Chapter 16

Before Station 51 pulled into the parking lot of Mike's apartment building Hank had already assigned the rest of the men on his engine to stay back unless he radioed them to bring up supplies. As soon as the engine stopped Hank was out and at the squad helping to carry part of their supplies up the stairs.

When they reached Mike's apartment the door was already open several inches so they just pushed it open with their shoulders and hurried in. The first thing they saw was Mike kneeling next to the sofa holding Laura's hand with one of his and brushing the side of her face with his other hand.

"Help's here Laura, they're going to take care of you, just hang in there." He said as John and Roy moved in next to him.

The second thing they noticed was that Mike had moved all the furniture and coffee table off to the side of the room to make room for them to work on Laura when they arrived.

As Hank set the ventilator down next to his paramedics the first thing he noticed was that they were reaching around Mike to do their assessment. His next move was to take Mike by the arm and gently but forcefully pull him away. "Let's give them room to work there Mike."

The aroma of dinner was in the air as Hank gave a quick glance into the kitchen to see the table elegantly set with candlesticks and flowers, a table cloth and napkins. He then turned his attention back to Mike he was clearly worried about his friend and just like any other person they came across in this kind of situation Hank suggested that he sit down and try to relax.

"Her pulse is still only 40 and weak, respirations 6 and shallow," Johnny reported, "We better get her on Oxygen." Mike made a move toward the ventilator but Captain Stanley placed a hand on his shoulder and held him back.

Roy placed a mask on Laura's mouth and nose and turned on the oxygen flow. "I'll contact Rampart."

Laura responded by rolling her head slightly but nothing else.

"Rampart this is squad 51 do you read," Roy worked the biophone. "Rampart this is squad five one."

"Blood pressure is 80 over 40," Johnny called out as he placed the stethoscope on Laura's chest to listen to her lungs. "I can barely hear any breath sounds at all."

"Go ahead 51 this is Rampart," they heard the comforting voice of Dr. Bracket over the biophone.

"Rampart we have a woman approximately 26 years of age who is unresponsive to any form of stimuli. She was in Rampart's out patient department today being treated by Dr. Morton, for an infection in her left shoulder." Roy began followed by repeating her vital signs.

"51 what is the name of this patient?"

"Laura Elmer," Roy answered.

"51, There is a very real possibility that we are dealing with an overdose," Bracket spoke with an unusual amount of panic in his voice. "Start and IV with ringers lactate administer one vile of Narcan and try to determine what she's taken and how much."

Hank thought back on his conversation with her and wondered if suicide was her idea of fading out of the picture.

Johnny grabbed for the IV set up and supplies as Roy turned to Mike, "Do you know where she keeps her medications?"

"In her jacket pocket, there," Mike pointed to the Jacket draped over the end table at Laura's head.

"Has she had any alcohol that you know of?" Johnny asked as Roy grabbed for the jacket and quickly emptied the pockets and started looking at the four bottles of pills that fell out.

"No, only water," Mike answered picking up on the intensity in the paramedics voices.

There were two bottles of antibiotics; one prescribed by Dr. Bracket the other by Dr. Morton, One bottle of steroids, prescribed by Dr. Morton and a bottle of Demerol prescribed by Dr. Bracket. Roy quickly opened the Demerol and dumped the pills in his hand counting them, the bottle said there was ten issued and there were still 9 and a half in the bottle.

"Mike you don't have anything around that she might have taken do you? Something that might be left over from an old injury or anything else." Roy questioned.

"NO, nothing," Mike answered growing more concerned with what he was hearing. Hank remained at his side with his hand on his shoulder keeping him in his chair.

"Roy! Look at this," Johnny called out holding the top of Laura's blouse open respectfully but enough to show his partner the rash that was covering her chest under her clothing. Roy noticed the rash and lifted the bottom of her shirt to see how far it seemed to go.

"Johnny, look at that." Roy pointed out a dramatic purple discoloration on Laura's right side and Johnny bent over his patient to get a better look.

"It get's worse the farther back it goes," John reported as he gently rolled his patient toward him to get a better look at her back. "It's about twice the size of my hand, over the right kidney area. Mike do you know how she got this bruise?"

"She was dropped on the bus today but she was looked over by one of the paramedics out of eight's and they said it was just a bruise." Mike reported, "It didn't look anything like that at the accident scene."

"Rampart this is squad 51,"

"Go ahead 51"

"We have found four prescriptions in the patients name from DR.s Bracket and Morton. As far as we can determine from counting pills she has taken half of one of the Demerol and the antibiotics and steroids as directed, we have however discovered that she has a rash covering the parts of her body that is covered by her clothing and a large hematoma on her right side radiating toward her back in the area of her right kidney that is about twice the size of a hand or possible bigger. Patient's friend states that she was dropped while working with the victims of a bus accident earlier today. The friend stated she was examined by the paramedics on scene but that there was no marked discoloration at the time."

"51, it sounds like we could be dealing with several problems. Administer 2 cc's epinephrine IM and start a second IV with ringers, place patient on 10 liters of O2 per mask and place on spinal precautions, Transport as soon as possible."

"10-4 Rampart, 2 cc's epinephrine IM, 2nd IV ringers o2 and spinal precautions," Roy repeated as Johnny was drawing up the epinephrine in a syringe.

"Cap, we're going to need a backboard," Roy turned to his commander as he pulled the supplies needed to start the second IV out of his boxes.

Hank pulled the Handy Talkie from his belt and pushed the button, "Lopez bring up a back board, Kelly wait for the ambulance and show them where to come as soon as they get here."

"Eppi's on board," Johnny called out. "Do we have an ETA on the ambulance?"

By the time Johnny had slipped a C-collar around Laura's neck Mike had pulled away from his Captain's hand and was standing near Laura's head holding the two bags of IV fluid. Marco hurried through the door with the back board and Hank shut the door again against the crowd that was gathering in the hallway.

"We can hear the ambulance coming, it's about a block away," Marco reported and then Laura took a deep breath.

"Laura, Laura," Johnny started calling as he placed his hands on either side of Laura's face, "Laura, can you hear me?"

"Yeah," Laura whispered as she blinked then opened her eyes. "Did I get run over by the fire engine?"

"Not quite," Johnny answered with a smile as he picked up Laura's wrist to recheck her pulse.

"Well it wasn't a squad; I hurt too much for that." Laura reached up and felt the brace on her neck, "What's with the spinal precautions?"

"We're just being careful," Roy answered, "You've got a nasty bruise on your back we're not sure how bad you were injured."

Laura held both of her arms up so that she could see them, "Two IVs?"

"Your blood pressure was pretty low when we first got here." Johnny explained.

"How low?"

"Why don't you just relax and let us be the paramedics this time." Johnny joked showing his famous crocked smile. "Pulse is now 80 respirations, 12 and deeper."

"Rampart, patient is coming around, pulse 80 respirations 12 hold for BP." Roy reported, "Ambulance has just arrived at our location."

"BP 100 over 70" Johnny called out, "Better," Johnny smiled again. "Now we need to move you onto this back board but we want you to just relax and let us do all the work. Can you do that?"

"I guess we're about to find out aren't we," Laura joked back. "I have to warn you though, who ever said Doctors make the worst patients never met me."

Chet soon came through the door followed by the two ambulance technicians and the seven of them worked together to roll Laura and slip the back board under her before moving her onto the gurney and strapping her down.

"Sorry about dinner," Laura looked up at her host who was still holding her two IV bags. "It smells good."

Mike smiled but the worry shown behind the smile, "I'll expect a rain check".

As the gurney was rolled out the door Hank stood in the hall way holding the gathered crowd out of the way. Laura gave him a glance from behind the oxygen mask then shifted her eyes toward Mike. Hank gave a subtle nod of his head to let her know he was going to be there for his man and Laura was moved on and loaded in the ambulance.

Johnny road in the ambulance with Laura and it was a constant effort for him to keep her awake during the ride.

As they wheeled her into the treatment room Dr. Bracket was quick to check her pupils he then put his hands on the treatment table next to his patient. "Okay Laura talk to me. Tell me what's going on here."

"New antibiotics made me sick to my stomach," Laura answered, "After throwing up I lay down on the sofa to rest until Mike came back from the store. I didn't want to throw up any more so I was focusing on relaxing; I was using a relaxation meditation type thing that I learned a few years ago. It doesn't always work for me but it seamed to be working great at the time and that's the last thing I remember until I was woke up by the paramedics. Mike had been back long enough to fix dinner and the paramedics had started two IV's with out my knowledge. They said something about a low blood pressure but they wouldn't tell me how low."

"Our first report came in at 80 over 40 with a pulse of 40 and real shallow respirations." Bracket checked his records.

"When I was taking the classes I was able to get those kind of numbers but I haven't been able to do it on my own. I've also never been unable to be woken up before."

"What about when you're in the state of burn out and exhaustion that you're in now, how does this meditation thing work for you then?"

"Usually I can't even as much relax enough to sit still let alone get any kind of sleep," Laura answered sleepily, "there are times when working an accident like that bus earlier today is really good therapy for me though."

"Is that why you keep going back in to disaster areas?"

"No, those are never good on my nerves, always too many patients and not enough workers."

"How do you feel right now?" Bracket looked perplexed.

"Relaxed, like I might be able to sleep more than a couple of hours at a time. Still itch a little, might could us a little Benadryl, back and should hurt some but I don't need anything for pain."

"Alright let me check some things out, then we'll see to it that you get some rest." Bracket started writing on the chart.

"Just remember not to slip me anything, I warned you the last time I get really scary when I'm drugged."

"I'll keep that in mind," Bracket frowned.

In the hall way Mike approached John and Roy with his jacket in his hand, "How is she? Do they know what the problem is yet?"

"Bracket's in with her now, they should know something soon," John answered. "How are you doing?"

"I'm fine," Mike looked confused as to why they were asking but really he knew.

"What do ya say we go get a cup of coffee while we're waiting," Roy suggested as he gave Mike a friendly slap on the shoulder.

00000

The engine backed into the station and two men hurried to the common room to rewarm and finish their dinner. The smell of the food at Mike's place had nearly driven them mad. Captain Stanley however took his time to fold his turn out coat and place it in its ready position and as he did he watched his third man slowly meander to the back of the engine and after peaking out on the other side and seeing his captain still there, sat of the back of the engine.

"Chet, could I see you in my office." Captain Stanley called and then watched to see how he responded. When he caught sight of him slowly walking across the bay with his head hung low and his shoulders slumped, Hank made his way to his office and even though Chet had gotten a good head start Hank easily beat him there.

Once he motioned Chet into the office Chet walked in and sat in the nearest chair his gaze fixed on his feet.

"I guess I should apply for a transfer or doesn't any one else want me around either?"

There was only one thing left to do. Hank walked across his office and pulled a well read book from the book shelf on top of the file cabinet and turned offering it to Chet.

"I think once you've read chapter 23 you'll understand why we hesitated to show it to you, but you also need to read chapter 24 and then you and I will sit down and have a little conversation. I suggest you stay here in the office I'll go bring you your dinner."