Fuck! How did this information get out?
I hear Sarina start to gag again, before shooting down the hall into the bathroom. I rush after her to check on her, finding her turning on the sink before rushing to toilet.
"Honey.." I start, concerned about her and what she's thinking right now.
She waves me off as she heaves up more stomach acids.
"There's not much for me to throw..." she starts and then does a dry heave, "throw up in my stomach. I'll be back out in a minute. Go handle this with Jack while he's here." She waves me off again.
"Sarina..." I start to offer to get a glass of water but she cuts me off.
"Go." She starts, before puking up frothy stomach contents.
I sigh and rejoin Jack who's at the table.
"Is she going to be alright?"
"I hope so. She is pregnant." I force a smile despite the bad news shadowing the good.
Jack's eyes go wide and he shakes his head, "Congratulations, Brian." He clears his throat, "Now, about these other two accusations. I need you to explain what went on, starting with this sex club ordeal."
"Well, the patient in question had suffered some pretty serious sexual, physical and emotional trauma. She was having serious issues with even having a normal relationship with anyone she met. Which was causing her more psychological trauma. After some serious research and presenting her with that research, I asked her to consider trying it with someone she could trust to see if it would help her find a way of coping. Of course she didn't have anyone she felt she could trust. I asked her if she wished to have someone experienced in the areas of BDSM that would handle her professionally and respectfully. She agreed and I introduced her to a man that was willing to help. We all three met up at the club and discussed the context of the issues. She told him what she went through and what her issues were. I was only there to explain and reassure her if she required it. I was not there watching them have sex. She was restrained but did not like it, so then she restrained him. She made progress after that. She was able to have relationships of a sort and a few years later she started dating the man she is now married to. She is now in a healthy relationship, so obviously it worked." I crossed my arms over my chest knowing I did the right thing for Lirael and if it made me lose my license, it was worth it for her happiness.
Jack sighed rubbing his forehead, "That will be a tough one. Would she be willing to appear before the board and speak?"
"I have no doubt she would be willing." I reassure him.
"Now, this other woman. Victoria?" He pulls the papers and checks them.
"We had sex, twice, in college. Long before I obtained my license. She's my patient now, because she was referred to me as being the best for traumatic experiences. Nothing has happened after those two times. What I don't get is it's been longer than seven years, why are these even on there?" I ask leaning forward.
Jack perks up, "It's been more than seven years since the incident where you took the patient to the sex club to meet with this person?"
I nod, "And Tori was before I was even licensed."
"That's good. We can have those thrown out since it's past the statute of limitations. Plus, I believe that both of the patients in question have no desire to push these complaints through?" Jack looks at me, waiting for my response.
"Positive." I affirm.
"Okay they may try to pull something for unethical practice though... since it is partially true even if it's been longer than seven years. Now, the patient we're going to have the biggest issue with is Dawn. While morally, you were doing what you felt was right... " Jacks voice drops off as Sarina comes back out.
"I'm afraid I'm too nauseous to stay out here with you both. I need to go lay down. Thank you, Jack." Sarina nods to him, before laying a soft kiss against my cheek and heading to bed.
"Is she going to be alright?" Jack watches her close the door to our room, looking concerned. "This information should have been a shock."
I sigh, "Well she's friends with one, has met the one I gave my number too, in fact the first time I ever saw her was that very same night. We also know the other one from our circle of friends."
"Wait, so everyone on this list knows you and her in some way?" Jack raises a brow while staring at me trying to put the pieces of the puzzle together.
"Yes. Now, do we by chance know who filed the complaint and what proof they had to even bring this forward?" I start looking through the papers again.
"Some guy... named Marcus.." Jacks starts to tell me and I push my chair out from the table, furious.
"That motherfucker! Hold on Jack, I need to make a phone call." I pull out my phone and ring Lance.
"Hey, what's up?" Lance answers the phone, cooing baby noises coming through the phone.
"Marcus filed a complaint to the medical board about me. Claiming I sexually abused Lirael and that I had a breach of ethics with two other patients. We need to try and get all the information we can on Marcus because I think he may have just gave us what we need with the lawyer. If I can win my case with the medical board, we have him for defamation and hold on one moment."
I turn to Jack, "Am I on suspension or am I still able to work?"
Jack shakes his head, "They have you down as probation. However, your medical license is up for renewal soon isn't it?"
I growl, "Yes, next month."
Jack massages his forehead, "So you can work until next month unless they go ahead and renew your license, which I highly doubt. They don't normally do that when someone is under investigation."
"Fuck. I'm going to get this bastard back for this." I start to tell Lance but he interjects.
"I heard. Don't worry for now. I'll contact my guys and we'll take care of you Brian. Do you need Lirael to do anything?"
"Yes, when the investigators come by or call, she needs to tell them the truth about that first night you met each other. They're claiming I had sex with her that night and they could claim me to be into voyeurism, but as long as you two tell them what went on that night, then it should be alright."
"No problem. We'll handle it on our end." Lance assures me before letting me go to talk to Lirael.
"How could Marcus make those complaints?" I pace, "How did he even know about some of them?"
Sarina comes back out to the dining room, her phone in hand and I can tell she's been crying. "Brian, it's John. He has Tori with him." She hands me the phone and I go to hold her and check on her but she just shakes her head.
"Sarina?"
She just shakes her head and walks back into the room.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. FUCK!
"Hello?" I bring the phone up to my ear and hear John.
"Brian, Tori had some investigator came and talked to her today about your relationship with her and was asking a lot of personal questions. She'd like to talk to you."
"Put her on." I sigh, placing it on speaker phone for Jack to hear.
"Hey, Brian. I thought I should let you know, this investigator called and asked to meet with me. He said he was with the medical board investigating a complaint against you that concerned me, as I am one of your patients. He asked me a ton of questions."
"Yeah, apparently Marcus filed a complaint on behalf of you and two others. I'm on probation as we speak and could have my license revoked or not renewed until the investigation is over with. So, what did you tell him?" I ask her, fiddling with my cuffs to keep my hands busy.
"I told him you were great. I'd made a lot of progress in my personal life thanks to you. He asked me if we were romantically or physically involved with one another which I told him that we were not. He brought up the question if we ever were at some point, because they were told we were. I told him, we had a drunken night in college before you ever even became a doctor."
"What did he have to say about that?"
Tori sighs, "He just hummed and wrote something down, then asked how I became your patient. I explained that I was looking for a good therapist to get some help and guidance. Everyone I asked referred me to you, stating you were the best in the area for trauma. That was what I was looking for and figured my our past friendship might make it easier on me to open up to you."
"Do you know how Marcus found out about college?" I inquire, my jaw tight.
"Marcus knows my ex. I have no doubt in my mind that he called and had a chat with him. You remember how pissed off he got back in college when he heard about that one night before he and I had even gotten together." Her voice shakes a little and I take a deep breath.
"Yeah, I remember. Thank you for being honest with the investigator and for letting me know. I just found out about this an hour ago. We're trying to figure everything out and how we're going to go about defending me and my actions. Luckily enough, I have a friend who looks out for me connected to the board and is going to help defend me."
"That's good to hear. I asked why he was asking me these things. That I had no complaint against you. He merely said that he had to check with all patients to ensure there was not a bigger issue." Tori groans, "I don't think Marcus is going to let anything slip to me now that you're under investigation."
I sigh but firm my resolve, "He'll slip up eventually. I know he will."