Chapparal County District Attorney, Helen Mitchell smiled when she saw the true bill for Girolamo Palerno. This could easily be the case which launched her onto a new career trajectory. Yet she could barely enjoy the moment because another grand jury form also lay on her desk. The grand jury had returned no true bill against Scott Baldwin. That would not sit well with Mayor McClintock, and she hadn't quite figured out how she wanted to play that. Technically she could force Dara to present the case again, but she doubted the outcome would be different. For once, the grand jury had done it's job rather than the prosecutor's bidding. That was supposed to be the point of a grand jury system. There had been a time when she had appreciated that. A time when the law had been much purer. Perhaps it wasn't too late to embrace that again.
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Dr. Monica Quartermaine smiled after looking at Carly's ventilator parameters. It seemed like the paracentesis had been helpful. "I don't think they have repeated the blood gas yet, but the tidal volumes are much better, and they have been able to decrease the FiO2 down to 50% so that is encouraging," she said.
"She looks more comfortable too," Ned said.
"She does. I'm glad Alan was able to use ultrasound guidance and remove almost four liters," Monica added as Carly's nurse returned to the room.
"Did you want that repeat ABG now?" Leila Matthews asked.
"That would be great. Thanks! Things certainly look better but since she is on two pressors we really need to be sure the pH is where we want it," Monica said.
"Yes, I've really had to titrate up the Norepinephrine. Your husband gave some FFP while he was doing the paracentesis and that seemed to help her blood pressure more than anything," Leila said as she pulled an ABG kit out of one of the drawers and picked up the arterial line manifold panel and started to draw.
"I spoke with Dr. Meadows about that. She is planning to transfuse at least one more unit of packed cells and see if that improves things for Carly," Monica said.
"The ABG looks good. 7.36/40/120," Leila said as she read values off the bedside analyzer.
"That is basically perfect," Monica agreed. Of course, it was taking significant mechanical ventilatory support, and two pressors to achieve perfection so it was hard to really consider it that.
Ned nodded. He looked exhausted. None of the PCGH ICUs allowed family to stay overnight so perhaps that would force Ned to go home and get some sleep. Or at least toss, turn, and worry in a more comfortable bed.
"On that note, I'm going to see if I can find Alan and see if we can discuss a different mutual patient. If respiratory wants to wean the FiO2 further based on the oxygen saturations I'm in favor of that. Let me know if you have any other questions," Monica said. Then she turned directly to her nephew. "Remember you have to take care of yourself too. You look exhausted, I have STEMI call tonight and I suspect that Alan is realizing that he needs to take that patient to the OR so we'll both be around for a while. Please let us know if you need anything,"
"Thanks," Ned said.
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Ned Ashton watched his wife sleep. For the first time in weeks, she almost looked comfortable. He tried to focus on that small miracle rather than the reality of how sick she truly was. Unfortunately, he knew she was still very ill. The prior night had been miserable for him, but he was sure it had been even worse for Carly.
October 29, 1997
Carly Ashton struggled and panted as she vomited a mixture of bile and clear fluid. She looked beyond exhausted as she collapsed like a rag doll back against his chest sweating profusely and trembling. "Sorry," she whispered.
Ned laid Carly gently back down onto her left side. She had become too weak to sit up by herself or even support herself upright. Although her nurse had promised that Carly was her only patient and she could sit in with her all night if he needed to leave, leaving had felt wrong so for the past three hours he had held her up to vomit and tried to make her as comfortable as possible in between episodes. He was afraid that the emphasis belonged on tried because despite all his efforts she looked so uncomfortable. "No apologies, honey, I want to take care of you. Is that any better?" he asked as he refreshed the cool compress on her forehead.
Carly nodded and offered him a wan smile.
Ned had a feeling Carly was just trying to spare his feelings, but he had no idea what else to do so he just went back to rubbing her back until she drifted back into restless sleep. It was almost midnight. Soon another day would have passed, and they would be one more day closer to being able to deliver the baby. Of course, that came with its own risks and challenges. But Ned was starting to believe that it was the best chance for both mother and baby.
Gently Ned took Carly's hand into both of his. "Hang in there, honey, you have fought so hard for Michael. He is doing great and once Dr. Meadows gets you a little more stabilized, she is going to figure out the best option as far as delivery. I'm not going anywhere, I promise!
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Ross Chandler strolled into the ELQ Enterprises Main Headquarters in Port Charles, NY with confidence. Celia Quartermaine had emailed him a consulting prospectus and some initial recommendations. She had also carbon copied some ELQ flunky named, Travis Howard who was going to be handling the day-to-day aspects of the project. That was unacceptable. He had made himself explicitly clear that he was only interested in working with Celia Quartermaine. His impulsive streak had gotten the best of him, and he had decided it was time for a road trip. Three hours later he was standing in Port Charles.
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In her temporary office at ELQ, Celia Quartermaine added the appointment with Julia Barrett to her calendar and then shared it to Ned's calendar. That gave him more an opportunity than obligation to attend because she had a feeling his priorities would, and should, lie elsewhere. "I'm pretty sure I'll still be at least sharing, if not outright borrowing Ned's office so we can meet at ELQ. I'll arrange to have something catered in from the PC Grille," she said.
"That sounds good. I think we will be arriving late afternoon of the fifth, so we'll probably have dinner with Brenda that night. Knowing Brenda, she will drag us somewhere horrible," Julia said.
Celia laughed nervously just as Ned's secretary; Staci appeared in the doorway. Celia depressed the mute button on Ned's desk phone. "Sorry, Ned still isn't here," she said a bit sheepishly.
"Actually Mr. Ross Chandler is here. He claims to have a four o'clock appointment, but I didn't see anything on Ned's schedule, or even yours," Staci said.
"Why don't you show him into one of the conference rooms and if Travis hasn't left for the afternoon have him join us. Thank you," Celia said. She waited for Staci to depart and then released the mute button. "Sorry, apparently I need to meet with a new consultancy client, so I guess I have to go," she told Julia.
"Of course, I will see you next Thursday. Take care," Julia said.
After the call disconnected, Celia steeled herself, took and released a deep breath and went out to meet Ross Chandler. How bad could it be? Perhaps it was better if she didn't answer that question.
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As he hung Halloween decorations in the PCGH Pediatrics Playroom on 4 East, Nikolas Cassadine's mind was hardly on the task at hand. Katherine had been transferred back to the ICU and his mind was racing between the cynical and slightly paranoid view that Stefan had moved her simply to restrict his access and fear that her recent deterioration could be fatal. Of course, no one would tell him anything which only heightened his fears.
Unfortunately, his mind was also not on whatever Sarah Webber was prattling on and on about. He did not have the heart to admit that, so he just nodded a few times when she looked in his direction.
"I think this is the last box, I was going to take it directly up to the Pediatric Hematology Oncology Unit and start decorating up there. Dr. Hogan offered that we could have the party in their conference room. They don't have tumor board tomorrow morning so he said we could set up this afternoon," Chari Nomen said.
"Do you need help?" Nikolas asked.
"No, I can manage, it isn't heavy. Kristie is up there already providing support for a port access, so she was going to help with decorating after that. I'm glad we're doing two parties this year and I'm sure that those personal party packs will be a huge hit with all the kids on stem cell. That was such a cute idea," Chari said.
"That was Emily Quartermaine's idea, I guess she did something like that for her mother when she was having chemotherapy," Nikolas said. He believed in giving credit where credit was due.
"She and her sisters did such a good job with them, they got the age and gender for each patient and picked music, games, and stuff that was appropriate. They are seriously amazing!"
Nikolas was unsure if Chari was referring to the Quartermaine sisters themselves or their party packs, so he just nodded affirmatively and picked up a black cat.
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Sarah Webber rolled her eyes at Chari's excitement over personal party packs. Then she thought about how the concept would intrigue Zander as well. Of course, his party packs wouldn't have silly string, ring pops, or face paint; just like he was attending after hours parties at the Kappa Alpha Delta Fraternity not a Pediatric Hospital Playroom. She would rather do the latter as well, except her grandmother had heard about the party and just presumed that Sarah would be helping with that, so she had been stuck. To add insult to injury, Nikolas had offered that they could grab a late dinner at Café Decadence after they cleaned up. She supposed that was sweet of him to offer but his offer practically guaranteed she would be left out of the party her friends were attending. Unless of course there was a way to get out of helping with the Pediatrics Party without anyone realizing that was what she was doing.
Sarah carefully considered her options as she twirled some orange crepe paper around another chair. It would really be a shame if she was sick and unable to attend the party. Or at least her grandmother and Nikolas would think that. As an added bonus, if she timed things right, she should also get out of having to turn in the Chemistry lab which was due tomorrow. The same lab that she had yet to start. Yes, she definitely felt some cramps coming on.
Decision made, Sarah took a few quick gasping breaths and doubled over clutching at her stomach. "Oww," she moaned.
Surprisingly and very disappointingly, Nikolas did not immediately jump to her aid.
Sarah fumed a bit inside but then took a breath and upped the intensity of her feigned symptoms. "Oh, owww! Owww!" she cried as she rocked back and forth.
"Sarah, is your stomach bothering you again?" Nikolas asked as he finally appeared at her elbow.
"My stomach really hurts!" Sarah wailed. She continued to rock, hyperventilate and clutch at her pain free abdomen.
"Should I take you to the emergency department?" Nikolas asked.
Sarah debated that. An emergency department visit almost guaranteed a free pass for school. Of course, it might also result in admission which might cause her to miss the fraternity party altogether. "I really need to lie down. I think my grandmother is still here maybe you could call her," she suggested instead.
Dutifully, Nikolas set about doing just that.
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When he stepped out of the elevator into the main lobby of the ELQ Enterprises Headquarters, Ross Chandler was still trying to process his meeting with Celia Quartermaine. She hadn't refused to meet with him altogether, but she had included Travis Howard in the meeting. She had claimed that was for cohesivity, but he didn't quite buy that. Celia had walked him to the elevator herself after the meeting but perhaps that was just to ensure he truly exited the Executive Floor.
Ross was still contemplating that when he stepped outside and crossed the parking lot to his Lamborghini. As he unlocked the door he wondered if the better question was why he insisted on using Celia Quartermaine's perspective as his barometer of morality.