Chapter Text
Walking along the shelves my gaze looks down at the clipboard in my hands as I attempt to find the specific items requested: a light-bright, don’t break the ice and a few other oddly specific games that I’m unaware have ever been made. But I can’t stop myself from smiling at the request, these kids know what they want and I’m going to try my best to make it happen. Stopping before the stuffed animal shelf, my free hand glides over them, I analyze the different textures trying to find a soft and non-scratchy, their words not mine, animal that a new patient requested in general pediatric care.
I spend too much time over analyzing the stuffed animals that when my pager goes off I jump at the sound. Fiddling around in my pockets I pull out the small black pager, the loud beeping continues to fill the small closet as I look at the number displayed on the screen. Sighing I recognize the number to be the emergency room on the ground floor, a bundle of nerves tug my stomach upward. It’s never been good when I’m requested down to the emergency department. Tossing my clipboard onto a random shelf causing infant toys to begin to sing nursery rhymes or sing the colors of the rainbow.
Shaking my head I silence the pager, stuffing it once more into my slacks, and replace it with my phone. Dialing the number it only takes two rings before I hear a familiar voice of an older female.
“Emergency Department you’ve got Dana Evan’s, how can I help you?”, just by her tone alone I can tell they are being over worked. “Hello Dana! This is (F/n) (L/n), I just got a pager request from your department. How can I assist you!” Even though she can’t see me I smile brightly as I keep my tone on the happier side.
There’s a slight pause and in the background I can hear nurses running around, with muffled screaming “You’re just the person we need (F/n), we need a bag for a six year-old little girl,” as Dana talks I find myself walking over to a half filled bag that is labeled with the child’s age range, “If possible we need you to come down ASAP.”
“I’m on my way, do you know if she-“ before I can finish there’s a click indicating that our phone call had ended. Pulling the phone away from my ear I can’t help but sigh at this. I understand they’re busy down there but I’m not exactly a mind reader. Throwing the bag onto my shoulder I turn back to where the shelves of stuffed animals sat, barely coming to a halt I grab a blush colored teddy bear that has a white ribbon tied around its neck. You never know what kids are experiencing down there so I’ve learned it is always better to be over prepared than under. As I rush to the door my hand throws open my desk drawer as I pull out a bag of Hershey kisses, and with that I’m racing down the hallways to where my next patient awaits.
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It isn’t long before I stand in front of the charge nurses station waiting for Dana to arrive, looking around the emergency department is packed full of patients having to be looked at in the hallways. There’s an overwhelming sense of anxiety and dread circulating through the air, I have to remind myself to relax as I begin to fiddle with the edge of my cardigan. Looking around once more I feel a hand place itself on my shoulder, and it's Dana guiding me to a different direction. Dropping the cardigan I had been playing with I smiled at Dana, “It’s always a pleasure to see you Dana! You are looking as lovely as ever.” She laughs at me continuing to guide me down the hall.
“You are too kind (F/n), flattery goes a long way down here.” As we walk down the hall a distant scream grows louder with each step, assuming it is the same person I had heard over the phone I can now place it as a child. We stop before a room labeled as the family waiting area and the screaming is only slightly muffled. “This is who you’ll be helping us with, she was brought with her mother who was found in a back alley with stab wounds. She was only found because someone walking down the street heard her crying.” My smile softens as I peer into the window on the door to a small girl curled onto the floor screaming her dark hair blocks me from seeing any of her features.
Turning back to face Dana I can see sympathy edged into her eyes, “Do you know if the mother will make it or is she…” I let my statement fall flat into the air, Dana nods. “I understand, do you know if she has any injuries?” Peering back into the room she has yet to move, my gaze swipes over to the other side of the room to see who has been observing her and my heart skips a beat at who is crouched against the far wall away from her. Dana sensing my surprise pats my shoulder, “Dr. Abbot volunteered to treat her, but unfortunately she hasn’t made it easy for anyone to help her.’’ Swallowing hard I nod at her, I shouldn’t be feeling this way. But I can’t stop my heart rate from speeding up and a strong blush from rising to my cheeks. Looking back once more at Dana I give her one last reassuring smile before my hand pushes down on the door knob and I walk through the doorway to meet my new patient.