Page 55 of The Doctor's Promise
Noemi got up, her lovely face sad. “Of course. I’ll come by later… if you want to talk.”
Noemi performedtwo simple surgeries on her first day back and was glad she got through them without complications. Her head wasn’t entirely in the game yet. She updated her charts then went downstairs to take some blood samples to the lab.
The lab was in the oldest part of the hospital, and the doctors and nurses had long nicknamed it ‘The Crypt’. The long hallway that led down to the lab had lighting which was temperamental to say the least, and Noemi cussed softly now as the florescent tubes flickered and went out. It was pitch black, but luckily it was a straight walk to the lab. She ran her hand along the wall until she reached the lab door and pushed against it.
Locked. She frowned. Odd. She banged on the door. “Geoff?” She called out to the lab technician she knew was on duty this evening. “Geoff, it’s Noe. Can you let me in?”
No answer. At the far end of the hall, the door opened and closed before she could see who had entered through it. “Hey, can you see if the light switch will work? No one’s in the lab.”
No answer. Her heart began to beat a little faster. “Hey?”
She could hear footsteps but no one answered her. Noemi backed up against the lab door. “Geoff? If you’re in there, now would be a great time to open the door.” She kept her tone light, but her voice shook.
He or she was close now; she could hear them breathing. “Come on, man, talk to me. This isn’t funny.”
She wasn’t ready for the punch to her stomach, and it knocked the breath out of her lungs. She doubled up, her arms folding protective over her abdomen. “Please,” she gasped, “I’m pregnant.”
Her attacker grabbed her hair and threw her to the ground. Noemi curled up in a ball. To her great relief, her attacker took off, and she heard the door at the end of the hallway slam open as he or she made their escape. Noemi staggered to her feet and made her way back to the main hospital. Her stomach was screeching with pain, but she only cared about her babies. She ignored the startled look of her colleagues as she ran passed them, towards the gynecological department.
“Someone just attacked me, punched me in the belly, and I’m pregnant,” she said in a rush to the first nurse she saw. “I need someone to do a scan, to check me out. Please.”
The nurse, her expression shocked, steered Noemi into a chair. “Okay, Doctor. Just breathe for me, and I’ll go find Dr. Hallsback. Just, please sit for me and take some deep breaths. We’ll look after you.”
Noemi did as she was told, wrapped her arms around her stomach. Please be okay. It had all happened so quickly that she was still processing it. What the hell? She felt a wave of lightheadedness sweep over her, and she swayed. God, don’t faint, don’t faint…
She felt a dampness seeping down her legs. Oh, no, please don’t be blood… that could only mean one thing.
“Noe?” James Hallsback, one of the Gynecology Attendings came to see her, but as she tried to speak, dark spots gathered in her vision, and she passed out into his arms.
James Hallsback yelledfor help and picked up Noemi’s slight body, carrying her into one of the rooms. “What the hell happened?”
“She said she was attacked, that she was punched. Doctor…” The nurse indicated the sheet—blood. “She’s pregnant.”
“Right.” He went into emergency mode, ordering blood, saline, and tests. “And bring me a scanner, stat.”
He leaned over Noemi. “Noe? Noe? Can you hear me? Open your eyes, sweetheart, we’ve got you.”
Noemi stirred. “Pain,” she whispered.
“I know, sweetheart, but we’re going to help you. How far along are you?”
“Eight weeks.”
“Alright, darling, hold on.” The nurse pushed the scanner into the room.
“I’m bleeding,” Noemi said, her voice barely a whisper, “I can smell the blood.”
Hallsback pushed up her black T-shirt and stopped. In a voice that shook, he turned to the nurse. “Get an OR ready right now.”
“What is it? Is it my babies?”
Hallsback leaned over her again, his expression one of shock and disbelief. “No, sweetheart. You’re not miscarrying… at least, that’s not why you’re bleeding.”
Noemi looked confused. “Then why?”
Hallsback steeled himself. He couldn’t believe he was about to say. “Noemi, I’m sorry but you’ve been stabbed, and you’re bleeding badly. We have to get you into surgery right now.”
Rafael Genova walked calmlyalthough his rage was white hot and murderous. He kicked open his brother’s hospital door, seeing Zani jump out of his skin. Rafa was grimly satisfied. Zani gaped at him. “What is it?”
