Chapter 6: No Changes for Jane Doe
Derek suffered through the mixer, met all the new interns, and made sure Bailey and the chief saw him working the room. It was more unbearable than usual because he didn't drink any alcohol, so he could go back and check on Jane Doe. He couldn't get his mind off his new patient. Halfway through the mixer, he got a text from Dr. Smith saying the MRI and EEG came back clear and normal. He watched Mark downing scotches as he painfully put up with the interns, especially the female interns, fawning all over him. He told Mark he'd come back and give him a ride home. Finally, he was able to break away.
He made his way to the nurse's station and saw Tyler as the only nurse around.
"Hi Tyler. Can I have Jane Doe's chart please."
"Sure Dr. Shepherd. You're here late."
He handed it to him and noticed Dr. Shepherd was in street clothes.
Derek scanned the chart and said, "I just came from the intern mixer."
Tyler snickered and said, "Sorry."
Derek asked, "Are you here by yourself tonight?"
Tyler nodded and said, "Betsy is on a dinner break and we are short one because of all the activity earlier today."
Derek said, "No offense Tyler, but while I exam my patient, can you check to see if there is space in ICU for her? I'd feel more comfortable if she had a higher level of monitoring. I think she should have been put there in the first place unless they were maxed out with critical patients."
Tyler smiled and said, "None taken Dr. Shepherd. I know you are only doing what is best for your patient. And frankly, we are stretched pretty thin here anyway."
Derek said, "Thank you Tyler." He walked towards his patients' room.
He opened the door and glanced in. She looked like she was sleeping, and he went in quietly. He glanced at the monitors and did a quick neuro exam. She was still unconscious. He pulled a chair next to her and watched her breathing. There was no medical reason why she should still be unconscious. He checked her forehead and saw Mark's impeccable work. He picked up one of her hands and saw they were still bandaged nicely.
Derek said, "I'm sorry little one. We'll figure out what's going on in the morning if you don't wake up tonight."
Tyler came into the room and said softly, "They have room, but no one to come get her. Most of the patients today were ortho and in regular rooms or discharged already. I can't leave without Betsy. But as soon as she gets back, I'll make sure your patient gets to ICU. I have a shift there myself tomorrow afternoon."
Derek said, "You know what? I can take her myself. Just help me unhook the monitors."
Tyler asked uncertainly, "Are you sure?"
Derek laughed and said, "Yeah. I still know how to drive these things."
Tyler said, "Well. You are one of the few senior residents that does."
Derek rolled the bed, which weighed five times as much as the patient, and Tyler helped with the portable monitor. When they got to the elevator Derek said, "Thanks Tyler. I got it from here."
As the elevator doors closed, Derek glanced down and brushed a stray hair from her face and asked himself why he cared about this patient so much. She looked so vulnerable and was obviously alone.
Debbie was on the phone in ICU and was shocked as she watched Dr. Shepherd wheel a patient down the hall. As soon as she could she hung up and went after him.
"Dr. Shepherd!"
Derek continued rolling down the hall to the ICU patient rooms. "Yes Debbie."
"Um…Let me help you."
Derek laughed and asked, "Have you never seen a doctor wheel a patient bed before?"
Debbie admitted, "Not a senior resident. Not a transfer. No, not ever!"
"I know you guys are busy and it's no big deal. Do you have a room yet?"
"Yes. Right in here."
They got her settled and as Debbie reattached the monitors, Derek again did a quick neuro exam. No change.
Derek said, "I'm going home now. I'd appreciate it if you kept as close an eye on her as your able to. If she so much blinks, or twitches or wakes up, call me. I don't care what time it is."
"Yes Dr. Shepherd."
Derek raked his hand through his hair as he gave his patient one long last look. At least she was breathing on her own. All her scans were clean. Those were good things. She should be waking up soon. There was something about this patient that made him want to protect and care for her. He had never felt this connection to a patient before. Derek shook his head as he left her room. Maybe he missed something?