The months passed in a blur of surgeries and very little else. They weren't long out of their training in career terms and were still learning whilst guiding the more junior members of staff taking their first wobbly steps into the world of surgery.
They had worked like Trojans through the holiday season, taking on extra hours where needed and getting some great cases to help build their resumes.
Audrey would never admit it out loud, but sometimes she was finding being a trauma surgeon quite tedious. After a while, all the cases would have a similar theme. You had car accidents, trips and falls and fights bringing you broken bones, concussions and endless sutures which was the typical daily grind.
It wasn't that trauma was devoid of excitement, because if it was she would have moved on some time ago. It was more a case of how many broken bones and concussions you could see in one day before you were ready to go home.
There was the exception to the rule with the slightly more exciting penetrating wounds but still, a large majority of these turned out to be flesh wounds and technically rather superficial, just bleeding from the underlying soft tissue and needing a few staples or sutures before being sent on their way.
Her day had been boring so far and she'd spent more time on paperwork than she had with actual patients. She was hoping to leave on time tonight to catch up with her Mom for dinner to celebrate Lunar New Year. So far, her day had been quiet and safe...until the very moment that it wasn't.
"Hi Doc, this is Hector, 32, generally healthy. Two small stab wounds in the upper right chest. Vitals good, a bit tachy, B.P a little low and breath sounds are equal. We put some dressings over the wounds, but they look pretty small and superficial" the EMT reeled off as he pushed the patient through the doors on a gurney.
"Curtain 2 please" she said pointing over her shoulder before signing the chart she was writing in and dropping it back in the rack.
Hector had been in an altercation after a card game took an eventful turn. It was obvious from his agitated state that he was high as a kite and whether or not this had impeded his ability to play cards, she would never know. What she did know right now was that Hector couldn't tell the ace of spades from a bunch of bananas and probably didn't even know where he was.
"He demanded his money back and didn't take it well when his opponent declined. He lunged at him and the guy pulled out a blade, stabbing him twice. We've got him in custody too" said the accompanying officer said shaking his head.
The patient was still vibrating with pent up rage and outright paranoia. He was totally unaware of the two small stab wounds just over his pectoral muscle which were currently bleeding very slowly. Aside from his elevated heart rate which was likely down to the drug use, his vitals were pretty normal.
"Just a simple staple and go right Doc" the officer asked Audrey.
"Not just yet" she replied, arguing with her inner pessimist. 'He's awfully scrawny, what if the blade went deeper than we think? What if it's nicked something? Maybe he's bleeding internally?'
"Let's get a chest x-ray please" she announced. "Just to be sure."
The officer let out a sigh and sat down heavily on the hard plastic chair next to the trolley. "I knew we should have stopped for coffee on the way in" he said to himself, settling in for the wait.
The results came back and sure as you'd like, there was the unlikely haemothorax she'd been dwelling on. A chest tube would sort that out right away and the procedure drained almost a litre of dark red blood from the patient providing instant relief. The tube would have to remain in place until they were satisfied it wouldn't cause any more problems so the patient would be admitted.
"Looks like he's going to be here for a day or two" Audrey said, pulling off her gloves and stepping back. "We'll get him sent upstairs" she said before walking away to write up her notes.
As she stood at the nurses station trying to concentrate, the devil on her shoulder started whispering in her ear again. 'What if it hit his heart? Maybe we should check? What are the odds?'
"Too high" she said suddenly to herself, startling the nurse sat at the workstation in front of her. "Sorry! Can you get me a portable ultrasound please" she said before turning and heading back to Curtain 2.
"Damn it!" she cursed as the images confirmed her suspicions. There was fluid in Hectors pericardium which in the case of a stabbing, generally means there is a hole in the heart. If the volume of blood outside increases enough, it can compress the heart, not allowing it to beat properly. Left untreated, Hector would die.
What started as a casual, superficial wound had now become an emergency and fifteen minutes later they were in the operating theatre cracking Hectors chest. As the saw did its job cutting through the sternum, the movement must have disturbed something deeper as bright red blood starting seeping out of the lower of the two chest wounds. Bright red was bad and she needed to move fast.
"Put your finger in there" she barked at one of the residents stood opposite. "Try and slow it down."
As she opened his chest, she was shocked to see so much blood. The anaesthesiologist called for extra bags as they opened up all the lines fully to try and keep his volumes up.
'I should call Neil' she briefly thought to herself as she examined him closely, trying to find the source of the problem. Finding a tiny hole in his right ventricle, she stitched it quickly assuming that would stop the flow into his chest cavity. She was mistaken. It kept coming.
"Shit" she hissed as she started exploring further into the cavity. His heart was fine and pumping normally so where was this blood coming from? After checking meticulously for more injuries she found the source. The lateral thoracic artery had been punctured, likely by the tip of the blade. It could have clotted originally but once the patients blood pressure had been stabilised during the procedure, it had opened up and had begun bleeding profusely. Once she had found it, it took less than two minutes to bring the bleeding under control and after they had put in all the drains and tubes he would need for the next few days, she left her residents to close.
That had been quite the buzz.
X
"There you are" he said stepping out into the balcony overlooking the open green space behind the hospital.
"I wasn't hiding" she smiled over her shoulder. "Was just looking for some peace and quiet after all that" she said, turning back to look at the view.
"I brought dinner" he said holding up the paper bag proudly, smiling at her.
"Ah, thanks but I'm going to meet my Mom" she replied. "Dinner tonight for New Year's" she smiled.
"You know it's 9pm right?" he asked her, thinking it unusual she'd be going out that late.
"I didn't" she said, slumping her shoulders. "Missed another one, luckily she's used to it" she shrugged. "It used to be the highlight of my year. We had such fun, visiting family, eating amazing foods and watching fireworks. I loved the fireworks" she said sounding wistful.
"You haven't really celebrated it over the last few years? What changed?"
"Med school and this place" she said, nodding over her shoulder at the building looking behind them. "Mom started changing her plans after I stood her up one time too many. I'm always invited along but she spends it with friends now and has the best time."
"Tell me about it" he said, sitting down next to her and nudging her shoulder gently.
"What do you want to know?"
"All of it" he smiled before turning his attention back to their dinner. He shuffled over a bit and started unpacking takeout boxes into the space between them.
"Well, I suppose first thing would be that it's not on the same date every year. It's based in the lunar calendar so can be between Jan 21st and Feb 20."
"That's a massive window of opportunity" he laughed. "Must be some big parties going on!"
"It's changed an awful lot, even from what I remember" she continued. "In ancient times it used to be ceremonial day and people would pray to God's for a good harvest. Then there's the legend of a monster named Nian who would come out every New Years Eve until one boy was brave enough to scare him off using fire crackers and since then fireworks have been an essential part of the celebrations. I love them, the bigger the better!" she smiled.
"So if we sit here long enough, we'll see a show?" he asked, handing her a box.
"Thanks" she said absent mindedly, not really paying attention. "I'm hoping so, should be a good view from here." She opened the box and took a deep breath, smiling to herself as she noticed for the first time he'd brought her Chinese food.
"I know it's not the same as dinner with your Mom but ..."
"Thank you" she said, leaning over and kissing him on the cheek, surprising them both. "You've obviously done a bit of research but you forgot the egg rolls" she admitted tucking into her noodles with steamed chicken, mushrooms and cabbage.
"You underestimate me" he said, sliding another box towards her with a smile. "And these" he said, tapping the lid of another box with his fork, which contained crispy peanut dumplings.
"Neil Melendez, what is that?!" she scolded noticing the utensil in his hand.
"My fork?"
"Where are your chopsticks?" she asked, shaking her head.
"They are too slow so my food always gets cold" he said with a shrug.
"The second best surgeon in the hospital and you can't figure out how to use chopsticks" she said in disbelief. "It's easy, look" she said, effortlessly picking up a piece of chicken and holding it out.
He wasn't sure if he was meant to eat her offering and in the time he took to consider it, she had eaten it herself and sat looking smug.
Putting her box down on her seat and leaning her sticks gently so they didn't topple, she got up and stretched before moving around behind him. Unsure of her intentions, he began to turn.
"Ah, ah" she said. "Eyes front."
She put her hand on his shoulder and leaned over him, taking his fork and putting it to one side. Unwrapping a second set of chopsticks, she took his hand in hers and positioned them gently, holding them in place.
"Ready?" she asked.
"Not sure" he chuckled. "But yeah."
She laughed as she guided his hand and tried to get him to pick up a piece of the chicken. It was much more difficult than she expected considering he was so good with his hands in surgery.
He was trying to concentrate on the task in front of him but was more focused on her actual hands. The one resting on his shoulder was warm from holding her takeout box while the hand that was holding his was much cooler. He held his breath while feeling hers gently on his cheek and as a result, his mind filled with fog.
The fog cleared almost as quickly as it had descended as her heard her laughing and felt her hand begin to shake.
"What?" he asked, trying to sound insulted but actually hoping she hadn't noticed that he hadn't been fully invested in this teaching moment.
"You are useless" she laughed. "I honestly don't understand!"
"Thanks?!" he laughed, not sure what the correct response was to the half-assed insult she'd just dished out. "Can I have my fork back please?'
"Probably for the best! Good job I'm not taking you home for dinner, you'd starve" she said, getting back to get own dinner.
"Is the family thing like Cinco de Mayo for me? Everyone asking when I'm getting married and having children?" he teased.
"Pretty much" she smiled wistfully. "Although there is a market out there for hiring a partner to take home for the holidays. "
"No way!"
"Yes way!" she laughed. "Passing down the family name is so important that you get asked a million questions. Finding someone to take with you reduces the amount of quiz questions!"
Finishing up their dinner in comfortable silence, Neil gathered up the empty packets and stuffed them back into the bag.
"Want one if these?" he asked, offering her the box containing the sweet dumplings as he sat down next to her.
"Maybe in a little while" she replied, staring out across the city. Her eyes were scanning back and forth looking for any fireworks that might be set off.
"What year is it?" Neil asked, ending the silence.
"Year of the Monkey" she replied, not taking her eyes from the horizon. "People born this year will be ambitious, adventurous and irritable" she smiled glancing at him. "And they should marry either a dragon or a rabbit."
"Really?!"
"Really" she said. "I'm year of the Ox. I'm persistent, honest and simple."
"I'd agree with two out of three of those" he chuckled earning a mock glare.
"My Mom always said I was a stereotypical Ox" she said. "I'm a good leader and devoted to my work like the Ox when they were used for farming. Not the most attractive comparison but I'm okay with it!"
"Am I the same?" he asked.
"Ah, no" she replied. "You're a rat" she laughed!
"Hey!" he exclaimed.
"Not the most popular sign but not all bad. You should be clever, quick thinking and successful" she said with a grin. "You'll have a quiet and peaceful life with a bunch of children!"
He looked at her with amusement waiting for a bit more explanation.
"Rats are known for their virility. A single rat can have 5,000 babies in one year, you know" she said seriously.
"I did not" he replied, trying to keep a straight face and failing leaving them both laughing loudly. "Who should I marry then?"
"You've got options" she smiled. "You should be compatible with a dragon or a monkey or an ox" she said mumbling the last couple of words so he might not hear.
His turned slowly with a smug grin on his face.
"Ox hey?" he repeated, confirming that she hadn't mumbled quite enough.
She nodded, amused by his realisation.
They stared at each other, eyes not wavering, both wondering if now was the right time to make a move when they were interrupted by the loud bangs of firecrackers being let off nearby. They were followed by some large rockets lighting up the sky and the moment was gone.
Seconds after that, the door to the balcony burst open.
"There you are" he exclaimed. "I've been looking for you guys!"
"We weren't hiding" they said in unison, grinning at their little joke and turning to look at their visitor.
"What's up?" Audrey asked.
"Matt called, Jo has gone into labour" he said excitedly. "We should go wait for the call! This is exciting!"
"Sure" Audrey replied. "We'll come get a coffee once we've cleared this up" she said gesturing to the takeout bag and boxes.
"Sure! I'll go order" he said excitedly before leaving just as quickly as he'd arrived.
They got to their feet and and while Neil picked up the bags, Audrey rescued the box containing the peanut dumplings for them to have with their coffee.
"I've got one more question" Neil said as she was about to pass him as he held the door open for her. "Aren't you meant to be wearing some thing red today? For good luck?"
"Who says I'm not. You just cant see it" she said with a wink as she passed him before throwing a casual "xīn nián kuài lè Neil" over her shoulder as she walked away.