Who: Roman Skye & Daryn O'Conner What: Delivering the bad news (ho hum) When: June 21st (Friday) pertaining to this post. Where: The Facility Hospital Rating: Low Status: Complete
It was the little things like delivering bad news that kept this job interesting. Often it came with its trials; the complaining residents, issues that he promised to look into and never really did, the way the Government officials mucked things up. But being the one to ruin the day of someone he hated, oh that was worth all the rest of the turmoil that came with the paycheck.
With a literal skip in his step Roman made his way to the Hospital to wait for a certain resident to arrive. He was dressed in his best, most flattering suit. Why not look dashing when you had to make someone’s day as flat as the back tire of a slow moving vehicle?
A moment was taken to chat with the pretty receptionist. He could never remember her name, thank goodness for name tags. And once in a while his light eyes would drift up to the clock hanging up on the wall over her head. It was nearing time for Daryn to begin her shift. He fought the bubble of giddiness that was welling up inside of him. “If you’ll excuse me, Stella, I have a bit of business to tend to.” With a playful wink he left the charmed, giggling receptionist and made his way toward the front door of the hospital.
Palm would smooth down the front of his suit jacket, fingers would adjust the knot of his tie. His heart was racing. Ah, this was a wonderful start to a Friday if he was going to say so.
The past few days were exhausting. After being convinced to leave her home, Daryn had bounced from one place to the next, returning to her residence only briefly at times to shower and change. She had no idea where she’d be staying tonight, but for the moment she just focused on the day ahead. Going back to work was a good thing for Daryn, she knew what to do there, it made her feel capable and strong again. It felt normal, or as close to it as things could get around here. She didn’t feel that way any other place these days.
Like clockwork, she approached the Facility and moved swiftly inside, exactly 25 minutes early for her shift as she always was. She knew she’d be escorted out at a certain time, so she tried to eek out a few extra minutes in the morning to review charts, settle in, and put on the brave face her patients needed. Although, most of them could see through it given her paler than usual skin, skeletal frame, and traces of dark circles under her eyes. She didn’t look healthy, but she would do her best to act right as rain.
Her pace slowed to a stop when she spotted Roman, a sinking feeling hitting her like a brick wall. This was not good, to see the man first thing in the morning. Hopefully he was just waiting for someone else.
Always early. He knew she would be. After all of the time he spent analyzing the citizens Roman was good at gathering the intel that he needed in effort to relay information. Daryn was predictable. He knew a lot about her from her Government file, all of the things she had done in her life that she might not want anyone else to know about. Those dirty little secrets worth bathing in if only to ensure he withdrew every good beam of light from her life to bask in.
A hand would go up as if to stop her motion. Offering a charming smile, Roman swept toward the petite woman. “Ah, Daryn. Good morning, happy Friday. That’s far enough,” he began, observing her face for any hint of disdain or discomfort. “You are no longer allowed to practice medicine here, Doctor O’Conner. By Government order we no longer require your assistance treating patients at this facility due to your uncomfortable level of mental instability.”
Sweeping that palm toward the door in the direction she had come his smile became broader, almost predatory in nature, “If you’d permit I would be happy to see you home.”
Daryn watched him as he spoke, but it took a few seconds longer for it all to sink in than usual. She was used to tangling with him, the quick wit and sharp responses were necessary to deal with a snake like Roman Skye. But today, Daryn was off and it showed. Blinking, she shook her head a little. “I’m sorry… what? Uncomfortable level of…? Is there a problem? Has someone complained about treatment? Was someone hurt?” Her tone was worried, more concerned that a patient had been injured than that anything was potentially happening to her. Her heart was in her work, he knew that, and as much as she hated this man, if he was her patient she wouldn’t treat him any differently.
Daryn had no idea where this was coming from, and it showed. If she wasn’t so focused on what could possibly be wrong with a patient, she would have put on more of a poker face.
Roman shook his head. He could tell by the dimness in her eyes that she was not her usual spiteful self which didn’t phase him in the slightest. He cared little for Daryn and wouldn’t save her if he was watching her drown in the ocean. “Excuse me for not being clearer in my statement,” he replied, voice even and steady, “By order of Mayor Monday, you are no longer allowed to treat patients or practice medicine in this facility until further notice.” He didn’t answer her question directly, he didn’t have to because he felt it was an unnecessary one.
“I’d prefer if we took this conversation somewhere private to discuss the details,” Roman nearly announced. Everyone was already looking at them, their expressions blank, some worried but doing nothing to stand up or chime in on the situation. Roman was playing the considerate card, trying to seem as if he cared about the impact this was going to have if he started naming things outright from her file to back up the claim.
“Daryn, please. Let me walk you home. We can chat along the way.”
As the words sunk in, the last of the light in her eyes went out, as if he’d flicked a switch. Her expression was much the same as that of some onlookers, blank. She didn’t have the strength to fight him at the moment. And she wasn’t sure she wanted to play this little game anymore.
End it echoed in her head, but she tried to shake it off. “I don’t want to go home.” But she did reluctantly turn away from the entrance to the hospital. “Who will treat the patients?” She wasn’t the only physician here, but a lot of the residents preferred her, and she had a small caseload of her own. She knew they were taken care of when she was ‘away,’ but she couldn’t help but ask.
He fought back a peal of delight seeing the dimness in her eyes fade into the ether. His expression didn’t soften but he did grow a bit concerned, a feigned emotion offered to observers to ensure that they knew he was bearing the bad news only because of his supposed title and not because he wanted to. He should’ve been an actor.
“You don’t have to go home, I am happy to ensure that you get any place safe, as long as it isn’t here. You are not allowed to set foot in this part of the building. If you’re ailing, you can call for assistance and the Government will provide someone to come treat you at home.” Shaking his head at her, Roman decided to continue to not answer her inquiries directly, “One of the other physicians here will be treating your patients.” The residents didn’t have much of a choice about it, either way.
“Of course, this is only temporary. You do understand, don’t you, Daryn? You’ll start feeling right as rain soon. I think a bit of rest will be good for you until you’re deemed ready to come back to work full time.” When that would happen he didn’t know nor did he care. “In the meantime, why don’t you just take care of yourself? Find a few hobbies to enjoy?”
Moving to the exit slowly, she listened to his words but it still wasn’t making sense. She knew that if she was sick, she’d rather die than call on the government for help. She wasn’t sure she would call anyone, even these people she was repeatedly told were her friends. Were they really friends? They’d come in, patch her up and put her on a shelf, move her from one spot to another like a broken toy, but did they really care? She didn’t know how to tell anymore. “I feel fine. I don’t understand why this is happening now.”
“No?” He inquired, ushering her toward the doorway. “Your history of mental illness precedes you, Daryn. The Government feels that you are not mentally fit to tend to your patients, and we can’t have a physician who is unstable tending to the needs of upstanding citizens, now can we? Hearing voices, aren’t you?” He inquired, pouting at her in pity. “Is it the paranoia back to haunt you?”
Always smooth in his choice of words and tone, he walked with her through the doors and to the outside of the Facility. The sun bore down merrily upon them. A whole day was ahead, waiting to be seized. And here they were talking about life like old friends.
Furrowing her brow in confusion, she looked up to him as she moved to the door and out. “History of mental illness? What? What have I done to make it seem as though I’m unfit or unstable?” As far and the voices and paranoia, well, she knew enough not to respond to the questions, whether or not he was right.
Squinting in the sun, Daryn’s pace slowed to a stop again. She left the Facility like he asked, but she had no intention of going anywhere else. At least not with Roman escorting her.
It seemed she had no idea that an anonymous someone had alluded to the fact that she was unfit to serve in her role. “Have you checked the Network lately?” Clearly she hadn’t or the blatantly obvious post about her would’ve been on the forefront of her mind. “I can’t say I blame you for not keeping up to date with the garbage there, but someone went out of their way to make sure to let the Government know that you weren’t all there upstairs.” Of course she hadn’t been named outright but it didn’t take a genius to put the strings together. “And then, of course, there was the person who came forward to corroborate the written statement.” There was no person. But she didn’t need to know that.
“So, the conclusion based on these accusations on the Network and through the eyewitness can only lead the Government to truly believe that you are mentally unfit to care for others. Perhaps you should find this person who seems to have no care about airing your business out on the Network for others to see, and have a strong word with them.”
He paused with she did, nearly towering over her.
Daryn could only think of one person, or animal, that she’d had contact with recently who would think those things about her. But would he really post it publicly, and then step forward as well? It didn’t make sense. Fitz was her friend. He was supposed to be her friend. You cannot trust them.
Looking away, she ran her fingers back through her dark hair, trying to make sense of all of this. After a moment, she looked back up to Roman, no challenge in her eyes or her words. She wanted an honest answer. “Do you think I’m crazy? Do you really think I am unfit?”
It could have been a test, it could have been her way of finding out if he could really play the double talk up. But in this moment, she just wanted his opinion. She already knew he hated her, but she also knew that a part of him enjoyed the challenge she usually presented him with. He wouldn’t waste his time taunting someone who was insane. That was beneath him.
“Honestly, I don’t know much about you to determine otherwise.” It was the truth, plain and simple. He’d read her reports, knew her personality, but he wouldn’t answer her question mostly because the answer he gave wasn’t adequate to suffice for a conclusion to the inquiry. The opportunity to get to know her had come and gone, and here was what was left of that.
“Maybe your little social club has turned against you. If you need a friend, my door is always open.” They weren’t in view of anyone so whatever show he’d been putting on in the hospital had fallen by the wayside. Earning the trust of Daryn would be the ultimate feat. But that wouldn’t happen, and if it even was on the menu it’d be a long wait for preparation.
Perhaps she would want to make a statement, clear the air and prove herself. Perhaps not. “Now, where can I escort you to safely?”
Daryn just stared at him in silence, faded blues searching his face for something, anything. But she came up empty. She looked around, noticing that they were alone, no one nearby looked at all interested in the conversation. And certainly no one seemed like they might come to her aid if she needed it. Her shoulders fell gradually, giving up and giving in far easier than she ever had before.
Taking a deep breath, she shook her head slightly and looked around again aimlessly. There was nowhere she wanted to go, and nowhere that felt particularly safe or comforting at the moment. Except one. Turning away from him, she headed off toward the lighthouse slowly. “I will go. I don’t need an escort, thank you.” Even the tone of her words had lost the bite she usually directed toward him.
Roman nodded at her, pretending to look concerned. Inside he was wrought with glee, warm and tingling. What would she say if he tried to console her? He didn’t want to, she was one less headache to deal with.
With a silent sweep of his hands he gestured for her to carry on as she would. He watched her go without anything more. When she was out of sight he grinned like a Cheshire Cat and turned on a polished heel. The destination was to offer his report to the Mayor and then get back to work solving the islands problems.