"My job," Jess said. She met Rodman's angry glare with calm confidence. "Now, if you'll step out, please. I haven't completed my history and physical yet."
Rodman growled. "I will not. You're done here, McKenna. Out." He patted Beatrice's leg. "Don't you worry, sweetheart. I'll take good care of you."
"Richie," Mrs. Hartford said, in a warning tone.
Rodman froze. He shot a glare at Jess as if daring her to comment.
Richie?
"Let Dr. McKenna do her job."
Rodman turned to his sister. "I'm a doctor too," he said, sounding like a petulant little boy.
"Yes, dear," Mrs. Hartford said as if placating a stubborn child. She walked over to him. "Come on. We can come back once Dr. McKenna is finished."
"I know what's wrong with Bea. She," Rodman jutted his chin out toward Jess, "works for me."
"Yes, dear. I know." His sister patted his arm. "Let's go. You can show me your big office."
Mrs. Hartman tugged Rodman to the door. He whined all the way — but went anyway.
Jess bit the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing. I'll be damned. Wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes.
Once the door closed behind them, Jess turned her attention back to her patient.
* * *
Shit. I so don't need this. Especially with Rodman breathing down my neck. Jess stepped out of the exam room. She glanced around, relieved to not find Rodman waiting to pounce.
Jess made her way to her office and pushed open the door.
"Hey, Jess. How did it go with Rodman's niece?" Kim asked.
Jess walked over to the couch where Kim was sitting but was too agitated to sit down. "Not so good. With the help of his sister, I managed to get Rodman out of the exam room so I could do a history and physical."
Kim's eyebrow shot up.
"I'll tell you all about that later, but right now I have a problem."
"With Rodman's niece?"
"Yeah. She's obviously in pain, but she's not cooperating or answering questions. I thought at first it was because her mother was in the room. Beatrice was giving these nebulous answers and saying things like 'I guess.' But once we were alone, things went downhill. Every question I asked, she responded with, 'Uncle Richie says I have appendicitis.'"
"Richie," Kim mouthed.
Jess quirked a smile. "Later."
"Sorry. Go ahead," Kim said.
"I asked if there was any possibility she might be pregnant. She looked completely panicked and didn't answer. When I pressed her, she muttered an unconvincing no, then refused to speak to me any further. I did examine her before all this, and while her belly pain could be appendicitis, it could also be an ectopic pregnancy." Jess raked her hands through her hair. "She refuses to have blood drawn or allow me to do a pelvic exam or even an ultrasound."
"What can I do?" Kim asked.
"I was just hoping you had some bright idea of how to get her to realize how serious this is. Otherwise, I'm going to have to involve her mother and Rodman. Beatrice is an adult, so if Rodman gets her consent, he can take her to the OR." Jess shoved her hands into her lab coat pockets. "There is no way I will allow Rodman to do that without adequate pre-op blood work and an ultrasound — especially if there is a chance she's pregnant."
"And you think Rodman will have a fit if you insist on a pregnancy test?"
"It's a good assumption considering how she's acting. I figure that's what she's afraid of. Either Rodman or her mother finding out that she might be pregnant." Jess started to pace. "Plus the fact that she looks about twelve." She blew out a breath. "I bet that's how Rodman sees her."
"Do you want me to try and talk to her?" Kim asked.
Jess stopped in her tracks. Is that why I came in here? Had she wanted Kim to take over with the girl? Guilt flooded Jess. She comes on Christmas and brings you breakfast and this is how you thank her, by dumping your problems on her? "No. That's okay. You're not on-call today. It's Christmas."
Kim rose from the couch and walked to Jess. "I really don't mind." She tugged at her shirt. "Only I'm not sure I'm dressed appropriately."
Jess took a moment to admire Kim's form. She was wearing a long-sleeved Henley shirt and jeans that hugged her curves. She put her hands on Kim's hips. "You look like you'd fit right in with the college crowd. Maybe that will help." She gently squeezed the soft flesh under her hands. "You sure you don't mind?"
Kim gave Jess's lips a quick peck. "I'll let you know how it goes." She took a moment to grab her ID badge out of her purse, then headed for the door.
* * *
Jess wrote up Beatrice's chart while she waited for Kim. Hope she has better luck than I did. That wasn't an unreasonable expectation. Kim had a way with people that Jess had never possessed. Something about Kim made people feel safe confiding in her.
The door to her office blew open with enough force to slam it against the wall.
Jess jumped. Damn it.
She glared at Rodman.
He stormed over and stood next to her chair, glaring down at her. "What the hell is Donovan doing in the room with Bea?"
Jess grasped the edge of her desk and shoved her chair back, forcing Rodman to step away or have his toes run over. She stood. "I'm providing your niece with the best possible care." Unlike you, who wants to whisk her off to the OR without a workup.
Rodman got right in Jess's face. "She doesn't need to talk to some dyke psychiatrist. She needs a real doctor."
Her hands clenched at her sides as Jess struggled for control.
* * *
Kim heard raised voices from down the hall. She quickened her pace toward Jess's office. The voices suddenly became clear.
"Don't ever let me hear you talk about Kim like that again. She's the best psychiatrist this place has ever had."
Who the hell is in there with her? Kim had never heard Jess sound so furious. Realization struck. Rodman.
"What's the matter?" came Rodman's sneering response. "Did I hurt your feelings? I insulted your little dyke girlfriend?"
"Mine and Kim's personal life has nothing to do with this and is none of your business."
"Now I know why you wanted her to work down here, so you could have your puss —"
"Get out of my office!" Jess's voice vibrated with rage.
You bastard.
Kim broke into a sprint. She slid to a halt outside Jess's door.
The sight before her froze her in place.
No, Jess. Don't! She gripped the door frame.
Jess and Rodman were standing toe to toe and looked as if they would come to blows any second.
"Dr. McKenna," Kim called sharply.
Jess's head whipped around.
Rodman sneered. "Speak of the dev —"
"Shut up," Jess snarled.
Shut the fuck up, Rodman. Kim could see the tendons in Jess's neck standing out. Her fists were clenched at her side. She was barely holding it together.
"Dr. McKenna. I need to speak with you," Kim said, trying to keep Jess's attention on her. She had to break this up but wasn't sure Jess would walk away. She took a single step into the room. "Please," she said.
Jess blew out a breath. She walked away from Rodman without a glance.
Kim's knees went weak. Thank, God.
When Jess's body blocked her view of Rodman, Kim smiled at her.
The tense set of Jess's face eased a notch.
Just as Jess reached Kim, Rodman spoke up. "Release Beatrice and get her up to the OR. Right now."
Jess stiffened.
Kim grabbed the front of Jess's lab coat before she could turn back to Rodman. "Let it go. Come on." She tugged on Jess's coat. "Beatrice needs you."
She breathed a sigh of relief when Jess allowed herself to be pulled out the door.
* * *
Kim tried to focus on a psych journal while she waited for Jess.