Doctor's Notes - Chapter 6
For the third time, Rampart Hospital Emergency Head Nurse Millie Eastman went over the duty roster and shook her head.
She thought she had it set, but then Nurse Barbara Stevens had announced that she was getting married - next weekend. To a fireman. Captain Roger Gill, who Millie remembered as a rescue man from years ago.
Millie leaned back. She liked the drive and ambition of the rescue men; she'd seen some who always looked like they wanted to do more for the patients they brought in.
Millie had been reading about a new program in Miami, Florida, in which doctors and nurses were training firefighters as - what was the term again? - paramedics. Basically, the hospital's eyes and ears on the ground. From what she had heard, it was saving lives.
Millie shook off her thoughts and picked up her pen. Then, she was interrupted by a semi-shiny pair of shoes. She looked up and beamed.
"Joe!"
He smiled. "How are you, Millie?"
"Well, I'm very happy to see you. What brings you here?"
"Work."
Millie walked over. "Really?!"
"Well, we'll see." Joe blushed. "I guess it's time."
The veteran nurse clasped the hand of her friend and colleague. "Good," she said simply.
Kel walked up to the pair.
"Hi Millie. Good to see you, Doctor," he said quietly.
Millie let go of Joe's hand, which Kel shook.
"Glad to be here," Joe replied softly.
"C'mon, let's go into my office," said Kel, leading the way.
As the two men entered the office, Joe looked around. So far, at least, Kelly Brackett had sparsely decorated. Joe took a seat.
He watched quietly as Kel sat at his desk.
"How are you doing, Joe?"
"It's time to come back," Joe said simply.
Kel showed a small smile. "Good," he responded. "Glad to hear it."
There was silence for a moment. Then Kel spoke.
"It's been a couple of years for you," he said. Joe nodded.
"OK. I wouldn't say you have to go back to medical school, but there are requirements," Kel said. Again, Joe nodded.
"Not that we'd make you wear an intern suit or anything like that, but you'd be at the level - and pay grade - of an intern for a while, until you prove to the hospital and me that you're ready to get back on the full level," Kel said. "You're lucky you don't have to go through the whole recertification process."
"Really?" Joe asked. Then, with a twinkle in his eye: "Awwww…I was looking forward to the intern suit. I wouldn't mind looking like Richard Chamberlain in 'Dr. Kildare.'"
Taken aback by the flash of humor, Kel was silent for a moment. Then he shook his head in amusement and extended his hand.
"It's good to have you back, Dr. Early."
Joe shook the hand.
"Thank you, Dr. Brackett. It's good to be back."
E(pilogue)!
Thissegment features our favorite hypochondriac couple from the Season 1 episode "Crash."
The Next Day….
Nurse Dixie McCall took the thermometer from the patient's mouth and read it. She smiled.
"No fever," she said reassuringly.
"Are you sure, Nurse McCall?" came a nervous response.
Dixie patted the hand of Mrs. Katie Anderson, but that wasn't where the question had come from. She looked over the bed toward a worried Mr. Reggie Anderson.
"Quite sure, Mr. Anderson."
He looked reassured. Momentarily.
Then,
"But Nurse McCall…We've been so worried about her…. You know, these pains."
Dixie nodded. "I understand, Mr. Anderson. Don't worry. The doctor will join us in just a moment."
As if on cue, the door to the examining room opened, and in walked a doctor with salt-and-pepper hair.
Dixie smiled. She'd heard the news, but hadn't yet had the chance to see him.
"Good afternoon," he said.
"Good afternoon, Dr. Early," Dixie replied. "Meet the Andersons."
Joe shared a small smile with the couple. "What seems to be the problem?" he asked.
Anxiously, the couple looked at each other.
"I've been looking at a book, Dr. Early," Mr. Anderson replied. "I'm really concerned about her pains…in the stomach."
"Well, Mr. Anderson-"
"Call me Reggie."
Joe and Dixie exchanged a look.
"Of course…Reggie."
"See, I've been reading all about these cases with the stomach pains," Reggie began. "Very serious cases. And I'm worried about her."
Reggie's diagnosis was interrupted by a burp from his wife.
That gave Joe his opportunity.
"Say, Mr…..uh, Reggie, your wife just displayed a very important symptom."
Reggie Anderson looked up in surprise. "Oh?"
Anxiously, Katie Anderson opened her mouth. "What kind of symptom, Doctor?"
Joe successfully avoided a smirk. "I'd like to ask you a question, Mrs. Anderson. Have you eaten anything spicy recently?"
Mrs. Anderson blushed. "Well, just last night, we went to Jose's."
Joe nodded. He knew the restaurant, its owner and their hot and spicy menu very well.
"Good place," he said. "What did you have to eat last night?"
He held back a smile as his patient looked at her husband with what looked like shame, then back at him. "Chorizo sausage," she whispered.
"It was excellent," Reggie agreed.
Now, Joe did smile. "I like it, too," he said. "But it can be kind of tough on the digestive system."
Just then, Mrs. Anderson let out another burp. She blushed and put her hand over her mouth. "Excuse me," she said, embarrassed.
"That's all right, Mrs. Anderson," Joe said. "I think I know what's ailing you."
Both Andersons looked astonished. "Really, Doctor?" Reggie asked.
Joe looked at Dixie, who went to the glass case, got out a pink bottle and poured a small amount of the liquid into a paper cup. She handed it to him.
"Thanks, Dix." In turn, he handed it to Mrs. Anderson.
"Try this, Mrs. Anderson."
She took a tentative swallow, then a second, more confident, swallow, then chugged the rest.
She waited with the others. Then, out came a giant BURP!
The Andersons gasped. Dr. Early and Nurse McCall smiled.
"Feeling better?" Joe asked.
"Why, Yes! Yes I am, Doctor! Thank you!"
Reggie, looking both relieved and confused, asked, "What was it, Doc?"
Joe let out a small chuckle, then looked at the couple.
"Well, I think you were suffering from an attack of chorizo sausage," he said. Seeing the astonished looks from the couple, he clarified. "Heartburn from last night's dinner."
"Really?" asked Reggie.
"Really," Joe responded. "You're gonna be fine, Mrs. Anderson."
She gasped. "Oh, thank you, Doctor!"
Reggie picked up Joe's hand and shook it vigorously. "Thank You so much, Doctor Early!"
Wish I could say the same for Mr. Anderson, Joe thought. He's got a bad case of hypochondria.
After the couple left, Joe chuckled at Dixie's amused gaze.
"So, how does it feel being back?" she asked.
"I think we'll see those two again before long," Joe replied.
"And you'll be glad to see them," Dixie said.
Joe was silent, but his face betrayed his feelings.
"Welcome back, Dr. Early," Dixie said softly.
"Thank you, Nurse McCall," he responded, a bit of emotion in his voice.
THE END (OR A NEW BEGINNING)….