And love
Chap 28 When it rains it pours
Paula Hill arrives at Jamie and Eddie 's apartment at 23:30. Eddie shows her to the guest room and helps her unpack. They are now relaxing in the kitchen with a glass of wine. Paula is very grateful that Eddie has offered to drop her off at the hospital in the morning as she goes to Bay Ridge to work and help GG with the girls.
Jamie's cell rings; Frank's ID shows.
"Hey dad, what's up at this hour?"
"Put your phone on speaker, son."
He does, "Dad, Eddie and Paula are with me."
"That's fine. I just got a call from Bellevue."
Paula's heart sinks , "Joe?" She screams.
"No . . . Danny and family have been in a car accident.
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PREVIOUS CALL
Dr. Abrams continues, "Frank, I must go to surgery. I'll put our head nurse Debbie on. She can fill you in on the family members." Dr. Abrams signs off.
"Frank Reagan?"
"Yes, what can you tell me?"
"The Reagan family was in an accident. Their jeep was t-boned on the left side. Point of impact was the driver's door."
"Any fatalities?" Frank is frantic.
"No, sir."
"What is their status?"
"The male driver, Daniel, sustained fractures to the bones of his left elbow. He is semi-conscious d/t extreme pain, and needs to be taken to surgery ASAP. We need a consent signed before we can do that. How soon can you be here, sir?"
"Can I consent over the phone and sign when I get there?"
"Let me turn on the recording . . . Do you consent to surgical repair of the left elbow of Daniel Reagan?"
"Yes, I do." Frank states.
"How are the others?" Frank adds.
"Linda, moderate-severe concussion. The boys, whiplash only; they can be discharged if they can be observed. We will medicate Daniel for pain and take him to surgery."
"Thank you, I will be there as soon as I can."
"Thank you, sir."
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Frank decides to drive rather than waiting for his detail. He thinks about Jack and Sean. They can't go home alone; what about here in Bay Ridge? As he gets dressed, he shouts for Henry.
"Pops, I need to talk with you!"
His father appears, dressed in jammies and his robe. "What's up at this time night?"
"Let me get Jamie on the phone so I don't have to repeat myself."
"Jamie here."
"Dad & Pops here, get Eddie please."
"I'm here Frank, what's up?" Eddie voices.
"Danny and family have been in a car accident. They are at Bellevue hospital, they all survived. Danny is going into surgery for his left elbow. Linda has a severe concussion, the boys sustained whiplash only. They can be discharged, but need to be observed."
"Wow, so what do we do?" Jamie questions.
"I've got an idea," Eddie starts. "Does the Bay Ridge house have room for me and the boys to join the gang?"
"What?" Jamie snorts.
"Do you think I run a youth hostel?" Henry huffs.
"No, listen." Eddie pleads. "I do a lot of my work over the Internet; I may need to go into the office for a couple of hours, but we can handle that. And I can be there to help Pops."
Frank & Jamie nod – they can't see each other. "Best idea yet," Jamie says.
"Well, I need to go to the hospital," Frank explains. "Can Jamie and Eddie set things up with Pops?"
"We will," they say. Pops agrees.
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THE PLAN
Paula will stay at the apartment. Jamie will go to Bay Ridge and help Pops get ready. Eddie will go to the hospital and take Jack and Sean to Frank's when they are discharged.
As they get ready:
"I'll pack a bag and check the girl's room to make sure they didn't forget anything. Then be off. Jamie, can you get Paula to the hospital in the morning?" Eddie voices.
"Yup, I'll cover it." He heads for Pops.
Paula's head is spinning. She heads for her room.
At Bay Ridge Pops starts thinking about 3 more guests! Turns out he does run a hostel!
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Eddie takes the Chevelle to Bellevue, walking into the ER and asking for Jack and Sean Reagan. She finds them sharing a curtained off cubicle. Frank is right behind her, carrying discharge papers. After some discussion she leads them to the car and they are off.
Frank goes up to the ICU waiting room. He tells a nurse who he is, and that he wants to be informed when Daniel Reagan is out of surgery. He is informed that Danny will be in ICU after surgery, so he is in the right place. He asks about Joe Hill and is informed that Joe is stable but still intubated thus he cannot talk. He tells the nurses that Joe's mother will be in tomorrow morning to visit. They thank him for the heads up. He sits down to play the waiting game.
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BAY RIDGE
Eddie pulls up to the back door and the boys get out. They walk slowly to the door and into the kitchen, and sit down. Eddie grabs her 2 bags and follows them. She is ambushed-
"Mommy!" Two ecstatic girls shout as they tackle her. Cassie holds back a little. Eddie motions her forward and she joins a group hug.
"Daddy is upstairs helping Pops," Mary Rose exclaims. "They are getting beds ready for you and cousins Jack and Sean."
"Is there room for me in the girl's room?" Eddie inquires.
The 3 girls look at each other. "Mommy . . . we, ah . . . well-
"Ok, Mal. I get it. Girls only, right?"
"Yeah, we hope that's ok," Mal replies sheepishly.
"Yes, sweetheart. I was a girl once. I understand."
They get the boys settled; Eddie will be in the downstairs guest room and Pops will join Frank in the king size bed in the master bedroom. Jamie sends his dad a TXT to share the arrangements, says a prolonged good-bye to Eddie then goes home.
Frank arrives home at 03:30, puts his night wear back on and collapses in bed. He stayed at the hospital long enough to get the report from the surgeon – Danny had a good result from this surgery. But this is the 1st of several procedures to fix Danny's elbow, i.e. to get the elbow back as close to normal as possible.
Frank has a bad feeling.
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BAY RIDGE – AM
How do you define madhouse?
1) 1 grumpy 82 y/o man who didn't get enough sleep, and is pressured to make breakfast,
2) 1 frazzled 32 y/o blond mother of 2 hyperactive girls, and responsible for a 9 y/o stowaway,
3) 2 teenage boys with whiplash and pounding headaches, worried about their parents,
4) A 9 y/o girl; a shy guest who wants to find a bed to hide under!
Everyone gets fed, then is sent to their room to await their turn in the bathroom/shower. Eddie manages that parade.
Then she sits down at the dining room table with her laptop – to attempt some work. She has notified her attorney bosses of her status. They offered her the rest of the week off; she is considering it.
Jamie dropped Paula at Bellevue; he stayed long enough to check the status of their 3 patients:
1) Danny – stable 1st day post-op. They spoke briefly. Danny is already showing signs of depression. He knows that the elbow is a complex joint. The chances of him not being able to qualify for a return to full, active duty are high. He has a long road ahead.
2) Linda – stable, but not conscious. She remains in ICU and under close observation.
3) Joe – also stable. Breathing on his own w/o ventilator support. He will have his E/T tube removed this afternoon unless complications ensue. Paula is encouraged; she plans to stay by his side throughout the day. She longs to be able to talk with her boy!
Jamie goes to work after checking with Eddie; he offers to relieve her if she wants to do a hospital check-up stint. She will take him up on that. 24 hours in the zoo might well do her in!
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TBC Hospital rounds anyone? Been there, done that!