Chapter 1 the beginning
It as been mouth since gabby and Steve came home from hospital with baby harry and its now time for both gabby and Steve to return to work. It was early Monday morning I was in the kitchen having breakfast with Steve while gabby was in lounge room feeding Harry. I stood up and walked over to put my bowl in the sink placing it gently in so it wouldn't bang on the bottom before going to sit back down to finish my coffee. I had just sat down when gabby came in she handed harry to Steve and went to clean his bottle and put it in the steriliser
"Are you sure you're ready to go back to work gabby" Steve asked her taking a sip from his mug
"Of course I wouldn't be going back if I wasn't ready to" gabby replied coming to sit down
"I could have a chat with frank if you want me to" asked Steve
"I don't need any more time off and besides harry will be fine with the sitter" said gabby walking into the bed room
Steve drank the rest of his coffee in one go and put his cup on the sink walking into the lounge room with harry. I got up and followed him he sat on the lounge by the window looking out at the street beyond I sat down on the lounge opposite him and put my shoes on gabby walked back in as I was trying to pull my shoe on
"Beck you might want to try putting that on the other foot" said gabby indicating my shoe
"Oh right that might help" I said putting it on the right foot
I had just finished putting my shoes on when the door bell rang gabby got up and answered it. It was sitter she looked vaguely familiar I walked passed her and out to the car gabby and Steve where giving me a lift to work my car was getting fixed I could hear gabby and Steve talking to the sitter while I was waiting
"There is formula on the bench ready to go and the bottles are in the steriliser" said gabby
"Franks numbers on the fridge as is the MRU base number" Steve added as he handed harry to the sitter and bent down to put his boots on
"You don't need to worry he will be fine with me" said sitter as Steve and gabby joined me in the car
We arrived at work ten minuets later Steve said good by and headed up to MRUs base gabby and I walked in to the ED to sign in we reached franks office and he was sitting at his desk he pointed up at the clock as we walked in I swiped my card before he looked up gabby was about to swipe hers
"Your late" he said
"Were not the clock says it's only five to nine" I pointed out
"Alright go put your stuff away haven't you got patients to attend to" grumbled frank
Gabby and I walked out to the staff room where we ran into charlotte she was sitting at the far end of the table doing her paper work she looked up as we walked in and noticed gabby
"Your back Gabriel" said charlotte looking back at her paper work
"Yes you can not keep me away for long frank would have the place upside down" said gabby
Gabby walked over to the lockers still talking to charlotte I followed her over fumbling in my back pack for my keys where are they I thought to my self that's when it hit me
"I remember where they are now" I said out loud unintentionally
"Are you okay beck" said gabby giving me a funny look
"Yes I just remembered where I left my keys" I explained walking out the door throwing my bag on the table it landed with a bang as I walked into the corridor charlotte ran after me stopping me at the elevator
"Where are you going your shift starts soon" said charlotte
"I Know but I really need to find my keys five minutes I promise" I said walking into the elevator
"Alright fine then five minutes not second longer" said charlotte as the doors closed the elevator stopped at the surgical ward I stepped out and look up the corridor jack was coming from his office he spotted me and quickened his pace
"I was just coming down to see you, you left these in my car" he said holding out my keys
"Thanks" I said as he placed them in my hand
"I better go see you later" he said kissing me lightly on the cheek
I kissed him back and said goodbye before walking back down the corridor to the elevator charlotte was standing there I looked down at my watch shit I thought I have been longer then five minutes I stepped into the elevator she let the door close before she spoke
"Beck you told me five minutes you have been ten" she said crossly
"I know I am sorry I will work extra hard to make it up to you" I told her
"You better" she said have the doors opened
I walked back into the staff room gabby was still there she was digging in her locker for something I walked over and picked my bag up from the table and unlocked my locker I shoved my bag in pulling my stethoscope from the front pocket as I did. I closed my locker and put my keys back around my neck gabby was looking around in her locker still charlotte had stuck her head around the door getting annoyed at me
"Beck get out here" she yelled in the door
"Alright I am coming" I called back
"You better or next time I get frank" she said walking back out
"I had better get out there before she looses her head" I said to gabby before walking out
I walked over to charlotte she was at her desk she looked up and handed me some patient files before she spoke all she said was cubical four I took the files a walked over to the cubical she indicated I walked in and a young girl was laying on the bed and her mother was sitting on a chair beside her the mother looked up as I walked in
"Finally I thought we had been forgotten" said the mother
"Sorry about that but I am here now so how can I help" I replied
"My daughter grace fell over at school last week and grazed her knee but this morning it has come up all Pusey and red" she explained
I walked over beside the bed and little girl looked up at me she looked frightened
"Can I have a look at you knee" I asked her kindly
She nodded and pulled up her trouser leg her knee was in a bandage I unclipped the safety pin and began to unroll the bandage carefully when I got to the last layer I gently placed my hand on the side of the bandage and pulled it free of the wound I placed the bandage on the tray and looked back at her knee her mother was right it was Pusey and red around the wound her mother looked over at me looking for an answer
"going on the look and colour I would say it is infected it should clear up with a course of antibiotics but to be sure it hasn't been caused by a foreign body I would like to do and X-ray to see if there is gravel or stones still in there" I explained and you will also need to apply antiseptic cream to clear infections on the surface" I added
"So that's all" said the mother
"Yes I will just go verify my diagnosis with another doctor to be sure" I told her as I walked out to find charlotte. Charlotte was at her desk still she looked up when she herd me close the curtain behind me
"Charlotte can I have a word" I asked as I took a seat beside her
"Yes what is it I have nothing else to do" she said putting her pen down
"The patient you asked me see her knee looks like its infected my recommendation was a course of antibiotics and an antiseptic ointment I think we also should take and x-ray to rule out the presence of foreign bodies" I explained handing her my notes
"You did a very through job I will just take a look before I organise those scans" said charlotte walking over to the cubical charlotte walked in and the girl's mother looked up again
"My names doctor Beaumont I know beck here as just examined her but I just want to double check that beck has prescribed the right medication and course of action" charlotte explained
Charlotte examined the little girl's knee before turning back to me she handed me my notes and whispered
"I will go and organise those x-rays now" she whispered as she walked past me
"Are we able to go home now" asked the girls mother
"Not yet we need to do and x-ray to see if there are any stones or gravel still in the wound we think that may be the cause of the infection" I explained
"So when that's done can we go" she asked
"Provided there are no more problems of course you can" I said as charlotte walked back in
"i need to take your daughter to x-ray now you can come if you like" she told the girls mother she pushed the bed out the other nurse who was waiting to take the girl to x-ray she then turned to me
"Beck you can take your break now if want gabby's just gone for hers she in the court yard" said charlotte indicating the entrance to the grounds. It thanked charlotte before walking into the staff room to get my lunch gabby was in there getting hers from her locker I walked over and opened my locker I got my lunch box from my bag before closing it again I turned to gabby she had closed her locker and was waiting for me by the door. We walked out into the court yard and sat at one of the benches I unwrapped my sandwich a took a bite out of it
"Beck what time do you finish this afternoon" gabby asked eating her yogurt
"Three o'clock why" I replied
"Can you watch harry for Steve and I Steve doesn't finish till six and I need to work till five but the sitter can only stay until four she needs to be somewhere else" gabby explained
"Of course I can he will be fine with me" I told her taking another bite out of my sandwich
"Thanks for that" said gabby throwing her yogurt container in the bin
I looked over at the under covered walkway Steve was coming toward us I pointed him out to gabby who waved he waved back he was taking to jack. They came over and sate down Steve beside gabby and jack beside me he put his arm around my shoulder but removed it when he noticed the group behind us where staring
"How was day" Steve asked gabby
"It was alright so far I have had to deal with a broken nose and an infected earring" she told him "and beck said she can watch harry for us when she has finishes work at three the sitter rung and said she needs to be somewhere at ten past three" gabby added
"I could knock off early it would only be mike in the office" Steve suggested
"Don't worry Steve mike might need you and becks happy to do it she will be home any way she finishes at three" gabby replied
"Alright then save me upsetting mike more then frank already has" said Steve getting up to leave
"Have you go to go now" gabby asked him
"Yes mike told me I could have half an hour but I spent twenty minutes talking to jack in the corridor" Steve explained Steve went back to work jack got up to follow him kissing me lightly on the lips as he left gabby and I sate there a little longer before going back inside we ran to charlotte in the staff room when I was putting my empty lunch box in my bag she stopped me on my way out moving to let gabby pass
"beck the little girl is being brought back from x-ray soon for now you can finish your paper work Vons been complaining about" she said stepping aside allowing me to pass it was true I was getting behind on my paper work again and von wasn't too impressed I pulled my files from locker and closed it again walking to table and setting them down I had finished them all except for two one was the little girls and the other a patient from yesterday I pulled my pen out a began working on them I was almost finished when charlotte walked back in I looked up at the clock it was two thirty I hope charlotte would let me go on time I need to meet jack he was giving me a lift home.
"Beck the patients back finish with her then you can go" called charlotte from the door "and here is her x-ray results" charlotte added handing me a red envelope
I put it on the table beside me and finished my paper work I put it in franks tray on my way to see the patient. As I walked though the curtains I could see her mother was sitting in the chair again she looked up when I walked in
"Can we go home yet we have been here all day" she asked
"The scans are clear you just need to fill out this and you're free to go" I told her handing her the discharge papers
"Thank you very much I am so glade it wasn't complicated" she said as she passed the completed papers back to me she stood up and walked out I handed her the prescription as she left.
I walked over and put my completed paper work on the little girl in franks tray before walking back to the staff room to get my things I walked in and jack was waiting for me
"you wouldn't believe how much mike can snore he was home for his break and fell asleep on the couch so I came in early charlotte said I could wait in hear" jack explained "but I need to be straight back after I drop you home my shift starts in fifteen minutes" he added looking down at his watch
I put my pen back in pencil case and threw it back into my locker pulling out my bag as I did I also putt my stethoscope in before closing the door I pocketed my keys and shouldered my bag jack stood up and followed me out into the corridor. I noticed gabby over at the desk I walked over to sign out she looked up as I approached
"There you are beck I have been looking for you" said gabby as I swiped my card signing myself out
"Really I was just about to go" I explained
"Frank has given me an early mark I just need to sign out and get my things then I can go" gabby said
"Sure jacks giving me lift home" I told her
"You don't suppose I could catch a lift do you I need to leave the car here for Steve and its kind of raining out there" she said indicating the door
"no of course not I am going to drop beck home and then I need to get back here my shift starts in fifteen minutes" jack replied as gabby walked into the staff room. jack and I walked out to the car where we waited for gabby she wasn't to long she got in and threw her bag on the seat beside her jack started the car it roared to life and he took of down the road we were home in no time gabby walked inside while I said goodbye to jack we kissed each other before he drove of. I walked in side and put my bag in my room before going into the kitchen gabby was sitting at the table she was on the phone to Steve harry was in the portable cot in the corner I walked over to fridge and got a drink I was just putting the cordial back in when gabby hung up the phone
"Beck can you watch harry while I am in shower" she said as she walked into her bed room she came back out with her clothes and walked into the bathroom
"Yes sure" I said walking back to the bench I looked over at harry he was asleep "did you want me to put him in the crib in your room and put the fold up one away" I added
"Yes if you wouldn't mind" she called back
I put my glass down on the table and walked over to crib I picked harry and he stirred I waited a while before walking in to Steve and gabby's room I laid him in the crib and walked back out. I put the fold up cot away before finishing my drink by that time gabby had finished in the shower she threw her dirty work clothes in the laundry and came to join me in the lounge room we sat there watching TV for an hour before harry started crying gabby went to get him leaving me in the lounge room just as she left the phone rang I answered it
"Hello beck speaking" I said
"Beck it's the sitter is gabby there" she replied
"Yes but she is busy with harry at the moment can take a message" I told her
"Can you tell her I can not make it tomorrow something important has popped up" she said
"I will let her know" I replied
"Thanks bye" said the sitter
I hung up the phone just as gabby walked she laid harry on the rug and sat down
"Who was that" she asked looking down at harry
"The sitter she can not make it tomorrow" I replied
"I am going to have to find some one else to watch him tomorrow then" said gabby walking back into the kitchen I could here gabby fussing around with the sauce pans and I walked out to help
"Can I help you cook tea" I asked
"No I am right you cooked last night it's my turn to night and Steve's tomorrow" gabby answered waving me away
I walked into the lounge room I wasn't there long before Steve came in the door he took his boots of and put his bag in the corner he looked over at me and down at harry
"Where's gabby" he asked walking over to harry
"She is in the kitchen getting tea ready" I answered
Steve picked harry up and walked into the kitchen I could hear them arguing about the sitter
"I could ring mike see if he would let me take harry to work with me" Steve suggested
"No I can just take the day off" said gabby back
"you can not take a day off every time the sitter calls in sick he would be fine with me and any way if we have to go out on a call out I will call you to come get him ok" he said
"Okay but only if mike says it is alright "said gabby
I switched the TV on pretended to be watching it as Steve came out of the kitchen he laid harry back on the floor and walked over to the phone he turn back to face me when he noticed it was gone
"Have you seen the phone?" he asked
"Yes its here" I said handing it to him
He walked onto the veranda as gabby walked in
"Tea is read" she began "where has Steve gone" she finished
"The veranda he is on the phone" I said as I walked into the kitchen gabby picked up harry and put him in his crib in her room before joining me in the kitchen she put Steve's dinner in the oven to keep it hot she can and sate down we had just finished when Steve walked in
"Mike said yes as long as you're able to get him if we get a call out" Steve said to gabby putting the phone on the bench and getting his tea from the oven he sat down and noticed the look of confusion my face
"I am taking harry to work with me tomorrow" Steve explained
"I see I am pretty tired after today I think I might go to bed see you in the morning" I told them as got up and walked out
"See you in the morning beck" they called back
I walked into my room and lie on my bed and fell asleep with in minutes. Next morning I was woken by my alarm still half asleep I reached over to turn it of knocking it to the ground I scrambled out of bed and quickly turned it of before it woke the others. I got up and got dressed before walking out to the kitchen Steve was already up but gabby by the looks of things was still in bed. I got my self a bowl of cereal and state down and ate it Steve went of to wake gabby I finished my cereal and went to get my shoes on it was nearly time to go. Gabby came out of the bedroom she was fully dressed and walked into the kitchen and got her self some toast she ate it quickly rushing to get her shoes on. Steve in the mean time had reappeared from the bed room having dressed harry. He had harry bag over his shoulder and his on the other he walked out the front door to putt the bags in the car gabby and I joined him soon after. Steve put harry in his capsule and we left for work
