Turn Back Time (The Night Shift)

Chapter Eight - Helpless

A few days had passed. Drew was at work, trying to distract himself. Taylor was still on th war path and he just didn't know what to do about it anymore. It was halfway through his shift when Drew was pulled from working at the computer.

"Drew, incoming." Molly called.

"Jane-doe. Approximately 16 year's old. Was found unconscious on The street. He pupils are dilated. Pulse is racing at 140. SAT's are 91 on O2. She's got a possible head injury with a contusion above her right eye." The paramedics explained as the wheeled her into the ED.

"Taylor?!" He exclaimed, as he caught glimpse of his daughter on the gurney. He rushed over to his daughter.

"Molly can you find Jordan?" Drew asked, as the wheeled Taylor into a treatment bay.

"She's with another patient." Molly stated.

"Wha about TC?"

"He's out in the field." Scot Clemmens, who had just consulted on a patient, over heard what was happening and rushed over.

"I've got her." He said, stepping in. Drew looked at him and nodded as he knew he couldn't treat family. He stood frozen as they wheeled her away into one of the trauma rooms. He couldn't breathe. Why was this happening...again? His mind was racing. Pushing everything aside, he walked over to the trauma room and watched as they worked on Taylor. He could see they had put cooling blankets and ice packs on her and she was now on a ventilator.

"What's going on?" He asked, as Scott walked out of the room.

"Apparently she tool trial-mix. Whatever cocktail of drugs she ingested, isn't responding to Narcan. Her temperature it high so we're trying to cool her down." Scott explained.

"And the vent?" Drew queried.

"She's going in an out of AF so we've sedated her. She also couldn't support her own airway." Scott responded. Drew sighed heavily and ran his hand over his face.

"We're running a full blood panel to try and see what's she's taken...but until then, we're moving her up to the paediatric ICU. It's more of a waiting game right now." Scott reassured him. Drew nodded his head weakly.

"I'll check on her once she's settled upstairs." Scott stated as he checked his pager that had just gone off.

Within an hour, Drew was sat by Taylor's bedside up in the ICU. They had managed to get her temperature under control and now it was just a waiting game until the drugs passed out of her system. Drew sat, trying his hardest not to fall asleep, as he watched his daughter closely. He was drawn from her when he heard the door slide open.

"I was on a raid and came as soon as I got your message. What happened?" Rick said, giving Drew a hug as he stood up. They stepped out of the room and closed the door again.

"She took trail-mix at some party and OD'd." Rick said angrily, whilst leaning against the wall.

"They've got her temperature under control, but she couldn't support her airway so they had to intubate her. Scott said they're going to lighten the sedation in a few hours to see if she wakes up." Drew explained, as they both looked into the teenagers room.

"If she wakes up?" Rick questioned, fearing he already knew the answer.

"She...she ermm. She may not wake up." Drew said quietly, choking back his emotions. Rick placed his arm around Drews back. They stayed looking into the room for a few minutes before they went and sat inside. As the hours crept by, it was early morning when Drew shot up in his seat as he felt Taylor's hand move. Rick also woke up. Drew moved to look at Taylor properly.

"Taylor?" He asked, squeezing her hand.

"It's alright...you're alright..." Taylor said grabbing her hands and Taylor stared to move around and struggle. Rick got up and went to get someone. Drew tried to keep Taylor calm as Rick returned with Scott.

"Hi Taylor...let's take this out shall we?" Scott suggested as he pulled on a pair of gloved. Taylor nodded her head. After deflating the cuff, removing the vent and taking off the tube holder, Scott prepared to pull the tube.

"Take a deep breath in and cough on 3 okay?" Scott told Taylor. Again she nodded.

"1,2,3. That's it...well done." Scott said, as he pulled the tube out and Taylor cough a few times. She instantly looked at Drew.

"I'm sorry..." She whispered.

"Hey, no...it's okay. You're okay." He said calmly, leaning down to kiss her forehead. Scott examined Taylor again. Once he determined that she was stable, he left her to rest.

"Taylor..." Drew said, wanting to talk. Taylor held back tears and shook her head. Instead of talking she rolled onto her side, turning away from Drew and Rick. Drew sighed.

"I'll go grab us some coffee." Rick stated standing up, as he sensed the father and daughter need a minute. Drew smiled.

Nearly a week had passed. Taylor had improved and after a day was moved out of the ICU. Scott kept her in the hospital to make sure she didn't have an adverse effects to the drugs she had taken. It had been very tense between Taylor, Rick and Drew. She had barely spoken to them. Drew had spent his time going between work and seeing his daughter whilst Rick had worked a lot as he sensed Taylor didn't want him there. It was Thursday and Taylor had now been discharged. She was sat in the break room with Rick whilst Drew sorted out a few things. Taylor sat on the sofa away from Rick. All she wanted was to go home. She looked up at the door of the break room as her dad, TC and Jordan all walked in. She glanced between them and Rick.

"What is this...some sort of intervention?!" Taylor sarcastically exclaimed. She looked at the serious expressions on everyone's faces.

"I've contacted a rehab centre" Drew tells his daughter seriously.

"I'm not an addict!" Taylor exclaims.

"I take drugs for fun! I don't take the because I need them. I take them to have fun!" She added, standing up.

"That's a problem, Taylor. Taking drugs for fun can get out of hand pretty quickly. One minute you could be taking one and everything's okay so you take another. If one is stronger than the other, you can OD. You should know that after what just happened!" Drew exclaimed, trying his hardest to stay calm.

"Unless you make them, you don't know what's in each pill. You could be taking something completely different and worse than what you asked for." Rick stated from his place a few metres away. Taylor glared at him.

"I am not going to rehab. You can't make me." She said shaking her head.

"It's either you go voluntarily or you get sectioned." TC stepped in from his place by the door of the break room.

"Are you serious?! You're gunna section me?" Taylor laughed.

"After seeing you in a coma not being able to breathe for yourself due to drugs you took, yes! If I have to!" Drew shouted. Something clicked in Taylor as she saw her dad completely loose it. He had lost all his composure and had reached breaking point. Taylor slowly walked over to her dad and wrapped her arms around him.

"I'll go." She said quietly, as Drew held his daughter close.

"I'm sorry." Taylor said weakly.

"Hey, look at me. You're my daughter. I want what's best for you. I'll always want what's best for you because I love you." Drew told his daughter honestly as he held her at arms-length and looked her in the eyes.

"I'm scared" Taylor admitted.

"I know. But we'll be here for you, every step of the way. Alright kiddo?" Drew reassured his daughter. Taylor nodded her head and hugged her dad tightly again.

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Hey guys! Hope you liked it! x
- Dharma (& Chloe)