Francesca Romano

Chapter 31 | Familiar Faces

I been stretching my hand all night and putting in ice cold water. I steamed it for a while, I made sure it would move and not cramp up or hurt tomorrow afternoon. Tomorrow was Micky's day. A day he may not remember in a few years. He was still young and clearly not everything was being registered by him.

I was lost in thought as my phone rang, pulling me out to the real world. I dried up my hand that was sitting in a bowl of ice and picked up my phone. "Romano speaking." I laid my head on the cold counter with my eyes nearly shut from sleep.

"Oh my girl I thought we were past such basis." I rolled my eyes and sighed. "Hi Reid." I said. "I heard you were asking for me." As if he was standing right in front of me I could see the smile on his face. I was too tired to truly engage tonight. "I'm busy and tired what is it?" I started to get impatient.

"You still owe me a date." As I listened to his words I dragged my body up the stairs and made it to my room laying down on my bed, in the dark.

"Tomorrow night?" He asked breaking the silence I had left to draw out. "Can't I'm busy with work." I said covering myself in my blanket. "Oh come on bite back." He said in a whining tone. "Fine. The day following tomorrow, 9pm your place and we will go from there."

My eyes were now glue shut and there was no opening them tonight. I knew my curtains were left open so I'd have a early awakening. "Thank you, I'll send you the address and see you then." I hung up without another word and immediately felt my phone vibrate but I didn't open my eyes. I was so tired there was not pain to felt and not a thought in sight. I had to sleep for tomorrow. I'll be on my feet for over 12 hours. I dread the thought and finally fall asleep.

~

For the first time ever I stood in an OR and operated while others were talking. I felt almost trapped but I continued. I focused on Micky and his needs, I did what I was supposed to as a doctor. Instead of listening to Micky who was talking to Jocelyn I listened to my personal, shoulder devil. He pointed out all the mistakes I was not making and nudged at my own brain. As if Micky's wasn't open right underneath my hands. It's been hours and I could feel my hand cramping.

I stepped away and placed my tools down as I stretched my hands out and cracked my neck side to side. "Mrs?" Micky asked. "Yes Micky, Can you feel something?" I asked him scared. "No, but do I know him?" I looked around and noticed the room was filled with women. I stood beside him and looked down at him. "You see a man here?" His eyes broke eye contact with me and I noticed as he looked up towards the balcony so I looked with him.

"I saw him before." He said. I was greeted with a wink and an emotionless face. I wasn't surprised to see King here but confused. Those mismatched eyes were looking down at me. His hands in his pockets as he paced back and forth, never breaking eye contact. Before I knew it around me turned into a panic as everyone called out to me. Mickey started to slip right next to me.

I cleared my throat and quickly got back behind the table where I saw Micky start bleeding heavily. His carotid started to pump, looking as if it were to burst, I was stuck. I didn't move didn't breathe, My plan had just gone to shit. I closed my eyes and heard my shoulder devil laugh just as my dad used to. But I didn't let him stop me.

I Quickly grabbed a scalpel with my bummed hand and pushed my other into Micky's tiny little skull. Machines started to beep even faster and louder. "You can't possibly be doing this." Jocelyn started to scream at me but I barely heard. I pushed just a bit and slowly pushed my scalp behind my hand and started quickie cutting. I went in blind I couldn't see, my hands were doing all the work. By the slowing of the beeping's and the silence in the room I obviously wasn't doing anything wrong. "Start with anesthesia." I told the anesthesiologist. "But we won't know if he lives." He said hesitantly. "He'll live!" I screamed. "He won't die on my table."

After about an hour of judging eyes, Micky was stable. I pulled my hand out and it immediately started to tremble. "Dr. Monet, close up for me." I took my mask and gloves and walked out of the room. I skipped the elevator and took the stairs up to the OR's balcony. King was gone. Not a trace of him. I sighed and turned around to walk out when I hit what I thought was the wall.

"Looking for me?" I looked up to him before quickly putting my head in my palms and taking a deep breath. "Why are you here?" I asked him looking back up but he was gone. He was now behind me sitting in the chair watching Jocelyn. "Sorry if I distracted you down there. Nice improv though." I moved to stand in front of him with my arms crossed and looked down at him.

"You didn't answer my question, King." He looked up at me, not a smile, not a frown. Just looked at me. "Do you find me intimidating, doc?" I chuckled and looked around. "I mean considering our situation yeah pretty fucking much." He put his head down and laughed to himself. "Are you on drugs?" I asked. "Were you?" He shot back looking back up to me.

"Excuse me?" I asked as my eyebrows sank in confusion. ''I had a few drinks myself fine, but I remember that night like it was seconds ago yet you still look at me like you just met me." My mind raced faster than my heart was, trying to remember anything and everything. "You should start locking your back sliding door." He stood up. "It's not a good thing for when you don't have your keys, doc." He was right. I left my back sliding door unlocked just in case I forgot my keys.

I live up in the hills. Who's coming for me? I'd like to see someone try . "Do I know you from somewhere?" I asked him and he leaned down to me. His face inches from mine. "Do you want to know me from somewhere?" He asked. My breathing labored as I looked into his eyes. They were familiar, from way past the night he came here bleeding. "I don't know." I admitted. "Do you think I'd," He stopped looking at me with pity. "Hurt me?" I finished his question.

"Well?" he asked, closing in on me. "I'm not sure what you guys would do to me." He sighed and backed away sitting back down. "That wasn't the question. Do you think I would hurt you? Not me and Reid." I looked down at his hands and noticed the, "Abrasive & Boundless" Same as Reid. "I don't know." I told him. He smiled and stood up again.

"Good luck doc." He began to walk out. "King." I called out to him as I sat down noticing all the eyes looking up here. "Don't ever step foot in my hospital again. Or anyone who shares your last name." I warned him. "Trust me," He laughed. "I won't even be in the country."