Thicker Than Blood

Chapter 2: The Past and The Current

It was raining, again, but not to be surprised. It was more like a deluge outside. With an audible sigh he opened the car door and flipped up his raincoat's collar, using his briefcase to cover his head. He stopped at the end of a row to make sure he didn't get hit. The doctor kept on walking through the rain to get inside for his ER shift. He hated this part of town, the hospital was located on a hill, but the doctor's specified parking was downhill. Whoever set up the plans did not like doctors. He couldn't wait to stop and be able to be done with ER, he loved the ER, and most definitely surgery, but this was his last week. His time and sweat was paying off, he had managed to get to be in a great hospital for his residency, and an even better one that he worked at post-residency. He even loved the area, and the mild year-round temperatures, but it was time to begin his real work. This couldn't be done under the prying eyes of the chief resident, no; he was finally opening his own practice. The past week though had been a rather dull send off, but he figured working in the suburbs made a difference.

He finally made it through the door to where the doctors came in to catch up on where the previous shift left off, luckily, he was early. Dr. Malcolm, the chief resident, hated it when anyone came late. Granted, he hated it if people were early too. It's not like this was a 9-5 job, so it never made much sense, but he was anal like that. So, he went to look for him, hoping to pop his face in the door and let Dr. Malcolm know he was there and ready – and to piss him off ever so slightly like he had done the past 7 years. But he wasn't where he normally was. He began traipsing along the corridors, hoping to find Dr. Malcolm. Or to corner Nurse Michaels, the only woman to make scrubs look incredibly sexy, but that time would come. Today he felt lucky, that everything was going to fall into place. Then while passing in front of the nurses' station, the call came through. It was bad timing, he really wanted to talk with Nurse Michaels and see what else he could get out of her, the prettiest one there in his mind (well, there were others, but all the guys tried with her with no luck), and the only one he felt was remotely close to his mental intellect – in his mind his sister was truly the only one on his level, the thought made him chuckle. But that would have to wait.

He walked around to grab the phone to speak with the ambulance bringing in the victim of a car crash. An eighteen-year-old drunk driver, who had decided to hit a tree, ended up losing lots of blood. He shook his head as if to speak to the others of what a waste it was of a kid, but inside he smiled. He had another one to work with. Maybe this one would be who he needed, who he'd been looking for so he could save someone more important, at least to him. His mind wandered to the young girl hooked up to machines, breathing in artificial air while her parents held constant vigil to her bedside. His eyes began to water making him shove his fists in his eyes to remove the tears.

He began hearing the sounds of the ambulance coming nearer, snapping him out of his reverie. It was amazing he could hear it since the hospital was bustling with beds being moved, people discussing diagnoses, the beeps of machines, and of course the occasional yeller in the hall. The ambulance pulled up and began to wheel the patient in. While running alongside of the nurses and the one other doctor surrounding the patient, the ambulance guys managed to bring them all up to speed.

He read the history of the patient's file. Nurse Timmons let them know that OR5 was ready, and that they were out of B+ blood. So, she mentioned, mostly to herself, that she put in the O+ blood instead. Not that he was really paying attention; but thought it odd of her to mention it. It didn't really matter as long as the blood matched; everyone knew that O was the universal donor.

Small talk was had while the team stepped on the pedals and scrubbed their hands. Amanda, Nurse Michaels, popped her head in "The patient's ready Dr." The doctors nodded in recognition.