A Healer's War

Chapter 30 - Eagle Scout

Chapter 30: Eagle Scout

07:30. Tuesday - April 24th.

Every two years, nurses make their journey to the old Office Block at the back of the Hill. To subbasement E2, classroom 13, for the required Pediatric Advance Life Saving training, a bi-annual, eight-hour certification class. There, each nurse spent the day saving countless plastic dummies from catastrophes: choking, heart attacks, poisoning, lightning strikes, and anything else the instructor thought sounded fun.

Biking in, all Rory could think about was Remembrance Day. He played Caroline's performance over and over in his head. How did Jacklyn heal Tommy and Maxwell? Could anyone use magic? Why have I never heard of this? He wondered what other stories might be on those clay discs and felt as though he'd tumbled down the rabbit hole. It was enormous and ancient and important and on the cutting edge of... something. But the memory he returned to the most, the one that warmed him even now, was how Caroline had taken his arm and walked him to the cave beneath the stars. "Welcome home," she said

Stay focused, he thought, while chaining his bike. Pass the training. Find a candidate. Save a life.

Nearing the staff entrance, he discovered a crowd of people in suits and dresses, some holding microphones and others hefting shoulder-mounted cameras with national and local TV logos. They jostled for position to get a good angle of the doors.

He said a silent prayer that all this attention was for a patient on the adult side—maybe a different miraculous turnaround? More likely, a wealthy hospital donor. Rory often felt bad for the adult-side nurses who had to deal with the magnifying glass that came with high-profile patients. With any patient, one slip could land you in trouble, but a slip about the wrong person or God-forbid a green banner donor might mean your job. Nurses had to learn code phrases to thwart prying journalists or 'family friends' calling for juicy information.

He picked his way through the crowd, avoiding elbows and camera operators. At the entrance, he saw Officer Kyle standing guard.

"Excuse me, sir, but this is the staff entrance." He held his hand to Rory's chest.

"Good morning, Kyle." Rory handed over his badge. Kyle's dark-rimmed eyes darted back and forth between the badge and his face.

"Test, test!" A voice shouted over the commotion behind him.

Rory turned. A middle-aged woman in a smart maroon suit smoothed her hair and brushed something off her shoulder. "Let's try one. Test, test! Here we go. 'I'm here at Oates Children's with breaking news. Conner Grady, son of Senator Gretta Grady, is in critical condition following a tragic drowning during a Boy Scout camping trip.'" She lowered her mic. "That felt good. How did it sound?" The cameraman gave her a thumbs-up.

A Senator's kid? He recognized the name. From where, though... Somewhere in his brain, he found the answer: that article in Megan's magazine. Senator Grady, who thought nurses did nothing on their shifts but play cards. THAT Senator's kid. Rory scoffed, sadly enjoying the irony.

"Your badge, sir," Kyle said, handing back his badge. He gestured to his beard. "You shaved."

Rory rubbed his stubbly chin. "I'm trying a new look."

Kyle sniffed, and Rory checked his watch. "Hey, question. This isn't my normal shift, which means it is not yours either."

"Sick call. I volunteered."

Rory nodded. "Short-staffed?"

"Unfortunately, sir."

"That's rough." Rory shook his head. "Hey, can I get you a coffee at least?"