A Dying Love
Part Ten
By: Carrie Verkman
carebear1025@juno.com



Dr. Weaver and Dr. Greene appeared in Samantha's room. "John what are you doing?" asked Weaver. 

"I'm saving her life." he replied. 

Dr. Romano spoke up, "You are out of line Dr. Carter!"

"Listen," John said, "Either help me now, or get out of my way! This isn't about our relationship. It's about work now!"

Dr. Romano stepped back. He never had anyone yell at him before. 

"She's going into hypovalemic shock! Get 2 liters of O negative blood!" John called.

"Is that a positive type?" asked Dr. Greene who was helping him out. 

"Yes, she's the same as me." John remembered that from the first conversation they had. 

"She's stopped breathing. Bag her!" Weaver called. 

"No," John said, "Let's intubate. I'll do it." He rushed to get the tube down her throat. "I'm in. Get the air started! Let's go!"

Suddenly John heard a sound he did not want to hear. 

"V-Fib!" Dr. Weaver called out. 

"Dammit!" John said, "Get the paddles."

Weaver handed him the paddles. Her and Dr. Greene stepped back. They both knew that this was John's time to work. To keep his promise.

"Charge to 50! Clear!" John said as he pushed the paddles on Samantha's chest. 

"Still in V-Fib." a nurse said. 

"Charge to 100! Add 100 cc's of Lidocane! Clear!" John jumped her chest again. 

"Still no pulse!"

John wiped beads of sweat off of his forehead. He felt tears in his eyes. "Charge to 150! Clear!" Once more there was no response. The heart monitor was still a flat line. 

"John you did everything you could."  Dr. Weaver said softly. 

"No. Charge it again! Clear!" 

There was no response. 

"John stop." said Dr. Greene. 

"John, I'm so sorry." Dr. Weaver said. 

John slowly put the paddles down. The sound of the heart monitor rang in his ears. He had done every thing he could but he did not save Samantha. 

"Call it." Dr. Greene said.

"Time of death, 6:04 PM," John announced, "Son of a Bitch" he said quietly. 

Samantha was dead. 

John couldn't take it. He ran out of the room, pulling off his gown and gloves. John ran outside. He sat down and cried, sobbing heavily. He cried because he not only loved Samantha, he didn't keep his promise. John held his head in his hands and cried.  Dr. Weaver and Dr. Greene found John outside. 

"John, we talked to Romano." Weaver said. John didn't look up.

"We checked in the hospital regulations," Greene explained, "There was no rule about doctors dating patients. It's okay as long as it doesn't interfere with work. Patients are people too."

"You got away with it. You shouldn't have been suspended." Weaver said.  

"What about Dr. Romano?" asked John. 

"Right now he is being fired," Weaver said, "We've gotten too many complaints about him. John, you're not suspended anymore." 

John looked up, "That won't bring her back."

"I know." said Dr.Greene. 

They sat down next to John. Weaver put her arm around him. "Samantha would be very proud of you. You tried your best." 

"Yeah, agreed Greene, "She wouldn't be mad because she loved you."

John agreed with Dr. Greene. He tried his best as a doctor and as a friend. 

"Why don't you go in and say goodbye to her now?" suggested Weaver.

John got up and walked to the room Samantha was in. There she lay, lifeless. John kissed her on her forehead. He stroked
the hair away from her pale face. "I will never forget you Samantha. You really tested my strength as a doctor. I now know that you will always be my inspiration." John said softly. John stood up and covered Samantha with a blanket. 

The End.