I'm so really sorry for the long update, it's just everything I write I didn't like. So now I finally got inspired and wrote this one :) Hope you all like it too.
Nee –Yeah, I know I miss some words when I write, I always have my brother look at my stories before I post them, but since he doesn't like JoA he doesn't want to read this one. Now I think I'm doing fairly well considering all the English I know I learned in school and in TV :) And I'm using Word. That fixes almost all my mistakes
And everyone else who reviewed thanks, If I thank you one by one I'll never get to the story :p
Now enjoy chapter 4
Second Chances: Chapter 4.Roads
This is from Joan's POVI heard laughing. Everyone was laughing. I opened my eyes and saw my family sitting in the picnic table in the backyard of our old house. Mom is laughing and passing the potatoes around. She looks really pretty when she smiles like that. Dad smiles and kisses her. The phone rings and Kevin gets up to get it, says it's probably Beth calling to confirm their plans. Luke smiles looking at a bug that poses at the table. He goes up to his room to find his, magnifying glass. The one he just got today for his 10th birthday. I smile looking at everyone so happy. We're celebrating Luke's birthday. I remember we ended up just ourselves celebrating like this. Dad hadn't called to confirm the Chuck E. Chesses reservation. The mail returned all the invitations because Kevin's handwriting was illegible. And the bakery had made the wrong cake congratulating Luke for his new baby boy. Mom almost had a heart attack when she saw the cake. My only job had been to wrap up the presents. And I did, I just didn't remembered where I had put them after I wrapped them... So we ended up on the backyard eating day old chicken with instant mix mashed potatoes. Dad found the gifts hidden behind the toilet and mom scraped all the frosting off the cake. Luke said it was his best birthday ever. And even though it wasn't my own birthday and I never told anyone, this was the best day of my life.
"Time of death twelve forty five" I hear a female voice say
Everything goes black again, but this time it stays that way…
EarlierThe receptionist at the front desk was flirting with a guy when the phone rang
"Just one sec hon" She said to the guy and picked up the phone "University hospital surgical floor, how can I help you? Oh hi Dr. Ross. Yeah we have that patient here. Ok, how do you spell that? G-I-R-A-R-D-I. Yeah ok I'll give the Dr. that message. Bye Dr. Ross" She wrote something on a Post-it and left it at the desk. She then continued to talk to the guy not paying attention to the little paper when it fell to the floor.
Joan's room"Come on!!" Kevin yells at the TV "That's clearly a foul! That referee is blind!"
"Come on it was so not a foul" Luke tells him which makes Kevin give him an evil glare
"Hey, hey there are people trying to sleep here" Joan says a little groggy
"Welcome back sleeping beauty" Kevin said "You've been sleeping all day"
"What time is it?" Joan asked
"It's five twenty five" Luke says looking at his watch
"Oh come on, I've never slept that much. Except that time, but it was summer" Joan said looking around the room "Where's mom?"
"She went home to take a bath. She's coming back later with dad" Kevin said looking back at the game in the TV
"You feeling ok?" Luke asked Joan
"Yeah" She said yawning "Though I do feel a little dizzy, must be from sleeping that much"
"Probably" Luke said smiling
"Hey Luke. Can you bring me something to eat? Preferably something sweet like some M&M's. That would be great" Joan said.
Abby came in "Hi Joan, I see you're finally awake" She said taking the chart and writing something
"I'll see what I can sneak in later" Luke said winking
"Thank you" Joan said. Luke went back to seeing the game with Kevin
"So how are you feeling?" Abby asked her
"I'm hungry" Joan said
"I'll bring you a tray of food later. So are you ready for a walk?"
"Really?"
"Yeah, You have to start walking now. It's part of your recovery" Abby said smiling. Joan nodded and she helped Joan get out of the bed
"Look at me I'm up!" Joan said excited "And I'm going" She started to walk outside the room with Abby's help "See you boys" She said waving to Luke and Kevin
"Bye Joan" They both said looking at the TV and not at her
"Men" Abby said rolling her eyes. Joan laughed
"Where are we going?" Joan asked
"Just here. I'm going to give you a full tour of the fifth floor" Abby said "Not exactly a marathon I know, but it's the best I can do"
"That's okay, beats being in bed" Joan said smiling "Where's Dr. Carter?"
"He's with another patient now, he'll be by your room later."
"Okay" Joan said "I'm feeling a little dizzy" She said looking down
"Ok sit here" Abby helped Joan sit in a chair by the front desk "Better?"
"A little yeah. I think I can continue now"
"I don't think so."
"Oh come on. I can walk. I don't want to go back to bed" Joan whined
"I know" Abby said smiling and left. She came back a few minutes later with a wheelchair "Hop in"
Joan groaned "Do you want to go back to your room now? 'Cause is this or that" Abby said
"Okay, okay. You win" She said frustrated and sat in the wheelchair "Don't you have other patients?"
"I can take a break"
"Then okay. You know the hospital better than me, take me somewhere interesting"
"Okay, I know just the place. Let me just go get something" Abby returned a few minutes later with two coats. She pushed Joan to the elevator.
"So... we're going somewhere cold?"
"It's the middle of December, everything's cold"
"You got a point there"
"Here we are"
The elevators doors opened and they were in the roof. It was night already.
"You can see the whole city from up here" Abby said looking down "Even if you're alone up here, you're never alone. The whole city is with you"
"Yeah, it's beautiful" Joan said looking down too.
"It's been a while since the last time I came with someone up here" Abby said "Me and Carter used to come together all the time"
"What happened?"
"I... I don't know" Abby said her eyes watering a little. "We used to talk a lot. About everything. I thought we were getting really well, but now he only talks to me about work. I really don't know what changed." They stood there a while until Abby's pager beeped "Well. Got to go" Abby said pushing Joan back to the elevator. "Hope I didn't bore you"
"Are you kidding? That was beautiful. And don't worry Abby, he's going to realize sooner or later that he misses you" Joan told her trying to cheer her up
Abby took Joan back to her room. Will and Helen were waiting for her.
"Oh my God. What happened? I thought you were going for a walk." Helen asked seeing Joan in the wheelchair
"Nothing Mrs. Girardi. She just got dizzy while we were walking so we continued on wheels. I have to go now. See you Joan"
"Bye Abby" She said waving goodbye
"Hey baby" Will said hugging Joan "How are you feeling?"
"Hungry" Joan said smiling
"They brought your food Joan, but since Kevin and Luke were alone in the room, it mysteriously disappeared" Helen said glaring at them
"What? We're growing boys. We need the food too" Kevin said
"I'll bring you something" Will said "You want anything special Joan?"
"A turkey sandwich would be good" She said
"Okay" Will said leaving
"Hey Kevin want to race?" Joan asked still sitting in the wheelchair
"You're on" He said
"Al right" Joan and Kevin started to race from one side to the room to the other
A while later Will came back with the sandwich and Joan ate. They were all in the room. Joan was sitting back on the bed and Luke and Kevin were the ones racing now. Will and Helen we're being... well parents
"I talked to doctor Carter earlier honey" Helen said "He says if everything keeps improving you may be able to leave the hospital in two or three days"
"That's great mom. I miss my comfy bed" Joan pouted
"Yeah, well you focus on getting better now" Will said
Joan stopped smiling for a moment and looked at Will "Dad, how's Ramsey?"
Everyone in the room, even Luke and Kevin froze
"Why do you ask?" Will asked
"I want to know what's going to happen to him" Joan said still serious
"Well we're going to make him go to psychiatric treatment. If it goes well then he's going to go a clinic."
"That's better than jail I guess"
"Yeah it is" Will said
"Aw, my chest kind of hurts" Joan said holding her chest
"Are you ok?" Helen asked touching her "Oh my God! She's burning up"
"Luke go call the doctor" Will said and Luke ran out of the room
"Is your chest all that hurts? Does something else hurts Joan?" Helen asked holding her hand
"I can't… I can't breathe mom" Joan said panicking
"Here she is" Luke said coming in with the do behind him
"What happened?" He asked with his stethoscope out
"It... hurts" Joan said the fear obvious in her voice
"What hurts?" He asked. Joan tried to speak, but couldn't so she pointed to her chest.
"She can't breathe" Helen said
"What's wrong?" Asked Abby coming in "I was just with her she was fine"
"Chest pains. Difficulty breathing." Carter said
"She said she was dizzy earlier. I thought it was from the walking." Abby said
"Could be a clot. We should do a scan. Abby get me a monitored bed and call radiology let them know we got a critical coming"
"All right" Abby ran out of the room
"Joan listen to me, we're going to do a scan that will tell us if there is a clot in your lungs that is difficulting your breathing. Do you understand?" He explained
Joan nodded.
Abby came back with the bed "They're expecting us Carter"
"Well then let's go. Joan do you think you can move to this bed?" Joan nodded and moved to the other bed. Then Carter and Abby took Joan to radiology.
Radiology"Okay Joan. You have to relax" Carter said looking through the mirror at the other side of the room where Joan was.
"Okay shooting scan... now" The radiologist said. Soon the images started to show in the computer
"That doesn't look like a clot" Said Abby "Oh my god! Is that…?" Abby asked looking at the image shocked
"But it can't be" Carter said looking at the scan too "There's a fraction of the bullet in her lung"
"Her pressure's dropping Dr. Carter" The radiologist said
Carter and Abby quickly moved to the other room to help her "Pulse ox is 87. We have to tube her, she can't breathe. 7.0 ET tube" Abby handed him the tube "Sorry Joan" He said looking at her "There"
"Her pressure's coming up. Pulse ox is up, but still low" Abby said looking at the monitor
"We have to get her to surgery NOW. Abby you tell the parents, I'll go prep her" Carter said
"Okay Carter" Abby ran out of the room to find Helen and Will
She found them still in Joan's room "Helen" She said almost out of breath "Will. There's a problem with Joan. We don't know how but there's still a fraction of the bullet in her lungs. I need you to sign this consent so we can operate now"
Will and Helen stood there shocked. Will automatically took the papers and signed them. The expression in his face not changing.
"What?" Helen said breaking the silence
"There's still a fraction of the bullet in Joan's lung. We don't know how it got there, but we need to operate right now to get it out." Abby explained more calmed now
Helen broke down in sobs in Will's arms "Why again? Can I see her before?" She asked
"Sure if we hurry" Abby said "Follow me"
Abby took them to the room. They had to wear masks to go in to see her. Abby told them she was already sleeping because of the anesthesia, and she was hooked to the monitors.
"Oh Joan" Kevin said looking at her. He couldn't bear to look at Joan like that so he turned around and left
Helen tried to stop him, but Will stopped her "Let him go" Helen nodded and caressed Joan's face. It was so cold and pale. This definitely wasn't the Joan she knew. They stood there until the nurse told them they to take Joan to the operating room.
Operating roomCarter was waiting inside with Benton watching, he isn't going to operate this time.
"Okay ready to do this?" Benton asked "Scalpel"
"Shouldn't we wait for Elizabeth?" Carter asked holding the scalpel
"Dr. Corday called and said she got help up in a appendectomy, she'll be joining us later" One of the nurses said
"Ok thanks" Benton said taking the scalpel
Halfway through the operation Dr. Elizabeth Corday arrived
"Glad you could finally join us Elizabeth" Benton said
"Sorry I'm late" She said in a British accent taking the place besides Benton
"You missed the best part. We just removed the bullet. How are the vitals?" Benton said
"Pressures going up. So is the Pulse ox" The nurse said
"Seems she's doing fine now" Corday said "If you don't need me then I'll go"
All of a sudden the alarms were beeping again "Pressure's going down"
"What?" he said surprised
"She must be bleeding somewhere. Bullet must have been holding a hemorrhage. We have to stop it now. Carter you suction" Corday said
"I think I see it, let's try and clamp it" Benton said
The monitor beeped again "She's in V-Fib" The nurse said
"Charge the paddles to 200." Benton said
"Should we shock her? We have to stop the bleeding first" Carter asked
"If we lose her then the bleeding won't matter. Clear" He said and shock her
"No change" The nurse said
"Push two amps of EPI. Charge again to 250. And clear" He shocked her again
"Pressure's still going down, no change" The nurse said
"She's bleeding out. We have to stop it!" Corday said practically screaming "Push four of atropine and hand me a clamp"
"Atropine's in" The nurse said
"Let's give the medicine time to work" Corday said
"Now she's in V-tach" Benton said
"Well then help me!" She said "We have to work fast."
"Let's try to shock her again Elizabeth" Benton said
"I can do this" She said
"Elizabeth get out of the way" Benton said pushing her aside. "Charge paddles to 250. Clear." They all looked at the monitor
"Normal sinus" The nurse said
"Well looks like that worked" Benton said looking over at Corday
"You didn't have to push me. Hand me a sterile clamp" The nurse did so "There wasn't this much blood before" She said looking curiously at the bleeding "It's not coming from here. I must have nicked an artery when you pushed me."
"What? That's imposible!" Benton said shocked "Oh my God, what have I done. Hand me a clamp"
"Pressure's going down" The nurse said when an alarm beeped
"Not again. She's losing blood faster than we can give her. Push four more of atropine. And hang two more units of blood on the rapid infuser" Corday and Benton were working quickly and shouting orders at everyone
"I tied the minor bleeding" Benton said
"I'm working as fast as I can" Corday said
"She's getting shocky" The nurse said "She's in V-fib."
"Push two of atropine. I'm almost done" Corday ordered
"She's maxed out on atropine" The nurse said
"Well then try dopamine. I don't care" Corday shouted
The nurse looked at Dr. Benton for approval and he nodded "Dopamine's in"
"Okay I'm done" Corday said
"She's still in V-fib"
"Let's shock her, charge paddles to 200" Benton said "Clear"
"No change"
"Put another unit of blood in the infuser, she has to recover some volume." Corday said
"No change"
"Push two more of EPI and charge again to 250." Benton said "Clear!"
"Assystole" The monitor flat lined
The three doctors stared shocked at Joan.
"Let's give the drugs a chance to work" Carter said "Shock her again"
"Charge to 300. Clear"
"Still assystole"
"I don't know what to do. She's been coding on and off for the last half hour" Corday said sadly
"She's young" Carter said
"With some fatal injuries Carter" Benton said trying to console him "Elizabeth call it"
"Time of death twelve forty five" Corday said looking at the clock in the wall. It's always sad to lose a patient, especially one this young. She still had so much to live for. The family would probably be devastated
"Wait a second, she's back in V-fib" The nurse said shocked
"She's what?"
"Now she's in V-tach"
"We can shock that, charge to 200."
"Wait!" The nurse shouted "Normal sinus"
They stared shocked at the monitor. Her heart was beating again, a steady beat.
"She's back" Carter said clearly surprised
"I've never seen this happen before" Corday said not believing what her eyes were seeing
"Well I guess we should finish and close up" Benton said talking, but not moving at all looking at the monitor
"Yeah" Corday said "Let's do that"
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:D I can tell you it won't take as long to update as this one 'cause I'm going to start writing it right now :) But I won't make any promises. School started again and I'm buried in homework already.