Ted looked at Dr. Graystone and knew she looked familiar as well. He then realized she could had been one of his patrons from the other day, although he just smiles and winched in pain.

"It hasn't been getting any better, Dr. Greystone," Ted said as he felt the pain rushing to his knee, "I been dealing with pain for most of my life, but this time it isn't getting any better."

Ted sighed and wondered he would have to take off his leg brace as well.

Linda thought for a while on what the options might be. " I would like to take an x-ray of your knee and see what might be the problem. I can see if I can get you in for one today if you would like." She said , having the feeling that wasn't what he wanted to hear.

"Is it possible to schedule it now?" Ted asked as he had to get to work today, " You see, I have to be at work by noon time."

Ted sighed as he knew he might have to take a day off and he didn't want to do that. He didn't also want to find out that he had to have surgery. Ted didn't want to take any leave off of work, he really liked working with the patrons and he didn't want to be bored all day at home. Oh sure he can have an internet life, but at his age...

" Let me check. " Linda said and called the x ray lab. " They have an opening right now if you would like to go down there. " She said with a smile as she stood up to take him there to the X ray techs.

"That sounds good to me, doctor," Ted said as he smiled, "I hope I won't have to be late to work."

Ted smiled and followed Dr. Greystone to the X-Ray waiting room. Ted turned off his cellphone that way it wouldn't interfere with the X-Ray equipment.

" Ready Mr. Johnson?" The X-ray tech asked a few minutes later. Linda hoped he wouldn't be late for his job, knowing sometimes that the machinery took time to warm up.

"Yes I am," Ted said as he followed the X-ray tech. Ted was hoping this wasn't going to take too long and the consult wouldn't take a long time. If it does, then Ted would have to call his job to let them know he'll be late to work today.

Ted thought to himself, "Dr. Greystone was the patron that asked for the cookbooks that other day. Hm... I wonder how they liked her cooking and how the recipes in the book tasted."

The X-ray tech got Ted ready and said." We are about to begin. It shouldn't take too long." He said with a smile.

Linda realized that Mr. Johnson was the librarian that had helped her yesterday at the library. She smiled and hoped she could help him.

Ted smiled and then he took off his leg brace as told, because it would affect the results of the X-ray. Ted followed the instructions the X-ray tech told him.

Ted hope he didn't have to have surgery again and it was just his arthritis acting up like it was that other time. Hopefully it was just that and he didn't have to surgery.

" All done. We should have the results soon. " The Tech said . He had the negatives taken to the lab to be developed and then to Doctor Greystone's office.

"Thanks," Ted said with a sigh of some relief.

While waiting for the negatives to develop, Ted was reading something on his iPad and then he answered a call on his smart phone from one of his co-workers. It was Lizzy and she was asking him when he'll be in today. Ted told her that he might be late but he wasn't to sure yet.

" Mr. Johnson would you please come with me?" Linda asked. She had seen the negatives and was ready to explain what they showed.

"Ok Dr. Greystone," Ted said as he followed Dr. Greystone.

Ted hoped it wasn't something that required surgery, if it was then he was ready for it. He knew that he might have to have another surgery sooner or later. Ted thought to himself, "I hope it makes some of the pain go away if the surgery works this time. The last one one I had during my teens wasn't that successful."

" It does require surgery I'm afraid. But this procedure is a new one and has had a very high success rate. You would have to miss a few days of work and have therepy. " Linda said feeling bad that he did have to have surgery.

"That's good to know," Ted said as he sighed with some relief, "At least it won't be like the last one. Will I be on pain pills six weeks later?"

Ted asked that because Ted wasn't a fan of taking pain pills. He only took them because that was the only thing that relieved his knee pain. Then he asked another question, "Will I still have to wear this leg brace of the surgery is done right?"

" You shouldn't have to have either. I need to schedule appointment to schedule the surgery and the consult. When would you you be able to come for the consult?" Linda said a kind voice.

"I have this coming Monday off," Ted said as he was glad Dr. Greystone was being as flexible as she could, "if it has to be sooner, please let me know."

Ted had time to let his job know that he had to take a couple weeks or more leave from it till he recovers from surgery. He was glad that pain will decrease a bit. He would be a bit happier if he could get rid of the cane, but he doubt that would happen.

Linda looked looked at her schedule. " Monday would work out for me. I'll have the front desk call you later today with the official time." She said with a smile.

"Ok, thank you Dr. Greystone," Ted said as he smiled and got up, "I'll see you then."

Ted walked out after he waited for Dr. Greystone to tell him that he can leave. Then he went straight to work. He first went to the administrative floor to talk to his boss to let them know that he'll need to take a temporarily leave for a while. He also remembered he had enough leave time for three months, hopefully he didn't have to use it all up.

Linda met with the surgeon and had an appointment scheduled for Monday. She called Mr. Johnson telling him that his appointment was at 10 AM. She felt bad that he had to have surgery , but hoped he wouldn't have to wear the brace anymore.

Ted picked up the call during his lunch break, while at lunch he was talking to Lizzy. Lizzy was sad that she had to work more, but then she told Ted that someone might be switched from another branch to take his place for a short bit. Ted ask Lizzy who it might be, but Lizzy didn't know who. She only told him what she had heard from a supervisor.

( Time skip to Monday?)

Linda was glad that the dish she had made was liked by her co workers. She had to return the book in a week and would copy a few recipes that she would make for her own meals. She also hoped that the meeting on Monday went well.

((Sure thing, I'll message you my MSN as well, that way we can talk about the plot and such.))

Meanwhile, Ted was making sure all the graphic novel orders for fine arts were finalized that way he wouldn't have to worry about them while he was away. If the order needed more readjusting, he made sure that Lizzy or Ms. Liz could do it. Also he hoped Larry wouldn't give the teens bad advice while he was gone, then again he can't stop Larry for doing anything. When Larry heard the news he was sad but then said, "Well maybe now you'll be Forest Gump with a fro now."

Ted wasn't too happy with what Larry had said. Ted wanted to strangle Larry like Homer does with his son Bart on the Simpsons. "You mess with everybody huh?" Ted replied as he knew Larry was just being a clown.

"Pretty much, I wonder what I can call Lizzy... I already have a nickname for Ms. Liz," Larry said jokingly.

"I would leave them alone, both of them can get you fired. Lizzy alone can get you fired or demoted," Ted said as he sighed at Larry's idea, "and Ms. Liz can get you fired in a heart beat."

On Monday , Linda got ready at her desk for her meeting with Mr Johnson and Dr. Greene , the surgeon. She looked at the clock and saw that it was time for the appointment.

Ted was at the appointment and was in the waiting room. Ted was in a little bit less pain than he was in the other day, but he was still in pain. His knee was hurting him. Ted got up when the person at the front desk called his name to go inside to meet Dr. Greystone and Dr. Greene. Ted followed the nurse to the examination room.

While in the room, Ted took off his leg brace just in case because usually surgeons ask him to take it off in the past.