FULL CIRCLE

Chapter 2

Dr. Natalie Durant was usually too be found in one of the many labs in the sprawling N.I.H. headquarters. She preferred to be working in there most of the time rather than treating patients. Although she did that willingly, it's just in the labs she was the most useful.

At the moment she was in one such lab, reading the latest reports on the drug resistant staph infections. Those infections, once found mainly in hospitals were now being found more and more among the general populations. A new antibiotic was soon to be tested against the bacteria and she planned to help conducting the tests.

When her pager went off, she checked it and seeing that it was from Stephen, picked up her reports and headed for his office.

The other doctor on the N.I.H. team, Miles McCabe, was spending the day volunteering at a local clinic. It was a favor for a medical school classmate who had found herself short when the regular doctor was home sick with a cold. He had agreed to help out on the condition that if he was paged, he'd have to leave.

Miles was enjoying the chance to treat children suffering from the minor ailments and injuries of childhood. No real emergencies and no critically ill patients. .His latest patient was a five-year old girl needing stitches after cutting her hand on a sharp piece of metal. "All done," he said and looked up at the anxious mother. "She'll need to have to have the stitches removed in about a week. If you come on back to the clinic, someone can do it."

"Thank you, Doctor. I'll make sure she keeps it clean." She looked at her daughter who was already picking at the two smiley face band-aids covering the stitches. "Melissa Anne Wells, you stop that right this minute!"

Miles pulled off his gloves and was getting ready for his next patient when his pager went off. After giving it a quick check, he said to the nurse, "Could you please tell Dr. Winslow that I need to leave?"

"That's all right. We've got it under control now. It's when we're doing children's clinic that I can use an extra pair of hands," Sarah Winslow said, walking over to him. "I know that this has got to be very important for you to just leave."

"It is," Miles replied. He turned to head for the parking lot.

Frank Powell, the team's toxicologist had the day off and was spending it at home. Having sent his daughters off to spend the day with his sister-in –law, he planning on having a little togetherness with his wife.

"Lunch is served," frank announced stepping out of the kitchen and balancing two plates. "We are actually having a meal with no spilled milk and no nonstop conversation." He set the plates on the table.

"And how often is that?" she laughed.

They had sat down to eat when his pager went off. "Maybe if I ignore it, it will go away." He sighed and checked it. "It's from Stephen. I've gotta run. I'm sorry, Honey."

"It's okay. Maybe the next time we get some time alone will be after they all graduate high school."

Frank gave her a quick kiss and headed out the door. She sighed and looked at his untouched plate She knew that the next time she saw him; it would while he came home to quickly pack before heading off to God knows where.

Eva Rossi, the team's PR and logistics, was having lunch with one of her many journalist friends. It was supposed to be a time to share news and catch up on old times, Eva's glory days as an investigative reporter. When her pager went off, she quickly checked it and said, "Well, It's been fun. But I need to run. Maybe we can get together again soon."

"Still going after the big scoop?" he asked.

"Something like that." .She picked up her purse and headed for the exit.