24 Mind-numbing pain - 1

"Where is Dr. Van? Where is he? And Dr. Caroline?"

"They are in surgery. Please calm down, sir. Tell me what is wrong. How can I help you?" Manila tried to reason with the enraged spouse of a critically ill patient.

"How can they do this to us? My wife was next on the list for a valve replacement. And I know they got one today. Then why wasn't the replacement done for my wife? Why somebody else got to have it?"

And he banged his fist on the desk, demanding an answer.

"I am sure there must have been some reason for the last-minute change, sir. Please calm down. Let them come back, and we will let you know."

But that man's pain and anger had completely consumed him. In a mad rage, he pushed away everything on the station desk. All the files, medicines, and hand rubs fell. And that commotion brought Morpheous out from the chamber.

"Sir, you have to calm down, else I would have to call security." Even though Manila's voice was firm, Morpheus could see her hands trembling beside her thigh.

So he decided to take control of the situation.

Taking a bottle of water, he walked up to that man. "Sir, why don't you have some water and rest here. Once the doctors arrive, we will call you."

"You! Don't sell me that lie, man. Don't." His broken eyes pierced through him. "You guys promised we were next. My wife is bearing a child. You guys aren't killing one; you are killing two lives. Their blood will be on you. How do you guys even live every day like this?" And in a bout of anger, he swung the bottle at the wall, spilling the water around.

Manila immediately picked up the receiver to inform security, but Morpheous raised his eyebrows, and she reluctantly put the receiver back.

"I know you are afraid, sir. But please calm down, it's a hospital. Can I take a look…"

"What is going on here?" Interrupted a voice.

Morpheous saw Caroline walk in their direction and stopped behind that man. All of a sudden, his stomach snarled into a tight knot. 'She should not have come here. At least not now.'

"You!" Turned that man, his face flushed in anger. And in the spur of the moment, he pounced on Caroline, grabbing her by the collar of her shirt.

"You had promised that she had a chance. My baby had a chance. Then why did you take it all away? Why?" and he pushed her. But unfortunately, because of the slippery floor, she lost her balance and staggered back, colliding with the wall.

'Crack'

Came the sound. Something broke. Something definitely broke. And before Morpheous could resister, he watched Caroline shut her eyes in pain.

"Aggghhhh…"

She groaned and crouched down helplessly, clutching onto her elbow.

For a moment, he couldn't react. He watched her shut her eyes tight, screaming at the top of her lungs. And something inside him flipped in an instant—something primal, something fierce.

"Get-Away-From-Her!" He roared, and moving ahead; he flung the man away with such force that he was pushed meters away from Caroline.

'Thud!'

"Morpheous!"

He heard Caroline call his name and looked into her eyes. They were laced with unknown fear. She swallowed and looked at him as if she was scared of him. It was then that he realized how he had reacted. That was so uncharacteristic of him. He had never been this angry in his entire life, for he was a healing angel—the kindest and most benevolent of all.

"Everyone! Move away."

Jerking his head, he stepped back and saw Dr. Van approaching.

"Bloody Hell!" Dr. Van's worried eyes instantly locked on Caroline's dislocated elbow, and he lifted her carefully in his arms. "Hang in there, Carol. I got you. It's going to be fine!" And like a madman, he ran towards the orthopedic wing.

Morpheous stood there, watching his sin counter burn in its glory, but he wasn't bothered. What was eating him up was the sudden surge of energy he felt a second before. It was exactly similar to the one he had felt when holding that sword in Vanaheimr. The day when he had been banished.

He turned back for a fleeting moment and saw that man crouched on the floor while Manila ran behind Dr. Van. What had happened to his judgment? That man was hurting for his beloved. What was wrong with him?

But all that he could think of now was that Caroline was in pain and that he had to help her out. So he paced.

Her hand was being x-rayed to check the extent of the damage. He could hear her wince in pain standing outside the closed doors of the imaging room.

"It's OK. They will give her a painkiller soon." Manila comforted him. Probably his worried face didn't go unnoticed by her.

As soon as the X-Ray light went off, he barged in without even knocking.

"It's an olecranon fracture, Dr. Van. Here can you see this? We need to put a splint here, and that should be enough." The orthopedist was showing the X-Ray film to Dr. Van when Morpheous interrupted them

"How is she?" His voice was more like a demand, which surprised the orthopedist seeing someone barge in. It was evident from the displeasure that spread on his face.

"Oh! He is ok. He is her assistant and a family friend." Dr. Van introduced him while injecting a shot of Morphine into Caroline's arms.

But ignoring them, he inched closer to her, "How is the pain now?" his teeth clenched in an attempt to not giveaway the storm of emotions inside. His hand stretched out of his will to take away all her pain.

"Don't! Don't touch her! She is still sore." Dr. Van blocked Morpheous and then rested his palm lightly on her shoulder, "Don't worry, Carol. We will fix you in no time."

And that stirred him. Somehow the proximity of Dr. Van around her made him uncomfortable. His words grated next to his ears, for he wanted to be the one to help her out. Carol ... Why does he get to call her Carol. Why didn't he call her Caroline like everyone else?

"Can you please clear an OT for us, Manila, and help shift her as well." Dr. Van instructed.

"I will help with that!" Morpheous interrupted, his eyes still fixated on her. There was a pained expression on her face, and she looked like she would pass out at any moment. But there was something unnerving about the way she kept looking at him. It wasn't anger or fear ... it was more like she wanted to ask him something but kept herself silent.

So when both the doctors left, he asked Manila to schedule OT7 immediately and moved to her side. He desperately needed to be alone with her.

To touch her. 

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