Always on my mind
Part Two
By Céindreadh
ceindreadh@eircom.net

This is set approximately 18 months in the future

Kerry and Dave are married. Kerry is expecting their first child. Mark and Elizabeth are engaged. Carter successfully completed his rehab and returned to work. Romano is still a jerk

A few months passed. Kerry was conscious of a subtle change in attitude to her by several members of the staff, most notably those with children of their own. She was developing quite a rapport with Haleh and Lydia as they discussed stretch marks and cravings and other matters.

“It’s weird,” she confided in Dave one evening as he massaged her shoulders. “I’ve worked with some of these people for so long, and yet I’ve learned more about them in the past few months than in the previous five or six years.”

“I suppose now you finally have something in common with them.”

“Mmh. You could be right. There, just a bit lower. Oh that’s nice.”

The next day Kerry was running a trauma with Luka. The patient was confused and incoherent and started to lash out frantically at the doctors and nurses. Kerry stepped back out of reach of the patients flailing limbs. In her haste she put all her weight on her bad leg. She tried to right herself with her crutch but was unable to and fell heavily.

“Malik hold him down, Chuny get restraints,” ordered Luka as he hurried to Kerry’s side.

Kerry was trying to sit up when he reached her.

“Stay where you are, don’t try to move,” he told her.

“I’m fine just a bit dizzy,” said Kerry. She put up her hand to push back her hair and winced as she touched a sore spot. “I think I banged my head on the way down.”

“Lydia, get a wheelchair and help Kerry to curtain two. Anyone know where Dave is?”

“He’s on his break,” said Lydia. “I think he went to the canteen.”

“Have Randi page him.”

“You don’t need to call Dave, I’m fine,” protested Kerry. 

“I’m not taking any chances,” replied Luka. “You just rest in curtain two and I’ll see you when I’ve finished here.”

“I’m still the ER chief,” retorted Kerry.

“No you’re not, for now you’re a patient, so do as your doctor tells you.”

Kerry sighed. She could see it was no use protesting, and besides she was feeling a little shaken by her fall.

Dave turned up just as Lydia and Haleh were helping her onto a bed in curtain two.

“Kerry,” he said as he rushed to her side. “Randi paged me and said there been an accident.”

“Randi exaggerated,” replied Kerry. “I just slipped and banged my head a little. Luka insisted that I be checked out. I’m fine, really.”

“Are you sure? How many fingers am I holding up?”

“I’m fine, we’re fine. Luka’s just being overprotective.”

“Well where is he? Why isn’t he here?”

“He’s with a trauma patient. He’ll be here when he’s finished.”

Sure enough, Luka arrived a few minutes later and gave Kerry a thorough examination.

“No dizziness, nausea, head or back pain?” he asked.

“No, no, a little and no,” replied Kerry. “Look. I just moved too quickly and lost my balance. My head hurts a little, but that’s normal when it gets hit like that.”

“Normally I would do a skull X-ray, but in your condition that’s not advisable. When is your next ultrasound?”

“Next Monday. Do you think I may have hurt the baby?” Kerry tried to remain calm but her heart was pounding.

“Given the way you landed, I think it is unlikely. I’ll order an ultrasound now just to make sure. After that, we’ll keep you under observation for a few hours and then send you home to rest.”

“Thank you Luka,” said Kerry.

“I’m not finished with you yet. We need to talk about the cause of your accident.”

“What’s there to talk about? I moved too quickly and lost my balance. That’s all.”

“How long has your leg been giving you trouble?” asked Luka.

“Ever since I can remember, but I know that’s not what you mean,” replied Kerry. “It has been aching a lot in the last few weeks.”

“You never told me that,” said Dave in surprise. 

“I didn’t want you to worry.”

“I thought as much,” said Luka. “The extra weight you are carrying is putting more and more strain on your leg. That’s why it let you down.”

“I thought that because it was a gradual process that I’d be able to adjust.”

“It’s not just the weight, it’s the distribution of it as well. Your centre of gravity is changing and that coupled with the weight gain and the baby’s movement is affecting your balance and mobility. Normally you would have been able to avoid that patient without a second thought.”

“So what do you suggest?” asked Kerry. “That I sit around all day with my feet up until I give birth?”

“If I said yes, would you do it?”

“No,” said Kerry.  “Yes,” said Dave simultaneously.

“It is as I thought,” said Luka. “You are not suited for the idle life. Well I can’t force you to stop working, but I would recommend that you limit your active duties in the ER and stay off your feet as much as possible.”

“You just want to take over my job a little sooner,” said Kerry, but she smiled as she said it.

“One other thing that might help you would be to start using a second crutch. It would assist your balance.”

“Hmm,” said Kerry. “I suppose you’re right.”

“Listen to your doctor,” said Dave.

“Listen to your husband,” said Luka. “Now you rest for a few hours and then I’m sending you home.”  He left the room.

“Kerry, you should have told me you were having problems,” said Dave.

“I thought I was able to manage.”

“Well at least if you use a second crutch it’ll make things easier.”

“I know.  Its just…” she sighed heavily.

“Just what?”

“When I first learned to walk, it was with two crutches. I remember going to school and seeing the children pointing at me. I promised myself that I would grow up strong enough to walk without any crutches. By the time I was fifteen I was able to manage with just one, but my doctor said it was unlikely that I would ever be able to manage without any support. Having to use two crutches now just seems like a step backwards.”

“It’ll only be for a couple of months.”

“I know.”

“Promise me that you won’t hide your problems?”

“I promise,”

“Good.  Now you rest and I’ll be back in a few hours.”

Dave caught up with Luka a few minutes later.

“Is Kerry really alright?” he asked.

“I’m probably just being overcautious in keeping her here,” replied Luka. “But the rest will do her good, and you will be there to watch her at home.”

Dave looked glum and said, “Not tonight, I’m on for a double shift so I could have time off for Kerry’s next scan.”

“Leave it to me and I’ll get someone to cover for you.”

“Gee thanks Luka.”

Luka checked the rosters and then found Carter.

“Carter, are you doing anything tonight?” he asked.

“Why Dr. Kovac, I thought you’d never ask,” replied Carter.

“Be serious,” said Luka impatiently. “I need someone to cover for Dave. Kerry had a fall and I don’t want to send her home unless there’s someone there to keep an eye on her.”

“Is she alright?” asked Carter with concern.

“A bit shaken but she’s fine. So can you do it?”

“Of course.”

“Good.”

Kerry spent the next few days at home with her feet up. The scan at the hospital had revealed no problems and so far all was going well.

She was stretched out on her couch listening to some of her favourite music when Dave got home from work.

“Hi honey I’m home,” he said as he bent down to kiss her. “Did you do anything nice today?”

Kerry stretched herself languorously. “I decided it was time to introduce Junior to music. You know they say playing music improves a child’s mind even before birth.”

“I think they meant something like Mozart or Bach, not Grace Jones.  If that’s the stuff you’re listening too, it’s no wonder that Junior’s so restless at night. Last night I could swear he woke me up kicking.”

“That was me. You were snoring.”

“I do not snore.”

“Oh yes you do.”

“I <kiss> do <kiss> not <kiss> snore,” said Dave.

“Keep persuading me like that and I might believe you.”

“Your wish is my command.”

To be continued......