--- Part 3 ---

Sally Po shook her head. “I’m a surgeon, Noin.”

“But you’re still a doctor,” the lieutenant persisted. “Could you just examine her?”

Reluctantly, Sally nodded. “I’m also going to check the physician directory and see if I know any one here.”

Noin gave her a grateful smile. “Thank you, Sally.”

“I haven’t done anything, yet,” the major replied and then entered Relena’s room.

A few moments later, Quatre appeared and handed her a cup of coffee. “How is she?” he asked, as Noin sipped the bitter brew.

“Sally’s taking a look at her now,” Noin said. “They don’t know what is causing the infection, but Relena’s story about an injection would make sense.”

The Arabian nodded, absently drinking his coffee as well. In his mind, he vividly saw the tracts on Relena’s arms, hinting at some of the torture she had faced. His grip on the cup tightened dangerously.

‘If only Heero or the others had gotten a hold of you, Isom,’ Quatre thought with uncharacteristic bitterness. He shook his head. ‘What’s done, is done.’ Taking the last gulp of his coffee, he threw the cup into a nearby trashcan and walked over to talk to Trowa.

* * * * *

Sally walked up to the nurses’ station. A young woman looked up from her work with a friendly, sympathetic smile. Setting the pile of papers aside, she looked up at Sally.

“Can I help you, ma’am?” she asked.

Sally nodded. “I was wondering if you had a directory or list of the physicians in this hospital and their specialties. Do you?”

“I know we do have one around here somewhere,” the nurse replied, already digging through piles of books in the drawers of the desks. “Ah, here it is. Is there a problem? I will try my best to help.”

“I’m sure you would, Gillian,” Sally said, reading the nurse’s name off her tag. “I return this to you in a few minutes.”

“If you need anything else, let me know, ma’am,” Gillian replied. “That’s why we’re here.”

As Sally turned to go back into Relena’s room, she smiled at the young nurse’s enthusiasm. ‘If only everyone remembered that,’ the surgeon reflected ruefully. ‘If only more of us remembered that.’

* * * * *

“Dr. Wiebe seems to be doing everything he can for Relena,” Sally said as she told Miliardo and the others her opinion.

“However, like I told Noin,” she continued, “I’m a surgeon. So, Relena’s case is outside my specialty. But I did find a friend in the physician directory named Alex Ling. Alex is one of the best infectious disease specialties I know. With your permission, Miliardo, I want Alex to take a look at Relena and give an opinion.”

Miliardo nodded. “Please, call your friend.”

With a nod, Sally headed back to the nurses’ station. Duo watched the rest head to the cafeteria before throwing a chummy arm around Wufei’s shoulders. “So, Wu-man, how close are Sally and this Ling character?”

“Shut up, Maxwell,” Wufei growled, taking his place outside Relena’s door.

Duo shrugged and took a seat on the opposite side of the door. “I was just wondering if you would be worried about a little competition, that’s all.”

As he leaned back and pulled the bill of his cap down over his face, he caught the flicker of jealousy on the Chinese man’s face. ‘Called it,’ the American thought gleefully. ‘This should be fun.’

* * * * *

“Sally?” a voice called softly.

The major turned and suddenly smiled brilliantly. “Alex! It’s been a while!”

Both Duo and Wufei gaped as Sally hugged a dark-haired woman who appeared to be in her mid-twenties. Sobering, the two separated. With her usual business-like manner, Sally introduced the woman to the others.

“And this is Miliardo Peacecraft, the patient’s brother,” Sally concluded.

“I’m Dr. Alexandra Ling, Mr. Peacecraft, ” the woman said, shaking Miliardo’s hand. “I wished that we had met under happier circumstances. Sally, Dr. Po, has asked me to take a look at your sister. With your permission, I would like to do that now with Dr. Po.”

Miliardo nodded.

“We will be out shortly,” Dr. Ling said, and the pair disappeared behind the door.

“Looks like you have nothing to worry about, Wu-man,” Duo said with a broad grin. “I guess it was just a false alarm.”

“Maxwell, you’re an idiot,” Wufei grumbled, stalking off down the hall.

As he glanced around him in triumph, something suddenly occurred to the American.

“Hey, where’s Heero?”

* * * * *

Alex sighed as she continued to flip through Relena’s chart. “Wiebe would be easier to deal with if the man was human,” she muttered. “He may have horrible people skills, but he is brilliant.”

“But this is suppose to be a caring profession,” Sally added, brushing some hair off Relena’s forehead.

Alex closed the chart and felt Relena’s forehead. “I don’t have to tell you what a bad sign it is that the antipyretics aren’t bringing the fever down.”

“But it’s not going any higher,” Sally said softly after a pause.

“For now,” Alex replied. “There are a few more tests I would like to see run, but I’ll need Mr. Peacecraft’s permission.”

Sally looked up. “Miliardo may want you to be her doctor.”

“If he does, then I will,” Alex stated. “However, Wiebe is a good doctor.”

“Let’s talk to Miliardo and see what he says.”


Part III Sally Po shook her head. “I’m a surgeon, Noin.” “But you’re still a doctor,” the lieutenant persisted. “Could you just examine her?” Reluctantly, Sally nodded. “I’m also going to check the physician directory and see if I know any one here.” Noin gave her a grateful smile. “Thank you, Sally.” “I haven’t done anything, yet,” the major replied and then entered Relena’s room. A few moments later, Quatre appeared and handed her a cup of coffee. “How is she?” he asked, as Noin sipped the bitter brew. “Sally’s taking a look at her now,” Noin said. “They don’t know what is causing the infection, but Relena’s story about an injection would make sense.” The Arabian nodded, absently drinking his coffee as well. In his mind, he vividly saw the tracts on Relena’s arms, hinting at some of the torture she had faced. His grip on the cup tightened dangerously. ‘If only Heero or the others had gotten a hold of you, Isom,’ Quatre thought with uncharacteristic bitterness. He shook his head. ‘What’s done, is done.’ Taking the last gulp of his coffee, he threw the cup into a nearby trashcan and walked over to talk to Trowa. * * * * * Sally walked up to the nurses’ station. A young woman looked up from her work with a friendly, sympathetic smile. Setting the pile of papers aside, she looked up at Sally. “Can I help you, ma’am?” she asked. Sally nodded. “I was wondering if you had a directory or list of the physicians in this hospital and their specialties. Do you?” “I know we do have one around here somewhere,” the nurse replied, already digging through piles of books in the drawers of the desks. “Ah, here it is. Is there a problem? I will try my best to help.” “I’m sure you would, Gillian,” Sally said, reading the nurse’s name off her tag. “I return this to you in a few minutes.” “If you need anything else, let me know, ma’am,” Gillian replied. “That’s why we’re here.” As Sally turned to go back into Relena’s room, she smiled at the young nurse’s enthusiasm. ‘If only everyone remembered that,’ the surgeon reflected ruefully. ‘If only more of us remembered that.’ * * * * * “Dr. Wiebe seems to be doing everything he can for Relena,” Sally said as she told Miliardo and the others her opinion. “However, like I told Noin,” she continued, “I’m a surgeon. So, Relena’s case is outside my specialty. But I did find a friend in the physician directory named Alex Ling. Alex is one of the best infectious disease specialties I know. With your permission, Miliardo, I want Alex to take a look at Relena and give an opinion.” Miliardo nodded. “Please, call your friend.” With a nod, Sally headed back to the nurses’ station. Duo watched the rest head to the cafeteria before throwing a chummy arm around Wufei’s shoulders. “So, Wu-man, how close are Sally and this Ling character?” “Shut up, Maxwell,” Wufei growled, taking his place outside Relena’s door. Duo shrugged and took a seat on the opposite side of the door. “I was just wondering if you would be worried about a little competition, that’s all.” As he leaned back and pulled the bill of his cap down over his face, he caught the flicker of jealousy on the Chinese man’s face. ‘Called it,’ the American thought gleefully. ‘This should be fun.’ * * * * * “Sally?” a voice called softly. The major turned and suddenly smiled brilliantly. “Alex! It’s been a while!” Both Duo and Wufei gaped as Sally hugged a dark-haired woman who appeared to be in her mid-twenties. Sobering, the two separated. With her usual business-like manner, Sally introduced the woman to the others. “And this is Miliardo Peacecraft, the patient’s brother,” Sally concluded. “I’m Dr. Alexandra Ling, Mr. Peacecraft, ” the woman said, shaking Miliardo’s hand. “I wished that we had met under happier circumstances. Sally, Dr. Po, has asked me to take a look at your sister. With your permission, I would like to do that now with Dr. Po.” Miliardo nodded. “We will be out shortly,” Dr. Ling said, and the pair disappeared behind the door. “Looks like you have nothing to worry about, Wu-man,” Duo said with a broad grin. “I guess it was just a false alarm.” “Maxwell, you’re an idiot,” Wufei grumbled, stalking off down the hall. As he glanced around him in triumph, something suddenly occurred to the American. “Hey, where’s Heero?” * * * * * Alex sighed as she continued to flip through Relena’s chart. “Wiebe would be easier to deal with if the man was human,” she muttered. “He may have horrible people skills, but he is brilliant.” “But this is suppose to be a caring profession,” Sally added, brushing some hair off Relena’s forehead. Alex closed the chart and felt Relena’s forehead. “I don’t have to tell you what a bad sign it is that the antipyretics aren’t bringing the fever down.” “But it’s not going any higher,” Sally said softly after a pause. “For now,” Alex replied. “There are a few more tests I would like to see run, but I’ll need Mr. Peacecraft’s permission.” Sally looked up. “Miliardo may want you to be her doctor.” “If he does, then I will,” Alex stated. “However, Wiebe is a good doctor.” “Let’s talk to Miliardo and see what he says.”


Part IV You Shouldn't Have to Say Goodbye