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Post by Lyndal Chambers on May 15, 2009 23:38:33 GMT -5
{....La Push Clinic......Post BD.....}
Culture shock was something she could have dealt with. Homesickness would have been a breeze and fixed with a quick call to Sarah. What Lyndal was really having problem with was the feelings she was having towards Nashal. From the first moment he had looked up at her in the airport Lyndal had been in love with him, and the time she had spent with him over the last few weeks had only made those feelings stronger and deeper.
This was the first time Lyndal had felt the feelings she was having. Her upbringing had taught her abstinence till marriage. Abstaining was getting harder every time he touched her, or kissed her and sometimes even him looking at her was driving Lyndal crazy. Every part of her mind, body and soul cried out for him, to be closer to him. Marriage was something Lyndal knew she would want if she let her mind wander away on what she knew others would think was a fairy tale; no one would believe in a love at first sight as strong as there’s.
Although Lyndal knew Nash would be cautious, prepared and careful because of his history she wasn’t sure how long his will power would last how strong it was. And although she tried hard to maintain her abstinence she wasn’t sure how long she could hold out. In the interest of been prepared and covering her bases Lyndal had decided it was time to see a doctor and take her own precautions.
Stilling in the sterile waiting room was nerve wracking, each time a door creaked or someone moved she looked up expecting to see the face of one of her parents chastising her for what she was about to do. To her it felt like everyone around her knew what she was here to get and what that would eventually lead too, even though it was impossible Lyndal felt it was written on her face.
After signing in and handing over her insurance papers Lyndal had sat waiting. Occasionally she would flick through the dog eared magazines or glance around the room. Paranoia, or nervous, Lyndal wasn’t sure but every time she looked around the room or even looked up she could swear the receptionist was staring at her. Pushing it all aside she assumed it was the accent, knowing they probably didn’t get many Aussies in La Push.
It felt like it took an age for her name to finally be called, even as the receptionist called it she seemed to give an all knowing smile that immediately made Lyndal blush; was it written on her face was she was there for?
Heading out of the waiting room Lyndal easy found her way to the exam room, the clinic was small and well set out. Entering the room she took a seat on the examination table and prepared herself to ask for what she needed. Lyndal was blushing at the thought assuming her doctor would be old and part senile like her family doctor back home. It was sheer embarrassment the idea of asking for birth control from a man, let alone one that old. At least here she had the aid of a little anonymity.
Pushing her parents, brother, abstinence, Travis and everything else from her mind Lyndal took a deep breath as there was a knock at the door. “Yea.” She called letting her accent fill the single word as she stared at the opening door.
{....Tag Doctor Chambers.....Oh brother dearest....}
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Post by Laurence Chambers on May 20, 2009 10:55:17 GMT -5
Today was Laurie’s day to work in the clinic on the reservation. He knew some of the other doctors hated coming down to the clinic. They thought the cases were too minor and the facility too basic, liking the high tech equipment of the hospital in Forks better. But Laurie didn’t mind coming here at all. In fact he liked LaPush. This very clinic was where he met Matt not so long ago, so he’d always like it for that fact alone. But in addition to the fond memories, he liked the Quileute people. They were all very kind, even with him being an outsider, he always felt welcomed.
The only thing that Laurie missed about New York, was being close to his parents. He didn’t talk to them nearly as much now that he was on the other side of the country as he did when they were close by and able to have lunch on weekends. Then there was his sister who he rarely seemed to talk to these days. He only hoped that she had found some happiness in her life.
His morning had been rather uneventful. There were no emergencies that needed to be referred to the main hospital. Nothing life threatening. Mostly just people with common complaints. A few children with earaches, a case of the flu that had gone around the reservation, and a few routine exams to get prescriptions refilled. Nothing out of the ordinary, which led to a rather stressfree morning, something Laurie always enjoyed. He wasn’t the adrenaline junkie type of doctor. He appreciated that the less major cases meant that their were less people suffering.
As Laurence finished with his last patient, spending the last 15 minutes of the appointment trying to convince the elderly Quileute man to stop smoking to help his health, he was a bit frustrated. The man had finally agreed to think about quitting, but Laurie knew that look in a patient’s eye. He was saying what he knew the doctor wanted to hear, but he had no intention of quitting. He was set in his ways. He walked the patient to the door before turning back to head for his next patient. The receptionist told him a young woman was waiting in the exam room for him when he was ready.
Laurence worked on clearing his head before seeing his next patient, not wanting to bring his frustrations into the next exam. He took a deep breath as opened the door. “Hi I’m Doctor Cham…” Laurie’s eyes widened as he saw who was his patient on the other side of the door. He was in complete shock. She was probably one of the last people he’d ever have expected to be here. He thought she was still home in Australia! Had she found out where he was living now and come for a surprise visit? “Lynnie!” He said with a big smile on his face. “I can’t believe its you!” He said, going over and giving her a big hug. “What are you doing here?”
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Post by Lyndal Chambers on May 24, 2009 23:41:29 GMT -5
Lyndal hated waiting, and sitting in the exam room was worst the sitting in the waiting room. Her mind wandered and no matter where she tried to direct it, it always wandered back to Nash. The touch of his lips on her, her hand in his and the sound of her name – Dal – as he spoke it. A smile covered her face and she chewed lightly on her bottom lip. Been at the doctors wasn’t an easy way out for Lyndal, she was constantly thinking about what this would mean for her relationships not just with Nashal but with her parents and herself. If she chose not to wait til she was married, would he still want her? Would he think her easy? Could she go through with it even after going to the doctors?
As soon as the doctor entered the room and started to speak Lyndal’s head snapped up. It wasn’t just the accent it was the voice itself she recognized and a smile spread over her face as she saw the face to match the voice. Of all the doctors to walk in to examine her she was shock, surprised, scared and emotional about it been her brother. “Laurie!” Escaped her lips as he called out her name, she knew her smiled matched his. Everything about him was familiar while been different. He looked a little older and his hair was longer then when she’d last seen him, but he was still her big brother.
Lyndal lent into the hug and held tightly on to Laurie as he hugged back. “I could ask you the same question; I thought you were in New York with mum and dad?” Lyndal asked pulling back from the hug but not letting go of her brother completely. It was like having a piece of home and she wasn’t ready to let go just yet. “I’m here on a year long exchange. Staying with a family here on the reservation.” She explained smiling and thinking about Nash. As she thought about him she felt her cheeks redden, there was no way she could ask for the birth control now.
“They never said you’d left New York and I’m guessing they never told you I’d left home.” Lyndal said with a shrugged, her parents obviously had their reasons for not telling their children each of the others plans. “Wow, Laurie…you’re a doctor and you’re here. I’ve missed you so much.” She said squeezing his hand and smiling with a hint of sadness, it was only been with him that she realized how much she had missed him. “So what happened?”
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Post by Laurence Chambers on Jul 5, 2009 14:31:55 GMT -5
Laurie was completely stunned to see his baby sister showing up at the clinic. Not only did he think she was in another country but LaPush wasn't exactly a big tourist attraction, or near their parents that she might have just been stopping buy. But as he saw her smile and heard her say his name he was just overcome with happiness at seeing her again after all this time. He knew it had been too long since they last saw each other, and he had been rather bad about calling her too, mostly just wanting to avoid the questions about his personal life that he wasn't sure he could explain in a phone call. But he had missed her, and seeing her just reminded him exactly how much he had.
Laurie laughed as she told him that she could ask him the same question about what he was doing here. He had assumed his parents filled her in on his changing coasts but he guessed not. They were never too happy about him leaving and breaking off the engagement so he knew they were probably expecting him to come back soon. "I was in New York, I went for a change of scenary" He explained briefly as he listened to her tell about being on an exchange with a family. "I can't believe you're on the reservation, I have a place up in Forks, I just come down to the clinic once a week"
It was amazing to him that after having lived apart for so long they would by mere chance end up only a few minutes away from each other. "No they hadn't told me you were leaving, You could've come stay with me, still can if you don't like the family they set you up with" He made the offer instantly, knowing he'd love to have her. "I've missed you too" he said returning the squeeze of her hand. "I just needed a fresh start and looked for some place as far from New York as I could get" He said a pained look in his eye that he got anytime he remembered the reasons he left New York City.
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Post by Lyndal Chambers on Jul 11, 2009 22:52:46 GMT -5
They’d lacked contact for far too long and Lyndal knew that was as much her fault as his, for that she was sorry, but been in the same room with him all their time apart was forgotten. Lyndal was so glad to be close to her brother and so glad he was close by, but she knew the idea of asking for birth control was out of the window. How could she ask her brother for that?
As she hugged Laurie then pulled back Lyndal wondered why her parent’s or Sarah hadn’t told her he’d left New York. She wondered if his fiancée was with him and why he was at the opposite side of the country from their parents; he was the golden boy. “I guess mum and dad told you as much about me as they told me about you.” She remarked with a shrug. “Is Amy with you?” she asked wondering about the girl she hadn’t met, but looking forward to meeting her.
Finding out that Laurie lived in the near by town made Lyndal smile, she was glad he was so close by giving them a chance to rebuild their relationship. She wasn’t sure yet how to tell him about Nash or what she would say her reason for been there was, all she could think of right then was having her brother back. “Well this place is a few clicks from New York, mum and dad get to you?” She asked knowing her parents could be controlling. “I’m staying on the Makah Res with a seppo family there. I’m rapt we’re gonna be so close.” She said excitedly with a big smile. “We can catch up and get to know each other again.”
“Well that’s the oldies for you.” She smirked as he said he didn’t know she was there either. “Nah they’re right.” She said coyly dropping her eyes from him as she blushed, thinking of the family she was living with brought Nash to mind and she smiled. Lyndal smiled every time she thought of him and now, been in the doctors for what she wanted, it made her blush also. “I just wanted to get out of Aussie for a while and be my own person. Get away from the surfies and all the same people I’ve known all my life.” She said with a shrug been honest for wanting to get out of their home country just as he had. “So how long have you worked here?”
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Post by Laurence Chambers on Sept 6, 2009 15:19:35 GMT -5
"Yeah" Laurie agreed with a nod as she mentioned how their parents probably told him as much about her as they did about him. "Did they even know you were coming here? I wonder if they even realized how close we'd end up to each other"
Laurie didnt mean to react when she brought up his ex-fiancee. He wouldnt have wanted to but he immediately looked down frowning for a moment before realizing it and looking up at her with a half smile. "No, she's not. Amy and I arent together anymore... I kind of thought mum and dad might have mentioned at least that much, but I guess they still just think we're taking a break or something" He said knowing his parents had approved of Amy, thinking he should marry another doctor.
Laurie was happy to focus on other things as they spoke of their living arrangements. He grinned as he listened to the familiar aussie slang that he had missed while being away. His own accent also grew thicker talking to her as it did on the phone with his parents. "It is great you'll be so close, we better get together now, no excuse not to"
"Are you sure?" Laurie asked, a little disappointed that she was happy to stay with the host family instead of moving in with him. He knew it was probably her way of independence, but he would have liked the extra bonding time with his little sister. He laughed as she mentioned getting away from the surfies. "Unfortunately I've seen a few surfers here too so you might not be rid of them yet.
"I've been working here almost 2 years now. How long have you been here?" He asked her wondering how long the two of them had been living a mere minutes from each other and not even known it.
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Post by Lyndal Chambers on Sept 6, 2009 21:00:56 GMT -5
It was hard to believe that their own parents were keeping so much from each of their children, it seemed they resent the she and Laurie had. “They knew I was coming to Washington yea. Probably don’t remember where though.” she scoffed. “Maybe they didn’t think we’d bump into each other.” She said laughing thinking about how random their meeting was.
The pain was obvious on Laurie’s face when she mentioned Amy, Lyndal instantly wanted to take it back. Listening to his explanation she was again shocked what her parents were keeping from her. “I think they’re in denial about a lot of things. And no they didn’t feel the need to me anything.” She said then added a little harsher, “You could have call me. I didn‘t even know where you where.” she shrugged trying not to show how much it hurt how much they’d grown apart.
Hearing another accent from home, especially Laurie’s made Lyndal home sick and happy at the same time. She realized that she’d missed him more then she’d noticed, now been with him made her crave rest of the homely feeling. “Yea we need to work on lost times.” she said with a smile. “fire deal, its been almost 3 years since I last saw you Laurie.” She said stepping towards him for another hug.
As much as Lyndal would love to stay at Laurie’s she wasn’t sure she could be away from Nash, she was even missing him in the short time she’d already been away. “Hey, I’m only round the corner.” she smiled “Besides you don’t want your little sister cramping your bachelor lifestyle.”
She rolled her eyes at the mention of surfers. “Great, maybe we’ll get some roos too.” she laughed.
“I’ve been here almost 2 months. Wow, I can’t believe we’ve been this close for so long.” She said shaking her head unable to believe how close she’d been to her brother. “So why here? I mean its hardly New York.”
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Post by Laurence Chambers on Apr 28, 2010 22:13:34 GMT -5
"They still should have mentioned something to me. I mean even if you were on the other end of the state you know I'd drive up to visit right? " Laurie said hoping that she knew he would have put forth the effort to see her and wasn't trying to be distant from her, despite his lack of communication since the broken engagement, that he had just learned she didn't even know about.
"I'm sorry I didn't call...I thought they would have told you'd I'd moved...I just didn't know what to say" Laurie said, embarrassed to admit to his little sister the shame he knew he would have felt in admitting to her what had happened between him and his fiancee. While he logical part knew that it wasn't his fault, and she should be the one ashamed, the more manly side thought there would have been things he could have done to have prevented it, and that if he was enough of a man for her, she wouldnt have looked elsewhere. He wondered if he'd even be able to tell his sister now the reasons behind his failed engagement.
"3 Years is definitely too long" Laurie agreed, gladly taking the hug from her, realizing just how much he really had missed her during that time. "And I'm just up in town, you can visit anytime you like, or crash for the weekend, whatever you need" He offered, smirking as she mentioned cramping his bachelor lifestyle. "I'm not worried about that"
He laughed as she suggested maybe they'd get some 'roos' here too. "You look hard enough anything's possible"
"2 months, wow" He said hating that there had already been so much time that passed that he could have seen her if he had kept in better contact with her. He gave a sigh as she asked about why he came here. "Umm, well, it not being New York was kind of the biggest draw" He started to explain. "I couldn't stay there after Amy and I broke up, but most residencies were already filled up so I kinda had to look around to find an opening and I wanted one far away from there...so this one in Forks had a spot, I applied and got accepted in"
"But what about you? What made you pick here of all places?" He asked her, then getting worried again about her reasons for being in the clinic. "And what are you doing here at the clinic? Are you feeling sick?"
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Post by Lyndal Chambers on May 24, 2010 22:09:36 GMT -5
Every part of Lyndal told her to bite her tongue, but the rebellious teen in her spoke out. “Laurie, you didn’t even pick up a phone when you did know where I was, why should I think you’d drive for a visit?’ She said looking past him to the wall and door beyond. “Sorry, but you knew where I was when I was home and you still didn’t try to keep in touch.’ Dal was upset and hurt, they’d grown up so close, but when he moved they lost touch and that had hurt a lot.
The truth of it was she felt out of touch with her whole family. Her parents obviously kept things from both their children, but Laurie could have reach out at anytime. “I guess we’re growing apart?” She asked questioningly. It was hard to even think about not been as close to her brother, but she was sure it happened to all siblings eventually. “Mum and dad tell me nothing, I barely talk to them.” She said without much feeling. She felt closer to Nash, a virtual stranger, then she did to her own family….but it was stronger.
Hugging Laurie made things feel better. “We need to get back to the brother sister thing laurie. I miss having a big brother.” She smiled feeling excited about the idea of crashing with him and hanging out. “Do you have a life style or are you still a total book worm and study nerd?” She laughed teasing him, trying to get back to the banter they had as kids.
“Forks…its certainly different from New York and Home…” She didn’t ask about Amy, she suspected it was a good break up if there was such a thing. “Yea I’m here for a whole year, then I’ll head home after the exchange is up.” Even thinking about going home made her sad, now it wasn’t just the thought of leaving Nash, it was also losing Laurie again.
“I didn’t pick, it was given to me. Luck of the draw. Two Chambers in one town….we’ll take over.” She laughed then her face dropped, she certainly couldn’t ask her brother for what she’d come to ask. “No not sick…just girlie stuff.” She said making a face hoping it would be a conflict of interest or make him hand off her case to another.
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Post by Laurence Chambers on May 25, 2010 13:51:39 GMT -5
Hearing Lyndal's words Laurie felt a surge of conflicting feelings. The good man in him felt guilty, for not having been everything she had expected of him, and to have made her feel like he hadn't been there for her or even cared. Another part in him felt ashamed, he hadn't kept in touch after the broken engagement because he had failed as a man and a fiancee in keeping the relationship together and was too ashamed to face her afterwards. But the part of him that was a brother felt angry with her and thought she was acting like a spoiled brat, placing this blame on him.
"How can you even say that? It wasn't like I was out on holiday and didn't send a postcard. I was in medical school, you have no idea the stress and pressure I was under. I barely had time to breathe, let alone socialize, but still I called and emailed when I could, I sent you pictures of things we were looking at for the wedding so you could feel involved" Laurie said, hurt that she thought he hadn't made enough effort before so she doubted he would have now. "Maybe I didn't call when I moved, but I thought our parents would have told you that, I didnt know how to make that phone call that my life had fallen apart. How am I supposed to call my baby sister and say 'Hey, how are you, my engagement's over, and my future's been destroyed'?"
He sighed, not wanting to make things worse for them now. "You know you could have called too, you're not a kid anymore, you can't put this all on me" He told her. "We didn't grow apart and you havent lost your brother" He said feeling both offended and hurt that she said she missed having a brother. He was there, and he always would have been there if she had contacted him. If she needed anything he'd have been there for her. If he knew she was that close, he would have visited, it was more than insulting of her to insinuate he wouldnt have.
"Anytime you want to visit, you're welcome to. And I don't want to hear another word about you not thinking I'd go to see you. You know me better than that." Laurie warned her. He laughed as he teased him about his lifestyle. "There's nothing wrong with being a book worm, I'm busy with work mostly but I do have a bit of a life" He said trying to let go of the pain.
"Yeah it certainly is different here..but I like it" Laurie told her honestly. He smiled hearing she'd be there for the year, hoping that they'd get to see each other more often. "That's great, you better be planning on having some sibling time while you're here" He told her. "Maybe you'll decide you want to come back for college."
"You think a place like this can handle two Chambers?" He said with a smirk. He then got a more professional look on his face as she mentioned it was girly stuff and she wasn't sick. "Well you're in luck, because I am a real doctor now, so I'm equipped to handle girlie stuff and anything else you need"
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