"Dr. McBain?"
"Hi Dr. Stone, do you have a minute?"
"Come in" she said, and Michael came in and closed the door, "What can I do for you?"
"Not for me" he said, "My- my friend, you're performing surgery on her tomorrow. Natalie Buchanan"
"Yes, what about it?"
"Well, see, she's- well she's kind of family, and I was wondering what you think of her odds"
"Dr. McBain, you were here for her consult"
"I know, but- she has a little boy, my nephew, and I'm worried about her"
"You know as well as I do there's no guarantee of full recovery" she said, "But her case looks good, she caught it early"
"I just worry what would happen to her little boy if the worst happened" he said, "You're going to do everything you can for her, right?"
"Of course I will" she said, "Michael, I have the best team in the country, that's why Natalie is here"
"I know, its just-" he paused, "It's so different, looking at it as a doctor and looking at it as- she's practically my sister, Kelley. I can't be objective about it"
"So you're taking tomorrow off, I gather?"
"yeah, this is my last shift before she goes into surgery. I'm going to get some sleep and then we're taking her"
"Sucks that you got the graveyard shift"
"Maybe its better, I'll worry less tomorrow that way"
"If I may ask, you talk about her like your sister and you called her son your nephew; is your brother in the picture?"
"We're trying all we can to get him here, but no one can get through to him. I don't what else to do" he said, "Natalie- she won't say, but I know she's going to be upset if he doesn't make it"
"Then I'll guess you'll have to keep trying" she said, "If I may offer some advice, I find late night phone calls carry much more weight when dealing with emergencies"
"Thanks, Dr. Stone"
"I'll see you tomorrow, at a better hour, Dr. McBain"