Nurse Dixie McCall stood in the doorway on the rooftop of Rampart General Hospital. The move to put the helicopter landing pad there the perfect thing to do, she thought. Kept the public away from the choppers, and the media away from the patients. Have a public servant like a police officer or firefighter become injured, and the media were like sharks in a feeding frenzy.
"Poor Mike." Dixie muttered to herself. It was true she favored the men of Station 51, with the soft-spoken, intelligent engineer at the top of her list. *But, that's my little secret* she thought to herself.
As Copter 10 touched down, she got her first look at Mike. "Oh, good Lord, what did they do to him, Kel?"
"More like what DIDN'T they do to him, Dix," he answered, "C'mon, let's get him to Treatment Room 7. It's more secluded than the others. The vultures are already circling." Kel said, motioning to a news station helicopter that was circling, the cameraman frantically trying to get film of whoever was on the stretcher. Dixie covered Mike's face up with an edge of her sweater, which earned her a chuckle from Kel. "Good thinking, Dix. Now, let's go."
Upon Mike's arrival into Treatment Room 7, the ER staff began to work like a well-oiled machine. X-Rays and labs were done, and Mike's tracheostomy was connected to the ventilator. With a great amount of difficulty due to trauma, and with the use of a metal probe known as an obturator, a Foley catheter was put in by , the Urologist. Meds were given, as was more blood and fluids, through a line inserted into Mike's groin area.
Using a special flexible scope, Kel was able to examine Mike's throat more thoroughly. "Animals." Kel growled, as he surveyed the damage done to his long-time patient and friend.
"No, Kel, not even animals would do this kind of thing to each other." Dixie offered quietly. She reached out to gently stroke Mike's forehead, and was horrified to see how badly his scalp had been torn. "Oh my God, Kel! Look!"
"Yeah, I know. Contact Dr. Krauss from Plastic Surgery, also Dr. George from G.I. I need him to repair the rectal damage. Let's get him ready for the O.R. I figure we've got about 6 to 7 hours of sewing ahead of us." It was at that point that they turned Mike to check his back, and Dixie got her first look at the damage done there. Oh, no," she murmured, "Oh my God, poor Mike."
"Yeah, I know."
The ambulance with the rest of the crew was met at the E.R. entrance by Captain Stanley and Chief McConnikee. Dr. Early looked at John, Chet, and Marco, and said, "Come on guys, let's get you all checked out..." "NO" John stated emphatically, with Chet and Marco nodding assent. "We want to check up on Mike first, make sure he's... alive..., then we'll go with you. Please, Doc?"
"Okay, come on in, and I'll find out where he is." Dr. Early went to find Carol at the nurse's desk. He walked around the corner, and in a few minutes, came back, saying, "They're getting him ready to take him to the O.R. Kel says come in, but only for a few minutes, and remember, he's on a respirator now."
"Thanks, Dr. Early. I'm sure it will do all of us good, just to be able to see him." Captain Stanley said, as the men walked into Treatment Room 7.
The sight of their fellow firefighter and brother was disheartening. So pale, with massive bruising everywhere, and sterile cloths covering his bloody scalp. He had multiple IV's, including blood, hanging. He was breathing with a respirator tube attached to a hole in his neck, and his catheter tubing was filled with bright red fluid.
"Dr. Brackett, do you think he can hear us?" Marco asked. "I don't know for sure, but, it certainly wouldn't hurt if you want to talk to him before he goes up to the O.R." Kel said kindly. Each man leaned over and said something into Mike's ear, even the Chief. Pretty soon, the orderlies appeared to take Mike up to the O.R. "We are probably going to be up there about 6 hours or more, depending on what needs to be done. Get yourselves checked out, get some food and rest, and hopefully, we'll see you soon." Kel said, as he walked out.
As the door closed behind him, Chief McConnikee looked at Cap, who said, "Remember guys, we have Dr. Eric Oliver, the psychiatrist, available if you need to talk to someone. In the meantime, go with Dr. Early to be checked out, okay?" The men agreed, though their minds were on their brother, who laid on the O.R. table, three floors above them.