Disclaimer: I do not own these characters





Chapter 11: First Do No Harm





After Dana had left Bill, she decided she'd go to Marc's room in ICU to check on Lu, not knowing what state of mind she would be in after being blamed for her son's accident, and being forced to relive the horrible night of her rape.

Dana quietly entered Marc's room. "Hey, Lu..." Dana stopped as she realized that her partner wasn't there. "This is weird," Dana whispered, surprised that Lu wasn't glued to her son's bedside, as she had been since he had been brought in the day before, only leaving to speak to the boy's father.

Dana left the room and approached the nurses station, speaking to a young nurse. "Have you seen Dr. Delgado?"

"Sorry, Dr. Stowe. I haven't seen her for the past hour or so."

"Okay, thanks." Dana was worried now as she hurried downstairs, deciding to check Lu's office. She had just reached the reception desk when she glanced up and saw Lana, Lu and Bob coming out of the women's bathroom.

Dana smiled at the sight of Dr. Robert Jackson coming out of the women's bathroom, but quickly realized that this was no laughing matter. Lana and Bob each held Lu's arm, obviously supporting her.

"Bob? What happened?" Dana questioned as she hurried over to them.

"I found her sittin' on the bathroom floor. Poor kid can hardly stand up." Lana answered quickly.

"She is totally exhausted." Bob added. "We're taking her to her office. I want her blood pressure checked immediately."

"Take her to my office." Dana ordered. "I want to check her out myself." Dana turned and headed towards her office, followed by Bob, Lu and Lana. Once inside the office, Bob assisted Lu onto the exam table while Dana quickly got the blood pressure cuff and put it on her arm.

"180 over 103." Dana announced momentarily.

"I want her admitted immediately." Bob said firmly.

"No way." Lu answered in a weary voice. "I need to get back to Marc."

"I'm sorry, Dr. Delgado. But until we get that BP under control, you are going to be admitted where you can be monitored." Lu shook her head.

"Over my dead body," she answered as she attempted to get down from the exam table. Lana quickly put her hand on Lu's arm.

"Which is exactly what it will be if you don't get that pressure under control. Lu, you can't keep up like this. You're going to kill yourself. Then what good will you be to your son? You need to take care of yourself so you can take care of that boy when he wakes up." Lu closed her eyes, fighting the tears that threatened to spill down her cheeks. She knew Lana was right. If her blood pressure continued to climb out of control, it could cause her to have a stroke or a number of other problems.

"Dr. Jackson, didn't you say that we could have a cot put in Marc's room for her?" Lana asked, remembering a few minutes earlier when she and Bob had been helping Lu.

"Yes, but that was when we thought she was exhausted and just needed rest. This is much more serious. She needs to be where she can be looked after and monitored carefully." Bob answered.

"Bob, why not let her stay in Marc's room? He's in ICU. She would be monitored constantly there." Dana replied.

"I'm sorry, Dana, but that would definitely be against hospital policy. I think you know that."

"Yes, Bob, I know that. But this is a special circumstance." Dana argued.

"I just don't know what the board would think..." Bob started, but Dana interrupted.

"When we became physicians, we took an oath that said first do no harm. I honestly believe that by putting her in a room away from her son will do her more harm than good. She needs to get rest, and how much rest do you think she is going to get when she is worried about Marc and can't be with him? I think we need to make an exception here, Bob. Lu isn't just any patient. You are the Chief of Staff here. Maybe you need to do what is best for one of your staff." Bob sighed, knowing that he had lost this argument.

"Fine. Ms. Hawkins, have Nurse Riggs set up a cot in Marc's room. I'll speak to the board."

"Right away, Dr. J." Lana answered as she hurried from the room.

"Thank you, Dr. Jackson." Lu whispered.

"Keep in mind, Dr. Delgado, that you will be supervised constantly. And if it appears that you are not getting the rest you need, I will personally move you out of Marc's room and into a room of your own. Do you understand?" Lu nodded.

"Yeah."

"Okay, then. I need to get some paperwork done. I'll talk to you both later." Neither Lu nor Dana spoke until he had left the room. Lu glanced up at Dana.

"Thank you, Dana, for talking Dr. Jackson into letting me stay with Marc."

"I meant it when I said that it will be best for you. And best for Marc too. You need to be together now, Lu. Now how about we get you settled in so you can get some rest?"

"I guess so." Lu answered, knowing that once again she was defeated.