Do you know that moment, the one where you have to forcibly contain your limbs from darting out and smashing into whatever body part of an another person? Yeah, me too. And that's what I'm doing right this moment. Listening to my big brother as he rambles on as our parents listen intently is like nails on a chalkboard.
"You've done somthing similar before." I just stare at my food, shoving the fork, making it scrape across the glass. "Kadence... are you even listening to me?" I don't look up, shaking my head no. "It's a chance of a lifetime." I chuckle threw my nose, peeking through my lashes.
"Who are you trying to convince?" My head raises, seeing my parents eating without a care, but my brother just looks at me. "If it's such a 'chance of a lifetime' then why pass it up?" My mom tries to hide her laughter behind her hand as I air quote his words.
"Because I would have to take the international boards again... you know that could take weeks... months even."
"Well you should have thought of that months ago." I point my fork at him, as I make my case.
"I have been busy... and you have your international medical licenses already." I just look at him... why me?
"I have too much going on." I'm not lying... I have an entire year of work to catch up on. "I have the Masterson case on the 4th."
"I'll take it." I roll my eyes, but Alec sits up straighter in his seat.
"No." He's insane if he even thinks I would go for that.
"Kadence, I know the case, the history, I could-"
"No... I've had Ethan since his second surgery." I growl out.. He was only four when he came to me, and I've done every one of his 5 surgeries since. "I came back just so I could be here... so no." I planned it, made sure that no matter what I would be here.
"Doing this for me, you'd be able to do follow-up's on your patient's.... You'd be there anyways." That would be nice, actually it's the only appealing part of his whole proposal. I look up and I know he thinks he's talked me into it.
"No." I simply state making him sag into his chair.
"Alec, your sister just got back." I smile my dads way, thanking him silently for having my back.
"But she likes to do these type of things."
"No.... what you're talking about and Doctors Without Boarders is nowhere close to the same thing... Actually it's nowhere in the same vicinity, as what I do."
"But I thought Kadence Martin did everything? At least that's what her bio page says."
"You're so stupid." I grumble out. "You made this commitment, so hold up your end, and stop trying to get out of it."
"I did... but things have changed... Kadence please." I promise you, in all my 30 years of living, my brother has never begged me for anything. "Erin is pregnant." Okay... Now I get it, and I hate him so much right now.
"Condom." I scold out, before I even think about it. I know this is a huge deal, Alec and Erin have been trying for four years to get pregnant. "I.. I didn't mean that." I try to save myself seeing Alec frowning beside me. "I really don't want to do this Alec." I don't, and why he has chosen to do it for three years is beyond me. "I cut into people.... not bandage a spranged ankle, or ice a finger."
"Believe it or not, you'll do more than that... no surgeries but it's not like you'll have nothing at all to do."
"I hate you so much right now." I do... but he's having a baby... of course he doesn't want to be away now... Not after everything he and Erin went through for this to finally happen.
"You're going to do it?" I whimper as he gets excited, looking to my parents whom already knows the answer. Their small proud smiles, makes me grind my teeth together... becasue of all things to be proud of, this one should never be on that list.
"When are you supposed to leave?" I question, shoving my plate farther away. If I were younger, I'd consider throwing myself in the floor and throwing a huge tantrum.
"You would need to be in London on Sunday."
"I didn't agree yet." I point out. "I can't leave until after Ethan's surgery, then follow-up."
"Kadence, you would have to be there on Sunday.... You need to get acquainted, learn medical histories, and exams... they have to be in Australia, by Friday morning."
"That is my only condition... I can board a plane first thing Thursday and be there in time to do this exam. Take it or leave it bro."
"I..." He pauses, rubbing his face... but hey, if he's going to spring this crap on me just days before he has to leave, he can give me this one thing. "I have to call and make sure that will be okay."
"Well, you better, or they won't have a doctor... I mean who requests a surgeon to do a psysicians job?"
"They want the best so that's either you or me."
"Flattery will get you nowhere." I roll my eyes but he knows it gets him everywhere.
"Just think of all the fun you will have." Yeah, okay fun... I stand, grabbing my plate before moving toward the kitchen.
"Spending nearly ten months of my life, tending to well people, while going deaf, sounds like so much fun." I slur out as I exit the room, hearing Alec begin to discuss something else, now that he knows he talked me into this.... Jesus, this jerk owes me big time.....
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Welcome to Sydney." I force a smile as I approach a man inside the private lounge of the airport. Three hours!!!! Three hours I spent in customs, where they went over every single case and bag I brought with me. They marked each drug, every item a doctor would possibly need in any situation, before calling the states to clear me. I understand, but after nearly 24 hours on a flight, then a grueling 10 surgery beforehand, I'm nearing the point of exhaustion that I could possibly fall asleep standing right here.
"Thank you." This man looks around me as the airport security bring in all my things. "Sorry." I'm not but I won't say that.
"It's not a problem; Alec was the same... never left anything behind. I figured you'd be the same. We'll get you loaded up, then you can meet everyone once we're back," he says. I nod and move to follow, but he chuckles as my arms are full, my shoulders aching from the straps of the medical bags laden with supplies... This part I could do in my sleep; I've spent the last year doing it... I groan, because this isn't the same, and that makes it worse. 'Think of it as a vacation,' those were Alec's last words to me as I left him at the airport in New York.
When we arrive at the hotel, I collapse on the bed, not bothering to remove a single bag from my shoulders. We've secured everything I brought, and they've assured me that I won't have to worry about transporting it until this whole thing is over. I just shake my head, remembering the assurances I received over the phone from the man in charge of this 'carnival ride.' The bed feels like luxury, and my body silently thanks the heavens. After a year of sleeping on hard, spine-breaking cots, whenever I could snatch the time to lie down, this is a welcome relief. Yes, I will gladly take this.
The past few days seem to strike me squarely on the forehead, and I give in, allowing my eyes to close momentarily. However, the respite is short-lived as a pounding at the door disrupts the silence. Muttering under my breath, I shed the bags and head towards the sound. "We should get going... rounding them up can be quite the chore." I offer a simple nod, forgoing any change of attire as I pick up the bag containing basic supplies and the medical charts I've nearly committed to memory.
"Coffee?" The sound escapes me in a near-whimper as a woman extends a steaming cup towards me upon my entry into the designated checkup room. "You look utterly exhausted, love." A genuine smile crosses my face as I set down my belongings.
"I am, and I'm longing for sleep." Our laughter mingles as she props herself against the table, watching me arrange my things.
"Not to disrupt your plans, but I can't promise you'll get much sleep here." I assumed as much, but it's bound to be more than I've managed in the past two weeks, so I'm content with any amount of rest. "I imagined you'd be older."
"Really?" I hear that often, though it still strikes me as strange. Not to boast, but I am rather intelligent. I graduated at 15, then embarked on medical school, completing an eight-year program in just four. By nineteen, I was interning, which turned out to be the simplest task I've ever undertaken. At twenty-three, I accepted a position as an attending trauma surgeon without a second thought. By twenty-five, I was recognized as the leading trauma surgeon in the United States and received an ASA alongside my brother for our pioneering technique with artificial nerves. At twenty-eight, I started volunteering with Doctors Without Borders, dedicating a few months to aid wherever needed. Over the past year, I traveled across various countries, thoroughly enjoying the experience.
"Wow," I smile, turning to the lady after explaining everything, knowing it's better to just get it out and save her the trouble of asking. I'm used to it; the shock on people's faces is always the same when I tell them.
"I've always been fascinated with the medical field," I confess.
"You're in for quite the change... it can—" She's cut off as the door swings open, slamming against the wall. They shuffle in one by one, settling on the floor as I stand there.
"Come on, lads," the woman beside me chuckles. "Get up and get this over with. They're a proper handful. Oh, I'm Louise, by the way, but everyone calls me Lou." I shake her hand, about to introduce myself properly when one of the guys starts shouting. I hope I can keep my cool and make it through this. I wasn't sure what to expect; how hard could it be? But as they look up and notice me, I see the mischief in their eyes. "Kadence, meet the guys... guys, this is Alec's sister, and your new doctor."
"She's fit," one comments.
I turn away, trying to busy myself.
"Bugger off, mate... don't be disrespectful," another chimes in, as I pull out my MacBook and open their files.
"He's right though, mate... she is properly fit."I tap my fingers and turn upon hearing this.
"I have no time for this," I state firmly, glancing at the boys on the floor who are staring at me. "If you insist on commenting on my appearance, please refrain from doing so until after I have left."
"Oh, bloody hell, she's just as Alec, described." I cast a glare in their direction, uncertain of which one is which. "This is going to be proper fun, mates." With a groan, I berate myself for agreeing to this as I summon the first one.
"Louis," I call out, and the one who keeps remarking that I'm fit springs up and approaches me.
"That's me... welcome to our tour, love," he says. I simply nod while the others snicker behind me, then I instruct them to leave, leaving me alone with one of the five members of the boy band known as One Direction.