AUTHOR"S NOTE: This story popped into my head last night and I had to write it. It's only an Abby story, Kali doesn't exist in it. It's Abby's POV. And "A Visit Home" will soon be finished. Promise.
DISCLAIMER: I own nothing. :(
I sigh heavily, causing Carter to look up.
"Long shift?" he already knows the answer.
Nodding, I lay my head on the admit desk. It had been a long day, and I was still on for another hour and a half. Suddenly the doors burst open and a woman runs in with a child clutched to her chest.
"Help, somebody help my child!" she screams. I run around the desk and take the toddler from her.
"Trauma 1 is open!" Frank yells from the desk.
I hurry to it with Carter and the mother following. Placing the little girl on the gurney I realize she's gasping for breath.
"Asthma attack," Carter states and hands me the oxygen mask which I place on her mouth.
"What's her name?" I ask the mother, who has tears running down her cheeks.
"Rose," the woman stutters.
"Rose, your going to be okay. I need you to breathe slowly in this mask alright? Slowly," I say calmly, looking into the frightened eyes.
Rose listens and moments later her breathing is normal.
"Miss…" Carter starts.
"Davis, Carol Davis," the woman introduces herself.
"Miss Davis, Rose suffered from a severe asthma attack. Do you know of anything that may have triggered it?" I ask, removing the mask from the girl's face and patting her head a little.
"Well we got a cat this week and tonight Rose was holding it," Miss Davis says nervously.
"Okay, that's okay. We're going to do a test to see if that was the cause. It's a simple test where we put a drop of liquid cat DNA on her arm and poke a tiny hole with a needle. If she reacts we'll know for sure. I'll just need your consent and some more information on Rose before we do," Carter explains to the shaky mother. They leave and I sit with Rose.
"Will I get to see my mommy soon?" she asks me.
"Sure she'll be back in a second," I reassure her.
"Yay!" the child cries excitedly. I smile and we continue to chat and I find out that she's two and a half, her favorite color is pink and she loves ice cream! Then Carter comes in again.
"Okay we're all set to do the test. Rose would you like to wait for your mom to come back before we do it? She just went to make a call and she'll be back in a second," Carter questions.
"Mommy! I want to wait for Mommy!" Rose says gleefully.
We wait around and finally Miss Davis enters. Rose doesn't react to see her mother and Miss Davis is sullen. I wonder who she called as we start the procedure but my mind snaps to attention when Rose starts crying at the pinprick. Miss Davis comes back from La-La Land and soothes her child. Then the four of us watch Rose's arm and wait. Soon it swells a bit and suddenly Rose is gasping again. I grab the oxygen mask again and hand it to the little girl. She obviously knows what to do as she holds it to her mouth and struggles to breathe normally.
"Well that confirms it Miss Davis, you'll have to get rid of the cat. And I'll give you a prescription for a puffer," I tell her with a bit of a sigh.
"Okay thank you," Miss Davis replies, also letting out a sigh.
We walk out to the main desk and I start writing one out when the doors fly open again and a young teenager storms in.
"Can I help you?" I inquire a bit timidly. She looks mad!
"No thank you," she says abruptly and heads toward the direction of Miss Davis who is standing outside Trauma 1.
"Excuse me but you can't go down there," I call, trailing after the angry girl.
"Who do you think you are!" she's screaming at Miss Davis, who cowers a little and avoids eye contact.
"Answer me Carol! Where's Rose?" she shrieks, practically nose to nose with Miss Davis.
"Excuse me!" I shout, finally getting the young woman's attention, "Do you know Miss Davis?"
"She's my mother," she snaps.
"So your Rose's sister?" I ask.
"No I'm Victoria, I'm her mother," her tone is softer now.