Chapter 7
Later that morning, Dixie sat at her usual spot at the nurse's desk in the Emergency room. After delivering John Gage back to his station, and finally getting a fresh cup of coffee from the lounge, she was feeling a little more settled. Roy DeSoto had been moved to the third floor and she promised herself that she would check on him on her next break. The ER's atmosphere was unusually somber. It was relatively calm with only two exam rooms being occupied. Not all the personnel had witnessed the morning's accident but all seemed to feel the pall of vulnerability. The sensation was an unwanted visitor to the ER when the violence of the outside world dared to disrupt the organized chaos of a busy medical facility. It came when motorcycle or street gang members had to be patched up with armed policemen standing close by. The vulnerability was an intruder. This was the doctors and nurses' territory. A place where healing was the goal not where injury and mayhem occurred.
It was probably that sensation that had Dixie's thoughts turn back to her ride with John Gage. Johnny had been quiet on the short ride and she hadn't pressed him. Dixie's maternal instinct kicked in just a little, urging him to eat a meal before heading to bed for much needed rest. Johnny had smiled and thanked her for everything as he got out of her car, assuring her he would take her advice. Just before she put the car back in gear, he leaned in the open window. "Dixie, I'd appreciate it if you let me know how Roy's doing this afternoon. I'm a little worried about him." She told him he could count on it then turned her car back towards Rampart.
Something in John's expression had bothered Dixie at the time. Now, that she had a little quiet, she found herself thinking back to that moment and wondering if she had picked up on something. It was probably nothing more than just a partner's concern. It was rare to see two men so in tune with each other even though their personalities were worlds apart. Dixie was brought back to the present as she heard the sharp thud of a metal bed chart meeting with the counter top.
"Betty? Is there a problem?"
"Sorry, Ms. McCall. I'm just a little frustrated."
Dixie turned to face the nurse. It was rare that Betty lost her patience with anyone.
"Patient or doctor?" Dixie asked.
Betty's eyes dropped to the now open bed chart as she started to make notations. Dixie heard a sigh. "I'm sorry, I guess under the circumstances, he has a right to be a little grumpy. More than usual." Betty closed the chart and then turned with a chagrined look on her face to her boss. "I'm okay, Ms. McCall. I'm just a little concerned about Dr. Brackett. I don't want to speak out of turn, but…"
Dixie placed a gentle hand on Betty's and patted it. "Say no more. And don't worry about it. Which patient is he with?"
"He's in exam room 2. That 16 year old boy who ran his car into a stop sign because he was playing with his tape deck. He's got a broken shoulder and I'm supposed to go back in and take him down to orthopedics."
"Why don't you do that and tell Dr. Brackett that I need to speak with him."
Betty's eyes got big and she started to say something but Dixie stopped her. "Don't worry, Betty. It's my job to check in with my patient and see if that head wound needs attention." The nurse gave her boss a quick nod and a thank you. Squaring her shoulders Betty headed back towards the exam room, grabbing a wheelchair on her way. Dixie waited for Kel and saw him emerge about two minutes later, followed closely by Betty and the patient. However, Dr. Brackett glanced at the head nurse and then turned and headed in the opposite direction. "Huh," she thought. "Think you can avoid me, mister? Well, we'll just see about that."
"I told him, Ms. McCall and he about bit my head off," Betty whispered to Dixie as they passed, one on her way to deliver a scared looking young man to the casting room and the other hunting down her prey. Dixie gave her a reassuring smile and continued to the doctor's office door.
There was no answer to Dixie's knock. She knocked once more and heard a sharp command to enter. Her eyebrows shot up to her hairline. He was in a really foul mood. She would need to remain calm and keep her wits about her. She didn't want to waste time in losing her own temper.
"What is it, Dix? I'm up to my elbows in paperwork."
Kel hadn't even looked up at her when she entered the office. Instead of saying anything, she walked over and sat down in one of the chairs in front of his desk, putting her hands in her lap and began counting to ten. When she reached seven, Kel looked up. "If looks could kill," she thought.
The doctor sighed and sat back in his chair. He rubbed his eyes with his left hand and winced when a finger brushed against the bandage. He looked everywhere; up to the ceiling, at the walls, anywhere but at Dixie. She was still quiet. And that was driving him crazy.
Finally, he made eye contact. "So I was a little gruff with Betty. She should be able to take it. After all, how long has she worked here? How long has she worked with me? It's been a helluva morning, Dix. I think I could catch a little break if I'm a little short with people.'
Dixie just held his gaze.
He bolted from his chair. For a moment, she thought he was going to bolt clear out of the room but he stopped behind her, placing himself in reaching distance of the door knob. She could hear him fidgeting with his tie, sliding his hands in and out of his lab coat pockets, pictured him running his hand on the back of his head like he did when he was frustrated. She still said nothing. She let the quiet speak for her.
"Damn it, Dix. Why are people so careless?" He walked slowly back around his desk and flopped down, loosening his tie and unbuttoning the top button. Dixie got up and poured him a glass of water from the ever-present pitcher on his desk.
"Don't they know how precious life is? Don't they realize that we aren't always going to be able to fix it? That people, good people do die from reckless behavior?" He took a drink from the glass, drained it, and stared at the emptiness. He gently placed it down on the desk and then looked up at Dixie. She could see tears in his eyes. The tough as nails Dr. Kelly Brackett was revealing emotion that very few people got to see. She was one of the lucky ones.
Kel glanced at the wall clock, discreetly wiping at his eyes. "In the span of less than 4 hours, I witnessed the near death of a good friend of ours and realized how close I came to being killed if it hadn't been for his actions. Two young people who were so overdosed on drugs they had no clue what they had caused. And she's pregnant for god's sake! Not only were they messing with their own lives but the life of their unborn baby. And for what? Just to feel good for a couple of hours? And then, this 16 year old kid, gets his driver's license one day and the next day, runs himself into a stop sign all because he wanted to listen to a particular song on his brand new tape deck. He wasn't paying attention! He could have died!"
"It could have been worse," offered Dixie. "Just think if there had been someone crossing the street at that moment."
"Exactly!" Kel practically shouted it and he jumped up again from his chair.
And Dixie waited.
Kel turned back to his own private therapist.
"Exactly," he whispered.
They both jumped a little at the knock on the door. As Dixie poured another glass of water, Kel cleared his throat and then said, "Come in."
Dr. Joe Early entered taking in the scene in front of him, guessing at what the shouting had been about. "Everything okay, here?"
Kel smiled sheepishly at Dixie and then nodded. "Yeah, Joe. Just a little of my own delayed reaction."
