As always I don't own Medical Investigation but if I'd did I'd be bribing NBC to keep it on the air.
What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?
Part 1
The NIH team had been called out early on the 26th to handle a case in which children were falling ill at a day care facility. The illness had turned out to a particularly nasty strain of e. coli bacteria with the cause being unpasterized and un processed apple cider, courtesy of a local orchard. It was now the 30th and they were on a commuter flight headed back home.
Miles sighed and rubbed his aching head, exhausted from too little sleep in the past four days. Despite his best efforts, several of his young patients hadn't survived and at least one had sustained
permanent liver and kidney damage. "I thought e. coli came from bad burgers," he commented.
Stephen looked over at the younger doctor, noting the weariness that made him appear older than his years. "That's what everybody assumes is the case, Miles. And that's why there are so many more cases now from contaminated fruits and vegetables. Most of which could easily
be avoided."
"Yeah. Being a vegetarian doesn't immediately mean you'll avoid getting sick," Frank added.
Natalie reached over and patted Miles' shoulder as she spoke softly. "Six kids did and who do the parents blame? The orchard who donated the cider or the day care facility for accepting it?"
Nobody really had an answer and their conversation lapsed into silence. After a moment Frank looked at the other team members and asked, "What are you doing for New Year's Eve?"
Stephen was the first to answer, saying. "Nothing. I was supposed to have Jack this weekend but he's going to be at a sleepover/party at his friend Mike's house."
"Taking a poll, Frank?" Eva asked
"No. Just wondering," he replied.
"I didn't make any plans," Eva answered. She looked over at Miles. "You?"
"I have a date." At her questioning glance, he quickly added, "With my bed." As if to punctuate that statement, he suddenly yawned.
"What about you, Nat? Gonna party like its 2005?" Eva asked.
She shook her head. "Nope. just a quiet evening watching Dick Clark drop the ball on Times Square."
"Well, since nobody has any plans for tomorrow night, how about coming over for supper?" Frank suggested. "Kim and the girls won't mind. I'm gonna be cooking up some New Orleans style cuisine."
"What's on the menu?" Eva asked.
"A little jambalaya, seafood gumbo, dirty rice. Lots of good stuff," Frank answered. "I thought it sounded like a good way to end the year."
"Especially after the one we just had," Miles agreed. He yawned again. "Okay. count me in. What time do you want us there?"
"How about 5:30. We can eat about 6:00. Anybody else planning on coming?" Frank asked.
"I'll be there," Stephen said. He looked over at Natalie and Eva who nodded their heads.
"It's settled then. We'll have a good meal, good conversation. Although I'll warn you now that Keisha will try and talk your ear off over what she got from Santa. We can even stay up to watch the ball drop if we want to," Frank told them. He leaned back in the seat, already planning his menu for the next evening.