DISCLAIMER: The copyrighted characters of any TV program, movie, or published work of fiction are the property of their owners/creators. In this case, Law and Order SVU and Dick Wolfe. No copyright infringement is intended and nothing is being made. The original characters, situations, and story are the property of the author.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Feedback is greatly appreciated (good or bad). Single quotes indicate thoughts. The subject is sensitive and I will stick to the medical facts as best I can.
ARCHIVING: Only with the permission of the author.
OUT OF NEW YORK
Chapter 20: Don't throw the baby out with the bath water!
"Ms. Benson." The PA looked over the crowd. "Ms. BENSON." She shouted a bit louder. She scanned the room once more. A tall brunette rose from the couch just under the "Emergency" sign. 'She's..WOW!' The PA said to herself.
Abbie reached the stunning blonde. "I am here for Ms. Benson."
If Abbie knew the PA, she would have seen the disappointment on her face, but the benefit of being strangers helped.
"I was told that Ms. Benson's spouse was here."
"She is in YOUR emergency room back there somewhere." Abbie said irritated.
"As a patient or with another patient?" The look on Abbie's face instantly made the PA regretful of asking the question.
"Geeze! She's a patient." Abbie let her eyes shift quickly to the name tag on the other woman's unavoidable chest. "PA Ashcord, what is it that you need?"
"First what is your relationship to Ms. Benson?"
"I am her boss. And her friend." Abbie began to feel dizzy. This was just way too crazy of a day. "Olivia, egh, Ms. Benson is an employee of the US Government. Her health and safety is of the utmost concern of the US Attorney's office." She took another deep breath and regained control. "Now, PA Ashcord, what is it that you need?"
"Ms. Benson is still in surgery." She glanced at her notes. "She had had her shoulder and right arm pinned." She flipped the page. "They repaired the descending aorta walls near the arch. However, she has lost enough blood to warrant concern of a transfusion. " She looked up from her pad. "She's rare A+. Our blood bank has no A+ and only two O+. She needs at least two." She stopped for a second. She looked at Abbey straight in the eye. 'Big brown eyes she noted. Strong yet kind eyes. Melt in my seat if I wasn't standing in this ER eyes'
"What are you?" She inquired.
"Assistant US Attorney." Abbey replied.
"No, blood type? What blood type?" Now it was her turn to be annoyed.
"O-. The universal donor." Abbey said with pride.
"Great. I'll send someone from the bank down here right away to draw a pint." She smiled. "You might want to see if any of the sleeping soldiers over there are O's or A's."
"I don' care what they are, they are donating." Abbey said as she watched the curvy blonde walk back through the double doors. She strolled over to the waiting room where a fairly large crowd of rescue team members, several US Attorney officers and firefighters where in various stage of sleep.
"Okay all, I know its been a long day." A rush of air came from across the room. Elliott exited the double doors followed by a very upset nurse's aid. He spotted Abbie and moved quickly towards her. She held up her hand to stop him from saying anything.
"I know you all are tired. I need to ask for one more thing from each of you. One of our victims, Officer Benson, needs blood. The blood bank is low. I need each of you to donate a pint to help fill the blood bank." A few of the officers and firefighters stood up and began rolling up their sleeves. "For those of you that are A positive or negative or O positive or negative, you need to go first."
"I am not sure what I am." A fidgety man said sitting just outside the group. Everyone turned an looked at him. Abbie smiled and walked towards him.
"Sir, I was not implying that civilians donate." She bent down so that she was at his seated level.
"I was in the gulf war. Once a soldier always a soldier." He said proudly. "Besides, it will give me something to do while I wait for my wife to finish getting her "painful" boil taken care of." He shock his head sarcastically.
"I am in." Another gentleman rose from his seat and moved towards the group. Chairs began to empty and a line formed at the nurses station.
Three days later
"You're lucky." the doctor said checking her eyes. Still fixed and dilated. "Now if we can have you wake up, you'd win the lottery." He ran the tip of his pen cap from her heel to her big toe. No movement. He placed the sheet back over her exposed limbs.
"How is she doing today?" The nurse asked entering the room. She place a plastic tub on the bedside tray. She floated around the room gathering things. She placed the liquid soap, washing sponge and a dry towel.
Writing in her chart on the remaining portion of the table. "Mary, she shows no change."
She brushed the hair from the younger woman's face, "Doctor, she looks like she has more color today."
"That's what I love about you, Mary, always an optimist."
"Well, when you work in a hospital, its either doom or happiness." She began to fill the tub with warm water. Steam rose from the tub and she adjusted the faucet. "There is happiness in each day, someday's its just harder to see." She placed the tub back on the table. The doctor lifted the chart, and she pulled the table closer.
"Well, I shall leave you to it. And I'll go find the happiness for today."
Mary's attention had already turned back to the woman lying in the bed. She was younger then Mary, but not by much. Mary ran the warm, soapy wash towel across the younger woman's forehead. She carefully moved across the face and down the neck. The patient's bare arms and torso were already exposed, just a thin white starched sheet covered her. While Mary gently cleaned the pale skin she carried on a conversation. Although one sided, Mary knew from her readings in the AMA journal that patients can actually hear when in a coma.
Mary was careful when cleansing the torso. "So many scares. You have been through a lot in your life haven't you?" She expected no answer back. She didn't get one. "You should be home raising a family. I hear the law is like medicine, a demanding mistress," Mary wrung out towel and took it and the bucket and moved towards the sink. She empty the dirty soapy water and replaced it with clean warm water. She began wiping the soapy residue from the patient's face.
"You are beautiful I am surprised some man isn't in here by your bedside. Holding your hand. Praying your okay." Mary shook her head in despair. "Don't let life slip by you like I almost did. I almost waited too long to marry Daniel. Without him my world would just be flat." She had finished rising the young woman. She grabbed the dry towel and started patting her off. She was careful around the various tubes and wires attached to the torso and arms.
Satisfied with her work, MAry gathered her things and walked towards the door. She turned back. She placed the younger woman's hand in hers. She began to pray. First the Hail Mary. Then a prayer of hope.
"Lord please let this brave woman continue to grace us here on earth. Heal her wounds so that she can go forth and do your work." She made the sign of the cross on herself and then she did the same for the other woman. One last glance and she gathered her things again and walked out of the room. She nodded at the police officer standing at the door.
"Best keep her safe until I get back." She warned the officer. He tipped his hat in.
"Amen." A weak, soft voice said from inside the room.
Sorry all. Its been a world wind here. Parents, graduation and work travels, there never is enough time.