Meghan made her way back to Kelsey’s hospital room and was pleased to see that her sister had changed into real clothes. “Decided to change, eh?”

Kelsey smiled at her sister. “Absolutely! Feels good to be wearing something other than a hospital gown.”

“Don’t I know it!” Meghan sat down in a nearby chair and placed her purse on the floor. “I wish I wasn’t headed straight back into another one.” She sighed.

Mitch glanced at Kelsey. “So how did the appointment go?”

Meghan gave him a look. “Fine, but I wish you’d have warned me that Dr. Meyers who was here visiting Kelsey this weekend was the surgeon you’d referred me to.”

He looked at her, puzzled. “Why, is something wrong?”

She shook her head at him. “No, but it still would have been nice to have that heads-up.”

Mitch looked at Kelsey to help him understand. “He’s cute, and she was having nice thoughts,” Kelsey explained.

“Yeah, nice thoughts that don’t end in being examined by another hunk of a doctor,” Meghan muttered.

Kelsey shook her head in sympathy. “Been there, done that, sis. It surprisingly can end well.” She smirked at Mitch, who appeared to finally understand what Meghan was referring to.

“Sorry, Meghan, I obviously was oblivious.”

She waved away his apology. “It is what it is. The biggest thing is that surgery is now scheduled for next week on Thursday, and I’m supposed to report to pre-op at 5 am.” She shifted on the chair and looked at her sister. “Change of subject – any idea when they plan to spring you?”

“Probably close to 2 pm, according to the latest from the nurses. Why, have a hot date?” Kelsey teased.

Meghan laughed. “Well, kinda. I ran into Jerry and Bill from work, and apparently, everyone’s planning on breakfast out tomorrow morning. Jerry has offered to come to play chauffeur, but I wasn’t sure if that’d be okay or if you’d need me around in the morning tomorrow.”

Mitch smiled. “You’re our house guest, not our prisoner. You should go enjoy hanging out with your coworkers.”

“Yes, you should go!” Kelsey urged. “I know you have talked about these breakfasts of epic proportions. It’ll be fun for you!”

“Okay, then, I’ll go. I’ll text Jerry and let him know.” Meghan pulled out her phone and texted Jerry, telling him that she would love to go and giving him the address again, just in case.

I remember where it is. See you at 7:15. Run – gotta go. TTYL

“Done!” She put her phone back in her purse.

**********

Kelsey was wheeled out of her hospital room at precisely 2:06 pm. Mitch wheeled her down the hall to the elevators, Meghan crutching behind. They entered the elevator and Meghan pressed for floor 3.

“Why are we going to three?” Kelsey asked.

“Every time we see someone from your ward they ask us to bring you by. Can’t say we didn’t hold up our end,” Mitch chuckled. Kelsey looked at him and gave him a big smile.

“Well, with that much demand, I guess I’d better put in an appearance.” She touched her hair. “Too bad I couldn’t do much with this mess. Oh, well.”

“You look fine, honey.” The doors opened, and Mitch wheeled her out of the elevator and down the hall. After a couple of turns, they walked through the open doors and into the Gyn Surgery Ward.

“Kelsey!” one of the nurses cried, and soon they were surrounded by well-wishers. There was a lot of shock at her hand, dismay over the accident, and plenty of well-wishes and offers of assistance if they needed any.

Mitch already knew a lot of the staff, but Meghan was less familiar with everyone, this not being a ward she regularly transported from. She tried her best to remember names and faces as she was introduced, knowing that she would soon be a patient of theirs in less than two weeks.

A couple of the surgeons, hearing the small commotion, came out of their offices to see what was happening, and came over to see the invalid nurse. Kelsey by this time had gotten out of the wheelchair and was standing, bandaged arm in a sling, chatting with everyone.

Dr. Meyers joined the group, spotted Meghan, and nodded. She gave him an awkward wave and focused back on the nurse chatting with her. He came over to Mitch’s side. “She kept her appointment today. It’s a good thing we’re removing that cyst. I heard she’s scheduled for late next week.”

“Next Thursday,” Mitch confirmed. They chatted for a while on unrelated subjects before Mitch finally broke up the party. “Okay everyone, I’ve shared Kelsey long enough! I’m going to take her home so I can have her undivided attention.” This brought a round of laughter and Kelsey made her way back towards her husband.

They said their goodbyes, and Kelsey walked out of the hospital with her family. The drive home was short, which was good for both sisters. Both were starting to feel the effects of pain meds wearing off, and both showed signs of needing naps.

Mitch was glad to have his wife home but was also sensitive to her need for more rest. He helped her inside and put her to bed after making sure Meghan was situated. He handed Kelsey a glass of water after giving her the pain pill to take. “I’ll try you in here, in our room, but if you think it’s too hard to get around, then I can always bunk you in with Meghan.”

Kelsey smiled after swallowing the pill, passing the empty glass back to Mitch. “I know that hospital bed in with Meghan might be the best option, but I do want to try to stay in here with you.”

He leaned over and kissed her. “Two sisters, both banged up. Be patient as I do my best for both of you. I love you, Kelsey Branston. Get some rest.”

“I love you too, Mitch Branston.” She closed her eyes and was soon asleep. Mitch watched her for a while before heading to his office. A quick peek at Meghan showed that she too was taking a nap.

***********

Meghan was up bright and early the next morning, getting ready for when Jerry would show up. She picked a blue button-down top and a flowing, knee-length, dark blue skirt, unconsciously dressing as best she could to match her normal work uniform. Mitch had picked up a cast shoe for her, so she struggled into that on her left foot and a sneaker on the right. Her hair went back up into its normal ponytail, and she chose her smaller crossbody purse.

Mitch stepped out of the exam room as she exited hers. “How did it go for Kelsey last night,” she asked.

“It was a bit rough, but I think we got it figured out. I had to find some extra pillows from the other guest room for her arm.” Mitch looked at her. “And how was your night?”

“A little tough getting to sleep,” she admitted. “My mind was occupied with the upcoming surgery and excitement about breakfast this morning.”

Mitch chuckled. “Well, I hope you have fun. We’ll be here all day, so take your time.”

Meghan glanced at her watch. “I plan to! Jerry should be here soon. Is Kelsey awake?”

“I think so. She was when I came in here about 10 minutes ago.”

Mitch led the way back to their bedroom and pushed the door open. Kelsey was sitting up against the headboard, arm resting on a couple of pillows in her lap. “Morning, sis!”

“Morning yourself! How’s the arm doing?”

Kelsey sighed. “Being a bugger with the throbbing, but I’ll live. Glad to be home and in my own bed!”

Meghan smiled. “I’m sure! I’ll be heading out in a few minutes for breakfast. Do you need me to grab anything while I’m out? Jerry owes me a few favors.” She winked at her sister.

“No,” Kelsey laughed. “I’m good. Nothing that a few hours alone with my favorite doctor won’t solve.” She grinned at Mitch.

Meghan heard a knock at the front door. “That’s probably Jerry. You two have fun, and I’ll see you later!” She left their bedroom and made her way to the door. She opened it to reveal Jerry.

She stepped outside, shut the door, and locked it with the house key Mitch had provided her two days after Kelsey’s accident. She made her way to Jerry’s truck and climbed in. He shut the door for her after placing her crutches in the truck’s back seat, then made his way to the driver’s side. He climbed in, buckled up, and started the truck.

“How was the shift?” Meghan asked as they rode.

“Oh, pretty good, if a little busy. Seemed like the transfers were never-ending, had a couple of drunks from a bar fight to deal with, and an emphysema patient.” Jerry checked his mirrors before changing lanes.

“Pretty typical day, then,” Meghan remarked. “I’m wondering when the board is going to finally hire some EMT crews to start dealing with all the transfers.”

“Yes, they need to start looking into HANG ON!” Jerry swerved to avoid the wreck that happened right in front of them. A black Jeep had just plowed into the back of a white car that had made a sudden stop to turn. Jerry successfully avoided the collision and pulled into the next lane over, turning on his hazard lights and turning off the truck. “Meghan, you okay?” She nodded. “First aid bag is behind you. I’ve only got one safety vest, so stay close to the sidewalk.” With that, he grabbed his vest and hopped out to start checking on the vehicles’ occupants.

Meghan grabbed the first aid kit and her crutches. She had already grabbed a pair of gloves from her purse and put them on. Then she noticed the handheld radio in Jerry’s truck. She turned it on and tested it, then turned to channel 1, which she knew was direct to dispatch.

“Medic 18 to Dispatch.”

Go ahead Medic 18.

“I have an MVA at Bellaire and Kickapoo. Two vehicles, rear-end collision. Looks like 4 occupants. One is ambulatory. Myself and Medic 21 are on-scene as first response. I need Fire, PD, and 2 ambulances to respond.”

Copy, Medic 18, MVA at Bellaire and Kickapoo. Additional units being dispatched now.

“Ten-4.” Meghan hooked the radio to her skirt waist and headed towards the wreck. She saw the driver of the white car had already gotten out and was wandering around the scene, holding his arm. She looked the other way and saw Jerry reaching in to open the door of the Jeep. She waved, got his attention, and motioned like making a phone call, gave a thumbs-up, and then pointed to the ambulatory man. He nodded and focused back on the patient in front of him.

Meghan crutched over to the man and got his attention. “Hey there! Come here! Let’s see what’s wrong with you. Where does it hurt?”

He focused on her and stepped closer. “I was driving and stopped to pull into the parking lot when that Jeep hit me! I signaled and everything!”

“Shh, shh, it’s okay. Let’s not worry about the car right now, let’s worry about you. Why don’t you take a seat right here,” she directed, motioning to the curb. She was able to get him to sit down and started asking questions. He was able to answer appropriately, and she deemed that his wrist was the worst injury he had. She opened the first aid bag and was glad to see bandages and a SAM splint. She splinted the man’s arm and instructed him to wait for more emergency personnel to arrive.

Slinging the bag over her shoulder, Meghan made her way to the other side of the Jeep. “Did you check out the car?”

Jerry nodded. “No one else in there. How’s the driver?” He motioned his head towards the man.

“Broken arm, maybe a concussion, but oriented.” She opened the passenger door on the Jeep. The passenger was seat belted in, but unconscious. Blood came from his nose, and there was a gash on his forehead. She dug into the bag for gauze and tape, bandaging the gash and then checking the blood around his nose. She tried a sternal rub, which got a groan from her patient but couldn’t get him to otherwise respond.

“Meghan, hand me the BP cuff, will you?” Jerry asked. She dug out the cuff and a stethoscope and passed them across their two patients. “Is he unconscious?”

“Yes, GCS score of 7. Gash on his forehead, and bloody nose, presumably from the airbag. I’m hearing sirens,” she said, as the distant wail of a fire truck grew louder. “How’s yours?”

“Shocky, broken femur, and a flail segment. I need to get fluids into him pronto.” The BP cuff hissed. “Crap.”

Meghan, who had been doing a trauma assessment on her patient, glanced up at him. “What?”

“BP in the 60s systolic. And I don’t have anything.”

The fire truck whooshed to a stop by the scene, sirens off but strobes still going to warn others of the accident. Meghan looked up to see who was responding and was glad to see Tony had responded, one of the few Firefighter-Paramedics on the department. “Jerry, Tony’s here. He should be carrying fluids.” She swung out of the jeep and hollered. “Tony! We need fluids on the double!”

He heard her, waved, and opened a bay on the side of the truck, pulling out a large medical bag. He jogged towards them. Meghan pointed towards Jerry and he headed his way. Meghan heard Tony and Jerry conversing while focusing on her patient. She was startled when a hand touched her elbow.

“Easy, Meghan! What do you have?”

“Unconscious passenger, restrained, gash to forehead and nosebleed from the airbag. Not really sure why he is unconscious, but I think he might have some internal bleeding from his seatbelt: it’s resting more over his abdomen than his pelvis. I want him out on a longboard.” She stepped back and let the firefighters in to handle the scene. She started backing away from the Jeep when she felt a little piece of glass in her cast shoe. She froze.

Parker, who responded in a second fire truck, caught her elbow. “Meghan! Are you okay?”

“Yes, but I think I just got a piece of glass in my cast shoe.” She gestured to her left foot.

He bent down and removed her shoe carefully, and shook it out. A piece of glass fell out, and he replaced the shoe for her. “There you go! You weren’t part of this accident, were you?”

She shook her head as she started walking again towards the sidewalk. “Jerry and I were on our way to breakfast at the café with everyone, and wreck here happened right in front of us.” She stepped up onto the curb and sat down. She noticed that a couple of firefighters were already working with the man with the broken arm.

She was about to ask a question of Parker when she heard sirens again in the distance. “Good! I was about to ask for an ETA.” She got up again and started heading for the back of the Jeep, where she knew the ambulances would park. Parker, having gotten motioned by his Captain to stay with her, followed. She met up with the crews coming out of their trucks. “Two-vehicle MVA. White car had one occupant, walking wounded with a broken arm, there by the sidewalk. Jeep has two occupants, driver has flail chest and broken femur, Jerry’s with him. Passenger may have internal injuries, GCS 7, gash to his forehead and bloody nose from the airbag.” She received nods and they hurried towards the scene. She turned on her crutches to watch them.

Parker smiled sympathetically. “Hard to be on the sidelines and watch, isn’t it?”

“Yes. I’d help set up for someone, but I’m so slow-moving on these things I’d just be in the way.” She sighed. "I guess I’ll go sit on the curb again. I can’t help, but at least it’s a front-row seat.” Roy, one of the other firefighters approached, holding out a safety vest. “Captain said for you to put this on.”

“Thanks. I found myself without one this time.” She put it on, feeling immediately better. It was a small gesture, practical under the circumstances, but it still made her feel a part of what was going on, and the quick moment of eye contact she had from the Captain confirmed that.