From the Edge
Please see the disclaimer on the Synposis page.
"You're telling me my patient needs more medication?"
"Your patient is in pain, doctor."
"You have one thing right, he is my patient, Doctor Monroe," Randell stated, defensively. "I will decide how much pain medication he can receive."
Dr. Randell had checked on his patient earlier that morning and noticed that someone had changed the level of pain medication that Peter Caine was receiving. It was also at that moment that he had been summoned into Doctor Monroe's office which was where they were right now. They had been arguing for almost an hour.
"If you thought my patient needed a higher dose of medication, why didn't you call me?"
"You were not the attending physician and 'your patient' was screaming at the top of his lungs last night. I wasn't about to let him remain in pain or disturb other patients."
"Doctor, its Peter Caine, again. He keeps screaming that he's in pain. Captain and Mrs. Blaisdell are here, they wish to see you."
Doctor Monroe gave Doctor Randell an 'I told you so' look.
"All right, double the dosage," Doctor Randell sighed.
"Again?"
"Just do it, nurse," said Doctor Monroe.
A slight smile appeared on Doctor Randell's face. This was working out better than he planned. Right now, though, he would have to put on an air of concern. The Blaisdells requested his presence and it would not do him any good to tip his hand. There was also another reason. Paul Blaisdell was a cop. He certainly did not want him becoming suspicious. Then an idea formed in his head and he was certain he would be in the clear for this. He knew exactly who to pin on the blame. But Peter Caine was not ready. He needed to fall just one more time into the depths of hell to really know the truth. Tonight he will administer two more injections, each larger than the last. With the added dosage of morphine he was already getting, his downward spiral was an absolute certainty. Now it was time to lay down a false trail.
Doctor Randell entered Peter Caine's room to see Captain and Mrs. Blaisdell sitting by their foster son's bedside. A look of dismay was present on their faces. Doctor Randell's gaze fell briefly on the face of the young man lying in the bed. His features were pinched with pain and he was once again caught up in another nightmare, his face covered in sweat.
"No, Pop, please. The pain, it hurts. Please make it stop."
"Please, Doctor," Annie pleaded. "There must be something you can do. He's in terrible pain. Maybe you missed something during the surgery."
"I assure you Mrs. Blaisdell, he will be fine. We've given him as much medication as we dare. But if it will ease your mind, I will see what I can do."
Doctor Randell called the nurse on the patient's call button.
"Yes, Doctor?" A different nurse entered the room.
"Would you please adjust the patient's medication." Dr. Randell took Peter's chart and wrote down a new number and showed it to the nurse. The nurse then went over to the autmatic drip system and adjusted the controls. Within five minutes, Peter Caine's features softened into sleep.
"I have other patients to attend to. I will send a nurse in a couple of hours to check his vital signs."
Captain Blaisedell remained silent for a few more moments after the Doctor left. He wanted to be certain that he would not be overheard.
"I don't like that man."
'Why, he said he was doing everything for Peter."
"Annie, you know there was a nurse in here five minutes before the Doctor came in. I saw her adjusting the machine for Peter's medication. And now they adjusted it a second time."
"What are you saying?"
"I think they're trying to overdose our son."
End of Part 4
Alisa Joaquin Copyright@2001.
This story cannot be reprinted or sold in any other form without strict permission from the author. It is being distributed here solely for your enjoyment.
Synopsis / Next Part
Back to Temple Tales / Contact
Alisa