You Are On My Mind

On Opposite Sides

"You really think that doctors and nurses should choose who gets good care and who doesn't?" Linda asked Danny. Their latest argument had probably been the worst one they had ever had. Danny had actually walked out on Linda, leaving her alone and on the brink of tears.
"No, but I don't think they should put other people's lives at risk either." Danny explained, "Do no harm and all that garbage."
"It's dangerous though, Danny." Jamie agreed with Linda, "I mean, you're asking the hospital to play God."
"I don't know if it's so black and white." Erin mused, thinking the situation over. "I mean, we all have jobs where people's lives hang in the balance. We have to make decisions that do the most good."
"That's sounds like a rationalization against doing what you know is right." Linda frowned, annoyed at the family. "My job is to keep the patient alive. Period."
Henry started speaking, "My two cents: if a guy sells poison on the streets, he deserves what he gets."
"Maybe so, but it takes guts to stand by your principles." Frank stood by Linda, "Not just when it's easy, but when it can cost you something."
"Thank you." The nurse said quietly.
"Okay, then, Dad, if it were you at the hospital when I showed up, would you have let me talk to the guy?" Danny asked his father.
"Pass the potatoes."
Silence hung in the air as dinner was eaten. Danny finally spoke up again, "I needed two seconds with the guy-"
"What if I had said yes? You were talking to him, and he died while talking. Who's head would that be on?" Linda was angry.
"Aunt Linda's," Nicky responded, looking at her Aunt and Uncle.
"Exactly. And do you know what the hospital would do?.... they'd take away my license. They'd fire me, and revoke my license. And I wouldn't be able to work in this city or any other city ever again. I wouldn't be allowed to go back to school to get a new one, because it'd be stamped every where that I was careless with a patient, and he died because I didn't look after him. And where would that leave us? Exactly where we were a few weeks ago. On the brink of being broke! And if forever hate you. I might even divorce you, Danny. I am so mad at you right now!"
"Linda-"
"No. You are not talking yourself out of this one." She stood up, throwing her napkin down.
"Where are you going?"
"Away! From you!" She slammed the screen door behind her.
Danny groaned, rolling his eyes.
"Aren't you-"
"No, I'm not gonna go out there. She can be a total ass if she wants to all by herself."
Jamie frowned and stood up.
"Where are you going?" Nicky looked up at him.
"For a walk." Jamie walked out to the garden where Linda stood, arms wrapped around herself. "I agree with you. You did the right thing."
"He walked out on me, y'know." She turned around, tears falling down her cheeks. "He just.... he up an' left. Without any clue as to where he was going." Linda closed her eyes. "I was worried sick and I'm still pissed beyond belief at him..... does that say something about me? About us?"
"Danny's got a temper bigger than a bull. He's more stubborn than a mule. But he loves you. And it-"
"It eats away at him when he can't solve a Case, I know. But what right did he have to walk out on me? To leave me?" Linda whispered the last question quietly.
Jamie put a hand on her shoulder, "you were caught on opposite sides, Linda. But you still love each other. You're just way too beyond pissed right now to talk rationally. But it'll happen. I know it will."
"How, Jamie. How? This is the worst fight we've ever had!"
"Because it's true love. You think it happens every day?"
Linda smiled a little, "when did you get so smart?"
"You know I'm the brains of the family. Erin's the beauty, and Danny's the scary drill Sargent who actually has a heart of gold."
She laughed and nodded, "thanks." She hugged him, "but I'm still way beyond the realm of pissed at him."