Painted Lines

by Brei Betzold

  We all worked at Saul’s shop. He has a garage that fixes and restores old cars, and then he has the shop we work at, fixing and restoring bikes. We also build custom bikes, but it’s not our specialty, and Saul only lets us take on projects when were slow with restorations.

  Our plan was to buy Saul out of the business eventually, continue with the restorations but also take on more custom bikes, and stop repairs all together. That would leave him with his car business, which is what he preferred to begin with, so everyone would be happy. Saul was onboard with this plan, we just needed the money to buy him out, as well as do some renovations to the building, and buy some newer equipment. The four of us ran this side of the business already, so we knew what it was worth, what it brought in, and what we needed to do to make it succeed.

  After cleaning and locking up, I checked the time on my phone, I still had a few hours before meeting the psychiatrist that Dr. Moore was sending me too. I was about to ask what everyone wanted to do with the time when I heard someone clear their throat, I looked over and Marc the producer was gesturing us over to him. I really hoped he wasn’t going to ruin my good mood, I had a lot of fun today working.

  “You four need to go to the medical station, for drug testing,” he said looking at me like he expected me to fail.

  “Drug testing?” asked Simon.

  “Mmhmm, one of the conditions you agreed to when you signed the contract, all teams can be drug tested at any time.”

  “Fine, let’s get it over with,” I growled and headed off in the direction he had indicated.

  We sat down in the medical station, and were handed paperwork to fill out, asking our names, date of birth, and any medications we were on.

  “Do you need dosages too, or just the medication’s name?” I asked.

  “Just the name of all the medications you’ve taken in the past thirty days.”

  I nodded and went to work listing my scripts. I looked over at Simon.

  “Have I had Haldol?”

  He nodded so I added that to the list and handed it back to the nurse. A man came and took Liam, Kale, and Simon to the guy’s bathroom and the nurse followed me into the girls’ room.

  “These are all the medications you’ve taken in the past thirty days?” she asked.

  “Yep.” I said taking the cup and heading into the stall.

  “Door open.”

  I sighed, I knew this routine already, and I did my business and put the lid back on the cup. I walked out of the stall, handed her the cup, and went to wash my hands. I walked out the door and waited for the guys to come out. I could help but think it was interesting that we were the team chosen to have the first drug test. I had some ideas on that little coincidence, but thought to leave it alone while we were still here in the building.

  After everyone was finished, we headed out to where our bikes were parked. “So where now?” asked Liam.

  “Somewhere I can hydrate,” I responded. “I’m going to have to pee in another cup in about two hours.”

  “Come on, let’s go find a coffee shop near the hospital,” Simon said. “You two can do whatever you want, we’re done for the day.”

  “Sweet,” said Liam climbing on his bike, “I am sure we can think of something.” He winked at me and then he and Kale took off.

  “Come on, let’s get out of here.”

  “Yeah, I’m tired of this place.”

  We found a small coffee shop inside the hospital and after we ordered, we sat at one of the tables nearby. I was people watching when Simon cleared his throat.

  “Yes?”

  “So are you thinking the same thing I am, that it’s not exactly a coincidence that we were drug tested?”

  “No, I don’t think it was.” I pulled my gaze from the young girl carrying a small baby and looked over at him. “No, I don’t think it was at all.”

  “Any ideas?”

  “The producer trying to get rid of us, my father, Thayne who knows.”

  “Who’s Thayne?”

  Damn it. “Uhm, one of the Ace & Lace guys,” I told him waiting for the inquisition to begin.

  “How do you know any of their names?”

  “I, uh, I met him this morning,” I said hoping he would drop it.

  “This morning?” he asked raising his eyebrow.

  I took a drink of my coffee and tried to find an answer that wouldn’t get me yelled at. “In the parking lot.”

  “Uh huh, and?”

  “And he wanted to tell me that he was sorry, and couldn’t we work out a way for him to participate.”

  “Uh huh and?”

  I sighed. “When I told him no, he got angry, yelled, then stormed off.”

  “Anything else?”

  “No, and I didn’t freak out either.”

  “Didn’t think you had, so those are your ideas on the drug test, huh?”

  “Yep, can’t think of anyone else, can you?”

  “One of the other teams?”

  I thought about that for a moment. “No, I see no reason behind it.”

  “I can think of five hundred thousand reasons,” he muttered.

  I rolled my eyes at him. “No, I don’t see it, they wouldn’t start the subterfuge this early.”

  He nodded, “Yeah, I think you’re probably right.”

  “It had to be someone who would suspect my meds, or heard us talking about it,” I surmised.

  “No telling who that could be.”

  We sat the rest of the time in quiet. I continued to people watch while he played with his phone, probably texting his wife. When time was up, we went in search of the doctor’s office so I could get this over with. I really wasn’t looking forward to this, but I knew I didn’t have a choice if I wanted to get my meds refilled.

  Once we found the office, I went to the receptionist to check in, and I hoped that I wouldn’t have to wait long.

  Chapter 10

  I found a seat beside Simon, went to work filling out all the paperwork, and began waiting for my name to be called. The walls were painted a cool blue that were supposed to be calming, but I don’t think any color could really help calm someone while waiting to have their psyche poked at.

  Finally, my name was called and Simon and I headed through the thick doors towards a room where I had my weight and blood pressure taken. Then I had to answer the questions on how I was feeling, how were my meds, and did I feel like a change needed to be made. I answered dutifully stating I was fine, my meds were fine, everything was just fucking fine. I wanted to scream at the incessant questions. Once the nurse was done playing twenty questions, I was sent into a small bathroom with a plastic cup to piss in, felt like deja vu.

  I was led into a room, I had always laughed at the Hollywood version of a shrink’s office, none of the ones I had ever visited had the comfy couches to lay down on. This one was set up much like all the others I had been in. Three chairs all sitting across from one another so you can maintain eye contact with whomever you are speaking to. All done up in soothing colors, and the sickly sweet smell of flowers that was supposed to overpower the antiseptic smell that it never quite hid. I plopped down in one chair and watched Simon sit down in the other, both checking out our surroundings.

  I sighed and began picking at the hole in my jeans again waiting for the doctor to finally show up, once he did, he was not at all what I had expected. My normal psychiatrist was an older man, who put out the vibes of a tender grandfather. But this guy was around Cas’s age and reeked of being a player. I looked over at Simon trying to see if I could judge his opinion of the guy but his face was blank.

  “Hi, I am Dr. Carter,” the guy said holding out his hand, Simon quickly reached out and took it while I shrank back in my chair further.

  “Simon, Scout’s friend,” he said.

  The doctor nodded then sat down and stared at me, “So Scout, I’ve been looking at the information Dr. Moore sent me, and I am wondering why you aren’t under a closer watch.”

  At t
hat point, all the blood left my face and I began to hyperventilate. No, no fucking way was I going to go through this again.

  “I’m sorry, what?” spluttered Simon.

  “Well from the information Dr. Moore gave me, I’m a little concerned about her being so far from her normal care for such a long time.”

  “The information he gave? What information is that?” I wheezed out.

  “Hmm well your meds, the dosages, and that you suffer from severe post traumatic distress order, as well as an anxiety disorder.”

  “And from that you decide she’s what, exactly?”

  “Well from the research shown,” he started.

  “Hold on, you haven’t spoken to her, you have no idea why she has PTSD or the other crap, and you’re going to sit there and try to tell us what’s best because of research?” Simon asked incredulously.

  “Simon, what’s your relationship with Scout?”

  “I’m her best friend.”

  “Hmm, well then I don’t think you fully understand what her condition means.”

  “Well, let me explain something to you, I’ve known her since birth, sat beside her after the event, and I have been here since,” Simon growled, “it’s you that I don’t think fully understands.”

  “Is there a family member I could speak with about my concerns?”

  “My, my brother,” I mumbled trying to keep myself together with breathing and focusing on the hole in my jeans.

  “Okay, well can I have his information so I can call him?”

  “That would kind of difficult,” replied Simon, “since he’s currently in Afghanistan.”

  “Oh,” the doctor responded shooting a glance my direction, “well is there anyone else?”

  “Yes, me!” Simon nearly yelled.

  I reached over and touched his arm. “Please call Dr. Moore,” I whispered.

  “Okay Scout, that’s a good idea, now breathe, honey,” he murmured.

  I continued with my breathing, while he called doc’s office, and Dr. Carter watched me like I was a bug under a microscope. His constant staring was starting to freak me out, and when Simon touched my arm to get my attention, I jumped out of the chair.

  “Scout, he wants to talk to you,” he said quietly.

  I nodded and took the phone. “Scout dear, you there?”

  “Yes,” I whispered and sat back down.

  “Deep breaths, Scout, now tell me what’s going on.”

  So I filled him in on what the doctor had said, and how he was making me uncomfortable. He apologized over and over for putting me in this situation then asked to speak to the other doctor.

  While the doctor was on the phone with doc, Simon leaned over towards me, “So apparently this guy was not the one you were supposed to meet, but his associate.”

  “Okay, so what now?”

  “Now we wait, again.”

  A few minutes later, Dr. Carter handed Simon back his phone apologized for the confusion and left the room. I let out a deep breath, happy that he was gone. Simon spoke to Dr. Moore for a few minutes longer before hanging up.

  “Well it’s straightened out, the other doctor should be here in a few minutes.”

  “Okay,” I whispered.

  “A female doctor, Scout,” he said knowing that would make me more comfortable since it was a stranger. I had been a patient of Dr. Moore’s for three years now, I didn’t like meeting new doctors.

  “Good,” I replied, and started picking at my jeans again.

  A little while later and lady in her early forties walked in the door and introduced herself as Dr. Lawrence, I liked her immediately, she didn’t try to touch me.

  “I’m sorry about the mix up, and I want to apologize for the way he acted, we will be discussing it later.”

  I nodded and waited for her to start asking the questions.

  “So Scout, how are you doing today?”

  “Good.”

  “So you need your meds?”

  “Yes.”

  “Okay, then let’s get you those,” she replied and reached into her pocket and pulled out her prescription pad, filled out four different ones and handed them to Simon.

  “If you have any problems have the pharmacy call my office, okay?”

  “That’s it?” I asked.

  “That’s it, I trust Dr. Moore’s opinion, and you answered all the questions I would have asked already,” she said checking my chart. “Oh she missed one, do you feel like hurting yourself, Scout.”

  “No,” I said adamantly.

  She nodded and headed out the door, we stood following her out, I went to the window to pay my copay and sighed, there went money for groceries. I turned to tell Simon I was ready to go, but he quickly shushed me. I looked at what had him so riveted and saw a door was left slightly open. I walked closer to him and listened as well.

  “What the hell were you thinking, Dr. Carter?” I heard Dr. Lawrence ask.

  “I was thinking she was a young woman in need of help, you didn’t see the way she was acting as soon as I walked in the room.”

  “You were never supposed to walk in that room, you do not have a clue what she’s gone through, nor do you have any rights to this case.”

  “Oh and you know what she’s been through?”

  “Yes, I know enough to know you never should have been in there.”

  He scoffed, “So instead of trying to help we’re supposed to what? Just give her prescription drugs she’s likely addicted to?”

  “No, I am to give her prescriptions she needs, I know her doctor personally, and when he called me, I agreed. You were never supposed to be involved.”

  “She needs a psych eval.”

  “No, she needs to be left alone, and if I find out that you do not let this drop, I will fight you on this and I have seniority, do you understand me?”

  “Why do you trust her doctor? He let her leave his care for two months. She’s had two breakdowns since she got here, she needs a psych evaluation.”

  “I trust him because her doctor is one of the leading psychiatrists in the field of PTSD. She’s been her doctor for three years and knows what’s going on with her, we do not.”

  “Fine, I just hope you don’t live to regret that decision, Doctor.”

  “You are too young and inexperienced to be making decisions about her care, let alone treating her. Let me handle her case, I will be keeping an eye on her the same as her doctor does.”

  “Fine.”

  There was the sound of a door slamming and I looked over at Simon, I was scared that this guy was going to try and screw with me.

  “Nothing will happen to you, Scout,” Simon said, once again reading my thoughts.

  I nodded and hoped he was right.

  Chapter 11

  We left the hospital and rode to the pharmacy near the rental. After dropping off the prescriptions and making plans to pick them up the next day, we headed home. When we got there I saw Matt’s bike, I had forgotten that I had invited him over for dinner, I glanced over at Simon to see his reaction. He and his dad’s relationship had been strained for the past few years, but they tried to act like it wasn’t, even though we all saw through it.

  “What’s he doing here?” Simon asked after we turned our bikes off.

  “I invited him over for dinner,” I replied making my way to the house.

  “Ah”

  I walked in and immediately found Matt sitting on the couch, Zadok in his arms. I smiled, no matter how strained their relationship was Matt adored Zadok, and Simon never came between that.

  “Uncle Matt.”

  “Seraph,” he replied looking up at me, “you okay?”

  “Fine,” I said giving my common reply.

  He looked at me dubiously then over at Simon who nodded his head, I’m sure having some unspoken conversation about me.

  “Well I had better go get dinner started.” Then I quickly left the room.

  I listened to them all talking in the living room, none of t
hem bringing up the competition or me. I was grateful for both. I hated when everyone talked about me like I was a china doll that had to be cared for with kid gloves. I would be the first to admit that I have issues, but I tried not to let those issues take over all of my life.

  Dinner didn’t take long to prepare, and so we were sitting in the living room, telling stories, eating food and having a good night. I loved evenings like this with my family, looking around at all the smiling faces. The guys were picking on one another, while Cam laughed at stories about a young Simon. It was moments like this that I really wished my brother were here with me. I loved all of these people, they were my family, but Cas and I were each other’s home base. Too quickly dinner was over, Matt was leaving, and everyone was going to their separate rooms.

  “How was the doctor?” asked Saul.

  “Fine.”

  “Just fine?”

  I nodded, “Yep.”

  “K, night, Girl, I’m leaving in the morning, have to get back to the shop.”

  “K, night, Saul.”

  I curled up on the couch and pulled my blanket over my head and drifted to sleep, thinking about Cas and praying that he was safe.

  I woke up late, so I had to hurry through my morning routine and run out the door so I made it to the garage on time. I didn’t think I would be received well if I was late, the producer seemed to want me gone, and I wasn’t going to give him a reason.

  I ran into the building and found that they had my team was already situated, so I went over to them and glared at them for not waking me up.

  “Good morning, princess.”

  “Bite me, Liam.”

  “Ah someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed.”

  “Rusty dull spoon, Liam,” I reminded him, causing the other two to cough to cover their laughs. I glared at them again before my attention was pulled to the front.

  “Today you will be painting your cars. There are two paint booths, you will want to check the schedule to find your booth number and time. Use your time wisely, you have four hours,” Eddie said.