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Page 21 of Defended by Bama (Royal Bastards MC: Mobile, Alabama #1)

Brooklyn

A woman walked me down the white, very sterile looking, hallway.

The place was a stark contrast to the pediatrician's office Sadie went to.

Their office was bright with loads of pictures, different colors, a working train that lined the span of the three different waiting rooms, one for infants and the other two split for sick and well visits, and huge saltwater aquariums that separated each one.

I followed the woman in scrubs into a small side room. It was barren, save a chair with a blood pressure cuff, a scale, and a counter with nothing on it.

“Let’s get your weight. And do you know how tall you are?” she asked.

Hopping up on the scale, I squinted as if it would change the number. One sixty-five. I had lost weight. I hadn’t been trying to but I guess that’s what happens when you’re stuck in fight or flight mode. “Umm, five six.”

“When was your last menstrual cycle? Have a seat.”

I took the chair pushed against the wall. “Uh, started two weeks ago.”

“Do you have any menstrual issues to discuss and is there any chance you’re pregnant?”

“I don’t know. I took a Plan B last week.”

“Okay, we’ll double check when we get a urine sample. Hold your arm like this, feet flat please.” The woman checked my blood pressure, temperature, and pulse ox; all normal.

She grabbed a sterile cup and a wipe and handed it to me.

“Let’s get a clean catch. Be sure to write your name on the cup and there’s a door in the bathroom to leave it in.

” I stood up and she walked me around the corner.

“When you’re done, have a seat right there,” she said, motioning to a new waiting area, also devoid of any decor.

“Yes, ma’am.”

I left my sample, then washed my hands and headed to the small waiting room. The wait was short, and she led me down a hall, into a room.

She instructed me to have a seat, then asked a series of questions about medications, my history, family history, then asked the million-dollar question. “Are there any specific concerns you’d like to discuss with the doctor today?”

The question hit me like a ton of bricks. It had been less than a week since we arrived here and the discussion I had with Bama about being checked came back to me. “Well, I guess I wanted to make sure my ex didn’t give me something I can’t pronounce.” My fingers fidgeted together.

But the woman didn’t seem to bat an eye as she made her notes.

Then she stood, pulling items from a drawer and laying them out on the counter.

“The doctor is going to come speak to you first, then he’ll call me back in before the exam.

Go ahead and disrobe, removing panties and bra as well, and put this on, then wait on the table. You want it to open in the front.”

She handed me a huge paper robe before she promptly left the room. I did as instructed and waited, my legs swinging nervously.

Only a few minutes went by but it seemed like an eternity when a knock came on the door. I wobbly answered, “Come in.” That was always so awkward. What else do you say? Go the fuck away? But I understood why they did it. It was still odd to me.

A man in a white lab coat over blue scrubs walked in.

He maybe was in his thirties from what I could tell, but had a few lines on his forehead and a very small touch of grey on his temples.

He was clean shaven, and the rest of his hair was dark brown that matched his kind eyes.

“Good morning. I’m Dr. Hanes, but you can call me Sam,” he said as he extended a hand.

It was freezing cold and all I could think was he was about to put those icicles on me, and in me.

“Thanks for seeing me.”

He pulled the rolling stool over and had a seat. “I’ll be straight with you, Brooklyn. Bama mentioned some abuse and I see some evidence plain as day now. Can you share the extent of the injuries? I need to know before I perform the physical exam, so I don’t harm you.”

A lump formed in my throat but I coughed to clear it away.

That helped, but I still had to take a deep breath.

I didn’t want to burst into tears in front of the doctor.

“There was some other…assault.” I couldn’t say the word.

Which was fucking stupid. He did it to me. But saying it out loud was too hard.

Dr. Sam Hanes nodded. “I see. That helps.”

“I’m not filing charges.” The words came out so fast they practically bled together. “I don’t want a kit or whatever.”

“Understood.” He smiled, then said, “Hammer and his friends don’t tend to get the police involved in these matters. Did you want me to check for STIs today?”

Nodding, I clasped my hands together, squeezing to keep from fidgeting. “Can I maybe get some birth control as well?”

“Yep. Pill, shot, patch, gel? What’s your preference?”

“I don’t know if I can get a prescription filled right now.” I had no identity so I wasn’t even sure what he could write for me.

“We get loads of samples here. So, think it over and we can circle back once we’re done. Anything else you want to discuss? Mentally doing okay?”

What a loaded question. “As good as to be expected I suppose. It’s been a strange week for sure.”

The doctor stood, cupping my shoulder with a warm smile. “No shame in needing a little help getting through a hard time. But you don’t have to take anything you don’t want. If you decide you want to try later, just give us a call. Let me get my assistant and we can do the exam.”

“Wait, one more question before you do.” He turned and my face heated but I wanted to know his medical opinion. “When you do the exam, will you let me know when it’s safe to uh…be active again?”

I expected a knowing grin or something, but instead he simply replied, “No problem, but I’ll have to do the exam first. Be right back.”

Blowing a breath through puffed cheeks, I waited for them to return. They were back quickly, and the doctor got straight to work but said, “The pregnancy test was negative. But we’ll get you on something before you leave so you don’t have to stress going forward.”

The procedure was moderately uncomfortable, but he was much gentler than some others I’d had. The assistant was quiet but quick with his requests. I was thankful they didn’t try to fill the silence with small talk.

After a full exam, including some pressing around my ribs and collarbone, he washed his hands and said, “Okay, all done here. There’s some wipes on the counter to clean up and you can get dressed then I’ll be right back. Did you decide on the birth control?”

I sat up with his help and shrugged. “I took the pill years ago. But I don’t have a car right now to get to the pharmacy. Maybe I should do the shot?”

“I can give you a ninety-day supply of the pill, or I can do the shot. Up to you.”

Thinking about all the variables that could happen, I settled for the shot.

After he left and I got dressed, I waited only a short time for the assistant to come give me the shot and tell me to make sure to have another in three months, then the doctor returned.

Once the assistant was out of the room, he pulled up his chair.

“Alright, there was some definite trauma and scarring. Since we’re running tests, I’d just let your body heal for now.

But it’s really up to you and your comfort level once those results are in.

I didn’t feel anything obvious elsewhere, but we can do some x-rays just in case. ”

“No, I’ve cracked ribs before. I don’t think anything is broken, just bruised.” That time he took me to the hospital, I had two cracked ribs, so I remember how it felt. Plus, I wasn’t sure how much more prodding I could take. “Um, you know my unique situation, so how will my tests be done?”

Dr. Hanes stood. “Thanks to my cousin, we have an in-house lab for most things.” He leaned against the counter, crossing his arms. “Some things we still have to outsource, but routine things can be done right here. But it’ll take a few days for most tests.

I’ll let you know as soon as I get results.

In the meantime, try to take it easy, hydrate, eat well, light exercise is fine but don’t overexert yourself.

And like I said, if you have any anxiety or depression that isn’t manageable, we can get something for you. ”

“Thanks. I’ll keep that in mind.” I hadn’t been to a doctor besides the few hospital visits and urgent care, but at the close watch of Marshall, in a very long time. Even so, they had never been so kind and attentive.

He held his hand out and helped me from the exam table. “You feeling okay? We have to keep you here for a few minutes after any injection to make sure you don’t have any side effects.”

“I feel normal. But thanks.”

“Your period may be irregular for a couple of months while you adjust to the shot but if you have severe breakthrough bleeding, give us a call, okay?” He opened the door and waved me out.

I turned as I left the room. “Thanks. Really, thank you so much.”

He smiled again. “My pleasure. You take care and keep Bama in line for me, okay? And you’re free to go.” Then he took off down the hall, entering another exam room.

Looking up, I found the sign that pointed to the exit and followed it around. When I opened the door, my heart clenched at the sight: Sadie snuggled up to Bama as they both stared down at his phone, smiling.

Marshall never sat with her and certainly wouldn’t hand over his phone for anything. Even though so much was still up in the air, seeing them like that filled me with hope and comfort in the decisions I’d made recently. The biggest being to trust this man.

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