“We should go and pull him out of there.”
Oh hell, I thought as the crowd inched closer.
“We should probably go back inside,” the security guard said. I looked up at him, his dark eyes scanning the crowd. If he thought it was bad, it had to be.
Just then I saw the two sheriff’s deputy cars pull into the ambulance area. God, I hoped there wasn’t an emergency that needed to get through here before this was all diffused.
“You called the sheriff?” someone yelled, and the crowd pushed closer. Now I wasn’t sure we could get in the door without being forced through it.
“You’re breaking the law by blocking access to the emergency room,” the security guard said.
“We have every right to protest.”
“Yeah, but not deny medical help. Back up.”
But they didn’t back up. As the deputies moved toward us, the crowded lurched forward. I stepped back to avoid being knocked over and tripped over something. As I started my fall, I had a moment to wonder if I was going to be trampled.
My head hit something hard, and for a second, I was glad that if I was trampled, I’d be unconscious and not experience it. Then everything went dark.
29
Nick
One good thing about the ER is that when things are busy, it’s hard to wallow in self-pity. Granted, I felt anxious and agitated most of the time, but at least I wasn’t thinking about Mia.
“There’s quite the mob out there,” Joyce said as I entered the area she was put for her exam. The word mob bothered me and I hoped that Mia was okay.
Christ, I was wrong. Even when I was working, I thought about her.
“I hope they didn’t bother you,” I said, going to look over her file again. I wasn’t sure why. At this point, I had it memorized.
She pouted. “I think it’s awful. You’re the best doctor in this town.”
“You know, you could have had the follow up on your sprained with your regular doctor.”
She gave me a coy smile. “You are my regular doctor.”
I worked to not roll my eyes. “Well since you’re here, let’s see how it’s healing.”
I began my exam and was nearly through when I heard a loud commotion outside the triage area.
“Excuse me a minute, Ms. Maynard.” I moved to where I could get a better look. A security guard was carrying a woman in, while a couple of deputies, and others in the waiting room, blocked the emergency room door.
“What the hell?” I moved closer and realized I knew the woman being carried in unconscious. “Oh God, Mia.”
“Dr. Foster,” Joyce called to me. “Is everything all right? It sounds like a riot.”
My insides ripped apart as I wanted to run to Mia but didn’t want to abandon my patient. “Fuck.”
Dr. Balding was there as the security guard set Mia on a bed.
“Let me see what’s going on,” I said. “I’ll be right back.”
I didn’t wait for her response. Instead I rushed to Mia’s bedside.
“I’ve got this, Dr. Foster,” Dr. Balding said.
“I know.” I took Mia’s hand. “Mia honey.” I looked her over as quickly as I could to see what had happened. My heart was thundering in my chest as terror seeped into my soul. She was breathing. Her heart was beating.