"Dave. Would you mind if I sent you upstairs for an CT?" Haleh said softly, as she probed the scarred midsection of the resident. "Dave?"
Dave sat, staring off into space, biting down on his lip and attempting to ignore the shooting pains as the nurse poked at him. His head felt like a numb blob upon his shoulders and he turned it slowly, looking at her with a glazed expression. "Yuhh huh?"
Haleh pursed her lips and sighed. "Okay... Lay down..." She ordered.
"But..." He replied weakly, allowing her to help him onto the gurney, lying down in a semi-fetal position. He trembled slightly, his skin suddenly clammy and cold, and his forehead beaded with sweat. Dave�s eyes drooped closed as the tired doctor fell asleep.
"No buts." She said kindly, walking briskly from the room.
****
"He's dead..." Haleh announced to the ER as they all looked up, disinterested.
"Enough of that. He was supposed to be dead twenty chapters ago. Stop fucking with our heads." Mark snapped angrily as he walked from the trauma room, pitching his gown into the bin.
Dejectedly the nurse sighed. "Fine. He's not dead. He needs a consult and a CT. You guys aren't any fun." She muttered stubbornly and stomped back into the exam room.
****
"What did you say to them?" Dave whispered softly, his hands wrapped around his midsection.
"I told them you were dead." Haleh said solemnly, bowing her head.
"You WHAT!?"
"Nothing.. Here." The nurse walked to the gurney, inserting something into the man's IV.
"Ha-?" Dave moaned as the room began to spin and he woke up in a white room.
****
This wasn't the first time Dave had met her. But, this was the first time they ever worked this closely together. What was she doing anyway? Painting his toenails?? This wasn't right. Why couldn't he move?
"HAPPY APRIL FOOL'S DAVE!!" They cheered around the gurney causing his drooping lids to widen with surprise.
"Wha?! It's like March.. What in the fuck?" He growled angrily, the tranquilizer wearing off and Dave started having feeling back in his limbs.
"We figured we make you think you're dead!!!!" Luka grinned. "Pretty funny, eh?? Eh?? Pretty funny!!!!!!! She's the mortician. She's painting your toe nails.. Just like if you were dead! Pretty funny eh!? Dave? You think that's funny Dr.Dave?? Ehh?? You think it's funny Dave?? Dave?"
***
"Dave? Wake up... Dave... Yo... Dr.Dave..." Carter shook the man slightly, and smiled as he awoke. "You okay man?? You look like you're havin' nightmares. Haleh sent me in here to check you out.. You feelin' okay? I heard that kid gave you a real whack to the gut!" He whispered kindly.
"I... Mark... I remember something about a chapter, or me dying, or something? Do you know what�s going on? Haleh said I was dead.. and then..." Dave murmured softly, his skin pale and warm.
"What do you mean exactly? You were stabbed over a month ago, you�ve been in and out of hospital for check-ups. You�re living with Mark Greene... What�s this about Chapters? Did you want me to go down and get you a book? I don�t have to go to Chapters to get a book you know, they have books in the gift shop." Carter said kindly, wondering if the man was trying to take advantage of him or something. Yeah he had money, but he wasn�t going to go out to Chapters and buy this guy a book out of the blue.
"I guess it was a nightmare." Dave breathed softly. "Sorry." Slowly his eyes slid shut and his breathing slowed.
"Dave?" Carter sighed. Poor bastard.. That little brat must have really booted him one. "I'm gonna examine you, okay?" The man winced, nodding slightly as Carter began to carefully palpate the abdomen while assessing the Dave's pained expression. "I'm going to order a CT and an ultrasound and a couple tests? You okay?" He said worriedly, looking back outside as gurneys rolled by, white sheets draped over them. The brat was an orphan.
Leaving the trembling mass on the gurney, Carter grabbed a chart, writing down a few med orders and tests, walking outside to find a nurse. "Chuny.. Could you-"
She waved him off, rushing past as another ambulance pulled up. "I�m busy Carter!"
"Wendy?" He pleaded.
"Nope.. Sorry.." The diminutive nurse replied, running out into the ambulance bay.
With a sigh, he walked to the drug locker and grabbed the supplies himself. It was going to be a very long day. Banging into the room, his arms full, Dave�s body was slack, a greyish hue. "Oooh shit!" Stumbling, Carter grabbed the gurney awkwardly, bashing it into the equipment in the room as he tried to maneuver it out the door. "GUYS!!! GUYS! I need a doctor here.. Somebody.. I need some help.. Dave... I.. He�s..."
*****
"Okay.. CT, Ultrasound, DPT.. Order HCT, WBC, serum amylase and lipase, urinalysis Peter growled, glaring at Carter, as he gowned up in the trauma room. "Why in the fuck were you doing this yourself?"
"I.. He was okay a minute ago.." Carter stammered weakly, staring at Dave on the gurney.
"You said you found him passed out." The surgeon barked angrily grabbing the ultrasound machine and running it over Dave�s abdomen. "Shit!" He looked up at Carter, staring at him. "Well?"
"He was sleeping.. I-I woke him up. He was having nightmares about being dead or something." Carter said, gowning up.
"What are you doing.. Get out.. I don't need you in here.." Benton snapped angrily, pointing to the doors.
"But."
"OUT! And get Kovac in here to assist!�
"He�s off.."
"Weaver.."
"Off."
"Dammit! Page them.. Page somebody.."
***
"Inject 100cc of lidocaine and epi.. Good.. Now you have to insert the NG tube and Foley.. Yeah intra-umbilical.. Careful of the scarring.." Benton said with a low growl, talking the young student through the procedure as Carter stood outside.
Morgana looked up at the man and the surgeon corrected her sharply. "Keep your eyes on your work dammit! Careful of the scar tissue.. You�ll tear something.. Dammit.. Give it to me.. I�ll show you.."
Benton wrenched the equipment from her trembling hands and pushed her out of the way. "Here.. Watch.." he said gruffly. "You make incisions at the rectus abdominus, and the linea alba, midline. Enter the peritoneum, and insert the dialysis catheter. Direct the catheter into the pelvic and aspirate.�
Lily Marquez looked up. "It�s positive Dr.Benton.. 500 White Blood Count..�
Morgana Stern wrinkled her nose at all the blood. "Yuck.."
Benton sighed. "Positive.. Shit!! We gotta get him upstairs.. Haleh, call for a room.."
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