Arthur, Zosia and Sacha all sat in Mrs. Campbell's office. It was a dreary Monday, and they were all desperate to return to Keller ward.
"Why exactly do you think we're all here?" Zosia voiced, looking around the empty office. Mrs. Campbell had ambushed them in the ward and whisked them off to her office, commanding them that they wait for her to return.
"No idea, but knowing her it'll be something big!" Arthur said, making a huge gesture with his hands.
"Well, Dr. Digby it is something big," Mrs. Campbell said as she entered the office, leaning on the door frame, "And I am afraid to say it has something to do with your friend Dr. Copeland."
The three exchange a look. "What has Dom done?" Arthur asked, tilting his head.
"It isn't what he has done, it is the fact that there is something he hasn't done." Mrs. Campbell replied briefly, closing her office door, and sitting behind her desk. It was cluttered with files and papers so you could hardly see her computer screen. She reached into her bag and pulled out a red file.
"Dr. Copeland has been exhibiting some strange behavior as of late. Rushing off to spend time alone, showing up late and an apparent drowsiness." Arthur and Zosia looked at each other, they had both noticed a strange and abrupt change in their friend over the last few days.
"Not to be rude, , but what exactly has this got to do with us?" Sacha asked.
"Good question. I was wondering whether any of you knew what was going on?" They all looked at each other and shook their head. Mrs. Campbell cast a suspicious glance around the room. "Alright. Then you lot must find out what is wrong with him."
"Mrs. Campbell, nothing is wrong with Dominic, he's just being... well Dominic." Arthur shrugged.
Mrs. Campbell gave him a pointed look, "Still I want you to encourage him to talk to you, alright?" The group nodded, and Mrs. Campbell excused them.
Outside, the group assembled and gave each other confused looks. A few seconds later in walked Dominic, slower than normal, appearing very preoccupied.
"Right," whispered Zosia, "whose going to be the first one to 'try and make contact'." she asked, wiggling her eyebrows in Dom's direction as he approached. Sacha promptly vanished, and Zosia tutted, "look's like you Diggers," before following Sacha behind one of the pillars to observe.
Dominic placed his bag on the desk and looked around, alarmed by the lack of people. "Hey, Digby, where is everyone?" He asked, looking around as he unpacked.
"Oh... off doing things. But hey, means we have some time to chat." He said, leaning closer. Dominic paused, before scrunching up his nose in disgust.
"No thanks Digby, I have other things to get on with." Just as Dominic made a move to leave, Digby's hand descended on his shoulder and pulled him back.
"Why don't we do them together," he started, steering Dominic back behind the counter, "Mrs. Campbell will be here shortly with Guy to tell us what's happening today, so let's catch up. What's been up with you recently?" He asked quickly.
Dominic lifted his eyes, at first Digby mistook the fury raging behind his dark eyes as confusion, but as soon as Dominic stood he realized he had made a mistake pushing so hard.
"Digby, my business is none of your business. If I want to share something with you I will. Now please, just leave me alone." Dominic hurried off, his eyes lowered as he headed for the locker room.
Sacha and Zosia exchanged a look before dashing over to Digby.
Dominic had woken that morning with another murderous headache, 'I couldn't keep going like this' he thought angrily. He had been suffering with headaches, nausea and random fainting episodes for nearly a week, he had struggled to hide it from his friends and colleagues. But now, it was almost impossible.
Something felt off as he stepped on to Keller ward, behind the desk was just Digby, who was watching him intently like a strange wolf waiting for its prey. He tried to avoid eye contact so as to hide his bloodshot, tired eyes. Digby was acting strange, and Dominic despised it.
Dom tried and failed to get away from him, until he started to feel dizzy again. He cursed under his breath, and briefly grabbed the edge of the desk, Digby's sweaty palm descending on to his shoulder.
"Digby, my business is none of your business. If I want to share something with you I will. Now please, just leave me alone." He growled, as threateningly as possible considering that the world had tipped to a fifty degree angle.
He hurriedly rushed to the locker room, and slammed the door. He managed to steady himself briefly on the locker door, panting as his brow alighted with sweat. It had never been this intense before, the rushed movement must have made things worse.
He continued to struggle to catch his breath until he noticed he was panting and trembling. His eyes were bleary and the floor was now where a wall should be. He took a tentative step forward, before collapsing into a pile on the floor. His eyes shut instantly as he felt his head collide with the cool floor. He barely noticed the trickle of liquid from his mouth and nose as they splattered to the floor beside him. He was just thankful for some peace.
Dominic felt himself drifting in and out of consciousness, he was still on the floor, and he could hardly see. There was no sound, no movement. He wasn't sure whether or not to start panicking. Was he hallucinating, was he bleeding out, was he even conscious at all?
Mrs. Campbell rolled her eyes at the staff, "You lost him, great job. He is supposed to be here on the ward, and goodness knows what's going on with him." She turned a stern gaze towards Digby and fixed him with her glare. "And it is obvious that you have absolutely no idea on how to approach sensitive people, so the Dr. Digby way didn't work, your turn Dr. March." She turned to leave when she heard a strange sound.
She pricked her ears, and noticed that the others did too. It sounded like harsh breathing. They all exchanged a look before walking swiftly down the route Dominic had just taken.
They reached the staff locker room, and the sound was loud, much louder than Mrs. Campbell liked. "Dominic?" she called tentatively trying the doorknob, only to find it was in fact locked, "Dominic are you in there?" The heavy breathing continued for a little longer, then stopped altogether. Mrs. Campbell turned to the three standing around her.
"One of you get this door open." Sacha rammed into it with his side, but to no avail. They were about to try again when the door clicked.
Dominic stood, slightly slumped in the doorway. He had tried to clean his nose and mouth up as well as possible. "S-so sorry," he murmured, trying to sound bolder than he felt, " I couldn't get the door to open. It got-" Mrs. Campbell grabbed his arm, tugging him out and sending Dom spinning internally.
"What is that on your face Dom? Is that blood?" She asked, taking his face firmly in her hands. "it is isn't it!" she growled without hearing him. Dominic pulled back sharply, and fixed her with a glare.
"It is not blood, so leave it be, I must have been some juice or something that stained my lip. If you'll excuse me." Dominic squeezed past, casting a quick glance over his shoulders at the four people standing gathered around the staff locker room.
Mrs. Campbell nodded at Guy, and he started his speech, "Ok, so as you may know Keller ward will host the new neurological center once my plans are in play and I need to make sure everyone here is ready for the expansion and working as a team."
Zosia and Arthur nodded, and Dominic just continued to gaze off into space. He found it was the only way to stop the world flipping randomly, if he didn't focus on anything at all.
"Dr. Copeland? Dr. Copeland!" The persistent voice brought him swiftly back, and he nodded, "Yes Mr. Self." Guy settled and continued.
After the speech Mrs. Campbell informed the group on the patients for the day, and pulled Dominic aside. "Dom, you know if something is wrong, all you have to do is tell me." Dominic nodded, and felt the ground shift, he bent his knees slightly in a bracing position.
Mrs. Campbell eyed Dominic nervously, "Are- are you okay?" she asked. He nodded and hurriedly tried to move away.
Dominic could hardly look at anyone, he felt awful, worse than ever. A cold hand suddenly caused him to jump. "Sorry, Dom, just me," Zosia chipped with a faint smile, "You looked miles away." He turned to look at her and winced as she gasped, her eyes filling with concern. "Dom, you're sweating like a bucket." She moved her hand to try and touch his forehead, but Dom jumped back, his back knocking against the desk.
"Zosia, just back off alright. It's-it's..." he felt something rising in his throat and quickly swallowed hard, "nothing, I don't know why you're all making such a fuss."
Zosia looked over at Arthur who was standing just behind Dom and tilted her head and shrugged.
Dominic held the clipboard out as he struggled to read the dancing words that skipped across the paper, "Well, Mr. Davies, it appears you were involved in a car crash then." The man nodded, he had a dark beard smeared with blood, his face heavily scarred.
"'Dat's right, but I do believe I have already told someone about this." the man grumbled slightly. Dominic felt more sweat forming on his brow and swiped it away quickly. He knew he was sweating but he felt freezing cold.
"Sorry about that, I'm Dr. Copeland and I'll be your doctor today. I see on your notes that you have a heart murmur, and have already been in for a broken hip." Dominic felt his world swirl violently, and quickly rounded things off.
"Alright so I'll go and order some X-rays and CT scans pronto. I will be back with you soon Mr. Davies." The man grumbled a reply, barely noticing the doctor.
Zosia hurriedly informed Mrs. Campbell of Dominic. She explained how sweaty he had looked, and how irritable he was about being touched. Eventually after much talk Mrs. Campbell agreed that she would look at him, quickly, before returning to her business with Guy.
Mrs. Campbell clocked Dom busily typing away behind the front desk, and he barely noticed her until she stood opposite him. "Dr. Copeland, would you mind if I quickly have a look at you." Dominic raised his head slowly, and Serena noticed suddenly how dark his eyes were, bloodshot and sunken.
Dominic stood obediently, and he was exhausted from fighting them, and allowed her to place her hand on his brow, expecting her to find nothing.
"Well, someone has a temperature, almost at fever level. What on earth have you been up to Dominic?" She said gently. He looked away and sighed.
"Nothing Serena-Mrs. Campbell, I guess it's just a little warmer in here than I thought." He said, before promptly shivering. Mrs. Campbell gently eased him back into his chair.
"Go home, Dominic, we can deal with things here." Dominic flashed her a glare.
"I wouldn't dream of it, as long as I can work, I will." She tutted as he stood, but her eyes widened as he slumped sideways, just about managing to catch himself on the desk.
"Woah there, Dominic you're in no fit state to-" she stopped when he pushed her away, weakly moving forward, his head down.
"I'm fine, I just got up quickly." he slunk down one of the corridors, and Arthur hurried after him.
Arthur walked down the corridor looking around anxiously when he noticed the men's toilet door flicker shut.
He hurried over and when he opened the door he raced back the way he came.
Dominic sat in a ball on the floor, his back to the far wall, blood flowing quickly from his nose and mouth, mixing with heavy tears, as he coughed more up into a now rag like paper towel. His eyes were red, and he continued to tremble through soft moans of pain.
Mrs. Campbell rounded the corner, paying no heed to the male's only sign and dropped to her knees in front of him. "Dominic what have you done to yourself?" she said gently, trying to help him stand. Dominic moaned softly, finally letting the pain out, the aches crashing down on him in a wave of agony.
Mrs. Campbell began to guide him back to Keller when he coughed up a huge amount of blood, letting out a roaring scream of pain, dropping to his knees, the tears finally springing from his eyes. "I-I'm sorry I should have told you I just didn't know what to do..." he whined in between gasps and high pitch cries.
Arthur had returned with a stretcher, Sacha also pushing it along.
"I think it would be best if Dominic had one of Keller's private rooms." Mrs. Campbell advised as she tried to lift Dominic up. Sacha supported his one side as he stumbled the world slowly melting sideways.
Before Dominic realized what was happening, he was being rushed down the corridors to his room, he couldn't focus at all and continued to retch up blood.
"I want CTs, X-rays, blood tests, I want a full chest scan, wired up to the BP, hurry now people. Get a theater room prepped, I want to try and stop this bleeding." It was all a blur to Dominic, one minute he was on the stretcher the next he was in the bed, a cover pulled up to his chin, Mrs. Campbell standing over him, and cursing as she observed his temperature.
"Dom-Dominic?" Dominic looked up, he had discarded the rag and now let the blood trickle freely down the side of his mouth, swiping it away when it bugged him, "we're taking you into theater for a quick op, we are guessing there is a rupture in your stomach or throat, and I want to stop the bleed while we discover the cause to your illness, alright?"
The words 'theater' and 'op' jumped to the front of his mind. "W-wait an op," he began, sitting up slightly, then regretting it as he felt a sharp pain spring up from his chest to his head, "I-I am not having an operation. Oh no." Dom hated to admit it, but the idea of anyone operating on him gave him more trembles than this illness. In his mind, the only person fit to operate on him, was himself.
"Dominic, it is a simple procedure, just a cut along the stomach and an inspection, then a cut along the edge of the throat and a quick check, then you'll be awake and ready to help us find out what's wrong with you." Mrs. Campbell said brightly, nodding to one of the other nurses who trotted out of the room.
Dominic looked her squarely in the face and shook his head, "This was a bad idea, I should have gone home and dealt with it myself like before-" he stopped and realized he had said too much.
"Before, you mean this has happened before!" Mrs. Campbell screeched, practically launching herself at him, "and you didn't think to say anything or let anyone know?"
"I can handle this. I'm going home." he grumbled, he was still in his work clothes and he swung his legs over the bed.
"Not so fast, I have a theater with your name on it. Literally. You can't go home." Dominic laughed under his breath, despite the agony growing under his ribs.
"Serena, I am not one of those patients, out there on the ward, who doesn't know that they can just walk away. I do know that, so I will. You can't keep me here, and besides there are other people who will be needing that theater more than myself."
Now Mrs. Campbell felt her blood boil, "Oh no you don't, if you don't co-operate, I will have no choice but to sedate you. This is not a game, this is your life." Dominic was now standing, he could tell the dizziness had passed, for now, but was sure that if he kept standing there, it would swiftly return.
"On what authority could you force me into an op?" he grumbled, pulling on his shoes.
"Mine, and the fact that everyone here cares about your life, apparently more than you do!" Dominic rolled his eyes.
"Oh, please. No one here gives a shit about me." he looked at her and observed the nurse return to the room, "I bet that, once this news gets out, there will be people hoping I don't pull through, that I die on the operating table so that they can wipe their hands of me." Dominic felt his voice catch but continued to stare defiantly at Serena.
Mrs. Campbell felt pity towards the young doctor, he had a hard personality to get along with, but he was a good person. "I don't believe that Dom." she cooed softly, trying to ease him back onto the bed. But Dominic pushed her back, his eyes still hard with determination.
"Alright then Dom, going to play the hard way, then sedation it is. Nurse Judy." The nurse walked briskly over to the needle laid on the bedside table. Dom wondered how it had gotten there so quickly and turned to Serena, considering his words briefly before hurriedly coughing them up.
"Look Serena, if I am going to be 'out' for this, then you should know I am not letting you operate on me without some resistance." Mrs. Campbell cocked an eyebrow and a flicker of a smile, ignited by the challenge, flared on her cheek.
"Alright then. Nurse Judy, if you would be so kind." The woman came around, and Dominic remained still until she was inches from him, he dropped to his knees quickly, shuffled under her arm and sprang up. Serena's smile grew at his attempts to evade the needle and thereby the operation.
Dominic continued to stand there while the nurse turned to him, jabbing the needle through his clothes, however it did not have the desired effect. While the sedation was supposed to kick in after roughly 5-10 minutes, Dominic noticed something, and looked at Serena, eyes filling with concern.
"Urm... is my hear-" his eyes fluttered shut, and he slumped to the floor, the nurse behind him, missing him by a hair's breadth. Mrs. Campbell quickly realized he was arresting, and grabbed for the defibrillators.
'Damn it Dominic what have you gone and done to yourself now?!' she thought as she brought him back.
"Nurse Judy, get a stretcher, we are taking him into surgery immediately."