"What do you mean the pit was evacuated? I didn't authorize this." Richard said.
"A patient. He came in with some sort of airborne toxin. It was an emergency. Dr. Grey ordered it…"
"Where is Dr. Grey?" He asked.
"Down in the pit."
"With the toxic patient!" He almost yelled.
"We told her she should evacuate but she didn't want to leave the patient to die."
"Okay… What other doctors were in there?"
"Doctors Pelt and Dirent." She answered before walking away.
Richard noticed Dr. Pelt sitting behind the nurses' station taking deep breaths from the oxygen mask.
"Dr. Pelt?" He called walking over. "What were the symptoms?"
"Shakiness, weakness, nausea, and one of the paramedics starting coughing up blood when I was bringing her up for the pit."
"Radiation." He said his eyes wide. "AND YOU LEFT MEREDITH!" He yelled.
"She didn't…" He took a deep breath from the mask. "She refused to leave. She's a brave doctor, sir."
"She's a mother too. She's my stepdaughter."
"Chief?" He turned at the sound of Alex's voice.
"Guys, I don't have time. We have a crisis."
"Chief, what's going on in the pit?" Izzie asked as she, Alex, Christina, and George followed him to the elevator.
"I'm not sure." The elevator opened and about ten people wearing hazmat suites came out.
"This is bad." Christina sighed as a couple pushed pass.
"Who's in-charge?"
"I am." Richard said. "Where are the toxins coming from?"
"The pit… There's a resident down there. She's my step-daughter. I need her to be okay."
"It's Meredith?" Alex asked frantic.
"Here, put this one and show us." The man in the suite said holding a suite to Richard.
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Her breathing was rough and gasping. Reaching up, she used some gauze to wipe the blood flowing from her nose. She took a deep breath from the oxygen mask and continued to squeeze the ambu as the patient's chest raised and fell. She breathed through the oxygen mask. She wasn't sure what the patient was suffering from, but some toxin was coming from someplace… maybe his blood or skin. Lifting the bandage on his head, she tossed the blood filled gauze into the trash. Still squeezing the bag, she examined the cut more closely. She had to sew it up or he was sure to bleed to death. She wouldn't let that happen. Glancing up, she watched as the elevator opened and five hazmat suited people walked out. One she could recognize to be Richard. Two were holding little devices. One held the hospital blue prints and the last one seemed to be ordering the others around. Richard walked to the window and pressed his hand to it.
"Meredith." His voice was quiet and low through the window. The blood was running from her nose and collecting in the bottom of the mask. Her skin was pale and eyes were blood shot.
She pointed through the phone. Her hands were shaking slightly but she continued to keep steady. He nodded. Walking over the phone at the nurses' station, he picked it up and dialed to the number.
"Richard?" Her voice was shaky and weak.
"How are you feeling?"
"I'm fine." She said.
"There you go with that fine stuff again." He chuckled trying to stay strong even though he could hear the faint sound of her crying.
"I'm not sure what's wrong with him." Richard held the phone tight to his head to hear. "I'm not leaving him Richard. I can't let him die."
"Okay." He sniffled. His eyes pleaded with the head hazmat guy. "Mer, we think it is radiation poisoning."
She sniffled. "I'm going to be fine. I have to… cut off my air supply long enough to sew his head up, so I don't have to pump him."
"No, Mer. You can't."
"He's going to die if I don't."
She hung up the phone before he could protest. "She wants to take herself off her air supply." He yelled hurrying over to the window.
"What?" The head guy yelled.
Richard banged on the window shaking his head. Meredith looked at him tear streaks run down her face. Looking at him, a tear rolled down her cheek as she disconnected the oxygen mask form hers then disconnected the ambu bag. Putting the pump onto his ask, she walked over to the cabinet and took out the supplies she needed. She laid them out and began sewing him up as fast as she could. She coughed. Her whole body shaking with each heavy cough. She turned away from the patient continuing to cough and doubling over. Blood spilled from her mouth onto the floor. She gasped for air wiping the rest from her lower lip. She tried to focus as Richard banged on the window yelling her name. She raised a hand.
"I'm okay." She called trying to catch her breath. Turning back to the patient, she continued her job even if the stitches were messy and slightly uneven, but they would work. When she finished, the coughing returned and once again blood spilled from her mouth. Her whole body felt weak and painful all at the same time. Her stomach churned but she refused to vomit. If it were radiation, it wouldn't be very long until she passed out. It wouldn't be very long until the blood coming from her nose got heavier and the coughing became more constant, but all she could worry about was Carson. Alex and Carson continued to pop into her head. Fear stuck her worse than the pain.