Unlikely Match
Antonio was begrudgingly being taken to med. Going through that door, it really messed up his shoulder, EMT's said it was dislocated. "Hank, I'm fine, I'll just take some Advil or something, I don't need to go to Med."
Hank looked at his senior Detective, he understood, Hank hated going to doctors, but protocol. "I get it, but you're going, get checked out and leave. Easy."
Knowing that he wasn't going to get out of going, he sat quietly in Hank's truck. He understood that he had to go, but unless he was bleeding out, he wasn't being transported in a god damn ambulance.
The pair finally pulled up to Chicago Med, and was greeted by the nurse Maggie. "Oh boy, what happened?" She asked.
Hank spoke, "Detective Dawson, used his shoulder to break down a door, the EMT said it might be dislocated."
Nodding, she brought them to an ER room. "Don't worry, we got you," she said. Calling for the doctor, it was Elsa who came in. "Let's get some X-Rays to see what we are working with." After ordering some other tests, and the X-Rays came back, "I'm sorry Detective Dawson, I'm going to need to contact our Ortho Surgeon on call. Give me a moment, I'll page her now."
Rolling his neck towards Hank, "Next time, I'm going to use the ram, I'm tired of this shit!"
Hank couldn't help but laugh, "I hear ya bro."
It took about 15 minutes, but Elsa came in with another young looking woman, she was about 5'2 maybe 5'3, blonde hair, emerald green eyes, a great rack, and a megawatt smile. "Evening Gents, I'm Dr. Annalise Parker."
As Annalise entered the room, she could see that both men looked like they were getting a root canal. Great, just what I need, someone who needs medical attention that would rather not get it. Awesome. After she greeted the men, she smiled. As she was about to ask some routine questions, the patient seemed to get snippy.
"You're the Ortho Surgeon, aren't you a little young?" Antonio wasn't really trying to be an ass, but she didn't look more than 24.
She was used to this, she got it all the time. "Yea, I know right, you were hoping for someone with a little gray in their hair? Think of me as a female Doogie Howser, kind of a genius. Promise, I'm great at my job, Detective."
Antonio, wanted to believe her, but it was hard to. Looking at her, she was gorgeous. He wasn't blind to the fact, but sexy or not, he wanted a good doctor not some cutie.
She could see the turmoil in his face, instead of engaging him, she turned to the X-Rays. "I'm sorry to say Detective Dawson, you have an anterior dislocation of your right shoulder, I'm not seeing the nerve in the way, but it's unclear in this X-RAY. Elsa, would you please get the doppler?" Looking at Elsa, you could see that she was curious. "I'm wanting the doppler to get a better pitcher of his shoulder, if I try to do the reduction and his nerve is in the way, I could cause what Medical Student Elsa?"
Looking at Dr. Parker, Elsa was nervous, she hated getting the wrong answer. "Nerve Damage."
Smiling. "Right, if that isn't treated correctly, what are the likely outcomes for this Detective?"
"Um, limited rotation of his shoulder."
"Which would prevent him from being an active police officer. With him being in constant pain. Causing unforeseen issues down the road." While Annalise understood that some opioids are needed after surgery or injury, she is always cautious on administering them.
Hank and Antonio listened intently to the doctor speak to her med student. Antonio was starting to think he had the wrong impression of the young woman, she definitely knew what she was doing. But he was curious, most surgeons like to suggest an operation, it's always the quick fix. "What about surgery, is that an option?" he asked.
Annalise looked at her patient. "Well, Detective, if you are really wanting a surgery, we can schedule, but honestly, that would be a longer recovery time, unnecessary pain. Or you can let me look at your shoulder quickly and put in place. Up to you."
Antonio had debated, but he wanted to get back out there as soon as he could, a surgery would take weeks. "Let's do it your way doc."
Looking at him, she nodded. Grabbing the doppler that Elsa brought in, she put a little jelly on his shoulder, "I'm sorry but this might be uncomfortable." He only slightly flinched.
"Alright, looks clear, if you're ready we can go ahead and get it in place now, and you could wear a sling for about a week. Sound good Detective?"
He looked at her, "Let's just get it over with."
Annalise asked him to sit in the chair, and get off the bed, he gave her a strange look, "I'm short, I try to avoid climbing on the bed unless it's an emergency."
Getting into position, Annalise gently grabbed his wrist and placed her hand on his shoulder. "So, Detective, how'd this happen?" Oh she knew, but she was about to piss him off. Sorry Spanish cutie, it's for the best.
Taking a long sigh, not because her question bothered him, but because of how he injured himself. "I used my shoulder to bust down a door."
"Yea, I heard that could be painful, perhaps someone your age shouldn't be doing that anymore." She knew that was going to piss him off.
"What the hell did you … FUCK!"
As soon as he started to rant at her, she put her hand on his shoulder, and pulled it hard! Once she felt it snap into place. She gently put his arm in a cradled position. "Sorry about that, I find when you count people tense up, so pissing people off is a way to refocus their pain. You did good detective."
Taking a moment to breath, he looked at her face, she had a small smile on her face. "Damn, that hurt. Thank you though."
Smiling at him, "No problem detective, alright, so Elsa here, is going to get you in your sling, I'll have the nurse bring in your discharge papers, but I'm going to say words to you, and you're going to pretend to listen. 1. Ice your shoulder at least 3x a day. 2. Light desk duty for 2 weeks. 3. I'm going to prescribe an anti-inflammatory, to reduce swelling, take them. 4. I know only about half of what I said is going to be followed, so be careful out there detective. OK?"
Looking over at Hank, "You're the boss right? You too pretend you're going to make him follow my instructions. Makes me feel better." she sassed to him.
Hank couldn't help but laugh, "I'll make sure Dr. Parker, at least the desk duty. Deal?"
Extending her hand, "I'm going to hold you to that….."
Taking her hand, "Sgt. Hank Voight." She smiled.
As she left the room, she looked over her shoulder at both the men, "Be safe out there, gentlemen." with that she was gone.
Antonio stared out the door she just left. He wanted to talk to her again, but this time without the doubt. She was beautiful, anyone could see that. He felt like a complete ass for judging her.
Things happened quickly, Elsa put on the sling, and the nurse came in the papers, telling him he could leave.
Hank took him home, and told him to take tomorrow off. Normally Antonio would have argued, but he wanted to try to follow Dr. Parker's instructions. Carefully getting into bed, he wanted to sleep, as he was falling asleep, one of his last thoughts was of a pretty blonde, with big green eyes.