2: "Can't Save them All"
Dashing into the ER, the place is pure chaos with nurses and doctors dashing to and fro, shouting everywhere. All hands are on board with the massive patient traffic, and I dart my eyes to find Aiden.
He was checking up on a frazzled pregnant woman as I went up next to them. She had a huge purple bruise on her forehead and jagged cuts on her body.
"Aiden, you paged?" He locked eyes with me, his sparkling green orbs had been muddled and clouded over - fear.
"I-I d-don't know what to do! She won't cooperate with me!" He frantically pointed at the similar woman.
"I've tried everything!"
"Okay step back Dr. Dennison, I'll handle this patient," Aiden immediately rushes past me. After working with him everyday for 2 months, it's annoying that he cracks under pressure so easily! Damnit Aiden, I'll need to have a talk with him about his crap after this. Right now I've got a very pregnant patient to handle.
"Ma'am, you're in the hospital. Can you speak?"
"T-there was an acci-dent... At the high school, I'm onl-" Suddenly a torrent of *beep beep beep* rings out and the woman begins to shake.
"Damnit, she needs to intubate!" I shout for a nurse to get me a tube and start doing chest compressions. Once the tube comes I carefully puncture it in her mouth. It's not helping. If we don't get her oxygen soon both the mom and the baby will die.
"Someone get me a crash cart and page Dr. Le-Grey, I'm going to the OR!"
After claiming an OR and prepping her up, I go to scrub in. Vivien comes in while tying her long hair back.
"What do we have?"
"Jane Doe, pregnant. I intubated her but she's still in arrest."
"You should know what to do then."
I gripped my hands on the sink until they turned white.
"Isn't there any other way?"
"We'll know once we get there," she sighs, "a high school classroom ceiling collapsed. Both the kids from upstairs and downstairs are severely injured. This is probably one of their teachers."
"Well let's go save them."
Both of us enter the OR and nurses glove us. She's unconscious as we both begin to assess the situation.
"There's no time, she needs a C-section so we can save the baby."
I hate being put in this situation. With both of them so fragile, of course Vivien will save the baby instead. I clench my teeth.
"But that will kill the mom! There's got to be another way."
"There is no other way, Dr. Carlin. You are only an intern, and I expect you to take my judgment and assist." We're running out of time, and I'm desperate for an idea, anything! A moment goes through the room but Vivien doesn't skip a beat, "Scalpel." I have no choice to go through with it, and never have I felt so sick to my stomach. Goddamnit!
We saved the baby - a healthy baby boy - but the mom didn't make it. I chuckle harshly by the benches. It was the end of the day, and after that first surgery, I felt numb. I went throughout the day like a robot in automated limbo. I couldn't focus, in anything else. We should have been able to save the mother... Now her kid's an orphan.
"You did what could, Spencer. Let it go." A voice behind shuffles over to sit next to me. I turn around, it's Vivien.
"I just thought you should've tried to save the mom, Doctor Le-Grey." It comes a little harsher than intended and she subtly winces. I sigh in exasperation and run my hand through my blond hair.
"There wasn't enough time, and when you are faced with a decision like that, you always pick the baby. Always."
I know she's right, but I don't want to admit it, I refuse to reply back. I just hate feeling helpless to do anything at all. Why did I become a doctor if I can't save even save a mo-
"You can't save them all," she said, reading my mind, "death is inevitable. If we did save her, she would still have died years later."
"But then it would'be been a natural death! She would have had time to see her kid grow!"
"What I'm saying is, death is inevitable. Time never stops for anyone. Just let it go, there are plenty of patients." We sit there in silence, while I contemplate on her words. I can't do much anymore about it now... She's right. But it doesn't hurt my pride any less. I shake my head to clear my thoughts, thinking about it won't do anyone any good now. Instead, I start to assess the girl Karen has been crushing on for weeks.
Looking at Vivien Le-Grey, you'd notice right away her hair is one of her best features. Wavy an long, the ends are light brown while the top is dark. Maybe it's a matter of preference, but I'd prefer it over my blonde tresses. She's one of the top OBGYN surgeons in the nation and incredibly humble. Her warm brown eyes and high cheek bones give her a clasic mixed look as well. Hm... A well-toned body and killer-
"Why are you staring at me so hard?" She chuckles. I smirk, thinking of a plan.
"Hey do you know Karen? The nurse?"
She blushes a little and her eyes light up. Oh, this is just too fun!
"Yeah, she's great... As a n-nurse you know."
"Did you know, she-"
"Hi you two!"
Oh speaking of the devil, Karen comes by, ready to head out. Her face lights up and she gives Vivien a flirty smile. Karen stops right in front of the bench, standing right in front of Vivien. The dame next to me is speechless, and I laugh inwardly at how my superior is being reduced to pieces.
"You guys heading out soon?"
"No I wanted to check up on my patients," I say while checking my watch, "I should get going now actually." I stand up and brush my knees off, facing Vivien, "thanks for the talk."
"No problem, intern." Karen looks between us curiously, giving me the eye. You know that look saying I've got a talk with her later.
"What about you Viv, I'm heading to the bar?" Karen asks hopefully. Let's see how this goes! Vivien nods, "Want to go together?" They both smile brilliantly. These two are too cute, too bad I can't mess with 'em any longer! This love fest is giving me a tooth ache.
"Okay I'll see you two later then!" I walk backwards giving Karen a wink before speeding off without looking at their reactions. Today's been hard on me, and I have to to go collect my thoughts by myself.
I head out to the stairs, sitting on the steps over looking Boston. I've grown up here all my life, but I never fail to fall in love with it all over again. Leaning against the wall, I remember the necklace of that girl. I take it out and it catches in the light... Has the gem always been green? I was sure it was just purple the first time I found it. I was definitely sure the gem was purple before, and changed color. An emerald green, how strange. This mist be highly valuable, I better leave it at the station since I lost that brunette.
Just as I put it back in my pocket, a warm familiar scent hit my nose. Strawberries? I darted around locked eyes with the brunette girl from before. She was going up the staircase, and looked up at me. Holy crap, she was gorgeous, how come I've never noticed this woman working here before?
My mind went blank, the rich sunlight outlined her perfect features and highlighted her hair. The curly brown locks framed her unblemished face and I wondered what it felt like to run my hands through them. Her chocolate eyes were on a whole other level though as the flecks of honey and light hazel danced with the setting sun.
Oh god, she must think I'm a freak, say something, stupid! My throat was dry but before I could even utter one cracked syllable, she turned around and dashed down the steps. What?
A/N: I don't own South of Nowhere. Nor am I a bonafide, certified medical expert! Sorry if this is story is slow to start.