Hi everyone. Welcome back to my story. This chapter ended up when fairly long when I reworked it but didn't need to be split - hope everyone enjoys!

This chapter was written weeks ago and I have really worked on it and tried to get all the points across. Mainly it is supposed to give insight into Kori, hopefully I've done that. Again, apologies on the lingo, I've tried to remove or explain it fairly well.

Please review – it makes me happy!

Will try to update over the weekend, but being the holiday, our schedule is pretty busy. Happy 4th of July America!!!

Disclaimer: I do not own the Teen Titans

Chapter 17

Cooper

After Dick arrived, the he and Kori shared a number of shy smiles, but hadn't gotten a chance to talk. Kori found herself feeling very positive about Dick and had to suppress the urge to smile too much. She really enjoyed the way he looked at her and looked forward to a chance to talk to him later in the shift.

Before that could happen, Kori had her first encounter with a surgical intern, a Dr. Cooper. He was on a month long rotation in the ER, working directly under the supervision of the ER doctors. No one was sure what his first name was - perhaps it actually was 'Doctor' some had joked.

Once he started his rotation, Karen and Tara had been immediately concerned about Dr. Cooper. He just didn't seem to know what he did not know, which is very dangerous especially in the ER when there has to be precise split second decisions. The ER docs were concerned as well and kept an eye on him, but Cooper was headstrong and would often go ahead with ordering tests and medications without consulting anyone. He consistently broke the two golden rules of medical internship: never make the same mistake twice and never make a bunch of mistakes all at once.

The nurses knew what was right and wrong when he was ordering things, but not all would question him. As an intern and it being mid-April, Cooper had actually only been a doctor for about 10 months, and even if you include medical school, would have taken care of patients for less than three years.

Over the first few days he was there, Karen and Tara came up with a system sanctioned by Vic and the rest of the ER docs, that if Dr. Cooper getting out of line, the RN was supposed to overhead page in the ER 111 for nursing back up, as it were, or 811 if the MD was needed. It was designed to keep everyone safe and to prevent any potential 'scenes'.

Kori was at first amused by the prospect of someone like this - how could anyone make it through medical school and into a surgical residency and be that inept? But when Kori met Dr. Cooper that evening, she was completely put off. He always called the nurses "Nurse" - and not even "Nurse blank" - even if he knew their names. He became impatient very easily, he said inappropriate things to patients, family and staff. But it was the poor medical decision making that was beyond appalling. The paging system had not been used but Kori had a feeling it would be.

Dick was not a Cooper fan either. He loved teaching and supervising students and staff but he couldn't stand Dr. Cooper and he couldn't control him either. Because Dick only worked about 1-2 days a week and usually only overnights, tonight was only the second time he had to work with him. He had meant to talk to Vic about him, but hadn't gotten the chance. He felt they should talk to the doctor that oversaw the surgical residents. He heard a rumor that Cooper was related to a hospital board member, but couldn't imagine that anyone had so much pull to allow a potential lawsuit and train wreck like that.

It was nearing 10 PM and a patient was brought into the ER being carried by her adult son. She was just 58 years old, emaciated and petite to begin with. Kori recognized right away that she was actively dying and began to assess her and speak with the family and prepare them for what was happening.

When someone is actively dying, it looks like what the name implies. Far too few people go gently into the night, falling asleep and never awakening, maybe drawing one or two gasps of breaths at the very end. For many people, dying is hard work. The most noticeable is the 'work of breathing': deep, irregular breaths that use all the muscles in the neck as well as the abdomen and chest to draw in the breaths. Nearly always present is the accompanying noise of these breaths. It can sound like a percolator, wet breaths that can be so very loud that in the end, the "death rattle" that lay people whisper about. Then there is the restlessness. In the last hours to days, many will pick at their clothing and bedding, and even try to get up even if they has been confined to the bed previously. It is the feeling that the person has that they are going somewhere, unable to realize that it is a trip that they do not have to physically move to take. This is all usually accompanied with further and further withdrawal socially and interactively.

Dr. Cooper came in after a short while and had no idea what was going on and the scene that was unfolding was excruciating. Doctors at Dr. Cooper's stage of training do not always know the intricacies of the dying process, but to be completely ignorant of it, to disrespect and mistreat the patient and the their family was unthinkable. To some doctors, a dying patient always felt like failure but to most people, especially nurses, it is a part of life.

For Kori, this work was a huge part of her personal expertise and practice. She had taught end-of-life care and extensively studied it across multiple cultures. Kori was a nurse practitioner but she was a PhD prepared nurse as well. She had her own reasons for not making people aware of her level of education and the work she was doing was not effected by the fact she held a doctorate. In the role of an ER staff nurse, there is not much differentiation whether one has a diploma, an associate's degree, a bachelor's degree, a master's or even a PhD.

Dr. Cooper ran into the room after Kori's initial assessment and immediately started barking orders: an IV, an EKG, oxygen, blood gases, etc. Kori did not want to embarrass Dr. Cooper by questioning any of his orders directly but when he referred to Judy as a GOMER ("get out of my ER") she was ready to lose it. She did nothing he told her to do, all of it was contraindicated, anyway. She simply walked over to the phone and accessed the ER's overhead paging system for both 111 and 811. Dick and Karen came into the room.

Kori turned down the lights to help calm the patient. Kori continued to calmly assess the patient, coming up with the game plan. Dick pulled Dr. Cooper out of the room, and Kori got a chance to explain what actually was going on to her loved ones and how Judy's symptoms.

Even if he wasn't aware that she was a nurse practitioner, Dick knew Kori had the situation under control. He asked her for suggestions for the orders. She cocked a brow and he gave her a reassuring smile. She asked him to order sublingual morphine to steady the breathing and control any pain, atropine sublingually as well to dry up the secretions that were making the horrible death rattle and to have some Ativan ordered in case Judy's agitation got worse. Dick readily agreed and placed the orders.

Kori explained to the family why oxygen and IV fluids would make things worse. She explained that Judy might know that they were there and encouraged the family members to stay within an arm's length of her face when interacting with her.

Somehow Dr. Cooper, who was having none of being pulled off the patient, burst into the room, literally dragging Kori from the patient's bedside. Once out of the room but still within the Emergency Department, Dr. Cooper seething at this point poked Kori extremely forcefully in the ribs and said, "You nurse, me doctor".

Kori looked at Cooper defiantly and said with a smirk "That is not what the MD stands for - at least not usually."

It might have been almost funny if Dr Cooper wasn't so angry or if he had not essentially stabbed Kori with his fingers. Dick saw this and was there in an instant extremely concerned the Cooper would further assault Kori. Not taking any chances, Dick picked up Cooper, a full foot shorter than he, and carried him to the back of the department and into his office.

At that point Kori had gone into what was could be described as warrior mode. She was focused and angry. In spite of the injury to her ribs, that was already beginning to swell, Kori squared and set back her shoulders, marching directly behind Dick and Cooper.

Now back in the office Dick, Cooper, Kori and Karen assembled. Kori wanted to go back to her patient and their family, not to get away from the confrontation or Cooper but she did not want to abandon the patient and her family even with Tara who able to step in.

To add to the scene, just as the shouting had begun, in walked in Dr. Xavier Red, the plastic surgeon and apparent mentor to Cooper. Dr. Red had been already at the hospital when Cooper paged him so he ran down to the ER to defend Cooper. Having heard only Cooper's version of the story, Red was also screaming for the nurse that had 'defied' Cooper. To further ratchet up the hostilities, of course Red and Dick hated each other, having had a confrontation that previous week concerning Red not coming in during his call.

As things were being argued about and discussed, Red kept staring at Kori. She was well aware, as was Dick, who was already feeling very protective toward her. Technically, Cooper had assaulted her, having poked her with force between her breasts and Dick had wanted to rip out Cooper's throat when he saw him do that to her. The only reason he had as much control was how incredibly calm and composed Kori was.

Finally Dr Red interrupted the discussion and said, "Dr. Anders?"

Kori stopped and looked at him questioningly. "Yes?"

Cooper blurted out, "She's a doctor!"

"What difference would that make?" she hissed back at him.

Red answered for her "She has a PhD, correct Dr. Anders?"

"Yes Dr. Red, but here I am working as a nurse and do not use the prefix of doctor, its too confusing to the patients. I only use it in academic settings."

She paused trying to get her mind around this little wrinkle, "How would you know that? Its not something I've told anyone about down here."

"I saw you lecture last year at Harcum Junior College."

"That? That was a lecture for nursing assistants and students..."

"Not surprising" Dick said under his breath. Dick Grayson was a playboy but Xavier Red could be considered a predator.

Red spoke up again, trying to placate Cooper, but also being sure to compliment Kori, describing her as a leading expert in end-of-life care. Kori was certainly not ashamed of her education. She explained that she always tried to return to staff nursing so that she would always maintain the 'nurse' part of a nurse practitioner.

But this was hardly the point, they were way off track from Cooper's behavior and Kori wanted to get back to Judy.

Kori was starting to have a lot of rib pain. She finally left for Dick, Vic, who was called in right after the incident, and Red to deal with Cooper in Dick's office. She got a chance to use the bathroom and took a peak at her ribs that were significantly bruised. She knew she had to tell someone that she was indeed injured, but wanted to delay it as long as possible.

When she left the locker room, she turned the corner and almost ran smack into Xavier Red.

"Oh, Dr. Anders, I just wanted to apologize about Dr. Cooper. He didn't really hurt you did he?"

She was taken aback. "Its Kori, and I trust he will be dealt with properly."

"And call me Xavier. Listen, I'm really interested in your work..."

"Dr. Red, this is not the time or the place!" she snapped trying to keep her voice down.

"But just let me make it up to you, nothing bad should ever happen to a cutie like you..."

Kori was getting so angry her nostrils were flaring. "Are you kidding me?! Dr. Red, no..."

Just then Dick found them and before he knew it, he stepped in between them, ready to go toe-to-toe with Red.

"I believe she said this was not the time or the place. Why don't you get out of my ER Red? I'm sure there will be follow up on this incident but you need to leave. Now."

Red left without further incident and Dick turned to Kori. She wanted to cry. She knew she had to admit she had been injured.

Dick looked at her, trying to read her face and then gently pulling her into a tentative hug. She let herself lean into him but when there was a little bit of pressure as their upper bodies brushed up to each other, she flinched

Dick finally realized that Kori had been injured.

"We are going to need to take a look at you," Dick said softly.

Kori tried hard to not show how upset she was becoming, holding back tears.

"Are you going to be okay for a minute? Lets put you in one of the back treatment rooms, and I'll get Tara and Karen, okay?"

Dick found Karen and asked her to meet them in one of the treatment rooms. He got Kori an ice bag and returned to the room with Karen. There was an awkward silence between Dick and Kori. Cooper's assault had to be documented and Dick needed to assess her which meant seeing her chest. Policy was that a doctor would have to examine it.

Kori begged to get out of the assessment. She tried to refuse, she did not wish to disrobe for anyone, especially Dick. Finally, Tara found a solution by calling Rachael at home who came in to do the assessment and to care for her new friend. Unfortunately, there was a significant contusion and swelling, so the examination was not the end of it. X-rays were ordered, her vitals were taken and so was precautionary lab tests were drawn.

Kori wanted to die as things continued to happen. Kori, as well as the staff that witnessed it, had to speak with the police. Everyone seemed to have to be involved. Because of the severity of the incident, Vic and Karen were of course involved, along the nursing supervisor, administrator on call, head of security, public relations manager and risk management officer. All parties came into to the ER to take statements and document everything. Pictures, pictures had to be taken.

Kori's resolve was fading, the warrior was leaving and the poor child refuge of a war torn country was beginning to appear.

Once all the interviews and documentation was done, Kori was sent home, but actually went back to Tara's apartment and Rachael also stayed with her. By this time all the incident paperwork were done and a report was filed by police well after 1 AM and Wally and Gar were already there for their shift.

How was she going to tell Galfore? He would turn this into an international incident and she was trying to figure out how to skirt the truth to keep Galfore from going completely ape shit.

Dick wanted to comfort Kori so badly. He was sad to see her leave, especially because they hadn't gotten another chance to talk before she left. At least she was in good hands with Rachael and Tara.

Why hadn't he reacted quickly enough to stop Cooper? He was racked with guilt. Karen worked in Kori's place and Vic stayed to keep his best friend Dick company and ended up covering most of the patients seen that night. They spent much of the night talking to Dick about everything, and about Kori.

Dick finally spoke to Kori when he called later in the day on Saturday. He just couldn't think of her romantically, it didn't seem right. He was resolved to be there as a friend.

The next few days were horrible. Kori was embarrassed. The bruising and ligament damage was significant and she actually couldn't work. And then there were the emotional problems. Work was supposed to be a safe place. Sure, sometimes a patient would be out of it or high or demented and you'd get hit or bitten, that was part of the ER. But to have been attacked by a coworker, a doctor for Christ's sake, Kori just couldn't get her mind around that.

They would later find out that Cooper was cracking under years of strain and cocaine use. He never returned to Lincoln Memorial, having been admitted to rehab soon after the incident in the ER with Kori. Kori hadn't wanted to press charges because of the potential publicity, and sadly at least to Kori, the shame. She tried to convince herself that the assault was a result of the drug use alone and not another problem.

Dick's longing for Kori was unbearable for him, trying to push the romantic feelings aside. He was at a loss for what to do for her but did call her every day or so to see how she was.

And she didn't know what to say to Dick, how to react to him. She took his calls and tried to be cheerful. He asked about visiting but she insisted that she was not up for visitors. As much as Kori wanted Dick to help her through what had happened, as much as she could have been comforted by him, she was too embarrassed, not only because of the injury but that she felt she had been weak. She hated feeling weak.

TtTtTtTtTt

Thanks for Reading – please review!

Cooper is fictional. I thought of using Speedy, who had a drug problem in the DC comic universe (Teen Titans, c. 1971), but I didn't have the source material and I also think he could really be a great character that I could use in the future.

For anyone who doubts it, rib pain is excruciating. When someone is in a coma and you want to try to wake them, you do a sternal rub, usually rubbing your knuckles over one side of the sternum or breast bone. A condition known as costochondritis involves the swelling of the ligament between the bones of the ribcage and can plague the sufferer for 4-8 weeks or more. In some cases the pain can become chronic even permanent.

There are probably questions on the med use for the dying patient, especially with all the media on Michael Jackson dying. One great way to understand the use of morphine or other opiates or narcotics at the end of life is that it 'tricks' the brain into accepting a low oxygen level in the blood. As the oxygen level in the blood drops, the body works harder to get oxygen, what is called increased work of breathing, the urge to breath at all called the hypoxic drive (hypoxia = low oxygen). A little bit of morphine tells the body that a lower oxygen level is ok and maintains and steadies breathing. A lot of morphine wipes out the urge to breath at all even in cases of low oxygen level, wiping out the hypoxic drive. Morphine at the end-of-life is in no way like a lethal injection.