Chapter 5: You're Going!
Late in the afternoon, Mark found Derek scrubbing out.
Mark said, "Hey. Are you finished?"
Derek replied, "Almost. I just have to talk to my patient's family and finish the chart."
Owen poked his head into the scrub room and asked, "Derek. Do you have a moment for a consult?"
"Sure. What do you have?"
Owen said, "Twenty something unconscious female. She came in around 1300 and Nelson looked at her."
Mark said, "Same girl I was going to talk to you about. Nasty head lac that I took care of and badly scraped hands."
Derek frowned and asked, "She's still unconscious? What did her CT say?"
Owen said, "Clear. Nelson moved her to a regular room."
Derek scowled and asked, "What about an MRI and an EGG?"
Mark replied, "Olivia says he didn't order one. I know time can be of the essence here. I don't want you to step on anyone's toes, but…"
Derek tossed the disposable towel in the trash and said, "Let's go find her."
Derek walked into the room and glanced at the tiny figure in the bed. She had a bandage on her forehead and her hands were wrapped like she was wearing white mittens. He raised an eyebrow and asked, "She's the one? She looks like a kid. Are you sure you don't need a peds neuro consult?"
Hunt said, "No I.D. yet. Police have brought in scattered wallets and purses and are trying to match them to patients now. Things got scattered all over the crime scene."
Mark gulped and said, "She's not a kid. Trust me."
Derek looked at him questionably and Mark explained a little sheepishly, "We might have seen her in her lingerie in the pit."
Derek shook his head and took out his light and shined it in her eyes. He read her chart and rang for the nurse.
Debbie came in quickly and he said, "I need an MRI and an EGG on this patient ASAP. Please page Dr. Smith to handle it."
Dr. Nelson showed up a few minutes later and asked, "What are you doing Shepherd? That's my patient."
Owen said, "I asked him to check her out."
Mark said, "As did I." He didn't want Owen to take all the heat.
Derek said, "Let's all go out into the hallway."
Dr. Nelson glanced at the patient and asked, "Why? She's obviously still out."
Derek replied patiently, "We don't know that. She may be minimally conscious and can hear."
As they all moved into the hallway Dr. Nelson grumbled, "That's a load of crap."
Dr. Smith and Dr. Bailey walked up and Dr. Smith said, "I'm on it. EEG and MRI?"
Derek nodded and mouthed shotgun it. Derek said, "Look. I reviewed the chart and I think it calls for additional workup. In fact, I insist."
Dr. Bailey frowned and asked, "What's going on?"
"You insist? Shepherd is poaching my patient. Like he doesn't already have enough! We're both in neuro fellowships. We both have the exact amount of time as residents."
Dr. Bailey said calmly, "I've reviewed her chart too and I agree with Dr. Shepherd. Tell you what Dr. Nelson. Dr. Shepherd will take this patient and you can have his craniotomy scheduled for six am tomorrow."
Dr. Nelson looked at the four other doctors and said, "That's more than fair, I guess." He walked away.
They watched as Dr. Smith took the patient away for the additional tests. Dr. Bailey told Derek, "Don't look at me like that. You can do a craniotomy is your sleep blindfolded and frankly he needs the practice. I know it's a simple one."
She then said sweetly to the three of them, "I think you have just enough time to change and make it to the mixer."
Derek groaned and asked, "What about my patient?"
"Dr. Smith will page you with the results. There is nothing you can do until they are ready anyway."
Mark said, "Um…I think…I have a…"
"Forget it! If I must go to the damn mixer, you all must go too!"
Owen said, "But…"
"No buts from any of you!"
Just then Owen's pager went off and he got a big smile on his face. "Sorry Dr. Bailey. 9-1-1 to the pit.
Derek and Mark both scowled as they watched their friend escape. Dr. Bailey put her hands on her hips and inclined her head towards the resident locker room as if to say, shower, shave, change and get your ass over to the mixer!