Maddy's Floor (22 page)

Gerard gulped, then leaned forward earnestly. "Then leave John out of the project. Think of him as an isolated incident. He's on the same floor, only not on
your
floor," he wheedled. "And I'm sorry. It won't happen again."

She didn't believe it. How typical. Threaten the money and he crumbled. "It's not that easy. I can't exclude him. Energy is malleable to a certain extent so he'll benefit from being close."

"There's nothing wrong with it benefiting him, is there? The man's dying. If he gets a few extra weeks by being there, surely that's a good thing."

"A few extra weeks – the man's death will still be around the corner. Putting him into the program skews the result because he doesn't fit the criteria. Not to mention the effect his death will have on the other patients. You know that." She was frustrated and wanted him to know. "You did this on purpose, and I want to know why."

Goaded, Gerard snapped. "I didn't have any choice." He glared at her. "Our budgetary requirements are unbelievable right now. John offered to pay – and in a big way, I might add – for some necessary equipment. My hands were tied and we needed his money to help other patients. Okay?"

Maddy shifted back down into her chair. Gerard's face had blown into a cherry red color and the lines of his face had deepened with anger. She'd been right. John had bought his way in, an easy trick to play on the moneyman.

Maddy wasn't sure how she felt about everything now. That he'd sacrifice her trials was unacceptable. To lose necessary equipment due to a lack of funding? That didn't make sense either.

She stared at Gerard, who shifted like a truant child waiting for his punishment. What were the options? Could she keep John out of the project? He was in the renovated area with Adam Lenning. For the moment, that
was
outside the research floor's boundary.

And Felicia had been included in the trial. That was a good thing, as she had the potential for remarkable improvement – in fact, she'd shown wonderful stabilization, as of this morning. Maddy had high hopes she's make a complete recovery.

Mentally, Maddy sorted the possibilities before she gave in. She didn't know what would be more debilitating to the other patients, to have John removed right now or to have him die within weeks of arriving. They wouldn't have much contact with each other. He wasn't in the same area, and not mobile enough to make use of the common areas.

Patients who died after being there for a while had a much bigger impact on the others. They might just think John's illness had advanced too far when he arrived. Hell, that's exactly what she'd thought herself.

Now she wasn't so sure. The black energy hanging around him could be interfering with his health and recovery.

What the hell, she might as well include him in the energy. Besides, it would take a meaner doctor than she was to kick him out. Especially as she'd seen the possibility of a way to help him.

However, she also owed the people that had put their trust in her. She couldn't let the investors or her patients down. Her project was valuable and to lose the investors was to sideline the project. And that would slow the number of people she could help.

Maddy gave in and stood up. "I'll see what I can do. Don't do it again. This isn't what our investors want and I won't turn a blind eye again. I can understand the temptation to let patients buy their way in, but no more. They can damn well buy their way onto another floor."

She glared at him, not liking the gleam of hope in his eyes. If she let him get away with this, there'd be no end to his meddling in her affairs. "Do you understand? Don't get smug. That offer I refused won't go away for a long time."

Gerard bounded to his feet, relief washing over his face. He walked around the desk, his arm outstretched. "I promise, this one time only. Thank you." He clasped her hand with both of his, shaking it with fervent enthusiasm. "Thanks, Maddy. I really appreciate this."

"I mean what I said," she snapped, afraid he hadn't understood the severity of his actions. "No more going behind my back."

He grinned, the perfect salesman persona back in place. "I know, I know. I promise."

Pulling her hand free, she jabbed her finger at him, wanting him to understand how wrong he'd been and the severity of his actions. "And see that you don't forget it."

Maddy walked back out. Sandra smiled at her. "I see you know how to handle him, too."

"We'll see if my 'handling,' as you call it, is successful." She motioned to the closed door behind her. "He's definitely a wild card."

"Only if you give him rein. Hold tight and he's not bad. Give him too much rope and that boy will get into trouble every time..." Sandra's tone was light and airy, but with serious undercurrents.

Maddy's mood plummeted. Damn Gerard and his conniving ways. That he should put her project at risk for a bit of money was untenable. It had been unbelievably difficult to get this off the ground in the first place. To jeopardize it now… She tried to shrug off her mood.

Balance, peace and everything nice are what she needed as her focus. It was impossible to keep any type of healing energy flowing if there were a disturbance in her own mind – especially as she needed to do energy work right now.

Back in her office, she switched off her lights, switched on her music and took up a comfortable position on the floor.

Her mantra. Peace. Happiness. Joy.

Surprisingly, it only took a few minutes to go into a meditative state, where she consciously dropped the accumulated tension from her spine, unspoken words from her mind and the less-than-ideal emotions from her heart. She slowly deepened her state. Drifting down lower, she went even deeper until she slid out from this reality. Focusing on the people in her care, Maddy detached from her physical reality and moved out in her astral form. This was a common form of travel, usually done by people during their dream state. While in this state, and though generally involuntary, people often visited people and places they loved…and hated.

To do this consciously wasn't something one learned overnight.

For the first few seconds, she stretched, enjoying the sense of freedom. This reality left every opportunity open, the imagination unbelievable in its scope, the possibilities limitless. She knew from experience that she'd lose hours here, wallowing in this other existence. She also knew she wouldn't be able to stay here alone in her office without being disturbed for too long.

It was time to get to work.

***

John didn't feel too good. No. It was more like he didn't expect to ever feel good again. He'd achieved something he'd plotted, agonized over and had been striving for since he'd first fallen ill. For what? He'd bought his way in and had managed to piss off Dr. Maddy. Worse, she might not be able to help him. After all he'd done, defeat left a bitter taste in his mouth.

A specter of death hung over him. Sure, he might not die today or tomorrow, yet within a few months he'd be gone. His stomach almost heaved at the thought.

Darkness seemed to cover his world and his soul. He snorted, the sound so light as to be irrelevant if anyone else heard. That's how he felt these days, insignificant and unimportant, as if he had nothing left to offer.

A hot tear welled at the corner of his eye. John rolled his face into the pillow. He hated feeling so weak and helpless. He wasn't a goddamn wuss. He wasn't. And he wouldn't be. He refused.

Good, John. Don't give in. Don't give up.

John bolted upright, wincing at the pain as he did so. "Who's there? Who said that?"

His corner of the floor was empty except for that other doctor working on Adam over by the far wall. John sank back down. "Great, now I'm hearing things."

A light, tingling laughter filled the air. John's eyes narrowed. "Dr. Maddy?"

No answer.

Neither did she materialize around the corner. John searched around again. He didn't know what the hell was happening. The air warmed and lightened around him. A soothing heat slipped into his toes and worked its way slowly, inch by worn-out inch, up his legs. His knees throbbed when the heat reached them, making them feel good. Stronger. Something they hadn't felt like in years. He lay there, enjoying the healing power or whatever was going on. This had to be the secret of Dr. Maddy's floor.

Whatever it was, it felt real. It felt good.

The warmth reached his spine. He moaned in relief as the constant chaffing and brittleness in his bones eased. He didn't know what was happening, why or by whom but he was so damn grateful he didn't care. Prone and at peace, John lay in awe. So great was his joy, tears of wonder streamed down his cheeks. His poor body thrummed with healing effervescence.

As the heat slipped higher and higher, his heart calmed, his blood pulsed stronger, yet with serenity. The healing energy shifted, finally encompassing his face and head. His eyes closed. He rejoiced in the warmth bathing them from the inside. As the heat hit the top of his head, it seeped ever upward, as if squeezing through the very pores at the top of his head. He wanted the sensation to stay, the heat to turn around and slide down again, yet somehow he knew it wouldn't.

I will come again
.

Tears streaked down the side of his face, only instead of feeling sad, John felt only grace and thankfulness.

Remember, find joy and acceptance in life and appreciate all that you have.

"Thank you," he whispered softly, afraid to dispel the magic of the moment.

Soft beautiful laughter tickled the air.

He felt a deep connection with the voice. Nothing lustful or lover-like. Instead, it was spiritual – something he never would have expected. He hadn't given the New Age crap any airtime in his world, and now all he could do was lie in his bed in amazement, wondering at the most beautiful experience of his life. He floated on that wave of wellness, until a sigh climbed his spine and escaped, taking with it years of toxic emotions, stress and negativity. He sank deeper and deeper into the feeling.

His last thought before succumbing to sleep was of Dr. Maddy.

What a class act.

WEDNESDAY EVENING

A
hard knock sounded on the office door.

"Dr. Maddy? Are you in there? It's been over an hour."

Silence.

"Dr. Maddy?" The knock became a pounding. The doorknob twisted uselessly. The door was locked. "Maddy!" This time, the door rattled as the person on the other side tried to get in.

Maddy heard the noise, she understood the concern, but she hadn't returned to a functional enough state to answer Nancy.

"I'm here," she croaked out in a whisper, barely audible over the music still streaming throughout her room in soft muted tunes. She uncurled slowly from the yoga position she'd been twisted into for the last hour or so. Blood rushed through the veins in her legs and up her spine. She stretched, waited another quick moment, and tried her voice again.

"Nancy, I'm back. Everything's fine."

"Jesus, Maddy, don't do that to me. You promised you'd never lock this door again." She heard the sound of a heavy sigh, followed by a thunk as if Nancy dropped her forehead against the door. Or maybe it was her fist.

Maddy finished stretching and opened her eyes. After drawing a deep breath, she walked to the door and unlocked it.

As she opened the door, Nancy slumped against the doorjamb, staring at her grimly. "Jesus, you scared the crap out of me."

Smiling, Maddy tried to reassure her. "Sorry. This ended up being a pretty intense session."

Nancy huffed. "That's it. If you won't keep this room unlocked during your sessions, then I want a set of keys."

That was probably a good idea. Maddy's smile slipped. "I'll get you a set. I'm still feeling the effects of this session."

"Coffee. Your blood has peace, quiet and oxygen flowing through. It can't comprehend the lack of caffeine." Nancy eyed the counter area with its coffee maker. "I'll make you a fresh pot."

"You only want a cup for yourself." Maddy let Nancy propel her out to the small balcony. She took several deep breaths, feeling her blood pulse with life as it always did after a strong healing session. Basking in the sun, she waited another long moment to allow her awareness to fully return. When Nancy brought the coffee, she took a seat beside her in the shade to enjoy it.

"What happened this time that you went so deep?"

Maddy closed her eyes for a moment, letting the residual power flow through her body. "Nothing odd, just incredibly powerful. I haven't had a session like that for a while."

"Who were you working on this time?"

Opening her eyes, Maddy glanced at Nancy. "Several people. Felicia and John, the new patients, then some maintenance and tweaks on most of the others. I didn't make it through half of the patients though. I'll do another session this afternoon or tomorrow morning and see if I can touch the rest."

"Don't overdo it. You know how much this takes from you. Too bad management doesn't understand that."

"Hah, you wish." Maddy refused to rise to the bait. The two of them had been close friends for years. They often shared dinner, had coffee or rode bikes together on days off. Nancy was permanently watching her weight and Maddy was always eating – and getting skinnier – a contrast that drove Nancy nuts.