Elena races to the ER, grabbing a mask, gown, and gloves as she rushes to the patient. One of the nurses is performing CPR, another is slapping pads on his chest and attaching the defibrillator cords.
"What do you know?" Elena asks, locking her eyes on the patient.
"57-year-old male, collapsed playing basketball at home. We gave him Epi en route," one of the paramedic's replies.
"Give another milligram of Epi. Any respiratory symptoms?" Elena grabs a laryngoscope and moves to the head of the bed.
"Not according to his wife."
"Clear" is called. Everyone stops what they are doing while one of the code team presses the shock button. The patient's back arches off the gurney and back down. The monitor remains flat line.
"Restart CPR," Elena calls out as she puts the laryngoscope in the man's mouth and inserts the endotracheal tube. The respiratory therapist immediately attaches an Ambu bag and starts ventilating the patient.
"Clear," a nurse calls, and as soon as everyone steps back, she shocks the patient again. This time a heart rhythm is back on the screen.
"Start an Amiodarone drip, get cardiology in here and prep for the cath lab," Elena instructs as she steps away to let the ER physician take over.
"Impressive," Damon states as Elena washes her hands.
"I'm sure you have done this at some point in your career."
"Yes, in my ER rotation in school. Listen, I'd like to look at the charts and I'll need to speak to the families. I've already called for a special pathogens team. We'll have to interview other affected people, physicians, and have a look at the homes."
"We have a mystery illness killing young, healthy people within hours. We need to put out some kind of statement so people are aware and can get quick medical help," Elena adds, scrutinizing him carefully.
"I agree. But you need to be prepared because it's going to bring an unwelcome media onslaught into Gallup and Navajo nation," Damon points out, his eyes meeting Elena's.
"The media are the least of my worries right now," Elena snaps in frustration.
"I understand that...Why don't we have some lunch and then have a look at those charts? It could be any one of a myriad of illnesses from Legionnaires' disease to E. coli food poisoning to the latest strep-A outbreak," Damon points out.
"Or it could be none of those?" Elena feels resentment but maintains her professionalism. "The cafeteria is this way," she extends her arm, pointing in the right direction.
"You know what they say about hospital food," he quips with a smirk on his face.
"I know but the food here is good," she states as she starts to walk.
"That remains to be seen." Damon catches up and walks with her side by side down the hall.
Several hours later, Damon sets the chart down and looks up when Elena enters her office.
"We need to get that letter written and send it out to area physicians, warning of a serious disease hitting healthy young people. This mystery flu has killed five people so far, four of them are Navajo."
"I have talked to some of them. Dr. Griffith at Crownpoint has seen a couple of cases," Elena defends herself.
Picking up on her agitation, Damon sighs. "I'm not your enemy, Elena, I'm here to help you."
"And I'm grateful for your help but I don't appreciate you questioning my ability. I've had a month of uninterrupted workdays, fighting both the disease and a swirling fear. When people are dying and no one can say why everything is potentially dangerous. Tensions mount and things get ugly. We have tried to caution against panic while mine and other emergency rooms are filled with people who have the common flu-like symptoms shared by victims: fever, muscle pain, and cough. "
"I fully understand your exhaustion. We need to set up a meeting with the CDC, New Mexico health officials, Indian Health Services, and the Navajo Tribal Health Services."
Damon walks to the threshold and pauses. Turning back to Elena, he locks eyes with hers. "And you, Dr. Gilbert, could use some rest," he states before leaving her alone with the snap of her door.
Elena's dressed in her bathrobe and her hair's up in a messy bun. She's leaning against the sink waiting for her frozen dinner to heat in the microwave.
She's deep in thought, not letting the world in for a moment. Abruptly the doorbell cuts shrilly through the house. Sighing, Elena brushes a strand of hair behind her ear and goes to answer it.
When she absently pulls it open, her eyes widen at the sight of one Damon Salvatore.
"Can I come in?" Damon asks as he holds up bottles of both red and white wine.
Elena nods and steps back, allowing him to enter. "How did you know where I live?"
"I asked your secretary."
"I'll need to have a chat with her about that."
"Haha," he replies with a half-smile. "I brought wine. I didn't know what you were having so I brought both."
"I've got an extra TV dinner in the freezer. Have a seat." Elena pulls her meal out of the microwave and hands it to Damon along with a fork and a corkscrew. After setting the timer for her meal, she pulls a couple of wine glasses out of her cupboard and sits down.
Damon removes the cork from the red wine. "I'm was lucky to find this in town. It's an estate-bottled vintage year." He takes the fine wine and pours it in their glasses.
Elena takes a mouthful and gets up to pull her meal out of the microwave.
"We ought to let it breathe," Damon admonishes gently.
Elena gives a dismissive wave of her hand. "Whatever," she retorts, takes another swallow, and picks up her fork.
"Okay..." Damon shrugs and takes a long swallow himself. "Listen, Elena, may I call you that?"
"Yes!" Elena presses her hand over her mouth as she chews.
"After I left you, I spent the afternoon setting up a meeting with all parties I mentioned earlier. It's tomorrow morning. I hope you are able to attend." Damon explains and takes a bite of his steak and roasted potatoes entrée.
"Yes, of course, I'm going to attend." Elena empties her glass as she locks eyes with Damon. She's momentarily mesmerized by the man in front of her. He's handsome beyond compare with locks of raven hair, and piercing eyes of ocean blue.
"I know we've gotten off on the wrong foot but, truly, Elena, I'm only here to help."
"I can be hard to handle sometimes. Does that shock you?" Elena asks bluntly as Damon raises the wine bottle to refill her glass.
"Nothing shocks me. I'm a scientist," Damon retorts with a waggle of his brows.
"So, as a scientist, you do a lot of research?" she posits as she runs her fingertip slowly along the rim.
"Constantly."
"What kind of research are you doing now?" Elena takes another swallow.
"Certain nocturnal activities...um, you have a little wine." Damon leans forward with a napkin and dabs the corner of her mouth. His gaze drifts from her eyes to her mouth and back again as he moves close enough that his lips are hovering over hers. He's about to close the distance when Elena jumps back.
"Why you arrogant ass! I'm not that easy!" Elena declares abruptly, narrowing her eyes on him.
Damon empties his glass and slams it on the tabletop. "Trouble with you, Dr. Gilbert, is you're afraid to ruffle those perfect little feathers of yours."
"And you're too full of yourself," Elena snaps as she stands up to move toe to toe with him.
Damon grabs his leather jacket and walks to the door. He pauses for a moment after opening it and shoots a disgruntled look over his shoulder at Elena. "The meeting tomorrow is at 9 sharp!" he counters and disappears with a hard snap of her front door.
Elena is completely shocked by what almost transpired. As much as he raises her hackles, and as much as she wants to deny it, she has to admit that on some level, she's insanely attracted to Dr. Damon Salvatore.
Happy birthday a day late, heyitskarma! Hope you had a fantastic day.
Epi is Epinephrine.
Amiodarone is used to treat certain types of serious irregular heartbeat (such as persistent ventricular fibrillation/tachycardia). It is used to restore normal heart rhythm and maintain a regular, steady heartbeat.
Indian Health Services is an operating division within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. IHS is responsible for providing direct medical and public health services to members of federally-recognized Native American Tribes and Alaska Native people.
Thanks so much for reading. We love and appreciate all of you so much.
Thank you, Eva.
Have a wonderful day and we'll see you next time.
