I walked into the ER, taken aback by the sheer amount of people that were crammed in the waiting room. Every chair was full; people were sitting on the floor, standing in the corner, finding any available space and filling it. Seeing this, I quickly slipped into the locker room, dumped my stuff in my locker, grabbed my name badge, and headed out to the nurse's station.
There were a few nurses standing around the nurse's station. They were whispering to each other, frantically looking around, but not doing anything really helpful. I picked up a clipboard to take with me to the waiting room, I had to start somewhere. Robin came walking over towards us. Robin, the Head Nurse in the ER, was a woman to be reckoned with. She could do anything the docs could do, and still maintain her cool façade with the patients – something the docs would be wise to adopt. She had a pissed off look on her face, and immediately the other nurses took notice. We never wanted her mad at us, only bad things could happen then.
"What are you doing just standing around like this? We got patients that need help, and you're over here twiddling your thumbs!"
The nurses scattered, but before I could get away, she stopped me.
"I want you out there. " She indicated the waiting room, "Get the simple ones out and get the real cases in the ER STAT."
As quickly as that, she walked away, through the double doors that lead in the ER. I went straight out to the waiting room, with a Nurse's Cart, determined to stay below the radar. I definitely did not want Robin coming back out and jumping all over my case.
Thirty minutes later, I had treated and discharged several minor cases, simple bumps, scrapes, and bruises, nothing that couldn't be treated with an ibuprofen and some rest at home. A couple of severe cases, these people had severe fevers and pain all over their bodies that I couldn't attribute to any outward signs of injury. These people….These people worried me. I had them taken into beds in the ER right away.
People normally complain about waiting at the ER. Not anymore, I made sure of that. Within a couple of hours, my waiting room was almost empty, but now the ER was full. I had more people presenting with the fever, pain, and now bites? I couldn't figure it out. Bites?
I saw Robin coming over towards me in the waiting room. The look on her face scared me. Behind her, military personnel could be seen walking through the halls, carrying weapons. I had no idea what was going on, but whatever it was, it definitely couldn't be good. She pulled me over to a corner. She didn't say anything at first, looking behind her to make sure no one was within hearing distance. She eyed the soldiers walking the hallway towards the ER's doors. Turning back to me, she hesitated before speaking.
"Get your stuff. Get out."
"What?" What did I do?
"Please…you have to get out of here. Now. They're talking about quarantining the hospital. I need you to get to my family, tell them I'm ok." She was really freaking me out now.
"You go. We still got people here," I looked at the people still sitting in the seats on the other side of the waiting room.
"I can't; I've already talked to the military personnel. They'll notice if I'm gone. Please, just go."
The sound of her voice, the look in her eyes. I decided not to take any chances. I nodded to her, and made my way back to the locker room. She stayed in the waiting room, picking up where I had left off. I wondered if anyone would notice I had left, but didn't bother voicing my concerns. Dropping my name badge on the bottom of my locker, I grabbed my bag and keys. Turned back to the door of the locker room, I saw a man in fatigues standing on the other side, his back to me. He wasn't moving, just standing there. Shit. I could see Robin out in the waiting room, she obviously saw the soldier there. Her face betrayed her concern, but I gave her the thumbs up through the window. She turned away, I didn't know if she had seen me or not, but at the moment, I didn't bother waiting to make sure. In the corner of the locker room was a door that led to the ambulance bay. No one really ever used it, you could get easily run over by an ambulance coming or going. I took my chances and ducked out the door.
Fortune was in my favor this morning, I got out. No one saw me. I took off towards employee parking, and jumped in my car. I sat there a few seconds, thinking it was too easy for that to have happened. Then I noticed the military vehicles coming into the hospital lot, filling up the ER unloading zone. The Humvees, jeeps, and trucks filled up the entire area. Men jumped out and began entering the building. They had on gas masks and were carrying what looked like machine guns. I didn't waste any more time. I started the engine, peeled out of my parking space, and headed towards Robin's house.
The only thought running through my mind: What the hell is going on?