Sylar - Gabriel Gray (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
thewatchmaker) wrote2011-08-30 04:43 pm
thewatchmaker) wrote2011-08-30 04:43 pm
Entry tags:
When Rosen Met Rachel - Alphas Fic
Character: Dr. Lee Rosen and Rachel Pirzad
Genre: Gen
Author:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
thewatchmaker
Fandom: Alphas
Word count: 1400
Rating: G
Prompt: 031. Thank you three times. 73/100![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
100_fairytales
Notes: Years before the series.
It wasn’t uncommon for Dr. Rosen to hear sniffles coming from inside of patient rooms. Other than the maternity ward hospitals weren’t often places filled with joy. He paused at the door to Rachel Pirzad’s room. The young woman had been diagnosed with a troubling type of Synesthesia that was causing her to overload on experiences. According to her medical reports, Rachel had always been a sensitive child, but her hypersensitivity had spiked over the years. Her parents brought her to the hospital when she was found curled into a fetal position and saying that everything hurt that touched her, including the air.
As he reached for the door it was opened from inside. Rosen and the haggard looking man that Rosen assumed was Rachel’s father both jumped in surprise. Behind the man, Rosen could see a teenage girl with long dark hair sitting up in the bed with her knees drawn up to her chest and her arms wrapped around them. Rachel was obviously trying to avoid contact with any stimulation, and Rosen could see fear in her eyes. The girl’s mother looked up at him expectantly. It was as if all of her hope for her daughter was being dropped on Rosen’s shoulders.
“Hello, I’m Dr. Lee Rosen.” Rosen tucked Rachel’s file under his arm, and extended his hand to Mr. Pirzad. “I’ve been asked to consult on Rachel’s case.”
“Are you a neurologist?” Pirzad asked as he gave the doctor the once over. “They tried to do a cat scan, but Rachel was too afraid.”
“Yes, I’m a neurologist and a psychologist. Many people don’t realize how much a neurological issue can cause psychological problems.”
“She’s not faking this, doctor,” the mother stated, as she tightened her grip on Rachel’s hand. Rosen could see Rachel’s panic and pain levels increase as her body grew more and more tense.
“Oh no, I didn’t mean to imply that at all,” Rosen said, doing his best to assure the Pirzads. He set Rachel’s chart on the counter near the sink and carefully rinsed off his hands with water only. If Rachel was as sensitive as he feared, he didn’t want the smell of the hospital’s antibacterial soap sending her into a seizure. “I believe that Rachel is experiencing exactly what she is telling you that she is.” Rachel looked up at him and gave him a watery smile. Her eyes and nose were red from crying, and he hoped that he’d be able to help her. “I believe you, Rachel.”
“You do?” Her voice was meek, and Rosen had the impression that she didn’t talk to strangers often if at all.
“Yes, I do. Now, I’d like to ask you some questions, and share with you some ideas that I have about your condition.”
“Will there be more tests?” Her father asked.
“Not today I think,” Rosen answered as he stepped next to Rachel’s bed, careful not to bump or jostle it. “Today Rachel and I are going talk about her condition. Any tests that need to be run can wait. Why don’t you two get some rest? I’d like to speak to Rachel alone.”
“Thank you, Dr. Rosen,” Rachel’s mother said after giving Rachel one last hug before stepping away from the girl’s bed.
Rosen waited until the door closed behind Rachel’s parents before taking a closer look at his patient. He cocked his head to the side while trying to decide on the best way to approach her. Obviously shining a light into her eyes would be unacceptable. He could see that her pupils were fully dilated from the lights in the room.
“It’s too bright in here, isn’t it?” He asked, and she nodded. He went to the panel near the door and shut down the overhead lights in the room, leaving only the reading light above the bed on. “Is that better?”
“A little, my vision comes and goes. When it gets too loud, or I hurt too much, I can’t see. I’m scared.”
“Of course you are. There’s no shame in that, Rachel. Anyone would be in your situation. I’m going to pull a chair over, so I can talk to you. I’ll try not to be too loud.” The last thing he wanted to do was scrape the chair along the tiles, so he lifted it from the ground to put it where he wanted it to me. When he sat, he did his best not to fidget or do anything else that would increase the stimulus Rachel was receiving.
“Thank you, Dr. Rosen.” She sounded so grateful, and the tension lessened in her muscles before his eyes. “It’s nice to know that someone understands what’s happening to me.”
“I’m not sure I have all the answers, Rachel, but I do have a few ideas. You said that when one sense was overactive that the others faded. Which sense is giving you the most trouble? I’m assuming it’s your sense of touch that brought you here?”
“Yes, I can’t let anyone touch me. When my mother tries to help me, it hurts so much.” Rachel nodded again and finally released her grip on her knees and stretched her legs out. When her heels scraped against the sheets she winced, and Rosen took note of her reaction to that as well. “She doesn’t understand.”
“And this got worse as you got older. It says on your chart that you’ve always had sensory problems?” He asked recalling Rachel’s records that said she had perfect hearing and perfect vision. Watching her now, he could only assume that she was on an new level of perfect now.
“I’ve always been sensitive. Strong flavors can make my mouth burn, and bright colors leak all over everything else. I get headaches too.”
“I’m sure you do. Your brain is trying to process an abundance of stimuli. You’ve not mentioned your hearing bothering you much. Why do you think that is?”
She perked up and gave him a real smile. It was small but it wasn’t tinged in pain, which was a vast improvement. “I don’t really know. You think you do though, don’t you?”
“Yes, I do. I think hearing is easier for you because in most cases you can identify the sounds you hear. When you’re overwhelmed by smells or tastes, you might not know what it is that you’re experiencing.”
“It gets to be too much.” The tears were on their way back, and she wiped at her eyes to fight a sob.
“I think what might help you is learning what it is that you’re experiencing. Knowledge is power, Rachel, and understanding what makes you react might help you learn to control your problem. Does that make sense?” His voice carried more than a hint of excitement as he went on, thinking out loud in a stream of ideas that he hoped would help Rachel make sense of her ability. But he wasn’t sure that it was the right time to mention to her or her parents that she might be an Alpha. There would be time for that later.
“It does. It is easier if I can tell what I taste too. When I don’t know what it is, and I can taste all the little parts it shuts down my brain.”
“I don’t think your brain is shutting down, Rachel. It’s simply trying to process it all.” He got up slowly and held his hand out to her, giving her the power over whether to touch him or not. “I’d like to run some tests on you tomorrow. I’ll be with you the whole time. I’ll make sure nothing hurts you.”
Rachel reached out and touched the back of his hand. She didn’t shake it, but that one touch showed Rosen that she was willing to accept his help. In time she might accept all the rest that he had to teach her. “I’d like that. You’re helping me not be so afraid.”
“Good,” he said as he put the chair back and gathered her chart. “I’ll go set the tests up and have a talk with your parents. I’ll try to stop by again later, Rachel.”
“Thank you again, Dr. Rosen.”
“No need to thank me, Rachel. I expect to learn as much about you as you do from me.” Rosen’s managed to contain his excitement until he was in the elevator on the way down to the lobby. Unsure of who might be listening, he didn’t call his government contact until he was in his car on the way back to his office.
Genre: Gen
Author:
thewatchmakerFandom: Alphas
Word count: 1400
Rating: G
Prompt: 031. Thank you three times. 73/100
100_fairytalesNotes: Years before the series.
It wasn’t uncommon for Dr. Rosen to hear sniffles coming from inside of patient rooms. Other than the maternity ward hospitals weren’t often places filled with joy. He paused at the door to Rachel Pirzad’s room. The young woman had been diagnosed with a troubling type of Synesthesia that was causing her to overload on experiences. According to her medical reports, Rachel had always been a sensitive child, but her hypersensitivity had spiked over the years. Her parents brought her to the hospital when she was found curled into a fetal position and saying that everything hurt that touched her, including the air.
As he reached for the door it was opened from inside. Rosen and the haggard looking man that Rosen assumed was Rachel’s father both jumped in surprise. Behind the man, Rosen could see a teenage girl with long dark hair sitting up in the bed with her knees drawn up to her chest and her arms wrapped around them. Rachel was obviously trying to avoid contact with any stimulation, and Rosen could see fear in her eyes. The girl’s mother looked up at him expectantly. It was as if all of her hope for her daughter was being dropped on Rosen’s shoulders.
“Hello, I’m Dr. Lee Rosen.” Rosen tucked Rachel’s file under his arm, and extended his hand to Mr. Pirzad. “I’ve been asked to consult on Rachel’s case.”
“Are you a neurologist?” Pirzad asked as he gave the doctor the once over. “They tried to do a cat scan, but Rachel was too afraid.”
“Yes, I’m a neurologist and a psychologist. Many people don’t realize how much a neurological issue can cause psychological problems.”
“She’s not faking this, doctor,” the mother stated, as she tightened her grip on Rachel’s hand. Rosen could see Rachel’s panic and pain levels increase as her body grew more and more tense.
“Oh no, I didn’t mean to imply that at all,” Rosen said, doing his best to assure the Pirzads. He set Rachel’s chart on the counter near the sink and carefully rinsed off his hands with water only. If Rachel was as sensitive as he feared, he didn’t want the smell of the hospital’s antibacterial soap sending her into a seizure. “I believe that Rachel is experiencing exactly what she is telling you that she is.” Rachel looked up at him and gave him a watery smile. Her eyes and nose were red from crying, and he hoped that he’d be able to help her. “I believe you, Rachel.”
“You do?” Her voice was meek, and Rosen had the impression that she didn’t talk to strangers often if at all.
“Yes, I do. Now, I’d like to ask you some questions, and share with you some ideas that I have about your condition.”
“Will there be more tests?” Her father asked.
“Not today I think,” Rosen answered as he stepped next to Rachel’s bed, careful not to bump or jostle it. “Today Rachel and I are going talk about her condition. Any tests that need to be run can wait. Why don’t you two get some rest? I’d like to speak to Rachel alone.”
“Thank you, Dr. Rosen,” Rachel’s mother said after giving Rachel one last hug before stepping away from the girl’s bed.
Rosen waited until the door closed behind Rachel’s parents before taking a closer look at his patient. He cocked his head to the side while trying to decide on the best way to approach her. Obviously shining a light into her eyes would be unacceptable. He could see that her pupils were fully dilated from the lights in the room.
“It’s too bright in here, isn’t it?” He asked, and she nodded. He went to the panel near the door and shut down the overhead lights in the room, leaving only the reading light above the bed on. “Is that better?”
“A little, my vision comes and goes. When it gets too loud, or I hurt too much, I can’t see. I’m scared.”
“Of course you are. There’s no shame in that, Rachel. Anyone would be in your situation. I’m going to pull a chair over, so I can talk to you. I’ll try not to be too loud.” The last thing he wanted to do was scrape the chair along the tiles, so he lifted it from the ground to put it where he wanted it to me. When he sat, he did his best not to fidget or do anything else that would increase the stimulus Rachel was receiving.
“Thank you, Dr. Rosen.” She sounded so grateful, and the tension lessened in her muscles before his eyes. “It’s nice to know that someone understands what’s happening to me.”
“I’m not sure I have all the answers, Rachel, but I do have a few ideas. You said that when one sense was overactive that the others faded. Which sense is giving you the most trouble? I’m assuming it’s your sense of touch that brought you here?”
“Yes, I can’t let anyone touch me. When my mother tries to help me, it hurts so much.” Rachel nodded again and finally released her grip on her knees and stretched her legs out. When her heels scraped against the sheets she winced, and Rosen took note of her reaction to that as well. “She doesn’t understand.”
“And this got worse as you got older. It says on your chart that you’ve always had sensory problems?” He asked recalling Rachel’s records that said she had perfect hearing and perfect vision. Watching her now, he could only assume that she was on an new level of perfect now.
“I’ve always been sensitive. Strong flavors can make my mouth burn, and bright colors leak all over everything else. I get headaches too.”
“I’m sure you do. Your brain is trying to process an abundance of stimuli. You’ve not mentioned your hearing bothering you much. Why do you think that is?”
She perked up and gave him a real smile. It was small but it wasn’t tinged in pain, which was a vast improvement. “I don’t really know. You think you do though, don’t you?”
“Yes, I do. I think hearing is easier for you because in most cases you can identify the sounds you hear. When you’re overwhelmed by smells or tastes, you might not know what it is that you’re experiencing.”
“It gets to be too much.” The tears were on their way back, and she wiped at her eyes to fight a sob.
“I think what might help you is learning what it is that you’re experiencing. Knowledge is power, Rachel, and understanding what makes you react might help you learn to control your problem. Does that make sense?” His voice carried more than a hint of excitement as he went on, thinking out loud in a stream of ideas that he hoped would help Rachel make sense of her ability. But he wasn’t sure that it was the right time to mention to her or her parents that she might be an Alpha. There would be time for that later.
“It does. It is easier if I can tell what I taste too. When I don’t know what it is, and I can taste all the little parts it shuts down my brain.”
“I don’t think your brain is shutting down, Rachel. It’s simply trying to process it all.” He got up slowly and held his hand out to her, giving her the power over whether to touch him or not. “I’d like to run some tests on you tomorrow. I’ll be with you the whole time. I’ll make sure nothing hurts you.”
Rachel reached out and touched the back of his hand. She didn’t shake it, but that one touch showed Rosen that she was willing to accept his help. In time she might accept all the rest that he had to teach her. “I’d like that. You’re helping me not be so afraid.”
“Good,” he said as he put the chair back and gathered her chart. “I’ll go set the tests up and have a talk with your parents. I’ll try to stop by again later, Rachel.”
“Thank you again, Dr. Rosen.”
“No need to thank me, Rachel. I expect to learn as much about you as you do from me.” Rosen’s managed to contain his excitement until he was in the elevator on the way down to the lobby. Unsure of who might be listening, he didn’t call his government contact until he was in his car on the way back to his office.