Chapter 45

Amber’s POV

“I’m sorry,” I told the reporters waiting outside the hospital while I pushed through the crowd to go into work. “I don’t have any more updates at this time.”

Still, the reporters continued to call out my name, asking me questions about Elder Jeffers and his family with a demanding ferocity.

Didn’t they see that I was only just going to work? How could I have new answers for them when I haven’t even been here?

“You’ll just have to wait for today’s briefing,” I told them, trying to be as firm but also as kind as I could, despite the many microphones being shoved into my face.

Fortunately, the extra security that the new Head Healer hired spotted me through the crowd and at that moment, rushed down from standing beside the entrance. He hurried down to me, then helped make a path in the sea of reporters enough for me to sneak through.

Once I was safely in the building, I let out a sigh of relief, though the flashing of camera lenses continued to follow me as photographers placed their camera lenses up to the window to try to get a picture.

The past few days had been like this, an entire media frenzy while the hospital had this special patient. Despite our daily updates on Elder Jeffers condition, the press wanted more.

It was as if they were sharks sensing blood in the water.

All thanks to Ken Jeffers.

I knew he was just concerned about his father, so I couldn’t be angry with him, even if the situation had become somewhat exhausting, bringing my entire reputation into question.

Ken didn’t feel like I was doing enough for his father and went to the press to plead his case to the whole of the pack. Now, it felt like all of the pack was split on this, with some backing me up, and some turning against me.

It was a harsh turn from the hero-esque reputation I had garnered when I first moved here. Now I was something of a pariah. Even those who were on my side had questions, so I spent most of my free time fielding those.

Everyone had an opinion on this situation, on what should be done to help Elder Jeffers recover, but none of those opinions were particularly helpful.

Many thought the shift should be forced by the family’s wishes, without asking Elder Jeffers himself, believing it would be too much to wake him and then force the shift given his wishes.

Fewer actually new the laws and medical practices, that such a thing typically required the formal consent of the patient, only giving power to the Healers in certain circumstances. Though then there were those who thought those circumstances were now.

There were no easy answers in this case, unfortunately.

As I walked into my office, Noah looked worried. When I saw who was joining us today, I understood why.

Both the new Head Healer and Julian were sitting in front of my desk. They both stood when they saw me, and I approached, moving around the desk to sit and join them.

Though they did stop to greet me, they then returned to their conversation at hand.

“I’m only saying that this media push has put the hospital, and by extension me, in a very awkward position,” the Head Healer said.

“And I’m saying that I will support Healer Amber’s choices on the matter, whatever they may be,” Julian replied. “We cannot let the bullying of the media push us into potentially going against Elder Jeffers’s personal choices.”

“I do think the family’s wishes should be considered in the matter,” I admitted to them both. “But don’t forget, both the eldest son and the youngest have put their faith in me. It is only Ken who doesn’t seem to fully understand the situation.”

I had tried speaking to him personally on many occasions to help him see things from a Healer’s perspective, but his emotions clouded his judgement. As it was his father as the patient in question, I could understand, but his insistence to take this to the media made things significantly more difficult.

“I just wish we could ask the Elder himself what he wants,” Julian said.

I glanced at Noah across the room, who looked back at me and nodded.

Good. The test results came back favorable then. That was a relief.

“Maybe we can,” I said.

That surprised both the new Head Healer and Julian, who both turned their wide eyes to me.

So I explained, “I’ve been working on a potion to help stabilize the Elder enough for a small conversation. It should not strain him overmuch, giving us the chance to force the shift if he wishes. Though I still don’t believe that is the answer.”

I was certain his body wouldn’t handle the shift, but I had other means that I was working on to help cure him. These things would take time to develop though. Feverfang virus was no easy web to untangle, or it would have been done a long time ago.

“And this potion… it’s ready right now?” Julian looked at me in awe, as if he was surprised I could have accomplished such a thing in such a short amount of time.

While his appreciation made my heart flutter, I quickly pushed down on those feelings. What I had done was no great miracle. Much of the legwork had already been done. I simply needed to add a few elements to help stabilize Elder Jeffers specific condition…

Though, I supposed this was a talent of mine. I could see the formulas in my head, knowing what needed to be done with a quickness that my colleagues seemed to lack. While I didn’t feel special for being able to do this, I could admit the ability was useful, especially in circumstances such as this.

“Yes,” I said. Looking at Noah, I said, “Please call the family. Let’s find out what Elder Jeffers wants for himself.”

Three hours later, several Healers including Eric, Craig, and the new Head Healer, joined me as I stood with the Jeffers family and Julian at Elder Jeffers’s bedside.

Ken seemed the only one displeased. Crossing his arms, he glared at me.

Seeing this, Julian moved a little closer to my side, helping me feel protected. It was difficult not to sway back into him.

This entire ordeal has been emotionally exhausting for everyone, including me. It lowered my guard around Julian. There were so many reasons for us to not even be friendly with each other, yet in this moment, I seemed to take strength from his closeness.

His presence gave me the courage I needed to step forward with the potion ready in an injectable vial.

“Are we ready?” I asked the family.

“Yes,” Roger said without hesitation.

“Yes,” said the youngest, slower, while holding onto his wife.

They both looked at Ken, the last holdout. “Yes. Fine.”

Moving forward, I raised the needle to the input of the IV line and slowly pushed it through. The potion dripped down the line, gradually entering Elder Jeffers’s bloodstream.

“How long with it be until he wakes?” Roger asked.

As the potion had never been used before, I couldn’t give him a solid timeline. “Soon,” I said instead.

We all watched Elder Jeffers closely, looking for even the slightest hint of his waking.

After a couple of minutes, Ken scoffed, “It’s not working. I knew you were a hack, Healer Amber. What’s your game in dragging us all down here, just to put on this mockery? My father deserves better than you. My family deserves better!”