I won't stop, I promise I won't stop... I was just wondering. So here is the new chapter. It's quite long. the next should be up on Saturday. Thanks again for all the nice comments. It sure encourages me to continue
“I’m beat and it’s not even…” Abby checked her wristhingych. “10 o’clock! No way!” Neela chuckled at her shocked face. “How can you possibly be so fresh and awake, Neela? Aren’t you tired at all after yesterday? You know, it’s almost scary. And I’m so starving.” She melodramatically pressed a hand against her stomach. Well skipping breakfast had not been a good idea after all. That was sin number four. Some serious payback was definitely needed.
“Here take a doughnut.” Seeing her hesitation, Chuny pushed the box against her arm. “Don’t worry, they’re not Frank’s, Luka brought them.” The nurse exchanged a knowing look with Neela, as Abby eagerly grabbed a chocolate coated one. “Neela is a happy bride, she doesn’t need sleep anymore.”
“Exactly.” The young doctor agreed. “But then we were so tired yesterday that we went to sleep pretty early.”
“Sleep?” Chuny wondered. “Wasn’t it your wedding night?”
“We have our whole lives for that and I didn’t say that we slept right away.” The young doctor answered raising an eyebrow.
“Ah! Good for you.” Abby nodded in amusement at Chuny’s happy cry.
“But one could wonder why you are so tired, Abby.” Chuny noted. Both women looked at Abby. “You were the first one to leave yesterday and you look like you partied the whole night.” She half chocked on her doughnut. As she struggled to swallow the bite, she felt the blood rush to her head, a dead ringer that she was embarrassed for anyone who knew her. She put the pastry down and grabbed her coffee to gain some time while she recollected her thoughts.
“I told you when I left that I didn’t feel too well.” She calmly answered. “It’s probably something I ate yesterday or one of those 24-hour viruses.” Chuny’s eyebrows rose and a smirk grew on Neela’s lips. “I was awake part of the night and when I finally fell asleep, I only had three hours left before my alarm clock rang. Of course I’m tired.”
“Hmm!” One look at her friends told her that the story hadn’t convinced them. But honestly would she have believed it? No, probably not. But then the second part of her explanation had been true. Lying last night had been easier. The music had been too loud to discuss and the light too dim to make a real assessment of her health. Today was another story altogether.
“What? You don’t believe me?” She pushed.
“Of course we believe you.” Neela patted her arm and gave Abby her best fake smile. “Why would you lie to us?”
“Exactly! No reason at all.” She thoroughly cleaned her hands, avoiding direct eye contact with them as well as she could.
“Car against truck, female 28, blunt force trauma, ETA less than a minute.” Jerry announced.
“I’ll take it, Jerry.” Abby said, as she rushed to the ambulance bay, Malik on her heels. “Talk to you later.”
“Yeah, later. Wow, she sure runs fast when she wants.” Neela chuckled.
“Did you believe her?” Chuny wondered.
“She looked perfectly healthy to me last night… and usually when you were sick, you’re not really into greasy doughnuts the next morning… I guess her reason is 6’4” tall and works here.” Neela added with a smile. “Not that I blame her. Look at me, it’s been only one day and now I’m merrily gossiping with you. You’re contagious.”
“Sure we are.” Chuny giggled. “Her story had to be one the worst excuses I’ve ever heard. I wonder if she’ll get any better with time.”
“Probably not. But now the other question is does Luka look as tired as she does?” Neela wondered.
“Well I saw him briefly this morning and I’d say he looked his usual self.” They watched Luka and Abby wheel a young woman into trauma 1. “See, I’d say he doesn’t seem overtired.” Chuny noted as the door closed. “Don’t they look sweet, our lovebirds?”
“They sure do. And only three hours sleep? What the hell were they up to last night?” She thoughtfully looked at Luka and Abby as they feverly worked on their patient. Sighing she grabbed a chart from the rack. “Well time for me to go to Exam 3 and meet Mr. Tanner… He got attacked by his cat… his cat? Oh, okay!”
“I need some good news, I was with Morris and Pratt, and that little boy didn’t make it.” Haleh sat down heavily next to Chuny. She rubbed a hand over her stinging eyes and gave out a heavy sigh. “In moments like those, I’m happy I’m only a nurse. At least I don’t have to talk with the parents.”
“Abby only slept three hours last night. She was up sick all night.” Chuny informed her, knowing that bringing up her favorite subject could only cheer her up.
“And that’s good news?” The older nurse wondered.
“That’s the explanation she gave for her tiredness, silly!” Chuny answered. “ And I should add that for someone who was ill she sure ate her doughnut fast, almost chocked on it when we questioned her and made a quick escape to avoid further questions.”
“Ah!” A huge smile formed on Haleh’s face. “Do you think he drove her to work?”
“I’d say it’s possible.” Chuny added. “Carrie from Ortho arrived at the same time as her and apparently she hadn’t taken the El.”
“Oh and I wasn’t there when you questioned her… Man, why do I always miss the good things lately?” Chuny laughed at her expression. “And don’t call me Morris! I’m just suffering of a bad case of terrible timing.”
“You can always grill her over lunch.” Chuny offered. “She only ate half of her doughnut, I’m sure she’s still starving, after all the exercises she got last night.”
“Chuny, you’re brilliant!” Haleh beamed at her friend. “Yesterday I thought I was the only one with an obsession.”
“I only said we should wait until today.” She reminded her. “Now the hunting season has opened.”