Elizabeth Corday slipped through the doors to the staff room and headed straight for the coffee machine. She poured herself a mug full, not even caring that it was only lukewarm. The day had become the night, and now, at three am, things had finally quietened down. She had downed the coffee in less than a minute, and was pouring herself another when she heard the doors swing behind her. She turned to see Susan Lewis with the same expression on her face.
"What a night." She sighed, collapsing in one of the flea-bitten arm chairs. Elizabeth agreed.
"How's Chuck?" She asked, remembering that Susan's ex-husband (and current boyfriend) had been involved in the accident the previous day. Susan sighed, but it was purely from exhaustion,
"He's fine." She said, "He'll be alright in a few days." She indicated the coffee in Elizabeth's hand, "Is that hot?"
"Stone cold." Elizabeth told her, "I'm taking desperate measures to stay awake."
"Is your shift over?"
"Two hours ago."
"Wanna go find some real coffee?" Susan offered. Elizabeth glanced at her watch and smiled,
"At three am?"
"I love a challenge." Susan said grinning, "Some where's got to be open."
"I might just take you up on that offer," Elizabeth said, pulling on her coat, "After everything that's happened tonight I don't feel much like sleeping."
"That's what comes from too many espressos and too many casualties in one shift." Susan pointed out, following Corday out of the room and into the relatively empty corridor. "Maybe we should paint over the helipad. That's were most disasters seem to start nowadays." They reached the reception desks and were met by an exhausted Abby who greeted them with half a wave and a deflated smile.
"Where've you been?" Susan asked her, taking in her grubby appearance.
"Trying to turn the OR back into an OR. It's looking like a cross between that and a war zone at the moment. You two finished?"
"Finally. You?"
"Oh no. I'm a nurse at the moment remember." Her face suddenly changed, "Doctor Corday, have you been upstairs yet?"
"Since when?"
"Since Doctor Romano went up there." Elizabeth frowned,
"What's he done now?" She said, preparing herself for yet another doctor's rant about the one armed surgeon. Abby looked perplexed,
"You mean you don't know?" The change in her voice suddenly struck a cord in Elizabeth's mind.
"Don't know what?" Elizabeth asked urgently. "What's happened?" Abby glanced at Susan, who seemed as unaware of the situation as Corday.
"Doctor Romano was outside when the chopper fell," Abby explained, "He got caught in the blast."
"Oh god," Susan exclaimed, "I didn't know, no one said anything!"
"What happened? Where is he?" She asked, "Is he alright?" Abby nodded,
"He's stable," She said, "Come on, I'm not going anywhere. I'll take you up." Susan followed Elizabeth and Abby toward the elevators. Elizabeth was questioning Abby along the way. Abby was trying to explain what had happened, and telling Elizabeth about the surgery.
"We had to inturbate, but he's breathing on his own now."
"Still unconscious?" Susan asked, Abby nodded, while Elizabeth left the elevator first.
"Enjoy it while it lasts." Abby said quietly to Susan, while the followed Corday into the hall. "2B," She directed her ahead of them.
"What was he doing outside the building?" Susan asked Abby, who shrugged,
"No idea. I thought he was in the ER, I was as shocked as anyone to find him in the wreckage." They rounded the corner and entered the room. "Second degree burns," She said her voice quieter, even though there was really no need. "Ironically, his false arm pretty much saved his life. There's some scarring on his right arm, but that'll heal. I found several pretty big shards of metal in the arm that would have caused some serious damage if they had hit anywhere else. There was some deep lacerations to the left leg, but I managed to stop the bleeding and seal that up pretty quickly. The real problem was his eye. Clarke and I did as much as we could, but we'll have to wait until he wakes up to see if his sight is affected."
"God help us all if it is." Susan mumbled. They sat in silence for a few minutes, until Elizabeth picked up Romano's chart and began leafing through it. "There's nothing we can do until he regains consciousness," Susan reminded Elizabeth.
"Yes, I know." Elizabeth said vaguely, still reading the chart.
"It's been a long shift," Susan said to Abby. "I'm heading home. Elizabeth?" Corday shook her head,
"I'll stay for a little while," She said, "Sorry Susan,"
"Oh don't worry, that's okay," Susan said warmly, "In fact, my bed's beginning to sound more and more inviting every minute. I'm going to call on Chuck and then head home. See you all later, and give my regards if he wakes up," Elizabeth and Abby called farewell after Susan, who headed to the elevator. Abby cleared her throat,
"Are you alright Doctor Corday?" She asked, quietly. Elizabeth looked up.
"Yes, yes I'm fine." She said, "I'm just worried." She sighed, "I really don't know what is going to happen when Robert wakes. You know he hasn't been up on the roof since his accident? Not with any helicopters in the vicinity anyway. I don't think people realise how much of an effect the accident had on him."
"Apart from turning him into even more of an asshole?" Abby suggested.
"He never paid any attention to the psyche councillor after the accident." Elizabeth continued, "He's lost his arm, his career and his pride in the space of a few months. I'm just worried that this will be the last straw." Abby was silent. It was true that she, and come to think of it, most of the other employees at County, had even spared a second thought for the psychological effects of Romano's accident. Abby suddenly felt like she shouldn't be there.
"I'm sorry." She said, "My shift's nearly over, so I'd better get back to the ER." She paused at the door, wondering if she should say something else, but thought the better of it. She left the OR in silence, and was mildly surprised by the difference in atmosphere when she reached the ER. As always, there was a cue in triage, although admittedly it was a small one. She looked around and saw Neela heading out of the doors. She hurried after her, slowing as she caught up.
"Hey," She said, with a friendly smile. A sort of bond had formed between the two med students over the last few hours, and her previous hostilities toward Neela had lifted. They walked, talking, past the wreck of the chopper, which was being crane lifted away.
"I wouldn't have wanted to be stood there yesterday evening," Neela said, pointing to the blackened ground beneath the wreckage. Abby laughed,
"That would be unlucky." She agreed.
*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*
That's more like it. I reckon that I can leave it now, and things might just be alright… Well, I'll keep an eye on County general, and you can be nosy with me.
Zea.
Review thanks,
Princesscool. You can say that again! I was actually shaking, and paralysed in shock. I don't what people say, Romano is a fantastic character. Due to my all powerful goddess ability I have thwarted the evil script writers.
Webster82