Ch 14
Abby could hear the sirens as soon as she got off the El. After hearing about the traffic back up she decided that a two-block walk was better for her mood then sitting in traffic and yelling at the people in front of her.
�Hey Abby!� She heard from behind her as she approached the stairs.
She turned. �Hi Doug. Where�s Carol?�
�She�s got the night shift so she and the girls are going to see her mother.� He said as they hurried down the stairs as another ambulance went past. �I guess this is from the traffic accident.�
�Looks like.� Abby commented. �C�mon.�
Nurse and doctor broke into a run for County.
�Dr. Weaver, dispatch just called. They�re bringing in someone else.� Chuni said from the doorway to exam two.
�From the accident?�
�No. This one was from the traffic that the accident caused. Full term pregnancy and she�s in active labor.�
�Who�s free?�
�Doug is, Cleo is with a little girl.�
�Okay.� Kerry looked over the table. �Chuni take over for Abby. Abby go get Doug, fill him in, and then grab Carter and maybe Chen.�
�You got it.� Chuni took over bagging and Abby went to get Doug.
�Carter, we need you. Full-term, active labor.� Doug called as he went for the bay doors.
�ETA?�
�Now.� Abby said going past him and out the door after Doug. �Find Chen.�
�I�m here.� Jing-Mei came out of the lounge as Doug, Abby, and the paramedics came back in a screaming woman.
�Son of a bitch this really hurts!� She said between breathing and screaming.
�How dilated is she?� Carter asked.
�Six centimeters last time we checked. That was right after we got her in the rig.� Doris said. �Everything�s normal. Pressure�s good and she knows how to breathe.�
�Course I do. This is my fourth one.� The woman panted.
�Randy?�
�Trauma two.�
�Ma�am, can we call someone for you?� Abby asked.
�My husband is in Maywood for the day. I�m three days overdue with this pregnancy.�
They rolled her into the trauma room.
�Get a baby warmer in here.� Doug called.
�I�m Abby. You said this is your fourth?�
�Diane. Yes. I�ve already got three boys.�
�Three boys? Wow.� Abby smiled as she put on a nasal breathing tube. �Hoping for a girl this time?�
�Yeah. Whoever said boys were easier never had any.�
Abby smiled. �Dr. Chen? Do you want me to call OB?�
�I don�t think she�ll make it. You�re advancing very fast ma�am.�
�Call me Diane. How far am I dilated?�
�Nine and half centimeters.�
Diane nodded as she started to pant again as another contraction came.
�Okay Diane? I want you to push on the next one, alright?� Jing-Mei said from her place. �Abby you got her?�
�Yeah. Diane, hold on to me.�
The woman nodded and braced herself against Abby in preparation for pushing.
�What did she have?� Chuni asked Abby.
�A girl. She had a very healthy girl. Her husband is on his way in. Dr. Coburn said we can keep her down her till he gets here.�
�Any names?�
�No but she did ask me and Dr. Chen what our names were.�
�She�s going to name her kid after you two?�
�Well she can�t name it after Carter or Doug but I think instead of Jing-Mei she�s gonna go with Debra. That�s Dr. Chen�s middle name. She said that she liked the way Debra Abigail Santina sounded.�
�That is pretty.�
�Excuse me?� A man said from behind them.
They turned.
�Can we help you?� Abby asked.
�My wife�s here. Diane Santina.�
�I got this Chuni.� Abby said. �If you�ll follow me sir.�
�Is she alright?�
�Your wife and daughter are just fine.�
�Daughter?�
�Yes.� Abby smiled at the dazed man and let him into the trauma room. �Diane? You have a visitor.�
�Tony.� Diane looked happy and Abby gently closed the swinging door before she went towards the suture room. She knocked and poked her head in. �Guys?�
Susan and Luka looked up.
Susan smiled. �Hi Al.�
�How�s it look?�
�So far so good.� Luka grinned.
�Good. But I�d hurry up if I were you. I think Dr. Weaver�s looking for you Susan.�
�Okay. Thanks Al.�
�No problem.� Abby smiled and pulled out of the room again.
Susan looked at Luka.
�So what do you think?�
�I think it�s a baby.�
�Ha-ha. I mean do you think it�s a boy or a girl?�
�To early to tell.� Luka said.
�Yeah I guess. Still want to know.�
�We�ll find out later.� Luka bent down and kissed Susan.
�What was that for?�
�For being my wife.�
�Anytime.� Susan smiled.
John looked through the doors of the trauma room. He didn�t want to disturb the scene but it was time for the Santinas� to go up to OB.
"Sweet huh?"
"I forget sometimes." John said quietly.
"Forget what?"
"That not everything down here is sad or difficult. That people do get a happy ending once in a while."
Abby looked up at him before she looked back in at the mother and baby. She debated for a moment before she started talking.
"It was four years ago this April and it was during one of the worst storms that Inchon had seen in about fifty years. My water broke just as the first drops hit the ground. I was standing near the nurses' desk up on four talking to a friend. Halfway through the lights went out. Not the easiest way to have children but I guess some divine power decided that since you and I have never done things the easy way our daughters shouldn't be any different. I gave Faith the middle name Lucille cause I know what Lucy meant to you. Elisabeth was Lou's choice. It was her grandmother's name. I wrote you a letter later that day but I never sent it. It's still in my room at the bottom of my footlocker. It tells you in more detail what I just said." Abby finished and then she looked at John who was staring at her.
A moment passed and then in a soft voice John asked, "Why didn't you tell me?"
"You don't know how many times I've asked myself that same question over the years. The unselfish answer is I did it to protect you from losing someone else. To cancer like your brother, to some God awful accident like my mother, or to a disease I gave them."
"And the selfish answer?"
"I was just too damn scared."
John nodded before he looked back into the trauma room. Then he turned back to Abby. "We're gonna have to work on that." He said quietly before going into Trauma 2.
Abby watched him for a minute. He smiled at the family in the trauma room and nodded. Abby could feel tears in her eyes as she nodded to herself and then spoke quietly.
�Okay John. We�ll work on that.�