The following day, the weather seemed to have pitied the residents of Chicago as the sun emerged from behind the clouds, melting the snow that had embedded itself on the rooftops.

The doctors of the ER began their day "treating and streeting" patients that seemed to have clogged up the waiting area. It always marvelled Carter how in the matter of 15 hours the ER could have transformed from an almost deserted area to one packed freshly with its own unique batch of problematic patients. Carter was distracted from his thoughts when Sara came out of the doctors lounge ready to start her first day in county.

"Hey, Dr Carter. So, where shall I start?"

"Well start on the minor cases for today, you can assist in a few traumas as long as I'm there"

"Ok, that's fine"

Pratt walked over to Sara as she made her way to pick up her first chart. The nurses stopped their talk about Days of our lives and took notice of Pratt's mission.

"Hey baby, I'm Greg Pratt, Carter informs me you're a top student. Maybe you could tutor me today around 7 in the five rivers?"

"First of all, its Dr Richards and secondly, sevens not good for me, I think I may come down with the flu but if you need a tutor to help to work out the symptoms just use the study guide in the doctors lounge all right baby?"

At this point the nurses unsuccessfully tried to hide their amusement as Sara picked up her chart and made her way to curtain 3 to assess a fractured hand.

"Damn Pratt, I thought you were quite smooth"

"Shut up Haleh"

As the day went on, and patients came in and out, the staff at County grew to like Sara; she seemed to bring life into the hospital. Susan and Sara found that they both lived in the same suburb while growing up, while Deb found Sara's academic success a reflection of her own when she was a med student. The nurses seemed happy enough due to her polite tone and appreciation of their help, while Abby and Sara shared a few inappropriate jokes about ex-boyfriends. Weaver was pleased with the quick diagnosis's Sara had made and the number of patients she had got through, whereas Luka was amazed by her desirable figure. Carter was pleased to have a decent med student to work beside himself, one who could follow instructions and use their own initiative.

C: "Sara, I need your help, there's been an accident and a 6 year olds coming through"

S: "ok, I'll be right there"

C: So what have we got?

P: This is Jessica, blood pressure normal, complains of stomach pain and a headache, age 6, her mums coming to"

C: Hi, Jessica, I'm Doctor Carter and this is Dr Richards and we going to take care of you"

J:  I want my mum

S: I'm sorry sweetheart but your mum's been hurt too and the other doctors are looking after her.

J: I want my Dad.  I don't like needles and he always holds my hand.

S: Its alright sweety we've called your Dad and he said he'd. be here as soon as he can. Oh I like you doll, what her name?

J: Her names Cathy

S: That's a nice name. Do you have any other dolls?

J: Yeah, I have loads. Daddy brought me a…

The helpful distraction enabled the nurses to give her some medication.

C: Pupils reactive, air ways clear. Ok, honey, I'm just going to feel your belly you've got to tell me if it hurts.

J: Ow

C: Sorry honey. Can we have an ultrasound and an X-ray?

S: No obvious cuts or bumps on her head. But to make sure I'd like to do a cat scan

D: Hi, I'm Jessica's father. How's she doing?

J: Daddy!

D: Hey Princess

C: well she may have internal bleeding but we are still running tests to make sure.

S: Yeah a small perforation of her large intestine

C: cAT scan clear. Mr Saunders your daughter needs to go to the OR and have an operation to stop her bleeding any further.

D: What?!

C: A surgeon from the OR will talk over the procedure with you

J: I need an operation?

S: Yeah honey, I'm sorry but you're going to have the best surgeon in the hospital with you and your going to be fine! I'll. take care of Cathy for you and when your better I'll. come and give her back to you.

Dr Romano came downstairs and took Jessica upstairs while her Dad held her hand.

C: You seem to have a way with kids. Ever thought about paediatrics?

S: No way, I couldn't handle seeing sick kids all day, I'd get depressed. But I love kids, my brothers and friends have got kids and I love playing with them. They're more entertaining and bold than most adults I've met.

*****

Later on, Pratt seemed to continue to dwell on his rejection

P: You nurses keep telling me how nice Sara is and yet I don't think she likes me

Abby: Why don't you just ask her why she's being cold towards you- no one else seems to have a problem

Pratt grabbed his chance

P: Look Dr Richards, I don't understand why you dislike me so much, I was only trying to make you feel welcome

S: Finally you addressed me like a lady. That is all I'm asking for. I don't dislike you; it's just that I don't talk to guys who talk to women like that.

P: How about we start again?

S: yeah sure, Hi, my names Sara

P: Greg Pratt

S: "The latter part of your name must be a reflection of your personality."

P: "oi, I thought we had made it up"

S: "Sorry I was only joking, I can't help it sometimes. I bet your thinking of a way to get even now- unfortunately you can't be very creative with "Sara Richards" although my brothers call me baby girl."

P: "well baby girl, you wanna go out to lunch?"

S: sorry can't at the mo, Weavers got me monitoring a heart patient, maybe some other time G

P: G? That's what my brother Leon calls me. How did you know that?

S: I figured you were Leon's brother. Leon and me where friends when I was in High school. He was a friend of my brothers, Omarion; hence I was pre-warned of your tendencies.

P: Omarion was your brother? But he was…

S: What Black?

P: Well yeah

S: Well actually I'm of dual heritage. My dad was black and my mum was white.

Sara interpreted the expression on Pratt's face as utter confusion and felt she needed to elaborate.

S: When I was 6 J adopted me, so I grew up with Omarion, J and Tyrese. I don't care if we don't have the same blood running in our veins there my brothers and I'm their sister. They given me more love and support then most people receive from their families in a lifetime.


P: I met Omarion once, he was telling Leon about you, and how you kicked the ass of a guy who cheated on you when you were 14.

S: Yeah

P: That means you were the one who was with Omarion when he died? The story spread like wildfire through every ghetto town in America.

S: Yeah I know. They treat my family and I like some sort of legend because of what we stood for and all the stories. Most of them are exaggerated you know. They make us sound like some invincible force fighting against evil.

Sara and Pratt stood in silence as they began to remember what their families had lost over the years. Pratt lost his brother Leon, not physically but mentally whereas Sara lost her brother whom she had loved more than life itself.

Beep Beep.

S: Look I better go. Weavers paging me

P: All right then. Um, Sara if you ever need to chat or anything you know where I am

S: Thanks G, but I'm fine!


As Sara walked to the curtain area, Pratt watched her with a new found respect for her. He felt sadness for the sufferings she must have faced in her life but respect for the challenges she has had to overcome over the years, loosing friends and family in the on going fight against gang violence and drug related crimes which were inevitable growing up where she did.