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  Brooke tried to suppress a smile. She leaned into Davey and brushed his sweaty bangs back. “You are going to be fine,” she said. “I’m just going to talk to Dr. Bell here in the hallway for a minute, okay? Then I will send your mom back.” Davey nodded.

  Brooke led the young resident into the hallway. She closed Davey’s door and folded her arms again. “What’s your diagnosis?” she asked him pointedly.

  “Seems clear. Pain on the right side, low-grade fever, nausea, vomiting. Clear cut symptoms of appendicitis.”

  Brooke pursed her lips again. “Uh-huh. No tenderness or increased pain when I released pressure over the area. Did you ask him about what he had eaten?”

  “Yes, of course.”

  “Um-hum. Did he tell you about his green goop?”

  “No…”

  “How many times did you ask him?” Brooke pressed.

  “I…”

  “Dr. Bell, I am going to go out on a limb and make a suggestion to you. Order an X-ray just to be on the safe side, hell, order an ultrasound. Do me a favor? Get a stool sample. Okay? I have a feeling our young friend has food poisoning, not appendicitis.”

  “Food poisoning? From what?”

  “From whatever those boys put in that green goop. I’ll see what I can find out about that. I won’t share with Dr. Livingston how quickly you were ready to put that boy under a knife.”

  “Appendicitis can be fatal,” he defended himself. “If we don’t act and there is a…”

  “Surgery can be fatal too,” Brooke stopped him. “You don’t ever open someone for anything if there is another way, doctor. Rule one. There is no such thing as low-risk surgery,” Brooke said.

  Dr. Bell swallowed hard. Brooke forced a contrived smile. She was simmering at his arrogance and his ignorance. The only moniker of comfort she gained was in the fact that a staff surgeon would have had to examine Davey before any action was taken. No matter, his lack of thoroughness angered her. “I’ll check in with you in a bit. Who is the doctor on tonight?”

  “Dr. Gage,” he said with a sigh.

  “Good,” Brooke said. She nodded to him and headed back toward the waiting area to see Tess. Of all the stupid, short-sighted, ignorant…She continued her mental berating of the resident along the way.

  ***

  Dani was leaning against Tess asleep when Brooke walked into the waiting area. Tess’s eyes were closed, but the stress on her features was still evident. Brooke paused for a moment. She couldn’t put her finger on what it was about Tess that intrigued her so much. She’d thought about Tess often over the last week. Brooke had been disappointed that she had not gotten to see the courier much during the week. She had hoped that she would be able to casually suggest that they grab a cup of coffee some afternoon. She could use a friend other than Rachel and Tess was easy to talk to. Plus, she was a bit of a puzzle to Brooke. A painter who didn’t think she could paint, a single mom who once thought she would be a doctor, a fairly young single mom who was a lesbian, Brooke was curious about all of it. And, there was the fact that she found Tess attractive. Brooke had no intention of acting on any attraction she might feel toward her new friend. That had only one place to lead—disaster. She would prefer a long-term friendship over a short-term romance, and Brooke could not envision herself in anything long-term in the romance department.

  Her breath caught slightly as she approached the pair on the long couch in the waiting room. She had only seen Tess out of uniform once. Everything had happened so quickly that night and there had been so much excitement with the kids, that Brooke did not pay that much attention. She seemed to recall that Tess had been wearing jeans and a blouse. Now, Tess was stretched out in a pair of faded jeans, a plain blue T-shirt, and a well-worn, bright purple, pair of Nike sneakers. Her hair was down, not pulled up or back as it usually was. Brooke noticed for the first time the chestnut color and the soft wave to Tess’s hair.

  Tess felt someone’s gaze upon her. She opened her eyes nervously and was met with a comforting smile from Brooke. “Hey, there,” Brooke said softly.

  “Hey. Is he..”

  Brooke smiled a bit broader. “He’s okay. I’m not a hundred percent sure, but I would bet when the tests come back we are going to see that he has food poisoning.”

  “What?” Tess asked in surprise. “He was at a pizza party,” she said in disbelief. “See? I told you that slimy meat is not a good idea.”

  Brooke couldn’t help but chuckle. “I don’t think it was the pizza. Probably not cake or ice cream or any of the snacks at the party either.”

  “But, I sent him to school with lunch. Oh, no…Do you think that…”

  “Relax,” Brooke said. “Unless you sent him with some concoction he calls green goop, I think you can rest easy that your lunch was not the culprit.”

  “Green goop? Why do I suddenly think I do not want to know?” Tess asked cautiously.

  Brooke shrugged. “Truth or dare. He took the dare.”

  “I’ll kill him,” Tess said with a roll of her eyes.

  Brooke laughed. “I think he’s learned his lesson. It would help if we had some idea what his friends gave him, though. Just to be on the safe side. I have some suspicions, but just to be sure.”

  “I’ll call Steven’s mom,” Tess said. “What were they thinking?”

  “They weren’t. They’re eight,” Brooke said.

  Tess sighed. “I am so sorry you got dragged into this. This is not exactly your problem or your…”

  “That’s what friends are for,” Brooke said as a matter of fact. Tess smiled. “Look, why don’t you call his friend’s mom. Then go back and see Davey for a bit. He’s on an IV for fluids. He’ll need that for a bit to get him hydrated.”

  “Dani…I can’t leave…”

  “Well, I have a patient I want to check on. I’ll do that while you call. When I get back, I can take Dani down to the cafeteria with me. They don’t have much this time of night, but I could use a coffee and she could probably use a change of scenery.”

  “Brooke, I…”

  “Make your call,” Brooke said. “I’ll be back in about fifteen minutes.”

  Tess nodded. She watched Brooke head back through the emergency room double doors and pulled her phone from her pocket. Thank God she was here. What the hell did you get into, Davey?

  ***

  “How are you doing?” Brooke asked Daisy Menendez. Rachel’s gut had turned out to be right on the money and Daisy had begun to go into premature labor. Brooke had managed to stop it in its tracks for the time being.

  “Terrified,” Daisy admitted.

  Brooke nodded her understanding. “I know you are. You need to try and relax, Daisy. Try and relax, okay? Believe it or not that is the best thing you can do for both you and this baby. You are 35 weeks in. I’d like to get you to hang in there at least one more—at least. You need to try and stay calm. Everything with the baby looks good. Okay? There is a great team here, and I don’t just mean Dr. Cantrell and our group. Terrific pediatricians and specialists that are prepared if this little one is determined to get here early.”

  “Dr. Campbell, I…If this is because of something…”

  “You have done everything right. People’s bodies are different, that’s all. Trust me. Try and get some sleep. Right now, everything looks good,” Brooke said.

  “How long am I going to be here?” Daisy asked.

  Brooke took a deep breath. Ultimately, Rachel would make that call. Brooke suspected that Rachel would agree with her assessment. She did not want to cause Daisy any stress at the moment. “Let’s get through the weekend. I’ll talk to Dr. Cantrell. We’ll see how things look Monday and go from there. Okay?” Daisy nodded. “Get some rest,” Brooke said softly before making her way out of the room to go check on a much younger patient.

  She heard Davey crying from the hallway and stepped into the room to find the same resident standing at his bedside. “What’s going on?” she demanded a bit more harshly than was he
r usual nature.

  “I want Mom,” Davey said.

  Brooke stepped up to the bed and accepted him into a hug. Eight was a unique age. Davey was caught between wanting to seem grown up and wanting his mommy. He was sick. He was in a strange place and he was scared. “Mom will be back here in a few minutes,” Brooke promised. “I just had to do a couple of things first.”

  “Brooke?”

  “Yeah, buddy?”

  “Am I gonna die?”

  Brooke looked at the resident with daggers. What the hell did you say to this kid? “Davey, I told you, you are going to be fine.”

  “Then why do I have to stay here? I want to go home.”

  “I know. I know you do. Let me talk to Dr. Bell, okay? Do you still feel sick?”

  Davey shook his head no. “Just my stomach aches now.”

  “I gave him something for nausea,” Dr. Bell said.

  Brooke gave him a disgusted smile. Oh, well, let’s get you a medal for that. “Try and close your eyes for a bit, okay?” she said to Davey.

  “It itches.”

  “What itches?” Brooke asked him.

  “My arm,” Davey said.

  Brooke looked at the small catheter in Davey’s arm. The site was a bit redder than usual. She shook her head. “That’s just for fluids. When you throw up so much, you get dehydrated.”

  “What’s that?” he asked.

  Brooke was simmering again. He was eight, not stupid. “It means you lose water in your body. You need that water. That’s all. Okay? I’m going to step out. In a few minutes, your mom will be here, all right?”

  Davey nodded. “Brooke?”

  “Yeah?”

  “I’m still scared.”

  Brooke ruffled Davey’s hair slightly. “Nothing to be scared of.”

  “Some guy was screaming,” he said.

  Brooke struggled not to sigh and then scream. This is why children’s hospitals were best for children. The emergency department on a Friday night could get crazy, loud, and frightening for an adult. “It’s okay. I promise you are safe. I promise,” she assured him. He nodded with still wide eyes.

  Brooke hated leaving, but she knew she had to get Tess to Davey, and soon. She led the resident into the hall. “So, what’s the verdict?”

  “You were right. I just saw his mother. We’ll admit him for the night.”

  “Is that really necessary?” Brooke asked.

  “I think so,” he said indignantly.

  You would, you little asswipe. “I see. Well, I have a call to make and then I will send his mom back here. I assume you are getting him a room?”

  “Well, we will try. You know how it is…”

  Brooke leaned into the young resident’s face and held his gaze. “You admit that little boy, you had damn well better find him a room.” She stepped back and headed down the hallway deliberately. She stopped just shy of the double doors and stepped into an empty examination room. “Fuck,” she grumbled in frustration as she grabbed her cell phone.

  “Brooke?” Rachel answered sleepily. “Oh, God…Daisy…Did she…”

  “Daisy is okay, Rach. I’ve got her on Betamethasone.”

  “You think she’s going to deliver,” Rachel said.

  “Not immediately, no. I think she might in the next week if we can’t keep her relaxed. And, I’d like to do everything we can to have that baby’s lungs in the best shape we can if she does. Right now? Right now, she is hanging in there. I don’t expect any issues as long as she is here and being quiet and monitored.”

  “Good. What is it then? I can hear it in your voice. Something is wrong.”

  Brooke sighed heavily. “Rach, I hate to ask this. I really do…”

  “What is it?”

  “I need you to cover me this weekend, well at least until tomorrow afternoon.”

  “Are you okay?” Rachel sat straight up in bed. Brooke never asked for help, never.

  “I'm okay. It’s Tess, actually.”

  “Tess?”

  “Well, actually it’s Davey, Tess’s son,” Brooke explained.

  Rachel was confused. The concern in Brooke’s voice was genuine. It was also palpable. Brooke was upset. “Whatever you need, Brooke. You know that. Is her son…”

  “She brought him in earlier. Jesus, sometimes I hate this place,” Brooke admitted in frustration.

  Rachel sucked in a ragged breath. There were only two times she could recall hearing the tone she heard in Brooke’s voice now. Once, when a nurse had given the wrong meds to one of her patients and nearly killed her. The other when Brooke’s father had his heart attack two years ago. “Brooke?”

  “He’s all right. No thanks to the idiot resident treating him. Food poisoning. Poor kid is terrified in here. Tess is stuck in the waiting room because she has Dani.”

  Rachel groaned audibly. How strict rules were adhered to depended on the time of day. Late on a Friday night was one of those times when rules were seldom bent. “Shit,” she said.

  “Yeah. Tell me. Anyway, this asshole kid wants to admit him.”

  “Does he need that?” Rachel asked.

  “No, but I am betting Gage will back him unless someone is there to watch Davey. And, honestly? I don’t think Tess should drive anyway. She’s a wreck and exhausted. Plus, apparently Davey puked in the backseat. That will not be good if I can get him out of here,” Brooke explained.

  Rachel’s lips turned up into a smile. Brooke liked Tess. As compassionate as Brooke was, this went far beyond empathy. “I’ll call the service. Do you need me there now?” Rachel asked.

  “No, I checked on Daisy just now. Mrs. Brennan delivered at eight. No other calls—yet.”

  “Okay, Just go take care of Tess and Davey,” Rachel said intentionally. She was curious to see how Brooke would react.

  “Thanks, Rach. You should have seen his face. No place for a kid if he doesn’t have to be here. Tess is…You know, she feels guilty because she has Dani, but…Anyway, I just want to get them out of here.”

  Rachel nodded on the other end of the phone. “You’re going to stay with them?”

  “Tess has a couch, so yeah, if that’s what it takes.”

  “Let me know how it works out,” Rachel said.

  “I will. Tell Mike I am sorry for screwing up your weekend.”

  “He’ll understand.”

  “I’d better go. I don’t want Davey alone in there too long.”

  “You go. I’ll talk to you,” Rachel said as she hung up the call. “I’ll be damned,” she said in awe.

  “What happened?” Mike asked.

  “Brooke needs me to cover this weekend.”

  “Is she okay?” Mike sat up beside his wife.

  “Yeah. Unless, falling for someone is a bad thing,” Rachel laughed.

  “Huh? Brooke’s in love?’

  “No. Not love. Definitely like. She is definitely in like and for Brooke? Well…”

  “I don’t get it, but…”

  “I’ll explain tomorrow. Unless, of course, I am delivering a baby,” Rachel said as she laid back down.

  “Umm,” Mike yawned. “Does that mean I don’t have to mow the lawn now that I have Eli by myself?”

  “Guess again, Mr. I Needed a Ride-On Mower.”

  “Great.”

  Chapter Four

  Brooke managed to catch Dr. Paul Gage before heading to get Tess. She had not intended to send the young resident, Dr. Bell up the river, but once their conversation began, she felt she had no choice. It was one thing to be inexperienced or even a bit arrogant. It was completely unacceptable to put your arrogance and pride over a patient’s welfare. Brooke had reached her limit. She preferred to be approachable and mild-mannered in her interactions. When necessary, she could be assertive, even aggressive. She reserved that part of her personality for occasions that warranted it. That had served her well. When she did speak with stoic authority, people took notice.

  Tess stood the moment she saw Brooke approaching. Dani was sound
asleep on the couch. “They want to admit him,” Tess said helplessly. Brooke smiled. “What am I going to do?”

  Brooke gestured for Tess to sit back down and promptly took a seat beside her. “That depends.”

  “On what? Brooke, I can’t have Dani…”

  “Tess! Calm down, okay?”

  “I’m sorry.”

  Brooke smiled. “You have nothing to be sorry for. Look, they are afraid to let him go because of dehydration. He’s not feeling as sick because of the meds. That doesn’t mean his stomach can tolerate anything yet. That’s why he has the IV.” Tess nodded sadly. “I spoke to the supervising doctor. He assured me that if we can get Davey to sip some water and hold it down, they will release him.” Tess began to smile. “If…If someone is there to watch him that knows what to look for.”

  “I….”

  “Tess,” Brooke hesitated. For some reason, she was afraid to continue.

  “Brooke? What?”

  “Look, I can take you guys home. If he can keep a bit down, then I can watch him. They’ll release him if…”

  “I can’t ask you to do that,” Tess said.

  “You didn’t. I offered.”

  “Aren’t you working? What if you need to…”

  “Rachel’s got that covered.” Tess stared dumbfounded at Brooke. “I’m not trying to put you on the spot. I just know he’s scared. You’re exhausted. You need sleep, all of you. You can do that at home.”

  “So do you,” Tess observed. She looked in Brooke’s eyes and struggled to breathe.

  Brooke chuckled. “I was on call anyway. I’m used to it.”

  “Brooke…You hardly know us. I can’t ask you…”

  “Again, you didn’t. Let me help. I can. I want to,” Brooke said honestly. Tess felt a tear fall across her cheek. “Hey, no crying,” Brooke said. “Come on, you go on in and see Davey. I will stay with Dani until they give the okay. All right?”

  “Who are you?” Tess asked.

  “I hope your friend,” Brooke answered.

  “Me too,” Tess said.

  “Go,” Brooke said. “Have Dr. Bell page me when Davey is ready to go.”

  Tess walked away and through the double doors in a daze. Everything in Brooke’s demeanor was sincere. Tess couldn’t fathom why the doctor would go out of her way for Tess’s family. She had to accept. She needed to accept. More than that, she wanted to accept Brooke’s help. It felt good to have a friend. Brooke cared what happened. That was evident. Tess sighed. Probably the doctor in her. She thought back to what Janine had told her about Dr. Brooke Campbell. She’s a rare breed. “That, she most definitely is,” Tess mused as she walked into Davey’s room.