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O’Hara noted both the wince and the obvious fact that Althea turned her face away. She stopped flexing the wrist and gently massaged it instead. Then her expression narrowed.
Knowing it was absolutely none of her business, she asked anyway. “He did what? Are you going to press charges? That’s assault.”
Althea frowned.
"No," she said honestly. "He thought I was threatening his family, so he just did what he felt was right."
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O’Hara pursed her lips. “Look, it’s none of my business, but you can’t always assume people always have honest and ethical motives. He smashed your head with a wine bottle and stepped on your wrist. What were you doing before all of this happened? Why do you think you deserved it?”
"I was to take his child away," Althea said sadly. "Mostly parents are distraught, it's normal."
"But I think he was beyond distraught, his daughter was his whole world, but he could no longer provide for her. So I was called."
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O’Hara’s chest tightened. Dammit, now you look like a heartless bitch. “Oh,” she murmured. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know. Still, that doesn’t give an excuse for such violence and your current situation. Thankfully, I don’t think there is any permanent damage, but I still want to check your wrist a bit more to see if it’s potentially sprained or broken. Do you mind?”
Althea shook her head.
"I don't mind," She said, smiling up at Dr. O'Hara. "It's your job, after all."
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O’Hara laughed quietly. “Yes, it is. Now, if at any point you feel pain, tell me.” She slowly ran her pointer and middle fingers around the circumference of Althea’s wrist, pressing gently as they went.
When Dr. O'Hara got to the inside of her wrist, Althea winced.
"That hurts a little." She admitted. "But not too much."
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O’Hara nodded. “I think some ice should help it in the meantime. Reduce the swelling…” She glanced over her shoulder back at the nurses’ station. “Jackie!” she yelled.
The nurse in question hurried over. “Yeah?”
“Go run back to Eddie and get some ice,” O’Hara instructed. "Some Percocet too." As Jackie headed off, the doctor turned back to Althea. “Has there been any ringing in your ears, blurry vision, headaches, or feelings of nausea or fatigue?”
Althea nodded a little.
"A bit of nausea." She admitted and looked up. "Why? Is that concerning?"
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O’Hara pursed her lips and tilted her head. “Well, I’m trying to evaluate if you have a concussion or possible head trauma from the blunt force. How long have you felt it? Since you woke up or has it just started recently?"
"Since I woke up." Althea said calmly. "Oh dear, having a concussion would not make this day any better."
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O’Hara arched her eyebrows. “Since you woke up? And you didn’t care to mention it?” She sighed and shook her head. “You’re remarkably calm about all of this, aren’t you, darling?”
Althea shrugged.
"Freaking out isn't going to help anything. I've learned that from firsthand experience with my career, so why shouldn't it pertain to other aspects of life as well?" She said calmly. "And when I freak out I overheat and break out in hives, so I try not to do that."
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O’Hara couldn’t help but laugh quietly at the last bit. “That’s a good idea. Let’s not do that,” she remarked. “Have you ever experienced head trauma before?”
Althea shook her head.
"No—" she paused and then laughed quietly. "Actually, yes, when I was like seven I fell head first out of a tree in our backyard."
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O’Hara pursed her lips slightly. “Well, I think the hit you sustained gave you a concussion. Follow my finger.” She held up her finger and moved it slowly from left to right and back again.
Althea followed the doctor's finger with her eyes, only turning her head slightly when she had to look to her left, and even then only slightly.
"Oh no," she said sadly. "I messed up, I moved my head."
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O’Hara chuckled quietly. “It’s alright. Give it another go.”
She held up her manicured hand and again slowly moved it from right to left and back.
Althea followed again and this time she did not move her head at all.
"I did it!" She said proudly, her face spreading into a grin.
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O'Hara laughed quietly. "Indeed you did. Was there any pain?" She made a note in her head that there was no problems with eyesight and tracking.
Althea shook her head.
"No," she said quietly. "No pain."
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O’Hara nodded. “I would have you stand and balance, but I don’t want you up and out of bed yet. Let me check…”
She leaned a bit closer to Althea’s face, looking deep into her eyes as she checked the woman’s pupils.
Althea pulled back a bit automatically, not used to being so close to someone.
She laughed nervously then laid back and sighed.
"Sorry, reflex" she said, meaning when she had pulled away.
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O'Hara didn't move as Althea drew back, but she leaned away at the woman's words with a small smile on her lips. "Nothing to apologize for," she said, looking down at her clipboard and jotting notes down. "It's not like I was going to kiss you."
Althea blushed profusely and looked away from O'Hara.
What had she been thinking the doctor was going to do? She didn't exactly know but she found herself thinking of a scenario where the doctor did lean in and kiss he and found herself blushing even harder.
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O’Hara glanced up and did a double-take as she noted the girl’s blush. “Althea, darling, are you alright?” she asked, setting her pen down from her manicured grip. “You’re flushed. Are you warm?”
Althea shook her head quickly.
"No, well…yes…" She stuttered. "it's complicated."
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O'Hara frowned and reached forward to press the back of her hand to Althea's forehead. "Complicated?" she asked, repeating the same motion with each of Althea's cheeks. "How exactly is this complicated? You don't feel warm."
Althea blushed even harder at this statement.
"Because you got close to me, I'm blushing because of it." She finally forced herself to say.
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