
For some time Gabe had been timing our runs and since we always ran the same route, my brother took it as a personal challenge to improve our time, which honestly did not interest me much, for me the morning run in addition to being part of my routine was a form of meditation, it helped me think about whatever was happening and what worried me about the future, I would not mind if it could last longer, but that did not mean I planned to in any way avoid Gabe losing the excitement it gave him to improve.
The kitchen door opened showing Bob's back with Charlie peeking over his shoulder. "Good morning" he said, receiving a chorus of responses from everyone present.
Before Bob could even notice who was in the kitchen. "We broke our record" Gabe declared excited.
Turning quickly on his feet. "Really?" Bob asked incredulous, smiling at my brother.
Puffing out his chest with pride. "Fifteen seconds" Gabe replied.
"Fifteen?" Bob exclaimed, something Charlie found incredibly amusing, "that's amazing" he added taking Gabe under his arm, at least for a second, as he quickly discovered all the sweat on my brother's neck and clothes.
Leaving the newspaper on the kitchen counter, Bob quickly wiped his arm with napkins before holding Gabe's shoulder, this time careful where he placed his hand. "You two should be running track" he said shaking my brother.
Leaning on the kitchen counter, still trying to fully catch my breath. "It's all him" I said pointing at Gabe with my head, "these days I can barely keep up with his pace" I added exaggerating a bit.
Seeing my brother's embarrassed smile given Bob's proud pats, I lowered my head amused, seeing for a second, the front page of the newspaper. Frozen, I snapped my gaze back to the black and white image of the Eastbrook Pharmaceutical logo.
Obviously I knew the article would be published but, having agreed with David my lack of involvement after our meeting, I had no idea when it would be.
Immediately taking the newspaper from the counter, I quickly searched for the article page.
Somehow mom, who was several steps away from me, had moved first to my side, peeking next to my arm. "What is it?" she asked worried.
Finally finding the article, I raised my face noticing how the rest of the people older than one year of life were looking at me strangely. Apparently in my surprise I had moved very abruptly.
Pointing at the article in the newspaper. "It's Vogler's company" I replied showing the surprise that I took advantage of from my genuine initial reaction, "fraud."
Snatching the newspaper from my hands. "What?" mom asked incredulous.
Entering through the kitchen door visibly having woken up only a few seconds ago. "What's going on?" Teddy asked with a hoarse voice while rubbing her eyes.
Now completely uninterested. "Some news" Gabe said pointing at mom and me, "well, I'm going to take a shower" he added a moment later walking out of the kitchen under more proud pats from Bob.
Coming out of his morning daze stretching his arms. "Meredith is in the bathroom, don't bother her" Teddy warned seriously.
Passing by Teddy through the kitchen door. "Yeah yeah" my brother muttered.
Reading over mom's shoulder, I rediscovered impressed David's ability to summarize and it was also clear how well he had understood Diane's mathematical explanation because, without pointing the blame at anyone David had established the suspicion directly on the company setting out easily understandable facts weaving a story that put the company under serious accusations of illicit dealings and fraud related to the FDA.
The source, as David had written, was an anonymous person from inside the company, there was no mention at all of the hospital and strangely of Vogler.
Having read in silence, mom shook her head impressed. "I can't believe it" she said snorting as she put the newspaper back on the counter.
"Well, I can" I murmured amused.
"Me too, I never met the man but from what I heard he sounded like a complete a-hole" Bob said, correcting himself at the last part just in time upon seeing Charlie in his arms, "it does not surprise me that something dirty is discovered in his company."
Of course there was still no mention of Vogler, despite him being the majority owner, there would be no reason for people who did not know him to suspect the man, I knew that if David was as good a journalist as I imagined the story would not end there and I hoped that in a not too distant future, the idiot's name would appear on the front page.
Still surprised, with her mouth slightly open. "And his company was doing tests at the hospital" mom said worried, "I don't even want to imagine what would have happened if this came to light and the hospital was still involved" she added.
Knowing that would be impossible to happen. "Nothing good" I declared thoughtfully.
Coming out of her initial stupor. "I have to talk to the girls" mom said moving quickly to the phone.
Snorting amused. "All right, I'm going to take a shower too" I said walking out of the kitchen.
Hearing me Teddy who was in front of me on the way to the door, with exaggerated disgust on her face covered her nose the moment I passed in front of her.
Pretending to be offended. "Don't you do that" I said stopping in front of her, "you hurt my feelings and only make me want to give you a big hug" I added moving quickly toward her.
Stretching her arms, forcing me away from her. "No!" Teddy exclaimed curling up against a wall.
With the phone next to her ear. "Don't bother your sister" mom ordered.
"I'm just showing a bit of the love I have for my little sister" I said offended, "just a small hug, come on" I added gesturing to Teddy who was now sitting on the floor.
Covering her head with both arms. "No please, it's gross" Teddy pleaded.
At that moment the kitchen door opened and Meredith, with her hair a bit of a mess, entered yawning. "Morning" she said with her slightly hoarse voice.
Stopping her conversation with whoever had shift at the hospital. "Good morning honey" mom replied.
Smiling at the still sleepy teenager. "Breakfast is almost ready" Bob commented who no longer had Charlie in his arms and was now cooking.
Looking at Teddy who was still hugging her head on the kitchen floor. "Why are you on the floor?" Meredith asked.
Releasing my sister from her torment, I moved away from Teddy smiling widely at the other teenager. "She is scared of a small hug" I said sweetly, "just a small hug, Mer" I added opening my arms, walking slowly toward her.
Coming out of her morning daze. "Stop!" Meredith shouted and without waiting ran out of the kitchen.
Walking out of the kitchen, still with my arms open. "It's just a small hug" I said incredulous, causing an amused laugh from Bob.
Time continued to pass and the news slowly grew, and with it as I had expected Vogler began to appear on the covers replacing his company's logo, the headlines also changed, from things like 'The government investigates' to, 'Millionaire businessman denies involvement, former employees speak' somehow what Diane had found, like a snowball, began to grow and slowly more information appeared.
For entire days at the hospital there was no other topic of conversation, which fortunately caused House to completely despise the topic. Cutting off anyone who tried to interrupt his time watching soap operas or reading his magazines, allowing me to spend all my time at the hospital, at least my free time without clinic, in the skills lab or working on pigs in comas induced by anesthesia with no one else but Cameron, who for some reason had transferred from the diagnostics team to the emergency room.
In general a great time.
As the days passed the last week of August arrived and with it also the end of summer vacation. At the airport, while mom, Teddy and Meredith cried with the last two in a big hug, we all prepared to say goodbye to Meredith who had become part of the family.
Following the hug of the two teenagers, mom pulled Meredith tightly. "Oh honey, of course you can come back during winter vacation" mom responded to what she had surely understood from the tearful goodbye between Teddy and Meredith "and you can call at any time, do not hesitate for a moment" she added separating from the teenager to look at her seriously in the eyes, at least as serious as one could with all the tears, "and if you need anything just say it and I will go to Boston even if it means I have to drive there" she pulled her once more wrapping her in another hug.
Carefully separating the two blondes who were still crying. "All right, all right" Bob said softly, "if you keep this up she is going to miss her flight" he added giving a hug of his own to Meredith, "be good and call often" he murmured with his voice slightly breaking pressing the teenager tightly.
Even though he tried to hide it, Bob was with all his strength, avoiding breaking and also starting to cry.
Avoiding laughing at Bob's poor attempt at stoicism, I approached Meredith with my arms open this time, unlike that morning, my sister immediately crashed into my chest. "Oh Mer" I said rubbing her back as I felt the moisture of her tears on my shirt, "it's going to be all right" I assured her.
"You don't know that" I managed to make out among all the babbling of the teenager, "my mom-" she added among other things I could no longer understand.
"Yes I do" I responded immediately, "after all, no matter what others say, you are extraordinary" I whispered remembering one of our first conversations.
Laughing while still pressed against my chest, Meredith shook her head, making me secretly worry about any mucus stuck to my clothes, of course I would not say anything about it.
After me, Diane who was next to me, also said goodbye to Meredith with a tight hug.
Gabe also said goodbye with a quick hug allowing Teddy and Meredith to join in another hug until the airport speakers announced the flight to Boston.
Waiting until the flight landed, with one less person in our group, we returned home.
---
All right, this marks the end of Vogler (for now...) and in theory according to my notes, the 'end' of the first volume of the book (approximately 34 chapters more than I expected).
I say in theory because, I still actually have a couple of things to develop in this volume.
For some reason that I do not remember I had in my mind the idea of quickly finishing this volume in order to get to the next one, I feel now that I have no reason to rush things.
Maybe some of you feel that the plot is not advancing, but from how I see it the development as it is planned, allows me to establish much better the foundations for the future of the story. (I am interested to know what you think)
Nothing more for the moment.
---
Author Thoughts:
As always, I'm not American, not a doctor, not a fighter, not Magnus Carlsen, not Michael Phelps, not Arsene Lupin, not McLovin, not Elliot, not Capone, not Tiger Woods and not Sam Fisher.
Another chapter has passed, so new thanks are in order. I would like to especially thank:
11332223
Victor_Venegas
RandomPasserby96
I think that's all. As always, if you find any errors, please let me know, and I'll correct them immediately.
Thank you for reading! :D
PS: PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW.