by Renee Roman
Blaze swallowed the bile that rose to burn her throat and she choked it away. “Yes.”
“So, you’ll scribble with your left and she’ll witness it. A formality.”
She turned away as she struggled to comprehend what her injury might mean, glad she was no longer in a fog.
“Ms. Carter…” Dr. Jonas said.
“It’s Blaze. I’m trusting you to put me back together, so first-name basis.”
He smiled at her then. “Rick. I’m going to do my very best.”
She stared at him for a minute. “I don’t suspect you’d ever do anything less.”
He squeezed her uninjured shoulder. “Sign the forms. I’ll meet you in the OR in a little while.”
After she’d signed the required papers, Trinity came back in to ask if she was up to talking with the police. They told her the guy behind the wheel was drunk and facing a slew of charges. She was grateful for the witnesses who had come forward in her defense, giving their version of what happened. It helped knowing she remembered details with a degree of clarity, but it did nothing to make her feel better about heading into a surgery that could end her career. Then what would she do? What were her options if she couldn’t do what she loved? What her father and grandfather had taught her with patience and understanding?
She wanted to hear her father’s voice. He’d always given her the encouragement she needed to tackle the hardest challenges in her life, like when she came out at school and had been bullied by a few of the girls and some of the boys. He’d taught her how to be mentally tough, then he’d taught her a killer right hook. Blaze glanced around at the monitors and equipment surrounding her bed. She was trying hard not to move too much, but she was stubborn, and determined to find her cell phone. Unfortunately, she got caught.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
Blaze froze in her half-raised position. Trinity stood near the foot of her bed, fists on her curvy hips. Even pissed, she’s sexy as hell…maybe more so. “Oh, hi. You wouldn’t happen to know if they found my cell phone, do you?” She forced a smile as she eased back against the stretcher.
“Your phone? Who do you want to call?”
She wasn’t going to be belittled for wanting her parent. “My father.”
Trinity’s arms dropped to her sides; her features softened. “I’m so sorry. I never thought to ask if anyone had been notified about your accident. When the EMTs told me a motorcycle accident victim was heading in, I…” She pressed her lips together, though her face remained unreadable.
“You what?”
“My job was to make sure you were medically stable, and I didn’t think beyond that.” Trinity turned to the small table in the corner and opened the drawer. She pulled out a clear bag with a label on it and brought it to her. “This is everything the first responders found near the accident scene or on your person.”
The label stated her name, date of birth, and admission date. On a separate line was a string of numbers she assumed stood for her medical record. The bag held her cell, wallet, money, and watch. Trinity opened the bag and set it on her lap. Blaze reached in and prayed her phone had survived. It had been in the front left pocket of her jacket. After she pressed a button and swiped the screen, the background lit up. There was a small crack in the corner of the glass cover, but otherwise it appeared to be fine. She sighed with relief.
“Thank you.”
Trinity nodded. Her mouth opened, then shut. “I’ll come back in a few and get you ready for surgery.”
Blaze wanted to know why Trinity looked so concerned, but if she was going to be knocked out for a while, she had to make the call now. She took a breath, then pressed the contact. Her father’s gravelly voice instantly comforted her.
“Hello?”
“Hi, Pop.” She heard her mother then, and the sound of bedsprings. Shit. She pulled the phone away long enough to look at the time. It was almost midnight. Her parents would have been in bed for a while.
“What’s wrong?”
She thought about making an excuse, but they’d pin her ears back if she did. “I’m all right. I had an accident earlier. On my bike.”
“Where are you?”
Blaze checked her patient bracelet to be sure. “Glens Falls Hospital.” Guilt overwhelmed her. Even though hearing her father’s voice was just what she needed, her parents were older, and she didn’t want them driving in a panic in the middle of the night to reach her. “Don’t come till morning, Pop. I’m heading to surgery and…” The words were out before she could stop them, and she cringed. She really needed to censor herself in situations like this.
“We’re leaving in a few minutes.”
“Pop, slow down. You don’t have to—”
“You’re not trying to tell me what to do, are you?”
This was one battle she wasn’t going to win. When her father set his mind to something it was a done deal. Just like her. “No.”
“I didn’t think so. Surgery on what?”
“My arm. It’s pretty bad.” She glanced at the oversized bandage. Part of her wished she could see it. The other part—the sensible one—was grateful she couldn’t. Her father’s voice roused her from wondering how bad her injury really was.
“Blaze, you’ll be okay. You’re made from tough stock.”
“Thanks, Pop. You’re the one person I can always count on to keep things in perspective.” Trinity stepped into the curtained space and began pulling items from cabinets. “I have to go.”
“We’ll be there when you wake up. Josh came rolling home yesterday. I’ll have him drive.”
“Yeah, that’s good.”
“I love you, Blaze,” her father said.
She closed her eyes against the sting. “I love you, too.” After disconnecting, she tossed her phone back in the bag and zipped it the best she could. “Would you mind holding on to this until my folks arrive?”
Trinity glanced between her and the bag. “I’ll make sure they get it.” She took it and stuffed it into a pocket on the leg of her scrubs, then went to the hand sanitizer before putting on a pair of gloves. “I’m going to add another line to your arm for sedation and medication.” She tore open an alcohol pad and placed it on a square of gauze, then palpated the top of her hand. “You have great veins, so I shouldn’t have any problems.”
Blaze watched Trinity efficiently place a second IV line.
“I’m sorry for the extra stick.” Trinity cleaned up the trash around her and brought back two syringes. “These are fast acting sedatives. One will make you very groggy but coherent and the other will put you under. The anesthesiologist will administer them when she gets here.”
A few minutes later, the anesthesiologist entered the room with a binder in her hand. “Time to review your medical history, Ms. Carter.”
Blaze sighed. She wished everyone would stop calling her Ms. Carter. She wished for a lot of things. She didn’t want anyone else in control of her life. The drunk driver had already interfered enough. All she could do was pray to the universe and trust that everything in her world would right itself again.
Chapter Four
Trinity sat at the nurses’ station, catching up on notes and checking the monitors for any concerning readouts. She paused when she pulled up the electronic chart for the patient in trauma two, wondering why she looked so familiar. Then it hit her. She’d seen her at EroZone a few weeks ago.
Carter, Blaze. Female. 38-year-old. Compound fracture of right radius.
The summary went on to include other details, and while necessary, they hadn’t been what caught her attention when she’d walked into the bay. Confused but conscious, the woman on the stretcher was covered in leather. Her tussled hair gave her a sexy appeal, and the slate gray eyes were bright with pain.
Nothing in her training had prepared her for seeing someone from the local lesbian club, lying exposed and vulnerable. As unprofessional as her thoughts were, she couldn’t help wondering about her.
Tha
t night at the bar, the sexy butch she now knew as Blaze had been alone, her eyes closed as she leaned against the wall. She’d thought about approaching her, but the opportunity had been lost when she’d left with another woman, a motorcycle helmet in her hand. She wished she hadn’t hesitated. Though if she had, treating her would have been awkward and she didn’t want personal feelings to get in the way of doing her job. Especially if they’d hooked up and it hadn’t gone well. Being a hunk didn’t guarantee she’d be good in bed.
The anesthesiologist exited the treatment room and Trinity came to attention. “All set?”
“Yeah. I have the consents and I’ve given Ms. Carter her first injection. I want to make sure Dr. Jonas is ready for her before we take her down.”
“Thanks.” Trinity wanted to see Blaze one more time before she headed into surgery. After all, she was responsible for seeing the patient remained medically stable prior to going to the OR. She stood at the foot of her bed, watching the steady rise and fall of her chest, her eyes closed. For the first time since her arrival, Blaze’s face was relaxed, without worry. The curtain was whisked back along the rail, setting her into action, and she began to unplug monitors.
“Okay. Let’s get her moving.” The anesthesiology nurse transferred IV bags to the pole affixed to the stretcher, then took off the brakes. Trinity did the same on the opposite side. “Hey, you okay?”
Trinity nodded.
“Do you know her?”
“Not really. I’ve seen her around, but we were never introduced.” She wasn’t sure how to explain her interest. “It’s hard knowing she’s here because of a drunk driver.” The excuse was plausible, but her concern was deeper than usual.
“I know what you mean. We’ll take good care of her.”
She watched them move down the hall toward the elevator and couldn’t help worrying about the outcome. She needed to disconnect. They’d barely interacted, and her behavior was out of character. When Blaze had made her phone call, Trinity could tell she was close to her family. A much closer relationship than she had with her own parents, certainly. Her fingertips brushed against her pocket, making contact with Blaze’s belongings. With any luck, she’d get to meet Mr. and Mrs. Carter, and she looked forward to the prospect of learning more about Blaze. On a professional level, of course.
Trinity returned to the station, determined to focus. The screens revealed nothing remarkable for the patients still waiting to be admitted. She was about to fix a cup of coffee when she felt her pocket vibrate. Her own phone was sitting on the counter, so it had to be Blaze’s cell. She hesitated. If it was Blaze’s parents, she could at least let them know she was in surgery. She pulled the cell out of the bag and swiped the screen, hoping it wasn’t locked.
“Hello?”
“Jesus. It’s about time you answered, I’ve been trying all day…” The person on the other end paused. “Blaze?”
“No. This is Trinity. Can I ask who’s calling?”
“It’s DJ. Is Blaze there?”
“I’m sorry, she can’t come to the phone right now.” She didn’t have the right to tell anyone outside family where Blaze was, or what had happened.
DJ sighed. “Can you tell her to call me when she’s done doing whatever, or whoever, she’s doing?”
“Okay.”
“Thanks.”
Trinity shook her head and slid the cell back in the bag. She needed coffee. Pronto.
* * *
“Mr. and Mrs. Carter, I’m Trinity Greene, one of the trauma nurses.” She held out her hand. She has her father’s eyes. Mr. Carter shook her hand.
Mrs. Carter took her hand in both of hers. “I’m Millie. Do you know how she is?” she asked. She looked fragile and worried, as any loving mother would.
“Let’s go to the family waiting room. We can talk there.”
They hesitated. “Our son, Josh, went to park the car. We should wait for him.”
Just then, a near carbon copy of Blaze Carter strode energetically toward them. He was younger than his sister, but he could almost have passed as Blaze’s twin, though his eyes matched his mother’s, the darkest blue she’d ever seen. They were a handsome family.
“Hi. What’s the news?” He wrapped his arm protectively around his mother’s shoulder.
“Josh, this is Trinity. She’s been taking care of your sister.”
She shook his hand. “I see the resemblance.” She gestured for them to follow her to a small waiting area and sat away from others who were talking quietly. “I don’t have any news about the outcome of her surgery because they’re still in the OR.”
The family exchanged concerned glances. “Isn’t that a long time? It took us a few hours to get here. Shouldn’t they be done by now?” Mr. Carter asked. The tone of his voice spoke volumes about how much he loved his daughter.
“What did she tell you about her injuries?” She didn’t want to breach patient confidentiality laws, but if Blaze had told them even a little, she would be okay explaining more.
“Just that her arm was broken, and she needed surgery.” He looked down for a minute. “And she thought it was pretty bad.”
Trinity nodded. “She suffered a compound open fracture of her forearm. The radius.” She pointed to the bone. “It was broken here and here and sticking though the skin here.” Mrs. Carter visibly paled and she tried to reassure them. “I know it sounds horrible, but considering she was on a motorcycle, it’s amazing that’s her only injury, aside from some minor scrapes and bruises.” She tried to think of a positive spin on the news. “Luckily, she was wearing a helmet and riding leathers.”
Josh nodded. “She’s constantly telling me to not be stupid and to wear the right gear. I always waved her off.” A visible chill shook his body. “I’ll make sure I do from now on.” His mother patted his leg.
“Can I get you anything to eat or drink while you wait?” It was the only comfort she could offer without having more information.
Mr. Carter stood. “You’ve been more than kind. I’ll go get us some things, if you show me where I can find them. I’m sure you’re busy.” He let her lead the way. Once they were out of hearing range of his wife and son, he asked her to wait. “I need to know if there’s more to Blaze’s injuries other than what you’ve told us. Just between you and me, without all the rules and regulations keeping you from saying.”
“None that I’m aware of, Mr. Carter.” Trinity wondered if she should share her personal opinion about the severity of the break. She’d seen a lot of compound fractures in the ED. Some had good outcomes. Others left the individual with a barely functioning appendage. She wasn’t sure why she felt the way she did. Caring about her patients came naturally and always had. But in Blaze’s case, her injury and the look of devastation in her eyes when she talked with the surgeon, brought out a higher level of empathy. If Trinity could no longer do nursing, she wondered if she’d handle the news with the same degree of courage Blaze had shown.
“Please call me Paul, and thank you. I know it’s too soon to know how much use she’ll regain, but we’re all praying for the best.”
“So am I.” She went to shove her hands in her pockets and pulled out the bag. “Blaze wanted me to hold this until you arrived.” Trinity handed it over. “I answered a call from someone named DJ. I thought it might be you or your wife. I didn’t tell her where Blaze was, just that she couldn’t come to the phone.”
Paul took the bag and nodded. “She’s Blaze’s best friend. I’ll call her as soon as we know more. Thank you for everything. Especially for looking after Blaze.” He walked down the hall, caressing the bag, and she could only imagine he wished he could touch his daughter instead.
The nearby alarm on the nurses’ station warned her of an incoming ambulance. Shit. Coffee would have to wait. She hurried back to the monitors and checked the readout for the arriving patient. While she did, she opened the small fridge under the counter and grabbed a caffeinated cold brew coffee. She downed half before heading to tr
iage bay one to prep it. Staff began to appear, and every single member of the team did their part while waiting for the arrival of yet another emergency. In the back of her mind questions remained. How was Blaze doing and how well was surgery going?
Chapter Five
Blaze coughed. Her throat was sore and her chest felt heavy. She was pretty comfortable, but for some reason she couldn’t move. A familiar hand lightly gripped hers.
“Blaze, it’s Pop.”
She fought to open her eyes. The sight of her father was like a balm to her soul. She squeezed back. “Hi.” It came out in a harsh rasp and she winced. Her throat felt like a raw piece of meat, but she wanted to talk to him, and needed to find out how her surgery went. She moved her hand to her throat and that’s when she saw her arm in traction above her head.
“Let me get your nurse.” He went out to the hallway and came back in with Trinity trailing behind.
“I’m glad to see you’re awake.” Her face revealed nothing. “Are you in pain?”
She shook her head, still not believing how an evening ride had gone so terribly wrong.
Trinity took her stethoscope and listened to her chest, then lightly pressed it to the top of the hand suspended in the air. She moved to the cuff around Blaze’s left arm and took her blood pressure. Everything must have been okay because she hung the stethoscope back around her neck and offered a shy smile.
“I think she’s thirsty.”
Her father had stayed quiet through the exam, but he’d always been her champion and she loved him for his caring nature. Blaze nodded.
Trinity pulled her chart from the end of the bed. “Well, the good news is there’s no PO restrictions, so you’re in the clear. I’ll be right back.” Trinity turned to her father. “Would you like anything? We have juice, diet ginger ale, and chocolate milk.”
“If you don’t mind, ginger ale would be good.”
It wasn’t long before she returned. “Here you go.” Trinity handed over the ginger ale, then pulled the hospital table to the side of her bed. “I brought water and juice for you until your stomach settles. Anesthesia is sneaky sometimes.”