-Chapter Eight-
I'll be home for Easter
I am on my well-deserved break, sitting in a hallway, holding a Styrofoam cup with my Starbuck mocachino. This is so much better that that rubbish we call coffee for lack of a better word here at the hospital. You get used to everything, though, survival is very powerful. Going to Starbuck has its drawbacks, though: I had to diagnose three annoying people while waiting in line. I should know better than going to Starbuck with my lab-coat. Mark stopped wearing scrubs on his way to work because he was sick of giving medical opinions waiting for his breakfast. Anyway this coffee is well worth the trouble. I wince when a small black toddler swooshes down the always and land on my lap, almost spilling the precious contents of my mug. I hold the Styrofoam cup safely up in the air as I steady the little boy who looks at me without saying a word.
"Hey, kiddo, what's up?"
He blinks but remains silent. He's so cute, makes me wanna kiss him all over.
"Are you lost? Where are mommy and daddy?"
Still no answer. He looks familiar, though.
"Reese! Reese! Where are you?"
A familiar voice echoes in the hallway. Peter Benton appears from the corner.
"He's over here," I call out.
Peter Benton suppresses a sigh of relief as he comes upon his son, now starting to snuggle on my lap. Although I think he rationally knew Reese couldn't hear him, that hasn't stopped him from calling his name when he's disappeared.
"I put him down, turned around for a second, and the next thing I knew he was gone."
"Yeah, little kids are fast on their feet."
"They really are."
"So what are you doing here, Peter?"
"There was this lecture by Dr. Emily Swanson, a children psychologist who specializes in deaf kids developmental issues. She's opening a special school for deaf kids here in Chicago and I'm thinking of sending Reese there. I wanted to drop by and say hello, of course."
"What? I mean, you're moving back from Schaumburg, Peter?"
"Yeah, I'm seriously thinking about that."
"What about Cleo?"
"We broke up five months ago."
"Oh. I hope you'll get a position here at County, Peter. We're down a surgeon after all with Romano out of the picture, you know."
"Why?"
"He injured his arm because he stood too close to a rotor of a helicopter. Chop, chop."
"I'm sorry for him. I can't imagine not being able to operate."
"It's just a temporary thing, hopefully. He's a surgical resident's supervisor. Can you imagine that?"
Peter laughs. "Is Elizabeth on?"
I nod and watch my old friend going up to the surgical floor. I hope he'll be back here because I miss the good ol' times very much.
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I'm in the middle of this complicate procedure when I hear the doors of the OR open. There are already enough residents and med students here. Not that I don't mind an audience, but enough is enough.
"It's a standing room only, and we are crowded enough already. I'm afraid there's no room for one more."
"Not even for me, Elizabeth?"
"Peter!" I fight the impulse to hug him because I am sterile.
"It's good to see you, Elizabeth."
"Peter! What are you doing here? I'm still waiting for your last e-mail, you know? Hope you've gotten over Finch at last. I never liked her much, too stiff if you ask me. I've seen old British tossels more in touch with their emotions than that robot of a woman and that's saying something."
Peter clears his throat awkwardly. I know he hates discussing his private life in public but I love to tease him.
"Uhm, I was here to check on a special school for Reese. I might move back to Chicago soon."
"That's wonderful news, Peter! We have an opening here at County. I'm sure Morgenstern will be delighted to hire you back, Peter."
"Morgenstern?"
"Yeah, he's temporary filling in for chief of staff for Romano. Anspaugh pulled him out of retirement. Robert is on a leave of absence."
"I know, Susan told me. Bet you are enjoying your deserved peace, huh?"
"I must confess that I miss al little bit Robert's snarky humor, it kept me awake through double shifts."
"Well, I'll go see Morgenstern right away."
"Perfect. You know your way Peter. See you soon."
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Peter is back about an hour later, as I exit the OR. It feels so good to hug him at last.
"So?"
"Morgenstern hired me. I won't work nights and weekends, though. I don't wanna break Reese's routine."
"You have all the fortunes, don't you? Where's little Reese, huh?"
"Playing with Shirley. So, what time are you off?"
"Actually I am pulling a double." I didn't want to be home alone, not today of all days.
"Come on, get someone to cover for you. I wanna take you out to dinner."
"Ok. Hicks owes me a favor."
Angela agrees to take my shift. She welcomes Peter warmly. Those two are quite a pair.
"So where are we going to celebrate your homecoming, Peter?"
"Everywhere is fine for me, except Doc Magoo's. That's definitely something I didn't miss. I have a little problem, though. I don't know where to leave Reese."
"My nanny can watch him and Ella. I'm afraid she doesn't know how to sign, though."
"No problem. Reese learnt lip-reading pretty soon."
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Peter and I are sitting in this small Arab diner. I am eating a tasty kebab while he is eating some rabbit food, his usual health nut meal. This place might not be the best restaurant in town but it's cozy and the food is good; plus I am with one of my best friends so this is enough for me. We laugh madly, filling each other on the latest news and remembering the good ol' times. Being with peter is wonderful. I missed him so much, being his friend is one of the most comfortable relationship for me. And we were the best when we were together. Too bad we're history. Can't wait to be back together in a man's chest to our elbows. We were quite a team. As Americans say, we rocked. Look like my wish will come true sooner than I expected. Since we're short- handed his first shift is tomorrow already. I offer Peter and Reese to stay with me until he finds a place of his own. I'm glad he takes up my offer, because my house is too big for me and Ella only, especially today. It's my wedding anniversary and I think Peter remembered it, that's why he was so adamant to take me out. It's really sweet of him. But then, this is what being friends means, isn't it?
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I walk down the ER, and the sight of Peter ruling out an appy comes as startling yet comfortably familiar to me. Everything old is new again, you could say.
"Good morning, Susan!" Haleh cheerfully greets me, singing softly a gospel hymn with her amazing voice.
"What's it to be so happy about? You glad Peter's back, huh?"
"Yeah, although his crappy attitude to nurses hasn't changed. The reason why I am so happy is we received new meat today. Med students, cute young scut puppies for us nurses! God bless them!"
I laugh as she hands a bunch of young and innocent med students some charts, lining them up like little, brave soldiers.
"Follow me, children!"
I can't stop laughing. One of them suddenly stops, causing the rest of them to bump painfully into each other. They're so clueless! They remind me of Carter when I first met him. So young, cute and clumsy. A real klutz.
"Yo! Dr. B!" a young black student calls out.
"Hi William!" Benton replies, greeting him with that thing with his hand, kind of lightly punching the kid's fist. I guess that's the tough guys' hello.
"Starting your ER rotation already?"
"Yes, sir."
"Don't sir me, man. Can I steal him from you, Haleh?"
"Go ahead, Peter. I have plenty of other helpful babies here."
"Who's in charge today, Susan?"
"Weaver's off so Carter's the man." There's always an attending running the board. Usually it's Weaver.
"You seen him?"
"No. Must be with a patient."
Malik comes up and almost decapitates the poor kid with a rocketing b-ball directed to Carter, who's getting out of Exam Two in this very moment, and, though he has a short stubble on his chin and looks tired from his double shift, catches the ball promptly.
William stares oddly at Malik.
"What's up, bro?"
"It's just that I haven't seen a brother in pink scrubs before. And do you often shoot hoops in here?"
"Only when Carter's in charge. You're gonna get an education with him, you'll see."
"Carter!" Benton calls out.
"Yes, Peter?"
"Meet William White, a third year. He's my student."
"Your student." Carter repeats a bit sarcastically.
"Yeah, not technically."
William stares at Carter and a flash of recognition flicker in his eyes. "You're the one on the intercom! You were doing the amputation."
"What?"
"On my first visit here. The day that there was that big accident."
"Anyway," Benton interrupts him "I want you to keep an eye on him, Carter. Don't let Haleh or any of the nurses boss him around. And don't keep him running samples to the lab all day long. I want him to see some real action and maybe take a little part in it. This is what the ER rotation is supposed to be about."
"Got it. White, come with me."
Peter walks away and I find myself walking behind Carter and the student on my way to Curtain Three. Carter shows him the suture room.
"You know how to do stitches?"
"Yup, I interned at the Pedes Clinic this summer."
"Good. There's the lidocain, don't forget to ask if they're allergic to it. They might know it as Novocain."
"I know."
"You're on your own then. As they say around here, glove up and dig in, White."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------
Later I find poor William doing a H&H on a bipolar. Hopeless situation, really.
"Did I tell you my boyfriend's a firefighter?" the young girl tells him, surely for the umpteenth time.
"Six times already, Sylvia." William replies kindly yet desperately. He's gonna lose it soon. "I was asking you if you are pregnant."
"My Jamey is so hot in that Chicago Fire Department uniform." She punctually ignored him.
William sighs.
"What did you do to Carter to get him to stick you with a bipolar, huh?"
"Dunno, I think he has it in for me, Dr. Lewis."
"Nah, he's just in a crappy mood because he's pulling a double, probably. Carter's a good fellow. Watch me, I'll teach you a little trick."
He nods.
"So, your Jamey's hot, huh? Bet you had sex already. Must be difficult to resist the temptation."
"Uh-huh"
"When last?"
"Valentine's day."
"Very romantic. What about your period?"
"The week before that."
"Well, what you have here is a pregnant patient, Mr. White. Order a pregnancy test to confirm it and get her back on lithium."
"Thank you Dr. Lewis. I didn't think about getting her to talk about he sexual life. Not that there are many topics she hasn't touched already."
"It all comes with the experience. Anytime, William."
Lily taps me on the shoulder " Incoming trauma, Dr. Lewis."
"Have you been in a trauma already, William?"
"No, Dr. Carter and I have been talking about that, though."
"Come with me, then."
The paramedics wheel in a young girl followed by her worried parents.
"Sixteen year old unconscious, history of glucyna coma."
"She was doing fine until six months ago." The mother says desperately.
"What medication is she on?"
"Emphrasylim, tobramysim, vitamins A, D and K."
"So what do you see, William?"
"The skin's jaundiced."
"Good. Same with sclera, does her breath smell sweet?"
"Yeah."
"Any diagnoses, William?"
"Uhm, the liver's shut down, maybe?"
"Good catch. Just be a bit more assertive. Let's dip her urine. Set lactolose, 30 ccs per mg. Blood doesn't seem to clot."
"She's bleeding inside?"
"The liver failure is causing her blood not to clot."
"Is she on the transplant list?"
"She's been status 2a for six months but they haven't been able to find her a match."
"I am afraid we can't do much more than stabilize her. William, why don't you walk Mr. and Mrs. Flockhart outside?"
I do everything I can for the girl and then I step outside when another gurney pushes me back inside.
"Whoa! Watch that, Doris!"
"GSW to left upper chest. Two IV's of saline in the field. BP 100 over 60, pulse 110, two liters of saline by mass." That's her only answer.
"Okay, let's go. One, two, three. William, get your buddy Benton here and Carter too."
"Let's get her clothes off."
Entering the trauma room Carter asks "What have we got?"
"Gunshot wound to the chest."
"Alright, CBC, electrolytes, type and cross match four units and abort a radiographic chest."
"CBC?" William asks me. He probably doesn't know half of the long string of tests Carter's just ordered.
"Complete blood count." Carter spits back annoyed.
"Run a liter of saline and a gram of kefolex in. The trikia is midline, no injectalivines distention."
"Strong radial pulse, subclavines in tact."
"Pulse ox is 92 on fifteen liters."
"BP 95 palp."
Peter arrives just then. "So, let's move people, what have we got?"
"Why don't you give him the bullet William?"
The kid squirms and clears his throat. Carter's devilish. "GSW to left upper chest, no injectalivines distention. Strong radial pulse, subclavines intact. Pulse ox is 92 on fifteen liters. BP 95 palp. Is that it?" he asks hesitantly.
"Yup, good work, William."
Peter gets immediately to business. "Diminished breath sounds on the left. She'll need a chest tube. Susan, would you intubate please?"
"Let White do that."
Carter's in for a baptism of fire for that poor student.
"It's too early for that, Carter." Peter protests.
"Don't worry, I'll talk him through it. He's already seen quite a few. See one, do one, teach one. White, you'll need a number A ET tube and suction. Ok, now visualize the chords. Pay attention before you slide down the tube, you don't wanna put it into the esophagus, really."
William sweats copiously as he squints his eyes. Poor kid, I feel bad for him. "I can't see it, Dr. Carter. Sorry, I can't."
Carter snatches the tube abruptly from him and swiftly intubates the patient. He's kind of irritated. Can't see why he should be. I mean, if he didn't want William to mess up in front of Benton, 'cause a student reflects on his teacher, he shouldn't have let him intubate in the first place.
"One percent lidocain."
"Okay, I'm in. Let's bag her."
The fun is over soon. As we step outside the trauma room I overhear Benton scold Carter, like he used to when he was his student.
"Shouldn't have let you embarrass the kid in that trauma."
"Oh come on, he's here to learn not to pay attention to poor figures!"
"Exactly, you have to teach him things, not help him make a fool of himself in front of everyone!"
"Like everybody cared! You told me to make him see some action!"
"I meant it to be a gradual thing!"
"Ok, sorry Peter."
Benton walks away and Carter shakes his head.
William tries to apologize "Look, Dr. Carter I am sorry about-"
"Shut up, White! You have blood all over your shirt." He says before going into the men room.
William follows him and leaves the door open so I can hear the rest of the exchange.
Carter is splashing cold water on his face. William looks sadly at his ruined shirt and he tries to wipe the blood off it as he unties his tie. He'll learn soon you need to put it in hot water right away, otherwise you can throw it all away.
"You can wear scrubs around here, White." Carter says a bit more friendly. "Lots of doctors do."
"I prefer not to, Dr. Carter. I'd rather look smart with patients."
"Oh man, you're so professional. No wonder Benton adores you."
"Look, about Dr. Benton, I know he asked you to treat me well but I'm here to do everything you need me to do. I mean, I was expecting to do a lot more scut work, run labs, do rectals and stuff."
"There's no one here who'd like you to receive some of Haleh's treatment more than me, White, but I know better than ignore Benton's orders."
Carter walks away and so do I.
I am on my well-deserved break, sitting in a hallway, holding a Styrofoam cup with my Starbuck mocachino. This is so much better that that rubbish we call coffee for lack of a better word here at the hospital. You get used to everything, though, survival is very powerful. Going to Starbuck has its drawbacks, though: I had to diagnose three annoying people while waiting in line. I should know better than going to Starbuck with my lab-coat. Mark stopped wearing scrubs on his way to work because he was sick of giving medical opinions waiting for his breakfast. Anyway this coffee is well worth the trouble. I wince when a small black toddler swooshes down the always and land on my lap, almost spilling the precious contents of my mug. I hold the Styrofoam cup safely up in the air as I steady the little boy who looks at me without saying a word.
"Hey, kiddo, what's up?"
He blinks but remains silent. He's so cute, makes me wanna kiss him all over.
"Are you lost? Where are mommy and daddy?"
Still no answer. He looks familiar, though.
"Reese! Reese! Where are you?"
A familiar voice echoes in the hallway. Peter Benton appears from the corner.
"He's over here," I call out.
Peter Benton suppresses a sigh of relief as he comes upon his son, now starting to snuggle on my lap. Although I think he rationally knew Reese couldn't hear him, that hasn't stopped him from calling his name when he's disappeared.
"I put him down, turned around for a second, and the next thing I knew he was gone."
"Yeah, little kids are fast on their feet."
"They really are."
"So what are you doing here, Peter?"
"There was this lecture by Dr. Emily Swanson, a children psychologist who specializes in deaf kids developmental issues. She's opening a special school for deaf kids here in Chicago and I'm thinking of sending Reese there. I wanted to drop by and say hello, of course."
"What? I mean, you're moving back from Schaumburg, Peter?"
"Yeah, I'm seriously thinking about that."
"What about Cleo?"
"We broke up five months ago."
"Oh. I hope you'll get a position here at County, Peter. We're down a surgeon after all with Romano out of the picture, you know."
"Why?"
"He injured his arm because he stood too close to a rotor of a helicopter. Chop, chop."
"I'm sorry for him. I can't imagine not being able to operate."
"It's just a temporary thing, hopefully. He's a surgical resident's supervisor. Can you imagine that?"
Peter laughs. "Is Elizabeth on?"
I nod and watch my old friend going up to the surgical floor. I hope he'll be back here because I miss the good ol' times very much.
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I'm in the middle of this complicate procedure when I hear the doors of the OR open. There are already enough residents and med students here. Not that I don't mind an audience, but enough is enough.
"It's a standing room only, and we are crowded enough already. I'm afraid there's no room for one more."
"Not even for me, Elizabeth?"
"Peter!" I fight the impulse to hug him because I am sterile.
"It's good to see you, Elizabeth."
"Peter! What are you doing here? I'm still waiting for your last e-mail, you know? Hope you've gotten over Finch at last. I never liked her much, too stiff if you ask me. I've seen old British tossels more in touch with their emotions than that robot of a woman and that's saying something."
Peter clears his throat awkwardly. I know he hates discussing his private life in public but I love to tease him.
"Uhm, I was here to check on a special school for Reese. I might move back to Chicago soon."
"That's wonderful news, Peter! We have an opening here at County. I'm sure Morgenstern will be delighted to hire you back, Peter."
"Morgenstern?"
"Yeah, he's temporary filling in for chief of staff for Romano. Anspaugh pulled him out of retirement. Robert is on a leave of absence."
"I know, Susan told me. Bet you are enjoying your deserved peace, huh?"
"I must confess that I miss al little bit Robert's snarky humor, it kept me awake through double shifts."
"Well, I'll go see Morgenstern right away."
"Perfect. You know your way Peter. See you soon."
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Peter is back about an hour later, as I exit the OR. It feels so good to hug him at last.
"So?"
"Morgenstern hired me. I won't work nights and weekends, though. I don't wanna break Reese's routine."
"You have all the fortunes, don't you? Where's little Reese, huh?"
"Playing with Shirley. So, what time are you off?"
"Actually I am pulling a double." I didn't want to be home alone, not today of all days.
"Come on, get someone to cover for you. I wanna take you out to dinner."
"Ok. Hicks owes me a favor."
Angela agrees to take my shift. She welcomes Peter warmly. Those two are quite a pair.
"So where are we going to celebrate your homecoming, Peter?"
"Everywhere is fine for me, except Doc Magoo's. That's definitely something I didn't miss. I have a little problem, though. I don't know where to leave Reese."
"My nanny can watch him and Ella. I'm afraid she doesn't know how to sign, though."
"No problem. Reese learnt lip-reading pretty soon."
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Peter and I are sitting in this small Arab diner. I am eating a tasty kebab while he is eating some rabbit food, his usual health nut meal. This place might not be the best restaurant in town but it's cozy and the food is good; plus I am with one of my best friends so this is enough for me. We laugh madly, filling each other on the latest news and remembering the good ol' times. Being with peter is wonderful. I missed him so much, being his friend is one of the most comfortable relationship for me. And we were the best when we were together. Too bad we're history. Can't wait to be back together in a man's chest to our elbows. We were quite a team. As Americans say, we rocked. Look like my wish will come true sooner than I expected. Since we're short- handed his first shift is tomorrow already. I offer Peter and Reese to stay with me until he finds a place of his own. I'm glad he takes up my offer, because my house is too big for me and Ella only, especially today. It's my wedding anniversary and I think Peter remembered it, that's why he was so adamant to take me out. It's really sweet of him. But then, this is what being friends means, isn't it?
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I walk down the ER, and the sight of Peter ruling out an appy comes as startling yet comfortably familiar to me. Everything old is new again, you could say.
"Good morning, Susan!" Haleh cheerfully greets me, singing softly a gospel hymn with her amazing voice.
"What's it to be so happy about? You glad Peter's back, huh?"
"Yeah, although his crappy attitude to nurses hasn't changed. The reason why I am so happy is we received new meat today. Med students, cute young scut puppies for us nurses! God bless them!"
I laugh as she hands a bunch of young and innocent med students some charts, lining them up like little, brave soldiers.
"Follow me, children!"
I can't stop laughing. One of them suddenly stops, causing the rest of them to bump painfully into each other. They're so clueless! They remind me of Carter when I first met him. So young, cute and clumsy. A real klutz.
"Yo! Dr. B!" a young black student calls out.
"Hi William!" Benton replies, greeting him with that thing with his hand, kind of lightly punching the kid's fist. I guess that's the tough guys' hello.
"Starting your ER rotation already?"
"Yes, sir."
"Don't sir me, man. Can I steal him from you, Haleh?"
"Go ahead, Peter. I have plenty of other helpful babies here."
"Who's in charge today, Susan?"
"Weaver's off so Carter's the man." There's always an attending running the board. Usually it's Weaver.
"You seen him?"
"No. Must be with a patient."
Malik comes up and almost decapitates the poor kid with a rocketing b-ball directed to Carter, who's getting out of Exam Two in this very moment, and, though he has a short stubble on his chin and looks tired from his double shift, catches the ball promptly.
William stares oddly at Malik.
"What's up, bro?"
"It's just that I haven't seen a brother in pink scrubs before. And do you often shoot hoops in here?"
"Only when Carter's in charge. You're gonna get an education with him, you'll see."
"Carter!" Benton calls out.
"Yes, Peter?"
"Meet William White, a third year. He's my student."
"Your student." Carter repeats a bit sarcastically.
"Yeah, not technically."
William stares at Carter and a flash of recognition flicker in his eyes. "You're the one on the intercom! You were doing the amputation."
"What?"
"On my first visit here. The day that there was that big accident."
"Anyway," Benton interrupts him "I want you to keep an eye on him, Carter. Don't let Haleh or any of the nurses boss him around. And don't keep him running samples to the lab all day long. I want him to see some real action and maybe take a little part in it. This is what the ER rotation is supposed to be about."
"Got it. White, come with me."
Peter walks away and I find myself walking behind Carter and the student on my way to Curtain Three. Carter shows him the suture room.
"You know how to do stitches?"
"Yup, I interned at the Pedes Clinic this summer."
"Good. There's the lidocain, don't forget to ask if they're allergic to it. They might know it as Novocain."
"I know."
"You're on your own then. As they say around here, glove up and dig in, White."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------
Later I find poor William doing a H&H on a bipolar. Hopeless situation, really.
"Did I tell you my boyfriend's a firefighter?" the young girl tells him, surely for the umpteenth time.
"Six times already, Sylvia." William replies kindly yet desperately. He's gonna lose it soon. "I was asking you if you are pregnant."
"My Jamey is so hot in that Chicago Fire Department uniform." She punctually ignored him.
William sighs.
"What did you do to Carter to get him to stick you with a bipolar, huh?"
"Dunno, I think he has it in for me, Dr. Lewis."
"Nah, he's just in a crappy mood because he's pulling a double, probably. Carter's a good fellow. Watch me, I'll teach you a little trick."
He nods.
"So, your Jamey's hot, huh? Bet you had sex already. Must be difficult to resist the temptation."
"Uh-huh"
"When last?"
"Valentine's day."
"Very romantic. What about your period?"
"The week before that."
"Well, what you have here is a pregnant patient, Mr. White. Order a pregnancy test to confirm it and get her back on lithium."
"Thank you Dr. Lewis. I didn't think about getting her to talk about he sexual life. Not that there are many topics she hasn't touched already."
"It all comes with the experience. Anytime, William."
Lily taps me on the shoulder " Incoming trauma, Dr. Lewis."
"Have you been in a trauma already, William?"
"No, Dr. Carter and I have been talking about that, though."
"Come with me, then."
The paramedics wheel in a young girl followed by her worried parents.
"Sixteen year old unconscious, history of glucyna coma."
"She was doing fine until six months ago." The mother says desperately.
"What medication is she on?"
"Emphrasylim, tobramysim, vitamins A, D and K."
"So what do you see, William?"
"The skin's jaundiced."
"Good. Same with sclera, does her breath smell sweet?"
"Yeah."
"Any diagnoses, William?"
"Uhm, the liver's shut down, maybe?"
"Good catch. Just be a bit more assertive. Let's dip her urine. Set lactolose, 30 ccs per mg. Blood doesn't seem to clot."
"She's bleeding inside?"
"The liver failure is causing her blood not to clot."
"Is she on the transplant list?"
"She's been status 2a for six months but they haven't been able to find her a match."
"I am afraid we can't do much more than stabilize her. William, why don't you walk Mr. and Mrs. Flockhart outside?"
I do everything I can for the girl and then I step outside when another gurney pushes me back inside.
"Whoa! Watch that, Doris!"
"GSW to left upper chest. Two IV's of saline in the field. BP 100 over 60, pulse 110, two liters of saline by mass." That's her only answer.
"Okay, let's go. One, two, three. William, get your buddy Benton here and Carter too."
"Let's get her clothes off."
Entering the trauma room Carter asks "What have we got?"
"Gunshot wound to the chest."
"Alright, CBC, electrolytes, type and cross match four units and abort a radiographic chest."
"CBC?" William asks me. He probably doesn't know half of the long string of tests Carter's just ordered.
"Complete blood count." Carter spits back annoyed.
"Run a liter of saline and a gram of kefolex in. The trikia is midline, no injectalivines distention."
"Strong radial pulse, subclavines in tact."
"Pulse ox is 92 on fifteen liters."
"BP 95 palp."
Peter arrives just then. "So, let's move people, what have we got?"
"Why don't you give him the bullet William?"
The kid squirms and clears his throat. Carter's devilish. "GSW to left upper chest, no injectalivines distention. Strong radial pulse, subclavines intact. Pulse ox is 92 on fifteen liters. BP 95 palp. Is that it?" he asks hesitantly.
"Yup, good work, William."
Peter gets immediately to business. "Diminished breath sounds on the left. She'll need a chest tube. Susan, would you intubate please?"
"Let White do that."
Carter's in for a baptism of fire for that poor student.
"It's too early for that, Carter." Peter protests.
"Don't worry, I'll talk him through it. He's already seen quite a few. See one, do one, teach one. White, you'll need a number A ET tube and suction. Ok, now visualize the chords. Pay attention before you slide down the tube, you don't wanna put it into the esophagus, really."
William sweats copiously as he squints his eyes. Poor kid, I feel bad for him. "I can't see it, Dr. Carter. Sorry, I can't."
Carter snatches the tube abruptly from him and swiftly intubates the patient. He's kind of irritated. Can't see why he should be. I mean, if he didn't want William to mess up in front of Benton, 'cause a student reflects on his teacher, he shouldn't have let him intubate in the first place.
"One percent lidocain."
"Okay, I'm in. Let's bag her."
The fun is over soon. As we step outside the trauma room I overhear Benton scold Carter, like he used to when he was his student.
"Shouldn't have let you embarrass the kid in that trauma."
"Oh come on, he's here to learn not to pay attention to poor figures!"
"Exactly, you have to teach him things, not help him make a fool of himself in front of everyone!"
"Like everybody cared! You told me to make him see some action!"
"I meant it to be a gradual thing!"
"Ok, sorry Peter."
Benton walks away and Carter shakes his head.
William tries to apologize "Look, Dr. Carter I am sorry about-"
"Shut up, White! You have blood all over your shirt." He says before going into the men room.
William follows him and leaves the door open so I can hear the rest of the exchange.
Carter is splashing cold water on his face. William looks sadly at his ruined shirt and he tries to wipe the blood off it as he unties his tie. He'll learn soon you need to put it in hot water right away, otherwise you can throw it all away.
"You can wear scrubs around here, White." Carter says a bit more friendly. "Lots of doctors do."
"I prefer not to, Dr. Carter. I'd rather look smart with patients."
"Oh man, you're so professional. No wonder Benton adores you."
"Look, about Dr. Benton, I know he asked you to treat me well but I'm here to do everything you need me to do. I mean, I was expecting to do a lot more scut work, run labs, do rectals and stuff."
"There's no one here who'd like you to receive some of Haleh's treatment more than me, White, but I know better than ignore Benton's orders."
Carter walks away and so do I.