Chapter 4: This Broken Family

Author's Note: Sorry it took a few days for the next chapter, the holiday and work had me tied up. If you guys are enjoying where the story is going please let me know. I really would appreciate any constructive criticism you can provide. It might be awhile before I write in hospital, this chapter was particularly challenging.

Thanks! - L

6:48PM

At any other time, on any Tuesday, today would have been a typical day at San Antonio Memorial. But today wasn't typical. Part of the team was breaking apart, days earlier having the promise of a family taken away from them. The team's strong leaders were hurting and there was nothing anyone could do. Molly didn't know how she could get this team to focus, all she knew is that the shift started in twelve minutes and she had to bring this team together. She prayed to herself for a slow night as she approached the break room door.

"Hey everyone, shift starts in ten minutes," Nurse Molly bellowed into the quiet break room.

She couldn't help but notice how playful Ragosa and Krysta were being as well as how tightly Kenny was holding onto Gwen. This team had been through so much already in the past 24 hours; it was refreshing to see them come together. Without Drew tonight the team was limited to Topher, Krysta, and Ragosa. Scott was the on call surgeon tonight and TC hadn't left Jordan's side since he returned from his trip with Topher. She worried about them. Jordan was going to need TC now more than ever and she wondered if TC could give her that type of support. TC had his own demons to battle, and she was worried that if TC took on Jordan's demons too it might possess him and then they would never get the old TC back. Molly surveyed the room and took a mental headcount of everyone in attendance.

"Has anyone seen Topher?"

"Upstairs in ICU, I think." Ragosa chimed in.

"Thanks," Molly said, turning on her heel and walking out.

Molly Ramos walked to the elevator, pressed the up button, and waited patiently for the elevator to reach her floor. She looked at her watch counting the seconds until the doors would open.

"Evening Molly," Topher said exiting the elevator.

"Topher, I was just coming to get you. The shift starts in 5 minutes. How's Jordan?" Nurse Molly asked, falling into step with Topher as the moved back to the ER.

"Not great. She is very depressed. I think it's starting to take a toll on TC as well."

"Poor kids, I'll keep praying for them."

7:01 PM

Ragosa slapped Krysta's thigh as he stood up.

"Come on. We got patients to see Krysta," Ragosa teased moving toward the door.

Ragosa held the door as he and Krysta exited, heading toward the waiting room to check in some patients. Paul waited at the nurses' station; it would be cold and flu for him tonight. Kenny kissed Gwen softly as she left on a run.

"How's the hand?" Topher asked as Molly and him approached.

"Not great. I still can't move my fingers but the infection is gone. My surgery is next week, so we'll see," Paul responded seeming less than chipper tonight.

"You don't have the have the surgery, remember that," Topher repeated for what seemed like the thousandth time.

"If I don't try, my hand doesn't get better. If I don't try, I can kiss my peds surgical fellowship goodbye. So I'll take the risk," Paul scoffed as he grabbed Mr. Ogden's chart and went to exam room one.

"Poor Kid."

"Hey Topher, how's TC and Jordan?" Kenny asked as he waved by to Gwen. "I keep asking Gwen but she won't answer, she's worried about them."

"Not great, they are going to need us now," Topher replied.

8:12 PM

It was a slow night at San Antonio Memorial. It appeared that Molly's prayers had been answered.

"Paul, how's Mr. Ogden's," Topher was thrown off guard as he saw someone walk into the break room, "hold that thought. I'll be back. Molly keep everyone out of the break room please."

Molly looked through the blinds that covered the windows and saw a disheveled TC pouring himself a cup of coffee.

"Will do Topher."

Topher knocked quietly on the door to the room, "Can I come in T?"

TC looked up at Topher. Topher had never seen TC look so disheartened. Even after Thad died, TC returned to service and seemed functionally normal. It wasn't until years later did TC deal with the trauma of losing his brother. At least he seemed to be dealing with his grief this time, but Topher still felt sorry for his dear friend.

Topher walked over to the coffee machine and poured himself a cup. He sat next to TC on the couch and placed his hand on TC's knee. He hoped that maybe the physical contact would help to reassure TC that he wasn't alone and he had a whole team of friends out there who were on their side.

"She's sleeping," TC said in a monotone voice.

"That's good, she could use the rest."

"Yeah…" TC said, his voice trailing off.

Topher looked at his friend, TC was more like a brother to him. He wished he knew something he could do or say to comfort them but he knew that nothing would lessen the pain they were dealing with. Losing their first child was something TC and Jordan would never fully heal from. They needed time and each other. Topher just hoped TC was strong enough to get her through this.

"I proposed." TC muttered.

"And?" Topher asked. TC had talked about proposing while they were helping out Ali, he didn't think he would do it after everything that happened.

"No answer. She'll look at me and then she'll cry now. When I asked she told me I didn't have to do this, that I didn't have to propose. I told her that I love her and I've seen what my world would be like without her and I don't want to feel like that again. But she still hasn't answered me. Toph…" TC looked over at Topher, tears bridging the damn, threating to fall.

Topher wrapped his arms around his friend and let TC do what he needed. TC sat there and sobbed into Topher's shoulder. While sitting there on the couch holding his friend Topher felt it, he felt it the second that his own heart broke for his brother and he cried with him. Whatever TC needed, Topher would be there. He would help put TC and Jordan back together. Topher cursed under his breath for the heartache that his dysfunctional family was going through. Topher didn't need much to remind him that this broken, hurting family was just that, family, and as TC liked to remind him, you don't turn your back on family.

As Topher held TC, letting his hurting comrade weep, he closed his eyes. The memory of the first time he met TC bombarded him and he felt like he was back in Afghanistan. He remembered the dry smell of the air, the golden hue of the sky reflecting off the sand. He remembered watching this maverick medical officer perform procedures so risky it made his stomach turn. He recalled how he wasn't fond of TC and his recklessness. He recollected on the first time this cowboy of a medic became his best friend.

Kandahar, Afghanistan 2011

TC and Topher sat under the tent in the hot Kandahar air. It was unusually cool for Kandahar in October and the two strangers sat in silence enjoying their non-alcoholic army issue beers.

"This is awful," TC said looking disgusted at the can, "I can't wait till I get home and can have a real beer…and whiskey. Good Irish whiskey."

"Right, this reminds me of the shit I drank during med school."

The two men laughed at the memory of med school. Finally they had found some common ground in crap beer during college.

"Where did you go to med school?" TC inquired. It was more of a reason for him to gloat, but nonetheless he was curious.

"Baylor College of Medicine," Topher said, proud of his alma mater. "Graduated 4th in my class. You?"

"John Hopkins, 1st in my class." TC responded proudly.

"Of course you did."

"So do you have a girl at home?" TC asked. He didn't dislike Dr. Zia, he just didn't know him and he was hoping to change that.

"Yeah, my wife, Janet and my 5 year old daughter Lynn. What about you?"

TC sighed. Talking about his girl was his favorite pastime.

"Yeah, Jordan. She is something special. Saved my life once, no joke. She's a doctor too, smarter than me I swear and she's absolutely stunning. Thick russet colored hair you can't help but want to touch. She always smells like lilac, sometimes when we would sleep, before I was deployed I would lay awake and breathe her in. I never wanted to forget her smell. OH and she has this lopsided grin that makes your heart skip a beat, it's adorable. Oh and her eyes. Jesus Christ, her eyes are so blue I swear you could swim in them. She's perfect," TC revealed, his heart racing at the thought of his girlfriend at home.

He unhooked the button on the side of his fatigues, reached into his pocket and pulled out a petite velvet box. He opened his personal treasure and showed Topher the ring.

"I'm gonna make her mine when I get back home, saying I make it back in one piece."

"Why did you bring the ring with you here though?" Topher inquired. He was genuinely curious as to why a soldier would bring this expensive ring with him half way across the world.

"To keep hope. It reminds me of what I have at home to lose; this ring keeps me on my toes more than any photo would. I can close my eyes and see her, if I breathe deep enough I can smell her but this…this ring though, it belongs on her finger, I need to make it home to make sure it happens."

Topher thought that this was the most genuine thing he has heard come out of this man's mouth. Before he could open his mouth to respond, rebel forces lit up the camp like a Christmas tree.

TC knew that Topher wasn't a soldier, he was a civilian doctor, his instincts took over and he dove. Covering Topher with his own body. The rebel fire seemed to stop as quickly as it started. TC rose slowly, looking around for injured soldiers. Luckily no one was injured.

"Why did you do that? Why did you protect me?" Topher asked. This man just sacrificed his life to save his.

"You have a wife and kids," TC started to say.

"And you have a girlfriend!" Topher interjected.

"Look, we watch out for each other here Topher, I was just looking out for you that's all. Call it a soldiers instinct."

"Thanks." Topher replied solemnly.

10:54 PM

Topher forgot that he was crying. He held this man who saved his life four years ago. He would have never thought back then that the rebel medic would become his closest friend. It hurt him to see TC this way. TC saved his life more than once, delivered his baby, and helped Topher through more obstacles in his life than he could count. He knew that he had to help his friend.

TC looked up from Topher's shoulder and wiped his eyes.

"I should get back to Jordan," TC said choking back tears

"T if you need anything, I mean anything brother, I'm here fore you. I hope you know that."

TC hugged Topher and kissed his forehead. Topher hated it but it made TC chuckle a bit.

"Yeah, I know," and with that TC refilled his coffee cup and walked to the elevator.

12:32 AM

"Hey Topher, can you take a look at Mr. Ogden? His x-rays came back clear but he's complaining of shortness of breath and his oxygen levels aren't rising," Paul asked.

"Sure, come on," Topher replied following Paul into exam room one.

Topher held the x-rays up to the light. He looked over at Mr. Ogden perplexed.

"Mr. Ogden, can you tell me what's bothering you?" Topher asked, listening to the man's chest.

"Call me…" Mr. Ogden tried to speak but his mouth stopped working.

Topher leaned into Mr. Ogden, smelling the man's breath. "Paul do you smell that?"

"His breath? No, that's not pleasant and it seems rude to talk about it."

"Seriously, smell his breath Paul."

"Mr. Ogden have you been eating fruit?" Paul asked, the man had been here for an hour and Paul never noticed the fruity smell.

Mr. Ogden couldn't respond with words. He simply shook his head no.

"Mr. Ogden, are you a diabetic?" Topher asked, knowing that the answer was yes. It took milliseconds for Mr. Ogden to confirm Topher's belief.

"Paul, I want you to take Mr. Ogden back for a CT scan of his brain. See if you can find any sign of a blood clot. Before you go though I need you check his blood sugar and do a urinalysis, this time make sure you have the lab check for his ketone levels. I believe Mr. Ogden has two different illnesses here, the first is diabetic ketoacidosis, the other problem can be a result of his diabetes and it looks like he might be having transient ischemic attacks. Come find me when you get the results."

"Mini-strokes and diabetic ketoacidosis? It makes sense; I'll run the tests. Thanks Topher," Paul responded in amazement. It would take him awhile to think as quick on his feet at Topher was.

5:59 AM

"You were right Topher. Diabetic ketoacidosis and the TIAs were a complication of the diabetes. I've called Scott in, Mr. Odgen had another mini-stroke in the CT machine, Scott is going to do a carotid angioplasty and place a stent. This should help prevent more mini-strokes or a big stroke. I've got him on IV fluids and electrolytes for now, he'll be admitted after his surgery so we can help him with his insulin and finding one that works now."

"Great job, I'll be back," Topher said walking toward the elevator, "And don't kill anyone while I'm gone please."

This was the part of the night that Topher had been regretting all night. He carried Jordan's discharge papers in his arms as he pressed the up button on the elevator. The papers seemed to weigh a hundred pounds. He absolutely didn't want to discharge Jordan, it was easier for him to check on them while she was in here, but it wasn't his decision and the hospital needed the beds.

Topher took a deep breath as he walked into the room where his two best friends laid in each other's arms fast asleep. Topher decided he could wait until they woke up and he turned around to leave but before he even reached the door he heard the faint, dainty voice of the surgical attending he had grown so fond of. Topher turned around to see the scared, broken face of Jordan Alexander looking right in his direction. He laid the discharge papers on the counter and ran to Jordan, embracing her in a warm hug. It wasn't long before she started to cry.

7:10 AM

Nurse Ramos was thrilled the night was easy. She already knew that Jordan and TC could be gone for a while; she has called other hospitals in the district looking for help. She didn't want to hire anyone new; she just knew they would need some help in the coming months. Perhaps they could just bring someone from 2nd shift to the night shift for the time being. She typed up a quick email to the charge nurse on 2nd shift, asking him to talk to the chief attending.

Molly looked up from her computer to see TC pushing a wheelchair out of the sliding glass doors, chestnut hair blew softly in the breeze and she knew that Topher discharged Jordan. She whispered a prayer for them and clocked out for the morning. Tomorrow was another day and she was going to need some sleep if she was going to make it through the night.