Page 29 of Steal

When the ambulance stops and the doors open, everyone tries to get involved, but Dr. Carmichael pushes them away as the paramedic states, “Natalie Mathews, MVA, not wearing a seatbelt. She was dragged out of the car and then thrown over Brooklyn Bridge. CPR was in progress upon arrival. She flatlined. Shocked twice, and she flatlined again en-route….”

I quickly grab the chart from the paramedic, not actually hearing the patient's name. “Okay, let’s get her to trauma one. Does anyone know the family?”

I run after them until someone says loudly, “I’m her husband," and, instantly, I recognize the voice. I look sharply at Piston and our eyes lock, his gaze shocked at seeing me.

“Piston?” I question in shock before the patient’s name rings a bell, his words echoing, and I turn to trauma bay one with my heart in my throat.

No, no, no, no….

I look back at a man I saw as a brother who chokes out, “Save my wife, Cass, please. I-I can’t lose her….”

Oh, please, no.

He’s finally claimed his love, but now….

My eyes tear up, but I nod and promise, “I’ll do everything I can.” Then I turn and head into the chaos.

Dr. Carmichael makes eye contact with me, and I know he can see my emotions because I’ve treated Natalie before, the night she lost her baby….

“Cassidy, please, no, please, I can’t have lost it,” Natalie sobs as she grips my white coat, and I hold her close to me, allowing my tears to fall with hers as her body shakes against mine….

I sniffle and give Dr. Carmichael a nod so he knows I have this just as the nurse shouts, “She’s flatlined again!”

Shit! I suck in a breath and quickly round the bed as they start CPR, preparing to intubate.

“Come on, Nat, don’t give up…” I mumble as I look at the screen when they shock her.

“She’s back,” I state, grabbing the laryngoscope on the tray beside me. Tilting her head back, I quickly but carefully guide the laryngoscope into her mouth with ease, and then take the endotracheal tube from Tanner, and guide it down her throat,watching closely. “Got it….” Then, I remove the scope before taping the tube down and looking at the monitor.

“SATs look good. What’s next, Dr. Brody?” Dr. Carmichael asks, and I snap into doctor mode; instead of my friend on the table, I see her as any other patient. “She needs a head CT and an MRI, but first, we need to place heating blankets around her to bring her temp up, and run her blood to ensure there’s no possible pregnancy.”

God, I hope there isn’t. Natalie can’t lose another baby….

Dr. Carmichael gazes at me with pride, and we get to work, knowing Nat will most likely have internal bleeding.

Twenty minutes later, I rush into the waiting room with Nat’s property cut in hand, knowing she is being prepared for the OR, my first solo surgery, something I tried to decline, but Dr. Carmichael wouldn’t allow it.

Every eye comes my way, but mine lock on Piston’s pain-filled dark green eyes and, with a lump in my throat, I pass Acid Nat’s cut. I ignore Steal, who’s looking at me like he’s seen a ghost, and run to Piston, kneeling before him.

His eyes tear up, and my heart breaks as I whisper, “Piston,” and grab his hands.

He sniffs hard. “Just tell me, Cass.”

I squeeze his hands and admit, “She has a concussion and internal bleeding. Thankfully, there are no broken bones, which is a miracle, but we do need to remove her spleen. We need to operate….”

He nods. “Then do it, Cass. Save my wife.”

I swallow hard, trying not to cry like a baby, and squeeze his hands tighter, before I blow up his world. “Piston, Natalie when we were assessing her, we ran her blood…she’s pregnant….” His eyes widen in shock, and I continue, “Three years ago, during my residency, I was the doctor on shift when Honey brought her in. There is a high chance she may miscarry again, especially during surgery.”

And it will destroy her.It took both Honey, her then best friend, and I to hold her up.

“Fuck,” he croaks as he drops his head. Right now, I’d give anything to take his pain away.

He’s been through so much, they both have, and they deserve happiness.

I squeeze his hands, causing him to look at me. I state, “She’s roughly five weeks, and I’ll do everything in my power to save both of them, but, Elijah,” he sucks in a big breath when I use his given name, knowing I mean business, “she was without oxygen for a long time; she was revived three times. Even if she survives the surgery, even if the baby does, she may never wake up. I need to warn you of that….”

He squeezes his eyes tight, and I stand, wrapping my arms around his head, trying to give him some strength. “I’ll do everything I can, I swear it….” Then, I kiss his head and walk out of the room, feeling Steals' eyes on my back.

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