Chapter 40 Competing with the Big Boss for Talent
That day, when Olivia got home, she was wiped out from the long treatment session and needed some serious downtime to gear up for the next day.
Meanwhile, over at the military base, Matthew got a surprise call from Andrew. "I'll be there at 3 AM to run a psych session for those two special forces guys with the unique conditions."
A session at that hour?
Matthew was taken aback but didn't question it.
Andrew's methods were always off the beaten path, but no one doubted his skills.
If he picked this time, there had to be a good reason.
Plus, the top brass had made it clear that any of Andrew's requests were to be followed, no questions asked.
Matthew quickly responded, "Got it, I'll set it up."
At 3 AM, a sleek, luxurious Rolls-Royce glided through the night, pulling into the base.
Andrew stepped out from the back seat, dressed in a black shirt, trousers, and a long black coat. At night, he seemed different—more mysterious and commanding.
Andrew and David headed straight to the second-floor treatment room, where Matthew was already waiting.
"Mr. Hamilton, you're here," Matthew greeted them right away.
Andrew gave a slight nod. "Thanks for being here so late."
His tone was polite but carried an authority that made even the commanding Matthew feel a bit subdued.
Matthew waved it off, "Mr. Hamilton, you're the one putting in the hard work."
Andrew didn't mind. He wasn't worried about the effort. But he did frown slightly, thinking about the two soldiers he was about to treat.
Their symptoms were unusual—agitation, anger, occasional screaming and crying, and sometimes even depression and suicidal thoughts.
From past cases, Andrew had diagnosed them with PTSD. They had gone through mental torture before leaving the battlefield, witnessing horrific acts and being forced to stay among piles of corpses. PTSD was almost a given.
Andrew had already done two sessions with them, and they had shown improvement.
They should have been almost recovered by now. But suddenly, their symptoms had gotten worse, even more severe than before.
Sensing something was off, Andrew chose this specific time, planning to use a special method for their treatment.
After getting ready, he entered the dimly lit treatment room where one of the soldiers was already waiting.
The soldier looked rough, with a pained expression and a throbbing vein on his forehead, clearly in agony.
Andrew quickly got to work.
About an hour later, Andrew came out of the treatment room looking exhausted.
"Mr. Hamilton, how did it go?" Matthew asked, concerned.
Andrew rubbed his temples, deep in thought.
He had suspected the soldiers might have developed multiple personalities due to severe trauma, which could explain their erratic behaviors.
He had hoped to draw out these alternate personalities during the session, but the results were not as expected.
Andrew realized he might need to consider other factors. Confident in his abilities, he knew that if he couldn't cure them, the issue might not be purely psychological.
Before leaving, Andrew told Matthew, "I'll report their condition to the higher-ups. Wait for my instructions for further treatment."
Matthew agreed without a second thought.
The next day, Olivia showed up for her treatment sessions as usual, keeping an eye out for any unusual activity outside.
Matthew noticed her curiosity and explained, "Mr. Hamilton came in late last night for a special psych session. He might be running a bit late today."
Olivia was taken aback. A session at midnight?
That mysterious psychologist sure had his own way of doing things! But she didn't mind waiting, however long it took.
While Olivia was busy treating patients, Bianca played with the little military dog outside.
They had become fast friends, even rolling around in the grass together.
Bianca had also brought her art supplies, hoping to find Andrew, who had promised to teach her how to draw.
Unaware of this, Olivia continued her treatments tirelessly.
Her remarkable skills had become well-known around the military base, and many were eager to be treated by her. Today, she extended her hours by two more to wait for Andrew.
Finally, Matthew approached her with two patients, "These two are the ones Mr. Hamilton treated last night—Joshua Thomas and Ryan Martin. They also have some old injuries. Could you take a look at them, Dr. Garcia?"
Olivia agreed, glancing at the two men. They were under thirty but looked very worn out and pale. She asked, "What are your symptoms? Is this after treatment?"
They didn't look like they were recovering.
Matthew shook his head, "Their condition is severe, with symptoms like emotional instability and mood swings. But Mr. Hamilton can definitely cure them. He's never failed."
Olivia didn't doubt Andrew's abilities but felt something was off.
Noticing the abnormal veins on their foreheads, she instinctively began examining them seriously.
Matthew noticed her concern, "Dr. Garcia, is there something wrong with their old injuries? They were treated by military doctors and had special care."
Olivia shook her head, "I need to check further."
She examined their eyes and performed a series of detailed checks. When she pressed their temples, their faces contorted in pain, confirming her suspicion of nerve damage.
"Mr. Moore, their issue isn't psychological. It's neurological, and they should be my patients."
Matthew was shocked, "Really?"
Olivia explained, "Their emotional instability suggests nerve damage. Physical conditions can sometimes be more torturous than mental ones. If they've never mentioned it, it means the problem is severe."
Matthew was worried, "Can you treat them, Dr. Garcia?"
Olivia confidently replied, "Yes, but the treatment will be risky. It involves their brains, not just their bodies."
Matthew didn't hesitate, "They are soldiers. Their orders are to recover fully, and they will follow them unconditionally."
"Alright, let's begin immediately." Olivia, not one to delay, started preparing for the treatment.
The session lasted until the evening. When it was over, Joshua and Ryan felt a clarity they hadn't experienced in a long time.
"I used to feel an uncontrollable rage and a destructive urge, but now it's gone. It's strange," Joshua said.
"Me too! Even when I was calm, my mind was never at peace. Now, it feels like my brain has been cleansed, calm, and rational," Ryan added.
Olivia wasn't surprised. "Your environment was too harsh, damaging both your mind and body, especially your nervous system. Thankfully, you're cured now and should be fine in the future."
Joshua and Ryan thanked her profusely. Olivia prescribed some medication, "Take this with your meals and apply this ointment to your temples every night. Your nerves should fully recover in about two weeks."
Matthew was amazed. Could it really be that simple? He quickly ran outside to call Andrew, eager to share the news.