This choice: Your best friend, Randall Davis. • Go Back...Chapter #5Your best friend, Randall Davis. by: Wassel   "...It's your friend, Randall. Randall Davis."
This mention of your best friend's name causing you to gasp. Never in a million years expecting the doctor to say him. To say the very person who'd been sitting beside you in the car. Having in all honesty thought, after hearing the news about your father, that things couldn't get any worse. But they had. They really had.
Blurting out, "You... You can't be serious! Randall's inside my dad's body? You... You really put his brain in there?"
"I'm afraid so, son," Dr. Saunders replied. Gently placing a hand on your shoulder. "As Dr. Kerry said, it was the only way we could save him. His own body didn't stand a chance."
A body that your mind couldn't help but conjure up in this moment. Randall, like you, being skinny. Only more so. Tall and gangly with a mop of curly red hair and a somewhat goofy appearance. The exact opposite of your dad. Having met him back in kindergarten and grown up these past 13 years with him as your closest friend. Being virtually inseparable, and more like brothers at times (what with neither of you having any siblings). Enjoying his off-the-wall, sometimes overly brash and jokey personality. That got him in trouble more often than not. The two of you getting each other in a way that nobody else had. Which was why, on hearing all of this, you couldn't help but feel a mixture of shock, confusion and concern. Concern for his well being. Which didn't in any way negate the overwhelming feeling of loss that you were also experiencing. The combination of which was almost too much.
The two doctors attempting to explain in more detail the actual ins-and-outs of Randall's injuries, but you abruptly cut them off. Wiping the tears out of your eyes again as you had to ask, "So Randall is really my dad now?" Needing to be certain that what you'd just heard was actually the truth.
"In a manner of speaking, yes," Dr. Kerry nodded. Explaining it a little better then. "He still has a part of his own brain of course. The part that makes up the conscious mind. I.E. Everything that makes Randall Randall. But the rest of it... The majority... Is all your dad. This being the only way that the transplant would be successful."
"And... and is he okay?"
"Yes. Better than okay actually. He's in perfect health." The doctor continuing then with a smile, "We honestly couldn't be more pleased with how it went. Considering this is the very first human subject we've attempted it on."
A fact that you weren't sure whether to be happy about or angry. Having taken a huge risk that may well have ended badly. Losing your best friend as well as your father. Though by the sounds of it, it seemed that they were now one and the same.
"In fact, he's recovered so quickly from the surgery that we see no reason why he shouldn't be able to leave in a day or two. After we've run a couple of more tests and made sure all the synapses are firing correctly. Which I'm sure you'll agree is good news."
Nodding, "Uhm... Yuh-Yeah. It... It is." Though to be honest, you weren't entirely sure that it was. Being beyond weirded out and confused by all of this.
Prompting you to ask, once at least some of this information had sunk in, "So what, uh... What happens then? What happens to him? What happens to us?" Having no idea how either you or your mom were supposed to carry on after something like this. Having a walking talking reminder of your father's death wandering around. Never mind what Randall himself would be forced to go through. Having gone to a football game a 16 year old boy and woken up as a 43 year old man. Losing a good 27 years of his life. And seeing how his own father and his step-mom were such devout, religious freaks, you seriously doubted they would accept what had happened to him either. The two of them barely treating him like a son as it was.
This question causing both doctors to pause. Looking at each other awkwardly for a moment before Dr. Saunders again spoke up. Fiddling nervously with his hands.
"Well, that's, uh... that's the thing I'm afraid, Tim," he started. Clearing his throat. "As the surgery was experimental, it, uh... It's not actually been sanctioned as a viable medical procedure. Meaning that its not strictly legal to perform. But, as already stated, we really were left with no other option. It was either perform a brain transplant or let your friend die." It almost appearing as if he was looking for validation as he asked, "You do understand that don't you?"
"I guess so," you nodded. It being like something out of a horror movie sure, but if it really was the only way. And I guess it's what Dad would have wanted too. Having always had somewhat of a soft spot for Randall. Even if he did wind him up at times.
"Unfortunately, because of this..." Saunders then continued. Taking a deep breath himself. "...If any of what we did here ever gets out, it would be extremely bad news for everyone. Dr. Kerry and I could very well go to prison. And I'm sure you can imagine the sort of media circus this would create around both your family and around Randall. It's very likely that none of you would ever be able to go out in public again. If you were even allowed to that was. There being a whole host of complicated legalities to consider with Randall now being someone else."
"Which is why we all agree that its best that it stay secret," Dr. Kerry said. "That it stay strictly between us. Which in turn would mean..."
"...We'd all have to pretend like Randall really is my Dad." Finishing this sentence for him. As you could already tell that this was where this conversation was going. As upsetting an idea that was, you knew as well as they did that it was the only way to prevent anyone else from finding out.
"Exactly," the small, mustachioed doctor replied. "It's not ideal I know, but it really is the best outcome given the circumstances. At least that way he'll have a life. You'll all have lives."
Yeah, but what kind of lives? you had to wonder. Especially Randall. Seeing how he'd be the one who'd actually have to pretend to be Don Connors. He'd be the one having to pretend to be your dad.
Sadly, it didn't seem like either of you had much choice in the matter. What with your mother having already agreed. And, as neither Jim nor Alice (Randall's parents) where currently here to make a decision, it really was down to the three of you. Having to side then with both the doctors and your parent and reluctantly do the same. Signing the non-disclosure agreement before Kerry and Saunders took their leave. Sending your mother in to see you once they had. Who was of course completely devastated by the loss of your father, who she'd been with for over twenty years, but also happy that you were alive. Hugging you tighter than you'd ever been hugged before as you shared in your collective grief. All the while assuring you'd all get through this and that you both needed to be strong. Especially for Randall, who would need all the support he could get. Which you of course promised her that you'd try your best to be. Wanting to be there for your best friend too. Even if, seeing him like that... inside your father's body... was an incredibly daunting prospect.
* * * *
Although it took a while for everything to properly hit you, you did manage to pull yourself together long enough to visit your best friend. Having been informed that he was now awake and, after having gone through much the same emotional roller-coaster that you had, was eager to see a familiar face. Kerry and Saunders, as per his request, having kept both his parents in the dark. Preempting the fact that they'd most likely attempt to disown him and call him an 'abomination of God'. And while you were of course extremely nervous about seeing him looking like he now did, you pushed this to one side and went to see him by yourself. Your mother, given the circumstances, thinking it best that you did.
Your initial reaction, as you stepped through the door and saw your father sitting there, upright in bed with his brown eyes fully open, being that this was indeed him. That the doctors had gotten it wrong and he wasn't really dead. He was right there. Though only for the briefest of moments. This being quickly dispelled as he quietly greeted you with the words, "Uh... Hey, dude." Which wasn't a phrase that your father would have ever used. 'Dude' not being his style. But it was definitely yours, and it was definitely Randall's. Leading you to the unmistakable conclusion that, Holy shit! …That’s him. That’s Randall! Despite every other part of your being telling you that you were wrong.
Randall speaking up once again after you failed to respond. "Guess this must be pretty freaky for you. …Seeing me like this.” Looking incredibly uncomfortable as his gaze fell to the floor. Avoiding looking you directly in the eye.
Pulling yourself from this temporary daze, you hastily apologized. "No. No, I'm sorry." Trying to keep it together as best you could as you told him, "I... I didn't mean to stare like that."
"Don't worry about it. This is a really fucked up situation and you have every right to stare. Fuck knows I would be."
Which was probably true. Randall hardly being the most subtle guy in the world. His wandering eyes having in fact gotten him in quite a bit of trouble. Mostly while checking out girls.
Not that he had those same eyes anymore. Those blue ones with the cheeky glint in them. These instead were your dad's.
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