Sorry for any inaccurate medical stuff.
Chapter 12
"Sam, can we have a word?" Zoe asked.
"Sure," Sam said, unsure.
They both walked to Zoe's office, in silence. When they got inside, Zoe sat at the desk and Sam stood - waiting for what was going to be said.
"Tom shouldn't have came back to work, right?" Zoe questioned.
"No. Why did you let him?"
"Well, on the phone he seemed fine, so I agreed"
"Um, I suppose we didn't know what the day would bring. That's all I can say," Sam said, letting out a sigh.
"Yeah, I suppose. What about another contact, for Joey? Tom isn't really in a state for anything at the moment. Then, there's this Nick guy. What about his dad?" Zoe asked.
"Could you call his dad? The number will be on the system. His name is David Kent"
"Of course," Zoe said, with a nod. "Do you know where his dad is, right now?"
"No, I don't. Sorry"
"OK. You go and be with Joey, while I make this call"
Sam walked out of the office and went back to resus.
After Zoe's phone call, she made her way to reception. She peeked through the doors of resus and didn't see any sign of Tom. She thought that he would be with his brother. She spotted Charlie. "Hey Charlie. Can you do me a favour?"
"What is it?" Charlie asked.
"Can you find Tom? I've called his dad, who will be here in about an hour or two, he says, so I want to update Tom"
"Sure thing, Zoe. I'll go find him," Charlie turned around and walked over to the front desk.
"Noel, Louise have you seen Tom?"
"Haven't seen him since he went outside. Sorry," Noel replied.
"He might be with that boy in resus," Louise said, in her usual, patronising monotone.
"Thank you, Noel. Louise, that's his brother," Charlie wandered outside.
He didn't see Tom on any bench or standing around. Neither did he see him when he walked around the entire outside of the hospital. He knew Tom wasn't inside - he had already asked the majority of the staff.
He was standing outside the ED, thinking where on earth Tom would be, when he saw someone tumble out of the pub. "No," he whispered under his breath, "please no," he ran to the stumbling figure.
Back in the ED, Zoe came back into resus, to find Sam still standing by Joey's bedside.
"Has he said anything?" Zoe asked.
"Only that he was in pain, so he was given some meds," Sam said.
"His dad should be here soon. Do you want me to explain everything?" Zoe asked, as she stepped closer to the Sam.
"It's fine. I can tell him"
"Well, I need to check Joey over again," Zoe said.
"Yes, yes. Of course," Sam mumbled, stepping back. "I think I'll go get a coffee"
"OK," Zoe watched as Sam made her way out of the room. Sam looked lost - not knowing what to do with this boy. Why should she? She hadn't known the kid for long and was not direct family. Zoe turned her attention back to Joey.
Her stethoscope was at the ready. She placed it on his chest. His heart sounded fine. But, the same couldn't be said for his lungs.
"Ah! The infection is on the lungs. Is he conscious?" This couldn't happen again. Once was enough, but again? Oh God.
"He's responsive," mumbled a nearby nurse.
"I'm going to have to intubate him," Zoe said, preparing herself.
Zoe had just finished the process of intubating Joey when Sam wandered back in. "I only went for a coffee! What the hell happened?" Sam shouted on her arrival.
"I wasn't happy with his breathing. So, the best course of action was to intubate," explained Zoe.
"What's going to happen now?" Sam asked.
"I'm going to call ICU and ask if they have a bed. He will need monitoring for at least twenty four hours, so it's the best place for him," replied Zoe.
"Thank you. Where's Tom?" Sam said.
"I don't know. I asked Charlie to look for him. I haven't heard anything from either one"
"Right. How long until Joey is moved?"
"I think I'll just walk him up myself"
