Second Opinion

Before we went out to eat, I told Ciri we should go to the hotel first to drop everything off which she agreed to. After dropping off the bags at the hotel, I asked Ciri what she wanted to eat. Ciri, having never tasted food from my world before, had her head spinning trying to decide on what to eat. So, I told her we could try out other food on another day and for the first food, she should eat NY-style pizza.

Safe to say she fell in love with it and ate an entire pie, by herself. I had to practically drag her away from the restaurant.

"I could've eaten another one." she said patting her new stomach baby.

"Yes, and I'm sure you would've thrown up and never eaten pizza again. It's best to eat in moderation." I said.

"I never knew food could taste so good. Compared to the food I usually eat, this taste is on a whole other level." she said mouth watering at the taste of the pizza.

"This world's food used to be just as bad. Most food during the medieval ages is bland and lacked variety. Once worlds advance technology and have the time, as well as the money, to try new recipes is when the culinary world advances by leaps and bounds. After all, if you are fighting for your life every day, then the food you're eating doesn't really matter."

"Medieval ages?"

"Oh right. The medieval ages are when civilizations are in a time when knights, kingdoms, and religion are at an all-time high. There are more nuances than just that of course, but these are always present, for the most part." I explained to her in very simplified terms.

"Interesting. So you think one day my world would become like yours?"

"Most likely. It is a trope that worlds with magic either advance in a direction of magical technology or they never advance because magic is more convenient. But I do know your world is heavily prejudiced against magic users, so it's more probable it'll advance in a direction similar to mine."

"Unless I do something about it."

"Yes, unless you do something about it."

~~

As we reached the hotel, I saw a black SUV with US flags on the front which clearly showed it was someone high-ranking. Intrigued for a moment, I wrote it off as that person checking into the hotel. That is until a man that looked like a bodyguard straight out of a movie exited the vehicle and started walking my way.

"Excuse me, are you Dr. Garetty?" he said stopping in front of me.

"I am. How can I help you?" I asked, taking a quick scan around.

"I'm here under orders to escort you to Princeton-Plainsboro." he said opening the rear door of the SUV.

"Whose orders?" I asked.

"Admiral Kazansky."

"An Admiral? Wait, if he's at PPTH that means Dr. Chase is there. Dr. Chase is more than capable enough to diagnose anything wrong with him." I said.

"Yes, he is, but the Admiral wants as many opinions as possible. So, please if you will." he said motioning me to enter the vehicle.

"Can I see some identification first? I don't feel like getting kidnapped today." I asked before he pulled out more than one identification proving his words were true.

"Fine." I said to him before turning to Ciri. "Here's the hotel key. Sorry to leave you right now, but it looks like I don't have much of a choice."

"It's fine. Go deal with your important doctor's things." she said before taking the hotel key and walking away.

"Alright, let's go." I said before entering the vehicle.

~~

Arriving at PPTH, I gave it a good long look. House was a show that I had watched countless times over and being in the setting of the show was cool.

"Dr. Garetty." said the bodyguard snapping me out of my admiration of the place.

"Sorry about that." I said while beginning to follow him to the hospital room where the Admiral was resting. Standing awkwardly in the elevator as it went up, the doors opened to a familiar face.

"Dr. Chase, it's good to see you again." I said with a smile as I reached for a handshake.

"Dr. Garetty, what are you doing here?" he asked as he shook my hand, clearly confused at my presence. But before I could answer.

"Dr. Garetty is here to check on the Admiral." said the bodyguard.

"Admiral Kazansky? I've already diagnosed him."

"Yes, but the Admiral wants more opinions."

"I told them any diagnosis you came up with is highly unlikely to be wrong, but I practically had no choice in coming."

"Right this way, doctor." said the bodyguard as he walked to the Admiral's room while I started following him before seeing Chase was going as well.

"It's a shame we had to meet like this." I said making conversation.

"Not like it's your fault. I doubt the military is the type to take no for an answer."

"Haha, probably not. So, what's the diagnosis?"

"Throat cancer. Biopsied the tumor and ran the test, twice. Positive both times. Told him the sooner we get started on the chemo, the better."

"Phew, hard to deny that diagnosis. But then again, I suppose cancer is the end all, be all of bad news for patients."

"Tell me about it, I wish Wilson was still here so he can take over."

"Dr. Wilson, the oncologist? I thought he worked here." I asked, even though I knew the answer.

"He has cancer. Stage II thymoma, the chemo didn't stick, so he left to his live out his final days."

"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. I heard he was a great oncologist."

"Doctor." said the bodyguard holding the door open.

Cough Cough

I entered the room to coughing sounds, which was to be expected of a man with throat cancer. Getting a good look at the man on the hospital bed, it suddenly clicked.

'That's Val Kilmer. And in Top Gun his last name is Kazansky. Cool.'

"Dr. Garetty I presume?" he said with a raspy voice.

"Admiral Kazansky, it's nice to meet you." I answered.

"I'm sorry for calling you here, my men informed me you were on a date with your partner."

"Not a problem, always happy to help. Besides she's just a friend. But I have to warn you, Admiral, Dr. Chase's diagnosis is unlikely to be wrong."

"I know, doctor. But I've seen men do the impossible and I've seen hopeless situations turned around. Besides a second opinion doesn't hurt." he said with a smile.

"Very well. I'll take a look at you first before I take a look at any imaging Dr. Chase has done." I said walking up to his bedside while activating Perspective Minimum.

'There are more weak points than normal, probably due to his old age and his time in the Navy. Well, looking at the throat it's clear as day that's a tumor. No chance of it being an abscess, unfortunately.' I thought looking at how the tumor was completely solid in my vision.

To keep up appearances, I still did a physical check on the Admiral.

"Well Admiral, as far as I can tell the diagnosis is correct. The tumor feels solid and doesn't have as much give as an abscess which would be the most likely candidate after the tumor. But, I will still look at any imaging and if I have to, run my own." I explained to him.

"Thank you, doctor."

"Of course. Dr. Chase if you would be so kind as to show me any imaging?"

"Right this way." he said as we both exited the room and went to the diagnostics department.

"So?"

"You were right, not that there was much a chance of being wrong. But I do understand where he's coming from."

"What do you mean?"

"He's an Admiral which means he's seen his fair share of things. He's lived life probably being told he's the best and thinking he's the best. So, when it comes time to face his own mortality, and for it to be cancer no less, something with treatment that is hit or miss, he seeks a way to prove you wrong. No one likes to be reminded of their mortality even if it's inevitable."

~~

Unfortunately, the rest of the team wasn't there so I wasn't able to meet them. But after reviewing the imaging that Chase had, and asking for some of my own just to be extra sure, the diagnosis was pretty much confirmed. So, I went to the Admiral's room to tell him the diagnosis.

As I was entering the room, I saw someone else sitting and talking to him. The man turned around and I saw Tom Cruise.

'Maverick. Awesome. Better than Tom Cruise in real life too.'

"Doctor, this is my friend Maverick." said the Admiral.

"Maverick, is that Italian?" I jokingly asked him as I shook his hand.

"Haha. Scottish, actually."

"So, doctor what's the diagnosis?" asked the Admiral.

"Unfortunately, Admiral, my diagnosis is the same as Dr. Chase's. Luckily we did catch it early, so the chemo is very likely to take. My recommendation is to start as soon as possible."

"What are the chances of complete recovery?" asked Maverick.

"Well, seeing as we caught it early and the cancer hasn't spread, we're looking at around a 90% chance we get rid of the cancer completely with chemo alone. However, I must warn you that the possibility of needing a tracheostomy is not low which will impair your ability to speak. If done more than once, your ability to speak will be lost completely."

"Tracheostomy? What is that?" asked Maverick.

"A tracheostomy is when we create an opening in front of the throat so we can put a tube to help you breathe. Unfortunately due to the nature of your cancer, the likelihood of needing a tracheostomy is quite high."

"Is there a chance of remission?" asked the Admiral.

"Yes. If we get all the cancer cells with chemo, and you are cancer free for 5 years, you are considered cured. But, there is always a chance for cancer cells to remain and come back."

"And you're sure, it's cancer." he asked one more time, hoping for a small sliver of hope.

"Yes."

"Okay. Thank you, doctor, for coming out today. I'll follow up with an oncologist myself."

"Good luck, Admiral." I said before walking out of the room.

"Doctor." I heard the bodyguard from earlier say. "We have arranged a car for you to be taken back to your hotel, as well as payment for today."

"Alright, let's go."