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Crisis & Catharsis -- Part XI Michael made his way through the station, carrying the items Rex had delivered to him. Unfortunately, he ran right into John. “Mikey, what are you doing here at this time of night?”   Michael looked around cautiously. “Nothing.”   John looked at him curiously. “Nothing? What’s in the bag?”   Michael shifted the bag he was carrying, trying to avoid John’s stare. “Just some food…”   “Dinner?”   Michael shook his head. “Not exactly.”   John watched him closely. “Not exactly? Okay, Mikey, what’s going on?”   Michael took a deep breath. “I need to see Benny.” He held up his hand. “And before you ask, Bo gave me permission.”   John took Michael by the arm. “Let’s discuss this in my office.” John half dragged Michael into his office and closed the door. “Okay, spill it, Mikey. What’s with your little shopping excursion and how does Bo fit into this.”   Michael sighed. “Okay, but I need your word this will be kept confidential.”   John nodded. “That goes without saying. What’s going on?”   “You know Nora collapsed the other night and Bo brought her to the hospital.”   John nodded. “Yes and that’s why Bo is taking a leave of absence.”   “Right. So when Nora was brought in, I was on duty and I treated her. I wanted to do additional blood work but Dr. Miller denied my request. She pulled rank and insisted that Nora be released, even though we didn’t know why she had collapsed.”   “What does this have to do with you looking for Benny?” John asked impatiently.   “I got permission from Nora to do the additional blood tests. I found something unusual.”   “What?” John interrupted.   “I’m getting to that. First let me say that Nora was emphatic about keeping Bo out of the loop when she was brought in. Her son was also very hostile and wanting Bo kept out of the rom. So when the blood tests came back showing something very unusual, I asked Bo to help me with a patient. He doesn’t know it’s Nora.”   John nodded. “That makes sense. Those two have a very complicated history. So what did you find in Nora’s blood work?”   Michael looked around nervously. “Hemlock.”   John was stunned. “Hemlock? As in poison?”   Michael nodded. “I asked Nora if she had been out hiking anywhere she would have come in contact with it naturally.”   John smiled. “Nora hiking?”   “I know it sounded ridiculous but I had to cover every base. It’s such an unusual situation. The next logical place to look is in what she’s eating. Since she had another episode while she’s been home resting, that eliminates restaurant foods. It has to be something she has in her home. Bo brought Rex in to help me and he went to Nora’s and collected samples for me. Bo told me Benny would take care of what I need.”   John nodded. “So that’s what’s in your little grocery bag?” Michael nodded. “Why didn’t you want me to know what is going on?”   “I’m going against hospital policy. If Dr. Miller catches me, my medical career is over. And I didn’t want to compromise you while you are in charge of the department. Bo being on leave actually works to my advantage – even though he doesn’t know who the patient is. He is willing to help in any way he can.”   John sighed. “Okay, Mikey. Let’s get your stuff down to the lab and see what we find.”   Bo woke alone in his bed to a pounding on his front door. He squinted at the clock on his bedside table, throwing back the covers and climbing out of bed. “What could possibly be so urgent at this time of the morning,” he grumbled as he made his way to the door, dressed only in a pair of sweatpants. Bo pulled open the door. “What the hell…”   “Whoa, Commish, nice look,” Rex grinned at him.   “Balsom,” Bo sighed. “What could you possibly need at this time of the morning?”   Rex brushed past Bo into the garret, ignoring Bo’s question, looking around nervously. “Is your main squeeze here?”   “Watch your mouth, Balsom.”   “Sorry, Commish. Is Dr. Miller here?”   Bo shook his head, realizing that Paige hadn’t returned after her blowup the night before. “No, she’s not. Why are you looking for her?”   “I’m not. I’m kinda surprised she’s not here, though. I mean she said she was going home when I ran into her at Rodi’s last night.”   Bo was curious. “You saw her at Rodi’s?”   Rex nodded. “She was having quite a heated discussion with Spencer Truman.”   Bo shook his head. “Thanks for the info. Now what are you doing here at this time of day?”   Rex glanced around the room again. “I just wanted to talk to you about the ‘project’ you asked me to help with.”   Bo nodded. “Did you do what Michael asked?”   Rex nodded nervously, continuing to look around. Bo followed his gaze. “What are you looking for?”   Rex turned his attention back to Bo. “Nothing. I’ve never been in your pad before, just checking it out. Nice couch.”   “Balsom, you better get to the point or you’re outta here. What do you want?”   Rex smiled at him. “Got any coffee?” Bo glared at him. “Okay, okay. I guess you’re not a morning person. I just wanted to let you know that I did that favor that you asked me to do. You know, helping out Michael…”     Bo nodded. “And?” “And, even though you didn’t mention it, I thought maybe there might be some kind of a reward involved…” Rex stopped when he saw the look on Bo’s face. “What?”   “You came here at this time of the morning, pounding on my door, to ask me for money?”   “Well, a guy’s gotta eat. Bad joke, considering what the job was in this case. Sorry.”   Bo looked at him curiously. “What does that mean?”   Rex shuffled his feet nervously, glancing around the room. “Nothing. Look, I was happy to help you out but there’s no free lunch, ya know.”   Bo sighed. “Okay, Balsom. How much do you want?”   Rex grinned. “I think $100 would be a start.”   Bo scowled at him as he walked over to the desk and grabbed his wallet. “It’s actually a cheap price to pay if it will get you out of here. I’ll give you an extra $50 if you don’t ever come back at this time of day again.”   Rex nodded. “Okay, Commish.” Bo glared at him. “I mean Bo… It’s a pleasure doing business with you. Let me know if you need any follow-up on this one. Since we’re both not on the force at the moment, maybe I could help you make the bust?”   Bo walked to the door and pulled it open. “Out, Balsom!”   Rex moved to the door. “Right. Thanks again.”   As Rex was walking out the door, he nearly ran into Paige. She smiled at him. “Rex, what brings you by at this time of day?”   Rex was about to answer when Bo stepped through the doorway. “He was leaving. Get out of here, Balsom. I’ll be in touch.”   “Sure thing, Boss,” Rex called as he hurried down the hallway.   Bo retreated into the garret and Paige followed, smiling at him. “You are so cranky in the morning.”   Bo gave her a withering look. “I haven’t had my coffee yet. And where have you been all night?”   Paige ignored his question, brushing past him on her way to the kitchen. “I’ll get you some coffee. That should help you get out of that gloomy mood.”   Bo followed her into the kitchen. “You didn’t answer my question. Where were you last night?”   Paige busied herself making the coffee. “I got caught up at the hospital, working on paperwork. You know how it can be when you’re an administrator.” She turned to him with a smile. “I did want to ask you something, though.”   Bo watched her, noting that she hadn't mentioned her discussion with Spencer at Rodi's. He decided to let it slide for now. “Shoot.”   Paige smiled broadly as she handed him a cup of coffee. Bo sat down at the table as Paige grabbed a plate of cookies off the counter and set it in front of him. “I need to ask a favor. More like a loan, really.”   Bo eyed her curiously. “A loan? For what?”   Paige smiled broadly. “There is a new diagnostic machine on the market that I want to acquire for the hospital. I would wait for the committee to appropriate the money but you know how those things go. I was hoping you could ‘donate’ the money for the machine and help me cut through the red tape.”   Bo looked at her suspiciously. “What kind of diagnostic machine? Could it help Nora?”   Paige’s smile dipped. “Why does everything have to be about Nora? This is for the hospital. It will benefit all of our patients. Nora is not the only person in need of our services!”   “Calm down, Paige. It was a simple question. Why would you need this machine so fast that it can’t wait for the hospital committee?”   Paige grinned back at him. “You know how bureaucratic hospitals can be. I just wanted to get the machine up and running and then the committee would see how valuable it is.”   Bo nodded slowly. “I guess that makes sense. How much are we talking here?”   Paige smiled slyly. “I figure $20,000 ought to cover it.”   Bo nearly choked on his coffee. “Are you serious?”   Paige pretended to pout. “Come on, Bo. You’re a Buchanan. That’s a drop in the bucket for you. Can’t you do this for me so I can impress the hospital board?”   Bo was about to answer when his cell phone went off. He got up from the table and went to the desk in the living room, picking up the phone. “Buchanan.”   “Bo, it’s John. I know you’re on leave but can you come down to the station? I need your input on a case.”   “John, you’re in charge,” Bo reminded him.   “I know, Boss. But I really need to run this one by you.”   Bo nodded. “Okay, I’ll be there in a bit.” Bo snapped his phone shut and turned to see Paige standing right behind him. “I have to go to the station.”   “Bo, you’re on leave. That means you don’t have to run to the station at a moment’s notice anymore.”   “I know that,” Bo snapped. “John said it was important. We’ll finish our conversation later.”   Paige pouted. “Can you just write me a check now and we can finish our discussion later?”   Bo sighed as he pulled open the desk drawer and grabbed his checkbook. He hastily wrote out the check and gave it to Paige. “We will discuss this again later,” he said as he turned and headed to the bathroom to grab a quick shower.   Paige smiled as she folded the check and tucked it into her purse, making her way out of the garret.   Nora wandered into the kitchen, finding Matthew sitting with a heaping bowl of cereal. “Morning, Matthew. Did you sleep well?”   Matthew nodded. “Uh huh. How do you feel?”   Nora smiled. “I’m fine, sweetie.”   Matthew looked at her cautiously. “Are you sure?”   Nora sat beside him, putting her arm around him. “Positive. Don’t worry, okay? I’m going to call Dr. Miller this morning and get a recommendation for a new doctor and we’ll work to figure out what’s wrong.”   Matthew nodded. “That’s good. I don’t understand why Paige can’t make you better.”   “Doctors are only human, Matthew. They don’t have all the answers. That’s why we’ll try another doctor and see if they can figure it out. I don’t want you to worry about it. What’s on your schedule for today?”   Matthew shook his head. “Nothing. I’ll just stay with you.”   Nora frowned at him. “I thought Stevie invited you to go to the park this morning?”   Matthew shrugged. “I don’t feel like playing at the park.”   “You don’t have to stay home with me, Matthew. I want you to go out and have fun with your friends. School starts next week. Don’t you want to enjoy your time off while you can?”   Matthew shook his head. “I wanna stay home with you.”   “You can’t,” Rachel said as she swung through the door into the kitchen. “Mom isn’t going to be home today. I'm taking her shopping. Nothing makes you feel better than spending some money.”   Nora smiled at her. “I do love keeping the economy moving. You’re welcome to join us, Matthew.”   Matthew shook his head emphatically. “No thanks. I’ll call Stevie and find out when we’re going to the park.”   Nora laughed. “We can drop you there on the way to the mall.”   Matthew slid out of his chair and left the kitchen. Nora turned to Rachel. “Nice save.”   Rachel shook her head. “No save. We’re going to the mall. I know you need to rest but a nice walk through the mall can’t hurt.”   Nora smiled. “I like your therapy, Dr. Rachel!”   Rachel laughed. “Then go get dressed. Credit card debt awaits!”   Nora was headed up the stairs when the phone rang. Rachel waved her mother away. “I’ll get it. Whoever it is can wait until after we get back.”   Rachel walked into the living room and picked it up as Nora continued up the stairs. “Hello?”   “Rachel, it’s Dr. McBain. I need to speak to your mother.”   Rachel held the phone away and gestured to her mother. “Mom! It’s Dr. McBain. You should take this.”   Nora stopped and returned down the steps, taking the phone from Rachel. “Hi, Michael. Did you find something?”   Michael nodded on his end. “Nora, I need you to get to the hospital immediately.”   “Okay... What is it? What did you find out?”   “I’ll explain everything when you get here. Just come to the ER. I’ll meet you there.”   Michael hung up and Nora turned to Rachel. “We have to go to the hospital.”   “What is it? What did they find?”   Nora shook her head. “Michael didn’t say. He said he would tell me when I got to the ER.”   Rachel nodded. “Okay, then get dressed and get over there. I’ll call Stevie's mom and wait for her to come get Matthew.” Nora stood frozen in place. “Go!” Rachel urged, propelling her mother toward the stairs. Nora hurried up the stairs as Rachel picked up the phone.   TBC