One Life ✓

Chapter 25: The Yes, We Are Shift

One Week Later

Natalie—Gaffney Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL

"Dang, I can't believe I'm missing this," Kenny mutters as I swipe off of Facebook, where Grace posted a new picture for her gender reveal: her ultrasound captioned What? A baby boy?! with the baby names they have in mind to pick out. Everyone is crowded around the break room TV watching.

"God knows who they can depend on this time," adds Jordan. "When we had the CF fundraiser, we made Kenny do everything. That thing was basic. Barely preparation for this competition."

"You know, it is kind of unbelievable that NBC agreed to this." Noah laughs. "It's pretty insane."

"Isn't Delnor going to represent us from the Midwest?" April asks.

"Yeah, they're a bunch of heavyweights," I say with a smile.

"I bet you they swept prelims," Sarah comments.

"We lost those pretty hard. We weren't allowed to use Kenny," Will jokes. Kenny, who had to come here for a nursing seminar under Maggie, throws his hands up in surrender.

"We would've won if only I helped," he prompts.

"Okay, at least we tried out to be the Midwestern team," Maggie tells us. "Delnor does look like a pretty solid bet, I have to admit it."

"Just for example...have you guys seen the team from the East? Mercy Green Medical Center in New York? They look like a bunch of underfed noodles," kids Kenny.

It would've been great if we'd made it to the finals, but I'm pretty proud that SAM did. Though the thought that they're pitting hospitals against each other on live TV can't be real.

"Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to NBC's craziest night yet. We began with fifty-four hospitals and now the top five will face off in this special edition of—" The onscreen host pauses for effect. "Medical Ninja Warrior!"

Grace—Outdoor Amphitheater of Dallas, Dallas, TX

"Are you still hungry after that last 'snack'?" Shannon raises an eyebrow at me, fiddling with her Hello My Name Is sticker.

"Babies eat a lot," I say between chewing. "And they say each only needs three hundred calories each. Should I be this hungry?"

Shannon laughs and adjusts her knee socks.

I finish off my second salad, tossing the tiffin into my tote bag full of various food from the newly restocked ER fridge. "Now I am prepared. You don't know how much an unborn human in the womb can take from you."

"I sort of get it," Paul nods. "I live with Shannon."

This makes me go all LOL. "So, Shannon's unborn?"

"More like the undead after her shift ends," Paul responds, shrugging.

"Shut up, Paul, we're on TV," Shannon chides him quietly, touching her toes to warm up.

I hear a rustling behind me. TC is grabbing one of my Hershey bars from the bag. I give him a look that he returns with an irresistible smile.

"Go ahead, take it," I tell him.

"I was looking for the salad," Tee says, matter-of-factly. "But all I got was the container."

Shannon coughs behind me. I stand up, all, um, five foot four of me, and try to look official in my red San Antonio Memorial shirt with a "hi, my name is Coach Grace" sticker on it. "I ate it. The salad."