Chapter 10

"I got your page. What is it?"

"Take a listen Dr. Hayward." The doctor told David, handing him his stethoscope. "She's been throwing PVC's for the last twenty minutes. Labored breath sounds."

"Its' good you called me."

"Well you asked to be a cardio consult. And we don't have a pediatric cardiologist on staff."

"Set up for a Pericardiocentesis. 18 gauge needle on a syringe. Is she still being sedated?"

"Yes Dr. Hayward, and here are the chest films."

"Yes, right there. Pericardial effusion." He said pointing a white spot on the films. "I'll remove the fluid and then we'll monitor her heart and get an EKG."

"I'll order the tests now. This little girl has been through so much already. I don't know how much more she can handle." The doctor said, looking at the little girls' limp body.

"She's done all of the suffering she going to do from now on. I'm going to make sure of it." David said, looking at the little girl after finishing the procedure.

Did he really just leave me? Again? She thought to herself. Rationally she knew that something was wrong and that someone needed his help. But the emotional part of her asked why he would leave when there was something wrong with her, him, them. They were hurting, and together they could make the pain go away. But him leaving her to rush to someone else's aid made her angrier than she should have been. She really felt as though she could care less if he ever came back home. He didn't care about her and now she didn't care about him. He could spend all the time he wanted in that hospital. He could live there forever if he wanted.

"The latest test results show an improvement in her condition. I'm going to stop the sedation tomorrow."

"That's good. What kind of prognosis do you give her?" David asked.

"It looks really good, but we won't know until she wakes up and we can complete the rest of the neurological tests."

"Well I'll let you know when she wakes up."

"Does that mean you'll be staying here again tonight?"

"Most likely. Have you found any other relatives yet? Anyone that can be with her and take her home when she's ready to be released?"

"We've tried every contact number we could find. So far no relatives seem to even exist. It was just this girl and her mom. Now it's just her."

"Not tonight it's not."

"I don't think I've ever seen you like this Dr. Hayward. And from what I've heard, no one else has either."

"Well you don't know me, so I guess you wouldn't know what I'm like. And I don't like it when people use what they hear about a person to judge their character. If I did that, I'd think every Martin were a saint. Now I'm going to go call my wife, I'd appreciate it if you'd tend to other patients before I come back."

"I understand I was out of line with that comment, but Dr. Hayward I didn't mean to come off as a prick. I just meant that you seem a lot more genuine and caring than so of the employees give you credit for."

"Thank you Dr. Hanna, but I've always taken my patients well being into consideration. I'm sorry if I came off as an asshole lashing out at you. My wife and I have been under a great deal of stress and then I lost this girl's mother. It's just what I took as a very personal attack was amplified by that."

"No problem. I'll remember to choose my words wisely next time."

"Now I'm going to go call my wife now. Doctor." He walked to the nurses' station and picked up the phone. He dialed the number he knew by heart. It rang until the answering machine picked up. "Erica, it's me David. It looks like I'll be staying overnight. The little girl, Danielle, she developed a heart condition and I have to monitor her recovery. I'm sorry about leaving you. If you want to talk or anything just call the hospital, extension 334. I love you and"

"End of message." He heard from the answering machine. Did he do something wrong by rushing to the aid of this little girl? She understood didn't she? It might have taken Erica a little while to come to terms with his running off at all hours, but he thought she had accepted that it was what he did. It didn't really matter right now. He had just saved Danielle's life and any wrath Erica would throw at him didn't compare to that.

Erica, it's me David. It looks like I'll be staying overnight. The little girl, Danielle, she developed a heart condition and I have to monitor her recovery. I'm sorry about leaving you. If you want to talk or anything just call the hospital, extension 334. I love you and "End of message." The machine said after playing the recorded message. "It's just great that you took some time to acknowledge my existence David." She said under her breath. He's taking the Dr. David Hayward world renowned cardiologist just a little too seriously she thought. Maybe I'll just go out, see if he likes me not being around either. She grabbed her keys and purse and walked out the door. Where she was going, she didn't have a clue. But she was determined to show him that she could be doing something other than sitting, waiting for him.