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“Monroe.” Dr. Juran gave Alec a quizzical look. “There's a pediatrician on staff at Children's Memorial whose last name is Monroe. He recently referred an adolescent patient to me.”
Alec nodded. “Adam is my older brother.”
“He's a good doctor.” Dr. Juran sat down and turned to Jillian. “I'm planning to do both visual and sensory evoked potential testing today. The procedures have very little risk and will probably take about ninety minutes to complete.”
“Why do the sensory testing?” She asked. “I read how multiple sclerosis is diagnosed by visual testing,”
“Ah, but we don't have a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis yet, do we?” Dr. Juran smiled. “I need to do comprehensive testing if I'm to figure out what is wrong with you. Please trust me to be the neurology expert, hmm?”
She flushed, knowing he was right. She hunched her shoulders. “I will, but that doesn't mean I'm going to stop asking questions.”
“I’d be disappointed if you did,” he assured her. “Cora will attach the electrodes to your scalp. The visual testing will be first, and then we'll do the sensory testing.” He must have noticed her expression because he patted her knee as if she were a small child instead of a thirty-one-year-old woman. And a colleague. “The sensory testing won't take too long, I promise. I'll be as quick as possible.”
She didn't doubt him. In fact, she'd researched the neurologists with the best reputation before deciding to approach Dr. Juran. “I know.”
Alec didn't say much, but his presence beside her was more comforting than she'd anticipated. As soon as the electrodes had been attached to her scalp, he'd taken her hand firmly in his and she sensed this time he wasn't going to let go.
The visual testing took longer than she thought it would. But then Cora informed her they were now switching to the sensory testing. Instinctively, she tightened her grip on Alec's hand.
“Can you give her something for pain?” He asked.
“I'm afraid not,” Cora responded. “Narcotics would mess up the results. But we'll try to be quick. We’ll start with your feet and calves.”
The first electrical shock made her suck in a harsh breath. It wasn't as bad as she'd been expecting, but not comfortable either. She was more prepared for the next shock but the higher on her extremities they went, the more the shocks hurt. One painful jolt piled on top of another, increasing her sensitivity to them. When they're finished with both of her legs, Cora moved to her arms, forcing Alec to let go of her hand.
“Talk to me,” Jillian begged, gritting her teeth as she endured one electrical shock after the other. “Tell me about yourself.”
Alec seemed to know exactly what she needed. “You already know I come from a big family. I used to be known as the wild child. School didn't come easy for me, so I graduated from high school with dismal grades. I didn't have many college options, so I joined the army. Considering how several members of my family were in the medical profession, I requested to be trained as a medic.”
She concentrated on his words and on not yelping in pain when the electrical shock zapped a nerve she hit didn't even know she had.
“Being a medic in the army is much like your job in the emergency department—you never know what injuries you'll see. After a while, though, my superiors noticed I possessed other skills that were generally more useful.”
“Like what?” She looked at him, concentrating on the deep, rich timber of his voice.
“My sharp shooting skills.” For a moment a dark shadow flashed over his eyes. Then she wondered if she'd imagined it, because it was gone. “They were impressed I always hit my target dead center, no matter what distance I was shooting from. So they moved me out of the medical program.”
“How long were you in the army?”
“One six-week tour. After leaving the army I decided to go into law enforcement. The rest is history.”
And that was too bad. She thought he would have had a great career in the medical field. “Why were you known as the wild Monroe?” She asked, both to keep him talking and because she really wanted to know.
“I always managed to get into trouble. More than anyone else in my family. My friend Timmy and I were known for doing wacky things. One day we caught four bumblebees in a coffee can, knocked them out with fumes from rubbing alcohol and then tied strings around them.”
“Strings?” Jillian frowned. “Why?”
“We had the bright idea of taking the other end of the strings and tying them around the door handle of the house. Soon the rubbing alcohol fumes wore off and there were four angry bees buzzing around the door handle. No one could get into the house or come out.” He let out a low chuckle. “Boy was my mom mad.”
She couldn't help but laugh, even as the sound ended in a yelp.
“That was the last shock. We’re all finished,” Cora announced.
Finally. Once Cora had removed the electrodes from her arms, Alec reached over to press her hand between both of his.
“Are you okay?” His expression was troubled.
She managed a nod. “Yes. But I'm glad it's over.”
