Chapter 14 #2
Sophia sounded sad, but not fearful.
That was good.
Kay lifted Sophia's leg a little higher and took a good look at that bottom of her foot. They'd cleaned out the cut and searched for any extra pieces of glass but hadn't found anything.
"I spun around and threw out my arms like Elsa and I hit the lamp.
And the lamp hit the window. And then," she sighed, her voice turning a little teary, "the glass was everywhere.
My mom came running and I felt so bad I stepped back instead of standing still like my mom told me to and that's when I cut my foot. "
Okay. That made sense.
Earlier, when Kay had started the exam, Sophia's mother had been more upset than her daughter, talking over everyone else, demanding all kinds of things. Her energy and excitement had turned the area into a bit of a chaotic pit of anxiety.
Baldwin had taken the mother for a walk to sit in one of the courtyards so she could breathe.
It didn't take long to calm Sophia down.
Kay smiled and looked up. "Did it make you feel better when we stitched up your bear's foot first?"
Sophia nodded and lifted the bear's foot so she could see the neat cross-stitch that Kay put into his felt foot. "Charlie said it barely hurt." Sophia giggled. "Bearly."
Kay laughed along with her young patient as the curtains behind her parted and Kay saw Thuy walk in with a rolling cart. "Look! It's a rainbow!"
Sophia gasped when she saw what Kay was talking about. Lifting her hand she pointed at the bandage rolls in turn from left to right. "Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Purple, Black, and White!"
Thuy smiled at her. "What color do you and your bear want?"
Kay stood up and stretched her legs. "What's Charlie's favorite color?"
Sophia thought about it for a moment and then she spoke. "Charlie likes whatever I like."
Kay nodded and Thuy answered with another nod.
"Charlie and I want orange! That way everyone can see it and ask us what happened! Then, we can tell them how brave and strong we were!"
Kay beamed at her. "That's a great idea. You were both so brave!"
Thuy gestured at the cart. "Do you want me to bandage up the daring duo, Doctor?"
Kay nodded. "That would be great. Thank you, Thuy."
Thuy sat down on the stool and reached for the orange roll. "Do we start with Charlie first or you?"
Sophia looked at Charlie for a moment before she answered. "I think we should start with me first." She looked at Thuy before looking up at Kay. "I want to show Charlie that it's going to be okay."
"That's a great idea," Kay agreed."
The curtain opened behind her and Kay turned to see Baldwin stepping through. He leaned in and spoke to Kay in low tones. "Mom's seated in the waiting area. She's calm now."
Kay nodded. "Do you know why she was so upset?"
Baldwin turned and looked at Sophia who was giggling over something Thuy said. Then he turned back to Kay. "She's having a custody fight with her ex and was worried that he could use this against her. She was more upset at herself than anything."
Kay let out a pent-up breath.
That made sense to her.
Sophia hadn't mentioned her mother being angry. Likely the tension between her parents made everything more upsetting than it would be normally. Baldwin was a shrewd judge of character, and she lifted a hand to touch his shoulder. "Thank you for keeping an eye on mom."
"No big deal, boss. I know how close we look when it's a kid getting hurt."
Kay grinned. "I'm glad Sophia's safe-"
Before she could finish her thought a voice called out from the nurse's hub.
"Incoming firefighter and civilian injuries!"
Firefighter?
Kay's heart seized in her chest.
Baldwin opened the curtain for her so she could go through.
Kay rushed up to the hub. "Details?"
The nurse there was a temp filling in for one of their other nurses.
She shrugged. "I just got a call. I didn't get any details beyond what I just said.
There's a firetruck coming in behind an ambulance.
I know there's one civilian," she handed Kay a folder, "I wrote down the vitals.
The EMT said that one of the firefighters is hurt. That's all I know."
The noise from outside the ER sliding doors took Kay outside. She could see the ambulance making its way up the road to the ER. Kay read the note in the file at a glance and nodded. "Baldwin?"
Baldwin Fiske was at her side in a moment.
"GSW. Possible collapsed lung."
"Got it." He was a good foot taller than her, but she still saw him nod. "And the firefighter?" He looked down at her, but she wouldn't meet his gaze knowing what she might see in it.
Pity.
"No idea who it is. If it's Gibson," she shook her head willing it not to be him, "I can't treat him."
"Have you told anyone on the Admin staff about your relationship?"
She shook her head as the double doors slid open. "No."
"Then tell them later."
She didn't know what to say to that. Her heart would be tied in knots if it was Gibson who was hurt.
She wasn't sure that she'd be in the right mind to help him.
And if he needed help, she'd find the best person for the job.
"If it's Gibson, Baldwin. Please page Doctor Webb and explain the situation for me. "
"Yes, ma'am."
The ambulance pulled in and Kay stepped out with Baldwin at her side.
The EMT in the back pushed the doors open and started the laundry list of vitals since they'd called it in.
Kay listened intently as Baldwin helped to lower the gurney to the ground.
Kay walked up alongside the gurney and saw the patient for herself.
The double doors behind her opened up and she heard the shortened strides heading toward her. "Xiomara?"
"Here." Kay gestured to the drive with one hand while she put her other hand on the railing of the gurney. "The fire engine is yours."
Kay saw the hesitation on Xiomara's face, but that fell away almost instantly. Xiomara knew that she was involved with Gibson and knew the possibility of what might be happening.
Xiomara nodded. "Got it. Go."
Kay nodded at Baldwin, and they wheeled the gurney into the ER.
Minutes later as she was working on the GSW victim, Thuy pulled aside the curtain. "Kay?"
Kay didn't turn to look at the nurse. "Yes?"
Thuy lowered her voice, but her words were clear. "Sophia and her mom left. Sophia says thanks."
Kay nodded as Baldwin cut the man's clothing apart so they could get a better look at the wound.
"And Doctor Ortiz wanted me to let you know that the firetruck came from Station Ten."
"Got it."
Kay caught sight of Baldwin's eyes as he looked up at her to gauge her reaction.
The relief she felt was palpable, but she hoped it didn't show. She had her patient to focus on and she would, but as much as she hated to admit how relieved she was that it wasn't Gibson or his crew that had come in to the ER injured, it was a thought for her.
She never wanted anyone to be hurt enough to come in through their doors but thank goodness it wasn't Gibson or any of the firefighters that he worked with on a daily basis.
She knew that she'd have to tell him that she loved him, sooner, rather than later.
She didn't want to hold back her feelings any longer.