Page 17 of Written in the Charts

“Evan, when you’re told to do something, you just do it. And I don’t appreciate your attitude.” She laid the tablet down on the counter and typed into it. “Now tell me everything, pain level, how long it’s been going on this time, where you feel the pain.”

I refused to get back on the table, so I stood by the door. She thought she was trying to help me, but all she was doing was pissing me off.

“I’ve gotten treatment.”

She looked surprised, turning her eyes up to take in my serious expression. Then she scrolled through the tablet for a moment, probably searching my file for some note about a treatment that didn’t happen here. She scrolled in vain, but I let her figure that out herself. I didn’t have to be helpful. I only had to follow orders.

“There is nothing in this chart to say you’re under someone’s care. And I’m the person you’d report to here, so why are you lying?”

“Goddammit, Jones. You are really full of yourself today, aren’t you? You act like my fucking mother. I don’t need a babysitter.” I shouldn’t have raised my voice because anyone outside this room could have heard, but I refused to be manhandled.

“Evan, please don’t do this. We are friends, but you can’t abuse that friendship by ignoring direct orders. You’ll put my career in jeopardy.”

“So it’s okay if you do it to mine, but I can’t do it to yours?” My hands curled into fists and I shoved them into my pockets. “I saw my PCP, Dr. Marshal. They did a cortisone injection and started PRP therapy. Okay?”

Her brows furrowed and she clicked her tongue. “And you’re still in pain? How many PRP injections have you had?”

“I had the one cortisone shot a few weeks ago and one PRP shot. I’m supposed to go back weekly for the other PRP shots. Now, let me get out of here. I’ll take some pain meds and be fine.” I started for the door but she just had to keep pressing.

“Miller, stay here.”

I whipped around and let her have it with both barrels. “Listen to me, Jones. I have this handled, and I don’t need the brass nosing around in my personal life. It’s not affecting me. I’m well within my rights to have an outside physician treat this.”

“And an officer gave you a direct order. So you will do as I say or you will get more than just a two-week suspension for your car.” She rose and moved toward me. She was an expert at staying calm in situations like this where I ended up screaming and looking like a fool. “Sit down.”

I sat in the chair by the door as she walked out. I wanted to leave, but if I did she would just pull rank and then I’d be bitched at by the major for not respecting her. It was a really shitty thing to do to a friend, so maybe she didn’t consider me her friend anymore after I went off on her the other day.

She came back in with a syringe and the same brooding scowl. “I’m doing this kindness for you now, but I’m giving you a direct order and I’m placing it in your file. If you continue to experience pain, you are to see me—not your PCP—because I am in charge of your health here on the base. If you do not respect me, I’m going to tell Major Thurlow, and he’ll decide what to do with you.”

“You dumb bit—”

“Evan!”

I glared at her. “You have no right. I’ve spent the past eight years serving my country. You come in here, fresh out of med school, and serve for two years and get appointed as captain simply because you have a doctoral degree. You don’t even know what it’s like to be a real soldier.”

I saw the tears burning in her eyes and felt horrible for pushing her buttons, but this would destroy any chance I had of going back to the field. I hated her right then, even if she was just a good friend watching out for my physical wellbeing.

“Pants leg up.” She readied the syringe as I pulled my pants leg up. “No more cortisone until after the PRP treatment is finished, and hopefully by then, you won’t need it. Got it?”

“So you’re letting me continue the treatment?”

She nodded. “But you get in any pain again, and you are coming to me.”

She gave me the shot, and it didn’t hurt any less when she did it than when Gypsy had. I gritted my teeth and growled through it. It brought tears to my eyes, but the anger I felt kept me from shedding them.

“Evan, I care about you. No career is worth the physical toll on your body that you’re going through. And I’m not sure what’s going on with you emotionally, but you need to talk to someone.” Serah tossed the needle into the sharps container and pulled her gloves off.

“Is that an order?” I pushed my pants leg down and stood, squaring my shoulders.

“No, Evan.” She sighed. “That is a friend saying they care and they notice that something is wrong.”

“May I be excused?”

She shook her head and waved her hand to dismiss me, and I turned and opened the door. I should have left well enough alone. I should have walked out that door and said nothing. I could have.

I didn’t.

“You know, Serah, no man wants to be ordered around by a woman, but you take the cake today. If you were just a CO, I’d have followed orders just like any other soldier, but you trampled on our friendship then pretended it was because you cared about me.”

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