by N. C. Reed
“He's got a pulse,” I heard the muffled statement from twenty feet away. “Let's get him out of here.” The two moved away with a little quicker step. I was under no illusions that Vaccine Guy was going to get medical treatment. If he was lucky he'd get a bullet to the head. Jacobs got back just as the two left with Vaccine Guy. He was wearing a black tactical outfit now, complete with thigh holster and web gear.
“Thanks, Drake,” he told me. “I got it.”
“Sure thing, Ham,” I nodded. “They just got Vaccine Guy out. One of 'em said he had a pulse. No idea what they're doing with him.”
“I don't want to know,” Ham shrugged. “I really don't. You gonna be around?” he asked.
“Long as Doctor Kane is, yeah,” I nodded.
“Keep your eyes open,” he told me. “I need another set of eyes. Long as you're here and don't mind, I can use the help.”
“You got it,” I promised.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
You know, time sure flies when you're having fun.
And it drags like a stick in your shoe laces when you ain't.
By two o'clock I was so bored I could have cried. I mean seriously cried, just for some kind of tension relief. But that would have been unmanly and all, so I had to suck it up. I had pitched in here and there to help out, but mostly I just stayed out of the way.
There hadn't been any more 'scares' since Vaccine Guy and Towel Girl- I really need to quit calling them that, but thing is I never got their names. Not sure anyone did. Anyway. There hadn't been anything else like that and no one in to get a bite treated. After them it was just standard ER stuff, though maybe a bit more of it. Part of that I figured was because so many doctor's offices, like Connie's, were closed. That left the ER.
Jacobs kept order pretty well the few times someone acted up. It wasn't often, and even then it was usually an irate parent angry that 'little Billy' wasn't getting treated fast enough or that 'little Millie' should have been seen ahead of 'Little Billy', that kind of crap. People were scared, that's all. Add the fear of the end of the world to the fear of a sick of hurt child and there you go. Instant problems.
As three o'clock rolled nearer and nearer I saw Connie and Doctor Smith in a hushed little conversation near the nurse's station. As they were talking a middle aged woman with a face that only a mother or a man after money could really love walked up to them, hands on her hips and an angry look on her face.
I decided that I had now seen 'Madeline' the hospital administrator.
There was a quiet but animated discussion that involved some finger pointing, some other hand gestures, and from the way Madeline's face flushed at least a little bit of name calling. I couldn't hear what was being said and Connie hadn't motioned me over so I sat still and watched.
At one point Jacobs was called over and Madeline began talking to him. He stood there about fifteen seconds and then shook his head at the overbearing woman and walked away, leaving her in a huff and leaving Connie and Smith gloating just a bit. Finally 'Madeline' stalked away and Connie walked over to where I was sitting.
“Guess what?” she asked tiredly, sitting beside me for a minute.
“The night shift doctors aren't coming and she's trying to make you and Smith stay,” I guessed. “She tried to get Jacobs to back her and he refused. I'm guessing you and Smith both decided to stay for half the next shift and she's got to try and get the late night people in here by then. How's that?”
By that point her eyes were as wide as they could probably get and her mouth was making a little 'O' of amazement. Hey, sometimes I am amazing, you know?
“How in the world did you know any of that?” she finally managed to ask.
“All lucky guesses,” I admitted. “I haven't seen her in here all day, she suddenly shows up at quitting time talking to you two and both of you look mad. Judging by her face at times neither of you were very nice to her, and she tried to get Jacobs to use his 'po'leece' authority to make you stay on the job. He pretty much told her to kiss his ass and went back to work at which point the two of you spoke to each other like she wasn't there then said something short to her. She storms out and now here you are asking 'guess what?' That pretty much covers it,” I finished, feigning disinterest. Honestly I was disappointed that we weren't going home, but it was her call, not mine.
“Amazing,” she shook her head. “Right down to Smith calling her a dictator and me calling her a shrew,” she laughed.
“Looks like it fits,” I nodded. “Well, I guess I should see if I can round us up something to eat if we're going to be here a while longer. Give me some choices I can make for you depending on what's available. Smith too, if he's hungry. I'll check with Jacobs.”
“You aren't mad are you?” she asked, biting her lip just a little.
“Of course not,” I scoffed. “No reason to be. You're a doctor. You'd never leave all these people with no one to care for them. One of the reasons I love you.”
I said it before I thought. In fact I wasn't thinking. I could tell right away that I'd either said something very right or completely wrong. Isn't it funny how that line is so small? So thin?
Connie's eyes widened slightly and a flush hit her cheeks.
“Ah, I didn't mean to startle you there,” I said into the gulf of silence. “Or upset you, if it did,” I added when she didn't say anything. “Uh, Connie?” I asked, resisting the urge to run away.
“I. . . .” she started, but then stopped. I could tell she was struggling to come up with something. I knew how she felt.
“Look, I'm sorry,” I said gently. “I swear I wasn't trying to-”
“It's okay,” she smiled suddenly, almost shyly. “Don't be sorry, either,” she added, moving to where I stood. She eased up on her tiptoes and kissed me just a little.
“You know what? I'll take a cheeseburger and fries if you can scrounge me one up,” she whispered. “And a Coke.”
“Done deal,” I nodded. “Check with Smith and I'll talk to Ham and then go get us something.”
“Okay,” she nodded and went to ask her associate what he might want to eat. I found Jacobs standing at the entrance of the ER, looking out at the waiting room.
“Hey man,” I said softly. “We're staying another few hours, looks like,” I told him.
“Yeah, I know,” he nodded, his eyes never leaving the waiting room. “Man it's a mess out there,” he sighed.
“I'm going to see about rummaging up something to eat. You want anything?” He finally looked at me then.
“You think anything will be open?”
“No idea, but if I'm extremely lucky Jacks is still open because I seriously need a Big Jack,” I grinned.
“I'll take two,” he laughed. “And two fries, but without that cheesy junk they put on them,” he added, reaching for his wallet.
“I know, right? My treat man,” I waved his hand off. “I'm collecting for Connie and Doctor Smith, too. I'll be back when I can. I assume as long as I can find you something dead in bread, it'll be okay?”
“Suits,” he nodded. “Man you really need to be careful out there. It's bad and getting worse.”
“I'll watch it,” I agreed. I left him to find Connie waiting for me.
“Doctor Smith said he'd take a burger as well,” she grinned. “Since it's the end of the world why not load up on fast food.”
“Sounds like a smart man,” I nodded firmly. “Okay, I'm off to see what I can dig up. You watch yourself until I get back.”
“You watch yourself, mister,” she pushed a finger into my chest in warning. “You'll be out among all that crazy.”
“I'll be very careful,” I promised. “I have every reason to be safe and come back unharmed,” I winked. She blushed slightly and kissed me lightly again. She slipped me her key card so I could get myself in and out the back door and off I went, into the Zombie Apocalypse.
*****
I had actually meant that to be funny, but once I was outside and on the move, things rea
lly did look bad. I mean, not actual, real life Zombie Apocalypse bad, at least not yet, but . . . saying town looked like a war zone, at least in places, wasn't really inaccurate. There were fires in at least three places judging by the smoke columns, some looting on a small scale here and there, I saw at least four fist fights and three groups of armed citizens who were clearly standing guard over their stores or neighborhoods. And that was all in a five block range. The last block was back to the highway which is where I saw most of the criminal activity and the smoke. Shaking my head I turned onto the street and eased toward my favorite heart attack in a bag joint. Hey, what's the point of being hooked up with a doctor if you don't live a little badly right?
Anyway. The situation had deteriorated a good bit since we'd arrived this morning. The further from the hospital I got the worse it looked. I saw a few police but they were all running somewhere with lights and sirens. I saw two ambulances and knew that it would be a while before Connie got to eat, assuming I found her anything.
Most of the stores that had been open this morning were closed, including all but two of the around-the-clock variety. Both were out of gas or I would have tried to fill up. True, I had fuel at home and Big Baby was still mostly full, but an ounce of prevention, right?
I was starting to worry that nothing would be open when I spied one plucky C-Store owner who was still trying. He had a drive through window which was just awesome and I pulled up to it.
“You got cash?” he demanded through the speaker.
“Well, that depends,” I smiled. “You got change?” and held up a twenty. He nodded and opened the window.
I bought eight Cokes and eight more Powerades of various flavors. Or colors, depending on how you looked at it.
“How long you gonna try to hang on?” I asked, wondering if he'd be here for another run if I had to make one.”
“Maybe sundown,” he admitted. “It's dangerous now and getting worse by the minute. I'm going to leave before dusk and hopefully get home before it's completely dark. I doubt I'll be back to be honest.”
“Can't say I blame you,” I admitted. “If that's the case, let me get that order again, just in case,” I said, handing over more money. Soon I had a seat full of soft drinks and was ready to look for something to eat.
“Good luck,” I told the guy and he waved as I drove off. I hoped he made it.
Back on the highway I made my way down to the intersection and saw that the Jacks sign was lit up. That was not a guarantee that I would be getting a burger, but it was encouraging. I narrowly avoided being hit by a soccer man in a soccer van as I pulled into the parking lot, with her showing me her long middle finger as her opinion of my driving. It apparently didn't occur to mom of the year that A) her kids were in the back seat watching, and B) she was the one at fault.
Road rage was never one of my weaknesses and I let if slide away. I had so much bigger fish to fry. I mean, so to speak.
Bless capitalism in all it's hedonistic forms. Jacks was indeed open for business the cheery voice behind the magic box informed me. I gleefully ordered two burgers for everyone else and three for me, eight orders of fries sans 'cheesy salt' (that crap really is awful) and at the last minute added a fried pie for everyone. What the hell, right?
I pulled to the window and paid, waiting patiently for my cholesterol destroying goodies while surfing the radio.
In a movie, this would have been the part where some thug came up and tried to steal my truck and I shot/stabbed/punched/ran over him. Lucky for me this wasn't a movie because I am not an action hero, and no miscreant appeared. Soon I was being handed bag after bag of decadent deliciousness.
“How long will you guys try to stay open?” I asked. Need-to-know information right there.
“Until the food's gone,” the manager shrugged. “There's no reason not to keep serving, since it looks like we won't get more any time soon and I expect orders to close up shop any time. But as long as I've got someone to help me and we've got food. . .well, people have to eat. We're feeding the cops, firemen and paramedics for free.”
“Damn, I wish I had known that,” I laughed. “I just bought for the cop and two doctors at the ER.”
“If you come back, I'll remember you,” he promised. “If we're still serving, the next one will be on me.”
“That's pretty cool of you, man,” I nodded my thanks. “You guys be careful though. People are crazy out here. Could get dangerous in a hurry.”
“There's me and three others and we're all armed,” he informed me. “Against store policy, but. . .I've seen the videos. What are they gonna do? Fire me?”
“Sure enough,” I nodded. “Take care and be careful.”
“You too,” he nodded then closed and locked the window. Another good guy. Seemed like the good folks always came out in bad times, you know?
The trip back was anti-climactic to say the least. I had expected trouble everywhere, but that wasn't the case. I mean there was trouble everywhere don't get me wrong, but none of it directed at me which was what I was worried about.
I had been gone well less than an hour when I parked Baby again behind the hospital and managed, somehow, to get all those sacks to the door. I had to swipe Connie's card three times to get the door to open but finally staggered in the door with my purchases. Making sure the door was closed I made the long trip back through the hallway maze to the ER.
I could see I had been right about the ambulances as people were running back and forth from four different rooms that had been empty when I left. Avoiding the scurrying staff by keeping well out of their way, I found a small office that the doctors used to write up reports sitting empty and placed all the sacks on the desk or in a chair. I got Jacobs' attention and waved him over, offering him the right bag and a Coke.
“Oh, man that looks good,” he rubbed his hands together. “Sure I can't pay you?”
“Cops are eating free at Jacks,” I shook my head, lying just a little. Guy was working his ass off. It didn't hurt me to be nice to him.
“All it took was the end of the world,” he chuckled. “I can sit here in the door and keep watch I guess,” he said to no one in particular, dragging a chair over to the doorway. I watched for Connie for a minute but didn't see her. I did see Mark the combat nurse and made my way to him.
“Know where Doctor Kane is?” I asked him.
“Room Six,” he replied without looking up from the bed he was working on. “Car wreck. Pretty bad. Soccer mom and two kids hit a semi.”
Nah, no way. I'd seen the ambulances before I'd seen the mom from hell. I shook it off and went back to the office. Connie would eat she she could. I unwrapped one of mine and started eating. I was extremely hungry.
“I had no idea how hungry I was,” Jacobs informed me as he stuffed a half-dozen fries in his mouth. “I don' thin' I a'e all da',” he added and I nodded as if I understood him. I was pretty sure he said “I don't think I ate all day,” but. . .I've been wrong before.
As I ate I thought about something the C-Store guy had said. Home before dark. I started thinking about what time it got dark, then about what time Connie would be free to leave assuming a four hour extension, adjusted for daylight savings time, carried the one and realized with a start that it would be nearly an hour after dark before we even left the hospital.
And there went my appetite.
*****
I should go ahead and admit here that I ate my burgers anyway. No way was I letting them go to waste. You might think I was getting tired of them but you would be completely wrong. There was nothing better so far as I was concerned, at least when it came to fast food. Sonic ran a close second, but it was still second in my opinion.
It was nearly thirty minutes before Connie and Doctor Smith had the chance to come and eat. Both looked drawn and near exhaustion. Both sat down at the small desk and tore into the food.
“What do I owe you?” Smith asked.
“Nothing,” I waved it away. “Money may not be any good
before the day's out, and anyway Jacks in feeding cops, firemen and paramedics for free. Manager said he'd add ER folks too. Well, doctors anyway,” I amended. No sense in creating a rush and I didn't know that they would feed nurses free. I should have asked I guess.
“I appreciate it,” he nodded, eating his food on auto-pilot.
“The mother may survive,” Connie said suddenly, her voice a little numb sounding.
“Possible,” he nodded absently. “May wish she hadn't once she realizes her children didn't make it. According to the paramedics the wreck was her fault.”
I made myself a promise right then that I wasn't going to go and look into that. If it was the same woman, I didn't want to know. I hadn't wished anything bad on her, but. . .I don't know. It just seemed like I didn't want to know. Does that make sense?
Anyway.
“We've got another two hours before the midnight shift should be coming in,” Connie said, bringing up a subject that we were all avoiding. Namely, what would the two of them do if they doctors didn't come in like they were supposed to?
“I've got children at home,” Smith shrugged. “I've done all I can do and I have to think of my own family at some point.” He was almost defensive but I didn't see a reason for it. He was right, you know? His family had to take precedence in something like this. He wouldn't be much of a dad if his kids didn't come first. My opinion of him rose another notch.
“I don't have any children but I'm exhausted,” Connie admitted. “I'll be back in the morning,” she said then looked at me. I nodded quietly. If she wanted to come back I'd see to it she got here if I could.
“But I'm leaving when my time is up,” she finished after I nodded. “I don't want to be out after dark and I'm not staying here all night. Tired doctors make mistakes.”
“I saw Patrick a few minutes ago,” Smith offered. “I know he wasn't here earlier, so he's probably going to work the late shift. At least there will be a P.A. As far as tomorrow, I don't know,” he shook his head. “If my family is safe then yeah, I'll probably come back at least one more day. But that's all I'm willing to promise. And that depends on my family's safety, like I said.”