Elizabeth's heart resumed a normal beat. Everyone in the room sighed.
Romano continued with whatever surgery he was doing.
"Okay, Just let me sew up this one hole for now, and let's get her up
to the OR," Romano instructed.
Cleo let out a sigh of relief. Elizabeth was okay- for the time
being, any way. Cleo remembered what she had to do and made her way up to
OB.
"I need a baby bottle. Do you have one I can use?" Cleo asked the
first nurse she saw.
"Yeah, just a minute. Let me finish this stack of charts first," The
nurse said, brushing Cleo off.
Cleo was not one to be ignored so she said, "If you can tell me where
to get a bottle, I'll get it my self."
The nurse didn't look up, but said, "I said just a minute."
Cleo was getting fed up, "I don't have a minute! There is a man down
there with a screaming daughter that is hungry, and his wife has been shot
by a maniac," Cleo raged, "Now, can I PLEASE have a bottle?"
"Fine. Down that hall. Second door on your left," The nurse said,
motioning with her pen in the direction of the hall Cleo was to take.
Cleo didn't bother to say thank you. She just went down the hall and
into the supply closet. There was a shelf full of baby bottles. Cleo just
grabbed the first one and headed for the elevator.
When Cleo got back down to the ER, she went back to the lounge and
made up the bottle. Before she even got within thirty feet of exam two, she
could hear Ella crying. Cleo quickened her pace.
When Cleo opened the door, Mark was still trying to quiet Ella. Cleo
gave him the bottle, which he gave to Ella, who quickly began to suck
hungrily at the bottle.
"Thanks," Mark said gratefully to Cleo.
"No problem."Cleo said.
There was an awkward silence for a moment, then Cleo said, "I checked
up on Elizabeth. From what I could see, I think she's okay. Her heart is
beating and she's up in the OR now,"
Mark didn't respond at first. He just thought for a minute. Then he
said, "Thanks. A lot." Mark trailed off. The last thing he wanted to talk
about right then was Elizabeth. She could die. He didn't want to lose her.
He didn't want to talk about losing her.
"Hey, Dr.Greene, I got the number for Dr.Corday's parents and called,
but no one picked up at either house," Dave said as he barged into the
room.
Mark sighed, "Oh, that's right. Her dad is a doctor. He most likely
is at work. Elizabeth said her mother was giving a lecture somewhere in
France. I have no clue where though," Mark said.
"Okay, if you know her father's work number."Dave stopped, "But you
don't, do you?"
Mark shook his head, "I know Elizabeth doesn't have it either," Mark
took a deep breath and watched his daughter suck at the bottle for a
moment. Watching his daughter reminded him of Rachel, "Malucci, give me the
phone."
Dave complied and said, "I'll dial. What's the number?"
Mark quickly gave Dave Jen's home number in St.Louis.
The phone rang once, and then Jen picked up.
"Hello?" She asked.
"Hey Jen. Do you think Rachel could come out. now?" Mark asked. Then
he added, "It's an emergency,"
He heard Jennifer sigh, "Mark, if you haven't noticed, it's the
middle of the week and she has school. What sort of emergency is this?"
"Umm. Elizabeth. Elizabeth." Mark couldn't finish the sentence. He
couldn't say it without his voice cracking. He handed the phone to Luka.
"Hello?" Luka asked, unsure of who he was speaking to.
"Hello? Who is this? Where's Mark?" Jen asked, very confused.
"Hi. I'm Dr.Kovac-" Luka got cut off.
"Oh my God. Is Mark okay? Did the cancer-" Jen started to imagine the
worst. In turn, Luka cut her off.
"No, he's fine. It's not him. It's his wife, Elizabeth Corday.
She's." Luka glanced at Mark, unsure of what to say.
Mark just nodded.
"She's been. shot. She's in critical condition. Umm. I believe that
Dr.Greene wanted. Rachel." Luka said the name with a little bit of question
in his voice.
"Yes, our daughter,"
"Oh okay. I believe he wanted Rachel to come to Chicago?" Luka asked.
"Yes. Umm. I can't come out there with her though. I had an ear
infection. The doctor said I shouldn't fly for a few days. I already had to
cancel a hearing in Alabama. My husband can't go either. We have two other
children, and he has to take care of them," Jen said honestly, "I wish I
could get her out there, but I can't. Tell Mark I'm really sorry,"
"Okay, right," Luka looked at Cleo and Dave. They knew what had
happened over the phone. They had been listening closely to the receiver.
Dave had an idea, "Wait a minute," he said to Luka, "Give me the
phone."
Before Luka could say anything, Dave had snatched it out of his hand.
"Hi. I'm Dr.Dave Malucci, a. colleague of Dr.Greene's. I understand
that you can't accompany your daughter out here. Tell me, how old is
Rachel?" Dave asked.
"Twelve and a half. Why?"
"Look, put her on a flight to O'Hare. I'll personally make sure that
she gets here safe and sound," Dave offered.
"I don't know." Jen hesitated, "but it is an emergency. Look, I'll
get her on the first flight I can, and call back with the information okay?
What number should I call you at?"
"How about this, I'll give you my pager and I'll call you. My number
is." And Dave gave her his number.
"Yeah, okay bye." Dave said, and hung up, "Rachel is coming. I don't
know when, but she's coming," Dave announced.
