ER [wlw]

Chapter 8

I sit behind the nurse station charting the patients I currently have after just discharging one. It's only 4:00 at the moment but it doesn't matter what time it is, it's always busy.

"There's a patient for you to take, they sent her to E-8. 26 year old female complaining about pain in her in right shoulder and unable to move her arm." Mason says on the other side of the desk. He's a tall, blonde guy, in his late thirties.

He's seen so many people die with how long he's been working here it's probably why death doesn't bother him. "It's probably a simple sprain." He leans against the desk, crossing the arms so the sleeves of his scrubs strain slightly against his muscles.

I glance up at him as I close out my charting window. "Or It could be a dislocated shoulder." There's quite a few things it could be.

He tilts his head. "True."

I grab an assessment chart and make my way to the room. I stop right in the door way when my eyes meet the light brown of Rani's.

"Rani?" I approach her as she sits on the patient bed.

She groans in annoyance. "Why are you everywhere?"

I'm taken a back by that. "I'm not everywhere you're the one that's been coming to me." I set my chart down and pull on some gloves from a nearby box.

"Whatever, can you just give me some pain meds so I can go?" Her right arm hangs limply by her side.

I actually laugh. "That's what a doctor does, I'm just here to assess you. So, how bad is the pain out of a ten?"

She lefts her left hand and tilts it back and forth. "I'd say a 6. It's more annoying than anything I can barely move my fucking arm because it hurts like hell." She demonstrates and flinches in pain.

I approach her side. "When did the pain begin?"

"Yesterday, it happened all of a sudden while I was sparring. I threw a hard a punch and it felt like something tore in my shoulder. I tried sleeping it off but it's even worse today." She sighs.

"Let me take a look." I say carefully assessing her arm, she winces when I move it. It isn't dislocated from what I can see. "It's probably either a sprain or a torn rotator cuff." I stand up straight. "But only a doctor can diagnose you and they'll need imaging to confirm if course."

She squints her eyes. "The hell is a torn rotator cuff?"

I shrug as I write what is needed on my chart. "The rotator cuff is a group of four muscles and their tendons that surround the shoulder joint. They help keep your shoulder stable and allow you to lift and rotate your arm. A tear occurs when one or more of these tendons is damaged." I state what I remember from school. "It would just take a little longer to recover from it than it would a sprain."

She's quiet and when I glance at her she's just staring at me. "Huh, impressive, you're actually smart." A small smirk after her words.

I roll my eyes and continuing charting.

"But like what would cause the torn cuff thing?" She questions.

"If you've been over doing it with your boxing that could be a factor. Or maybe you did a wrong move."

She scoffs. "I definitely didn't do anything wrong I've been doing this shit for years, I've just been overdoing it."

"Is there a reason?" I ask curiously.

She squints her eyes. "Do you really care or is this part of your questionnaire bullshit?" She motions to the chart I'm writing on.

I set my pen down and turn to her. "No, I actually care." My voice is sincere.

I really do care if she's going through something that makes her wanna overwork herself.

It's just the kind of person I am, now that is. The younger me couldn't have cared less to be honest but I'm different now.

She hums. "Ok, so, I've been basically living in the gym since my dad died a few months ago, it helps me cope. Plus he's the one that got me into boxing so it's like the only way I can still connect with him. Because if that I have been pushing myself more than I normally would."

My heart sinks, I'm surprised Ari didn't tell me about this. I lean over and place my hand on her good arm without much thought. "I get it. I started going to the gym to cope too, sometimes the patients lost on the job can really get to me, it's not the exact same but I understand, you just need to remember not to over do it. Bellamy wouldn't be happy to know you aren't taking care of yourself." I smile.

She only stares at me and I mean really stares. In a way she's never looked at me before. It's almost enough to make me blush as I feel vulnerable. "You really are different now. Sorry for being a bitch."

I open my mouth to reply, cheeks a little warm for reasons I do not know.

"So, what d-do we h-h-have here." Dr.Johnson's voice fills the room as he enters.

I stand up so fast I almost lose my balance. I don't even know why. It wasn't like we were doing anything but the way she was looking at me just felt weird. But there's nothing wrong with comforting patients so that was a stupid reaction.

That's all she is, a patient. That also happens to be someone my daughter really loves, the best friend of my ex, and my boxing trainer.

Legally I'm not even supposed to be treating her.

I clear my throat and look at my chart. "She's having pain in her right shoulder and a hard time moving it. I suspect a torn rotator cuff or maybe a simple sprain but that's for you to call of course." I give him a smile.

When is look at him his brow is raised, like he's a little confused. He probably notices how weirdly I stood up when he walked in.

His face relaxed and he nods. "L-L-Let's have a-a look."

He starts assessing her and I leave the room to tend to my other patients. I bring Rani a gown to get changed into for her MRI when Dr.Johnson tells me.

I eventually get back to charting behind the desk. I don't know how much time has passed but I happen to be sitting behind the desk when Rani approaches back in her clothes.

"It was what you said it was, he prescribed me some pain meds and some exercises to do." She holds up a paper.

I smile. "That's good, I know you'll recover soon."

She smiles slightly but it favors one side. It's cute. "I appreciate all you did."

"No problem." I smile back.

"When will you be coming by the gym?" She asks.

"Thursday."

"Ok I'll see you then, don't forget to bring my little buddy." She smirks.

I chuckle. "I got you."

With one last look, she turns around and walks away. I find myself watching with a smile.

She's finally realized I'm not the same Emma. That's literally all I've wanted. That's oddly made my day.

"Was it a sprain?" Mason approaches the desk.

I shake my head as I look back at the computer. "Nope, a torn rotator cuff."

"Huh ain't that some shit." He groans. "Man, I'm ready to go home." This grown man basically whines.

I laugh. "I hear that."

I miss Bellamy but I know she's having a good time with Ari and Sadia. I expect a call to come in soon from her. She always calls me at least twice when I'm at work to talk to me and I love it.

Right in that moment my phone starts ringing by the computer keyboard with a facetime call from Bellamy herself.

Mason sees and smiles himself. "It's almost always the same time, I wish my kids loved me that much."

With a chuckle I answer my baby.