Marissa was now scared. She knew that the medics were only being cautious, but it was still terrifying. And, with Bull gone, she didn't know what was happening. Tears leaked out of her eyes as she tried to stay calm, and quickly became sobs.
"Marissa, it's okay, honey. Just relax for me, alright?"
Marissa looked at the medic that was talking to her. She tried to turn her head, but the brace that had been put onto her neck stopped her. It only fuelled her fears, and the sobs turned into full-blown crying.
"Marissa, hey, relax," said Bull. "You're okay. The paramedics are just being careful. There's nothing to be scared of."
"Where are you?" Marissa asked.
"Sitting next to Danny. I know you can't turn your head, but I am here. I won't leave without you, I promise."
Marissa sniffled, but relaxed. Bull's voice always had a calming effect on the people around him. "Are you okay?"
"I will be. So will Danny. Don't worry about us, Marissa. Just let yourself be taken care of, alright?"
"Okay." Marissa looked over at the medics with her. "What's happening?"
"We're going to do a quick check-up, then we'll take you down to an ambulance and go to the hospital."
"Alright." Marissa took a deep breath to keep herself calm as the two paramedics began their examination.
"Marissa, we're going to have to take you down a few flights of stairs to get to the ambulance, so this may be a little uncomfortable. I promise that we'll be careful and try to be gentle, but if we aren't you have to tell us, alright?"
"Okay… I want Bull."
"Dr Bull is on the other stretcher so that his leg can stay immobilised for now. He'll be right behind us."
"Is his leg broken?"
"I doubt it's broken, but it could be fractured. He'll need x-rays to confirm it."
"Where's Danny?"
"I'll be behind Bull, Marissa. Just focus on yourself for now, alright? Just let yourself rest so you don't make yourself any worse," said Danny.
Ten minutes later, after three stops to calm a terrified Marissa down, the small group reached the ambulances. Danny went over to join the rest of their team, but paused at Marissa's side next to the closest ambulance.
"Hey, you'll be okay. Bull is joining you in the ambulance so he can go to the hospital as well, and the rest of us will meet you guys there. Just stay calm, and everything will be alright," said Danny. She gently squeezed Marissa's hand. "I promise everything will be okay."
"I'm scared, Danny. What if something's really wrong?"
"Then we'll help you through it. But nothing is badly wrong, I swear. The doctors will check you out and tell you that the pain is only from minor injuries. I'll bet that the worst of your injuries will be a concussion and those cuts on your head."
Marissa smiled. "Do you promise me that?"
"Of course I promise that," Danny said in a fake hurt tone. "Why are you doubting me?"
Marissa laughed a little. "Thank you, Danny."
"No problem. See you soon, and make sure Bull listens to those poor medics. They've got their hands full with him."
Mercy General Hospital was the busiest it had been in years. The explosions at the TAC offices had sent a large number of casualties into the emergency department, and there was more coming in. Add to that the possibility of those still missing being brought in, and the ER was so full, people coming in for minor problems were being sent to other hospitals.
Doctor Jennifer Sanders sighed as another ambulance pulled into the ER driveway. This one was carrying two patients, one in a far more serious condition than the other. All the hospital had been told was that the female passenger had possible spinal and internal head injuries after being buried beneath debris. The male passenger had a possible broken leg, but had come with the female patient to help keep her calm. Dr Sanders had figured that she would just keep the two patients together as much as possible if it meant that the woman would stay calm.
"First of two patients. This is Marissa Morgan," said the medic that had been looking after Marissa all evening. "She's calm now, but is still scared."
"Injuries?" asked Dr Sanders.
"Definite concussion, not sure how severe it is. She has a gash on the side of her head that needs stitches, and a cut above her eye. Marissa has mentioned that she has pain in her back, and it seems to originate from the left of her spine, but we don't want to take any chances."
"Does she have a neck injury?" the doctor asked after noticing the brace.
"No, but we needed her to stay as still as possible, and we wanted to be cautious. She was stuck underneath some heavy pieces of steel and wood."
"Alright. Take her to trauma bay one." Turning, the doctor found the second medic leading Bull in. "Dr Jason Bull?"
"That's me. Where's Marissa?" asked Bull.
"In a trauma bay. You'll be joining her in a moment. Just a broken leg?"
"Possible broken leg, yes."
"Alright. We'll send you for x-rays now, that way you can come back and stay with Marissa while we deal with your injuries. I'll take Marissa down for scans and x-rays at the same time that you're doing your own ones."
Marissa closed her eyes as the doctor carefully moved her onto the bed of the CT scanner. She had seen Bull go into the x-ray room, so she knew that he was close by, but she was still a little afraid that her injuries were more severe than anyone was letting on.
"Okay, Marissa. I'm going to step out of the room, but if you need us, just call out. We can hear you," said Dr Sanders. "You'll be alright, and I'll be back in a few minutes to take you for x-rays."
"Okay," whispered Marissa. She fought for calm and finally managed to relax completely.
Dr Sanders closed the door behind her, but watched over her patient for a while. She understood why Marissa was afraid- she would have been scared too if she had been trapped under rubble. It was bad enough that she knew about the building being partially collapsed, and she hadn't even seen the damage.
"Dr Sanders? You need to look at this," said the radiologist that was scanning over Marissa's body.
"Tell me the injuries aren't severe."
"What injuries? She's one hell of a lucky person. There are no spinal injuries, no broken ribs or damaged organs. She's got bruising on her left kidney, but that's it."
"Are you sure?" the doctor asked as she checked the scans herself.
"I am. It's strange, but she must have been protected by something when the rest of the debris fell onto her."
"Alright…" Dr Sanders let out a breath. "Print me copies of all the scans, then move onto her head. Maybe she'll get lucky and only have a minor concussion and some cuts."