The Complex - Chapter 3 - Part B

(To read the beginning of the original novel "The Complex" click HERE.)

Chapter 3 - Part B


Brookhaven Medical-Surgical Center filled an expanse of several city blocks on an island off the coast of Oregon. Besides the hospital, the tiny island contained a small airstrip and one small harbor where the twice daily ferry would bring people and supplies on and off to the nearby town of Bandon. Because it was an island, it also had a number of housing modules set up for people to rent out daily, weekly or monthly. Small cars, SUVs or even bicycles were also available for rental to get to the hospital or to just drive around the island or visit the Monastery and church.



Most of Brookhaven hospital, designed in the shape of a giant triple "TTT", was made up of it's expansive surgical department. There were the main surgery suites and recovery areas and then separate from this main part was the second floor surgery that had a corridor to a section where only certain personnel were admitted. It required handprint ID to enter. Because of this, a lot of the regular staff of doctors, interns and auxilliary personnel often made quiet jokes about Dr. Thornton's "Frankenstein Unit". These comments had naturally gotten back to Dr. Thornton who allowed the speculation to continue so it could hide the actual nature of his experimental surgery. On the other side of this special unit, seprate from the rest of the hospital, were the unit's own recovery room, ICU and hospital patient rooms that were separate from the rest of the hospital.


Off to the left and right hand sides of the hospital, behind the large right and left wings, were apartments set aside for the staff. Since this was a teaching hospital, there were dormatories in one wing set aside for the staff that would come and go as their careers dictated. In the middle were the classrooms and lecture halls affectionately known as the Annex, and on the other side of this large building, was the housing for the permanent staff with larger, more comfortable apartments. Dr. Thornton and his close associates (mostly the senior surgical staff) maintained private quarters which were protected by high fences and thick shrubbery.


Behind all this was an area totally off limits to almost all personnel. It was so hidden by walls and trees, most of the regular staff didn't really know what was back there. Most assumed it was Dr. Thornton's private playground, but in reality it contained a far-reaching enclosure known by those involved as the Complex. Security was so tight around the Complex that most of the guards didn't know what was behind the high, brush-covered walls. Only a hand picked few knew about this area, and only a dozen knew its real reason for existing.


It was into this area that Duncan was going to be returning for a second assignment. His first rotation here had been for a six week training period. He had enjoyed his stay in this unusual rehabilitation facility. He had been told that all the clients here were surgical patients who needed longer recovery periods from the micro-neurosurgical brain and nerve stimulation that they had undergone. But he also knew from his job in the recovery area that part of their retraining and rehabilitation had to do with complete memory loss and total memory replacement therapy. They had a complete list on each patient and what was supposed to be said to them and be reinforced. He had never questioned his job before, until recently when he had seen Sarah. He had quietly watched her re-training, all the time being almost sure she was actually someone else. It was then that the nagging questions had started. What was wrong with telling her she had been in a wheelchair if she had? But, if she was the person Duncan thought her to be, she never had been in a wheelchair at all! And why change her name? He was sure Sarah was not her real name, but he could not prove what he thought to be true. He had hidden all this from Conner, but now Conner had starting watching him... closely.




Back in the small apartment that Duncan shared with Conner, Duncan was occupied with packing his bags for his longer rotation in the Complex. Conner was laying crossways on his bed throwing a soft basketball against the wall, eyeing Duncan closely.


"Don't get involved, Duncan." Conner said casually, breaking the awkward silence.


"What are you talking about?" Duncan answered innocently, looking up from his packing briefly and then continuing with his clothes.


"Oh, come on, Duncan!" Conner insisted. He threw the basketball into the wastebasket and sat up on the bed. "I saw the looks you were giving that lady from the moment you first set eyes on her! Now what's going on?"


"What lady?" Duncan pleaded innocently. "And how can I tell you what's going on when I don't know who you're talking about?!"


"You know who I'm talking about! Don't play the innocent with me... I know you too well!" Conner stood up and walked over to face Duncan. "I'll tell you what it is... you know her... don't you." It was a statement not a question.


Duncan felt trapped, but turned away to hide his face, continuing to pack in silence. How could he ever explain to Conner what was happening inside his gut. Conner was a rebel by nature and would confront you on a hangnail. Duncan had to reach way down deep inside his passive nature to get up enough courage to ignore Conner and stay true to his own feelings. He bent down and reached for the things inside his closet, with the hope that the conversation would die.


Conner got off the bed and set his hands on his hips."It's too risky, Duncan, for you and for her. You've got to forget..."


Duncan stood up tall and stopped him mid-sentence. "Conner, please...drop it... OK?"


He didn't understand Conner's persistence. Why did it matter to Conner whether Sarah was someone he recognized or not? Duncan wanted dearly to confide in Conner, but again, he was feeling the same caution he had felt earlier with Dr. Kapinski while he was on duty.


The silence between them was long and heavy as Duncan gathered up his bags and left the apartment. He didn't turn and try to say goodbye, knowing his thoughts and feelings would be revealed. Conner had become his best friend since he had come to the island, but there was a chasm developing between them. He wanted to try and explain what was going on, but if he was wrong, or perhaps if he was right, it would only mean trouble for Conner as well. But as Conner sat staring after Duncan, Conner sadly knew what he had to do.


(to be continued...)


Original novel "The Complex"
by Karen Elizabeth Brown
Copyright 2009