"I think she has a closed head injury. There was some blood coming from her nose, but she seems to be responsive and able to hear me and squeeze my fingers. I listened to her lungs but it's hard to tell until I see an x-ray. I think she definitely has a few broken ribs and bruising in her lungs. Her left lung collapsed at the scene, but I got it re-inflated when she arrived." He paused and put his hand on his friend's shoulder. "I didn't mean for you to come down here to be her doctor. You're still her emergency contact, that's why I called you."
"You did the right thing, Lyle. I know I'm not supposed to treat her. Thanks for allowing me to anyway. I would've done the same if I were in your situation. I'm going to get some coffee, call me when she comes back."
"Will do."
~
Mac grabbed a cup of stale coffee and stepped into the tiny hospital chapel. She crossed her heart as she sat in the last pew.
"You know I don't come in here and bother you unless it's very serious. I believe the last time I was here was last year when I needed help with that baby that had pneumonia and slipped into a coma. You helped me with him and I thank you as often as I remember to." She took a sip of her coffee and winced at the taste. She had to load it up with sugar to make it drinkable.
"This time, it's personal. I'm sure you know what happened to Loren so I won't go into details. This one's out of my hands and I need your help now more than ever. Please give us the power to help her. We can't do it alone, me especially. I'll do anything you ask of me, just help me save Loren. She needs me and I need you. If this is as serious as I think it is, she could be a vegetable, worst of all, she could…die." A few tears rolled down her face. "I know you have your plans, but please consider my request. She's not ready to go, help me save her."
Mac's phone began to vibrate. Mac crossed her chest once more and walked out of the chapel before answering.
"Dr. Trotter."
"Mac, it's Lyle, she's on her way back."
Mac rushed back to the ER and was standing by the doorway when Loren's gurney was wheeled back into her trauma room. She went to work next to Lyle immediately trying to maintain stability until radiology called with the results. She checked Loren's vitals again as the machine breathed through the tube for her. Every time she lifted Loren's eyelids her pupils were different sizes. Don't think of the signs Mackenzie, they aren't always right.
"Mac, radiology is on line two."
She practically snatched the phone off of the wall.
"Dr. Trotter, your patient has a contusion on the left frontal lobe of her brain. It's swelling rapidly. She also has some severe bruising on her left lung and three broken ribs on the left side. On a good note everything else is fine. Her neck has some swollen tissue, but nothing extensive. I called neurosurgery and left an urgent message for them to call you."
"Thanks."
Mac hung up the phone and quickly received the call from neurosurgery.
"Dr. Trotter."
"This is Dr. Green, in Neurology."
"I have a MVA victim down here that needs an immediate surgery consult. She has a contusion that is swelling on the left frontal lobe that is swelling."
"I'm on the way, have her sent up to the OR. Number four is prepped and ready to go," he said.
"Green?"
"It's personal, do you think I could…"
"Sure. Just don't get in the way."
"I'll bring her myself."
~
Two hours later Doctor Green finished placing the bandage around Loren's head. He had just drilled a small hole into the left front of her head and put in a tiny tube for the blood and excess fluid to drain out of. He stitched the hole closed around the tube and wrapped her head in a bandage. He and his staff put her in a halo-like device to hold her head completely still so that nothing happened to the tube.
"All you can do now is pray, Trotter, it's out of our hands," he said stepping away from the table.
"Thanks," she said shaking his hand.
"I believe she'll recover. We caught the swelling early and her brain activity is high."
~
Mac was sitting behind her desk, staring at the walls when she heard a faint knock on her door. She looked down at her watch. Nine a.m. already.
"Come in," she said.
Kylie appeared in the doorway. "Hey."
Mac half smiled at her. "Hi."
"The guys at the station told me about it. How is she?"
"We had to put a tube in her head, her brain's bruised and swelling. She's in a very light coma that the neurologist induced to help her brain handle the swelling. She has some broken ribs and a bruised lung that collapsed at the scene of the accident so she is on a ventilator."
Kylie walked behind the desk and bent down to hug Mac. "I'm so sorry, honey."
"I know. Thanks. She'll be okay, she's tough as nails and pig headed as hell. I'm sure she'll wake up talking about some deadline that she's late for." Mac tried to smile.
"Did you call her family?"
"No, I'm waiting a little bit. It's the middle of the night in Brazil."
~
Three days later Mac was checking on Loren in the Intensive Care Unit when her eyes popped open.
"Hey, don't try to speak, and don't move. I need to check your chest and then I'll pull that tube out okay. Squeeze my finger if you understand what I'm saying." Loren squeezed and a tear rolled down her cheek. "Don't be scared, I'm here with you."
Mac grabbed the phone and dialed the intercom."Dr. Green, you're needed in ICU One immediately."
Dr. Green came rushing though the door. "What's wr…"
"She's awake, her lungs sound okay. You're the doctor in-charge of her chart, so you have to authorize the removal of the ventilator."
He listened to both lungs and nodded. "Yeah, let's go ahead and pull it out. Her lungs sound a lot better. Okay Loren, don't move at all. We need you to try to be as still as possible. Take a deep breath and swallow. We will remove the tube as you exhale," he said to her.
As soon as the tube was out of her throat Loren began coughing. Mac starting massaging her chest softly between her breasts to relax her breathing.
"Mac…" She whispered hoarsely.
"Yes, I'm here."
"What happened? I …"
"You were in a car accident, sweetie. You're going to be fine, you broke some ribs and bruised your lungs so your chest will be sore for a while."
Loren slowly reached up towards her head. Mac quickly grabbed her hand and placed it back on the bed.
"My head…what…Mac…" Loren started crying. Mac bent down and wiped the tears from her face and kissed her cheek.
"You hurt your head pretty bad. Your brain was bruised and swelling. Dr. Green had to put a little tube on the side of your head by your hairline. It's draining excess fluid off of your brain. I don't want you to stress yourself out at all right now. You need to rest your head as much as possible. We'll take the tube out in a few more days when the swelling has gone down," Dr. Green said.
"I'm scared, Mac."
"I know, I'm here for you. I called your job and they all wish you the best and hope you get well soon. That's the last thing you should be thinking about right now, but I know you too well. I also called your Mom and Dad. They flew in last night and are at the hotel right now. They saw you early this morning and went back to get some sleep from the jet lag. I'll call them right now and tell them you're awake."
"Mac…thank you. I know you stayed with me. I kept hearing your voice while I was sleeping."
"Lyle called me when the ambulance brought you in. I was here within a few minutes and I've been at your side pretty much ever since."
"How long have I been here?"
"Almost four days."
"How did it happen?"
"You need to get your rest, Loren. We'll talk about it later. Right now your brain needs to be relaxed so that the bruising can heal."
~
A week later, Loren was released to go home. Mac decided to go stay w
ith her until she was healed enough to take care of herself. Kylie understood that Mac had to go where she was needed most. Loren's parents only stayed for a few days before flying back home.
"Thank you so much for doing this, Mac. You're always there when I need you. You know I still love you."
"I almost lost you, Loren. I still care about you. I always will." Mac sat with Loren on the couch and held her while she slowly went to sleep in Mac's arms.
Mac continued to take care of Loren, waiting on her hand and foot at the condo. She rushed home from work every day to take care of her. Stimpy moped around miserably, growling at Loren when she came near her.
"You're recovering very quickly." Mac said from the kitchen where she was making dinner.
"Really? I guess I don't know what to expect." Loren walked up behind her and kissed the back of her neck. Mac jumped and turned around.
"What ar…"
Loren pressed her lips to Mac's and without thinking Mac threw her arms around the beautiful woman and kissed her back. The tender kiss ended all too soon when Mac realized what she was doing.
"Loren, you're still recovering. You shouldn't stress yourself."
"I'm not doing anything strenuous…yet." She smiled and leaned in for another kiss. Mac kissed her and pulled away slightly, still holding Loren in her arms.
"You shouldn't be thinking of doing anything like that."
"My physical therapist said I'm as good as new. I'm not supposed to climb a mountain or run a marathon. He didn't say anything about sex. I bet if I was careful not to hit my head on anything it would be fine. I figure as long as we don't use the swing I'll be okay." She smirked.
Mac looked confused. "Excuse me? What swing?"
"It's a joke, Mac, lighten up. I've missed you so much. I'm trying to tell you I want you to make love to me."
"You…"
Loren ran her hands up Mac's back under her shirt and pressed her lips to Mac's.
"Loren, you're recovering from your injuries. You can't do anything strenuous and that includes making love," Mac said.
Loren scrunched her face. "Kissing isn't strenuous is it?"
"No," Mac said wrapping her arms gently around her.
Mac was awake when the sun came up with Loren sound asleep next to her. She quietly snuck out the bed, showered, and grabbed a banana from the kitchen before fixing Stimpy's breakfast.
"Don't look at me like that. What's your problem?" She scolded the dog that was shooting dagger eyes at her. "I know you hate her, that's your problem. Try being nice to her for a change."
Mac drove across the island, parked her Mini Cooper in the 'Reserved for Physicians' area of the garage and walked in through the ER.
"Morning, Mac. How's Loren?" Lyle caught up to Mac as she headed towards the elevator.
"Good, she's almost fully recovered."
"That's great to hear. So how are you doing?"
"I'm fine."
"I take it you broke it off with the firefighter."
"Why do you say that?" Mac stuck her hand out to hold the elevator doors open.
"She was in here last week on the Ambulance. She looked pretty beat. I don't think I've ever seen her not smiling."
"Look, I should get going, Lyle. I have a hundred things to do this morning before I see my patients." Mac stepped into the elevator and leaned her head against the back wall.
Once she was in her office, Mac closed the door and sat down in the swivel chair behind her desk. She picked up her cell phone and hit speed dial.
"Neil."
"Hey," Mac said.
"Mackenzie…how are you?"
"I'm good…sorry I haven't contacted you much."
"I know your busy. How's Loren?"
"She's much better, thanks for asking. Hey…uh…can I see you tonight?"
"Sure, my apartment or the boat?" Kylie questioned.
"Actually, do you think you can meet me down at the pier?"
"Okay? What time?"
"Eight?"
"That's fine, my shift ends at six."
~
"Hey, I'm glad you're home. I made dinner." Loren went up to Mac and kissed her lips.
"Smells good, what did you make?" Mac asked.
"Chicken with creamed spinach." Loren smiled proudly.
"Sounds good. Hey I need to go run some errands after dinner. I won't be gone long."
"Mac, I sit here all day and stare at the walls. I'm sure another hour or two won't hurt me. It would be nice to spend some time with you though. By the way, you'll need to take a few extra days off next week. My parents are coming to visit and I want you to be with us."
"I'll see what I can do."
~
Mac parked the tiny blue car by the curb and walked up to the Pier. She could see Kylie standing at the end watching the surf. Her curly black hair was down around her shoulders. Kylie turned around and threw her arms around the taller woman when Mac walked up to her.
"Hey, I've missed you." Kylie kissed Mac's soft lips.
"I've missed you too." Mac back away from her when the hug ended.
"When are you moving back to the boat?"
"I'm not," Mac said wryly.
"I thought she was better." Kylie looked quizzically at Mac.
"She is, that's what I wanted to talk to you about."
"No Mackenzie, don't you do this to me."
"Kylie I'm sorry. She…I…we have a history between us."
"You left her because you weren't happy. What the hell changed?"
"She did. I guess after her accident she realized life's too short to be a bitch to the people she loves."
"Do you love her?" Kylie was fighting back the tears.
"I have always loved her."
"You bitch!"
"Kylie…please…I hoped you would understand. I never meant to hurt you. I…I guess I just belong with her. She needs me."
"What about me…or us? I need you, Mackenzie."
"I'm sorry."
"You're staying with her because you think your leaving her caused this."
"That's not true," Mac growled.
"The hell it isn't. I can see it in your eyes."
Mac didn't say anything. She stared out at the stars. Ironically, the night sky was crystal clear.
"You slept with her didn't you?" Kylie let the tears fall down her cheeks.
"I'm sorry, Kylie. What else do you want me to say?"
"Nothing. Nothing at all." Kylie turned and walked back up the Pier.
Mac felt the warm tears begin to pour from her eyes. I hope to god you're doing the right thing, Trotter. You just broke that girl's heart.
Chapter Nine
"Neil, you want to talk? You've looked like shit for over a month now." Captain Smith sat down next to Kylie at the breakfast table.
"Is it effecting my job?" She questioned sarcastically.
"Well no, of course not."
"Then butt out," She growled.
"Neil, I've known you for a long time. You wear your emotions on your sleeve. Everyone is worried about you. So I guess you can say it's effecting everyone."
"Smith, come on, my life is of no one's concern except my own. Leave me alone. I have nothing to talk about."
"I thought that friend of the doctor's recovered from her accident."
"She did, two months ago."
"Oh...I'm sorry, Neil."
"Don't be." Kylie stood up and dumped the remaining contents of her cereal into the trash tossing the bowl in the sink. "Have Lawson clean the kitchen. I'm sick of being the maid around here. I'm the damn Lieutenant not some housewife." She stormed off.
~
"I'm sorry I wasn't able to take any more time off this week." Mac said standing in the kitchen with Loren. They had flown to Brazil to spend a week with her family since Loren was finally healthy enough to travel and would soon be returning work.
"It's okay, I'm sure my parents will understand why we can only stay a week. By the way, I'm glad you dumped tha
t little girlfriend of yours. Frankly, it was making me sick." Loren stated as she helped Mac make drinks for everyone.
"Excuse me?"
"You know what I mean. I'm glad you're here with me…where you belong. I'm sorry it took me nearly dying for you to see where you belonged."
Mac was furious. "Ugh! The nerve of you. You have no idea what I have been through."
"So you had a fling, I'm just saying…"
"No you don't Loren…you're not just saying anything."
"Keep your voice down my parents are in there."
"I don't care. They need to know the truth." Mac raised her voice even higher. "Leaving you was hard enough. I finally started over and then you had your accident. I don't blame you or your accident. I have always loved you and I was there for you when you needed me. It scared me to think I almost lost you. I came home and flew here with you to be with you and your family because I thought you had changed."
"Changed? Why would I change? You're the one that needs to grow up."
"I can definitely see you have not changed at all. And to think I broke that woman's heart because I thought I was meant to be here with you."
"And now?"
"Nothing has changed between us. You're still a bitch, bossing me around left and right."
"Fine, run back to your little girlfriend."
"I'm in love with her, Loren. I pushed everything aside for you, so I could take care of you, and this is how you treat me?"
"Look at the way you treat me. You stand in my parents' home and tell me you're in love with someone else."
"God damn it, Loren, you have no fucking clue." Mac flew through the hallway into the living room. "Mr. and Mrs. Staccia, I'm very sorry you had to hear this. I love you both dearly, and I love you daughter, as I always have. But, I haven't been in love with her for a long time." Mac went upstairs and packed her bag. As soon as the taxi arrived she was on her way to the airport.
~
Once she was back in the States, Mac went straight to her office at the hospital. Sitting down at her desk she called the Director of the Hospital, Martin Fleming. He had personally given her last promotion to her a few years back.
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