SHIFT EXCHANGE

Chapter 27

The sun was making its way over the nearby homes as the EMTs carried Jake out of the building. His leg throbbed menacingly since they'd tightened down the tourniquet. He'd known there was quite a bit of blood and he'd acknowledged the tingling sensation, but actually seeing it when they'd picked him up had been shocking.

Apparently he had a large deep hole in the back of his leg and possibly a nicked femoral artery per the white faced and sweating man who'd arrived at his side. They'd pulled out a large black band and cranked it down until Jake felt nothing but pain and his heartbeat throbbing away against the constricting nylon strap.

They'd made quick work of rolling him onto the plastic board and strapping him down. As quickly as they dared in the rock and metal strewn building they'd climbed, sidestepped, and lifted him until he was free of they building and ensconced in the back of a bright, antiseptic smelling ambulance.

The drive seemed like forever when all he could think about was the fact that his leg felt like it was dying. Even the couple milligrams of morphine the medic gave him didn't seem to do more than take the edge off.

The emergency room had been a flurry of action. Hands grabbed him and moved him from the gurney to a slightly more forgiving hospital bed. There was no time to get comfortable as the same hands rolled him onto his side so they could cut the rest of his pants of and start assessing his leg.

Thankfully, whatever poking and prodding they were doing wasn't painful enough to supersede the pain of the tourniquet. Jake just focused on breathing in through his nose and out through his mouth. It seemed to keep the blackness on the periphery of his vision at bay for now.

Suddenly a face appeared in front of him. The gentleman had large owlish eyes, magnified even further by thick gold rimmed glasses.

"Deputy, I'm doctor Richmond. I'd shake your hand, but we're under a time crunch." The man pushed his glasses up his nose and onto the bridge. "I need to open your wound up a bit more to see the extent of the damage, clean out the foreign materials, and stitch up whatever needs it. It's going to take time and it's going to be uncomfortable. I can put you completely out, or you can remain awake with local anesthetic. It's your choice."

"Are you going to remove the damn tourniquet?" Jake asked through gritted teeth.

"Not at first, but eventually." Dr. Richmond replied.

"Well, I doubt it can hurt anymore than this shit. I'll stay awake, just numb me up please." Jake breathed. "And try to make it quick if you can."

"Great. The nurse is getting everything prepped and we will begin shortly." The doctor's face disappeared from view. Once again, Jake focused on the large crack at the top of the plastic chair against the wall and breathed through the pain.

"Ummm...sir?" He shifted his eyes to a timid looking brunette in teal scrubs squatted down to his eye level. She took his gaze as permission to continue. "There is a lady here who would like to see you. She said her name is Kara. Is it ok to bring her back?"

Jake didn't know how strong a stomach Kara had. She might not be able to hack it. However, having her there by his side could possibly make this whole ordeal a little better.

"Make sure she knows it's going to be unpleasant and she doesn't have to, but if she's ok with it then I am." He grimaced at the thought of what was coming.

The brunette smiled and patted his shoulder comfortingly. "Ok. I'll bring her back if she's willing." She got to her feet and left the bright room with a slight squeak of rubber soled shoes.

It seemed like an hour of breathing and staring at his friend the crack before there was a bustle of activity and the curtain was pulled back. Kara's face moved into his field of vision and he instantly felt a shift inside himself. The pain was still there, but her face was a much better distraction than the crack in the chair.