Chapter 7

"God, in my next life please let my stomach like me...." Katie groaned as she rested her head against the ever growing mound of paperwork.

"Katie!" a voice called rushing up to the front desk.

"What?" the nurse moaned lifting her head. "Oh, hi, Dr.Littrell," she whispered pasting a fake smile on her face.

Brian raised an eyebrow. "How are you?"

"Um, a little tired, but better, thank you."

"Really?" the doctor asked in a skeptical tone.

"Okay, I feel like shit, but I can manage," the brunette assured him.

"Katie, have you even been able to see a patient?"

"Um...." she stuttered. "Well, I...saw them in the waiting room. I have good eyesight."

"Okay, have you been able to attend a patient without your stomach doing somersaults?"

The petite worker paled. "No, and please don't give my body any ideas."

"Why don't you just go home?"

"I can't leave everyone when we're in this kind of jam."

The doctor felt her forehead. "You're fever's up. Are you keeping anything down?"

She rolled her brown eyes. "Not for more than two hours."

He examined her glands. "Have you been attempting to remain hydrated?"

"I'm a nurse, I'm not that dense," she sighed.

Littrell crossed his arms. "I'll make you a deal. Why don't you and Howie switch? You do the paper work and organize the order patients are to be seen in?"

"Howie doing my job?" the nurse questioned.

"If a serious pediatric case comes in or Howie gets a call, I'll need you. But if Howie can work as a paramedic I think he can handle taking the temperatures of barfing kiddies."

"Doctor, I really appreciate you always coming to my rescue, but it's not necessary. I just feel like a burden to you and everyone else."

"You're not a burden, you're sick. Now, just do as I say. Deal?"

Katie looked at the stack of papers. "Okay, deal."

"Good," Dr.Littrell replied grabbing a handful of charts. "I'll check on you later, to make sure you're okay."

"I'm really fine," she called out as he raced away. Her eyes widened as she gazed into the waiting room staring at the vomiting victims. "Oh, I'm not fine!" she whispered

dashing toward the restroom once again.

*****************************

"Aw, shit! Why the hell was that thing in the parking lot?!" an angry man shouted as he stormed into the open area. "I come here to get treated because I burned my hand cooking, then this happened!"

"Shh...Just relax, Sir," Dr.Turtle soothed attempting to take a glance at the burn.

"I hit the damn thing and it probably messed up my car!"

"What did you hit?" the redhead asked as she helped him sit down.

"I don't know. Some animal. A dog I think, damn mutt!" he snarled.

The woman's eyes widened in anger, a red coloring replacing the brown pigment. She turned around yelling to the first employee her eyes met. "Howie, help this man please!"

Howie's expression fell as he observed her. "Annie? Honey, are you alright? Annie!" he called after her as she ran out of the hospital into the cold air snow and sleet stinging her skin as it came down.

Annie ran out into the parking lot searching for the injured animal. "Doggie! Come on, puppy! Give me a sign as to where you're at!" She bit her lip, angry tears attempting to present themselves in her eyes. "Please, puppy!" she pleaded running around looking underneath the cars. She paused hearing a slight whimpering barely audible over the raspy breathing.

The small dog lay on it's side, its chest heaving up and down in a struggle to gain air. "Oh my God!" she gasped kneeling down gathering the golden cocker spaniel in her arms. "Just stay with me, baby! I'll help you, just stay with me!" Annie promised as she returned to the hospital laying down the dog on the nearest gurney.

"Annie, what are you doing?" Howie gasped glancing at the injured creature.

"Someone apply pressure to the bleeding!" she demanded staring at her employees.

They gazed at her in shock of what the young physician was attempting to do.

"Tons of people in here and that girl helps a damn dog!" the evil man who created the entire situation snickered.

"Damnit, won't anyone help me?!" Dr.Turtle shouted.

"I will," Nick said stepping behind her applying pressure to the animal's wound.

"Good, I think there may have been internal bleeding. Possibly, a collasped lung. But if we treat the smaller injuries first, she'll stand a good chance. Won't you, honey?" Her jaw tightened as she lightly shook the dog. "Come on! Don't do this on me! Please!"

"Annie...."

"Nick, go get me some tubing!"

"Annie..."

"And then we'll-"

"ANNIE!" he said loudly grabbing her shoulders forcing her to face him. "She's gone."

The doctor became a ghostly shade of white backing away from the animal. "I'm sorry..." she muttered glancing around nervously at the crowd that watched her.

"Annie, sit down," Katie suggested attempting to reach out to her friend. "It's okay. It's not your fault."

"No..." Annie choked out her voice barely audible. She quickly turned running out the

busy area.

*********************

"What the hell were you thinking?" Richardson yelled inches away from Turtle's face as he threw a blanket at her.

The redhead sat in silence, her expression blank as she wrapped the thick material around her shivering form. "Don't you have an answer?" he pressed. "Talk to me!"

She could only look up at him.

He shook his head. "Suddenly, Super Woman has been silenced?" He turned to Nick. "And you? Why did you help her?"

Nick chewed on his bottom lip. "She was scared, the dog was hurt...I was only trying to help her, since no one else would."

"Well, isn't that nice?" Kevin mocked. "If you wanted to save animals you should have been a damn vet! This a hospital for human beings!"

"That guy wasn't that badly hurt," Nick said in the doctor's defense. "It's not like we lost any patient because she tried to save a dog."

"Quit trying to defend her!" Dr.Richardson snapped. "First, McLean punches a patient! Now, this! What possessed you to do that? I thought you were smarter than that!"

Annie closed her eyes massaging her forehead.

Kevin released a tight sigh. "Are you sick, Doctor?"

She shook her head.

"Good! Because I am sick! And that's why you're taking all of the scheduled surgeries I had for this afternoon. Now, I see why you're such a good surgeon. Apparently, you do your best work with victims who aren't able to talk back!"

"What should I do?" Nick asked quietly as Richardson threw open the door.

"Treat humans!"

*******************************

"Okay, kiddo, that should help with the nausea a little," AJ promised as he patted the little boy's belly.

"I still feel sick..." the child whimpered.

McLean massaged his own stomach. "I know you do, believe me I know."

"But-" the patient starting gagging as AJ barely managed to get the empty basin beneath his mouth.

"I'm sorry!" the young male cried as his mother came to his aid consoling him.

AJ's eyes fluttered as he set down the basin, dizziness filling his head. "Oh, that's okay," he muttered keeping his jaw tight. "If you'll excuse me!" he said hurrying out the door. He ran through the crowded kneeling over the first trash can he came to releasing the contents of his stomach.

"AJ?" a concerned voice asked as he rested a hand on his back.

AJ lifted his head. "Hey, Dr.Littrell." He paused a slight green coloring painting itself on his face. "Oh, man..." he moaned repeating the uncomfortable action once more.

"Let it out," Brian soothed rubbing his back. The doctor glanced through the hall. "Nick! Could you take AJ's patient in three?"

Nick nodded quickly stepping inside the room.

"I'm okay now...." the rebel breathed lifting his head.

"Let me help you up," Littrell stated pulling the thin man to his feet.

"Thanks," AJ mumbled.

"Come on, step in Exam Two, I wanna' make sure you're okay."

AJ rolled his eyes. "I'm fine."

Littrell smirked. "Would you prefer I get Kevin?"

The medical student grimaced. "Exam Two here I come."

"Lay down," Brian directed as he shut the door. "How long you been feeling like this?"

"I started getting dizzy this morning."

"Why didn't you say anything?" the older man asked as he placed the thermometer in AJ's ear.

The sick male shrugged. "I know it would go away."

"Guess you thought wrong. 100.4," the doctor placing retrieving the thermometer. He manuevered his hands around the adomen. "Any pain?"

"Just nauseated, no specific aching," AJ replied shutting his eyes.

"Everything seems normal," Brian decided placing his hands back to his lap. "It looks like you picked up this nasty bug."

"Oh, great," AJ groaned. "Now, I'm gonna' be up all night hurling like Katie was."

Brian's eyes narrowed. "She was up all night vomiting?"

"Yep. She's feelin' like hell, she just didn't want you to know. She felt bad about getting sick after well the ordeal with the drunk. Speaking of which, did you ever get the blood work back on that bastard?"

Littrell nodded. "Yeah, everything was clear."

"Thank God," AJ praised. "So, I should get back to work now?"

"No, just rest here a little while. Then, when you start feeling a bit stronger you can go on home."

"What?"

"You can go home, and I'm sending Katie back as well. Things have slowed down, and if Kevin can take it upon himself to go home, so can you."

"Richardson went home?" AJ asked in surprisement. "Wait a second, then why did you threatened to make me see Richardson?"

"Well, it got you listen to me."

AJ sighed closing his eyes. "Man, if this thing has Richardson down for the count the rest of us a doomed."

"Yeah, but Kevin...he's a real whiner about these kinda' things. A real pain in the ass accuatly."

"Did he let Turtle have it about the cocker spaniel?"

Brian paused. "I don't know, he flew outta' here and left her with all his work."

"What a prick!!" AJ fumed. "Oh, sorry, I forgot he's your cousin."

"Don't sweat it," Brian assured him.

"Honestly, is what Dr.Turtle did that bad? She was just trying help a living thing in pain. It's not like she punched a patient," he said sheepishly.

"In my opinion, AJ, I don't think what Annie did was a bad thing to do, nor do I think it was completely uncalled for. Heck, if I hadn't of been in shock as to what she was doing I would've helped her. There was no reason to leave the poor animal lying out in the freezing cold in pain. If nothing else, if it was destined to pass on, we could've hurried the process along ending its misery."

"I agree," AJ said. "I think she was damn brave to do that."

Brian nodded. "She's a damn fine doctor. As a doctor we are to help those in pain, that's all she was doing." He grabbed his stack of charts. "You rest, and I'll check on you later."

"Oh, hi, Dr.Turtle!" Brian greeted as he accidentally bumped into the frazzled redhead.

She nodded to him, walking away.

"Annie!" he called after her stepping infront of her. "Are you sure you're okay? Did Kevin say something to make you upset? Are you sick? I mean, you did run out in sleet and snow...."

Her eyes remained on the floor. "I...I'm fine, thank you for asking. If you'll excuse me, Howie is bringing in a severe case that Nick and I have to prepare for."

The doctor shook his head watching her figure disappear into the crowd. "I'll never understand that girl. One moment in Kevin's face, the next meak as a mouse." He made his way to the front desk. "Hey, Katie, anymore pediatric cases for me?"

The nurse lifted her head. "Not right now."

"That's a relief. How are you feeling?"

"Ugh," she replied.

"Wow, that good? I'm sure puking last night didn't help, did it?"

"No, it didn't." She paused. "And just how do you know that?"

Brian gave a half-smile. "The next time you confide in someone, I wouldn't pick, AJ."

"That pig," Katie groaned.

"You should've told me, being a nurse you know how serious dehydration is. Especially, with someone your size."

"My size?" Katie repeated crossing her arms. "What's so wrong with my size?"

"Nothing!" he responsed raising his hands in defense. "I'm just saying smaller people are easier targets for dehydration. And, well, at 5'2 or 5'3 you're petite."

Katie pouted. "It's 5'1. So, yes, I see your point. I should have told you."

He sighed. "You think you need an IV?" he asked feeling her forehead. "Your temp's up."

"Uh....If you really think it's necessary."

"Oh, yeah, I forgot you aren't a big fan of needles, are you?"

She wrinkled her nose. "Do you know anyone that is? However, I know you're right, so, let's get this over with, shall we?"

"After you," he said allowing her to walk infront of him. "Exam Two."

She paused outside the door. "AJ's in here?"

"Yep, he came down with it. I'll keep you both in here for the time-being to leave extra space in case we need it."

"Poor guy," she whispered. "He's sleeping."

Dr.Littrell chuckled. "Ya' know, when he's asleep he actually looks innocent."

Katie squinted looking at the student. "Yeah, like a toddler, he even has his thumb in his mouth."

"Black mail," Brian snickered as he gathered the supplies he needed.

"Are you sure you should be helping me so much? Aren't you afraid of getting sick?"

"I've been seeing people with this thing all day, and I'm sure there's a lot more to come. So, it really doesn't matter. Anyway, I doubt I'll get it."

"Oh, really?"

He blushed. "Okay, I hope I don't get it."

Katie studied him. "Why do you help me so much?"

"I dunno...I feel bad that your beginning here has been so awful, and when I first started out here I wish someone would've tried to help me a little more."

She smiled. "You're very helpful, and I really appreciate it. But I feel bad with you always coming to the rescue."

"Nah, it's no problem. Just doing my duty, besides, you have no idea what a big help you are to me with the children here."

"Thank you," she replied as he searched her arm for an entry.

"Ah, this looks good," he said applying pressure to the area. "You have very nice veins."

"I'll be sure to let them know you like them."

Brian prepped the skin. "Okay, you ready?"

Katie shut her eyes. "I can hardly wait."

Dr.Littrell quickled inserted the needle making sure he had accurate contact and flow. "Any intense burning? Out of the ordinary?"

"Nope, normal nasty IV stick."

He stood. "Why don't you just rest and I'll come take it out later and you can go on home."

Katie glanced up at him. "Thank you."

He bent down kissing her cheek. "You're very welcome. Anything else I can get you?"

Katie set up quickly. "Yes!"

"Oh, man!" he groaned grabbing the basin behind him placing it under her mouth.

"Erhh...." AJ groaned the sound waking him up. He turned his head. "Oh, man, that is not what I wanted to wake up to!"

"Sorry..." Katie moaned falling back against the cot.

Brian glanced down at his hand. "I'll just um...get rid of this for you. You two rest up and let the virus run it's course."

Dr.Turtle and Nick were running down the hallway as Littrell stepped outside. "You need any help?" he hollered as they hurried away.

"We can handle it!" Dr.Turtle shouted over her shoulder.

"Okay, what have we got, Howie?" Nick asked as the paramedic rushed in dragging the stretcher beside him.

"Annabelle GIuis, eighty-six-years old, nursing home patient, employee found her barely breathing called 911!" Howie stated. "Started her on oxygen, she slips in and out of consciousness,  pulse is weak and pressure fading!"

"Okay, let's move her on my count! 1, 2 , 3!" Dr.Turtle directed as she began assessing the patient's condition. "Ma'am, can you hear me? Ma'am? Damnit, she's out! Nick, get her on a heart monitor while I intubate!"

Dr.Turtle stood behind the patient lifting her head attempting to get a clear view. "Everything's swollen! Damnit, I've gotta' get in! How's her pulse, Carter?"

"Irregular..."

"Okay, I'm in!" the redhead shouted pulling out the tubing.

"Lost her pulse!" Nick shouted.

"Start compressions!"

"1....2...3..." Nick counted again and again.

"Get me the crash cart!" Annie yelled to the nurse behind her. "Is she getting any better, Carter?"

"No, I can't get a thing."

"Cart, doctor," the nurse stated pulling the device to her.

Dr.Turtle grabbed the paddles. "Get ready to move, Nick! 1, 2, 3... clear!" the doctor placed the paddles on the old woman feeling the power running into her chest.

"Nothing," Nick said.

"Let's go again! 1, 2, 3...clear!"

"It's not coming back!" the blonde worried.

"Keep compressions going!" Annie yelled placing her hands over the woman's chest. "1....2.....3....1....2....3......"

The loud beep echoed through the room making all other noise silent. The redhead took a deep breath lifting up her hands. "Time of death 5:04."

"You can't save them all," Nick whispered his words jumbled together as tears formed in his eyes.

"No, you can't," Dr.Turtle agreed pulling off her gloves.

"Annie?" Nick whispered.

"Yes, Nick?"

"I just wanted to talk to you about the dog..."

"Oh, that.." Annie said closing her eyes. "Look, Nick, I'm really sorry about that. I shouldn't have asked anyone to help me. I was being stupid."

"No, I'm glad I helped you. You reminded me why I wanted to be a doctor to help people, to help any creature in pain. You see, when I was little I lived in a retirement house my parents ran. And I made a promise to myself that I didn't want to see people in pain like that. People like her," he sighed pointing to the body. "And I was really wondering if doctors really cared anymore, ever since I met Richardson. I began to think high profile doctors had no heart, but when I saw you try so hard to save that dog, it opened my eyes. So, thank you. And if I had the chance I'd help you again; I don't care what Dr.Richardson says."

Annie watched Nick's figure disappear out the door. "Why did I become a doctor?" she whispered to herself as she covered the dead body. "Because I have a fear of death."