“Chapter 13 The Early Bird”
Me: To a Dear Old Friend, who always said I was her favorite, It's people like you in my life that make me who I am and if there was one person who'd have no trouble getting into the gates of Heaven it would be you.
Me:
Previously in The end of the beginning Abby: (Looking surprised) Abby house?, Carter: It's going to be a medical center for genetic diseases like Bipolar...Scene 1
Carter is at Abby’s house talking to the Director about the up and coming charity event for the opening of Abby house.
Carter: (Looking around at the workers) When do you think we'll be ready? The Carter foundation's putting in 50 million towards the opening and they want to know when to start sending the invites out.
Director: I'd say probably in two weeks, they just have to finish up a bit of the painting and we're all set.
Carter: I really want this to go smoothly, not just for my family but for the others too.
Director: It's going to be a great center, you should be proud.
Carter: Thanks; I have to get to work my shift starts in thirty minutes. I'll call you later with the details (Shacks the Directors hand and walks off)
Scene 2
It's an hour earlier and Abby, who is now thirty weeks pregnant is in their apartment alone in her dressing gown just out of the shower getting ready for her shift when she starts having contractions.
Abby: (Bending over in pain and cries out) Oh son of a bitch, it's too early for this (stands back up and tries to walk over to the phone, reaches over to the phone to pick it up and call County, just as she does she has another contraction and drops the phone and falls to the floor in pain)
Scene 3
Gallant and Chuny are in Curtain area 3 working on Mr. Austin, his wife is standing near his bed as Weaver comes into the room.
Weaver: (Looking at Mr. Austin) What do we have?
Gallant: (Handing Weaver his chart) Male in his sixties chest pain...
Mrs. Austin: (Interrupting Gallant) He’s always been an early bird and he was up early to bring in the garbage, I couldn't find him when I got up, so I went outside and he was bent over holding his chest.
Weaver: (Smiling at Mr. Austin) How's the pain now on a scale of one to ten?
Mr. Austin: About a seven.
Weaver: (Looking over at Chuny) Get an ECG and some warm saline.
Gallant: (Looking at Mr. Austin who has just gone unconscious) Mr. Austin, wake up Mr. Austin. (Bends over Mr. Austin to check his breathing) He’s not breathing.
Weaver: (Checking his pulse) No pulse Chuny get Abby in here and take Mrs. Austin to chairs.
Chuny: She's not here yet.
Weaver: (Looking annoyed) What! Her shift started over twenty minutes ago.
Mrs. Austin: (Looking worried) I want to stay with him.
Chuny: (Putting her arms around Mrs. Austin’s shoulders) Come on, I'll take you to Frank to get you a cup of coffee. (Chuny and Mrs. Austin walk out of the room.
Gallant: (Picks up the paddles) Charging and clear.
Scene 4
Chuny takes Mrs. Austin to chairs and goes over to the Admin desk.
Chuny: (Looking over at Jerry) Can you get Mrs. Austin a cup of coffee when you get a chance?
Frank: (Looking up from the computer) Do I look like a slave?
Chuny: Please, were down two Nurses and Weaver needs me.
Frank: Where's Abby?
Chuny: She's not in yet.
Frank: (Sarcastically) The witch must be happy.
Chuny: (Smiling) Lets just say I wouldn't want to be Abby. I should get back before she takes it out on me. (Walks off)
Scene 5
Gallant, Weaver and Chuny are in Curtain area 3 still working on Mr. Austin.
Weaver: (Looking at Chuny) How long?
Chuny: (Looking at her watch) fifty minutes.
Weaver: I'm calling it.
Gallant: (Holding the paddles) Shouldn't we try again?
Weaver: His been down too long, time off death ten past nine.
Gallant: (Beginning to walk off) I'll go tell Mrs. Austin.
Weaver: (Looks over at Chuny) Call a grieve councilor, I'll be at the Admin desk if you need me. (Walks out of the room)
Scene 6
Carter has just arrived for his shift, he goes over to his locker in the Doctors Lounge and puts his bag into his locker and takes out his white coat and puts it on and takes his stethoscope out and puts it around his neck and walks out of the Doctors Lounge over to the Admin desk. Weaver walks up behind him with a chart.
Weaver: (Dropping the chart in the dispo box and looking up at Carter) Did Abby come in with you?
Carter: (Looking worried) I thought she'd be here already.
Weaver: (Annoyed) She's supposed to be, her shift started over seventy minutes ago. (Looks over at Frank) Get her on the phone then come and find me. I want to know why she's not in yet. (Walks off)
Franks: (Picks up the receiver of the phone and dials Abby's number)
Susan: (Walks over to the board and signs a patient in, looks over at Carter who's watching Frank call Abby, turns to Chuny who's at the Admin desk writing on a chart) What's going on?
Chuny: Franks trying to find out where Abby is.
Susan: Isn't she here yet?
Chuny: (Shakes her head)
Frank: (Hangs up the phone)
Carter: (Looking worried) What, why isn't she here yet?
Frank: (Shrugs his shoulders) I don't know.
Carter: Well didn't you ask?
Frank: (Turning back towards the computer) The phone was engaged.
Carter: (Looking over at Susan) Can you cover for me?
Susan: Sure for how long?
Carter: (Beginning to walk off) I don't know, I have to find Abby, she wouldn't just miss a shift, something must be wrong. (Races out of the ER)
Scene 7
Carter gets to their apartment and unlocks the door and walks inside.
Carter: (Looking around for Abby) Abby!, Abby!
Abby: (Lying on the floor in pain) John the baby, it's too early.
Carter: (Sees her and races over to her) I'm here now, how long between contractions about 5 minutes?
Abby: (Screws up her face in pain) Oh God.
Carter: (Taking Abby's hand and checking her pulse) Another one?
Abby: (Nods her head in pain)
Carter: Why didn't you call?
Abby: I tried but I dropped the phone and I couldn't get to it. I was a little busy at the time.
Carter: (Bends down at Abby feet and looks up her dressing gown) We still have time to get you to County. (Walks back over to the front of Abby and puts his arms around her ready to pick her up)
Abby: (Pushing him away) No don't!
Carter: (Taking his arms off her) What another contraction?
Abby: No I don't want to do this!
Carter: (Smiling) I think it's a bit too late for that.
Abby: (Screws up her face in pain)
Carter: (Puts his arms back around Abby and picks her up) Come on, we need to get you to County now. (Carries her out the front door.
Scene 8
Carter and Abby arrive at County, Carter gets Abby out of the Jeep and carries her inside.
Carter: (Yells out) Someone get me a gurney!
Susan: (Sees Abby and races over to them) Oh God Abby. How are you doing?
Abby: (Sarcastically) Great, having the time of my life. (Screws up her face in pain) This is all your fault Carter!
Chuny: (Races over with a gurney) Here you go.
Carter: (Puts Abby down on the gurney) Thanks. (Begins to push the gurney towards the lift) Lets get you up stairs.
Abby: (Grabs hold of Carters hand and squeezes tightly) I think it's a little late for that now.
Susan: (Looking at Abby with a worried look) Another contraction?
Abby: (Nods her head) It's too early.
Carter: (Begins to push the Gurney away from the lift) Lets get her to Trauma 2 (Continues to push the gurney into Trauma 2)
Susan: (Walking over to the end of the bed and looks up between Abby's legs) It looks like your going have a baby soon. On the next contraction I want you to give me a big push.
Abby: (Crying in pain and squeezing Carters hand tightly) I can't it's too early, Oh John make it stop please.
John: (Kissing Abby's forehead) It's Ok I'm here and I wont let anything bad happen I promise.
Abby: (Screws up her face and squeezes Carter's hand tightly in pain)
Susan: (Bending down at the end of the bed and putting her arm out with a blanket to catch the baby) Ok one last push ready.
Abby: (Nods her head in pain)
Susan: Push
!Abby: (Crying) I can't!
Carter: (Rubbing Abby's back) Yes you can, your doing so well…
Abby: (Screws up her face and pushes) Awww!!!
Susan: (Delivers the baby out)
Abby: (Lies back down exhausted)
Carter: (Looks over at Susan with a worried look) What is it?
Me:
Find out in the next chapter of the end of the beginning. Will Carter and Abby's baby survive or is it too early for the baby Carter?