Chapter 8

Joe closed the door and made his way over to the desk. "Are you sure you shouldn't take the rest of the day off? Your mood swings would seem to indicate there may be more to that bump on your head."

Dixie gave Joe a questioning look. "You mean, you've noticed that our good doctor isn't his usual jolly self?" Joe chuckled at his friend's sarcasm but then noticed Kel wasn't laughing. His good friend didn't appear to be angry either as Kel once again took his place behind his desk. "He actually looks a little lost," thought Joe. Then it hit him. Everything had happened so fast that morning. Maybe…

"Mike did give you a clean bill of health, right Kel?"

Dixie was surprised by Joe's question. But then she thought back to that morning. She and Joe left Kel in Dr. Morton's care when they went back out to assist with Roy. She had just assumed that Mike had done a full work up on the patient and remembered being grateful to see Kel at Roy's side, ready to help. She made the conclusion that Kel was fine and that the bandage in place meant that he had been treated. And released, right?

"Well, not exactly," Kel answered.

The reaction was immediate. Both doctor and nurse started chastising Kelly Brackett. Joe went around the desk taking out his pen light out, fully intending to examine Kel right there in his office. Dixie was stunned and an immediate feeling of guilt started to take hold. She picked up the receiver on the desk phone, dialing the number to the x-ray lab.

Kel's hands went up in defense. "Now just hold on a minute! I'm okay."

Joe's face turned a light shade of red. "You're okay, when I say you're okay."

An exasperated Dr. Brackett leaned over and placed his finger on the phone's hook, changing the ring into the lab to a dial tone in Dixie's ear. When he was finally able to get a word in edgewise, he asked them both to calm down. He explained that Mike had been called away to check on the pregnant woman, giving orders to the nurse to see that Kel underwent a full skull series of x-rays. "I asked him if it couldn't wait until after I knew what was going on with Roy. Mike gave in. Reluctantly, I might add. He left, and I didn't stick around for the x-rays." Dixie and Joe both started their protests again, and Kel, once again, raised his hands up to stop them.

"Guys! Will you listen to me…?"

"It's no wonder you've been losing your temper with the nurses and the patients. You've probably got a concussion…"

"Dix! Will you let me finish?"

Both Joe and Dixie each took a breath and decided to finally let the doctor talk. But both stood with their arms crossed, staring at their friend, waiting for a proper and full explanation.

"Okay. So after we took care of Roy and after we brought Johnny in here and made sure he was okay, I got myself down to the lab and ordered myself a full skull series."

Dixie threw up her hands. "Well, why didn't you say that in the first place?"

"You didn't let me!"

"And?" Joe interrupted.

"No concussion. And Mike did check up on me. I don't want you to think he just got off his shift without tracking me down, first."

Kel looked at his friends. "Do you honestly think I would have continued seeing patients if I had a brain injury? I'm not that arrogant. Or stupid for that matter." Kel rubbed his hand on the back of his head. He mumbled an apology to this two colleagues and closest friends. "I'm just a little tired and I guess still a little shook up about what happened. I thought, like I always do, if I kept on working, I would be able to cope a little bit better. I was wrong."

Joe Early shook his head in amusement. Doctors did make the worse patients and he was sure that his friend, Dr. Kelly Brackett was the absolute worse. Dixie was not amused. She plopped down in her chair and crossed her arms, glaring at the head of emergency medicine. It was her turn to give the looks that could kill.

"I still think you should take the rest of the day off." Joe held up a hand to stop Kel from interrupting him. "It's a slow day and we can call in someone to take your place." Then he added, "At least take it slow. Lie down for a while. Get something to eat. We'll call you when we need you."

Kel sighed. It might actually do him some good to relax. Maybe he would be able to stop taking out his frustrations on the staff. He hated the idea of giving up completely to go home. The truth was he wasn't very good at relaxing at home. He always felt better when he was working. At least where he could be useful if needed. But he could compromise. For the sake of his friends. Not to mention for the sake of the staff.

"Deal," he said finally. "But first, there is a nurse I need to speak with. I think I owe her and a scared teenager an apology for my…uh … grumpiness." He smirked and moved to straighten his tie. Dixie moved forward to help him with it. Joe slipped out the door, promising to check in with Kel after his nap.

"Thanks, Dix. For putting up with me."

"Don't mention it. I'm just glad you're still around to put up with." Together they left the office; Dr. Brackett on a mission to atone for his behavior and Dixie remembering she had a phone call to make. After she calmed down a bit more. Another cup of coffee might help. Maybe.

E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!

"Hello?" The voice on the other end of the line sounded groggy.

"Darn it," Dixie said. "I'm sorry if I woke you up, Johnny but I did promise to call."

"I wasn't really asleep, Dix. Just lying here staring at the television. So how's Roy?"

Dixie gave Johnny a full update on Roy's condition, even though there wasn't much to tell. He was still in quite a bit of pain but Dr. Early believed that would go away when the mild swelling and inflammation dissipated. Once Roy passed his neuro checks for a 24 hour cycle then they could up the dosage of pain meds if that was needed.

"Is he getting any rest, Dix?"

She hesitated to answer that question because the answer was a definite "no." Joann had spent most of the day with Roy and had just left to take care of the kids. She had confided in Dixie that the panic attacks seemed to be getting worse. Dr. Early had told her the best thing was for her to stay home that evening and come check on him in the morning. He was concerned that if she wore herself out while Roy was in the hospital, she wouldn't be able to take care of him when he was sent home. She had been reluctant but accepted the doctor's advice. Dixie prayed that things would turn around for Roy soon for both he and his family.

"He's still having a hard time, Johnny. But it will get easier. I promise."

John seemed to accept her answer at face value. Their conversation then lapsed into a few moments of awkward silence. "How are you doing, Johnny?" Dixie finally asked.

Johnny must have assumed her question was about his physical well-being because he went into detail about what he had eaten when he arrived back to his apartment and how he was restless and couldn't relax enough to sleep. Dixie started to ask a question about his mental health but then changed her mind. The idea that something else was troubling the young man kept niggling at her but she didn't quite know how to ask about it. She wasn't even sure there was something to ask about.

"Well, I'll let you go," she said. "I'm assuming I will see you here in the morning?"

"Definitely. I need to find out which nurses will be taking care of my partner. Gotta make sure he's got the best of the best!" Dixie smiled at Johnny's misdirect. On one hand, she was glad that Johnny was up to his antics but on the other hand, she knew it was just a cover up. Despite his words, she could tell there was something missing in his tone. She said goodbye and told him she hoped he would be able to sleep that night. "Why can't men just admit when they care about their friends?" she thought as she placed the receiver in its cradle.

"Rampart. This is Squad 16. How do you read?"

Dixie picked up her pad and pencil as she responded to the incoming call. Oddly enough, the distraction of an emergency brought her a strange feeling of comfort.

EEEEEEEEEE

AN – I just want to thank my reviewers. After posting the last chapter and reading your reviews, I realized I may have not given enough time to develop Kel's side of the story before I posted Chapter 7. I hope this chapter helps pull that together a little bit better.