Shed considered putting off the visit, but really it was inevitable that she would have to face the music and go back to the Doctors office eventually, so she decided to face it sooner rather than later. She dressed in fairly loose fitting clothes, part of an entire new $5,000 dollar wardrobe which she had charged to Simons card, and drove down.
The shock registered on Doctor Haskels face as soon as she walked in the door. "My goodness! He exclaimed. "Elise, is that really you?
"It is, Doctor, she said, smiling.
He stared at her for a long, long time in absolute silence. Finally he said, "Something has happened with the drug. Steroids... muscle growth... its the only explanation. And yet...
"And yet? Elise asked calmly.
"And yet its not an explanation, not on its own. Goodness me, you must have gained sixty or seventy pounds in the last few weeks. Even steroids cant do that, not even close. In fact I cant imagine anything that could account for it.
"I had an idea, Elise said. She explained her thoughts about some freak combination of that particular drug and that particular disease along with random mutations in the way her particular body chemistry worked, isolated factors coming together in a unique combination. He listened, and looked thoughtful.
"Well, he said at length, "if you had come in here an hour ago, and suggested that to me, Id have laughed in your face Im afraid. But frankly, and I mean this with all possible respect my dear... what we are seeing here can only be explained by some sort of freak occurrence. Your explanation may not be correct, but certainly something absolutely unprecedented has happened.
He looked at her, curiosity replacing shock now. "You know, its been said that biology is a study in exceptions. You can have any rule you want, it can be as strong and certain as you can make it, but somewhere down the line you will find an exception. I can only believe that this is some odd one in a billion exception to the norm. What Id like to do is give you as complete a physical as I can, to begin with.
Elise sighed and stood up, slipping her jacket off. The blouse she wore showed her arms, and Haskel blinked at the display of muscle. "Oh wow! He said softly.
He moved over and pressed a finger against her bicep. Elise smiled and flexed for him, making it swell prodigiously. Doctor Haskell jerked back, his mouth gaping open in surprise. "Unbelievable, he whispered. Then he gave himself a visible shake and touched her again, squeezing the bicep between his long fingers.
"This is remarkable, he said. "Ms Morgan, I have patients of all sorts of physiques. I have some who are heavily into fitness and bodybuilding, so I can assure you I am no stranger to muscular physiques. But I have never felt anything like this. This doesnt feel like normal muscle at all.
"How so? Elise asked curiously.
"It feels denser, he said. "Much, much denser. Even in the strongest, most flexed muscle there is a degree of give. I cant feel any give in this at all. Its like squeezing a piece of marble or iron. Would you mind stepping on the scales over here, please?
She stepped over to the scales and he checked her weight and let out a long whistle.
"What is it? She asked.
"Later, he said absently. Elise felt a flash of irritation, but she held it in. He spent the next hour carefully checking her over, taking some samples to send off, poking and prodding and all the usual things plus a few she hadnt heard of before. Finally it was over and she re-dressed.
"Well... as far as I can tell, you are healthy as a horse, he said.
"I sure feel that way, Elise smiled.
"Your weight is a bit of a concern, he said. "You are significantly heavier than even your new size would justify. You weigh slightly over three hundred pounds.
"My God! She exclaimed. "But... theres practically no fat on me!
"Well Im just guessing, but I suspect your muscle density is a good deal higher than normal. That might explain why your muscles feel so much firmer than normal muscle, so much harder. It possibly contributes to the extreme strength and endurance you mentioned. I just... I have no explanation for how this could be. Its completely unprecedented. Id even say impossible... except that it cant be since its clearly happened!
He sat down, reading through the notes he had been taking. "Blood pressure is somewhat low... your veins seem somewhat enlarged, so perhaps that is to be expected. Heart rate is also low, but very strong and regular.
"Tell me, have you been experiencing symptoms of steroid use? For example, are you feeling heightened aggression? Been involved in any altercations, fights?
"No, Elise lied flatly. "So what do we do about all this? She asked.
"I think we take you off the drug, Haskel said.
Elise considered. "Why?
"Because radical changes to the body are not often good things. My dear, for all we know this... process... could be causing monumental damage.
"I feel fine. In fact, I feel better than I ever have, Elise said.
"Yes. And if the massive cellular changes are causing cancers to break out throughout your body right now, then what? He asked bluntly.
She hesitated, but there was only one option. He was the Doctor, after all. "Very well.
------------------------
Did you enjoy this story? Do you want to read more? I'd love to hear your thoughts at adeaderend@hotmail.com.