Chapter 5
FIVE
There was something to be learned from the fact that every doctor that she worked with in the Emergency Room was single or divorced. Well, okay, Roan was different, but he was making an effort to make sure that he had his priorities in order to make things work with Pilar.
Kay was struggling to remember why she had put her hat in the ring for the next position as the Head of the Trauma department.
Since the night that she'd fallen asleep over Smokey's BBQ with Gibson, she hadn't seen him more than a couple of times and one of those had been in the Emergency Room.
It was the same day when a massive pileup on the Interstate flooded them with over nearly twenty patients.
She'd seen Gibson from a distance at first with his helmet on.
The only thing she could do in that moment was take a good long look and see that he wasn't injured. All she could allow herself was that look because she was dealing with a young man who had a face full of glass shards from the windshield he'd almost been thrown through.
She had to get him stable with enough pain meds to make him calm but not enough to knock him completely out. She had to ask him questions and get a full picture of his injuries before she decided what was the next step in his treatment.
After him, there was a young pregnant mother with a deep laceration to her thigh.
She went from stable to in jeopardy in a heartbeat and Kay had her hands full literally and figuratively.
By the time she'd had a moment to breathe, Gibson and Truck Forty-Two was gone.
Every day she told herself that she'd call him and invite him over for dinner, or lunch, whatever. Then every day she ended up too busy. Or too exhausted to call.
Or that's what she told herself.
Kay stopped at the nurse's station and leaned against the counter to look at Thuy. "Okay, I've sent Tyler Jessup to imaging with Baldwin and I've already spoken to Doctor Webb. He's going to meet them over there."
Thuy looked up with concern written plainly across her features. While Callen Webb was the head of the Trauma Department, they only called him in for a consult when things were dire.
"I think the boy's going to require surgery."
Thuy nodded. "I called up to the OR and they've got a room waiting. Are you scrubbing in?"
Kay shook her head. "Doctor Webb has already called in a second to meet him in the OR. I'm staying here in the ER."
Thuy stood up and gave her a smile that almost lifted her spirits.
"While we have things under control down here, why don't you go and take a minute. Splash some water on your face, or," Thuy looked up at the white board and their current situation with patients, "go take a shower and grab something to eat."
Kay shook her head. "I've seen the menu in the lunchroom today, and-"
"Here." Thuy held out her hand and Kay saw a protein bar sitting on her palm, the shiny wrapper almost glowing in the fluorescent lights. "Seriously, Kay. Take a moment for yourself."
A smile wasn't so hard to rustle up anymore.
Kay picked up the protein bar and read the label. "Mint Chocolate?"
Thuy nodded. "I know that's a favorite flavor of yours."
Kay wrapped her hand around the bar and nodded. "Thanks. I think I will take that shower, but you know where-"
"We've been working together since you came to Cole Medical, Kay. I'll come and find you if we need to."
Her shoulders sagged in relief.
"Thanks, Thuy." She took a few steps down the hall and called back over her shoulder. "For everything!"
The locker room was blissfully empty when she got there, and she made quick work of showering and washing off as much of her stress as she could manage. It didn't help that what she needed to get rid of wasn't on her skin, but in her head.
When she sat down on one of the benches to pull her hair back into submission, she looked over at her phone which had remained dark and silent for most of the day.
As she pulled on her shoes and fiddled with the laces, she wondered if there was a reason for her to message Gibson. It seemed ridiculous to just send him a 'Hi!' or a 'How are you?' when they hadn't really said much to each other in the last couple of weeks.
It wasn't a surprise to her when the text messages and the calls that they'd managed to squeeze in had ground to a halt.
She couldn't even say that it was Gibson who'd dropped the ball.
It took two people to have a relationship.
And whatever relationship they'd had before, had floundered and fizzled out.
Sitting up she smacked her palms on her thighs as she got up on her feet. "Better now than... later, right?"
Because they'd had a few moments with each other. A couple of talks. Some food.
She'd even slobbered a little on his arm when she'd fallen asleep on him.
Sure, Gibson hadn't said anything, but she was sure she had.
And all in all it was almost a relief that she could think about the 'what ifs.'
If they'd gone out on a date, which is what she'd hoped they might, then letting things go would be worse.
She might feel a gaping hole in her middle instead of the nagging irritation that came with what she knew was a missed chance.
"Damn it."
She hit the side of her hand against the nearest locker and winced. She wasn't someone who hit things or kicked things.
She was the type of person who crawled into bed and listened to loud driving music.
Or if things were really tough, she jogged around her neighborhood.
And that was only in desperation, because Kay Hata didn't do running.
Nope.
Not unless she was really upset.
Someone knocked on the locker room door. "Doctor Hata? Are you in here?"
Putting on her professional face, she looked toward the door. "Yes?"
"May I come in?"
Kay let out a breath. "Sure, come on in."
The door swung open and Jane, one of the administrative secretaries stepped inside.
"Sorry to bother," she made her way forward with a steady clip clop of her heels against the hard locker room floor, "but I have your registration information and travel documents for the conference that you're going to."
Kay stared at her for a moment before her brain clicked in. "Oh! The Admin conference."
Jane nodded. "Yes. Exactly. I made your flight and hotel reservations." Jane held out her hand and Kay took the papers from her.
"Wow," she managed a smile, "so this is really happening then."
Jane looked up at Kay as she shuffled papers around. "Yes. You are actually going to this conference."
The reality of it sank in and Kay felt her spirits lift for the first time in weeks.
Things might have stalled with Gibson, but professionally, things were moving ahead.
She could hold onto that, because that's all she had at the moment.
Jane gave her a business card. "I know you know where to find me but hold onto this."
Kay looked at the card. "Okay."
"My cell number is on the back of the card. You can take that with you when you go to the conference. If you need anything while you're gone, that's the best way to reach me. I have my cell phone on twenty-four seven."
Kay winced a little. "I don't want to abuse you like that."
Jane rolled her eyes. "It's hardly abuse. I get calls at all hours from the department heads, it's part of the job."
Kay didn't like the sound of that. "I'm so sorry."
Jane shrugged her shoulders. “I’m used to it.”
“Well, I’ll only call you in an absolute emergency.”
Jane gave her a wink and a sigh. “I can see we’re going to get along great.”
“Wonderful." Kay felt a surge of hope in her heart. She was about to head back onto the floor when she stopped short. "Oh, is there a list of who I can call to ask to fill my shifts while I'm at the conference?"
Jane pointed at the paperwork in her hands. "I've included the name and bio of the doctor who normally covers for Doctor Ashley when he's gone to the conference in the past."
"Oh?" Kay smiled. "That's perfect. I really like Doctor Parker. She was amazing."
"You want me to book her? I can handle the scheduling. I've done it before."
Kay lowered her chin a little, meeting Jane's gaze with her own. "I don't want to use you."
Jane dipped her chin as well and looked over the edge of her red-rimmed glasses. "Oh, I'm more than happy to do it. I'm used to it and Doctor Parker would think something was a little off if you contacted her on your own to schedule."
"Oh, good. Listen, I know what it's like for people to assume that you're there to be their doormat. I'm not one of those people. Please talk to me if I come anywhere near crossing that line."
Reaching out, Jane touched Kay's arm lightly. "I can already tell that you're one of those people who won't be like that. But if you do come close to that line? I'll let you know."
Kay smiled at the slightly snarky edge in Jane's voice. "I have a feeling that you would. Good." She lifted the packet of papers in her hand. "You are a godsend, Jane. Thanks."
"We're going to get along well, Kay. I know it."
Kay walked away with a little bit of a skip in her step, but that only lasted until she got back to the nurse's hub.
As soon as she got there, Thuy turned in her direction, with her phone pressed up against her ear and a look of clear concern in her eyes.
"One moment, Officer. She's right here."
Officer?
Immediately, Kay reached out a hand for the phone and Thuy didn't hesitate handing it over.
A quick look at the CALLER ID on the screen of the phone on the counter told her a little.
It was a local number.
Her parents were thousands of miles away living their lives. A local call from the police didn't make sense if it was about her parents.
"Hello?"
"Is this Kay Hata? Is your address 42 Abernathy Street?"
"Yes?" She needed answers. "What's going on?"
She thought she heard someone take an in-drawn breath through their teeth as if they weren't sure what to say or how.
Her normal patience was thinning rapidly. "Hello?"
"Miss Hata?"
"What's wrong?"
"Miss... Miss, uh, Hata, we were called by your neighbor to address a break in at your house."