"I''ve got something on today, I''m afraid I can''t make it..."


    Before Ste could finish her sentence, Jasper''s voice buzzed through the phone.


    "Haynie, Rachel''s out of surgery. You shoulde over and check on her..."


    Rachel?


    Of course, how could she forget? Every time Haynes bailed, it was always for Rachel.


    Ste''s heart had long since grown ustomed to this. Her voice was cool and detached.


    "She''s out of surgery now. If you''ve got time this afternoon, you should stop by. Don''t worry, it won''t take long..."


    But once again, Jasper cut her off.


    "Haynie, why are you still on the phone? Rachel''s been asking for you this whole time! You need to be with her right now!


    The doctor says things aren''t looking good. If heaven forbid something happens, this might be yourst chance to see her!"


    "Alright, I''ll be there soon." Haynes'' voice turned sharp.


    Just as he was about to hang up, he remembered Ste on the other end.


    "I''m really busy right now. I''ll call you backter."


    After hanging up, Haynes turned to Jasper


    and asked, "How is Rachel holding up?"


    Jasper nced at the phone in Haynes'' hand, a barely-there smirk flitting across his lips, though his face remained solemn.


    "Not great. The doctor said... with her condition, it''s unlikely she''ll make it another six months."


    Haynes'' brow furrowed slightly. "That specialist you mentioned, have you found him yet?"


    "Yes, I have."


    "Then why haven''t you brought him in to treat Rachel?"


    Jasper''s frustration red. "That old codger, Dr. Thompson, refuses toe! No matter what terms I offer or how much I offer to pay, he won''t budge! It''s infuriating, isn''t it?!"


    "Has he asked for anything in return?" Haynes inquired.


    "No," Jasper replied, shaking his head. "I''ve never met anyone so peculiar. You''d think he retired, but he still runs a shabby little clinic. You can see people going there for prescriptions every now and then."


    "You''d think he''d treat people, but no matter how much I plead, even visiting him repeatedly didn''t work. It''s maddening!"


    Jasper''s expression turned steely.


    "Hmph, I''ll go again tomorrow. If he keeps ying hard to get, I''ll drag him over myself."


    Haynes'' eyes narrowed. "Have you tried bringing Rachel to see him?"


    Jasper paused, then admitted, "...No."


    "Did he ever say you couldn''t bring her to his clinic?"


    "Well... no, not really."


    "Then why not try taking Rachel to him?"


    Jasper scratched his head. "Rachel''s condition requires ongoing treatment. I was hoping to bring him on as her personal doctor."


    Haynes'' footsteps were deliberate as he suggested, "Perhaps he wants to help others too and that''s why he won''t ept your offer. Try taking Rachel to see him tomorrow."


    Jasper''s eyes flickered slightly. "Uh... I kind of lost my temper and yelled at him yesterday because I thought he was heartless.


    If I bring Rachel, he might refuse to treat her. Maybe... you should go instead?"


    Haynes gave him a long look but said nothing.


    Soon, they reached Rachel''s hospital room door.


    As they opened the door, they saw that Rachel was already awake.


    When she saw Haynes, a flicker of light danced in her eyes but quickly faded like a candle snuffed out.


    "Haynie, I''m sorry for causing trouble again... You''ve got things to do, don''t let me keep you. I''ll be fine here."


    Haynes'' dark eyes turned somber, and his thoughts drifted back to Ste.