Chapter 9
"AJ!" Katie gasped as the young student stumbled into
the hospital blood smeared over his hands and face. "My God, AJ, what
happened?" the nurse asked as she helped him sit down. "I thought you
were going home?"
"I was," he coughed out. "But I ran into a little
trouble on the way."
"What trouble?" she questioned obcerving his injuries.
"Hazel's boyfriend," he sneered.
Her eyes widened. "You didn't?"
He lifted up his bloody hands. "I did. I gave him a piece of
what he gave her."
"Shit...." Katie sighed bringing her palm to her pale
brow. "Come on," she directed steering him through the crowded
hospital. The small woman opened the door to lounge making sure it was empty.
"Go sit in there and be quiet," she told him hurrying away to get the
supplies she needed.
"No wonder this is where Richardson is always hangin'
out," AJ mocked as he entered the plush room taking a seat.
"Okay, here we go," Katie breathed as she returned
dragging the items needed behind her. She took a sit infront of him. "How
do you feel? Did you hit your head?"
"Like shit, and no I didn't hit my hard head."
She rolled her eyes. "That's very helpful." Katie
quietly began cleaning the wounds. "Why'd you do it, AJ?"
He shrugged. "It felt right. Hell, I really don't know why,
Katie. I just saw the bastard and I don't know what came over me."
"It was probably adrelin," she sighed cleansing his skin
with the rubbing alcohol. "You lost your first patient, AJ, you're
sick.... It's a lot to take on. Sometimes, tempers get the best of
anyone."
AJ winced at the sting of the liquid. "What about Kevin and
Annie?"
Katie shook her head. "Who knows what goes on with those two.
Annie's my best friend, but I never know what she's thinking. She's the
sweetest person I know, but there's just this little part of her she'll never
let go of to show anyone."
"I think she's damn brave," AJ added.
Katie pushed her brown hair out of her. "That's what I'm
afraid of." She finished taping the bandage to his hand. "All right, let's
take a look at that head of yours'."
AJ shut his eyes as she examined the scrapes. "I don't know
what's wrong with me anymore."
"What do you mean?" Katie asked softly.
"I..I.." he paused his voice breaking. "I punched
out a drunk, I'm always in a fight with Richardson, I yelled at that guy for
treating his girlfriend like crap...Now, I beat him up. Let's face it, I'm not
cut out to be a doctor!"
"Stop talking like that," she whispered resting her hand
on his knee. "I happen to think you're very talent. Maybe more doctors
need to be like you, more involved, more direct."
Tears suddenly found his eyes. "I just can't take this!"
"I know," she sympathized wrapping her arms around him
pulling him into a hug.
"God if Richardson knew....Why does he hate me so much?"
"Shh...He doesn't hate you." Katie sighed. "He
hates everyone."
"I think Dr.Turtle should prick him during surgery with her
scallop," AJ grumbled.
The brunette grinned patting his back. "Don't give her any
ideas. Now, let's finish up fixing that head of yours'. Then, I can insert an
IV."
"An IV?" AJ groaned pouting like a small child.
"Yes, an IV," she repeated grabbing the equidment.
"Brian wanted me to put you on one earlier, and now that you're back I'm
going to." She grimaced at the one lodged in her arm. "They're not
exactly fashionable or practical, but they should help to keep you from passing
out."
AJ gazed up at her the tears slowly drying from his chocolate-
colored eyes. "How do you do it?"
"Do what?" she asked searching for a suitable vein.
"Be so strong? I mean, you're really the type of person
anyone could depend on. I've never cried infront of anyone before," he
whispered his face flushing with embarrassment.
She shrugged. "I just try to be there for people. It's
obvious someone needs to take that role here. Brian was kind enough to help me,
and it really made a difference, so I'm going to help anyone I can."
"I appreciate it," he told her honestly a small grin
surfacing.
"Well, I'm glad to help."
"Ouch!" he whistled as she inserted the IV. "How
are you feeling anyway?"
"Really rundown. I think I could sleep for two days straight
and still be tired," she sadly admitted checking the position of the IV.
"Shouldn't you go home?"
"Nah, I couldn't leave Brian in this kind of outbreak with
all those sick little kids." She placed her hands in her lap. "All
finished. Just stay here, rest and keep quiet, okay?"
He nodded. "Okay."
Katie chewed on her bottom lip. "AJ, maybe you should
consider seeing Hazel."
"After what I did to her boyfriend?"
"Well, you don't have to tell her that part. But maybe if you
see her it'll help you."
"I'll think about it," AJ promised.
"KATIE! KATIE!" Brian threw the door open. "Oh,
Katie, there you are!" Brian breathed in relief. "I could really use
your help!"
"I'm coming," she replied standing rushing to the door.
"AJ, what happened?" Brian gasped viewing the med
student from a distance.
"Oh, you see, AJ was leaving, but he was a little dehydrated
and collapsed in the parking lot. So....I brought him in here, so, he could
rest and get some nutrients through the IV and save us the extra room for
patients," she fibbed giving a AJ a quick wink.
"Oh, good thinking," Dr.Littrell praised. "Rest up,
AJ."
****************************
"Hey, Dr.Turtle!" Nick greeted taking a seat beside her
in the cafeteria.
She glanced up at him speaking softly. "Hi, Nick."
"Could I ask you a question?"
The redheaded lady nodded. "Of course."
"Do you think I could take on more cases by myself? Small
cases, that would really just slow more experienced doctors down."
"I think you could handle that, Nick. And I think it would be
very helpful to the others," the doctor agreed. "Just find someone to
sign off your charts and never hesitate to get help when things get out of
control. Okay?"
"Okay," he beamed suddenly feeling he was truly a member
of the team.
Dr.Turtle continued picking at her lunch. Nick studied her.
"You look kinda' pale, Doc. Well, I mean you're always pale. Ya' know,
you're actually the palest person I think I've ever met."
"Thanks," Annie replied her voice monotone.
He fidgeted with his hands in embarrassment at his comment.
"Is this about yesterday? With the dog and the old lady?"
"No," she responsed quickly pushing her long red strands
away from her eyes. "I'm just not very hungry. Here," she said
passing the tray along to him. "You might as well eat this."
"Are you sure?"
"It's fine," she assured him. The doctor stood suddenly
as her beeper sounded. "I have an emergency upstairs!" she sighed
running off.
"Another lunch alone," Nick sighed.
****************************
"Hazel?" AJ whispered as he entered the dark room.
The teenager faced him. Her face covered with bandages and bruises.
"Hi," she croaked. "I remember you."
"Yeah, um...I remember you, too," he replied slowly
making his way closer to the bed.
"Sit down," she offered pointing to the chair. "You
have an accident?" she wondered gazing at his presence.
AJ glanced down at his bandages and IV. "Yeah, something like
that. How you feelin', sweetheart?"
She bit her lip as tears came near. "Could be better."
The med. student started at the floor. "Um, Hazel, I'm really
and truly sorry about your baby."
"Me too," she choked tears freely leaving her eyes.
"They didn't know if it was a boy or a girl, so, I just named it Jessie.
That's a boy/girl name. You like that name?"
"It's a nice name," AJ answered.
She took a deep breath. "I'm pressin' charges against Joe. I
won't let him hurt me or anyone else again!" she declared.
"That's a very wise thing to do, Hazel."
She wiped her eyes. "Maybe this was God's way of helping me.
Just like you help people here. Maybe He didn't want my baby to be hurt by Joe,
so, he took my baby to Heaven."
AJ nodded. "I bet so."
Hazel grinned. "And I'm getting stronger. God's giving me the
strength to fight back and help myself and other people. God works in
mysterious ways, doesn't He?"
AJ took a deep breath. "Yes, He does."
*******************
"Dr.Littrell!" Howie Dorough yelled as he hurried
through the halls dragging a stretcher behind him. "We've got an assload
of kids!"
"What happened?" Brian yelled helping pull the first
stretcher through.
"Bunch of kids were ice skating on the pond near the school.
There was a weak patch in the ice, everything started caving in! Five fell
through."
"Five?" Brian sighed. "Katie!" he hollered
behind him to the nurse bringing in another patient. "Start getting some
warm saline and stock up on blankets!"
"I'm on it!" she shouted rushing down the opposite hall.
Brian took a deep breath finally getting a good look at his first
patient. "Hey, buddy, what's your name?"
"C-Charlie," the boy managed to mumble out of his
trembling lips.
"Can you tell me how old you are?"
"Seven."
"Seven? That's a fun age," Dr.Littrell commented as he
helped the child out of the wet clothing.
"Why a-are you t-takin' off my clothes? I'm cold," the
patient complained.
"I know you are, Charlie, but if you stay in those wet, cold
clothes you could get really sick. You don't want that, do you?"
"No."
"Okay, then, we'll get you out of these and start making you
feel better, okay?"
"Okay."
"How's he doing?" Katie asked as she joined the doctor
and young patient.
"Temp's 91, but he's holding strong. Start him on warm saline
and give him some warm blankets. Let's warm him up slowly. I don't want to give
him too much all at once."
"I can handle it," Katie promised as she took over
helping the child into a gown. "Why don't you go check on someone else?
We're okay here."
"Okay," Brian sighed returning to the crowded halls. He
paused as he viewed the scattered freezing children and now accustomed vomiting
patients stalking the waiting room. He hung his head. "What I would give
for a sedative!"
"Dr.Littrell, we need you!" a voice called.
"I know....I know," Brian whispered massaging his brow.
"I'm coming," he answered taking over the care of another child.
"Need some help?" Nick asked as he finished with his
patient.
Brian nodded. "I need a lot of help. There's a case in two,
can you take it?"
"Sure," Nick granted taking the chart. "Pain in the
adomen, nausea....Sounds familar," he grumbled opening the door.
"Hello," he greeted as he entered.
"Hi," a meak voice replied.
Nick sat down giving the little girl a smile. "Hey, Marcy,
I'm Nick."
She sniffled brushing her black hair out of her eyes. "Are
you gonna' make me better?"
"I'm going to try," he promised. "So, your tummy's
been hurting?"
"Yeah."
"Your Mommy and Daddy been taking good care of you?"
"Uh huh."
Nick examined her stomach. "Have any of the kids at school
been sick, Marcy?"
She nodded. "Yeah, a lot."
Nick retrieved his hands. "Well, honey, I do believe you've
caught yourself this nasty stomach bug."
"Mr.Nick?" the girl suddenly called out.
"What's wrong?"
"I'm gonna'.....gonna' AGGGGHHHH!"
Nick looked down at the vomit that had contacted his shoes and
pants. "Will wonders never cease?"
**************************
Nick Carter stood uncomfortably at the front desk in complete
exhuastion. "Katie?" he sighed.
The weak nurse lifted her tired head. "What, Nick?"
He stared at her his eyes slightly glazed over and his expression
blank. "Ten children hurled on me today."
She fought not to smile. "I'm sorry, sweetie."
He sat down beside her resting his head against her shoulder.
"Am I some kind of target? Do kids hate me? Do I smell like vomit and
target a chain reaction?"
Katie patted his back. "You are not a target, kids do not
hate you and you don't smell like vomit."
He buried his face further into her shoulder. "Am I just
kidding myself by even trying to make it here? Maybe I should've stayed in
Chicago, instead of coming to this tiny town."
"Nick, if you had stayed where we worked you'd have kids
throwing punches and blades at you instead of vomit."
The blonde lifted his head. "That does sound worse."
"That's because it is, silly," she chuckled continuing
her paperwork.
"How are you feeling?" he asked standing up.
"My stomach feels a lot better accuatly," she answered
filing another chart. "But I'm still really tired."
"Maybe you should go take a nap on one of the spare
cots?" he suggested.
Katie grinned. "That sounds Heavenly, Nick, but unforunately
I have to file all of these charts and get them organized before Richardson has
my ass for it."
Nick rolled his eyes. "He's always on someone's ass. I don't
know how Dr.Turtle puts up with him."
"I think she invested in a punching bag for her
apartment," Katie replied allowing a smirk to surface.
"Hi, guys," Howie greeted as he came up to the desk a
stack of papers in hand. "Here ya' go, Katie. I got these done," he
said handing to her.
"Howie, thank you so much!" she thanked him a bright smile
forming. "You have no idea how much you helped me."
"My pleasure." He leaned against the counter. "How
are those kids doing that I brought in earlier from the pond?"
"They're all doing just fine. Thanks to Dr.Littrell, he was
able to treat them all before they went into hypothermia or shock."
"Thank God," he sighed. "I was really worried when
I got to the scene."
"I can imagine," Katie sympathized.
Howie scratched his stomach. "Anybody else hungry?"
"Not me," the nurse quickly replied burying her face
back into the paperwork.
"I could use a bite to eat," Nick answered. "It
would be nice to have some company when I eat for once." He faced the
nurse. "Would it be all right for me to go grab some dinner in the
cafeteria?"
Katie nodded her brown ponytail bopping up and down. "I don't
see why not. Things have really calmed down. Besides, it would probably do you
a bit of good to get away from here for a little bit. It's getting late and
everybody's on edge."
"Even Bri?" Howie asked as he pulled out his wallet.
"Yes, especially Dr.Littrell," Katie responsed.
"Hey, who's that?" Nick asking looking over Howie's
shoulder at the wallet.
"Oooh," Howie whispered his face turning a mild crimson
as he blushed. He held up the picture of the Spanish beauty. "That's my
Maria."
"Your girlfriend?" Nick asked.
"Yep, she's pretty, huh?"
"Very," Nick nodded.
"Does she live around here?" Katie asked taking a
glimpse of the photo.
Howie shook his head. "No, she lives in Florida near my
family, but once she finishes school she's going to move out here. We both want
to live in a spacious area like this."
"I hope you see her soon," the nurse said sweetly. She
groaned as she glanced at opening elevators doors seeing Richardson's form
emerge. "Nick you better get out of here while you can."
Nick paled at the sight of the strict surgeon. "Let's go,
Howie," he instructed rushing away.
"If it's not Scrooge in the flesh," Katie grumbled under
her breath as Richardson came closer.
"Nurse Mist, I asked you to have these papers done hours ago.
You've had all day!" the senior employee griped.
"It was a busy day," she sighed. "And nothing is
very easy with this stupid IV hooked up to me."
He crossed his arms. "Would you prefer to pass out?"
She bit her lip. "I would prefer to end this revaulting
conversation and finish my work, then we'll both be happy."
"It should have already been done to begin with!"
"I already told you it was a busy day, and I haven't been
feeling well," the nurse argued.
"Kevin, would you lower your voice!" Brian hissed as he
stood next to his anal cousin in apparent fatigue. "Patients can hear you!
Now, what's the big deal?"
"The big deal, Brian, is the fact that your nurse on this
floor couldn't get the work done that I asked her to, and she had all damn
day."
Brian rolled his eyes. "Cut it out, Kevin. It's been a busy
day, she's sick and had to help me due to an accident at the pond and staff
shortage."
"Well, that's not my fault," Kevin spat.
"It's not her fault either!" Dr.Littrell shouted.
"At least, she's been trying to help. What have you done except give
Annie's a little help with the suction upstairs and boss people around?!"
Kevin opened his mouth but froze as he was at a loss for words.
Dr.Littrell continued to rant. "It has been complete chaos
down here. AJ's too sick to work, I had five kids in an accident, I'm always
near someone's who puking and I have to try to take care of my staff as well!
Now, where in the heck do you find anything to complain about? Since, you're
obviously not doing anyone any good why don't you go back upstairs and bug
someone or go home and rest like the rest of us only wish we could do!"
Dr.Richardson's jaw tightened as his green eyes narrowed into mean
slits. He turned on his heel without a word leaving the unpleasant situation
behind.
Katie stared at the pediatric doctor in shock. "Dr.Littrell,
are you all right?"
The man hung his head. "I apologize for snapping like that,
Katie. I don't know what came over me. It's just been such a hard day," he
explained massaging the brow. "Sometimes, I just don't think I can take
anymore of this. Ya' know?"
She nodded. "Believe me, I can relate more than you will ever
know."
He released a deep sigh. "I should go apologize to Kevin,
shouldn't I?"
Katie shrugged. "I don't know about that. I wouldn't
apologize for what you said, only the way you said it to him."
Littrell sat down his form slumply lazily in the chair.
"Kevin's not exactly Mr.Popularity around here, is he?"
"Oh, he's something all right...just not popular," the
nurse answered.
He glanced at her arm. "Want me to take that thing out? That
is if you feel up to having it removed."
Katie happily extended her arm. "I'm proud to bid the IV
ado." She frowned studying him as he began to remove the needle.
"Brian, are you okay? You're really not acting like yourself today."
"Is it that obvious?" he sighed.
"I didn't mean to upset you," she apologized rubbing the
tender area where the IV had been placed.
"I'm just very tired today. Too tired," he admitted.
"You don't look well," she observed.
He yawned stretching his shoulders. "I don't exactly feel
well."
"Want me to rub your shoulders?" she asked watching him
wince in pain.
"You don't have to do that."
"Don't sweat it." She assured him standing behind him.
"I owe you for everything you've done for me."
"You don't owe me anything, I try to help anyone I can."
"Even Kevin?"
He took a deep breath. "I know I'd need a sedative
afterwards, but yes, even Kevin."
"Your temperature's up a little," Katie said placing her
hand on his cheek. "Maybe your just getting this disgusting virus."
"Yeah, maybe..." Brian yawned his voice trailing off.
"I've got more patients to check on," he sighed getting up walking
away. "Hey, Katie?"
"Yeah?" the brunette called back over her shoulder.
"Thanks for just being there. I'm glad to know I have someone I can
confide in."
She smiled. "The feeling's mutual, Brian." She ran her
hands through her hair. "Apparently, everyone likes to confide in me
lately," she whispered under her breath going back to the filing.
*******************************
"Great job in surgery, Dr.Turtle," the nurse praised
helping the doctor strip out of her layers of protective clothing.
"Thank you, Didi" the redhead replied shutting her eyes
for a moment. "It was good to have something run so smoothly after the day
we had, huh?"
The nurse nodded.
"Everything going well up here?" Kevin Richardson asking
in a booming tone entering the area as Dr.Turtle cleaned her hands.
"Everything is on schedule, Dr.Richardson, I just finished
with Mr.Gogi's surgery and it was quite a success."
"Good," Richardson said giving a blunt answer as he took
inventory of the supplies.
"Annie, were you all right in there?" the nurse
wondered. "Your work was super as always, but your hands were shaking
through out the entire operation."
Annie froze feeling two pairs of anxious eyes staring at her.
"Well, you see, Didi, um....I was called out before I could eat lunch. So,
I haven't eaten anything today." She jumped as she heard the door close
behind her, Richardson exiting with his notes.
Didi shook her head at the man. "How do you like that? The
man enters without a hello and leaves without a goodbye. What a prick."
She waved to Annie. "See ya' tomorrow, Dr.Turtle. Get some food in your
stomach, you hear me?"
The redhead smiled, Didi had almost become like a second mother to
her. And the only member of the sugrical team that seemed to enjoy her presence
and work in the environment. "My first surgery to go well after so many
sad attempts to save life," she whispered to herself running her hands
through her red strands. "If only life were like fairy tales....Then,
people wouldn't have to die. Or even need surgery."
The doctor sighed falling into an empty chair drawing her knees to
her chest. She bowed her head down wishing her intense headache would
disappear.
"Here," a deep voice called the door opening.
She lifted her head to see someone's hands holding a bag of
pretzels and water bottle out to her. "Kevin?" she whispered setting
her legs down.
He gently tossed the items into her lap. "I can't have you
passing out during surgery," he said blankly.
Annie stared at the items. "Thank you-" she paused
realizing he had once again left without a goodbye.