Cryptic (A Calum Hood Fanfiction)

Chapter #32

3rd POV:

"And one last...," Dr. Hudson starts. "Final drop," he finishes, watching with bright eyes as the final drop of Calum's donated blood flows through the IV and into Annabel's blood vessel.

"Ken, take Annabel into the next operation room and start up the defibrillator," Dr. Murkin orders as Dr. Hudson undos the IV and covers the skin where it was put into it with a band-aid. "We've got an audience out in the waiting room," Dr. Murkin informs Dr. Hudson. "And it's our job to put on a show and I want a standing ovation, so let's go break a leg," he walks past him and for the next operation room and into it.

"The ultrasonic gel is on and the EKG paddles are all warmed up and ready whenever you are," Ken tells as Dr. Murkin enters the room.

"Thank you, Ken," he nods. "Unbutton Annabel's hospital gown, do you mind?" He asks of Ken.

"No, sir," he agrees, unbuttoning them enough just to reveal Annabel's bellybutton. Dr. Hudson wanders over, leaning on the door frame of the operation room as Dr. Murkin slides on his protective gloves and takes the EKG paddles into his hands, rubbing them together.

"Clear," he exclaims, placing them on Annabel's chest in the correct position and placement as a therapeutic dose of electrical energy delivers to her heart. She doesn't respond. Dr. Murkin takes a deep breath, rubbing the paddles together again before exclaiming another 'clear' and placing the paddles onto Annabel's chest. She doesn't respond. And so, Dr. Murkin tries twice more, but to no prevail.

"Turn up the voltage," Dr. Hudson advises. Ken looks to Dr. Murkin for approval which he grants and he turns up the voltage ever-so-slightly as Dr. Murkin adds a little more gel to the paddles before rubbing them together.

"Clear," he breathes, placing the paddles upon Annabel's chest and yet again, she doesn't respond.

"It's too late, Dr. Murkin, we've lost her," Dr. Hudson shrugs, a sad look on his face.

"Once more," he pleas. "Let me just try one more time." Dr. Hudson nods, crossing his arms over his chest as Dr. Murkin rubs the paddles together. "Clear," he whispers, completing the same action he has done five times now and once again, to no prevail.

"I'm sorry," Dr. Hudson mumbles.

"Don't apologize, I'm the one who should be apologizing; this is all my fault," Dr. Murkin croaks. "If it weren't for these goddamned clumsy fingers, Annabel would be alive and well right now; on the road to recovery not the highway to Hell," he bursts, staring at his hands in pure shame. "I have Parkinson's disease," he confesses. "I was diagnosed two weeks ago, but I couldn't bring myself to quit; I love my job, it's all I have; I don't have a wife or children or grandchildren; I have a lonely apartment and a pet hamster and I should've accepted the fact that my career is over, but I couldn't and now my foolishness and pride is the reason Annabel is dead and gone," he cries, his hands shaking immensely as he helplessly tries to wipe away his tears. "I've never lost a patient before," he adds.

"It's okay, Dr. Murkin; everything happens for a reason," Ken comforts him, patting his shoulder.

"Ken, get Dr. Murkin a glass of water. I'll go break the news," Dr. Hudson decides, turning and heading in the direction of the waiting room.

----

Calum's POV:

Dr. Hudson walks through the door from the back and enters the waiting room where Darren, Jean, Mrs. Porter, and a few other agents, and I are waiting in anticipation and anxiousness of the news Dr. Hudson has to deliver. "I'm so sorry," he blurts, looking down at his feet, not being able to meet our eyes; eyes full of pure shock and sadness.