Devon and Conrad spent the next 2 hours tending to the patients from the bus crash. Most of them had minor injuries and the most injured had been treated and sent off to surgeries with Kit, Randolph, AJ, and Mina.
Conrad walked over to the nurse's station and put down the tablet after discharging the last patient. He looked at Devon and Irving.
"Did you know we were getting a trauma surgeon?"
"Yeah, Doctor Julia Adams. She's apparently one of the best. She was before at Berkeley Medical Center in West Virginia which is a level 3 trauma hospital. I have no idea how they got her to come to Chastain," replied Irving. He then tilted his head to the side. "Why do you ask?"
"Because I apparently just met her without knowing it."
Devon looked at him. "Wait, that woman who came in with the EMT's and the amputated victim was Julia Adams? Damn, I'm jealous."
"Yeah, well, I probably managed to make a fool of myself because I had no idea who she was."
"You should read your emails," replied Irving teasingly. Knowing full well that Conrad hardly ever read his emails especially if it wasn't about one of his patients.
"Nevertheless, she didn't introduce herself, if she had, then maybe I would have been prepared."
He looked around the ER as the nurses and cleaning staff tidied up.
"Any news about the amputee?" asked Devon.
"No," replied Conrad as he looked at his watch. "They've been in surgery for two hours."
Devon looked at him. "I don't know about you, but I'd love to go and check it out."
Conrad too was curious. This woman had amazingly been on the site of the crash, finalized a partial amputation and had brought him in a relatively stable state. The hemothorax under control, she was now in surgery most probably making it possible for Carlos Diaz to have minimal scaring and a healthy stump to welcome a prosthetic lower leg in the future.
They headed up to the surgical floor and walked into the gallery. It was half-filled up with doctors, nurses, interns, and other surgeons. Conrad sat down next to Kit, who had arrived just twenty minutes earlier, after fixing a wrist for the past hour and a half.
Kit shook her head.
"What?" asked Conrad.
"Her technique is flawless, she is meticulous, calm and takes her time. I've seen a lot of amputation surgeries in the past, but they are rarely this clean and thorough. She is absolutely what we need at Chastain; someone who puts the patients first before revenue and productivity performance."
Conrad said nothing as he looked at the screen, she was winding down the surgery and getting ready to close.
He noticed that she and Al worked perfectly in sync. Almost like AJ and Mina and it was impressive. Only a few words between them were sufficient to know what the other wanted.
Julia placed the last suture along the remaining stump beneath Carlos' knee. The sutures were perfect and would minimalize the adhesions in lieu of the prosthetic.
They all watched as Al's intern applied the bandage and Al and Julia headed back into the scrub room.
As they removed their gowns, gloves and caps, Al looked at Julia.
"Not bad for your first day."
She smiled.
"There is nothing fun in trauma, and to be honest, I would have preferred a smoother transition into this new place. But I guess there is nothing like diving into things from the get-go."
They walked out under everyone's curious eye, as to who was this new colleague, they were bound to cross paths within the hallways, ER or OR.
"Good thing you were on the road when the accident took place," said Al knowing Carlos Diaz had been extremely lucky with the coincidence.
She grabbed her leg and noticed that blood had smeared through the scrubs she had been handed and had changed into quickly. The gash she had ignored was now reminding her that she too had been a victim.
"Jules?" said Al as he noticed her leg. He then lifted his head and suddenly realized. "You were on the bus?"
Julia nodded. "It's nothing."
"Will you at least let me take a look?"
"Al, it's just a scratch."
"Jules, I will force you to come with me and you know I will."
She nodded, then looked at Al's intern as he and the nurses rolled out Carlos. "Let me know the minute he wakes up."
When they rolled away, Al took Julia and led her to an examining room.
She stood in front of the examining table and Al raised an amused eyebrow. "You're going to have to drop the scrubs, Jules."
She threw him an unamused look then lowered her scrubs down her leg and off. She then lied down on the table.
Al put on gloves and looked at it. "Nothing, huh? Just a scratch?"
"Just a few stitches and it'll be fine," she said dismissing his concern.
"How bad was it out there?"
"Basically, felt like a rollercoaster ride with a looping but no seatbelts holding you in place. A lot of people got banged around. It could have been way worse."
He took some gauze, disinfectant and started to clean up the wound. Julia didn't even wince, but it didn't surprise him, her tolerance to pain was high.
The door opened and Conrad stuck his head in the opening. "Everything alright?"
At that exact moment Al's beeper went off. He put the gauze down and looked at it before shifting his attention back to Julia.
"Shit! I'm needed for an emergency appendectomy."
"Go," said Conrad who had noticed what was going on. "I'll take over."
Al looked at Julia and she nodded indicating that not only he should go but that she was OK with Conrad taking over.
"She was on the bus, make sure she's alright," he said to Conrad in a low voice as he headed over to the door and crossed paths with him.
Conrad stopped in front of Julia and looked at her leg. He checked it making sure no debris was inside. Julia noticed how gentle he was and thorough, she liked that in a doctor.
He headed to the cabinet to get the suture kit and when he returned, she had extended out her hand.
"Doctor Julia Adams, trauma surgeon. It's a pleasure to meet you, Doctor Hawkins."
He tilted his head to the side then took her hand in his and shook it.
"It's a pleasure to meet you too."
"I'm sorry about earlier," she said genuinely. "The patient was my priority not introductions."
"No harm done."
She watched and analyzed his suture technique and was impressed, nothing about what he did was quick. Everything was calculated. It didn't surprise her, being in internal medicine, he needed to be everything that she was witnessing.
Once he had sutured her and placed a bandage over it, he looked her over. "Did you hit your head?"
"Nope. At least I don't think so."
He did a quick neurological exam.
"Lie down," he said.
She looked at him. "Seriously?"
"Hey, right now it's your turn to be the patient and you're my patient. You bossed me around downstairs, it's only fair I get my turn."
She laughed and winced catching the side of her flank.
"It's just a contusion," she said as he grabbed the hem of her scrub and started to lift it.
His eyes grew big as he saw her entire flank purple and slightly swollen. He looked at her then softly palpated the area. He checked her ribs, but no pain seemed to be present indicating that nothing was broken.
He walked over and brought the ultrasound machine. Once the gel was on, he scanned over the area. All the nearby organs were fine, there was no liquid or blood build up. He pushed the machine away and wiped off the gel gently from her contusion. When he was done, she lowered her blouse and sat up.
She then put her pant scrubs back on and sneakers.
"So, let me guess, change the bandage regularly, keep the wound clean, have the stitches removed in 7 to 10 days, take two Tylenols and if needed call the doctor?"
It was his turn to laugh.
"I think it's very clear that you don't need a doctor or anyone else."
It was his way of stating the obvious that she seemed tough and independent, not needing anyone to take care of her, or not wanting it. He reminded her of some of the soldiers and other military doctors he had known in the past.
"We all need someone, Doctor Hawkins."
She stood and started to walk toward the door, as she grabbed the doorknob, she turned around.
"Thanks."
"Sure, and if you do need someone to remove the sutures, you know where to find me."
She gave him a side smile.
"Oh, I'm sure I'll find you."