Skyline

Chapter One

My pager went off. It was a sound that set everything in motion; I was needed. I threw away the half-empty coffee. It’s been sixteen hours that I’ve been awake. And now I would possibly be awake for more than twenty-four. My thoughts were interrupted as I half jogged and half ran to the entrance.

The paramedics were rushing with a stretcher.

”Where’s Dr. Jacobs!” Someone half-shouted, “He’s—“

“I’m right here.” I said sternly, running with the stretcher to the E.R, “What happened?”

“Car accident. Became unconscious in the ambulance.  Suspected internal bleeding and suffered a laceration to the abdominal from the seat belt. He might have broken bones, but the internal bleeding is killing him.” A paramedic ranted on.

The man’s face was bloody. His eyes were closed and his breathing shallow.

“Prep the O.R.” I ordered sternly, “and prep him for surgery. And do it quickly.”

”Yes Doctor.”

They stripped him of his shirt and pants. I put on a surgical mask and quickly washed my hands. An IV was put into his arm as well as morphine. A bright light shined down on his chest and suddenly, I was focused. Any thoughts beside this surgery were suddenly gone. As the scalpel and forceps along with clamps were passed to me on command—I let my training and years of medical school become me.

–Six hours into surgery–

A cloth held by a nurse ran across my forehead as sweat slid down my nose. I finished the stitch and took a deep breath. Finished. He was going to be okay…I presume.

“Put him in the I.C.U, I want him monitored. Cardiac arrest is plausible in his case during the next few hours. I want a pint of B- transfused and I want to be notified as soon as he’s conscious. Though it shouldn’t be for a few hours, has anyone come forward to claim him?” I mentally ticked off all I needed done.

“No yet,” A nurse, I think her name was Ann proclaimed, “With all due respect Dr. Jacobs, but you’ve been awake, what, twenty-two hours? Go home and get some rest.”

I nodded, very well starting to feel my exhaustion, “I'll go home for a couple hours. Page me when he wakes up. That’s an order.”

            I got of any clothes that had blood on them. Then heading down to the locker rooms, I changed. I went from Dr. Jacobs, the leading trauma surgeon in the state of New York to the twenty-five year old plain Sophie Jacobs, who lived in an apartment in downtown Manhattan.

            The air outside was brisk. Pulling my jacket closer, I hailed a cab to my apartment. The moment I was back in my cozy living room, and the moment my body laid down on the couch…I was out.

Beep…Beep…Beep…

            I groaned tiredly. Rubbing sleep from my eyes, I glanced over at my pager. It wasn’t a 911. In fact, it seems John Doe was awake. I changed into a relative casual outfit. With a cab back to the Hospital and straight into the locker rooms—I was Dr. Jacobs once again.

“Evening Dr. Jacobs,” The receptionist of the I.C.U greeted, “Mr. Owens has been asking about you.”

            I blinked, “Pardon?”

            “Room 204.” She replied coolly.

Walking into Room 204, I was immediately met with a pair of striking grey eyes. It was as if someone had taken charcoal and drawn his eyes. They were narrowed inquisitively. A head of black hair that reached just above his eye brows was tousled. He had to be around the same age as me.