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Post by larue on Apr 23, 2006 12:54:07 GMT 10
Abby sighed as she looked over the boxes and boxes of medical supplies she and Chuny had just sorted and organized on the racks in the drug lock up. It wasn’t necessarily a job she would be expected to do but she’d volunteered to help in the lull.
“It’s so amazing,” she said as she shook her head. ‘We have no clue how lucky we have it here.” Chuny rolled her eyes.
“Compared to who?” she laughed. Abby shrugged. Hard to explain. How could you really tell someone about scavenging supplies and scrimping on meds because you had so little to work with? She didn’t really absorb it when Luka...and Carter...would tell her about their Congo experiences. Darfur had definitely changed her perspective on things.
“ I wanted to buy a new couch,” she mused. “You know, something new to lighten up the...bat cave...that we live in?” Chuny chuckled and crouched down to straighten the boxes on the lower shelf. “I started looking through some catalogs and couldn’t believe the prices. All I could think of was how many vials of antibiotics I could buy for the cost of this one...or how many suture kits could be assembled for the cost of that one.” She sighed and shrugged. “I threw the catalogs away.”
“We need to restock the Compazine too,” Chuny said. Abby made a notation on the clipboard near by.
“What kind of hospital did you work in while you were there?” Chuny asked. Abby chuckled.
“Hospital? It was more like a clinic...in the middle of 20,000 people...in tents. We had six doctors, eight nurses, a couple of French aides and a medical director from the L’Alliance. There was a line at the door from the moment the sun rose until it set at night,” Abby said. “ We shared this house of mud walls with tarps stretched over the top for a roof. There was no electricity except for the generator we used in the clinic. When was the last time you used instruments directly from an autoclave?” Chuny chuckled and shook her head.
“And you volunteered for this?” she shrugged.
“Sometimes I felt like I was just watching some bad movie on late night tv,” Abby sighed. “And then there were other times...most of the time...when I knew that this was the reason I wanted to be a doctor. And I didn’t feel so helpless any more.”
“Helpless?” Chuny stood up and Abby nodded slowly.
“All those weeks in NICU...trying things and then finally letting go of Joe...” She shook her head. “I was so...shattered...and I wasn’t sure that I would ever be able to get myself back together again. I know that Luka felt the same.”
Kerry Weaver stopped as she noticed Luka standing against the wall next to the drug lock up’s open door.
“Are you eavesdropping, Dr. Kovac?” she asked sternly. Luka grinned and nodded. He put a finger over his lips and gestured to her to be silent.
“My god, Chuny,” Abby was saying, “It took three weeks in the middle of a blistering desert surrounded by people who have absolutely nothing for me to get my head on straight again. They have nothing and yet...life goes on.”
“Well, you make a very good case for the program, Abby,” Chuny laughed. “Do they accept nurses as well? Maybe I can go with you next time.” Kerry frowned at Luka and put her hands on her hips.
“Next time?” she whispered. “Why don’t we just shut our doors and you can take the entire staff with you?” Luka’s eyebrows went up as he pondered that thought.
“It was a joke, Dr. Kovac,” Kerry spit as she walked away. Luka grinned and shrugged as he headed back toward the admit desk.
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Post by Lubyfanatic316 on Apr 23, 2006 12:56:55 GMT 10
Love the update!
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Post by sammiejm on Apr 23, 2006 18:22:09 GMT 10
Beautiful update again!
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Post by zelda on Apr 23, 2006 21:51:24 GMT 10
So beautiful, Larue.When I told you how much I thought Abby had changed after her experience in Africa, you wrote the exact words I was expecting. With my love for Africa, those words went to my heart.(The title " Heartache" ) is just...perfect!
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Post by cheryl on Apr 23, 2006 22:55:10 GMT 10
Amazing fic as always update ASAP!!
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Post by larue on Apr 24, 2006 8:14:22 GMT 10
“They’re hungry, Morris,” Dori said as she handed out packaged muffins to the three children in the chairs outside the exam room. “Mom’s food stamp money ran out three days ago.” Abby passed out cartons of milk and knelt down with a couple of bananas.
“Well, we can’t feed them here. If word gets out that we did, we’ll be feeding the entire city of Chicago.” he said. “Besides, it’s just a sprained wrist.”
“We can give them some breakfast,” Abby said with a smile.
“Just call Social Work and get some soup kitchen referrals for them.” Morris went back into the exam room to finish treating their mother. He turned around suddenly and studied the bananas Abby was peeling. “Are those my bananas?” Abby shrugged.
“I found them in the fridge in the lounge.” Morris groaned.
“That was my lunch!” Dori and Abby smiled at one another.
“Good choice,” Dori said.
“Thank you!” Abby high fived her. Morris scowled and went back to his patient. Abby pulled an otoscope from her pocket and checked the ears of one of the children in the chairs. She grimaced.
“Has your ear been hurting?” she asked the little boy. He nodded. Abby stood up.
“He has a broken ear drum,” she said. “Let’s get him on an antibiotic right away and clean that ear out. There’s lots of dried pus and blood plugging it up.” Dori nodded. Abby smiled as she watched the three of them eat hungrily.
“I think they could probably use a couple of lunch trays from the kitchen as well. I’ll call down for some.” Dori nodded again and Abby headed for the admit desk and picked up the telephone. She called the kitchen and then smiled when she gave Dori a thumbs up sign. Malik held up a clipboard.
“Double traumas coming in, Abby,” he called. “GSW from a drive by.” She grabbed a sterile gown from under the gurney and drew it on as Chuny, Malik and Ray waited for the ambulances to pull up.
“Twelve year old vic with road rash and fractured leg,” the paramedic said as the stretcher was lifted from the back of the ambulance.
“I got this one,” Ray said. "He's twelve?"
“The mother fu...plowed right into me,” the restrained boy on the stretcher was screaming. "Freaking guy can't even drive! How the hell did he get a freaking license!"
“Yeah and put a cap in it,” the paramedic said calmly. “You were the one holding the gun.”
“You can’t tell me what to do!” the kid screamed as he pulled against the restraints. Ray rolled his eyes as he and Chuny passed Abby and Malik. The second ambulance pulled up and the doors burst open.
“GSW to the right shoulder. BP is 120 over 80,” the paramedic said. “The air bag deployed and he was buckled in.”
“Hi, I’m Dr. Lockhart,” Abby said as she pulled off her stethescope and put the ear pieces in. “Can you tell me your name?”
“Scott Kauffman...is the kid going to be all right?” the man on the gurney asked.
“He’s got a broken leg but itsounds like he’s going to be just fine,” she smiled as she pressed the diaphragm to the man’s chest. She nodded and Malik pushed the gurney toward an ER exam room. Luka was waiting for them and had pulled on a sterile gown and gloves.
“BP is 120 over 80 and good breath sounds bilaterally,” she said. Luka nodded and began an assessment of the man’s neck and head. Abby cut away the bloodied shirt and Malik started a large bore IV of saline in the man’s left arm.
‘Let’s call for an x-ray,” Luka said. “And we’re going to need a surgical consult.” Inez nodded and went to the phone. Abby looked at the bullet wound and lifted his shoulder slightly.
“There’s an exit wound in the back,” she said. “Scott, can you squeeze my fingers?” She placed her fingers in his right hand and he squeezed tightly.
“That’s fine,” she smiled.
“Can someone call my Mom?” he asked. “I was on my way to the store for her and she’ll worry if I don’t come home. My wallet is in my back pocket.” Abby glanced at Inez and she retrieved the wallet and took it out to the admit desk.
“Man...eighteen months in Iraq without a scratch and I get shot after three days at home. Stupid kid. He has no idea how lucky he is.”
“You’re a soldier?” Luka asked as they rolled Scott to his side.
“A Marine,” he said. The x-ray tech rolled a portable machine into the trauma room. He slid a film cartridge under Scott and Luka rolled him back gently.
“All clear,” the tech said as they backed away from the table and let the machine do it’s work. Neela came in just as the x-ray tech was leaving.
“What do you have?” she asked as she pulled on some sterile gloves.
“Scott Kauffman,” Abby said. “Gunshot wound to the right shoulder from drive by shooting.” Neela carefully examined the entrance and exit wounds.
“This is going to need some debridement,” she said. “We’ll give him some antibiotics right now.” She listened to his breathing. “Lungs sound clear. We’ll admit you to the hospital for a few days for observation and antibiotics.”
“A few days?” he groaned. “I only have 10 more days of leave left. I don’t want to spend them in the hospital.”
“Leave?” Neela looked up at Abby.
“He’s on leave from his unit in Iraq,” she said quietly. Neela’s eyes clouded and she sighed. She looked at Scott.
“Okay,” she said. “Let’s wait for the x-ray to come back and maybe... MAYBE...we’ll let you go home if you promise to finish your antibiotics and come back at the slightest hint of any problems.” Scott smiled.
“Okay,” he said happily and sighed as he relaxed a bit. Neela looked from Abby to Luka and then left without a word. A police officer stepped into the doorway.
“Can we get a statement now?” he asked. Luka pulled his gloves off.
“Sure,” he said. “I’m going to go check on those x-rays. You’ve got this, Abby?” She nodded and pulled a sheet up over Scott’s bare chest. She listened as he spoke with the policeman, but her thoughts were on Neela.
Two hours later she sent Scott home with his Mother, his fiancee, a bag of antibiotics and a big bulky bandage over the wound in his shoulder. He’d been very, very lucky. The bullet had missed his lung, his collar bone and his shoulder blade. It was a nice way to end her shift.
Abby smiled as she finished Scott’s chart. Luka rounded the admit desk and moved behind her. She jumped as he pressed up against her and brushed her neck with a quick kiss.
“Hey!” she scolded him and looked around to see if anyone had seen them. Luka grinned.
“You got an email,” he said and slipped a paper on top of the file she was holding.
“I did?” Luka nodded and Abby looked down. Her eyes widened and she smiled as she studied the three pictures that filled the page. There was one of Debbie standing between two little girls in school uniforms, one of the two girls together and then a closeup of just one of them. Abby blinked as she took in the huge smile of the little girl with closely cropped back curls. Her dark eyes were actually shining.
“It’s Salome,” she said quietly and shook her head in disbelief. “Just look at her.” Luka’s grin widened and he nodded.
“Read it,” he said.
“Abby, Mission accomplished!” she read aloud softly. “After you left, the staff at the hospital took up a collection so we could send Mary Ruth to school with Salome. For now, anyway, the girls will have one another for support. Sometimes we are most struck by the enormity of the situation here. Thank you for reminding us that we can make a difference to at least one of the star fish we toss back into the sea. I will write again soon. All my love to you and to Luka, Debbie.” Abby blinked back tears and looked up at Luka.
“She’s beautiful,” she sighed as she studied the photos again.
“And happy,” Luka added. Abby leaned in close and Luka wrapped his arms around her and hugged her.
“Is something wrong?” Neela asked as she approached them.
“Something is very, very right,” Abby sighed. She pulled away from him gently. “Remember one of the patients that I treated in Darfur? The little girl with the machete slices on her legs?” Neela nodded and Abby showed her the email.
“She’s in school,” she said. Neela looked at the pictures and smiled.
“That’s wonderful, Abby.” Abby nodded and folded the email and slipped it into her lab coat pocket.
“Christmas will be here before long,” she said. “Maybe we can put together a box for them.” Luka nodded and smiled as he watched as she picked up another chart and headed off to another exam room with a little bounce in her step.
"Think someone ought to tell her that her shift is over?" Neela asked.
"Naw..." Luka said with a smile. "I'll let her handle one more patient and then drag her home."
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Post by <3 LubyII <3 on Apr 24, 2006 10:04:12 GMT 10
Great updates, I loved them. Can't wait for the next one.
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Post by Lubyfanatic316 on Apr 24, 2006 10:04:58 GMT 10
Awsome update!
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Post by lubyfan on Apr 24, 2006 18:35:34 GMT 10
Great chapters!
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Post by Noora on Apr 24, 2006 23:12:07 GMT 10
Yup, loving this. ;>
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Post by dancergurl18 on Apr 25, 2006 12:22:14 GMT 10
Great updates... you capture everything perfectly- whether it takes place in Darfur or in Chicago.
Frances XX
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Post by larue on Apr 26, 2006 3:30:00 GMT 10
They walked out of the hospital together - Abby, Luka and Neela - and headed the short walk to Ryan’s for a bite to eat. They had just settled and ordered when Luka’s pager sounded. He checked it and went to make a phone call.
“Ahhhh...I’ve got to go back for a bit,” he complained as he came back for his jacket. “They’re wrapping my sandwich so I can take it with me.” He kissed Abby. “See you at home?” Abby nodded and watched him stop at the bar to pick up the take out bag and then waved as he left. She turned back to Neela who had been watching their exchange. Neela sighed, picked up her drink and took a hefty swallow.
“So, how do we get through all of this, Abby?” Abby eyed the drink glass and then glanced back at her friend.
“Are you working tomorrow?” she asked. Neela shook her head.
“Nope,” she said. “I’m off for the next two days in fact. Dubenko’s orders.”
“Smart man,” Abby said and leaned back as a bit as the waiter put a large salad bowl in front of her.
“About some things,” Neela shrugged. “Could I have another one of these, please?” She tapped her glass and the waiter nodded. Neela picked at the wrap sandwich in front of her and sighed.
“How do you do it?” she asked again. Abby chuckled.
“Neela, you took the same psych classes I did. You know all about the stages of grief.” Neela chuckled and took another drink.
“So what stage are you in these days?” Abby frowned slightly at her and sat back in her chair. Neela sighed.
“Oh bullocks, I’m sorry,” she said quietly. “That was thoughtless of me.” Abby leaned forward and squeezed her hand.
“We’ll get through it,” she said. “I promise.”
“I don’t know if I can,” Neela said as tears brimmed over her eyelids. “It’s lonely. No one around me really understands. I hate Michael right now. It breaks my heart but I hate him.” She picked up her glass and tossed the alcohol to the back of her throat. Abby studied her for a moment and then picked up her fork.
“Aren’t you going to say anything?” Neela said. “Aren’t you going to scold me for hating someone that would give his life for this country? Don’t you hate me for feeling like this about him? A bloody hero?”
“Oh, I think you’re doing a fine job hating yourself,” Abby said as she took a bite of her salad. “You don’t really need my help.” Neela scowled and picked up her glass again.
“I do know that that isn’t going to make you feel better,” Abby nodded toward the glass.
“But it does,” Neela said. “I feel...numb.”
“Yeah, well...call me in the morning and let me know how you feel.”
“I will do that, Dr. Lockhart,” Neela spit sarcastically. “Or should I say Dr. Kovac? Are you planning to use your husband’s name these days?”
“Oh, I think Abby will do,” she said brightly and took another bite. “Eat something, Neela.” Neela scowled at her and picked up her sandwich. She took a bite and chewed. Abby smiled.
An hour later Abby used the key to open the door of her old apartment. She followed Neela inside and slipped her coat off her shoulders. She threw it down on the couch and looked around. The furniture was the same. It had been rented with the apartment when she'd had it. Neela had definitely made the place her own in the past few months. It was a weird kind of feeling considering all of the years Abby had spent here before her. Neela flipped through the mail she had carried in and then dropped the envelopes onto the table.
‘Want something to drink?” she asked. Abby shook her head.
“I thought I’d get the coffeemaker going,” she offered. Neela nodded.
“I’m going to take a shower.” She looked at her friend. ‘You don’t really have to stay with me, you know. I’ll be fine.”
“I want to,” Abby said. “We have some catching up to do and Luka will probably be at the hospital most of the night anyway.” Neela nodded. She stopped at the bedroom door and turned around.
“Michael isn’t here,” she said. “In this apartment, I mean. At Ray’s, he was everywhere...the bathroom...the kitchen...my bed. I can even see him at the hospital sometimes. But I can’t feel him here at all.”
“Maybe that’s a good thing,” Abby said quietly. Neela nodded sadly and went into the bedroom. Abby listened for the shower to start and then took her cell phone out of her purse. She pushed the speed dial for Luka’s number and waited for him to answer.
“Where are you?” Luka said without waiting for her to speak. “I just got home and was looking for you.”
“I’m at Neela’s,” she said. “I think I need to stay with her for the night.” There was nothing on the other end.
“I’ll make it up to you?” she wheedled quietly.
“How?” he said. Abby supressed a grin. “How are you going to make it up to me?”
“Oh, I’m sure we can think of something,” she said.
“Are you going to...”
“Shut up!” she giggled. “Would you please just bring me some fresh clothes when you come to the hospital tomorrow? My navy slacks are hanging in the closet.”
“Can I pick out the underwear?”
“Luka!”
“Well, I was thinking about that black thing...the teddy?”
“Oh, yeah.....that one would be real comfortable to wear all day.....not!”
“So....I’ll take it off for you.” Abby shook her head and grinned. This conversation was only going to get worse.
“Good night, Luka.” He chuckled.
“I’ll miss you,” he sighed softly.
“Me too...” Abby smiled and turned off the cell phone.
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Post by Lubyfanatic316 on Apr 26, 2006 3:39:39 GMT 10
can't wait for the next update!
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Post by sammiejm on Apr 26, 2006 4:29:09 GMT 10
Thank you so much for another wonderful chapter. This story is amazing, you capture the characters so well. I must say, I would love to be on the receiving end of that phone conversation with Luka, but then wouldn't we all!!!
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Post by zelda on Apr 26, 2006 4:43:47 GMT 10
Mission accomplished, Larue.The story is so enticing. I love the interaction between Africa and County. And it's a great idea to introduce Neela right, now who is having a difficult time, and point out her strong friendship with Abby.
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