Title: Breaking The Fall
Author: Triggersaurus
Genre: Doug/Carol/cast
Rating: PG
Time period: Season 4
Notes: This is nothing special, it's just a fic series to keep me
writing so I feel like I'm doing without having to think too
much. So if it's sappy and predictable, well that's the way it
goes!
Preface
"Dr Greene, trauma on it's way in"
"ETA?"
"5 minutes - woman with AIDS"
"'Kay. Gown up people. Seen any gloves Randi?"
"Sure, here." She threw a box at him, which he caught
"Paramedics say there's a kid too"
"AIDS as well?"
"Didn't say - just said she was with the woman"
"Okay, page Dr Ross in case"
The wailing of sirens in the ambulance bay can be heard, and
Mark, Haleh, and Lydia walk out.
"32 year old female, AIDS patient. Says she felt weak and
dizzy all morning, fell down the stairs. Compound fracture of the
left leg, pulse 58, BP 120 over 80, and she's nauseous, been
uncommunicative for about 5 minutes."
"What's her name?"
"Surname's Sanders"
"Mrs. Sanders? Can you hear me? You're at the hospital"
As the gurney folded out of the rig and went into the ER
surrounded by medical staff, a girl jumped out of the ambulance
and followed, listening closely. Mark noticed her as he turned
the corner to the trauma rooms.
"Hey. What's your name?"
"Casey"
"Hi Casey. Is this your mom?"
"Yeah. She fell down the stairs."
"Yup, well we're going to fix her up, don't worry. Are you
hurt anywhere?"
"I'm fine. And you can't fix her, she has AIDS"
Mark looked at her for a long moment before turning back to the
situation at hand.
"On my count. One, two, three." The paramedics hustled
out.
"Open bore D5W. Mrs Sanders?"
"Hmm?"
"Mrs Sanders, you're in the hospital. You fell down the
stairs. Your leg is broken, but we're sorting that out."
"Mmm"
"Haleh, give her 2 of epi."
Doug crashed through the trauma doors. "What have we
got?"
"Fractured leg from a trip down the staircase, she's got
AIDS. Called you down 'cause she has her daughter with her, but
turns out she's fine."
"You got this?"
"Yup."
Doug looked at him and ticked his head towards Casey.
"Sure, thanks. Name's Casey"
Doug went to the side of the room where Casey stood. "Hey
Casey. I'm Doug. You want to come and get a drink?"
"I'm not thirsty. Do you want these?" She handed Doug a
bag full of medicine bottles and boxes. "She's on AZT,
Donnatal, thorazine, compazine, and some new trial drug."
Doug glanced at the kid and then went back to Mark.
"These are the meds she's on. Her daughter knows them all by
heart."
"Really? Thanks."
Doug went back to Casey.
"C'mon, let's go and get a drink." He put his hand on
her back and directed her to the doors.
"Wait! What are you going to do with her? Is she being
admitted?"
Mark looked up from the chart. "I don't think so Casey,
maybe overnight. We're just going to take her to get x-rays of
her legs, then we'll get her into a nicer room okay? Then you can
come and see her."
"Okay - you'll tell me where?
"'Course"
Satisfied yet hesitant they left the room.
"Want something to drink?" He nodded towards the Coke
machine as they walked towards chairs. "Smack it three times
and hold the flap open, you can get as much free Cola as you
want."
"Isn't that illegal?" Casey looked dubiously at him,
one eyebrow raised slightly.
"Well, I figure they guys who own Coke don't need my fifty
cents. Dya think they need yours?"
"I guess not," she consented.
"Alright." Doug hit the machine hard with his fist and
came up smiling with a can of Sprite which he handed over.
"Thank you," she said, sitting down on a hard plastic
chair.
"So, Casey, is there anyone I can call for you? Anyone who
can come and pick you up?"
"No. I'll go home with my mom."
"She could be in for a while."
"That's okay, I'll wait."
Doug paused for a moment. "If you're sure then."
"I'm sure."
"Dr. Ross? Got a whole bunch of kids on their way in, some
sort of adventure park accident."
"Okay, thanks Lily." He turned back to Casey. "My
roller coaster career calls. You gonna be okay here?"
"Yeah."
"Alright. Dr. Greene will come and get you soon, then you
can see your mom." He reached for a gown from Haleh, someway
down the corridor, and stuck his head around Trauma 1.
"Mark? Multiple victim trauma on its way, I'm gonna need a
hand."
"'kay. Haleh, can you get Ms. Sanders into Exam 2 and let me
know when radiology is back? Wendy, I have to go now but I'll be
back in a while with your x-rays."
"Casey?" She whispered from the gurney.
"Doug, where's Casey?"
"In chairs. I'll point her to Exam 2."
"Thanks."
They left the room, Mark discarding one gown for another as he
walked.
"She going to be okay?"
"Nope. But we can fix the leg."
Doug nodded and let himself be engulfed by the crowd surrounding
the first gurney of the trauma as Mark continued to the ambulance
bay.
©Triggersaurus 2000-2001