“What about fatigue?”
“Yes. It comes and goes, but there are days I feel like I’m going to fall on my face from exhaustion and I haven’t done a thing all day.” Jake said honestly.
“Okay, I need you to take off your shirt and lift your arms.” He placed the chart on the counter behind him and stood in front of Jake.
Jake laughed. “Doc, I didn’t know you swung that way.” He quipped as he pulled his t-shirt over his head with one hand.
“Still the character, I see.” The doc said as he pressed his fingers to each side of Jake’s neck. He moved them around and applied pressure to certain areas. “Lift your arms.” Jake shrugged and lifted his arms and Dr. Brooks did the same thing underneath by his armpits.
“Lucky for you I showered and used deodorant.” The doctor didn’t say anything he just made some more notes in Jakes chart. “Can I drop my arms?”
“Yes.” He pushed the call button on the intercom that rested on the wall. “Leah, I’m going to need to take some blood, can you assist?”
“Right away Dr. Brooks.” Black Cherry’s voice filled the speakers.
Jake cringed. “Needles?”
Dr. Brooks turned to him and stared at him disbelievingly. “You’re covered in tattoos and you’re squeamish about me drawing a little blood?”
“Not really, just trying to play the part.” Jake laughed. “Have mercy on me, doc.”
Leah entered the exam room, and Jake noticed the faintest shade of pink on her cheeks. He chuckled, knowing very well that his brother colored up those cheeks. She slipped on a pair of rubber gloves, as did Dr. Brooks.
The doctor marked each vial while Leah, prepped Jake’s arm, finding the perfect vein.
“How’s Luke doing out there?”
Leah averted her eyes towards Jake. “How would I know?”
Jake laughed and then realized she was about to draw his blood. “I guess I should shut my mouth now.”
“Probably.” And then she smiled at him. She filled a bunch of vials with his blood, before pressing gauze to where she had poked him. She applied a bit of pressure before stretching a Band-Aid across his skin. “I’ll get these to the lab right away. Anything else?”
“Put a rush on it.” Dr. Brooks said as he wrote on a prescription pad. “Jake I’m sending you for a couple of tests. First we’re going to get an x-ray of your lungs, and a few other tests. Your lymph nodes are swollen, which usually means infection. But you wouldn’t be having all these side effects from just an infection. It’s important you get these tests done right away.”
He turned and faced Jake for the first time, looking into his eyes. “I want the results in my hands in one week. That means you need to make these tests your number one priority tomorrow and the next day. If you call radiology and they give you a problem, call my office and we will handle it.”
“Whoa, Doc. What’s with all the urgency? What could this be?” Suddenly Jake didn’t feel like his jovial self and looking at Dr. Brooks, was making him entertain the idea that maybe he wasn’t well after all.
“No need to alarm yourself, we’re going to run tests to rule everything out. Once I have your blood work I’ll have a better idea of what this could be.”
“Well what exactly are you ruling out? By the stack of prescriptions you’re handing me it seems serious.” He swallowed as he took the prescriptions.
“I’m a general practitioner, Jake. I’m concerned over your lymph nodes, I want to make sure I don’t miss anything, and if I can’t figure out what is going on with you by the results of the tests then I will refer you to a doctor who can.”
Another reason he hated doctors, they beat around the bush on everything never committing to a damn thing unless they had solid proof, in fear of a malpractice suit. Jake had had enough.
“Yeah alright.” He waved the prescriptions like a flag and pulled his shirt back on.
“Make an appointment for next week, and we will go over the results.” Dr. Brooks said as Jake walked out of the room.
Luke was sitting in the waiting room staring up at the television when Jake walked out of the exam room. He walked over to Leah’s desk.
“I need an appointment for a week from today.”
Luke came up behind him, as Leah opened up the schedule spreadsheet on her computer.
“How’d it go?”
“Shitty, he’s sending me for a shitload of tests and I have to come back to this hell hole in a week.”
“Same time next week good for you?” Leah asked.
“Yeah, we all good? Can I go?” Jake asked his leg twitching, he desperately needed a cigarette.
“We’re good. See you next week.” She said and then smiled at Luke. “It was good to see you again.”
“Same goes.” Luke winked at her, and then realized Jake was halfway out the door. He hurried to catch up to him. When he stepped outside he spotted Jake, leaning against his truck smoking a cigarette.