Meghan had a fitful night, what with the interruptions every few hours from the nursing staff and being taken for her MRI at 3 in the morning. So to say that she wasn’t the most chipper at breakfast at 7 that morning would be an understatement.

She eyed the scrambled eggs with suspicion. Deciding not to risk them, she chewed on her bacon strips and tried to drink the one-step-down-from-vile coffee provided on her tray. She was contemplating the cereal and milk when a knock sounded on her door.

“Come in!”

Mitch appeared through the door. He looked like he had had as rough of a night for sleeping as she had had, his scrubs wrinkled and his hair a mess. He had ditched his lab coat and stethoscope, and there was a faint mustard stain on his scrub top. But what caught Meghan’s gaze was the two steaming cups of coffee he carried.

“Oh, Mitch, you are a sight for sore eyes! Bless you, for bringing real coffee!”

He gave her a weary smile. “I couldn’t subject you to the dietician’s version, although I see you’ve at least attempted it.” He set down a cup in front of her, which she grabbed and brought to her nose, inhaling deeply. He chuckled. “I think you’re supposed to drink it, not inhale it.”

“I can feel the heat radiating from the cup. I’ll give it a couple of minutes. I’ve burned my mouth from the café’s coffee before. Lesson learned.” She sat the cup down on the bedside table. “How’s Kelsey?”

Mitch ran a hand through his unruly hair and sighed. He pulled up the nearby rolling stool and sat down. “She had a rough night with the pain. We finally got her comfortable around 2 am and she was sleeping when I left her about an hour ago.”

“Is the plan still to discharge her today?”

He nodded. “Yes, probably late this afternoon. One of the perks of being a doctor is that I can take her home on IV meds. It’s going to be a rough first few days.” He sighed. “How are you feeling?”

“Tired, but not lightheaded and woozy anymore.” She gestured to the IV pump beside her. “I think that all the fluids they’ve pumped into me have helped.” She opened the cereal and poured in some milk. She took a bite, chewed, and swallowed. “Have you eaten?”

Mitch nodded. “Right before I got the coffee.”

“I don’t trust the eggs, but the bacon was okay and they can’t ruin cereal.” She ate another bite. “By the way, they did that MRI late last night. It’s the first one I’ve ever had. That thing was noisy!”

Mitch smiled. “Yes, I know. I’ve had a chance to look at the scans, but I’m waiting for the radiologist’s report, which should be in my hands in the next couple of days.”

A knock came at the door, and Dr. Scott pushed open the door. He shook his head at his friend. “You look like you’re about to fall over, so I’ll let you steal my chair.” He pulled over another chair and sat down. “Good morning, Meghan. How are you feeling this morning?”

She held up her empty spoon. “Tired but hungry. And Mitch brought me coffee, so I’m letting him hang out.”

Dr. Scott chuckled. “I just wanted to touch base with you this morning before I head out. I got your lab work back. You’re mildly anemic, and your potassium and magnesium levels are a bit low. Do you take a multivitamin on a regular basis?”

Meghan shook her head. “I need to find some I can stand. I don’t tolerate iron pills or vitamins with iron in them very well.”

Dr. Scott nodded. “I can empathize with you on that. I’m going to order some potassium and a magnesium infusion for you. I would suggest that you try maybe one of the chewable vitamins, and I’ll write orders to send with you for an iron supplement called Slow Fe. It’s a bit gentler on the system than a lot of other supplements out there, and you can get it over the counter.”

He stood, and stretched. “Sorry, but my body doesn’t handle those call room beds so favorably anymore. It does look like you’re on track to be going home this afternoon. Dr. Sanders will probably be rounding in an hour, and she’ll be able to give you a better idea as to when.” He sighed. “Okay, kids, I’m heading out. Take care of yourself!” He walked out of the room.

Meghan looked over at Mitch. “You look like you need a nap and a shower. Did you get any sleep last night?”

Mitch shook his head. “No, not that I really tried. I spent my time watching and caring for Kelsey.”

“Is there somewhere you could go crash for a few hours? No offense, but I don’t want Kelsey’s and my driver to fall asleep at the wheel.”

Mitch sighed and nodded. “Yes. I’ll go find a call room and crash for a while. I’ve got my pager on. If you need anything, Meghan, then page me.” He stood and headed for the door, pausing at Meghan’s voice.

“Mitch? Get some sleep. And thanks for the coffee.” She toasted him with her cup and took a sip.

“Anytime.” He left her room and headed down the hall.

Meghan’s daytime nurse appeared. “Good morning, dearie! I’m Julie, and I’m your nurse for the day. Your tech is Brian. He’ll be in a bit later to help you freshen up. How are you feeling today?” She moved around the room, moving chairs back against the walls and updating the whiteboard.

“I’m doing okay. Still tired, but then again it is the hospital, not home.”

Julie nodded. “Not the most conducive to sleep, is it? What’s your pain like this morning?”

Meghan thought for a moment. “Probably a 2/10. More like an annoying ache than anything.”

Julie asked about her hunger levels, her toileting habits during her stay, and how easily she was getting around. “I know Dr. Sanders will be around in an hour or so. Dr. Scott left orders for some potassium tablets and IV magnesium, so I’ll get that hung and started. I’ll be right back.” She left the room, returning a few minutes later. She carried a liter bag of Normal Saline plus a smaller infusion bag, along with a medicine cup with two large pills in it.

She handed the cup with the pills to Meghan, who used her coffee to wash them down. Julie changed out the bag of fluids that was almost dry and hooked up the magnesium to the pump. “The magnesium may burn a bit, but it will be okay.”

She set the machine, made sure the infusion was going in correctly, and then left the room.

Dr. Sanders’ visit was uneventful, just a repeat check on how Meghan was feeling and going over the lab work that Dr. Scott had ordered. Meghan for one was glad that the morning for her was quiet. She slept some and flipped channels on the TV, nothing really drawing her attention.

Around 10:00 am, a knock sounded at Meghan’s door. “Come in!”

Dr. Brant opened the door and walked in. It was obviously his day off: instead of his usual scrubs, he was dressed in jeans, a red polo shirt, and boating shoes. “Hey there Meghan. How are you feeling?”

“I’m doing okay. They’re getting me all fixed up here.” She gestured to the IV.

Dr. Brant pulled over the rolling stool and sat down by her bed. “I’m glad to hear that.”

Meghan ran a hand through her hair, feeling a little self-conscious in front of the doctor. “How come I have a feeling this isn’t a professional visit?”

Dr. Brant nodded, his expression turning grim. “I’m sure you’re aware that Mitch and I are good friends. I swung by the house this morning and peeked through the back door window. Meghan, I can’t let any of you go back to that house until stuff gets cleaned up. It looks like a war zone in there.” He sighed. “Truth be told, I almost threw up when I saw it.” He shook his head.

Meghan swallowed. “It was a bad arterial bleed. What do you suggest? I must admit I don’t want to go back there until things are cleaned up.”

“Well, I’ve contacted a trauma scene cleanup crew. They’re waiting to come in and clean, but I need a key. Did Mitch or Kelsey give you one, perhaps?”

“No, I never got a key from them. And Kelsey’s purse is still in the house.”

“So that leaves Mitch’s. Do you happen to know where he is? He wasn’t in Kelsey’s room.”

“I shooed him off to a call room for some rest. It sounded like Kelsey had a very rough night, and he didn’t get much sleep. I can page him.” Meghan reached for a slip of paper on the nightstand and the phone. She dialed in the numbers and left a message for Mitch to come to see her.

Rick and Meghan made small chat for a few minutes. A knock sounded, and the door pushed open. Mitch still looked rumpled, but he at least looked more awake. “You paged?” He noticed Rick and went to shake his friend’s hand.

“Mitch, I need your house keys.”

Mitch blinked, but dug into his pocket, pulling out his keychain. He removed the ring with his house keys and handed them to Rick. “I take it you’ve been to the house.”

Rick nodded. “Believe me, Mitch, you don’t need to see it. I’ve got a company ready to clean everything up. They’ll be at work within the hour. I’ll find you when they’re done.” Mitch nodded.

Rick got up and headed for the door. “It’ll be a few hours, but things will be ready when I return.” He stopped in the doorway and looked at Mitch and Meghan. “Mitch, as a friend, go get something to eat, get a shower, and take Meghan to see her sister.”

Mitch nodded, and Rick left. Mitch looked at Meghan. “I guess I need to go obey the doctor’s orders. Want anything from the cafeteria? Some more coffee, perhaps?”

Meghan gave him a small smile. “Sure, when you get back. I might suggest the shower first? You’re looking rather haggard still.”

Mitch smiled. “Sure. Don’t want to scare the cooks.” He headed for the door.

Mitch returned an hour later. He was in fresh scrubs, hair still wet from his shower, and carrying a cup of coffee. “Back with coffee as ordered.”

Meghan eyed him critically. “Better. Although you still have shaving cream on your left ear.” She giggled.

Mitch handed her coffee, which she took gratefully. He snagged a hand towel from near the sink and scrubbed at his ears. “Did I get it?”

“Yep, you got it.” She sighed, shifted on the bed, and sipped at the coffee.

Mitch looked at her. “Pain level, Meghan?”

“Only a 2. No, really,” she protested, seeing the look he gave her. “My body just wants out of bed.”

“Well, let’s see if I can spring you to go up and visit with Kelsey.” Mitch started to stand from the chair he’d sat down in when Julie popped into the room.

“Are you two forming an escape plan?” She winked at Meghan, who looked at Mitch’s trapped expression.

“Well….”

“If I may be so bold, let me chat with Dr. Sanders. I think she was already working on discharge paperwork for this afternoon; let’s see if we can spring you a little earlier than that. I’ll send Brian in to help you change back into the scrubs you came in wearing, and with Dr. Sanders’ approval, I’ll pull that IV. Gimme a few minutes, and I’ll be back.” She left as quickly as she had come.

Mitch and Meghan looked at each other and started laughing. “Well, I think that’ll work!”

Brian came in a few minutes later, and Mitch excused himself while Meghan changed. Mitch wandered over to the nurse’s station and saw Dr. Sanders doing paperwork. She looked up as he leaned on the counter. “Dr. Branston, I presume.”

“Yes. How’s work this morning?”

She gave him a look. “If you’re trying to butter me up, there’d better be a Danish on my desk.” She sighed and looked at the paperwork in front of her. “Aside from the fact that I’ve got a raging headache first thing this morning, things are fine. And Julie’s already put in your escape request. I’ll have the paperwork ready in a couple of minutes. How’s your wife?”

Mitch laughed at her “blackmail” request, then sobered at her question. “It was a rough night, and it took a while to get her pain under control. I’m hoping to take her home tonight, but we’ll see.”

Dr. Sanders nodded. “I know you’ve got a lot of friends here on staff. If you need anything, let us know, okay?”

Mitch nodded. “Yeah, I’ve already been chatting with a few, pulling a couple of favors. I’ve now got two women who will be demanding my attention. I’ve filed for FMLA leave for the next couple of months until I get Kelsey’s therapy underway.”

“Well, as I said, you have friends here. Let us know if we can help, even if it’s babysitting your invalids while you work a shift for your sanity.” She winked.

He snorted. “Yeah, I’ll probably lose friends that way.” He looked at her. “What flavor of Danish do you want?”

She laughed. “I’m not too picky. Okay, go away so I can get your sister-in-law’s paperwork done.” She shooed him from the desk, and he headed for the elevators.