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Summer Rain And Roses |
Chapter 8 |
The next few weeks were happy ones for John. While continuing to relax at home, he spent weekends with Rose. Most days after work, she was too tired to go out, but sometimes he'd go to her house for a quiet dinner. Joshua's shyness with John had completely evaporated now, and he looked forward to every visit with barely contained excitement. John delighted in bringing small gifts for the child; a toy car, new crayons, a model airplane they built together. Rose once chastised John for spoiling him, but he simply shrugged it off, stating he wasn't doing any harm. Because they weren't expensive items, she couldn't find the heart to protest too much. Especially in light of the fact that it was the time they spent together that they both seemed to treasure, rather than the gifts themselves.
When John and Rose were alone together, they'd often have long chats. Slowly, with small steps, they revealed more of their personal history to each other. Rose spoke of the difficult times she'd had following her father's death. There had been no close relatives willing to take her in, and she'd felt abandoned and alone. Finally, her father's aunt had agreed to become her guardian. Yet, while she'd provided young Rose with food and shelter, she'd been a distant and unloving figure. She hadn't been cruel to Rose, but she'd also been incapable of showing any affection.
John also talked about his past; the death of his older brother, the strained relationship with his parents, his desire to become a doctor despite his grandfather's objections. It seemed they had both struggled through life, starting at an early age. But both agreed that overcoming those obstacles had made them stronger and perhaps, more prepared for the sometimes harsh realities of life. Sharing these intimate facts somehow brought them closer together and created a bond between them.
Kevin was thrilled that the two of them had decided to start seeing each other. He felt a twinge of guilt for keeping it a secret from his father, but he reasoned that it would only be temporary. If their relationship truly became serious, they would all cross that bridge at that time. He didn't feel the need to worry about it yet.
It was mid-July now, and Joshua's fifth birthday was coming up on Saturday. Some of his friends from daycare, as well as a few neighbourhood children, were invited to the house for an outdoor party. Much of the summer this year had been rainy, and Joshua was constantly questioning his mother about the weather forecast. Rose crossed her fingers and predicted nothing but sunny skies for his special day. Thankfully, the morning dawned bright and warm, with tranquil white clouds that showed no hint of moisture.
Four of the mothers stayed for the party to help out; Eleanor, Christy, Alison and Nora. The fathers were conspicuously absent. None had been interested in sticking around for the party. John was the only male adult present and thus, he was placed in charge of the barbecue. Taking the role of chef quite seriously, he served the hot dogs and hamburgers with a smile. Rose lost count of how many times she was pulled aside by one of the women, each commenting on how charming her new boyfriend was.
Bringing out the cake and ice cream after lunch, Rose was rewarded by a chorus of cheers from the children. It took two attempts for Joshua to blow out all five candles, but he did it calmly and announced that he had to keep his wish a secret so it would come true. As he opened each present, his young guests ooohed and ahhhed appropriately. And despite his excitement, he remembered to say thank you each time.
Rose relaxed in a lawn chair with a couple of the mothers, an iced tea in hand. The children were playing on their own now, content to roam around the backyard. When John went into the house to use the telephone, Rose suspected that Nora and Alison, two of her neighbours, would begin their round of questioning. She wasn't disappointed.
"So," Alison began, trying to sound casual, "how long have you been seeing him?"
"Who?" Rose asked. After the look Alison shot at her, she gave in. "About a month."
"Are you going to give us more details, or you want to keep us guessing?" Nora inquired.
Rose hesitated, not wanting to sound impolite. She actually wasn't close to either of these women. They were simply the mothers of her son's friends and she only knew them on a casual basis. "Let's just say, things are going very well so far." She flashed a mysterious smile.
"Mommy..."
Rose turned her head to find Joshua beside her chair. "Yes?"
"She's eating leafs, even though I said it's bad."
Rose sat up a little straighter. "Who is?"
"Linny."
Confused, it took her a moment to decipher the name. "You mean, Lyndsay?" she asked, referring to Nora's two-year old daughter.
"Yeah," Joshua affirmed, with a vigorous nod.
Quickly surveying the yard, Rose spotted the toddler crouching near some plants. Eleanor and Christy were only a few feet away, but they seemed deeply engrossed in conversation and were not paying attention to the girl. Even as Rose got to her feet, Nora was already heading towards her. "Lyndsay, what are you doing?" the concerned mother called out.
Lyndsay didn't reply, but responding to her mother's tone of voice, she had a decidedly guilty expression on her face. She obviously sensed that she'd done something wrong. As Rose approached them, with Joshua tagging along behind her, she noticed some leaves clutched in the girl's chubby fist.
"Josh, did she actually swallow some leaves?" Rose asked.
He shrugged. "I dunno. I think so."
"What's wrong?" Eleanor asked, finally turning her attention towards them.
"You were supposed to be watching her," Nora said sharply. She softened her voice as she knelt down beside her daughter. "Open your mouth, honey. Did you chew those leaves?"
"It's not poisonous, is it?" Christy asked, her expression aghast. "What kind of plant is that?"
"It's uh...it's oleander," Rose replied. "John's a doctor. I'll go get him." As she turned away, she could sense that Joshua wanted to come with her. "No, Josh, you stay here. I'll be right back," she assured him. She sprinted towards the house.
She found John in the kitchen, still talking on the phone. Her sudden appearance caused him to glance up, a questioning look in his eyes. "Hang on a second," he said into the receiver.
"John, you've got to come outside with me. Now," Rose stated, the urgency clearly evident.
He responded immediately, cutting his conversation short and hanging up. "What is it?"
Rose explained the situation as they ran back into the yard. The other children had all become quiet now, aware that something was wrong. Nora looked up at John as he approached, her brow furrowed with worry. "You're a doctor?"
"That's right," he said calmly. "Rose, you said you're pretty sure it's oleander?"
"Yes. Actually, I'm sure of it. Why, is that bad?" she asked, her concern growing.
He didn't reply, not wanting to alarm everyone. Oleander did have a toxicity similar to digoxin, a heart medication, and he was worried about possible cardiac arrhythmias. "Do you have any ipecac? We need to induce vomiting."
"Yes...yes, I have it in the bathroom cabinet upstairs," Rose replied. "Should I go get it?"
"No, we'll bring her upstairs."
"Mama, I don't feel good," Lyndsay stated in a small voice.
"It's okay, honey," Nora soothed. As she spoke, the slight quaver in her words betrayed her anxiety and she looked to John for guidance.
"Let's take her upstairs and we'll administer the ipecac," he said quickly, knowing time was of the essence.
Scooping up her daughter, Nora followed Rose and John into the house. Although Rose had been worried about wasting precious time digging around for the ipecac, she found it right away. A short while later, the poor girl emptied her stomach while her mother stroked her back.
Exhausted from the strain, Lyndsay fell back into her mother's arms. "Will she be all right now?" Nora asked, her tone hopeful.
"Probably, but we should still take her to the ER," John said carefully. "I'll drive you."
They went downstairs and Rose gave him a quick kiss. "Thank you," she whispered. "Please call me from the hospital."
He gave her a reassuring smile. "Of course. Don't worry, she'll be fine."
Just as he turned to leave, Joshua bounded up to him. "You're gonna make her better, right?"
"She's going to be fine, Josh. Don't you worry. I've gotta go."
John waved at him and with a final glance at Rose, he led Nora and Lyndsay towards his Jeep.
***************
The ER was literally a beehive of activity when they stepped through the doors, and John could sense that this wasn't just an unusually busy day. Something was up.
He guided Nora, who was still holding a very quiet Lyndsay, towards the admit desk. Randi was nowhere to be found but Dave was signing some papers.
"Hey, Dave," John called out.
Glancing up, the resident grinned. "Carter! Long time, no see. How's it going?"
"Going fine. Where's Dr. Finch?"
"In Curtain one, I think." Dave took a sidelong glance at the board. "Yeah, she's got a kid with a broken arm. Why?"
"I want her to take a look at this girl. She chewed on some leaves and..."
"Don't tell me," Dave interrupted. "Oleander?"
Surprised, John muttered, "Uh, yeah, we think so." He dug around in his pocket and pulled out a couple of the crumpled leaves he'd brought with him. "How'd you know that?"
Dave took a quick look at the leaves and nodded. "Yup, that's it. I just treated a kid last week who made a meal out of the exact same plant. Must be tasty. Want me to take her?"
"Well..."
Dave sighed impatiently. "You don't have to get stressed, Carter. I'll have Dr. Finch check her out before she's released. Okay?"
"Okay. Thanks, Dave."
"No problem." Dave smiled at Nora. "Hi, I'm Dr. Malucci. You can bring your daughter this way..."
As they were led away, a man with a white t-shirt wrapped around his arm approached John with a scowl on his face. "Hey pal, I've been waiting two hours and they get in right away! What the hell is going on here? I wanna see a doc now!"
A few others who were standing nearby overheard the man's complaint and they began muttering in agreement. Chairs was overflowing with people and they were spilling out into the hallway, pacing the floor or leaning against the wall.
John faced the indignant man, choosing his words carefully. "I'm sorry, sir, but that little girl ate something poisonous and had to be seen immediately. You wouldn't want her to go into cardiac arrest, would you?"
"No, of course not." Backing off slightly but continuing to frown, the man wouldn't give up. "This is bullshit! I sliced my arm and I'm in fucking pain here. How much longer is it going to take?"
"I don't know. Look, I'm not on duty right now but I'll try to find out what's going on. Okay?" John hoped his answer would placate him.
"Yeah, whatever."
Though the man didn't look entirely convinced, John was relieved that he seemed to calm down a little. The last thing he needed was someone to incite a riot among the disgruntled group.
The raised voice of someone familiar reached his ears and he followed the sound. He noticed the words were being enunciated with extreme precision and clarity. That meant she was very pissed off.
"No, I understand that. But you have to understand my position. I...hang on...now just wait a minute! If you can't...hello? Hello? Well, of all the unbelievable nerve!"
The last sentence was punctuated by the slamming down of the receiver.
"Bad day, Kerry?"
Kerry whipped her head around to find John standing before her. "Don't ask," she advised in a level tone. Her features softening, she barely managed a small smile. "This is a surprise. What are you doing here?"
He briefly told her about bringing Lyndsay in, and that Dave was examining her. "The people out there are getting antsy," he told her, pointing behind him with his thumb. "What's up today?"
Kerry rolled her eyes, looking tense and frustrated. "What isn't up? Mercy's ER is closed because of problems with power fluctuations. I've got two attendings off sick with the flu in the middle of summer. A patient locked himself into a supply room. One of the toilets in the men's washroom overflowed. And I've got the grandest headache that I've had the pleasure of having in years. Any other questions?"
John knew that if he even gave the hint of a smile, he'd receive a smack in the head. "Need any help?" he asked.
"What kind of help are you offering?"
Reading between the lines, he realized she was asking if he was ready to return to the ER. He hesitated, considering the question carefully. "Is anyone doing triage?"
"Yes, one of the new nurses. She just quit about an hour ago."
"Really?"
"Really."
"Well, I think I can manage it."
Kerry patted him on the arm. "Go home, John. We'll be okay. I don't mean to try to make you feel guilty. You don't have to do this."
"I know. But I want to."
Cocking her head to the side, she peered up at him over the rim of her glasses. "You're sure?"
"Yes," he replied firmly, with more confidence than he truly felt. But it was no lie that he did want to help. The sudden desire to dive back into the ER took him by surprise, but he decided it was best to just go with his instinct.
With a nod, Kerry sprang into action. In no time at all, he found himself in chairs, assessing patients and determining the order in which they'd be examined. He was so busy, he didn't even notice that he'd forgotten his lab coat until Randi brought him one.
"Carter, I almost didn't recognize you without the suspenders." She grinned at him, handing him the white coat. "Here, I brought you this."
"Thanks." Looking down at his dark blue t-shirt and jeans, he was surprised that no one had questioned him about being a doctor. He supposed it was the stethoscope around his neck that assured them of his profession.
"Is this your first day back?" Randi asked.
"Yeah. It's sort of unofficial, though."
"Good luck. Great day for you to start." Her attention was diverted by a young boy that ran past her, pushing an empty wheelchair at top speed. "Damn, that kid's been driving me crazy. Come back here, you little twerp!" she hollered, running after him down the hall.
John chuckled to himself. Feeling a slight twinge in his back, he knew he had to take a break to stretch it out. Walking towards the ambulance bay, thinking that he'd get a breath of fresh air, he jumped back as an EMT crew burst through the doors.
"Hey, watch it!" Doris snapped. She glanced up at him with a belated look of recognition. "Dr. Carter! You're back! Help us out here, would ya?" She gave a rundown of the victim's condition, as John automatically followed alongside her. They were joined by Chuny, and a couple other nurses. "Fourteen year-old male, stab wounds to the back of the neck and upper back. BP 75 over 50, pulse 109. Fifteen litres of O2 given by mask and we started two large bore IVs of saline at the scene, wide open."
By this time, the gurney was already being wheeled into a trauma room and John froze, suddenly unsure of himself. "Can't anyone else take this? Where's Dr. Weaver or Kovac?"
"They're in another trauma," Chuny replied, uneasy at the hesitancy that he was displaying. It was unlike Carter to act like this, but perhaps it was understandable since he'd been absent for a while. "I'll get Dr. Weaver," she said quickly.
"No, I've got it." The room was unnaturally still and as John felt all eyes on him, his voice rose. "I said I've got it! Come on, people, let's go. Transfer him on my count, very gently. One, two, three..."
As the EMTs began to file out, Doris slapped him on the shoulder. "Good to have you back."
"Thanks," he acknowledged.
"Good bilateral breath sounds," Chuny reported.
"Okay, let's get his blood typed and crossmatched for six units; a CBC, chest films, and a c-spine," John called out. "I want a flow sheet started. And he needs an NG tube and a Foley. Let's be gentle. This kid could have a spinal-cord injury."
"Is that him? Larry?"
At the sound of a foreign voice in the room, John looked up to see a distraught man staggering towards them. He rushed forward, trying to block the man's view. "Sir, you can't be in here." Grabbing hold of the man's arms, he tried to steer him back.
"That's my son! Amy said he was stabbed. You've gotta help him!"
"That's what we're trying to do," John assured him. "Now, please, step outside and let us do our job." Again, he attempted to guide the father back into the hallway. The man thwarted his efforts, however, and grew more frantic at the sight of his bloody son.
"Don't let him die!" the man wailed.
"I won't, but you have to..."
"Don't let him die!" Repeating his mantra, the man gave John a violent shove, slamming him against the wall.
"Carter!" Chuny cried with alarm, seeing the flash of pain that etched across his features. Dropping the Foley catheter, she ran over and bellowed into the hallway. "I need security in here!"
"Sorry," the man gasped, releasing the grip he'd had on John's lab coat. "I'm sorry. I just..."
"Get out of here!" Chuny said angrily, her dark eyes narrowed.
"Chuny, it's okay," John said weakly, trying to ignore the throb in his back.
"No, it's not! Just get out and let us do our work. Please."
A security guard appeared in the doorway, looking rather bored. "You need some help?"
"Yeah, take this man into chairs," she ordered, shaking her head with disbelief. She turned her attention to John, who looked a little pale. "You all right? I should get Weaver."
"No, I'm fine. It's my patient. Let me finish this."
"If you say so," she conceded, though her tone was doubtful.
The immediate burst of pain in his back had subsided into a dull throb; one that he could tolerate. Refusing Chuny's offer of assistance, he walked towards the gurney. The x-rays had come back, and his heart sank as he noted the traumatic injuries to two vertebrae. "Give him a bolus of 700 milligrams of methylprednisolone." He hoped this would help to reduce some spinal-cord swelling. "Call Neuro and book an OR. I'll go talk to his father."
Now he had to give the news that this boy was probably paralysed. He only hoped the father would be in a more rational state of mind than he had been earlier. This was going to be a long day.
***************
"Hi, I'm looking for Dr. Carter."
Wondering where the desk clerks had magically disappeared to, Kerry forced herself to give a pleasant look. "And you are?"
"Rose Philips. If he's busy, that's okay."
Though surprised, Kerry's smile emanated genuine warmth and she extended her hand. "Hi, Rose. I'm Kerry Weaver. John's told me about you."
"Oh, yes. He's mentioned you too." Rose shook her hand and returned the smile. "Nice to meet you. I was a little worried about him since I haven't heard from him all day."
"It's been insanely busy here today, so he probably just didn't have a chance to call you."
"So it's true, then? He's decided to return to work?" Rose asked. When Nora had called her from the hospital to tell her that Lyndsay was going to be fine, she'd mentioned that John was working.
"Yes, he has," Kerry confirmed. She'd been very pleased to hear him say that he wanted to return. The time off seemed to have done wonders for him. He was looking tanned, fit, and most important of all...happy.
"I'm glad," Rose said softly.
"So am I. Now, come with me. I'll take you to him."
They walked down the hall, which was now blessedly quiet. It was hard to believe that not so long ago, the area had been bustling with noise and confusion. With a knock on the door of Exam 4, Kerry proceeded inside.
"I'm trying to sleep," complained an irritated, male voice.
"You have a visitor," Kerry told him. "I'll leave you two alone. I'm glad we met, Rose."
"Yes, take care."
As Kerry closed the door behind her, John sat up in bed, blinking sleepily. "Rose! Oh, God, I'm so sorry! I should have called you."
"It's okay. I hear you've been busy." Rose came to sit down next to him, giving him a brief kiss.
"You wouldn't believe the day I've had. It's been terrible. And wonderful, at the same time."
"Wonderful because you're doing what you love again? Being a doctor?"
"Yeah. I'm too tired to explain how I feel. Well, actually, I'm not sure if I even could explain it. I just know this is where I belong. It feels right, again."
"Then that's all that matters. Now, lie down and get some sleep."
As he lay back down, she absently stroked his hair. "Mmm, that's nice," he murmured. His eyes fluttered closed and less than two minutes later, he was snoring gently.
With a loving smile, Rose pressed her lips against his cheek. "Goodnight, Dr. Carter," she whispered.
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