Cold Hard Courage

[12] - Home

[Beatrice Eaton]

"Tris, Christina, you're up. We've got two Ambulances en Route. This case is very severe. They'll be here in less than two minutes. Go grab everything you'll need and meet back here."

Christina and I nod to each other. We run down the hall, approaching the supplies room.

" What do you think happened? " Christina asks as she grabs two bags of saline.

I shrug, turning my head.

" I'm assuming a fight gone bad. " I say.

She nods.

" Makes sense. " She says.

I rip open a box of gloves, grabbing two or three pairs.

" If we need anything else, we can have Doug grab them. " I say.

She nods. We run back and the two-person joint room is chaotic. I spot Uriah standing out in the hallway, biting on his thumbnail.

" Uriah? " I ask.

Christina runs in ahead of me. He turns his head, spotting me. His eyes are red and puffy. Why does this feel oddly familiar?

" Hey, " I say, hugging him. " What's going on? "

But I don't get an answer. Christina runs out of the room, eyes wide.

" Tris. I need your help. " She says.

I nod.

" I'll be back out in a minute. " I say.

I walk into the room, averting my eyes. I grab a pair of gloves, pulling them on. I turn around, spotting two patients, both covered in blood. I look closer. Zeke and Tobias.

" Tobias? " I ask.

He's silent and unconscious. I approach him. It's him. Really him.

" Tobias. " I whisper.

All the air is knocked from my body as I spot the blood and realize what's happening.

" I'm gonna call the Chief of surgery. " I say.

I grab the phone off the wall and dial the Chief's number.

"Ah, Beatrice. Have you considered my offer at becoming a Scrub Nurse?"
"Actually, I need an O.R."
"What? Why?"
"I've got two guys down here. They've been shot. Shotgun, close range, most likely a saw-off. They'll die if we don't operate soon."
"Oh my God. Dr. Smith, Dr. Casen, and I will be down as soon as possible for evaluation."
"Thank you, Chief."

I hang the phone up and look at Christina.

" Dr. Smith Dr. Casen, and Chief Williams are coming down to examine them. Until they get here, we need to push saline. " I say.

Before Tobias and I even got married, I started studying and taking classes for a job I was pursuing. And when I had lost Tobias, I studied while I spent long nights in the NICU with Graham to try and cope with the pain of my loss. I'm only months away from graduating from a Nurse to a Surgical Intern, hence why Chief Williams wants me to become a scrub nurse to get more experience in the O.R. before I officially transition. I grab my stethoscope, pressing the bell to Tobias's chest to listen to his breathing.

" Shit, " I say. " He has absent breathing sounds in his right lung. The left is doing all the breathing for him and is putting pressure on the heart. I need a Surgeon down here now. "