Chapter 2
In a daze, Abby pushed her way off the crowded EL train and hurried toward the ER. In the lobby, Kerry Weaver met her. "Abby, they have already taken off in New York, and should be arriving at O'Hare in the next ½ hour or so. An air ambulance will be waiting there to airlift Luka to County." Kerry pushed a stray lock of auburn hair off her forehead. "As we understand it, his condition is very serious but his vitals are holding steady. We have already arranged a bed for him upstairs after he is seen here in the ER. Why don't you go lay in the lounge until he arrives? "
"I can't sit still right now Kerry. I think I will just go find Susan and have a coffee with her."
Kerry smiled weakly, "I understand. Susan is actually taking a break in the lounge right now."
"Thanks. Call me when they are here."
"I will."
Abby unzipped her coat as she entered the silent lounge. Susan sat at the table with a big mug of coffee and a newspaper dated three days ago.
"Hey Susan, mind if I join you?"
Susan looked up and smiled, "You bet, pull up a seat."
Abby sat across from the young doctor, eagerly sipping on her own mug of hot brewed coffee.
"Do you know if the authorities have told Weaver what is wrong with Luka?" Abby was beginning to become very anxious.
"No, just that he is afflicted from some sort of illness. He has a high fever but no visible signs of infection such as rashes or bumps. Because he was found out in the rainforest, I guess he could be suffering from something like Malaria or another mosquito-borne virus."
"Scary." Abby studied her fingernails.
"Abby, are you okay?" Susan was staring at Abby intently, trying to read her thoughts.
"Huh?" Abby looked up, "Yeah I'm fine, just a little worried."
"You look like you got here in a hurry," Susan said, motioning to Abby's red flannel pyjama top and matching pants. Abby nodded. She thought for a moment and then hesitantly whispered, "Do you think it is wrong that I care so deeply about Luka? I mean, he is obviously my friend, but all I can think about right now is how I used to be in his arms, in his bed."
Abby kept her eyes downcast.
"I don't think it is wrong Abby, but what about Carter?"
Tears suddenly welled in Abby's eyes, "We broke up this afternoon. We have been having so many problems lately that I know I shouldn't be surprised, but still!"
Susan got out of her chair and moved over to put her arms around Abby. "I'm so sorry sweetie, I had no idea that you guys were having problems." She rubbed Abby's back in a friendly, comforting manner.
Abby wiped her eyes roughly. "I guess I just never felt right being with Carter. He is a wonderful person and we had great times together, but I just never felt loved. You know? Truly loved."
Susan nodded, "If that is how you felt, then it is better that you two go your separate ways, and besides, there is no rule saying you two can't continue to be close friends. You guys just weren't right to be "together.""
"I know, but I don't want to hurt him. I just cannot stop thinking about Luka and the times we spent together. We split during a huge blow-up, one where we both said terrible, terrible things and emotions were running wild. I miss him and can't stand the thought of losing him now without me ever telling him how I really felt."
"But Abby, you don't know that you are going to lose him. We just have to wait and see what his condition is when he arrives. You know he will get the best care here."
The door to the lounge suddenly swung open, stopping Susan in mid sentence. Lydia appeared in the doorframe. "Dr. Lewis, Dr. Weaver said to tell you and Abby that the helicopter has arrived. Luka is on his way down to the ER right now with Dr. Romano."
Both Abby and Susan moved out into the lobby, staring at the elevator doors. They opened suddenly, revealing a team of two flight nurses, Dr. Romano and several ER nurses. They surrounded a gurney, holding a person who was quite visibly shaking underneath a layer of blue hospital blankets.
Without thinking, Abby rushed to the gurney's side. What she saw there shocked her. Luka was laying unconscious on the gurney, his skin pale and clammy. She reached a hand out to feel his forehead but recoiled when she felt the intense heat radiating from him.
"What is his temperature? Abby looked to Lydia who held the thermometer.
"103.3."
"Shit," Abby muttered. They arrived in the trauma room and everything began to happen at once.
Dr. Romano began shouting out orders to the nurses. "Get a CBC, chem. 7, lights and core temp. I want him hooked up to O2 right away at 100% and keep an eye on his BP and pulse ox.
Abby felt completely removed from the situation as she was pushed around and bumped into during the commotion.
"Get his blood cultured right away and look for anything out of the ordinary. Get the lab to run a viral test to see what the hell we are dealing with." Romano looked at Abby, "Lydia, get Nurse Lockhart out of here."
Abby looked at him, "No, I want to stay. Don't make me leave him."
"You can come back after we assess him. You are too personally involved and not even on shift right now. Go wait in chairs and I'll be out in a few minutes."
Lydia grasped her hand, "Come on Abby, lets wait outside."
Half-heartedly, Abby tried to resist but finally allowed the older nurse to guide her into the lounge.
Ten agonizing minutes later, Dr. Romano sought Abby out.
"Abby, we have him stabilized and hooked up to the monitors. We are transporting him to the ICU, you can come with us if you like."
Abby jumped off the couch where she was sitting. "How is he? What is going on?"
"Right now, the preliminary tests reveal that Dr. Kovac is suffering from the mosquito-borne malaria virus. We are running in saline and antiviral right now. It is a wait and see game now."
Abby exited the lounge and ran after Luka's gurney. Connie and Haleh were loading the stretcher onto the elevator. When they saw Abby, Haleh pushed the closing door back open and waited for Abby.
She boarded the elevator and without acknowledging the nurses, focused intently on Luka's quivering frame.
"Luka? Can you hear me? Its Abby." She picked up his sweaty hand and held it in her own. She ran her thumb over the back of his hand. "I'm here, you are going to be okay now."
He didn't respond and Abby felt her heart sink. She realized just how sick he was. "I'm not going anywhere. Just hang on for me."
Abby leaned her head back against the elevator wall and closed her eyes.
In a daze, Abby pushed her way off the crowded EL train and hurried toward the ER. In the lobby, Kerry Weaver met her. "Abby, they have already taken off in New York, and should be arriving at O'Hare in the next ½ hour or so. An air ambulance will be waiting there to airlift Luka to County." Kerry pushed a stray lock of auburn hair off her forehead. "As we understand it, his condition is very serious but his vitals are holding steady. We have already arranged a bed for him upstairs after he is seen here in the ER. Why don't you go lay in the lounge until he arrives? "
"I can't sit still right now Kerry. I think I will just go find Susan and have a coffee with her."
Kerry smiled weakly, "I understand. Susan is actually taking a break in the lounge right now."
"Thanks. Call me when they are here."
"I will."
Abby unzipped her coat as she entered the silent lounge. Susan sat at the table with a big mug of coffee and a newspaper dated three days ago.
"Hey Susan, mind if I join you?"
Susan looked up and smiled, "You bet, pull up a seat."
Abby sat across from the young doctor, eagerly sipping on her own mug of hot brewed coffee.
"Do you know if the authorities have told Weaver what is wrong with Luka?" Abby was beginning to become very anxious.
"No, just that he is afflicted from some sort of illness. He has a high fever but no visible signs of infection such as rashes or bumps. Because he was found out in the rainforest, I guess he could be suffering from something like Malaria or another mosquito-borne virus."
"Scary." Abby studied her fingernails.
"Abby, are you okay?" Susan was staring at Abby intently, trying to read her thoughts.
"Huh?" Abby looked up, "Yeah I'm fine, just a little worried."
"You look like you got here in a hurry," Susan said, motioning to Abby's red flannel pyjama top and matching pants. Abby nodded. She thought for a moment and then hesitantly whispered, "Do you think it is wrong that I care so deeply about Luka? I mean, he is obviously my friend, but all I can think about right now is how I used to be in his arms, in his bed."
Abby kept her eyes downcast.
"I don't think it is wrong Abby, but what about Carter?"
Tears suddenly welled in Abby's eyes, "We broke up this afternoon. We have been having so many problems lately that I know I shouldn't be surprised, but still!"
Susan got out of her chair and moved over to put her arms around Abby. "I'm so sorry sweetie, I had no idea that you guys were having problems." She rubbed Abby's back in a friendly, comforting manner.
Abby wiped her eyes roughly. "I guess I just never felt right being with Carter. He is a wonderful person and we had great times together, but I just never felt loved. You know? Truly loved."
Susan nodded, "If that is how you felt, then it is better that you two go your separate ways, and besides, there is no rule saying you two can't continue to be close friends. You guys just weren't right to be "together.""
"I know, but I don't want to hurt him. I just cannot stop thinking about Luka and the times we spent together. We split during a huge blow-up, one where we both said terrible, terrible things and emotions were running wild. I miss him and can't stand the thought of losing him now without me ever telling him how I really felt."
"But Abby, you don't know that you are going to lose him. We just have to wait and see what his condition is when he arrives. You know he will get the best care here."
The door to the lounge suddenly swung open, stopping Susan in mid sentence. Lydia appeared in the doorframe. "Dr. Lewis, Dr. Weaver said to tell you and Abby that the helicopter has arrived. Luka is on his way down to the ER right now with Dr. Romano."
Both Abby and Susan moved out into the lobby, staring at the elevator doors. They opened suddenly, revealing a team of two flight nurses, Dr. Romano and several ER nurses. They surrounded a gurney, holding a person who was quite visibly shaking underneath a layer of blue hospital blankets.
Without thinking, Abby rushed to the gurney's side. What she saw there shocked her. Luka was laying unconscious on the gurney, his skin pale and clammy. She reached a hand out to feel his forehead but recoiled when she felt the intense heat radiating from him.
"What is his temperature? Abby looked to Lydia who held the thermometer.
"103.3."
"Shit," Abby muttered. They arrived in the trauma room and everything began to happen at once.
Dr. Romano began shouting out orders to the nurses. "Get a CBC, chem. 7, lights and core temp. I want him hooked up to O2 right away at 100% and keep an eye on his BP and pulse ox.
Abby felt completely removed from the situation as she was pushed around and bumped into during the commotion.
"Get his blood cultured right away and look for anything out of the ordinary. Get the lab to run a viral test to see what the hell we are dealing with." Romano looked at Abby, "Lydia, get Nurse Lockhart out of here."
Abby looked at him, "No, I want to stay. Don't make me leave him."
"You can come back after we assess him. You are too personally involved and not even on shift right now. Go wait in chairs and I'll be out in a few minutes."
Lydia grasped her hand, "Come on Abby, lets wait outside."
Half-heartedly, Abby tried to resist but finally allowed the older nurse to guide her into the lounge.
Ten agonizing minutes later, Dr. Romano sought Abby out.
"Abby, we have him stabilized and hooked up to the monitors. We are transporting him to the ICU, you can come with us if you like."
Abby jumped off the couch where she was sitting. "How is he? What is going on?"
"Right now, the preliminary tests reveal that Dr. Kovac is suffering from the mosquito-borne malaria virus. We are running in saline and antiviral right now. It is a wait and see game now."
Abby exited the lounge and ran after Luka's gurney. Connie and Haleh were loading the stretcher onto the elevator. When they saw Abby, Haleh pushed the closing door back open and waited for Abby.
She boarded the elevator and without acknowledging the nurses, focused intently on Luka's quivering frame.
"Luka? Can you hear me? Its Abby." She picked up his sweaty hand and held it in her own. She ran her thumb over the back of his hand. "I'm here, you are going to be okay now."
He didn't respond and Abby felt her heart sink. She realized just how sick he was. "I'm not going anywhere. Just hang on for me."
Abby leaned her head back against the elevator wall and closed her eyes.