Chapter 37

Kerry got the dispatch that was coming across the wire from the medics. She walked outside to meet them when they got there all she knew was it was a 30 something white female unconscious.

Doug jumped out of the ambulance behind the paramedics. he was freezing without a shirt or shoes on but he didn't even think about it. he saw Kerry and heard the paramedics give her the bullet. he followed them into the trauma room and went to grab some gloves. "ok...someone get me a stethoscope...umm get ready with an intubation tube and some saline. come on people let's move!"

A tall man approached Kerry as she stood in the bay. "Do you know where I am to find Kerry Weaver? I am the moonlighter, Luka Kovac."

Abby grabbed the tall man's arm as she watched Kerry run inside, "that's her but she just had a trauma come in."

"Doug," Kerry said looking up at him as she started to assess Anna's condition. "Are you sure you should be doing that?"

Luka looked at the little brunette beside him, is there somewhere I should wait?" he asked.

Doug snapped his head at her. "what the hell Kerry? I'm still a damn doctor here aren't i?" he looked around the room. everyone was staring at him. "i need a line in her. come on people!"

"Uh yeah I suppose you could wait in chairs." Abby said to him. "I'm Abby Lockhart and you are?"

Kerry looked up at Doug, "Yeah you are still a doctor here Doug," She said looking at him, "oh hell Doug, I want you out of my trauma room if you are even remotely involved with her."

"I am very pleased to meet you, Abby." Luka said, "I am Luka Kovac, the hospital's newest moonlighter."

And it appears that you are not a minute to late, if you come with me, I'll show you were the lounge is." She said motioning towards the doors, 'welcome to Cook County General Dr. Kovac."

"Thank You, I am pleased to be here," Luka said, as he was almost run over by a gurney. "I think."

"It's a little hectic here tonight." She said. "Sorry Dr. Weaver didn't have time to talk to you, but that was a member of her staff that was just brought in."

Doug looked at Kerry for a second. He was unbelievably mad at her. It seemed like she was questioning his judgment both in and outside of the hospital. "You know what, FINE!" he yelled brushing past her. He stormed out of the trauma room and headed for the lounge. He smacked open the door to find Abby and someone he had never seen. his teeth rattled together from the cold and his nerves. He struggled to get some words out to her. "Might want to...help out."

Abby looked at Doug, "That bad huh." She said as she headed out of the lounge.

Kerry had her hands full trying to figure out what had happened to Anna. She felt bad kicking Doug out of the trauma but it was for his own good. She watched Abby walk in. "She's stable to take up to CT. We will know more then." She snapped her gloves off as Abby told her that there was a moonlighter waiting for her in the lounge. She walked in and came face to face with him and Doug in the lounge. "Doug." She said acknowledging him, "Dr. Kovac I presume."

Doug glared at Kerry and slipped past her without a word. He bumped into Abby in the hallway. "hey Abby?" he said in a weak voice. he folded his arms across his chest. it was the first time he had realized how he looked. "you think you could get me a shirt? I'm a little cold."

"Yeah sure," She said as she stepped into the supply closet, "sorry it's just a scrub top but that's all I have." She said, "Anna's on her way up to CT." She said knowing that he had to be worried, "her contact sheet has her husband listed, and I was just on my way up to 7 wests to tell him that she is here."

Doug threw the shirt on over his head. He rubbed his eyes. He had forgotten about Max. "You probably shouldn't do that..." he said. he didn't really feel like getting into details with Abby about it all, but he needed to tell her enough so she would listen to him. "they had a fight yesterday. he kind of roughed her up a little bit. could you just tell me if anything new happens? its not like I'm going anywhere."

"Oh okay, yeah." She said walking away. She went upstairs to CT to retrieve her patient. After a few minutes she pushed her into an exam room, and went to find Doug with the CT scans in her hands. Weaver was still busy and she wanted a doc to look them over. "Hey Doug." She said when she found him asleep on a gurney in the suture room. "Sorry to wake you up. But you should be used to it. I have some CT results here and Weaver is busy with Kovac you want to look at them or do you want me to wait for Weaver?"

"You presume correctly." Luka said politely. "And I have been told you are the Dr. Weaver I am to speak to."

"That would be me." She said, "sorry about earlier, it's been a hectic day, and I am short handed with another doctor down now. But there's no need to keep you sitting in here now is there. I'll show you around and you can get started, assuming of course that you are here for the day shift."

"That was my intention," Luka said, "And I understand it was a member of your staff that was brought in.

I know how difficult it is to work on someone you know.

Kerry sighed, "yes she's a bright young pediatrician." She said as she headed towards the door, "the other doctor that was in here was Doug Ross, he's also a pediatrician, and both doctors are double boarded. Normally there are more attending on during a shift, but right now I'm down a few and your help is appreciated." Kerry stopped to make sure that he was following her before she proceeded. "Admit is over there we have a doc working triage, usually a med student, you will be teaching here and we have to watch them carefully."

"I enjoy teaching," Luka told her sincerely, "but I don't often get the chance."

"You'll have plenty of chances." Kerry said, "the board is here, same drill as every place, if you take a patient make sure you initial it. Charts are here; try to see them in order, nursing orders here, and discharges over there." Kerry said she knew she was going fast, but it couldn't be helped, "We have 2 trauma rooms, the exam rooms are down the hall and curtains is over there. Phone numbers are listed by the phone for whatever extensions you might need, if you don't' see it ask a nurse, they have them memorized." She said continuing, "any questions?"

"No Ma'am," Luka said, as he pulled the first chart in the rack out.

"If you get into trouble just yell." She said, "I'm on for another three hours and possible then some depending on what happens. Dr. Carter is around here somewhere as well as Dr. Susan Lewis." Kerry knew that she owed Doug and apology and should find him now that things had settled down.

"I should be fine. But I know how to ask for help if needed," Luka said, heading toward his first patient.

Doug woke with a start. "No, and let me see" he said walking out of the suture room into the hallway to find a better light. he looked at the scans. "just some swelling" he said as he rubbed his eyes. "she shouldn't have left so early...tell Kerry it's my fault. have Anna admitted." he handed the CT back to Abby. he could only imagine what first impression he had made of himself to her. "hey" he said softly. "i didn't mean to yell at you the other day...thanks for getting me."

"Yeah okay and Doug it's okay you're under a lot of stress." Abby held out Anna's chart to him, "you have any orders for her before I ship her upstairs? I think they have a spot for her up on 7."

Kerry saw Doug talking to Abby so she just hung back waiting for them to finish before she was going to approach.

Doug waved the charts off. "I can't be her doctor. You need to get Weaver..." Doug knew in his head it was the right thing to do. "actually I think I'm going to crash in the lounge for awhile. When do you and carter get off? I rode with the ambulance over here so I don't have a ride...I don't even have my wallet." he said with a sigh. Doug knew Anna would be ok, that she would want him there but he couldn't. He needed some time without someone needing something from him.

"I'm off in another 6 hours. I have no clue as to where Carter is. I haven't seen him in awhile now." She said shrugging her shoulders at him, "I'd offer to give you a ride but I take the EL."

"Doug when you are done do you mind if I talk to you for a minute." Kerry said interrupting when she watched him push the chart away.

Doug nodded. "It's fine Abby. Don't worry about it. Thanks again." he turned to Weaver. He knew he was in trouble for the scene he made in the trauma room. He rubbed his face, he was so tired. "Yes, Dr. Weaver." he said folding his arms and looking at the ground.

"Look Doug," She said, "my decision to remove you from the trauma room had nothing to do with your abilities as a doctor. But we can't treat those we care about. Carter learned that the hard way with Chase." She said to him with sincerity in her voice. "I don't know what's going on with you and Anna, and really it's not my place to know. But when it comes to patients, one of our own or not, I have to put my foot down somewhere. So I am sorry if that offended you."

Doug nodded. He had never liked Kerry, but he respected her and he could tell the years had changed her. It would have been this side of five years ago he would have been suspended. "Thanks Kerry, for your apology...but i was out of line and i know it. it's just been a long few days. don't worry, it wont affect my work. I'll still be on at seven tomorrow." Doug fidgeted with his hands. He didn't want to ask Kerry but he wanted to know. "I don't suppose you know if Carol's around tonight?"

"She left with the girls about," Kerry glanced at her watch, "2 hours ago."

Luka wandered outside into the ambulance bay. He had been very busy, but he felt he had held his own. But right now he needed some fresh air.