Trigger by Jessica Webb

Author:Jessica Webb [Webb, Jessica L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781626396708
Publisher: Bold Strokes Books
Published: 2016-02-28T05:00:00+00:00

*

Kate could feel her excitement rise the closer they got to the hospital. She was making a list in her head of which tests she wanted to run, wondering which might be least traumatizing for Althea. She also thought about Joe, who was arriving sometime today, wondering in what state she would find him.

Kate had almost let herself forget about the events of yesterday evening, but the blackened, blocked-off area outside the building had the memories surfacing with brutal clarity. She could hear the woman’s scream, see the incomprehension and horror replay on her face. Kate shuddered. She knew what that felt like from the inside.

“Have you heard how Raj and Chin are doing?” Kate asked Henry, as a distraction.

“Both stable this morning. Can’t remember what degree burns, sorry, Dr. Morrison. But they seem to be doing okay.”

“Sergeant Wyles wouldn’t be so impressed with the inattention to detail,” Kate admonished, only half-joking.

Officer Henry blushed as he pulled up outside of the building and cut the engine. “Sorry, Dr. Morrison,” he said again.

“Don’t worry, I won’t tell her. I’m sorry you’re stuck with me in the hospital for the next twelve hours.”

They had to go through three security checkpoints now, as well as be on the list of approved people allowed in and out for each shift change. When they got to the ward, Kate could immediately see Althea sitting up in her bed, leaning against the window. The rehydration seemed to have worked; Althea looked healthier and more alert than she had yesterday. Kate smiled and waved, held up a finger saying she’d be there in just a minute. Dr. Keene came over with Althea’s chart, seeming tired but not unhappy.

“Our patient is looking better, wouldn’t you say, Dr. Morrison?”

“Truly. How was her night?” She scanned the chart, mostly behavioural observations since they couldn’t get much medical data.

“Difficult. The explosion outside last night had her terrified for hours, crying and screaming and pulling at her hair. We talked with her, the night nurse and I. Mostly about you, having her think about how nice it felt when you held her hand and all the things she could tell you about today when you came in.”

Kate’s heart hurt. “I should have come back in last night. I didn’t even think…”

Dr. Keene shook his head. “You couldn’t have even if you wanted to. We went into immediate lockdown. She was okay, eventually. It gave us a chance to bond, I think. She let me change her IV bag around six this morning, which I’m taking as a good sign.”

“It sounds like a long night,” Kate said, sympathetically.

He smiled tiredly. “Yes, but a good one.”

“Does she know what happened out there last night?”

“No. We weren’t sure, didn’t have an update until after she had started to calm down. I’m afraid I left it for you this morning.”

“Good idea. I’m going to go in and see her now. Could you make sure the video to her room is on?”

“Sure thing. Then I might stick around for a bit, though my old bones are going to need to go home for a rest soon.

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