Chapter 5 - Marks Discovery

Ken recognized his brother’s distinctive husky voice. “Hello, anyone here?” Mark entered the main exam room where Ken was.

Mark asked casually, “Hey big brother, how’s it going?” Mark was as handsome, masculine and as broad shouldered as his brother. He had one characteristic that set him a part from his brother. He had a sexy cleft chin. Ken seemed annoyed at his brother’s arrival. “Hello Mark.” He said without too much enthusiasm.

Oblivious to his brother’s indifference, Mark annoyingly stretched his neck over his brother’s shoulder to see what he had placed on the trays.

Without much sympathy in his voice he said, “It looks like someone has an anal blockage.” There was a moment of silence. Ken gave his brother a dirty look.

Sister had returned from the adjoining room. Mark and Sister acknowledged each other and exchanged the usual pleasantries.

Ken turned towards Sister and said, “If you are not able to succeed at this than a local anesthetic will be needed.”

“I’ll know right away if it can’t be done successfully.” She answered.

“Here are the things you’ll need.” He said as he handed her the tray. “Remember, YOU are to call me for help if either one of you have a problem. You promise?”

“I promise doctor.” She took the tray and turned to reentered the bathroom. Before doing so he stopped her to give some last instructions.

“Lower the table and have the patient go into the knee chest position. Remember to ask the patient to help you by baring down.”

“Doctor, I know what to do!” Sister than disappeared into the other room.

Mark was observing and listening to all what was being transacted and thinking that his brother should be the one to do this particular procedure. However, he thought it best for the moment to remain silent.

Mark and Ken passed the next few minuets with idle chatter about the World Series and the fourth coming football season. Ken was trying to bring the conversation to a quick end so that his brother would soon leave.

Mark was just about to tell Ken about Dr. Peruzzie’s wife when both their heads quickly turned towards the closed door that Sister and Sue were behind. Their came a loud scream. Mark could tell it was a young girl’s scream. He turned his head and noticed that his brother’s face had turned white at the sound of it.

“Ken, shouldn’t YOU be the one in there doing that procedure?” Mark asked.

Ken was very annoyed by his brother’s question. In an impatient voice he answered, “The patient is a young female and this is her first visit.” He tensely continued, “Sister Katherine and I thought it best that SHE should perform the unpleasant task for modesty sake which would allow the young lady to maintain some of her dignity.” Mark gave him an unsympathetic look. Nonetheless, he was curious as hell to know who the young lady was that was making his brother’s face turn pale.

There again came a loud moan from behind the closed door. Ken was becoming very agitated. Mark had never seen his brother act like this concerning a patient before. “Ken, what’s your problem? You seem a little distracted.”

“I’M FINE MARK! What do you want? Can’t you see that Sister Katherine and I are busy at the moment!” He said in an impatient and angry voice.

“Ken, you don’t have to jump down my throat! I only asked?” A few minutes went by before Mark spoke again. Mark than asked, while looking at the second treatment tray, “Is that the same, new suppository from England you gave me a week ago to use on myself?”

“It is.” Ken answered curtly.

He said viciously with a little smile on his face. “That young lady in there is going to really feel it. I thought my whole ass was going to explode in the toilet bowl last week!”

“That means the suppository did it’s job, baby brother.” He said bluntly. “NOW if there isn’t anything else? Would you kindly leave.” There came more unnerving sounds coming from behind the closed door. This time the young girl was sobbing. Mark noticed his brother’s right cheek begin to flex.

Mark began rattling off questions and disturbing comments. “Ken, shouldn’t YOU go in there? With another wicked grin on his face he exclaimed, “It sounds like your running a torture chamber in there!” He was very curious. “Who is she anyway?”

“NONE OF YOUR DAMN BUSINESS.” Ken yelled. He than went up close to the door and stared at it. In a gesture of frustration he nervously raked his fingers through his hair. He abruptly turned to his brother and said, “For God’s sake Mark, did you have to say THAT?”

“WHAT!”

“A torture chamber! Sister Katherine and I go out of our way to try hard NOT to hurt our patients! We’re not in the habit of running an office from the Middle Ages! Why don’t you THINK before you speak?”

Mark was unapologetic. “OK, I was out line.”

“YOU’RE DAMN RIGHT you were out of line!” Ken said angrily.

He wouldn’t make it visible to Ken but Mark regretted what he had said. That was rare for Mark these days. He never regretted anything he said or did. He always guarded himself from showing too much emotion, even with his brother. However, he couldn’t help but remember that same expression on his brother’s face when his sister in law, Ann, was dying. It was a mixture of indignation and despondency. Mark wanted to understand his brother’s frayed emotions. Though, he would never make it evident to his brother that he cared. Did this patient, this girl in the other room, mean anything to him?

Things had quieted down in the other exam room, which helped Ken to settle down a bit.

“Was there something you wanted Mark?” Ken asked in a rigid impatient voice.

“Dr. Parruzzi’s wife just went into labor a few hours ago. A few us doctors thought it would be nice to bring him to the club across the street and buy him a round of drinks to help him relax. It’s going to be a long night for both him and his wife. He paused, I thought you would be finished for the day and come join us. Usually Ken, you are finished by this time on Friday’s.” Mark answered.

Ken’s face soften along with his voice. “That’s wonderful. Give Vincent my regards. I , I hope all goes well with the new mother and baby. I’ll try to stop up in maternity and see Connie before I leave tonight.” Ken began gazing out the window, lost in thought. After a few moments he replied in a much lower voice. “Sister Katherine and I are going to be held up here for a while.”

Trying hard to sound disinterested, Mark commented and asked, “You don’t seem yourself. What’s the relationship between yourself and that young lady in there?” Mark knew the different emotions a man went through when it came to women. He recognized all the signs and remembered only too well the effect his ex fiancee had on him.

Ken slowly turned around to face his brother. With animosity on his face he tensely answered, “Mark, my ‘relationship with that young lady in there’, as you so put it, is purely a professional one. At the moment she is my patient and I am her doctor; end of discussion.” In an effort to get him out of there he said through clenched teeth, “ Mark, I’ll see you back at the house tonight. Say Goodbye Mark!”

Mark got the hint. With a little impish grin on his face Mark asked, “Do you need any help inserting that lethal suppository up and into the young lady’s ass? If so, I’d be more than glad to be of some assistance.”

Ken gave him a disapproving look and said, “In your dreams brother dear. Now WILL YOU please get the HELL out of here!”

Mark put up his hands as if to surrender, “OK, OK , I’m leaving. I’ll see you tonight.” As he was leaving, Mark thought to himself that his brother had been working too hard and it was causing him to lose his sense of humor.

As Mark was going out the door Ken yelled out to him, “TRY EATING SOME FIBER TONIGHT, LITTLE BROTHER!”

Mark yelled back over his shoulder, “YOU SOUND LIKE MOM!”

On his way out he noticed a patient folder on Ken’s desk. He knew it was unprofessional to look but his curiosity had gotten the best of him. Careful not to have anyone catch him in the unethical act, he first looked over his shoulder towards the doorway and then stretched his neck forward to where Ken was to see if the coast was clear. He slowly turned the folder towards him. Seeing the name, Susan Sheridan, at the top of it made his mouth open wide and his eyes bug out. He also noticed a nurse’s cape and cap on the chair. It didn’t take him very long to figure it out. He was flabbergasted! Why that son of a bitch!

He has THAT beautiful nurse from Pediatrics in there that everyone for months has been buzzing about. Mark knew that the sumptuous brunette had caught, including himself, the attention of every doctor, nurse, priest, patient and custodian in the entire hospital. Not to mention the construction workers outside the hospital building.

Mark had thought to approach the stunningly pretty nurse himself but he swore off women since Maureen had recently rejected him.

He knew his brother wouldn’t have been able to notice her. How could he when he always cloistered himself in his office like a monk. Ken had acted like that since his wife’s death. Mark was very much aware that his brother hadn’t been with a woman since that dreadful time. He had secretly hoped that Ken would have met someone in Bermuda.

Now, he suddenly knew why his brother’s demeanor was odd. He’d become enamored with that exquisite creature inside. It was not surprising! Ken would have to be half dead not to notice. The lucky dog. He loved his brother, though he would never admit it or show it. He didn’t know anyone who deserved it more than his brother, Ken. He had suffered and had been lonely since Ann’s demise. Mark knew only too well what loneliness was after his own relationship had terminated.

Mark smiled to himself. I guess there really is a rainbow somewhere and Ken didn’t have to go to Bermuda to find it. He found it right in his own back yard.