Secrets vs Lies (Chp 2)

Blake was tired.  he had already worked 80 hrs this week, and it was only thursday.  nonetheless he got into his car, and drove to the hospital.  Once a month he would volunteer for free at Mercy General.  It was in the worst part of town, and for this reason, he always drove the toyota corrolla he bought.  He purchased the car after Paul told him, that driving his benz to that part of town woul surely gget him carjacked. he would be in the er for the next  12 hours or more.  when word got around that a doctor was giving free service one thursday a month the waiting area would be full every 3rd thursday of the month.  in all honesty he really did look forward to it.

he parked his car and walked to the ER entrance.  it was 6:47, most people's day was over.  but the second part of his was just about to begin.  Nurse Theresa meets him at the door, with atleast a dozen charts in her hands.

"can i atleast put my breifcase down first stacey?

Theresa was a sweet woman in her mid 50"s who really did not look a day over 35 with 5 children which include a set of twins. 

"how about we switch, i will take your briefcase you can take these charts. They are showing up earlier and earlier.  I have a woman who has been here since 2:30 waiting for you.  there are 18 people in the waiting room. 2 babies, a broken arm, stomach pains, a broken hand, 2 lacerations, etc etc etc... Where do you want to start doc?"

"first let me wash my hands, put on a coat, and I will be right with you."

"I'll be waiting.'

"oh, Theresa if a mr. paul cunnigham comes in for me, please show him to my office please, and have him wait for me."

"Sure thing doc."

once my hands are washed, i dive in head first into seeing patients..  around 9pm,  Paul shows up and i have to really rush my meeting with him.

"hey dude"  he stands and we hug each other.

" I got your results back"

"give it to me straigh Blake. am i gonna have to rely on the little blue pill?

"No, but i did notice a level of syconisin in your blood.  have you been taking anything other than what I have prescribed to you?

"no.  the only things i have taken are vitamins."

"what vitamins?"

"something i saw on an infomercial at like 4 am one morning."

"really, an infomercial, they target people at that time for a specific reason.  i had no idea you were that gullable.  I have some land on atlantis i would like to sell to you."

" ha ha funny. but really could those vitamins be doing this to me?

"possibly get me the name of it and i will check it out. in the meantime stop taking them.  it may take a few weeks, to a month for it to wear off.  i will find out about the vitamins and get back to you."

"thanks man, you are the best."

"tell me something i dont know."

at that moment nurse Theresa knocked on the door, she opened it without waiting for an invite.

"Doc we have a GSW on route, its a police officer. eta 5 mins.

" thanks stacey.. i will be right out."

"hey man i'm gonna get out of your way, and let you go save lives.. i will call you with the name of that vitamin in the morning."

"ok , hey give V my love ok."

and withthat they parted ways.  Blake rushed to the ER doors to meet the ambulance there.  he will pulling on his gloves as the abulance pulled up.

they pulled the the stretcher out, and on it was a paramedic doing CPR.  her hands wer covered in blood.  witht he help of the other emt we rushed him inside. 

" ok what do we have here guys?"

"gsw 2 to the torso, and one to the leg.  he is bleeding out really fast.."

"we need to get him to the OR stat: Theresa....."

"the OR is already to go doc."

" ok lets get up there."

it took 3 hours to take out 3 bullets.  It was touch and go with one of thebullets in his chest.  luckily it did not hit anything vital.  the one in his shoulder was the one in his leg looked like it exploded in his leg.  he will need a lot of therapy, but he might end up walking with a cane.  once he was taken to recovery, Blake went to check if there was any family that had been waiting so he can update them on his status.  what he found instead was over 2 dozen officers in the wainting area.  they all turned to hime when hewalked in.

looking down at the chart to check the patients name.

"Who is here for officer Cooper?"

"We are" said one officer.

"is ther any family here?"

" He has no next of kin, we are his family.  How is her doctor?"

" ok well he is in serious but stable condition.  there were some complications witht he bullet in his leg.  he may have some difficulty walking, but i expect him to make a full recovery.

" how soon can we see him?

"uhm well you all can't go in at once.  i will allow 2 at a time this afternoon.  he is still out cold.  I will be here around 3 pm, you can come by then."

"thanks for saving his life doc."

"no need to thank me.

They shook hands, and Blake went back to his office to fisnish up the nights charts.

"go home get some rest guys.

WIth all the critical patients beeing seen, and taken cared of, Blake decide to get started on his charts, while its quiet.  Once he was done charting, he put his head down on the his arms.  Just as his shoulders started to relax. there was a knock.  of course, why not.

before he could say come in, in walks nurse Theresa.  he instantly forgave her intrusion when he saw she was bearing gifts.  gifts in the form of food.  Red beans and rice with oxtails, corn bread muffins and sweet tea.  man oh man, he was about to get his brub on.

she placed the food on the desk in fron of him, winked at him and walked out, just as swiftly as she came.  he uncovered the food and immediately his mouth started watering.  he unrapped the fork, said grace tooka deep breath and dove in.  There is a reason why southern food is called comfort food.. he felt so much better with his last gulp of sweet tea. he looked up at the clock and it was 3:15 am.  he decided to go make his rounds and check on the few patients he had admitted.  he checked on the cop last. 

when he got to his bedside, he checked the monitor, and his fluids.  he was checking his pulse when he felt like someone was looking at him.  quiclky glancing up he locked eyes with the most beautiful blue eyes he had ever seen.  he was almost knocked off his feet.  they stared at each other for what seemed to be an eternity. but could not have been more than 20 seconds.

"hi Patrick, i am dr. Morris, Do you know what happened to you?

he did not answer immediately, but just kept staring at me. "patrick?"  he blinked as if calling his name a second time snapped him out of a trance.  he licked his lips and looked up at the ceiling.  ina raspy voice he said:  " i was shot."  chasing drug dealer when his boys started shooting at me out of knowhere.

he looked back at me again, "my mouth is dry. can I have some water?"

"sure."  Blake looked around the room and saw a pitcher, and cup. he poured som water in and started to hand it to him but, realized that he would have to hold it to his lips for him.  he was shot in his left arm, and his right arm had an IV init and could not bend.  He held the cup to his lips, and put his hand under his neck to lift his head.  the moment his hand touch his warm neck, and electric current shot up his arm across his chest to his feet.  he also thought he was imagining how Patrick Cooper was looking at him.  as if he knew what just happened, or felt it as well.

Blake gave himself a mental shake and put the cup down.

"you will be here for a little while, if you need anythign here is the buszzer for the nurse.  i will check on you tomorrow.

Patrick smiled, and blake's stomach did a flip flop.his heart started pounding in his chest.  he needed to leave stat.

as blake walked out, and patrick closed his eyes, they both had the same thouhght going through their minds. 

"damn he is fine.  i wonder if he is gay, i wonder if he is single?"