Hi Readers (and hopefully reviews), here is our next chapter. Its bridge on the front end, and then the beginnings of a larger piece of the story on the back end. Hope you enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own the Teen Titans and Lippincott has not sent me my new stethoscope bell yet!
Chapter 11
On Sunday Kori woke very tired but decided to attend 8:00 AM Mass. The early April day was cool but the skies were clear. She enjoyed her solitude. She was used to going to mass alone and enjoyed the 7 block walk to the cathedral.
Kori had been indoors for almost 48 hours straight due to her work and sleep schedule and if she knew anything it was that she just had to spend some time outside. She just never felt right if she didn't get sunlight.
After services and breakfast, she called Tara and in the afternoon they met up to attend the outdoor festivities of DC's Cherry Blossom Festival. The trees were in the peak of their bloom. They were beautiful, with all the pink puffs. Kori had been to Tokyo before while the cherry blossoms were in bloom there, and Washington's certainly rivaled the ones that she saw in Japan.
Kori and Tara found conversation easy and discovered a few mutual interests including gardening and exercising. Tara confided that if she weren't a nurse, she'd love to be a landscaper.
When Kori arrived home, she pored a cup of tea and sat outside in the gardens behind the embassy. There was rod iron furniture painted a bright white, and she sat with both of Washington's newspapers, flipping through each section by section. The Washington papers were different from Philadelphia's, not only from the political coverage but with the coverage of the people themselves.
Galfore had informed her that as part of the embassy she would be part of DC society. At was apprehensive about it, but perhaps it wouldn't be bad. Especially if there were a certain Dr. Dick Grayson that could escort her to such events.
And that's when she saw it, and her heart simply sank. There was Dick Grayson smiling for the camera, his arm around an attractive woman. Kori was certain it was he before checking the caption, reading it just to make sure.
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Dick awakened to a sour stomach and massive headache. He was mouth was dry and he cursed himself for drinking too much and to have not bothered trying to stay up until he was sober which might have partially ameliorated his fate. It was nearly noon.
He remembered everything in detail, of seeing Barbara, heading home with her, making out with her on the sofa. Thank God she sent him home by cab.
What was going on with him? Drinking to much, hooking up with Barbara? And after all the months of the Kitten fiasco (most of which no one knew about as they were behind closed doors thankfully).
He thought about Kori. He never found out her schedule and wasn't even sure when he'd even see her again.
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Monday and Wednesday Kori worked 3-11 pm. She continued enjoying her work in the ER and was meeting a lot of great people. On Wednesday she finally saw Dick again, the first time she had since the previous Saturday.
He hadn't called, but she was not counting on it since seeing his picture with Barbara Gordon in the society pages. Kori was confused as to why Dick had even asked for her number the morning of the day he was going to a party with another woman. She wanted to get to know him better but was frankly never good at anything that would have been complicated.
As far as Dick went, there was no doubt he remained attracted to Kori and longed to get to know her. That was definitely confirmed late on Wednesday evening when the police arrived with a highly intoxicated 28-year-old man arrested for lewd behavior. Things were relatively quiet and Kori decided it might be fun to take up a wager.
It was a common practice in many emergency rooms that had somehow never made it to Lincoln's ER. It was betting on the blood alcohol of drunk patients. Generally good harmless fun.
The rules were simple, everyone was supposed to visit the young man, quickly look him over and come up with a predicted blood alcohol level or blood alcohol content (BAC). There is skill involved in making such a prediction beyond the person's weight, sex, and age: there are other factors such as other illnesses, alcohol use history, other drugs ingested, and how quickly the alcohol had been consumed.
Kori flitted around the ER, clipboard in hand and solicited the predictions of the nurses and doctors currently in the department. Her enthusiasm was infectious. Karen was disappointed that there was no actual wagering going on, but Kori pointed out that although she has nothing against gambling, that it was best just to offer the victor bragging rights.
Not surprisingly, it was Dick who got the closest to the unfortunate gentleman's alcohol level of 451. Kori congratulated him enthusiastically and caught herself before giving him a huge hug, so he had to settle with an arm grab and something akin to a snuggle.
It was yet again that Dick realized how much fun life was with Kori Anders.
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Even after this, there was something holding Dick back from calling, from diving into anything. The way he looked at her did not go unnoticed of course and he also found that unless completely involved in a particular patient's care or when instructing a student or member of the house staff he couldn't stop himself from looking for her and when he found her, to really look at her.
Kori grew more comfortable and was not put off by this, she began to believe that Dick was sincere. She was flattered. And Kori, growing bolder, took her share of glances at Dick as well, although hers were usually quick and shy.
Tara was part of a group of ER workers that were not only big Kori fans, but were really committed to getting Dick and Kori together. It was odd that within a week or so of Kori starting there that this could be going on. It was reminiscent to Kori's observations Freshman year in her dormitory, or technically, her College House where there were fast close friendships made and the prospect of new romances. This scenerio was not at all unusual in any emergency department.
The group, primarily made up of Tara, Gar, Vic, Karen, Rachael and Wally wanted to first off get Kori to take a permanent nursing position even if only one or two shifts per week. Wally and Gar were really pushing for her to work every Friday night with Dick, and she had agreed to at least through the agency to work for the next four weeks. The four musketeers were a force to be reckoned with.
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"County to Lincoln." It was 11:45 PM on Friday evening and a call came over from the county's fire rescue.
"Lincoln Here," Dr. Dick Grayson responded.
"Inbound with two victims of MVA. Both responsive. 46 year old female with probable multiple fractures, 12 year old female with contusions and lacerations. Both were restrained. ETA 4 minutes."
"Thank you county, Lincoln out". Dick removed his white coat hanging it on the back of a chair. Kori caught herself looking at how well his scrubs hit him - does he get those tailored? Then she realized how nice the blue color of the scrubs matched his eyes... the eyes looking back at her. She stifled an 'eep' as she realized that he saw her checking him out.
Kori found herself unable to look away lost in Dick's eyes. She finally managed a "Duty calls" and turned around to walked over to treatment room one.
Dick was surprised, he actually felt weak in the knees. He steadied himself on the chair, shook his head and chuckled to himself. Yep, she was definitely getting to him.
"Wally, can you grab an extra stretcher? We'll keep them in here together". The room was fairly large and would accommodate two patients easily.
The two patients arrived on separate gurneys, each in a Philadelphia collar and strapped on a backboard. The little girl was crying "Mommy, I'm scared!"
Her mother didn't respond, she had become unconscious.
Kori went to the girl's side leaning over so she could look her in the eye. "Hi, my name's Kori, I'm one of the nurses, what's your name?"
"Its Jody" the girl replied quietly.
"Well, Jody, there is going to be a lot of things going on really fast, and I need you to be brave. The doctor is making sure your mom is fine and I will be looking at you first, okay?"
"Yea - yes"
"Good Jody. First we care going to move you onto one of our beds." Kori grabbed the bottom of the backboard, an EMT grabbed the top, "One, two, three..." and Kori and the EMT pulled her gently onto the hospital stretcher.
"OK, where do you hurt?" Kori said to the girl, started to look at her from head to toe. Caught up in the collar and board was a mass of red hair, similar in color to Kori's.
"My leg - it bleeding - and my head hurts. This thing on my neck hurts." The young girl said reaching for the collar.
Kori stopped Jody's hands before they could tug at the collar and tried to reassure her, "We will get that off soon, I promise, and we will get you off that board. We will have to take you to x-ray first, and that will be in a few minutes."
There was a flurry of activity. Kori was able to give Jody her undivided attention as Gar, Wally and Dick worked with Jody's mother Janet who was the priority patient.
After both patients were x-rayed, Dick handed Janet off to the on call orthopedists and surgeons. She had multiple pelvic fractures and internal bleeding and would be going to surgery.
Dick then was able to concentrate on the 12 year old. "Jody, it should be fine to take your collar off, but I want to double check your neck and back first."
"But Kori already checked me." the young girl protested.
Dick smiled at Jody then looked at Kori. "I am sure Kori checked you and she would have told me if there was anything wrong, but I just want to make sure, OK?"
Jodi replied with a nod that made her wince slightly. "OK"
Kori helped Dick take the collar off the young girl. Dick checked over her neck and back carefully. He then assessed her head, chest and abdomen. Kori was impressed with Dick's demeanor and kindness he showed the little girl.
After he was finished fully assessing Jody he reassured the girl, "Alright, everything looks good. I am going to check you leg now."
Removing the drape, Dick saw a deep 5 inch gash on Jody's leg.
Dick had no obvious reaction to the horrible wound. He looked the girl in the eye and said, "Jody, I am going to be right back. Kori's gonna stay with you."
Dick left the treatment room to page the plastic surgeon on call, Dr Xavier Red. Dick hated him, but he usually did a good job and with a large cut on a young girl, it was wise to consult plastics.
After some him and having to go through the hospital operator to call Xavier at home, Dick spoke with Xavier.
After six rings, Xavier answered. "Ah, I'm not on call Dick."
"Of course you are, you are on every other Friday." Dick pointed out to his colleague.
A muffled female voice was audible on Dr. Red's side of the line. "Look, Dick, I can't come in."
"You have to. I have a twelve-year-old girl with a nasty gash on her leg and a mother in surgery and she does not need a scar to deal with."
"I can't."
"I'm losing patience here, Xavier. You are needed. You are on call. End of story." Dick could feel his body heat up with anger.
"Uh, come on Dick, be a friend. You do it. Or find someone else." Xavier said, trying to placate him.
Dick replied firmly, "You can't get out of this, and I'm not your friend."
"I really better not... I've been drinking."
"You have got to be kidding me." Either it was true or it wasn't, but there was no way Dick could even allow Xavier to see Jody.
"Do me a favor buddy," Xavier said, "just suture her up. Give her my card, I'll see her on Monday and make sure you did a good job."
Dick was beyond pissed, but there was no sense screaming at Xavier. "This isn't over!" he hissed and he hung up the phone.
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more soon I promise! fluff is on the way.