FULL CIRCLE

Chapter 33

Natalie finished up the autopsy on the first patient and stripped off her gloves and gown. Frank had been right, Mrs. Randolph hadn't died of the influenza virus. Her cause of death had been an air embolus. Quick, hopefully painless and really only detectable in an autopsy. She'd go ahead and autopsy the rest of the patients but she had the suspicion that the results would be the same.

A glance at the clock showed that it was 9:30 so Natalie decided that she'd take a break for awhile. She could go get some coffee and check on Miles. She hoped he'd gotten a good night's sleep but
knowing the routine with head injury patients, she somehow doubted it.

Miles looked a little happier when he saw who his visitor was. "Come on in, Nat," he invited.

She entered the room and moved on over to the bed. "Hi, Miles. How are you feeling this morning?"

"I'm okay. Could you talk the doctor into letting me out of here?" he asked.

"I'll see what I can do but it's not up to me," Natalie answered.

"I know. Hey, what are you doing with your time off?" he asked.

"I know what I'd like to do. There's a classical pianist doing a concert Friday night," Natalie replied. "But being this close, Idoubt I could get a ticket now."

"I bet Eva could get you the ticket," Miles said.

"You're probably right about that," Natalie agreed.

Miles closed his eyes briefly and then opened them. "Nat, did you get any of the autopsies done yet?" he asked.

"I did one so far, Miles. Your last patient--Mrs. Randolph. She died of an air embolus," Natalie said quietly.

"Damn," Miles swore softly. "Why did they do it? Infect those people and then kill them?"

Natalie placed a hand on his shoulder. "I really don't know, Miles."

"I see you have a visitor," Dr. Cassidy said as she entered the room.

"Yeah. So have you decided that I can be released?" Miles asked.

"Well, yes. But with a few conditions."

"What are they?" Miles asked although he wasn't sure he wanted to know.

"I would prefer that if it is at all possible you stay here in the city for at least forty-eight hours. It'll give you a better chance to recover before attempting to fly across country."

"I'm not leaving for a few days anyway," Miles answered. "What else?"

"Take a taxi or have someone drive you to the hotel or wherever you're staying at. I'd say no driving for a few days," the doctor advised. "And if the symptoms return or intensify I want you back here right away."

"I'll make sure he gets to the hotel okay," Natalie told the other doctor.

"All right then. I'll get your discharge papers in order. And I'm going to give you some prescriptions for the pain meds and something in case the nausea does return. I think you'll find you'll rest
easier once you get out of here. Most patients do," she said with a smile.

"Could you please leave me alone so I can get dressed?" Miles asked.

"All right. Your clothes are in the cupboard. Bottom shelf. You might feel dizzy for a minute once you first get up so I'll just wait outside the door," Dr. Cassidy said.

"I'll be back in a few minutes. I'm just going to get some coffee," Natalie told Miles.

Miles waited until he was alone before carefully getting out of bed. The momentary dizziness was not unexpected and he steadied himselfuntil it passed. Retrieving his clothes, he sat about getting dressed.

Dr. Cassidy returned a few minutes later with the discharge papersand the prescriptions. Once he'd signed his name, shesaid, "Congratulations, Dr. McCabe, you are now officially a free
man. But try and stay out of trouble because I really do hate repeat business."

"Ending up here again is the last place I want to be," Miles assured her.

"Ready, Miles?" Natalie asked, sticking her head in the door.

"I'm ready," Miles replied.

"He's free to go," Dr. Cassidy confirmed.

Miles picked up his lab coat and got to his feet. Natalie watched him for a moment to make sure he was steady on his feet. Although not exactly his normal self just yet, he was looking considerably betterthan he had when he'd first arrived at the hospital. "I'll bring the car around while you get your prescriptions filled," she told him.