50

Dr. Wu looked from the brother to sister ith a raised eyebrow. "It's just this last time, Ellie. You're going to be fine soon. Remember the body doesn't reach to change well if it's done suddenly. You need to do it over a while. That T.V. will be on, but it will just be in the background. You'll forget it's even there after a while. You don't want the T.V. to be so loud you can't hear the people around you."

Ellie took gasping breaths as she struggled to maintain consciousness, "Dr. Wu how do you know for sure that tapering down the dosage of this drug will help me to recover? I don't care about the research. Just tell me . . . please I don't have much time . . . about your own patients."

Wu looked at her with a calm expression. "I specialize in paralysis and surgery, Miss Chen, I'm afraid that addiction is not anything that I would personally know how to treat. What I saw in my training days should be taken with a pinch of salt. I did see a case where the attending physician did try a tiered approach where the patient was going to be weaned off the drug slowly. But it failed miserably. Not everyone is strong willed. I don't know either if the patient had other stressor in their life. I really have no idea whether your method will work better. But that is a decision you can make at a later date. My recommendation is for right now just focus on what's ahead of you."

"Dr Wu is right," Nolan interjected as Ellie was loaded onto the stretcher. "Don't strain yourself too much."

Wu continued. "Take less and less in the upcoming days so you're not dealing with both post-surgery and withdrawal symptoms."

Ellie head bobbed in agreement but her mind was opposite. As the drug was taking her conscious with it she decide this would be the last time. She had only let Wu inject her because she wanted to be out for the surgery. No compromise. After the surgery, Ellie vowed she would never crave another drop even again. Enough was enough.

Wu seeing Ellie slump into unconsciousness turned to Nolan, "The hard stuff hasn't even begun. Is she always like this?"

Nolan shook his head.

Wu looked around. "I left my nurses at the hospital so we'll need two strong people to hold her down and I need someone to give me my tools. I'm sure your excellent Michael will be handy, but I do feel this is a first for him. Seeing his age, I also doubt a steady hand. Can you also ask about showering after?"

He took a deep breath. Wu and Ellie were like peas in a pod. Worrying until everything was perfect. He nodded calmly and over his shoulder said, "I'll make sure you have everything you need, Dr. Wu."

The doctor followed behind him as Ellie was taken ahead of them. There was an oxygen mask strapped over her nose as the I.V. cart trailed behind her. The whole motion was fluid like the footmen knew this whole routine and had practice it before.

Michael noticed Nolan's expression and quickly explained, "Both the late sir and madam were bedridden. The operation room was made in case the sir was here during his last days some while ago."

"The Wongs think of everything." Nolan said dryly.

"Wong?" Dr. Wu said with an air of surprise. "But your last name is Chen as well as your sister's in her medical documents. Who owns the house? Is this a relative's house?"

Michael looked at her with blank politeness. "It belongs to Ellie's husband?"

"Husband?" Wu said shocked. "I didn't even know she got married. It's not recorded. If there is a husband where is the man? His wife is about to have major surgery. Doesn't he want to have a say in this matter? She's a sprightly little angel."