Dream Walker

Chapter 33 | ...Stays in the ER

Callie was on her way to the break room to drop off her bag when she heard her name called. Andrea had spotted her from the nurse's station as she passed by and was grinning widely. Her pale blue scrub top didn't appear wrinkled yet, so it must have been an easy afternoon.

"Hey, honey! How've you been?" Andrea asked. She clasped her hands together under chin, exposing the shiny surface of her freshly manicured nails. Her eyes were sparkling and her hair was pulled back in a smooth ponytail. She looked genuinely happy, her pretty face unmarred by the stress of a tough day of work.

She returned the nurse's grin with one of her own. Fueled by Andrea's good cheer and charming southern accent, it almost felt genuine. "I'm alright, how about you?"

"I am wonderful," she gushed, singing the last word. "Robin whisked us off to a romantic spa trip and proposed!"

"Wow, no wonder you're glowing! Congrats!"

"Thanks, I've been on cloud nine. Not even paperwork can bring me down. Speaking of that..." Her words trailed off as she began to hunt for something. She grabbed a handful of papers and turned her radiant smile back to Callie.

Callie groaned playfully. "I should've known you needed another little favor." She held her hand out over the counter.

Andrea laughed, handing over the papers. "These just need to go down to Pam. She's manning the desk in the ER right now."

"I'm on it," Callie replied, tipping an imaginary hat in Andrea's direction.

She quickly walked to the break room to leave her bag and water bottle before heading downstairs. Emerging from the stairwell, she noted the distinct lack of commotion. It was about as quiet as the emergency department could ever be. There were low hums and beeps from medical equipment, but they were like white noise. Callie walked around empty stretchers and heard murmured conversations as she passed by closed curtains.

Pam was seated at the nurse's station, phone receiver tucked between her shoulder and ear. She returned the phone to its cradle just as Callie arrived. "From Andrea, with love," Callie said, brandishing the stack of papers.

The nurse smiled grimly, raising her hands in the air as if to beg for mercy. "What did I do to deserve all that paperwork? I thought today was my lucky day. It's been...well," she dropped her voice to a whisper, "you know."

Callie handed the papers over the desk, winking to show her understanding of what Pam was too superstitious to say aloud. The squeaking of someone's footsteps grew louder. She looked over her shoulder to see a fellow CNA, Nick, approaching. His curly dark hair bounced with every step and a sly grin stretched across his face.

"Hey, Cal! You wouldn't believe how slow it's been here all day," Nick said. He stopped when he reached the desk, leaning his body against it to face her.

Pam quickly and harshly shushed him. "Don't you dare say that! I swear, if you just cursed us, I've got a room full of bedpans with your name on them."

Nick paled visibly, and Callie laughed. The superstition Pam had when someone commented about a slow day was amusing, but Nick's slip-up was even funnier. She doubted he would make that mistake again.

Callie decided to tease Nick more. "I've already done my good deed for the day, so don't bother asking me to help you with that cleaning. I know better than to invite the universe to send in a bunch of crazy cases."

Nick's face relaxed at her light tone. He turned his attention to Pam. "My bad, ma'am."

There was no sincere anger in Pam's face, but she kept her eyes narrowed as she harrumphed at him and waved off the apology, then started sorting the papers on her desk. Anything that went wrong that night would be blamed on the bad luck Nick had accidentally conjured.