Difficult Choices

AUTHOR: Piper Fox
DISCLAIMER: See part one.
NOTE: I know nothing about the medical profession and how you get there. Everything in my story is made to fit the plot line basically, so it's not true to life. You'll just have to go with it for the sake of the story.

(November): A few weeks later . . .

"Lucy, good you're here." Kerry Weaver smiled as she spoke. "I'd like you to meet Dr Kevin McCarthy. He's from the ER department at San Francisco General."

"Hi." Lucy extended her hand to the middle-aged man in front of her.

"Nice to meet you, Lucy. Kerry tells me you will be showing me around the ER."

"Yes."

"Right, I'll leave you in Lucy's capable hands, Dr McCarthy. I have patients to see to." Kerry picked up a chart and walked away.

"Where do you want me to start, Dr McCarthy?" Lucy asked nervously and wondered exactly why Kerry had picked her to show him around the ER.

"Anywhere you like . . . and please call me Kevin." He smiled warmly, dispelling her anxious thoughts.

"Okay . . . Kevin, if you follow me, I will show you the first of our four exam rooms," she said, leading the way.

A Few hours later . . .

Lucy was surprised by how much she had enjoyed showing Kevin the ER, and letting him observe her for the day. He was an amusing companion, filling her day with endless anecdotes from his many years in the medical profession. Now, as they talked over coffee in the cafeteria, he was telling her about San Francisco.

"Yes, I have," she answered him. "I've always wanted to go back. It was the first place I applied for med school." It made her wonder. 'What would my life have been like if I had been able to practise medicine in San Francisco? I wouldn't have almost been stabbed to death, that's for sure.' She grimaced at the memory. 'Chicago has only brought me unhappy memories . . . but it did bring me to Carter.' A voice inside reflected. She shook her head. 'But that's over now . . . isn't it?'

"What's wrong?" Kevin's voice broke through suddenly.

"What? Oh, I'm sorry, I was just thinking about-" A sudden cry silenced her. Lucy swivelled her head to see where the sound was coming from.

"My baby!" a woman screamed frantically. "My baby . . . He's choking."

Without thinking, Lucy leapt out of her chair and rushed to help the woman's child. "Ma'am it's okay. I'm a doctor. I'm going to help your baby." She took the child gently from the mother and knelt down. While carefully supporting his head, and neck she put his stomach over her knee and whacked him hard between the shoulder blades. Nothing happened. The baby was now beginning to turn blue. She did the same again. Still nothing, but then after a second, an object flew out of his mouth and he began to cry. Only then did Lucy become aware of the commotion around her. She handed the baby back to the grateful mother and walked away quickly to avoid the crowd of people.

"Nice work, Lucy."

Lucy looked a little embarrassed. "It was nothing really."

"Come on, you were very efficient and competent at what you had to do. It was very impressive Lucy. Not something to be taken lightly."

"Th . . .thank you," Lucy stammered.

"We are looking for students like you. If you are serious about San Francisco you should consider it," he said, as they made their way back to the ER.

'Transfer to San Francisco? Could I do that?' She thought with uncertainty. It was something she hadn't even considered before.

A week later . . .

Lucy took a deep breath, and slipped the envelope into the box. 'You've done it now, no turning back.' Her heart was pounding. 'Why do I feel so strange? I might not even be accepted . . . I have got to calm down.' She laughed out loud at herself. 'C'mon Luce, get a grip.' She told herself, as she walked home in the wintry conditions.

(December): A few weeks later . . .

Lucy was unsure what to do. She had received a letter earlier to inform her that her application, to transfer to San Francisco, had been accepted. Her day in the ER had been incredibly stressful, and that didn't help. First an MVA; the driver was DOA, the passenger was critical with serious head injuries and internal bleeding. Then an attempted suicide; an elderly woman had taken some toxic industrial chemicals because her husband had died the month before. Lucy was then stuck with a drunk who seemed to delight in throwing up on her. A small boy who had shot himself in the leg and lost an incredible amount of blood, came next. Then an endless line of people with aches, pains, cuts and bruises followed. Finally, extremely exhausted, Lucy went to seek a place of peace and quiet before her shift ended. She sat alone in the staff lounge, resting her head in her hands. She was contemplating the possibility of continuing her MD in San Francisco, when Carter entered.

"There you are Lucy . . . tough day."

"The worst," she said quietly.

"You were pretty good today, I'm impressed. Hey . . ." He saw the worn out expression on her face. "Never mind . . . it'll be a better day tomorrow."

She shook her head. "I don't think so."

"Sorry?" He was confused.

"I don't think I can do this any more."

"Sure you can. Our job isn't an easy one, and we all have bad days."

"This isn't just a bad day . . . I'm thinking of transferring to San Francisco."

"Oh," Carter said, noting the tone in her voice. "Are you serious about this?"

"Yeah, I just can't be here anymore," she said, reflecting on the past few months. "It's like there is some physical barrier that is stopping me . . . it's hard to explain."

"But you have been handling work fine, especially considering what you have been through in the past few months."

"That may be true Carter, but I feel like I'm wandering around with my eyes closed here. It's just not the way it should be. I don't want to be here in Chicago anymore. It would be nice to be closer to Mom too."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah." She looked up at him suddenly, taking in his face. "This place is still haunting me and I need to get away. I'm totally fine now, emotionally that is, but there is something else. And now the opportunity has presented itself."

"I didn't realise you felt this way, Luce."

She smiled at him weakly. "It's what I need," she said, affirming her decision.

"When will you go?"

"In January, I guess . . . my application was accepted."

"So soon? I can't believe you didn't tell me."

"I didn't want to in case I wasn't accepted . . . but I've always wanted to work in San Francisco. I think I need to start again."

"A fresh start will be good for you." Carter said, trying his best to sound convincing. He wanted to support Lucy in her decision, but he honestly had doubts that this was best.