PHANTOM OF A CHANCE By Missy (missy@lexicon.net) DISCLAIMER: The characters that you recognise from ER are the property of Michael Crichton, Warner Bros, Constant Productions and Amblin Television and to the actors who so marvellously portray them. Minor Season 5 spoilers up to and including Nobody Doesn't Like Amanda Lee. Many thanks must go to my editors Susan Drake and Carolyn Delaney for their tireless and marvellous editing and for providing me with wonderful suggestions for the story. Both have provided me with great pointers for medical detail but any final errors are my own. The following characters have been added for my own benefit: Dr. Ashlea Waters, Intern, Dr. Samuel Cheung, Chief Resident, Kate McPherson, Physician's Assistant, Meredith Chandler and Amara Ngaru, Registered Nurses. This story is a continuation of 'Spirit of Christmas'. You don't have to read Spirit to be able to follow what is happening on Phantom although it probably would help. As such only certain storylines from Season 5 will be incorporated. Spirit was my take on what happened after Season 4 ended. Previously on 'Spirit of Christmas' It is two days prior to Christmas and Dr. Craig Goldberg has been appointed Chief of Emergency Services much to the annoyance of Dr. Kerry Weaver and Dr. Sam Cheung. Following the admittance of polio cases, Doug learns the reason for Kerry's disability, a fact which was already known by Mark. Carter's grandfather is admitted suffering from an MI and seeks Carter's advice while Kerry is treating him. The ER is invaded by a lone teenager gunman resulting in the shooting of seven including Doug Ross, Jerry Markovic, Lydia Wright and Kerry Weaver. Doug and Carol had been planning a secret wedding disguised as a Christmas Eve party inviting family and friends. Following the shooting, they decide to go ahead with their plans in the surgical ward. WARNING: This story does get rather gory and explicit in terms of injuries sustained. If you are under 15 years or have a weak stomach for details, I would think twice before reading. But then again, if you watch ER, you can't be too bad . However, for those who love the characters of ER, no permanent damage is sustained by those we love Now with all the legals and warnings over, on with 'Phantom of a Chance' PART 1/? Misty rain fell lightly on the early Chicago morning, melting the vestiges of snow on the sidewalk into a dirty grey mulch. Looking up at the grey clouds blanketing the city, Kerry stepped out from the covering of her townhouse into the mist. She berated herself for putting her car in for service at this time of the year, especially on her first day back in the ER. Car services were regularly scheduled for her car except for the last one, when a double shift at work had prevented her from getting it to the garage. It was only when it began temperamentally reminding her of the neglect that she had finally made a new one. Even then she had put it off as long as possible to give her leg a chance to recover from the damage the bullet had inflicted. However, being stranded in the middle of the night was not one of her most pleasurable experiences and had made her finally give in to the tantrums. Having woken up that morning with the telltale signs of an impending migraine, she now winced as a heavy tanker trundled by. Sighing, she made her way carefully down the street heading for the El, shrugging deeper into her black woollen coat and wrapped her jade scarf more tightly around her throat to ward off the bitter winter chill. A shot rang out, resounding loudly in the stillness of the air. Kerry tensed, her uneven steps faltering as she waited for more. The car backfired again and Kerry audibly let out the breath she had subconsciously been holding. Determinedly, her crutch hitting the ground heavily, she continued toward the station, annoyed that she had reacted to the noise. Kerry jumped visibly when the tanker blared its horn. Once, twice and then in an ominous long drawl. Grimacing at the pain shooting through her head, she watched with horror as the truck continued hurtling down the road, gaining speed toward the two lanes of stationary cars waiting on the red lights at the intersection. The driver attempted to avoid the vehicles, swerving onto the wrong side of the road, continuing vainly to press on the brake pedal in the hope of a miracle. Water curled up and over the wheels sending spray sideways as the brakes for the left rear wheels kicked in, throwing any semblance of control he had over the tanker. Grasping the wheel tightly again, the driver tried to twist the wheel, over-steering and immediately realised his mistake as a tyre blew out. The tanker careened over on its side at a screeching speed towards the cars, capturing them within its wake and sending the mass into the intersection. Metal twisted and squealed as the hulking mass that had once been cars and truck slid into the path of the oncoming traffic. Brakes shrieked as shocked drivers attempted to avoid the carnage suddenly in front of them, only to find their cars slipping on the wet road, sending them directly into the fray. The whole scene appeared to take place in slow motion for Kerry, the horrific sound of tearing metal only a small indication of the human carnage sure to be within the twisted pile before her now. Searching in her bag, she found her cell phone and quickly punched the numbers for 911 as she took off at a loping gait towards the accident scene. "This is Dr. Kerry Weaver of County General Hospital. I need the fire department and paramedics at the scene of a multiple vehicle accident at the intersection of S. Western & Archer Avenues involving a tanker and approximately ten cars." She paused as the operator interrupted her, grateful for a chance to get her breath. "No. I need them urgently. Multiple trauma injuries and we'll also need a haz. mat. team. The tanker looks like it is leaking some sort of chemical." She was at the scene now and the enormity of the carnage hit her. Screams of pain drew her attention. "Just get them here now!" Kerry firmly hit the end button and slipped the phone into the pocket of her black trousers. Surveying the scene, she faced several immediate problems. In the ER, she was able to organise an entire staff of capable and competent doctors, nurses and assistants to deal with this type of trauma and also had the medical equipment to treat the victims. Plus, she normally didn't have to deal with curious and shocked onlookers especially those who were trying to get involved. "Hey! Don't move them." Kerry's strident voice stilled the actions of the man in mid motion. She moved quickly to the car where he had been about to attempt to remove the injured man. Although he had immediately stopped his actions, he looked at the diminutive red-head and her crutch with doubt. "Do you have any medical experience?" Kerry ignored the look. She was used to it by now and knew only her actions would change his opinion. He shook his head. "Right. So I don't want you touching any of the injured unless specifically directed." Taking control, she turned to the group of onlookers. Raising her voice over the cries of pain "I'm Dr. Kerry Weaver. I'm an emergency physician with County General. Does anybody have any medical experience?" Two women came forward. "I was an ICU nurse 'til two years ago" informed a rotund lady in her mid-fifties, a bit out of breath from running from her third story apartment to the scene. "And I'm an OR nurse." responded a woman in her mid twenties. "Okay. Your names?" The women introduced themselves quickly as Jean and Carly. "I want you to check the cars over there" Kerry pointed to the four cars that had been hit and crashed away from the main accident scene. "Give me a report of what we've got and their condition. If they're critical, get me immediately, otherwise manage them." They followed her directions and Kerry turned back to the small crowd "The rest of you keep back. We don't need any more injuries." The doubt over Kerry's abilities, or obvious disability, washed over the crowd. However, they were all willing to let someone else take control. The man beside her turned, embarrassed about his near error. "Wait!" Kerry's firm word stopped him mid-stride. He cringed waiting for an onslaught. Although he had at first doubted her on the basis of her disability, he knew from the way she was taking control, that she was used to giving instructions and in his estimation, reprimands. Kerry had appreciated the fact that he was willing to get involved to help the victims rather than just stand back and watch them suffer, even though his actions had been wrong. "I want you to go to the drug store. Get the pharmacist to give you first-aid kits. As many as you can carry." She had automatically started turning away as she gave the instruction when she noticed the man hesitating. "Go now!" Kerry looked at the liquid running beneath the cars and tanker, wondering what it was. She knew the dangers from chemical inhalation and weighed this against the risks to the accident victims. Her decision was made quickly. Removing her coat and scarf, she dropped them to the ground. Kerry shivered as the light rain began to soak through her jade shirt. She searched her bag for a moment, hoping that this would be one of the times that she had put her stethoscope in, to no avail. But in searching, her hand hit her glasses case and she quickly slipped these into her pocket. Her bag landed on top of the discarded coat. Turning back to the car the man had been about to pull the male victim from, she found that he wouldn't have gotten him very far anyway. One of his legs was firmly trapped beneath the dashboard. His head had connected with the steering wheel and as she checked his airway and breathing, she noted he had obvious chest injuries as well. A distressing cry broke the silence of the compacted Ford Escort. The baby in its capsule was alive and its small fists were tightly clenched as it bellowed out. There was no way to discern whether it was from hunger or pain. The baby's cry pierced through her pounding head. Assessing the mother was no difficulty. She was dead. The angle of her neck allowed no possibility that she had survived the impact. From what Kerry could see, she hadn't had her seatbelt on and had been thrown forward into the windshield, breaking her neck and severing the spinal cord. To be sure of her diagnosis, Kerry stretched across the man, supporting herself on the console, to feel for the carotid pulse and found none. The cries from the backseat grew louder and more strident, now combined with the moans of an older child. "Mommy? Mommy, it hurts." The words were whispered and painful. Kerry used her crutch to maintain her balance as she moved backwards out of the car. She tried to open the back door and found it wouldn't open. She couldn't understand why, since this side of the car hadn't been hit and then realised that the parents had locked the back doors. Reaching through, she unlocked the door. "Hi sweetie. My name's Kerry and I'm a doctor. What's your name?" Kerry spoke gently and evenly to the little girl who looked to be about six years old. "Katie. Why doesn't my Mommy answer me?" the little girl sniffled. "Your Mommy has been hurt like you have. How about you talk to me for now." Katie's large blue eyes pooled with tears, dropping her head back against the seat. She didn't want Kerry, she wanted her Mommy. Her Mommy had always cared for her when she hurt herself. "Katie. Where does it hurt?" Katie just pointed to her legs and her abdomen.. Kerry could see the obvious crushed legs but was unsure of the problem with her abdomen. "Katie, I'm just going to press on your tummy a bit and you tell me when it hurts. Okay?" Katie nodded. Kerry began palpating the small girl's stomach gently. It appeared that the pain was radiating from where the seat belt had tightened over Katie's intestines. Checking the side of her neck without moving her, she found a sharp red graze. "Katie. I'm just going to have a look at your brother and baby sister. What are their names?" Kerry was now able to see the obvious pink shawl over the baby which she hoped disclosed its sex. She was also wanting to keep Katie awake and talking. "Jarrod and Stephanie." Kneeling on the edge of the seat, Kerry leaned over Katie, careful not to put any pressure on her and checked Jarrod. He was unconscious with blood trickling from his mouth, his right arm crushed and twisted in the metal that had been the door. Blood was dripping from both his head and his arm, his light blue sweater turning an ugly crimson. Stretching, she could just reach his carotid pulse and it was weak and thready. The baby was continuing her bellow, proving she was alive. Checking the baby's breathing, it seemed fine and her red face, Kerry was sure, could be attributed to the loud yelling. "I can give Steph her Binky." Katie said softly, her big eyes watching Kerry's every move. Kerry frowned, not understanding what a 'Binky' was. Katie searched beside the baby and found the pacifier that she had been referring to. Kerry smiled as she answered calmly, realising what the small girl had been wanting to do. "No. I think we'll just let her use her lungs for now. Can you just talk to her?" - 0 0 0 - "Hey Miss. You can't go near there." A large elderly dark skinned man called out to the tall curly-haired lady running into the accident scene. "Excuse me?" The words were polite with a gentle English accent however the tone conveyed her true feelings. "That's what the lady doc said. A Dr. Weaver." He pointed towards the red Ford Escort. Elizabeth eyebrows raised a notch as she realised Kerry was here. It was only meant to be her first day back in the ER following the shooting and now she was at an accident scene like this. Although Kerry had put up a fight to be back a week earlier both Donald Anspaugh and herself would not give a medical clearance for work until today. Elizabeth remembered when Kerry had been brought into the OR. They had been shocked to see her lying on the operating table considering she had cracked Jerry. The bullet had lodged near her lateral femoral artery, while causing damage had reduced the blood loss from the artery, allowing her to continue with an arterial bleed. Ignoring the man, Elizabeth jogged over to where Kerry was in the car. "Kerry. Need some help?" Kerry jumped at the sound of Elizabeth's familiar voice, hitting her head on the edge of the car's roof . She winced and rubbed at the spot as she turned to speak with her. Taking in Elizabeth's jogging attire, she realised that the two of them must live relatively close or Elizabeth jogged a long distance. That she was out in this weather was a testament to the fact that she enjoyed it. "Am I glad to see you." "What've you got?" Elizabeth knew it was a mess but needed to know how far Kerry had gotten with the victims. "This is the first car I've got a look at." Kerry turned away from the car and continued in low tones. "Mother's dead, father's sustained head, chest and leg injuries. Four year old boy with crush injuries to right arm, head and internal injuries. Pulse is weak and thready. Six year old girl with crush injuries to legs and seatbelt injuries to the abdomen and neck. Two month old baby appears to have escaped injury. If you...." "Dr. Weaver, I've got those first aid kits." The man arrived back, loaded up with six first aid kits, his words forced as he struggled to breath after his desperate dash from the drugstore. "He also gave me a couple of stethoscopes he had on hand." "Great." Kerry said as she grabbed one of the kits and stethoscopes and Elizabeth did likewise. "Take one of those kits to both Jean and Carly.." She instructed and then as an afterthought she added, "Thank you." "What about I start with the cars on the other side?" Kerry nodded, brushing back the tiny rivulets of water running down her face, glad to have someone she worked with on hand. "Be careful. There's a chemical spill coming from the tanker." Elizabeth looked at the fluid running underneath their feet and pooling in large circles where the bitumen undulated. Glad that she had on jogging shoes, she gave a quick backward glance to check on Kerry's footwear and was happy to see that she was in heavy leather soled shoes. Elizabeth moved to the Ford Taurus which had been slammed sideways into the Escort. A 4x4 Ford Explorer had plowed into its side when the truck had pushed the cars into the oncoming traffic. The Taurus was extensively damaged having been crushed in three directions. There were only two occupants in the car, both in the front seats. Placing the kit on the hood, Elizabeth pulled out a pair of gloves and deftly slipped her long fingers into them. She had automatically put the stethoscope around her neck when she had taken it earlier. Climbing onto the hood of the Explorer, she was able to assess the passenger through the shattered window. She found no pulse on the man and taking note of the massive head injuries, it was no surprise. Getting to the driver posed a problem since she couldn't open the doors. The best way would be through the front windshield which had fractured into a uneven and complex maze of fissures. She couldn't do this from the outside due to the likely breaking of the glass onto the driver. Gripping the roof of the passenger door, Elizabeth balanced herself on the edge, wincing as some glass bit through her sweatpants. Giving an almighty kick with both legs she shattered the glass, the force propelling most of it onto the hood. Carefully scrambling free, Elizabeth negotiated her way to the driver. Checking the airway first, she found signs of blood. Her breathing was shallow but her pulse was quite strong although irregular. "That's positive." she murmured to herself as she flicked the stethoscope back around her neck. The woman looked to be in her mid thirties and had suffered head injuries to the left when her car was struck from the side. The airbag looked to have protected her from any direct chest or head trauma. "Oh my....." her voice trailed off. She had found the source of the internal injuries. A golf club had impaled the woman through her abdomen. Elizabeth didn't even stop to think about the practicalities of having a golf club in a car in the middle of a Chicago winter. Bleeding from the wound was minimal but extrication was going to be difficult. For now, the woman was holding her own. Elizabeth shivered from both the cold and the horror of the accident. END PART 1/?