Begin 2
Elise's fingers moved from covering John's lips to the side of his face. John reached up and took hold of the hand at the side of his face. As Elise stroked John's cheek with her thumb she motioned toward Captain Stanley with her eyes and John let out a sigh and reluctantly nod his head.
"I will be back, that I promise you, we have a date for the rest of our lives." John said before he pushed himself to a full stand and turned to face his Captain.
Hank responded by placing his hand on John's upper arm and guiding him to a quiet out cove several feet down the hall.
As John paced back and forth, in a six foot area, looking at his watch and running his hand through his hair, Hank sat down on the bench and took up a relaxed position with his feet stretched out in front of him and in the way of John's pacing.
When John nearly tripped over Hank's feet He stopped and turned his attention to his Captain. Hank didn't have to say anything John knew he was waiting for him to talk.
"I'm not sure where to begin Cap," John explained his loss of words.
With his arms folded across his chest, Hank threw his man a bone. "Why don't you start with how you met the young lady down the hall?"
"Yeah, yeah, that would be a great place to start." John acknowledged then took a seat next to his captain. "We met at one of those emergency workers conventions, Umm, a little over four years ago, in Reno." John looked strait a head and Hank could see his mind going back in time as his face softened and his nerves melted away. "She looked so lost and confused of course I had to offer to take her to the banquet that they had. She said that the convention was a waste of her time because none of it would work for her. Then she explained that she was an ER nurse in Montana and they were the only ER for miles around. She was tired of people dying on the way to her hospital because of the time it took them to get there and the poor of lack of treatment they got before they arrived but there weren't enough of those calls to ever justify training anyone to be a paramedic.
I knew the area she was working in and I understood like few others ever could, the reservation I grew up on was within her coverage area, we talked through the night. She told me that she was thinking of starting to roll with the ambulance and I told her about how we had to have a nurse with us when we first started. Then I told her about what happened to Dixie at that one car wreck we rolled on."
John leaned back on the bench and looked at his Captain, "That's when she asked me what she needed to learn to be able to do the job right."
"Through the years we've kept in touch, I helped her and a few of the firemen from her area get some training on auto extrication through the fire academy. Then I joined her and a couple of people from her area for some mountain climbing training. Every piece of equipment she bought for the fire department or their Ambulance or rescue van she called and talked to me about it first. I think I've been able to steer them toward the equipment that would give them the most use for the money they had to spend. I told them the prices were way too high and to keep shopping several times. Every so often I'd get a letter detailing a bad run she'd had and they all ended with, 'What should I have done differently?"
"I even called her one night when I was having trouble after a bad run. It was about 2 in the morning and I had woken up from a nightmare for the third time that night. I didn't want to call you or Roy because it was so late."
Cap moved to speak but John stopped him before he could make a sound with a raised hand. "I know you've always told us we can talk to you any time but I was still hesitant, Elise had sent me a couple of letters saying that she was having trouble sleeping because she had worked nights for so long she didn't know how to sleep at night so I called her instead. We talked for a good three hours; it wasn't one of my smaller phone bills. She really helped me; she had me breathing in a paper bag for a few minutes and talked me through all of my feelings. I knew she really understood what I was going through she even took into play the pain meds I was taking at the time."
John looked at his captain and Hank could see the appreciation in his eyes, "She called me every day for the next week to make sure I was all right, she even called me three times at the station because I was out on runs the first two times, she really wanted to talk to me in person and make sure I was alright."
By now Hank was feeling some relief that John had known her for more than the four days he had been off shift and it was obvious by the look in his eyes as he talked about her that he really cared for her. If she was from Montana it was very likely that she wasn't getting married to avoid deportation. And if she truly had gone on several runs with her ambulance crew then she understood the work that John did and the risks involved in it. But there had to be more to this story or why would she have asked him to try and talk John out of the wedding that was only forty minutes away and why was it scheduled in such short order? For that reason he remained silent and listened to what else his youngest paramedic would offer toward an explanation.
When John remained quiet a bit too long for Hank's comfort, "So what's taken you two so long to get together?"
"She always had an emergency medical program back in Montana that wouldn't survive without her and yet there was not enough work for someone like me. I had my place here in LA and responsibilities." Johnny explained, "It was hard to see her go every time she left but it was just the way it needed to be."
"So what's changed?" Hank prodded the time was running out for him to give any persuasion before his paramedic took the plunge and there were still a few answers he was looking for.
John glanced at his captain then rested his chin back into his fists and looked forward, "About six months ago I got a letter from her, it was in her hand writing but it was shaky and weak for her. It was just a short sentence, 'how do you know when you're done?" "I figured that something bad had happened to her and she needed to talk to someone. She doesn't have a partner or a Captain to talk to like I do. I didn't know what to write as a reply so I called her. I tried to get in touch with her for a couple of weeks calling different times of the day, even in the middle of the night but I never got an answer. After a couple of weeks I asked the directory service to connect me with the hospital where she worked. I called a couple of times and spoke to the Emergency department there and then the Doctor in charge came on the phone and told me that Elise no longer worked in their facility. I didn't know what else to try; I sent her a letter to tell her to call me and promised I would do everything I could to help her. Then the only thing I could do was to wait for her to contact me."
John leaned back and looked at his captain again. "Last shift she called me, it was our first contact since that letter, she said she didn't have time to talk but that she was coming to LA for a while and she needed to be introduced to an ER Doctor to help her make some connections. I insisted she let me pick her up at the airport and take her to the hospital to make the introductions."
"She was the last passenger off the plane and had stewardesses steadying her as she walked; As soon as I laid eyes on her I could tell something was seriously wrong."
John let out a deep breath as he mentally went back three days. It felt like it was a lot longer ago than that.
He had been standing near the boarding tunnel excited to see her again and anxious to learn what had happened six months ago. He watched as the passengers exited the tunnel and looked closely at every woman that walked by, even though he hadn't seen Elise in over a year he was sure none of them were her. When no one exited for a few minutes John went over to the stewardess checking boarding passes and asked if Elise was on that flight and with a quick check she confirmed that she was on board. John walked back over to the boarding tunnel and that's when he saw two stewardesses walking slowly with a woman between them. She was pale and unsteady on her feet but there was no doubt in his mind it was Elise.
John hurried to her and placed steadying hands on her waist as she threw her arms around his neck and hung on tight as she whispered in his ear. "Please, get me out of here quick."
John could still feel the trembling in her arms as he slipped his arm around her to hold her up and move away from the boarding tunnel.
"We have a motorized Cart on the way to help you to baggage claims," one of the stewardesses commented and soon they saw one of the electric golf cart type vehicles speeding in their direction. Since there was only two suit cases and they matched the carryon that Elise held as tightly as she could they were quickly loaded and driven to Johnny's Rover. While John helped Elise into the passenger seat the man from the airport loaded the luggage in the back seat and with a tip placed in his hand he was on his way while John took Elise's head in his hands and looked her over.
"Look Elise I can tell by your pupils that you've taken something, now tell me what and how much." John was demanding and caring at the same time.
Elise reached up and took hold of John's hand at the side of her face and sighed, "Not taken, Given… not really sure what but I think it must be phenobarb, Too much phenobarb, slows my heart, , still doesn't stop seizures, , heart skips sometimes, , Need new doctor."
Despite the enlarged pupils her eyes were pleading for help. John left the hand Elise was holding at the side of her face but reached with the other one to check a pulse. It was slow and irregular she did indeed need help. "I'm going to call for an ambulance."
"NO, NO please no," Elise pleaded.
"All right but I'm taking you straight to the hospital and introduce you to the doctor just like I said I would."
There was a faint smile on her face as she gave a relieved sigh, "ETA?"
"I know a few short cuts," John gave a quick crooked smile; "I'll have you there in about fifteen minutes." John then placed his hand under Elise's knees and physically turned her in the passenger seat and buckled her in before running around to the driver's side and drove off.
John kept talking to Elise as he drove encouraging her to stay with him and reaching over to check her pulse whenever he could free a hand, she tried to follow his commands and kept her eyes on him as he drove. When he looked her way she did her best to smile. Most of all John saw hope in her eyes and that was enough to keep him going. Just as John came around the corner of Rampart he glanced at Elise and noticed that her eyes were closed.
"Elise," John gave her hand a squeeze, "Come on we're there now, stay with me." "Elise!"
Without stopping his car John reached up and checked the carotid pulse, still slow and irregular. He gave Elise's shoulder a gentle shake, no response. He drove straight to the emergency entrance.
Scooping Elise in his arms he carried her trough the doors and soon grabbed the interest of Dr. Bracket and Nurse McCall as a gurney was moved in his direction.
"What have you got Johnny?" Bracket called out as he checked her pulse.
"I'm not sure Doc it might be an overdose or a Cardiac or both." Johnny called as he lowered his charge on the gurney that was provided for him. Once she was laying flat her head rolled to the side and it was the first time Johnny had seen the scar on the side of her face. The one around her mouth he knew came from a falling tin roof while she was helping extricate an assault victim but he had no idea how she had gotten the other one.
"Is Room 1 clear Dix," Dr. Bracket called out as he moved the gurney toward the door, Dix didn't say no and moved ahead to open the door for them and they moved inside, Johnny helped them slide the patient onto the treatment table and stepped back.
"What can you tell me Johnny?"
"Pulse is slow and irregular, pupils dilated, some confusion. She said she didn't take anything that it was given to her and she didn't know what for sure or how much but thought it might be phenobarb. She also said that it was too much that her heart skips sometimes and that the meds don't control the seizures. She said she wanted a new doctor."
"Is she a friend of yours?"
"Yeah Doc. But I haven't seen her in over a year or heard from her in six months. I really don't know much, I just picked her up at the airport twenty minutes ago and she didn't look good so I brought her here. She had asked me to introduce her to a good ER Doc, so he could help her make some connections."
"Anything else?" Bracket inquired and all Johnny could do was shake his head.
John was put to work hooking up an ECG and checking vitals while Dixie started the IV. After a couple of cardiac meds were injected in the port Elise started to come around.
"Elise? Elise, can you hear me," Dr. Brackett called as he leaned over his patient.
She fought to open her eyes and when she saw the doctor's face she pulled away, "who, who are you, where am I?"
"It's okay Elise," Johnny rushed in taking a hold of her hand with one of his and placing the other on her shoulder to hold her down. "I'm right here, you're going to be alright, you're at Rampart General Hospital and this is Dr. Bracket the Doctor I was going to introduce you to."
Elise turned her fuzzy attention to John and waited for him to come into focus, "He good?" she asked holding tight to John's hand holding hers.
"He's the best," Johnny smiled as he moved his hand from her shoulder to brush the hair at the side of her face.
Still holding John's hand tightly Elise turned to Dr. Bracket, "Please, help me, don't just let me die, do what you can." She was pleading and pulling on the cuff of Dr. Brackett's lab coat as she talked. "Please don't just let me die."
Taking Elise's other hand in comfort Dr. Brackett again leaned over his patient, "We're going to do everything possible for you but I need to know everything you can tell me about your medical condition."
Taking a hold of the doctor's lab coat Elise talked in short abbreviated sentences. "There was an accident, rescue man's helmet imbedded in my chest, damaged heart, section of my helmet imbedded in skull, still there, possible aneurism, frequent seizures, family decided surgery too risky, want to keep me drugged and in nursing home till I die, please help."
Dr. Bracket stood up and grimaced, he still didn't know what all he was dealing with but he did disagree with the treatment plan and felt for his patient.
Elise turned to John and letting go of his hand reached up and placed her hand on his chest, "Medical records in carryon."
John looked up and met Dr. Brackett's gaze, "They're in my car I'll have them here in less than 30 seconds."
As he raced out of the room Brackett started barking out orders. "Dix I'll need a complete drug screen and cardiac enzymes, let's get her a room in ICU and have Joe come in here will you."
"Right away doctor."
00000
"Any way Cap," John looked at his watch as he continued his narration, "While the doctors were looking over the records and test results they had me stay with her and she told me the whole story of how she was inside a car off a cliff, extricating a victim when the knots one of the firemen tied let go, speculation is that the firemen didn't tie it right, and the car with she and the guy helping her and the patient rolled the rest of the way down the canyon wall. The rescue worker broke his neck and was killed instantly so was the victim but somehow she survived it all but not unscathed. Brackett, Early and a couple of other doctors their working with think they can help her but Brackett had to call her doctor in Montana to get some more information, and he told her family where she ran away to. A bunch of them flew out here and demanded she was unfit to make medical decisions for herself and wanted to take her back home."
John stood up and started tying his tie as he wrapped his story up. "Brackett got us together with his father who's a lawyer and we've spent the last three days going from doctor to doctor getting three of them to say she's sane enough to make her own decisions and once we're married I will have automatic power of attorney and can see to it that she gets the medical treatment she needs and wants so she can live as close to a normal life as possible."
"Okay," Hank responded thinking fast to organize the questions he still had left. "What you've told me doesn't explain why you have to get married right now. Why can't you wait till Roy gets back? I'm sure he'd want to be here."
John let out a sigh, he had rushed through the story so fast he had left out a lot of details including the one his Captain was asking for.
"Well a," John stammered with his hands on his hips. "She's not always clear headed, when her heart rate slows down or skips she gets kinda confused and for a while after she's has a seizure she can't be held responsible for what choices she makes. But right now today we have three doctors who have declared her fully competent to make the choices she made in a hearing earlier today as well as her decision to marry me this afternoon. So as long as we get married now there are no grounds for her family to contest her desire to seek treatment or our marriage in a court of law."
Now Hank understood the rush, as he thought about what he'd been told he knew there was no talking his man out of the move he was planning to make nor did he intend to try. Still he knew John was going to need the moral support of everyone on the shift to help him through the months ahead and when all was said and done there could easily be a divorce but he really hoped his young paramedic wouldn't be a widower before their first anniversary.
"John there's one thing-"
"Yes Cap I'm sure I want to do this, I've let her go too many times in the past and the reason I did doesn't exist anymore. I want to marry her and I would have done it before if I could have."
"BUT John-"
"No Cap I'm going to do this. If you don't want to be my witnesses' then fine but there's nothing you can do to stop me. I'll just go grab two people off the street if I have to," John started pulling his suit coat on.
"Don't you think a Winsor or at least a half Winsor would be a better knot for a neck tie instead of a bowline?"