Rookie 2 | Ethan Ramsey

Chapter 4~ Blind Spot

Blind Spot

"To want to do something more than anything...and know that it's the one thing you can never do again."
_________________________________

A week after deciding to keep the news of the budget crisis to herself...

All the doctors were summoned to an all- hands staff meeting in the lecture hall. Blue found a seat in between Bryce and Jackie, as she settled in nervously, having an inkling of what the meeting was about.

She remembered being nervous about almost losing her career in the very same lecture hall. However, now she was nervous about potentially losing the whole hospital itself.

"Any idea what this is about?" Bryce asked. "They're basically leaving a skeleton crew running things to get everyone in here. Must be pretty important." Jackie replied.

The hall was packed to the brim, dozens of doctors, nurses, and technicians were standing in the aisles to fit. Blue watched everyone, anxiousness making itself at home in the pit of her stomach, as she realized just how much of people were going to be affected by the news that they were going to hear in just a few minutes.

Naveen solemnly walked to the podium in the spotlight and read a prepared statement. "Recently, Governor Rivera visited Edenbrook ahead of the annual state budgeting. However, despite her glowing remarks about our facility...This coming year's budget will eliminate much of the government subsidies which we rely heavily on." he stated.

Immediately, nervous whispers passed through the crowd.

"The board and administration have been examining our financial situation. Rest assured, we will do everything in our power to keep Edenbrook open. In the meantime, we will need to make certain changes in order to stake off the worst effects..." Naveen continued, reading off a list of changes to staffing schedules, vacation policies, insurance payments, and...

"Among the changes to payroll, new residents will temporarily stay at their intern-year salaries." he added. "That's not good." Bryce remarked from beside Blue, and for a second she wondered why he was not sitting with Breyanna, who was sitting a few rows in front of them.

"We're not getting our raises? They can't do that!" Jackie exclaimed. "We have to do our part, Jackie." Blue replied, having full understand of the situation, although she could understand why her friends were exasperated as well. "Our part? Blue, we do our part. We work eighty hours a week saving patients' lives, and they don't pay us enough to live in this city. And no offense, not all of us are loaded or as cushioned financially as you are." Jackie said to her.

"Point taken." Blue mumbled, knowing that Jackie did have a point, but who can really be blamed? The ones who are trying to keep the hospital afloat or the damn government that decided that healthcare suddenly did not need as much funding as it actually needed?

"It won't last long, Jackie. They'll figure it out, and we'll get back to normal." Bryce reassured her, giving Blue a little back up. "Not in the mood for the sunny optimism right now, Lahela." Jackie frowned. Blue glanced around, watching the anxiousness ripple through the room.

This was what Ethan meant.

This was what he was trying so hard to delay for the sake of the patients, and Blue was glad to have kept her promise.

"I can't believe this crap. How long have they been sitting on this bombshell?" Jackie asked no one in particular. "You talked to the Governor personally, didn't you, Blue? Did you know anything about this?" Bryce asked her, making Jackie look at her curiously as well.

"I..." Blue trailed, not wanting to lie further to her friends, but she could not exactly say the exact truth to them either. "Dr. Ramsey said something along those lines to me before, but none of us thought it would be actually true." she covered up.