Chapter 6
Falling Hurts
Hanssen surveyed his younger counterpart carefully. He was looking for any sign of doubt that Mr Hemingway was not committed to the hospitals cause. Sitting behind his oak wood desk he addressed the registrar once more.
"You see Mr Hemingway I need all employees at this hospital to be focused and diligent, and above all I have to demand reliability from every single person working here. The contract you have signed is binding meaning you cannot simply up and leave as you please. I understand you have told me about your circumstances, and I appreciate your openness on such matters, but you must be aware that you have a duty to your colleagues and your patients here."
"Of course I completely understand, I would not have signed the contract if I couldn't stay here, I have explained the reasons for my long-term absence, and apologise for any inconvenience my sudden departure caused.
"I hope you are aware that in future - should you need to take time off for personal reasons then you must inform me as soon as possible. It is not always easy to get the right cover at such short notice." Hanssen spoke in a way you might expect a headmaster to with a slightly wayward pupil. He would always give someone respect as long as they didn't take liberties with it.
"Thank you. I will repay your trust in me." Luc tries to ignore the fact that he has probably told a white lie has never been able to stay anywhere for long before getting itchy feet. Anyway moving on this time wasn't on Luc's agenda not if he was going to help Eddi escape the clutches of 'Mad Max.'
"I sincerely hope so. Is there anything else Mr Hemingway I really must get on?" Luc decided to cut to the chase.
"Will you be keeping Dr Schneider on at Holby?" Luc asked the question as innocently as possible.
"I'm afraid I can't discuss such matters with you, I need to talk to Dr Schneider first and foremost. What I can say is now that you've decided to remain here on a permanent basis, it has made my decision a little easier." Hanssen's pager bleeps.
"Thank you for your time Mr Hanssen." Luc walks out of Hanssen's office feeling tense but relieved - he had expected a more severe rebuke from his boss and was pleasantly surprised at Hanssen's level of understanding.
Three hours later it was beginning to get very busy on AAU as casualties from a multi-car pile up were pouring in. Luc was examining an x-ray from a patient brought in with a suspected broken collarbone.
"Well you sure picked a good day to come back to work, it's just a shame Eddi and the ever so unreliable Max couldn't be bothered to join us." Michael Spence shook his head. "Honestly why did we ever have to employ the guy?"
"Blame me for that one." Luc replied wearily.
"Don't worry I do already, you better not go and disappear on us again Hemingway." Michael couldn't help grinning as Luc feigned a looked of deep hurt before the doors swung open. A man was rushed into AAU. Sacha was giving chest compressions to the patient who was carefully moved by Michael and Luc over to the bed. "This is Alex Cotter he's 25, he was in one of the cars involved in the RTA. Possible head and neck injuries."
"Right, I'll take over for a while, lets try and get him as stable as soon we can, before we do a CT scan. Sacha will you please inform Mr Cotter's next of kin please?"
"Yes I'll do it right now. Oh by the way Chrissie has spoken to Eddi this morning, her car broke down on the way in. She's on her way in now." Luc let out a tired sigh. He was relieved that Eddi was safe and well, even though he was still worried for her personal and professional state of mind. The monitors suddenly came to life after being flat for several mintutes. "He's back, keep his oxygen levels high and maintain fluids."
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"I'm very sorry to say this, but I'm afraid the results of your son's CT Scan indicate some head trauma."
"Brain damage you mean?" His father says quietly, while clasping tightly on to his wife's hand.
"Yes, but it's impossible to fully assess Alex until we can wake him up from his medically induced coma." Luc hates this part of his job he feels utterly useless he's a doctor and yet he can do nothing in a situation like this. "We will refer Alex to a Neurologist as soon as possible."
"Thank you." The parents answer automatically almost robot like - Luc has done all he can, so he gets up and leaves them alone.
Luc walks back to AAU where he sees Eddi looking stressed and moody. She looks up. "Has nobody ever told you that it's very rude to stare at people?"
"I wasn't aware that 'looking' at someone constituted being rude?" He answered plainly.
"Of course you weren't. Why don't you ask the question you really want to know?" Eddi stares back at Luc piercing his conscience in a manner only she can do.
"I don't know what you are talking about Nurse Mckee." He can feel himself sliding into professional mode, something he is all too familiar with.
"Max has gone. You happy now?" Luc notices how thin and tired Eddi looks. "I'm sorry," he mutters. "Please meet me after work - we need to talk properly."
"There's nothing left to say."
"Not for you maybe. Just be there."
Sorry for my long hiatus on this story I didn't mean to take so long. If you haven't forgotten what this story is about then please review. I promise the next update will be quicker. Thank you.