Chapter Eighty-Six

Saturday of the first full week in Washington arrived, and Angela was up early as usual going for her morning jog. When she got back to her house, she expected to see Leah and Trapper in the kitchen making breakfast, but upon opening the door, she noticed the all consuming silence in the house. She quietly walked past the kitchen and into the living room, and saw…no one. But she did hear water running which meant someone was in the shower.

In only a few minutes, Trapper appeared. “Good morning, Angela.”

“Good morning, doctor. Did you two decide to sleep in?”

Chuckling, Trapper said, “Leah’s still sleeping. I’ve been on the phone all morning.”

Angela offered him coffee which he accepted. “Problems?”

“Well, not for the hospital, but maybe for the city. We had a small outbreak of botulism that was traced to a man who had been fired from the restaurant we tracked it to. The man was found dead yesterday in the backroom of a bathhouse in The Castro.”

“Well, they found him. Is that the end of it?” she asked, sipping her coffee.

Trapper laughed the word ‘no’. “Are you familiar with The Castro?”

“No, not really.”

“It’s an area in San Francisco where the gay community has come together. Prostitution is rampant there among the gays just like it is among the heterosexuals in other areas of the city. There are a lot of them who turn their tricks in public bathhouses. This man still had an active infection in a wound on his arm, so chances are it’s spreading through The Castro. The health department is there in force, and they’ve recruited the doctor I left in charge of the situation at the hospital.”

“Gonzo?” said Leah, walking in from the bedroom with wild hair and yawning.

Angela laughed. “You look like a train wreck. What’s happened to you?”

“I don’t remember grant lobbying being this hard when it was just soccer lights. We have been out late every night this week.”

“It’s not over yet,” said Angela, passing her a cup of coffee. “You have another dinner party tonight.”

Climbing up on a stool, laying her head on the counter and moving her hands on her head, she whined, “Why does this have to last two weeks? We’ve already said everything we can say.” She raised her head and nursed her coffee. “A hundred times, at least.”

Trapper rubbed her neck and shoulders. “A nice hot shower will do you good, kiddo. Come on.”

As they left for their room, Angela called after them. “When you’re done, come back out. We have more work to do.”

Leah stopped and turned. “Work? But it’s Saturday.”

“Look at it this way. It’ll only be one hundred and one.”

Leah undressed, but before she could go into the bathroom, Trapper pulled her into his arms and a kiss. She gave him a tired smile.

“You really don’t feel well, do you?” he asked, still holding her close. “How’d you sleep last night?”

Closing her eyes, she leaned her forehead on his chin. “I slept fine. I’m just…worn out…from the week.”

“Sit down over here,” he said, directing her to the bed.

She pulled back. “Just let me take a shower. I’m sure that’s all I need.”

Continuing to the bed, he gave her a stern look and commanded, “Sit.”

She sat down and waited until he appeared next to her with a stethoscope. “What? Do you take that thing everywhere you go?”

“Mm hm. Take a deep breath,” he said patiently as he placed the chest piece on her back.

She sucked in a quick breath reacting to the coldness of the metal. “How could I not take a deep breath? That thing is like ice.”

“Ssh. Take another one. And another one,” he added as he moved the chest piece. Moving to the front, he listened to her heart, then moved two fingers to her neck. “Do you hear ringing in your ears?”

She rolled her eyes, but cocked her head to listen. “Come to think of it, yes, I do. But it’s so light, I didn’t notice until you asked.”

“Have you taken your meds?”

“I take them at night before bed, except for the cyclosporine which I take twice a day. But yes, I took them last night.”

“Your pulse is elevated. Most likely, your blood pressure, too.” He folded the stethoscope and set it on the bed while he looked down at her with furrowed brows and a frown.

“Trapper, it’s just stress, I’m sure. I was hoping we’d get to take a break today…and maybe tomorrow, but it looks like Angela plans to do more coaching.”

Trapper had gone back to his satchel and pulled out a black address book. Flipping through the pages, he stopped and picked up the telephone. “Dr. Dan Abrahms, please. Yes, I’ll hold.”

Leah sprang up from the bed, fuming. “Trapper, what are you doing? I’m fine.”

He raised a finger to his lips. “Dan, John McIntyre. I’m well. How are you? Glad to hear it. Look, I’m in Washington…” He chuckled. “Isn’t everyone here for free money? Listen, I’m here with someone who’s a heart recipient. She’s not feeling well, and her pulse and blood pressure are elevated. Do you think we could come in for some tests today?”

“Is this a colleague or a personal friend?”

Trapper hesitated, glancing over at Leah and thinking how much more she was than a personal friend. “Both.”

“Some things never change, do they? When can you be here?”

“Within the hour. Thanks, Dan. I owe you one.”

Throwing her hands up in frustration, Leah stomped into the bathroom. She leaned over to turn on the water, and when she stood back up, Trapper was standing behind her. He took both of her shoulders in his hands, turning her to face him. “Listen to me, Leah. This may well be caused by stress. But these are also symptoms of rejection. We need to be sure.”

She continued to glare. “This is no different than work at the hospital.”

“Yes it is,” he calmly replied. “You’ve been going from sun up to after midnight every night this week. You’re not supposed to be working that long for a reason.” Lowering her head, she rubbed her neck. “I’ll go talk to Angela while you’re in the shower.” When she finally gave in and nodded, he kissed her forehead, and then moved to her lips, where he lingered for a moment as he touched her forehead with his before he left for the living room.

***

Trapper had just finished explaining the symptoms of organ rejection to Angela when Leah emerged dressed in her jeans and sweater. “I’m ready. Let’s get this over with.”

“I’m going with you,” said Angela, rising to retrieve her purse off the kitchen table.

“You don’t have to go. There’s no sense in wasting everyone’s time,” said Leah, glaring at Trapper.

Holding the door for both ladies, Trapper responded. “It’s not a waste of time. Even if there’s no sign of rejection, and there probably isn’t, we need to do something to get your blood pressure down while you’re here. Dan can write a prescription.”

Trapper opened the car door, and Leah stepped in. “Why can’t you just do this yourself?” she asked.

After opening Angela’s door behind Leah, he walked around to the driver’s side. “I don’t have the equipment to run the tests, and I don’t have a license to practice medicine in Washington D.C. Any more questions?” he asked with raised eyebrows before he cranked the car.

She took a deep breath and squinted defeatedly. “No.”

Angela sat in the waiting room while Leah and Trapper were in the examining room. After an hour, Trapper came out to update Angela. “The good news is it’s not rejection, but her blood pressure is too high. Dr. Abrahms suggested doubling her blood pressure medication, which we can do without a new prescription. She had just gotten her prescription filled before we left.”

“Is that it?”

“No. She needs to slow down. “

“I don’t think you’re going to get her to do that this week. She’s dead set on getting this grant.”

“We’ll just have to do a better job of getting her to say good night. Can you reschedule our late appointments this week?”

“All but the dinner parties, but there are only two of those left, including the one tonight.”

“I see you two are already scheming,” said Leah, approaching them from down the hall. “Trapper, Dr. Abrahms would like to see you.”

Trapper rose from the seat next to Angela. “Ladies, if you’ll excuse me. I shouldn’t be long.”

“Hey,” called Leah as he headed down the hall. “Don’t be talking about me,” she demanded, winking.

He stopped for a moment and smiled at her, then continued on his way.

“He cares very deeply for you. You know that don’t you?” said Angela, remaining in her seat, sitting comfortably with her legs crossed.

Leah took the seat Trapper had vacated. All she could manage was a smile.

With a skeptical look, Angela said, “Oh, come on now. Just the way he watches you is…” She shook her head. “You can’t sit there and tell me you don’t feel the same way.”

Glancing over, Leah snorted, and then continued to look forward with a smile. “You have to understand, Angela, I’ve lost myself in total love and loyalty to a family…to a man before. And in losing them, I almost didn’t survive.” She looked down at her hands in her lap. “I don’t know if I can immerse myself that way again. I might drown.”

“Well, you had better figure it out and soon. He’s a man on the verge.”

“On the verge of what?”

“Of changing his life to include you,” said Angela vehemently.

“Trapper doesn’t change his life. He expects others to change theirs. He’s divorced, and it was the all-consuming requirements of his job that led to it. He’s not going to change his life for anyone.”

Angela sat up on the edge of her seat and turned to Leah. “You don’t know how fortunate you are, do you? To have had a man in your life who thought the Earth revolved around you. And then finding another man who probably thinks the same way. You need to wake up, Leah. You’ve been mired in the loss of your family long enough. It’s time to let it go, and I mean all of it…the doubts included.” She sat back and looked away, letting out a long breath. “I’ll bet you never even asked him about his divorce.”