The Heat of You
by Wizardtho
Chapter 26:
Dr. Melody Brown was the smallest yet most caring woman I had ever met. She had long, dark hair that swayed around her hips, and if I had to guess, I’d say she was in her late 30s. Melody had a way about her that just put you at ease, and that was huge, considering all that I’d gone through.
After giving her the cliff notes version of my time with the Cullens, then telling her about Paul saving me and the resulting changes, I explained, “I’m just worried… about what damage there could be… what lasting effects there may be from my time with them.”
She patted my hand, which was holding Paul’s, then promised, “And that’s what we’re going to figure out, Bella. I know you aren’t comfortable around others right now, so I’m going to do all the tests I can here, to be able to get you the answers you seek. Whatever I can’t do with my equipment here, I’ll make arrangements to do at the clinic after hours, when those machines aren’t surrounded by people.”
I gave her a grateful look, but she shook her head, “Don’t thank me yet. Now comes the uncomfortable part I know you aren’t looking forward to. Do you think you can handle me giving you a physical in the bedroom? We’ll take it slow, I’ll keep you informed of what I’m doing at all times, and if you need me to stop at any point, all you have to do is say the word.”
Needing some real answers, I was willing to do almost anything. “Absolutely. Just tell me when you’re ready.”
It turns out that the physical exam was only the beginning. After that was an internal exam, several x-rays from her portable machine, a fair amount of blood being drawn, and finally, an ultrasound of my abdomen. She had seen a bunch of scar tissue when doing my internal physical, so she wanted to do the ultrasound to make sure everything was okay.
Paul and my Dad were watching a movie when Melody and I came out of the bedroom together. Both their faces immediately sought mine, so I explained, “Doc wants to get an MRI of my midsection to make sure everything’s okay. My ultrasound didn’t give her any definitive answers, but my exam was concerning.”
I offered to Melody then, “This is my father, Charlie Swan. You have free reign to talk about my health with him.”
Her eyes lit up as she stuck her hand out and smiled, “Nice to see you again, Chief Swan.”
My father actually blushed as he took her hand in both of his, “The feeling is mutual, Dr. Brown.”
After a full 20 seconds of them staring at each other, I rolled my eyes at Paul and deliberately cleared my throat. Charlie was quick to ask, “So how is Bells? Why do you need an MRI?”
I sighed, then said gently, “I have scar tissue, Dad. From what they did. There’s enough scar tissue that she was concerned about how far it extended. The ultrasound couldn’t give her a clear enough picture.”
With a hand running through his hair, Charlie whispered, “Scar tissue… extended?” After a full minute, his eyes shot to Melody’s as he asked, “So you think Bells might not be able to have babies? That those… things… ruined her chance when they hurt her?”
Melody sat in one of the chairs as I sat on the arm of the couch next to Paul. His arm went around my butt to rest against my outer thigh as Melody explained, “The fear is there, Chief, but I’m going to do what I can to find the answers. I just don’t know for sure. The ultrasound allowed me to see that the scar tissue does extend upward, but I couldn’t get a clear understanding of how much there was. I will say that the uterus can only take so much scarring before it just won’t be a habitable environment anymore. I won’t know where Bella is on that scale until I do the MRI.”
Paul nodded thoughtfully before asking, “And her heart?”
Melody smiled widely, “Is perfect, Paul. I watched her heart for several minutes with the ultrasound. It’s strong and healthy. Not one missed beat. Tell me, have you heard it miss any beats since her first phase?”
Paul scowled, then answered, “Come to think of it, no. Not even when she remembered everything. Her heart rate was fast, of course, but it didn’t miss any beats. So what, was her emerging wolf messing with her heart?”
Melody nodded, “I believe the missing beats were the first sign of her wolf, yes. Her body hasn’t had the time that you males go through, where you bulk up and strengthen before your first shift. I can assure you that Bella has a strong heart, though. There is nothing to fear in that department.”
After answering a few more questions each from Dad and Paul, Melody cleared me for continuing patrol and sparring rounds, saying, “Make sure you hunt, Bella. At least 3 times a week, no less. I mean it. You need the nourishment that hunted kills will give you, especially if you continue to train for this mission. If for nothing else than the energy reserves you’ll build up.”
I nod as she stands to leave, promising, “Of course. I’ll make a plan to hunt with Paul every other day.”
Dad kisses me on the temple, then says, “Dr. Brown, you have your hands full. Let me help you load your equipment,” as he practically rushes to Melody’s side.
A blush rises to her cheeks, but she smiles, “Thanks, Chief. That would be a great help. Bella? I’ll look at the schedule for this next week at the clinic, and call you to let you know when it will be a good time to meet me there.”
I readily agree, “Of course. Just give Paul or me a call.”
As soon as the door closed behind them, I whispered to Paul while waving my hand in the direction of the front door, “There’s something there. You’d have to be blind as a bat not to see what happened there.”
Paul chuckled, “Yeah, we’ll keep an eye on it.” then it seemed like something occurred to him, so he asked as he wrapped his hands around my hips, “Are you opposed to them getting together?”
I laughed easily, “Not in the least. It’s about time someone finally catches my dad’s eye. I was afraid he’d never find someone after my mom. I had hoped, but when year after year passed with no sign of anyone, I started to worry. He deserves to be happy with someone.”
He nodded, then asked in an even softer tone, “How are you doing with what you found out?”
I shook my head, letting out a heavy breath before offering, “I honestly don’t even know. I’ve not even begun to process everything she told me. I think after Dad goes home, I want to soak in the tub and just decompress for a while.”
I looked at the clock on the wall, then asked, “Help me start dinner. You’re hungry, and it’s almost dinnertime, so Dad should be ready to eat soon, too.”
Within minutes, Paul and I were preparing dinner, and my father walked back into the airlock entry with a wide grin on his face. He tried to hide it before coming through the main doors, but I caught his smile before he had the chance to smooth out his features.
Though Dad did give me a worried look more than once during dinner when he thought I wasn’t paying attention, I let it go without saying anything. I couldn’t begin to fathom a way to ease his worries, especially when I had my own… some of which he probably hadn’t even thought of yet.
Dr. Melody Brown was the smallest yet most caring woman I had ever met. She had long, dark hair that swayed around her hips, and if I had to guess, I’d say she was in her late 30s. Melody had a way about her that just put you at ease, and that was huge, considering all that I’d gone through.
After giving her the cliff notes version of my time with the Cullens, then telling her about Paul saving me and the resulting changes, I explained, “I’m just worried… about what damage there could be… what lasting effects there may be from my time with them.”
She patted my hand, which was holding Paul’s, then promised, “And that’s what we’re going to figure out, Bella. I know you aren’t comfortable around others right now, so I’m going to do all the tests I can here, to be able to get you the answers you seek. Whatever I can’t do with my equipment here, I’ll make arrangements to do at the clinic after hours, when those machines aren’t surrounded by people.”
I gave her a grateful look, but she shook her head, “Don’t thank me yet. Now comes the uncomfortable part I know you aren’t looking forward to. Do you think you can handle me giving you a physical in the bedroom? We’ll take it slow, I’ll keep you informed of what I’m doing at all times, and if you need me to stop at any point, all you have to do is say the word.”
Needing some real answers, I was willing to do almost anything. “Absolutely. Just tell me when you’re ready.”
It turns out that the physical exam was only the beginning. After that was an internal exam, several x-rays from her portable machine, a fair amount of blood being drawn, and finally, an ultrasound of my abdomen. She had seen a bunch of scar tissue when doing my internal physical, so she wanted to do the ultrasound to make sure everything was okay.
Paul and my Dad were watching a movie when Melody and I came out of the bedroom together. Both their faces immediately sought mine, so I explained, “Doc wants to get an MRI of my midsection to make sure everything’s okay. My ultrasound didn’t give her any definitive answers, but my exam was concerning.”
I offered to Melody then, “This is my father, Charlie Swan. You have free reign to talk about my health with him.”
Her eyes lit up as she stuck her hand out and smiled, “Nice to see you again, Chief Swan.”
My father actually blushed as he took her hand in both of his, “The feeling is mutual, Dr. Brown.”
After a full 20 seconds of them staring at each other, I rolled my eyes at Paul and deliberately cleared my throat. Charlie was quick to ask, “So how is Bells? Why do you need an MRI?”
I sighed, then said gently, “I have scar tissue, Dad. From what they did. There’s enough scar tissue that she was concerned about how far it extended. The ultrasound couldn’t give her a clear enough picture.”
With a hand running through his hair, Charlie whispered, “Scar tissue… extended?” After a full minute, his eyes shot to Melody’s as he asked, “So you think Bells might not be able to have babies? That those… things… ruined her chance when they hurt her?”
Melody sat in one of the chairs as I sat on the arm of the couch next to Paul. His arm went around my butt to rest against my outer thigh as Melody explained, “The fear is there, Chief, but I’m going to do what I can to find the answers. I just don’t know for sure. The ultrasound allowed me to see that the scar tissue does extend upward, but I couldn’t get a clear understanding of how much there was. I will say that the uterus can only take so much scarring before it just won’t be a habitable environment anymore. I won’t know where Bella is on that scale until I do the MRI.”
Paul nodded thoughtfully before asking, “And her heart?”
Melody smiled widely, “Is perfect, Paul. I watched her heart for several minutes with the ultrasound. It’s strong and healthy. Not one missed beat. Tell me, have you heard it miss any beats since her first phase?”
Paul scowled, then answered, “Come to think of it, no. Not even when she remembered everything. Her heart rate was fast, of course, but it didn’t miss any beats. So what, was her emerging wolf messing with her heart?”
Melody nodded, “I believe the missing beats were the first sign of her wolf, yes. Her body hasn’t had the time that you males go through, where you bulk up and strengthen before your first shift. I can assure you that Bella has a strong heart, though. There is nothing to fear in that department.”
After answering a few more questions each from Dad and Paul, Melody cleared me for continuing patrol and sparring rounds, saying, “Make sure you hunt, Bella. At least 3 times a week, no less. I mean it. You need the nourishment that hunted kills will give you, especially if you continue to train for this mission. If for nothing else than the energy reserves you’ll build up.”
I nod as she stands to leave, promising, “Of course. I’ll make a plan to hunt with Paul every other day.”
Dad kisses me on the temple, then says, “Dr. Brown, you have your hands full. Let me help you load your equipment,” as he practically rushes to Melody’s side.
A blush rises to her cheeks, but she smiles, “Thanks, Chief. That would be a great help. Bella? I’ll look at the schedule for this next week at the clinic, and call you to let you know when it will be a good time to meet me there.”
I readily agree, “Of course. Just give Paul or me a call.”
As soon as the door closed behind them, I whispered to Paul while waving my hand in the direction of the front door, “There’s something there. You’d have to be blind as a bat not to see what happened there.”
Paul chuckled, “Yeah, we’ll keep an eye on it.” then it seemed like something occurred to him, so he asked as he wrapped his hands around my hips, “Are you opposed to them getting together?”
I laughed easily, “Not in the least. It’s about time someone finally catches my dad’s eye. I was afraid he’d never find someone after my mom. I had hoped, but when year after year passed with no sign of anyone, I started to worry. He deserves to be happy with someone.”
He nodded, then asked in an even softer tone, “How are you doing with what you found out?”
I shook my head, letting out a heavy breath before offering, “I honestly don’t even know. I’ve not even begun to process everything she told me. I think after Dad goes home, I want to soak in the tub and just decompress for a while.”
I looked at the clock on the wall, then asked, “Help me start dinner. You’re hungry, and it’s almost dinnertime, so Dad should be ready to eat soon, too.”
Within minutes, Paul and I were preparing dinner, and my father walked back into the airlock entry with a wide grin on his face. He tried to hide it before coming through the main doors, but I caught his smile before he had the chance to smooth out his features.
Though Dad did give me a worried look more than once during dinner when he thought I wasn’t paying attention, I let it go without saying anything. I couldn’t begin to fathom a way to ease his worries, especially when I had my own… some of which he probably hadn’t even thought of yet.