Chapter 3

"Lye back," Dr.Littrell told Katie patting the gurney in the open examing room.

Katie shook her head. "No, no I-I'm okay," she stuttered mildly shocked.

"It's okay," he whispered resting his hand on her waist. "I'm not going to try to hurt you."

She stared at him, seeing truth in his eyes. "Okay," she whispered allowing him to help her onto the gurney.

He stood over the sink washing his hands. "Does it hurt badly?"

The nurse stared at him dumbly. "A man just sunk his teeth into my flesh."

Brian blushed. "Stupid question." He dried his hands grabbing a pair of gloves. "Let's take a look."

Katie groaned. "Ya' know, I didn't plan on being on this side of medical job."

"We're all human," Dr.Littrell sighed gently pulling back her clothing to examine her shoulder. His eyes narrowed. "That animal," he whispered beneath his breath.

"Is it bad?"

He gave a little smile. "Not too bad, just a few stitches. Are you up to date on all your shots?"

"Yeah."

"Okay," he replied cleansing the wound. "I'll run a blood test check on everything

just for precaution."

The nurse paled. "What about him? The drunk? A you running a blood test on him?"

Dr.Littrell nodded sadly. "Yeah, we will."

"What if he had AIDS, or-"

"Just relax," the doctor said cutting her off. "If you start asking yourself "what if" you'll send yourself into a nervous breakdown."

Katie released a deep breath. "I think I'm already there."

Brian paused. "Let's be positive, he broke the skin but he wasn't bleeding."

"Right."

"I know, that doesn't ease all of your fears, but maybe it'll help."

The nurse fought tears. "I'm sorry, I'm over-re-acting."

"No, not at all. As medical staff members we're trained to help save human life, but that doesn't mean we step away from it. Don't lose your feelings. It can ruin a person," he said sadly as he prepared a needle to numb the infected area.

The female employee lifted an eyebrow. "Is that what happened to your cousin? Dr.Richardson?"

"Precisely." He prepped the skin. "You ready?"

She shut her eyes nodding. "Go ahead."

Brian injected the needle watching her wince. "You're sensitive to needles?"

"A little." Katie glanced around. "So, why is Richardson like that?"

The doctor glanced up at her. "Are you trying to aviod the situation with conversation?"

"Hell yeah. I'm sure, you're great and all, but I don't like the idea of someone sewing on me like a quilt."

He grinned. "It should be okay, scout's honor."

"I never trusted boy scouts," she smirked.

"Smart lady. Lay down, it'll make it easier to have access to the area."

"Very well," she sighed lifting her legs up.

"Don't talk, it'll make it worse."

"Okay, keep talking, okay? Tell me about you, Kevin, anything. Please?"

"All right," he agreed starting the procedure. "Close your eyes."

Brian took a deep breath. "So, dear cousin Kevin, well he's known as the hardass of Backstreet General. I'm sure you've noticed that by now, haven't you? You see, Kevin is in this business because of his father. Um, his Dad, my uncle, he was um....sick. He had cancer, and he passed away. Kevin entered pre-med the next day. It caused him to view this field as a business, wanting to save very person as though they were an account. He still hurts anytime he sees someone ill, but instead of showing expression he remains a stone. He is afraid to show emotion, thinking he could make a mistake and mistakes lead to death in his mind. I swear, he's not an ass, but just misunderstood. He's a damn fine surgeon, just lacks something in the personality department." He smiled. "But I think your Dr.Turtle just might be his match." Brian lifted his head. "All done. Was it too bad?"

She shrugged sitting up. "Nothing I'd care to repeat, thank you."

Brian patted her knee. "I can't blame you. Here, let me clean up and bandage those scratches."

"So, tell me about you," the nurse requested as she extended her arm.

"Well, there's not much to tell."

"Why did you become a doctor?"

Dr.Littrell flashed a half-grin as he continued his work. "Well, when I was little I was severely ill with a staph infection and it almost cost me my life. The doctors even told my parents to start preparing a funeral, but somehow through God's hands I survived. But, the staff discovered I had a heart murmur. And a couple of years ago I had open-heart surgery to correct the murmur and a hole in my heart no one knew about. So, I feel so blessed I want to try to help people here are earth anyway I can and leave the rest in God's plan."

"Good plan," Katie agreed. "And I'm happy to hear you're doing so well."

"Thank you. So, now it's your turn. What's your story?"

"Well, there's not much to tell. I wanted to be a pediatrician, or so I thought. Until I saw the price of medical school and the years it took to get through. Then, I decided I wanted to be a teacher." She paused. "But my mother got sick, she had to have heart surgery, small world, huh? So, that reminded me how much I wanted to help people through this field. So, I decided to be a nurse. Less school, less money and I still get to help people."

"Is your mother all right?"

"She's in a good health, thank you."

"Why did you and Annie leave Chicago?"

"Well, we didn't like the job environment. We were forced to treat patients in a certain way, and sometimes that way wasn't right. We both hated Chicago and when this opportunity came around, we'd jumped at it. Your hospital is a better working environment, it's not so busy that you have to treat patients like numbers instead of people."

"Even between the injuries and Kevin?"

"Even with the injuries and Kevin."

Brian whistled. "Wow, your old hospital must have really been a living hell."

"It was."

"There ya' go. Good as new, and you won't have a single scar. But wear your battle wounds with pride while you have them."

**********************************************

"He's gonna' be out for awhile and there was no severe damage. Just some bad cuts and bumps," Dr.Richardson breathed stepping out of the drunken patient's room.

"Do you get a lot of patients like him?" Nick Carter asked nervously.

"No, luckily," the doctor replied his voice monotone. "You need to work on your restraining skills, Carter. You have a great deal of strength from what I can see, use it."

"Sir, with all due respect, that man was bigger than you and me put together," the student stated. "But yet AJ took him out," he smirked.

"What McLean did was completely uncalled for! It was disgusting and unkooth!"

"But he hurt people, he freakin' bit Katie and he pulled out a hell of a kick on Annie."

"Annie?"

"Dr.Turtle."

"I thought she liked being called "Dr.Turtle"?" Richardson snarled crossing his arms.

"She said I could call her Annie, um when not infront of patients," Nick fibbed.

"I see. Come on, let's go finish our lunch."

The two employees saw Dr.Turtle standing before them attending to an elderly man with a nasty cut above his eyebrow.

"All right, Mr.Santos," Dr.Turtle said as she wiped the excessive blood away from his skin. "I don't believe stitches are not necessary, I'm going to give you an antibotic creme to keep the wound from getting infected-" she paused taking in a deep breath wincing. "And..ah..um.." she shut her eyes grimacing.

"Are you all right, honey?" the old man worried watching her movements.

"Fine, sir, thank you. Now, you use this creme once a day, and change the dressing daily for one week, all right?"

"Will do, doc. Thank ye'," he replied making his way toward the exit.

Relief washed over the young doctor as the patient departed. She paled resting her head down against the table, breathing deeply.

"Miss Turtle?" Kevin questioned emotionlessly.

She lifted her head quickly ignoring her pain. "Do we have a case to tend to?"

"Yes."

"Okay," she whispered slowly standing wincing as she brought her hand to her left side. "What case?"

"Yours'. Come on let's go. Exam room three."

"Excuse me?" she snapped. "I don't think so, I appreciate your concern. But I'm all right."

"You're in pain," Nick said gently. "Maybe you should just let him look."

"I'm okay," she said walking away pausing as the pain became overwhelming. "Oh, God," she whispered kneeling over.

"Annie!" Nick called out.

"I"m fine, really," she choked fighting to keep her composure.

"That's it!" Dr.Richardson declared in exasperation reaching over Annie's right side lifting her up. "When did my life become a damn episode of Doogie Hoowsier? Come on, Nick, another lesson for you. Dealing with hostile, injured women."

"What in the Sam hell do you think you're doing?" Dr.Turtle hissed as Kevin carried her in exam three lying her down on the gurney.

"I'm checking you over to make sure you're all right. I saw that asshole kick you, it would put someone my size in undeniable, unbearable pain. I can only imagine how it felt for you. Now, may I please lift up your shirt?"

Kevin noticed her nervous expression. "Mr.Carter could leave."

The young physician sighed. "He can stay, since you enjoy making a laughing spectical of me infront hospital employees. Since it wasn't enough of you to play He-Man in the hallway, carrying me around like a doll."

Kevin's eye narrowed. "Well, it's not like I want to stare at your pasty pale skin!"

Carter quietly came behind her gently helping her ease off her white coat.

"Thank you," she whispered. She then began unbuttoning a few of the buttons, wincing as she struggled to pull back the clothing.

"I'll do it," Nick said softly lifting it up. "Oh my God...."

"Holy Shit!" Kevin gasped viewing the bruising and swelling. Various shades of purple, blue and red painted her side along imprint of the drunk man's foot. "I'm so sorry," he apologized sincerely as he placed his hands on her pale skin.

"Ahhhh!" she yelped.

He frowned. "Nick, could you go help AJ with Howie, please? They're going over medical procedures during natural emergencies."

"Certainly," he answered slipping out the door.

Dr.Turtle rolled her eyes. "Did I break a rib?"

Richardson probed the area as gently as possible. "I want an x-ray, but extensive bruising has occured." He continued examing her. "Any burning?"

"When I breathe in."

He retrieved his hands taking a deep breath. "I'll walk you down to x-ray, and save you a long wait."

"Look, why don't you just save us both some time and just bandage my damn ribs? It's the exact same treatment whether they're broken or bruised."

"Would you let your patient out without an x-ray?"

"No."

"Then, I can't let you, you're my patient."

"What? I'm not your patient, I'm your colleague!"

"Don't get so fiesty, you'll only cause yourself more pain."

"I'm not fiesty!"

"Okay, do you like the word "bitchy" better?"

"OOOH!" she fumed. "Ouch!" I winced as she took a deep breath in. "Damn ribs...."

"Let's go," he sighed helping her button her top. "Would you prefer I push you there on the gurney?"

"No, I can walk, thank you very much!" she argued storming out of the room with a grimace.

"Annie!" Katie exclaimed as she and Brian stepped into the hallway infront of the hostile doctors. "Are you okay?"

"She needs an x-ray!" Kevin griped.

"I'm fine!" she spat glaring at him. "How are you?"

"A few stitches, nothing major. I even got a lollipop!" she bragged showing it to her friend.

"She earned it," Brian chuckled patting her back. He faced Dr.Turtle. "Now, what's this about an x-ray?"

"She has severe bruising and may have cracked or broke a rib," Kevin interjected.

"I'm okay!"

"Then, why did I have to carry you to the exam room?"

"Because you'd like to think you're Superman!"

"Annie..." Katie warned. "Just let him do the x-ray, you took a hell of a kick."

"But-"

Katie shoved the open lollipop into Dr.Turtle's mouth. "There, maybe that will keep your mouth shut. Although, it's highly doubtful."

"Humph!" the resident managed to grunt out.

Brian crossed his arms. "Kevin, aren't you rubbing this in her face just a little?"

"What?"

"Kevin..."

"Argh!"

Katie shook her head. "I feel like a referee in a grade school parking lot."

Brian smirked staring at the angry employees. "They could definitely use a time out."

"That's quite enough!" Kevin demanded.

Dr.Turtle pulled the sucker out of her mouth. "For the first time today I agree with you."

Katie gently led her friend away. "Come on, I'll take your x-ray."

"Are you okay to do that?" Annie asked in concern.

"You're one to talk."

Brian looked up from his clipboard. "Why don't you both take a break in exam five after Annie's ribs are taken care of? It's never too extreme around here and you both need some medicine and rest after everything you went through."

"We will," Katie assured him dragging off her redheaded friend before she could debate upon the subject.

"WOMEN!" Kevin growled.

Brian scratched his head. "I'd say Dr.Turtle's simply you as a female."

Kevin's jaw dropped. "I feel terribly insulted."

"You're right, she's very pretty. You'd make a damn ugly female with those eyebrows of yours'."

Howie, AJ and Nick joined the debating cousins as they exited the lounge.  Howie turned to Dr.Richardson. "All right, they know all the drills in case of a natural emergency, now, if you'll excuse me I have some paperwork to do."

Brian looked up at the med. students. "Hey, guys I've got a child with vomiting, dehydration and weakness to tend to. Anyone wanna' join me?"

"Puking kids...how could I resist," Nick said walking behind Littrell.

"Mr.McLean," Richardson sneered. "This is the perfect time for you and I to have an important conversation."

***

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