After hours

Chapter 2

"Here is your coffee." I say to Alyssa handing her a cup.

"You are a life saver."

"Have you even been home in the last two weeks?" I ask, putting my things in my locker.

"Not really. I just sleep in the on call rooms and take showers in the bathroom, did you know they have shower stalls? I don't know why you would need to ever go home. This place is my home."

"You're insane," i laugh. We've become close friends in these past two weeks, she's really my only friend here.

"So how are things going with you and Jacob?"

"What do you mean things? There are no things."

"OOoh I sense a crush," she mocks.

"No, no you don't. This guy was practically my best friend throughout high school. There are no things. He was like my brother." I fib.

"But now he's like a hot, irresistible, rich, heart surgeon."

"Oh, shut up. Come on it's time for rounds."

~

"Hi Reed! How are you feeling today buddy?" I ask the five year old recovering from the car accident two weeks ago.

His father was the patient that died under my care.

His mother is in a coma.

"Better," he answers his small face showing no emotion.

"Does this hurt?" I say touching his arm.

"No." I move my hand more toward his shoulder and he winces.

"Do you mind if I lift up your shirt to get a better look at your shoulder?"

"No."

I lift his shirt and discover severe swollen in his entire shoulder.

"How long has that been there?"

"I don't know," he shrugs.

"Okay well I'm going to go get another doctor and I'll be right back, okay?"

"Okay."

I race down the hall to find an orthopedic surgeon and can't find anybody.

"Hey, what's wrong? Who are you looking for?" Jacob stops me as I frantically run up and down halls.

"Oh, I uh, I'm looking for an Ortho surgeon, but I can't find anyone I think he's in surgery."

"Oh, maybe I can help. What's wrong?"

"I have this child that has severe swelling on his shoulder that wasn't there when I checked him for rounds yesterday."

"How old is he?"

"Five."

"And who is caring for him besides the doctors? Any family members?"

"Uncle." He starts walking to the front desk on the pediatrics floor.

"What are you doing?"

"Call Child Social Services." He tells a nurse.

"Yes doctor."

"Why are you doing that?"

"There is nothing else wrong with that boy? You're sure?"

"Yes I'm sure."

"Then something happened while his uncle was caring for him. I just don't know what."

~

"Well you were right." I say to Jacob, who I sitting on the floor outside of an on call room.