Chapter 3: Barely Even Friends
"BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!" Michaela's alarm sounded at 5:00 am.
Michaela had fallen asleep at 7:30 the night before, hoping that some extra sleep would help her in the day to come. Unfortunately, Michaela's sleep had been interrupted by confusing dreams involving David, and, to her utter surprise, Sully. Yet, while most would sulk in bed for five extra minutes, Michaela jumped out of bed ready to start a day full of what she did best.
After a quick shower and throwing on a pair of jeans and a tee-shirt (since she would be changing into sterilized scrubs at the hospital), Michaela grabbed an apple and breakfast bar she had set out for herself last night, and headed out the door as quietly as possible. Once she was outside, she called William, who had offered to give her rides to the hospital when they had correlating shifts, on her cell.
"Yes, Michaela I am on my way, but I don't know if I'll be quite as awake as you are...I'll see you in ten minutes." William mumbled into the phone before giving Michaela even a chance to present herself.
Michaela smiled to herself and looked out at the view before her. With dawn rapidly approaching, the sky had turned from dusk-indigo into a deep shade of periwinkle-blue; and the stars that grazed the everlasting sky, were slowly disappearing from view. To the far east, the sky appeared a misty orangish-rose; and a sliver of light could be seen just on the horizon, as the sun began to peek up, welcoming a new day. William's car suddenly appeared from around the bend and came to a halt in front of Michaela, as she made her way into the car.
"Hello." William said sleepily as she fastened her seat belt.
"Good morning, Will." Michaela said brightly.
That was the extent of their conversation for the rest of the drive to Saint Joseph's Hospital. William was much too tired to concentrate on anything besides driving and Michaela was brimming with excitement and anxiousness; enough to make her unable to string words together in a fashion that would make sense. So they sat in silence, anticipating the upcoming day.
When the hospital came into view, Michaela's stomach did a back-flip, as she began to question her skills and potentials as a doctor. "What if I forget something, and make a fool out of myself...what if they ask me something about neurological problems...we didn't work on that subject quite as much in med-school, unless that was your specialty...oh dear... maybe I should have taken more classes on it..." Michaela paled, suddenly dreading her forthcoming shift.
William looked over at Michaela after he parked his car, and smiled upon seeing her nervous disposition. "Of all the people, Michaela, you are the one who needs to worry the least about the up coming day...and remember, David and I will be with you too..."
Michaela smiled slightly and stepped out of the car, before heading off to the awaiting doors of the hospital.
The next hours of her life were destined to be the most vigorous, nerve-raking, and exhausting hours of her life. After being shuttled into different groups and had a designated superior doctor assigned to them, all the new interns changed into their scrubs and headed to their assigned "base-rooms" where they would receive additional instructions. Michaela and David had ended up in the same group together, yet they knew it really didn't matter, as this was not the time to be socializing. However, it was a comfort to know that there would be a friend, a really good friend, in the crowd of competitors.
Upon arriving at her assigned room, Michaela knocked, from her routine etiquette, before proceeding into the room to find a tall, gray haired gentleman, dressed in doctors' attire, waiting for her and the rest of the interns.
"Before you enter...I wonder if you could tell me the full range of symptoms that are connected to Mononucleosis?" the Doctor asked sternly.
"Of course sir, the symptoms of mononucleosis include long-term flu like symptoms, a low-grade fever; normally around 100 degrees Fahrenheit, also long term tiredness, even after obtaining ample quantities of sleep and rest, and the most dangerous symptom is the enlargement of the spleen." Michaela concluded.
"And why is an enlarged spleen considered dangerous?" the man quizzed.
"An enlargement spleen could lead to the rupture of the spleen, and, as the spleen in a blood organ, the patient would have massive internal bleeding and die." Michaela explained as other interns entered the room silently.
The superior doctor looked Michaela in the eye for a few moments, and Michaela didn't break the connection, knowing he meant to unnerve her, or cause her to second guess her explanation.
"What is your name, Miss?" the man questioned.
"Michaela Quinn" Michaela answered.
"Ladies and gentlemen, Dr. Quinn here, is the first intern I've had who answered my question correctly, without hesitation, or breaking eye contact. And eye contact is essential, especially when explaining to the families of the patients the diagnosis of their beloved member. My name is Dr. Bernard and I am your supervising doctor. As interns, half of you will drop out by Christmas, and less than a forth of you will make it through your internship and residency to become doctors...you've made it through medical school, the next four years...that's when the real work begins...first thing you should know is if a doctor asks you for something, you'd better get it to them! Your jobs for the next couple months will not be...lets call it, amusing...if you feel more like servants than doctors, welcome to internship...only the most talented and select will get the chance to move on to higher positions...after all, this is the real world, these are real patients, not mammals and amphibians, already dead for the use of your education...if you're not afraid, you should be...but if you let your fear get in the way, then you'd better leave now...fear is no excuse...now, lets get to business." he paused and looked at his clipboard, and the room was dead silent, as the interns digested his unencouraging words. "Quinn...since you answered your question on mononucleosis so well...lets see...ah yes here it is...a boy came in yesterday with an enlarged spleen due to a severe case on mono...they operated on him earlier this morning...and it looks like you get the honorable duty of sterilizing the instruments used in the operation."
Michaela's face remained unchanged, while some of the other interns smiled a bit. She knew from meeting interns in the hospital her father worked at back in Boston, that swab jobs were usually given to the interns.
"Oh, if you think that's humorous, you should hear what you will be working on...Mr...Dravakis, I believe?" Dr. Bernard said sternly, then turning back to Michaela, "Why are you still standing here Quinn?"
"I'm afraid you haven't given me a room number to go to sir." Michaela said without flinching.
"Oh, room 118; round the corner on the left...report back here when you're finished."
Michaela nodded and turned on her heal to exit the room. After closing the door behind her, she paused and smiled while letting out a breath of relief. Her knees kept buckling every time Dr. Bernard looked at her, and, had in not been for the operating table which she was leaning up against, Michaela was sure she would have collapsed on the ground. She made her way to the room Dr. Bernard described, and began the tedious work of sterilizing each delicate instrument in the dark room used for storing instruments and damask sheets.
After finishing her task, she left the room and returned to her base room for further instruction. Upon entering, she found about five or six other interns in her group standing talking quietly as they waiting for Dr. Bernard's return. David, was one of the interns, however he was not socializing; instead he was leaning against the wall, apparently deep in thought. Michaela made her way across the room and joined him against the wall.
"So what was your first duty as an intern?" Michaela asked brightly.
David looked up, chuckling softly, "Well, my half of the group got the distinct pleasure of cleaning out over 300 vomit bowls..." Michaela grimaced. "...then one of the interns, Casey, I believe, ended up throwing up herself onto a stack of cleaned bowls, so we had to clean those up again...I think Bernard is with her right now...don't think she's having too fine of a day today..." David smiled at Michaela and she smiled back. "...But you seem to have at least gotten off on the right foot...you did well earlier..." he complimented, while reaching up to rub her shoulder. "...But I'm just curious...were your knees buckling...not that you could see it from Doc's point of view... but you looked real tense in your knees..."
"You know me all too well..." Michaela smiled and nodded. "Yes, my knees were..." but she didn't get to finish her sentence, because once Dr. Bernard entered the room, silence deafened the room.
The rest of the morning was spent doing various, undesirable duties through out the hospital. No one felt exceptionally hungry at lunch, even though none had eaten anything since at least 6:00 that morning. But all managed to nibble at something, knowing full well that they were going to be here until 7:00 pm the following night...the best thing they could do was to keep up their energy and momentum by eating at least a small something. Then it back at the hard labor. The afternoon was no better than the morning, as the entire group then had to sterilize the human waste tubs for the better part of three hours. All the while they were unexpectedly quizzed on random medical facts by Dr. Bernard, keeping them on their toes at all times.
After finishing the tubs, Dr. Bernard stood at the front of the room gathering everyone's attention. "This diagnosis is for anyone... A young man just came in, symptoms included fever, slight dizziness, and stomach ache accompanied with vomiting...the obvious answer is obviously influenza, however, this does not seem to be the case...any ideas?
David raised his hand along with some others in the group. "Yes, Lewis, what is your opinion?"
"Is it possible that he may have received a head injury and is suffering from a concussion?"
"Of course that is possible, and that is a good thing to look for, however, what would you say if I told you that this man was from Milwaukee?" Dr. Bernard questioned.
All of the hands that were once raised fell back, and Michaela's hand flew in the opposite direction.
"Yes, Quinn, what have you to say?"
"Cryptosporidium intake." Michaela suggested.
"Explain please." Dr. Bernard ensued.
"A few years ago, the parasite Cryptosporidium was found in Milwaukee's tap water, as it can not be killed with the usual chlorine treatments, and since, at the time, little was known about the parasite, nothing was placed in the water to detect such organisms.. Therefore, many Milwaukee civilians consumed the parasite, which ultimately settled in their intestines and caused flu like symptoms in thousands of people. In many cases of children or other people with diseases that weakened the immune system, such as AIDS and HIV, the victims died from the parasite. They have taken precautions to stop the parasite from entering the tap water, however the parasites have been known to get through every once and a while, even with precautions." Michaela explained.
"Very good, it seems you've kept up with your research outside of med-school as well." Dr. Bernard complimented.
Michaela smiled slightly and nodded, "Yes sir, to the best of my abilities."
"Well, then you'll understand the treatment for a case of cryptosporidium?" Dr. Bernard asked.
"Yes sir, you must..." Michaela began.
"No, no...you needn't explain it...your next assignment Dr.Quinn is to look in upon and take care of our Milwaukee patient. Don't treat him, just wait on him, and if anything goes wrong you page for a doctor immediately." Dr. Bernard said while handing Michaela a page. "The room is 236... I'll be checking up on you at midnight."
"Yes sir, thank you." Michaela said, doing her best to control herself from jumping up and down with excitement. She, once again, turned on her heal and walked out the door and towards her assigned room.
Michaela only wished she had been a little more prepared for he first patient. For, never had she met such an obnoxious, bull-headed, full-of-himself man. An actor, in films Michaela had never heard of, the man had pictures of himself all over his room and he made Michaela (and anyone else who entered the room for that matter) watch scenes of the movies that he was in. When not watching his movies, he would go on endlessly about how "he shouldn't be there", and how "he should be filming right now in his next movie". Michaela found it a miracle that any director could stand the man enough to put him in any movie. Luckily, Michaela had learned how to block out his annoying monologues from her previous experiences with her stubborn mother.
The other nurses on that floor felt for Michaela, and even brought her some food and coffee as the late night hours came around. Michaela was grateful when the patient had finally drifted off to sleep and his perpetual chatter deceased. However, the bare silence and dimmed-lighting of the room, made Michaela more drowsy and she looked forward to when she would be relieved from her duties and given her two hour break. But when midnight came and went, Michaela became more and more exhausted, as her eyelids slowly began to droop. It wasn't until two in the morning before she felt Dr. Bernard's hand on her shoulder.
She hadn't fallen asleep, but had gone into more of a daze, and was only half coherent of what was going on around her. Dr. Bernard gestured her to move outside the room with him, and she did so quietly.
"Have you been here this entire time?" He asked with a bit of an edge in his voice.
"Yes sir." Michaela answered.
"Dr. Williams never came to relieve you?" He pondered.
"No sir, no one came." Michaela explained.
"He must of gotten tied up in surgery. Well, in that case, go and take your two hour break, the other interns have already had theirs...actually you can take three hours... then a thirty minute break for breakfast...be back in the base room by a quarter-til six."
"Thank you sir." Michaela said as she walked to the room designated as the "interns lounge" for a well deserved three hour nap."
The next twelve hours went by in a blur. Too tired from the long hours, Michaela worked like an automaton, grateful for her muscle memory. Other wise she may never have been able to finish the various tasks that were given to her. At 6:30 pm all the new interns were directed to the lobby area of the hospital. All the superior doctors stood at the front of the room and slowly got the group's attention.
"Congratulations...you've made it through your first 36 hour shift...now we do need some more help, is anyone willing to stay a few more hours?" A woman with rich, black, hair questioned the group.
To Michaela's surprise, about five people actually raised their hands , to volunteer. Laughing slightly at the quiz question, Michaela shouted out, "I believe it's against health regulations to keep interns more than 36 hours ma'am."
The woman eyed Michaela as the rest of the crowd turned to look at her. Dr. Bernard grinned at whispered something to his colleague. Then the woman smiled and nodded while saying, "Your fellow intern is correct...now that we know who the suck ups are, we'd like to wish you a good weekend and you are dismissed until Monday morning, go get some sleep!"
With that, the interns started for their lockers to change and go home. Will spread the news that there was going to be a "Survival Party" at his home tonight. Much to Michaela's surprise, everyone seemed to be interested in coming, instead of going home and sleeping.
"Well, we all need a little bit of a celebration...you can sleep later." Will reasoned to Michaela as they walked to his car.
"Yes...I suppose..." Michaela said half awake.
William, on the other hand, seemed more energetic now than any other time over the past 36 hours. "I called Sully yesterday, during my dinner break, to explain to him about it...he was fine with it, understood that we all needed some relaxing." William said as started driving off towards his cabin.
"Oh, is Sully going to be there to night...I haven't had the pleasure of meeting him yet." Michaela became suddenly interested in the entire party.
"Yeah, he said he'd stick around for a little while...he really isn't very social...never was actually...but I think he'd stay for a while..." William presumed.
Michaela was confused by the captivation this man held on her. She knew it had something to do with the sensation that traveled through her gut when he had made that split-second eye contact with her. But she still didn't know why that had happened, and it intrigued her to death.
Once arriving at Will's cabin, both Michaela and Will began to prepare for the party, first by making pitchers of coffee and espressos. Shortly after, David and none other than Sully, walked in carrying at least twenty cups of steaming coffee from the local coffee shop.
"Figured you might be needing some more..." Sully said light-heartedly.
"Thanks Sully...hey, I don't think you have met Michaela yet...Michaela, Sully...Sully, Michaela, or Mike as we all tend to call her...Mike is rooming with Dorothy up at their apartment down the road..." William introduced the pair while setting out the cups of coffee on the counter and grabbing some bags of chips Sully had also picked up for the party.
Michaela smiled slightly, and extended her hand for Sully to shake it. Sully looked up at Michaela and went to grasp her hand. However, upon coming into contact with it, a static shock passed between them, jolting Michaela a little.
"Sorry, I must of rubbed my feet a little too hard on the rug..." Sully said smiling.
Michaela shook her head, also smiling and replied, "No harm done". The pair of them continued to stand awkwardly in the kitchen until William said over his shoulder, while filling bowls with the chips, "Sully, Mike was absolutely flabbergasted by your work on the place..."
"Oh, yes, it's absolutely stunning Sully...your craftsmanship is truly remarkable..." Michaela complimented.
"Oh, well thanks...I enjoyed doing it..." Sully shrugged. A knock was heard at the door and Sully removed himself from the group to answer it. Soon interns were pouring into the cabin and William was turning up music and the T.V. in the living room. Michaela and David sat on the stools in the kitchen, pouring out drinks to the guest. Even after two shots of espresso, Michaela still had to lay her head on David's shoulder to keep herself from falling off the chair. As the crowd of socializing interns made their way into the living room, Michaela left David to go to the bathroom and splash some water on tired face. Sully had disappeared after the first guests arrived, so she was unable to have any further conversation with him.
As she made her way back to the kitchen she passed groups of interns, some laughing and making fun of their superior doctors, others lay, passed out on the couch or chairs, drunk from lack of sleep. When she arrived back in the kitchen, she found David, sitting with his head resting on the palm of his hand, in a deep sleep. Deciding that he could use the rest, Michaela left him to sleep. The music engulfed Michaela, as she had never been one for dances or parties when she was younger. So, when she found no one to talk to, she decided she would walk home.
After leaving a note for David and William to find, Michaela left the party-run house and started out the door. Michaela folded her arms around herself, to protect herself from the slight, brisk, wind that bit at her bare arms. Then, as she walked down the dirt drive-way, something near the trees caught her eye. Sitting on a log, was a man, who was simply staring up into the white-barked trees. It took a second glance for her to realize that it was Sully. Deciding that now was as good of time as any, she walked over to the spot where he sat.
Sully stared at the heart-shaped leaves, as they shimmered with the wind. Abigail had loved Aspen trees...especially in the fall, with their bright-golden leaves, fluttering every-which-way...somehow, being around these trees made Sully feel closer to Abigail. And lately, he'd been feeling so odd, that he'd taken to sitting by these trees every day. The strange feeling was one he couldn't explain to anyone...he continued to hurt inside from the tragedies he'd suffered, yet somehow, a weight that had been oppressing his attitude towards life, seemed to be being lifted off his tired shoulders.
As he continued to stare in silence at the trees, his reverie was broken by the snapping of a twig behind him. Turning around quickly, he found that he was not alone.
Michaela hadn't meant to disturb him while he was in such deep thought, but when she stepped onto a twig, cracking it in half, she knew that there was no turning back now.
"How long have you been there?" Sully questioned.
"I only just walked up...I didn't mean to disturb you...once I realized...I tried to go..."Michaela tried and failed miserably at excusing herself; but luckily, Sully smiled at her and nodded.
"It's ok...no harm done" He repeated her earlier words.
"Do come to this spot often?" Michaela asked unknowingly. When Sully merely shrugged she tried at conversation again, "I do love Aspen trees...from the Poplar family I believe...People say they look like they are trembling...but to me, I think they look like they are applauding...I sound ridiculous, I know..."
Sully thanked the darkening sky, for if they were in the broad-light of day, he knew Michaela would have noticed how pale his face became as she talked about the trees. He felt silly and ashamed...so many people commented on how they loved those trees, and Sully never thought different of it...yet when Michaela described them, Sully's heart seemed to arch and he felt as if Michaela couldn't enjoy the same things as Abigail had...as if he had to keep their personalities separate...he was confusing himself as he tried to reason with his feelings.
Sully's silence disturbed Michaela, and even upset her slightly. Michaela felt awful about the tragedies that Sully had endured during his life, and she wanted desperately to help him, even though she didn't really know him at all...something deep with in her felt as if she needed to help him, otherwise, she wouldn't be able to feel well either...but if he wouldn't even talk to her about something as simple as trees, there would be no hope in trying to help him through his complicated problems.
"Is something wrong Sully? Would you like me to leave...I was on my way home anyway..." Michaela offered.
Sully stopped her immediately, "No, no I'm just...just", he paused looking for a legitimate excuse...if he said he didn't feel well, he knew she would try to examine his false condition, and he couldn't say he was just tired, after what she had just been through... "I'm just not a big talker I suppose..." Sully said honestly.
Michaela sighed slightly, understanding. "Yes, I know a little bit of what you mean...mind you I most certainly am a talker...I just really am not one for socials, or parties..." Michaela said while nodding at the still loud party.
Sully chuckled and relaxed slightly, "William surprised me when he told me his plans...I was even more surprised when people actually came."
"Yes, Will is a horse of a different color, so to speak...He has to be the most intelligent, goof-ball I have ever met...He almost ranges on being a slacker...yet he's so quick witted and can write up a speech or essay that will blow your mind away...as far as I know, his speeches have been what had kept him from getting into too much trouble..." Michaela laughed.
"I can certainly imagine that...so David is your boyfriend right?" Sully said without much thought in mind.
It certainly did sound like such an awful thing when Sully said it, Michaela thought to her self, not in the least bit understanding why that was so. "Yes, yes he is..." Michaela answered tentatively.
"It must have been nice...being able to travel to a new place with a few people you already knew...not quite as lonely I would guess..."
"Yes, it was nice...mind you, it took a lot of persuading on my part to get David out here." Michaela commented.
"Oh? Why's that?" Sully looked at her frowning slightly.
"He wasn't very interested...I think he's more comfortable in the big cities...like New York, where he grew up...I'm afraid he may move back east at the end of our first six months here..." Michaela stared down at her feet, not wanting Sully to see the disappointment that may have been evident in her eyes.
Then, much to the surprise of both Sully and Michaela, Sully asked, "Will, you be staying if he goes?"
Michaela blessed the dark surroundings which hid her blush as she answered, "I'm not sure...I feel that I already have grown to love the west...the mountains, the sweet, fresh, air...I suppose I'd have to compare what each place has to offer me..."
Sully nodded, and became mute again...he still didn't know why he had asked such a bold question, but Michaela didn't seem to mind too much...although he could somehow sense her blushing in the darkness.
"Well, it's getting late; I'd better get home..." Michaela said as she ambled back towards the road.
"Would you like a lift?" Sully offered...once again surprising himself slightly.
"No thanks...I think I can use a good walk...get some more of this fresh air..." Michaela said smiling before she turned around and walked down the road to her humble apartment.
Sully gazed after Michaela, long after she had gone out of site. A feeling of renewal had washed over him as he talked to her...ever since Abigail had died, Sully hadn't really made any new friends from inside society, and rarely ever talked to his old friends...however, he felt and appreciated their support all the same...it was almost as if he was finally moving on a little...he didn't know if he could call Michaela a good friend yet...but he felt that he talk to her, that she would understand...she had a charm, or charisma about her, that made things feel right...Sully only hoped that he would get to talk to this lady doctor again sometime soon.