Disclaimer: I have no claim to any references to Twilight. And of course I have no ties to General Hospital.
I prepared to walk down the stairs, feeling very self-conscious. I peered over the stair railing cautiously. Shortly after I came home and finished cleaning up, Alice brought me the clothes I was to wear at the hospital. I had seen scrubs worn on some daytime soap opera that Alice watched obsessively. I cringed at the chaos the daytime drama created in our house.
Last week there had been an altercation between Alice and Emmett. Alice was watching General Hospital, but was interrupted by Emmett. Emmett insisted that a particular NASCAR race was on, that was going to make history, and therefore his viewing choice should have priority. Jasper came to Alice's aide as soon as he felt her distress. In the end Alice was able to watch her soap since; Emmett was preoccupied with defending himself from Jasper. That was the day we lost the new kitchen table, and the purple chandelier in the foyer. The next day Esme bought an additional television as well as another VCR. I was positive that no other household in the whole state of Maine that had two VCRs. Our attempts to be like a normal family were all in vain, I realized
The scrubs were comfortable, but I felt awkward, like I was going out in public in my pajamas, not that I wore pajamas. I owned one pair, that Alice had purchased on a whim. I had never even worn them. I did not sleep so I had not had occasion to.
If I could sleep, I doubted I would sleep very well in this hospital uniform, pockets in front and in the back of the pant, and compartmentalized pocket on the front of the shirt. The pant legs were gathered at the bottom with elastic, which slipped over the top of my Reebok High tops. The scrubs were blue, which was fine, but they had colorful geomantic shapes printed in random areas throughout the material. Purple triangles, Yellow half circles, and an orange shape that looked like a brush stroke painted by someone who was having a seizure. The sleeves were short leaving more of my pale skin exposed, the shoulders felt abnormally thick. After a little bit of adjusting I realized that shoulder pads had been sew into the sleeves. I quickly removed the shirt, and ripped them out before putting it back on. Needless to say this outfit was not very flattering. If it did not look good on me, did they look good on anyone else? Vain thoughts I know, but it was the truth.
Alice came from her room carrying something white.
"What's the story about these?" I asked waving the shoulder pads in her face.
Alice snickered, and took the offending material from my hand. "I think they are supposed to make your shoulders look broader." She held up a jacket of sorts gesturing for me to put my arms in the sleeves. "It's a lab coat," she responded to the confused look on my face.
I sighed and let her slip on the coat. "I don't feel like I look very…professional."
It's not that bad Edward, you kind of look like Dr. Jones. Alice's memory of the doctor portrayed on TV did little to reduce my anxiety.
"Wouldn't it be awesome if we could change the channel without getting up?" Emmett asked. He was slouched low in a chair, with his feet propped on the vinyl footstool.
"Oh, please, could you be any more lazy?" Jasper snorted.
Carlisle emerged from the kitchen, with his own white coat draped over his arm. "Edward lets go," he called.
I gritted my teeth and allowed myself to continue my descent down the stairs.
Upon my appearance, Jasper burst into explosive laughter. Emmett slid off the chair as he sputtered. "Well, look at you! Dude you look well… you look like a rainbow."
Jasper snickered, and covered his face with one hand, while shaking with mirth.
I rolled my eyes at their amusement. I don't think there's anything wrong with the way you look. It's what all the staff wears. What you're wearing is the least of our worries. I saw that Carlisle was more worried about my behavior than my appearance
I was not exactly reassured by Carlisle's thoughts, and then I noticed something else. "Hey, you never wear these… these whatever they are! When you go to work!" I exclaimed, gestured meaningfully at my attire, and then eyeing Carlisle's buttoned shirt and tie.
"That is because I am an attending," he justified. "Everyone wears scrubs so they do not ruin their good clothes, when they get soiled."
Emmett snickered, "Edward's going to get soiled." He was picturing me covered from head to toe with the contents of a bedpan.
"You shouldn't be late," Esme appeared from the kitchen. She walked over to me and straightened the collar of my lab coat. "I think you look like a very professional and skilled doctor."
I did my best to smile, at her attempt to make me feel better; I sighed and made for the garage. "I'm driving," I muttered.
"Kick butt!" Jasper said, sending a feeling of encouraging emotion towards me. However, he was still amused by my appearance, and accidentally let that infiltrate the emotions. I found myself chuckling as turned the door knob.
Through Emmett's mind I saw Carlisle kiss Esme on the forehead and follow me through the door.
Carlisle's thoughts were still with Esme, and her hopes, as I drove my Pontiac Firebird towards the hospital.
"It would be wrong, you know," I broke the silence.
What would be wrong?
"To change someone again, the way you did before… with Rosalie." I focused on the road as I said this. I was confident I could voice my opinion on the subject because Carlisle knew how to hide thoughts from me if he did not want me to know about them. I still did not want to look him in the eye when blatantly disagreed with Esme. "I know Esme wants you to do it, to try to find someone for me, but I don't want it. Not like that."
"I know, and you're right it would be wrong. Unless I knew you had feelings for the person, I would not change anyone like that… not again." If a woman were bound to die regardless and you had ANY feelings towards her?
"It would still be better to let her die," I insisted. "It's not fair to take a choice like that from someone. It may be more of a blessing to die."
Do you wish that I…?
I cut his thought off quickly. "No, no, you did what you thought was right. I am glad to have known you, Esme and the rest of the family; I wouldn't take a different route if it were offered to me. But that's just it, it must be a choice." I turned the car into the parking lot and exited the car hoping to discontinue the conversation.
To my relief Carlisle did not think more on the subject as we walked, at a human pace, through the newly installed mechanical doors.
"Oh, Dr. Cullen," a nurse with claw-like bangs dropped a manila folder, as our entrance caught her by surprise. Why do I always have to look like and idiot in front of him? I am such a goober! I felt a smile cover my face, and I looked into her wide eyes with amusement.
"Good evening Tiffany," Carlisle said kindly as he retrieved the lost documents, seemingly oblivious to her disoriented state. "This is Edward he will be helping us out today," He gestured in my direction.
The nurse stared at me too distracted to notice that Carlisle was holding the fold out towards her. He patiently cleared her throat, and she snapped out of her trance and meekly took the folder. A pink flush colored her cheeks, as she realized she had been staring. I felt my mouth fill with venom, and quickly, looked away from the flustered nurse.
"Oh, ah… it's been a little slow so far, but the night is still young, I was just taking this to admitting. We have to admit the patient from the ER so I'll just take the chart to admitting, yeah, I'll just go there… now, to admitting I mean." She began to walk down the hallway still looking back at us, and nearly ran into a cart filled with lunch trays.
It's best if you don't smile at them AND look them in the eye at the same time. It distracts them. Be pleasant, but not too friendly, save the dazzling for the patients who are in pain. Carlisle's' thoughts felt like a reprimand, rather than advice, but I barely noticed. He was opening a door that was labeled "Emergency Department Staff Entrance." Be ready he cautioned.
Upon walking through the doorway I was assaulted by a blitz of human scents. The air was saturated with particles of sour smelling sweat, urine, feces, vomit and of course… sweet, oh how very sweet…blood. Ahh...
Venom filled my mouth too quickly to allow me to swallow, so it overflowed into my lungs making me cough. "Carlisle," I gasped softly so that only he could hear.
"Focus on the other scents; it will get easier once you're acclimated to the atmosphere." He gripped my shoulder in encouragement. "Hold your breath for a few minuets at a time, until you get used to it."
"Owiiieee, mommy! Owie," the sobs of a child made my ears rings. The sound echoed along the tiled walls, and my head spun with as my senses became even more overloaded.
"Think about resisting one person at a time," Carlisle's voice cut through the haze that filled my mind. "This is Dr. Randolph coming towards us now." Think about what he does and says not how he smells.
A large dark haired man waddled towards us. A thick beard covered his face and his brown eyes were lost in wrinkles, as he smiled. When he grew older he would look like the human Santa Claus. "Carlisle thank the lord you're here. We got this old man from the wood who doesn't speak any English, I think he's speaking Spanish...but I don't really know what it is, just gibberish. None of us have any idea what he's going on about." He absently fingered a large silver cross; it hung from his neck on thin chain that disappeared, lost in the rolls along the back of his neck. "Oh, well, well, this must be the future medical student. I'm Dr. Randolph," He extended his hand.
Go ahead, just don't squeeze too hard, Carlisle cautioned.
I shook the jovial man's hand, and nodded curiously. "Edward Cullen pleased to meet you." I wondered if he noticed the coolness of my skin, but his thoughts did not dwell on it.
His manners are as formal as his fathers, the doctor noted. "Going into the family business…Eh. Well we can always use the help. Are you ready to show us what you're made of?" He pumped his fist as through he were a cheerleader at a football game.
"Yes, sir. I'm looking forward to learning from you."
"Excellent," he rubbed his hand together much like a mad scientist. "We'll make sure you have a good start before your done here."
A plump nurse with thick glasses walked between us. "Sign here," she shoved a clipboard into Dr. Randolph's hands.
He fingered the cross at his neck once again as he read the paper.
He's very religious, says a prayer for each of his patients after he sees them. Carlisle noticed me watching the doctor. He truly has a desire to help people. He's quite an amazing physician, although he seems a little too exuberant sometimes.
The child who had been wailing up until now suddenly stopped. "Doctor! Doctor, quick something has happened!" A frightened voice called out and shaking nurse pulled back a floral printed curtain.
Carlisle was off like a shot, I felt my body tense up in surprise. None of the staff seemed surprised by the speed at which he arrived at the child's bedside.
"This'll have to wait, Imia" Dr. Randolph shoved the papers back at the nurse. "Come on, Eddie lets go save some lives." His large hand clasped my shoulder propelling me towards the bed.
I dug in my heals caught by surprise and a little annoyed, by being called "Eddie". The doctor ignored this, releasing my shoulder, but gesturing me to follow. I took a deep breath and then stopped all air movement to my lungs. I shuffled to after Dr. Randolph, nervously.
Carlisle hovered over the child listening to her chest with his stethoscope. I doubted he truly needed the tool. I could tell from where I stood at the bottom of the bed, she was not breathing.
Oh, god. No, no, no, Lisa! Oh, god I swear I'll leave him just let her breath again. A tired looking woman clutched the little girls hand tears dripping to the white sheet. A whimper escaped her throat as she swallowed convulsively.
"Call a code blue!" Carlisle announced, "She's not breathing and her heart has stopped."
Suddenly chaos erupted in the emergency department.
A/N: I've never actually seen General Hospital, but I did get in a lot of fights with my babysitter (who watched it obsessively) because it came on at the same time as Thundercats. Yes… I was a child of the 80s…have pity on me. Ahem… anyway everything I learned about the show I got from wikepedia so I hope that any of the GH fans won't be upset if I am not totally accurate.