Mac was amazed at how quickly Isabella took control of the situation when she approached to tell her she thought one of the paramedics might need help. Saito had already realized this before Mackenzie said anything, and when the neurologist mentioned it, Isabella simply walked calmly towards the group of paramedics. They had moved away from the trauma rooms and toward the nurses' desk area, where some had leaned on it, and others had spread out around the room. The paramedic that Isabella was looking for had leaned against one of the walls, and kept his head in his hands, as if trying to block out the sound of the horrible screams that were still coming from the room where they were treating the man who had been skinned alive.
Isa approached the man, took his hand and accompanied him to one of the medical observation boxes, attached to the walls of the room, which were around the nurses' desk. These boxes could be isolated a little from the rest of the emergency room with white curtains, and Isabella drew them once the paramedic had sat down on the observation bed. What surprised Mac the most was that the paramedic made no move to reject the psychologist, despite having no idea who she was. Something about the way she acted just made all introductions done, and clarified that she was there to help. Wilson approached the box and parted the curtains slightly to pass inside, closing them again after she passed.
The paramedic, who gave his name as Colin, really needed someone to help him express what was eating him up inside. Colin felt very guilty for not being able to get to the scene in time and rescue the workers before the storm hit them with all its fury. The fact that he had to wait inside the ambulance for the violence of the wind to subside, a few meters from the wounded, unable to do anything and listening to the screams of horror and pain of one of them, was killing him. Isa didn't work any magic, she didn't charm him with brainy logical reasoning about why he shouldn't feel that way. She simply spoke the right words to allow him to let out his pain and anger, while also making him understand that there was nothing he could have done to change the current situation.
The man soon broke down and let out his grief between sobs, completely broken. Mackenzie realized that this was what Isabella was looking for, so that Colin could vent and express her feelings. Once the paramedic was under control, Isabella referred him to a nurse to take him to a room to rest. The nurse also didn't know who Dr. Saito was, but she didn't hesitate to listen carefully to her as she indicated the patient's diagnosis, and immediately carried out her prescriptions. Then the psychologist went directly to inform Dr. Azarian, and also the head of the paramedic unit, who had followed Isabella's progress from behind with a look of distrust. However, they both listened and nodded as Isabella told them what was happening to Colin, and what needed to be done. The head of paramedics didn't seem very happy at first, but the calm and firm tone in Isa's words made him understand the seriousness of the situation, and finally he even ended up sincerely thanking the psychologist for her intervention. When Saito walked away, the man's gaze, previously full of distrust, was now one of sincere concern for his partner.
Mac couldn't help but think that Saito was a person with a complex personality. In private she seemed like a shy person, she could even seem insecure many times, like too worried about offending someone with her ideas or not being liked by others. However, on the professional side she was absolutely sure of herself, and her words were infused with such poise and truthfulness that no one had dared to contradict her. Even in an unfamiliar environment for her, such as Faith Haven Medical Center, she had managed to take control in a serious emergency situation, and care for a patient in need, even involving a medical staff who didn't knew her from nothing. Wilson couldn't avoid showing a light smile, and she had to admit that Dr. Saito was simply awesome in the exercise of his specialty..
Both women returned to the hallway of the trauma rooms, and watched as the doctors and nurses tried to resuscitate the injured and save their lives. They witnessed how three of them were transferred to operating rooms and the ICU, and witnessed how Dr. Azarian ruled out being able to save the fourth, and called Greta to help him with his transition.
Meyer entered the trauma room with determination and a sense of duty marked on his face, and accompanied and calmed the man until his last moment. Mac had never seen her do that. This type of assistance to the dying was something that members of the Church of such a high rank did not usually do, but rather were the task of officials with cleric rank. There were clerics assigned to the Medical Center, and there were even some who went in ambulances to serious accidents, to be able to accompany the injured and assist them if they died before they could be treated medically. Mac assumed that, apart from being trained to do so like all religious personnel, she would have had to do it in the past, when she was still a cleric, but Wilson had not known Meyer closely until years later, when she had a highest position on the scale of the Church, and mainly they had already made friends in Pygar.
However, the clergywoman had jumped in to assist that poor man without the slightest hesitation, and Mac knew that someone like Greta would never abandon someone at a time like this. The neurologist knew that in Meyer's mind she still had guilt for the flight from Gran Canaria and for all those who remained there, those who died alone. The monsignora would never avoid giving her hand to those who needed it, even if she risked her own skin in doing so. Likewise, Wilson knew that these types of accidents with the workers greatly affected Greta, because being a member of the government, she felt deeply responsible.
Once it was all over, Mackenzie noticed from the look on his face that Greta was not feeling well, and she confirmed it when she exploded against Dr. Azarian just for apologizing to her, believing that he had put her in a compromising situation. Meyer soon realized that she was being unfair, and that she was taking out her pain and anger on the poor doctor. She apologized and walked away, visibly embarrassed, but Isabella was able to catch up with her before she walked out the door. Mac didn't approach them, it seemed inappropriate to intervene at that moment and she knew that a close friend isn't usually the most suitable person to treat you when you are feeling psychologically bad. That's why she let Saito be the one to take care of the situation and talk to her. Mac watched as the psychologist said a few words to her in a calm tone, and finally gave her a hug. Greta's eyes filled with tears at that moment, as she nodded her head gratefully, sighed, and left through the door at the end of the hall.
Isabella returned to Wilson and once both women arrived at the reception to deal with the victims' families, Isabella agreed to take them to Wilson's medical office, for some privacy. Mac accommodated those people as best she could between the sofa, several chairs and the observation bed, while Isabella introduced herself. She quickly caught the subtle gesture that the psychologist made to her and she understood that she wanted her to take care of the children, while she attended to the adults and they talked about the hardest aspects.
Wilson approached Dante García's two children, while smiling at the mother. "If you'll excuse me, Mrs. Garcia, I think these two children will be delighted to see my collection of stethoscopes and see through my microscope." The children looked at Mackenzie with some fear, but she offered them the most radiant of her smiles and, taking her stethoscope from her neck, she gave it to the little girl. "Do you know that with this device you can hear heart sounds? And many other things too! And with my microscope you can see very small creatures that live in a drop of water! Do you want to see them with me?"
The curiosity of Dante García's children was stronger than their mistrust. After all, both of them would not be more than 7 years old, and at that age almost everything that is unusual is astonishing. They looked questioningly at her mother, whose face was full of tears, and she made an effort to smile as she encouraged them to leave with Mac. "Pay attention to the doctor, and be good to her while she teaches you all those things. And don't give her too much trouble." Mackenzie led the two children by the hand towards her desk on the other side of the office, and as she walked away she could see the smile fading from Mrs. Garcia's face as she paled slightly. Obviously, she wasn't stupid, and she had understood that the fact that her children were being taken away meant that the news wasn't going to be exactly good.
Saito began by speaking to the relatives of the victims who were still alive. The psychologist had chosen to give the least bad news first, surely so as not to keep the relatives of the injured who could be saved in suspense. While keeping the children distracted with the microscope and some knick-knacks that were always in his desk drawer, Mac paid close attention to the words Isabella used, the tone of her voice, and her body language, trying to learn from her and taking notes mentally about what she saw. It seemed that Isa didn't hesitate to accompany her words with light physical contacts with the patients, when she believed they might need it, holding her hands when she reported something distressing. Those people were worried, but the psychologist did not try to sugarcoat the situation or downplay its importance. She simply spoke with them in a direct and objective manner, but trying to convey as much calm as possible. At the end of the day, her loved ones were still alive, they had a chance, and hope was the last thing that should be lost.
Saito left Dante García's wife, Gabriela, for last, no doubt so that the anxiety and uncertainty of the other family members would not interfere with what Isa had to say to the poor woman. The woman's expression clearly showed that her worst fears were coming true, as Isa spoke, and she soon entered a phase of denial, as her face turned red and tears fell from her eyes. Saito consoled her, knowing that she was a believer in the Faith, explaining that in his last moments Greta had accompanied him at the end, and that his last words had been for his family. The psychologist showed tenderness and understanding in her words that made Mac shed some tears as well, until Gabriella García began to cry uncontrollably and her children also began to cry when listening to her. Wilson was startled, and couldn't stop the two from running to their mother to hug her, but fortunately they hadn't heard anything Isabella had said to her.
At that moment, everyone present shared Gabriella's deep pain at the death of her husband Dante, and they merged into a single sentient being. The feeling of empathy towards that devastated woman made all of them, including Mac, feel that horrible loss as their own, and the neurologist soon found herself hugging Gabriella and her children and giving them messages of encouragement, along with Isabella and the rest of the colonists. Wilson would remember that much later, as one of the episodes in her life in which she had deeply felt the presence of Deux, in that moment of human brotherhood in the face of misfortune.
A little calmer after having let off steam and having already come to terms with Dante's death, the woman wanted to see her husband's corpse. "I... I would like to see him, I want to say goodbye..."
Wilson took the woman's hand and shook her head. "It's better not to, Gabriella. You must not see him in the state he is in now, you must remember him as he was in life, because that is how he is now with Deux. You will be able to see his body again at the wake and at the ceremony in the Temple, to say goodbye to him, but remember that it is only a body. Dante is no longer there, now he resides in the whole immensity of the universe with Deux. He will always be among us even if we cannot see him. He will be with you and will accompany you until you meet again."
Soon Isabella and Mac left the medical office, leaving the family members there so they could wait in complete privacy, instead of sending them to one of the waiting rooms, where they would be exposed to the gaze of any stranger. The neurologist told a nurse to bring those people hot and relaxing infusions, and she would pay attention to what they asked for.
"Stay up to date on patients status." Mac pointed to the door of her office. "If they get better, let them know, but if they don't and the worst happens, inform Dr. Saito and me immediately."
The two doctors went back to the reception, and Wilson fell into one of the chairs in the waiting room, exhausted. Anticipating some reaction from Isabella, Mackenzie raised her hand. "I'm fine Isa." She looked into her eyes, so the psychologist could see that she was telling the truth. "It's just... All those emotions... It's been almost a cathartic moment. All my life I've read treatises on Psychology in which it was said that the psychologist should remain distant from the patient's emotions, but it has been impossible for me. And seeing poor Gabriella's reaction, I think she was grateful that we were feeling her pain. I think there's nothing like feeling pain like that, alone."
Once Wilson was calmer she stood up. "Well, as long as there are no more updates on the injured workers' status, I don't think we can do anything here." She took a few steps towards the exit door, looked outside, and returned to Saito. "I don't know where Greta is, but I guess she's taking a break. I had never seen her like this. She's a strong woman, but usually doesn't have to face these types of catastrophes first hand. She's a biologist, is more comfortable in laboratories, and since she's a member of the Government, her place is more behind an office table. Of course, like everyone else, she experienced horrible things in Gran Canaria, but... she isn't used to seeing death so closely." Mackenzie shrugged, looking sad. "I just know that when she's ready she'll meet us again. Greta isn't one of those who leave a task half done, and she has taken accompanying you on your visit as a duty. In the meantime, if that's ok for you, we'll take the opportunity to see the floors above, and then I'll stop by the room of my patient, Matt Brennan, the one with mercury inhalation poisoning. As I told you, I want to check his condition before leave Pygar, and if the treatment that I ordered has already been given to him."
Wilson and Saito headed to one of the internal elevators and went up to the first floor. This floor, along with the two immediately above it, was clearly an area of rooms for inpatients. The floors were also white tiles, as in the rest of the medical center, and the walls of the hallways were also white, with a blue stripe halfway up. Both women were able to see some nurses and medical personnel passing each other in the hallways, and a Gendarmerie officer standing guard at the corner of an intersection.
"The rooms we've here are shared, for two people, and there are 41 per floor." Mac explained as they walked past the doors and past a nurse checkpoint. "Normally we try to put people alone in each room, so that it's quieter, unless everyone is already occupied and then we start filling the second beds. Fortunately, this rarely happens, we've many more hospitalization places than we normally need, but prevention is always better than cure, and even more so in Pygar."
They soon arrived before a room door next to which the number 124 was written on a plastic sign. Mac entered the room carefully, so as not to scare the patient if he happened to be asleep. On the bed lay a large, bald man, with several days' worth of beard and a haggard appearance. He had his eyes closed and breathed, making an unpleasant whistle each time he exhaled. A thin tube supplying oxygen went directly to his nose, and he had an intravenous catheter placed in his arm that led to a bag hanging from a stand, containing a clear liquid. As soon as Wilson reached the foot of the bed the man opened his eyes and smiled.
"Oh, hello Dr. Wilson. I thought you were already gone." The man looked at Saito with curiosity. "Hello to you too, doctor." He turned his head back to Mackenzie with an evil smile. "My situation is so bad that you have brought reinforcements?"
Wilson laughed heartily, while checking the patient's status on the medical bed monitors. "Not at all, Matt. At least you aren't worse than a few hours ago when you entered here. This is my colleague Dr. Isabella Saito, from Med Force Enterprises. She is the one I'm going to study Psychology with."
Matt nodded, understanding, and addressed Isa again. "So you're the one who takes Dr. Wilson. Well, then you know that you are getting the best one here. If it hadn't been for her, right now I would still be blaming myself for the accident my tunneling machine caused in the galleries. She discovered that my mask was damaged and that I had been breathing in all that poison."
Mac smiled. "It's my job Matt, and I'm not the best. I do what I can like everyone else." Wilson looked up from the monitors and approached the bag with the clear liquid. "Has Dr. Vasquez been here?"
"Yes, she's the one who gave me that thing." Matt pointed with his free arm at the bag. "That's what you said, right? That thing that's going to get the mercury out of my body."
Wilson made an optimistic gesture. "If everything goes well, yes, and you know that I have high hopes because we caught the poisoning in time. If we can eliminate mercury, then treating your lungs and Parkinson's will be much easier. So far, from what I see on the biomonitor, you haven't gotten worse, and that's very good. However, it is too early to draw conclusions, we'll have to wait and see."
The man smiled, confidently. "Don't worry, I'm tough. This is not going to end me." Matt ran his hand over his unshaven face. "Before dinner, Laura and the kid are going to come see me, when she gets off work. How am I, doctor? I want them to see me well."
"I think they're not going to care what you look like, Matt. With being able to see you they can be happy. You're very lucky we were able to catch this in time. If the poisoning had been even worse, I don't know if anything could have been done.
Matt dismissed the issue with a gesture of his free arm, without losing good humor. "Let's thank Deux then, for granting me your medical expertise."
Mackenzie shook her head slightly and laughed. "Well Matt, I see everything in order, for now. Dr. Saito and I are leaving now. Dr. Vasquez will take care of you for the rest of the treatment, and don't worry, I will be on top of everything even if I'm away. If you need anything you can request a video conference with me and I will be happy to assist you as soon as possible."
"Don't worry about it, Dr. Wilson. By the time you get back I'll be up and working again."
Mac and Saito left the room and closed the door. The neurologist took a few steps away from the door and then stood in front of Isabella. "That man is the paradigm of optimism, really. It doesn't matter how many times I tell him that his condition is serious, and that although I have hope for the treatment, I've no guarantee that it will work. And if it doesn't work..." Mac's mouth twisted in disgust. "Well, if it doesn't work then I'll have to ask MFE to give us a hand, because the mercury accumulated in his brain and lungs will end up killing him in a horrible and slow way." Wilson paused thoughtfully and continued. "I really don't know to what extent it's a good thing for patients to have that degree of constant optimism. From experience I know that if things don't go well, the higher up they are morally, the more suddenly they tend to fall. But I don't usually know very well how to make them put their feet on the ground. I guess that's something I'll learn during my studies with you." Mac smiled again, radically changing the subject. "Anyway, since we're at it, and if it's okay with you, we'll routinely visit a few more patients I've. Then I think I'll show you the rehabilitation rooms on the top floors. We won't be able to enter the operating rooms, because they are sterilized, but I imagine they won't be anything spectacular for you. Afterwards, I think it's best that we look for Greta and end the visit to the hospital." The neurologist winked at Saito conspiratorially. "We can still stop by that Cretan fashion store you wanted to go to."
