A prompt a week - 17. Dan's Problem - Prompt 340

“There is no way I am going in there!” Daniel stood with his arms crossed shooting deadly looks at the rest of us.

“For Christ’s sake, you need the cat scan. There is no way for them to find out what is going on unless they do the tests.” Barry shot back. “I know you don’t like tight places but they need the test.”

Dan just stood there, an immovable object.

“Hey they told you that you could go for the open machine, but you said there was no way you would drive the extra hour with gas prices as they are.” Barry sighed and slowly shook his head. “You said you could do this.”

“I lied. Let’s go home. I can try for the other place in a month or two.” Dan smiled and reached out to hug his husband.

“Bullshit.” Barry backed up out of the hug and his face grew red. “You can’t afford another black out or possible seizure.”

The door opened and young nurse stepped out. “We’re all set, Mr. Banks.”

“I changed my mind.” Dan muttered as he tried to maneuver around Barry.

“The hell we have. He is claustrophobic and the closed machine is freaking him out.”

“Um, did anyone tell you that we have the new open machine here now? It was set up on Monday. If that is the problem, I can simply arrange to have you use that one instead.”

Barry nearly fell to the ground in relief.

“You have it?” Dan looked at the nurse in disbelief.

“We have a lot of people who are claustrophobic, sir, or are rather … um … large and need the space that the open MRI machine will offer.” The nurse smiled as she slowly led Dan down the hallway.
“The hospital was glad when they finally were able to procure one for here.”

“And I won’t have to worry about it touching me or closing in on me?”

“No, Mr. Banks.” The nurse stopped and motioned to one of the nurses in the new room. “Did you want your partner to go in with you or wait for you in the lounge? You really shouldn’t be in there too long.”

“I’ll wait in the lounge. Dan will be fine.”

Dan blushed.

“These are the forms for Mr. Banks. He needs the open MRI.” The young nurse informed the technician who sat behind the desk.

“Well since no one really knows we are here I can slide you right in.” The male technician took the papers and double checked everything. “Okay, Mr. Banks, please follow me.”

Dan followed the tech through the white doors.

“Thank you so much.” Barry said as he shook the nurse’s hand. “I really don’t know what I would have done if he didn’t have these tests done.”

The nurse shook her head. “No problem. Trust me; he isn’t the first patient to be petrified of going in for the tests. Better he is put at ease and gets them done, then panic and try to forget them completely.”

Barry watched her stride down the hallway back the way they had come. He walked over to one of the chairs in waiting room and prepared to make himself as comfortable as he could until Dan came out of the test room.