“Jamie!” Charity dropped to her knees before her suddenly silent baby girl. She immediately checked her child’s pulse.

The other two doctors were instantly at Charity’s side. All three had each spent enough time in emergency to know that someone had to take the lead. Elijah took control and Charity let him. “She’s unresponsive.” He checked her vitals as Charity had just done, speaking at the same time. “Hit number one on my speed dial.” He tossed his phone to his mother. “Let them know I’m coming in with a two-year-old fall victim.”

“An ambulance. Shouldn’t we get an ambulance?” Charity watched in horror at her little baby.

Elijah ignore her as he checked Jamie’s neck and his hands moved swiftly over his daughter’s body. “Shit!” he muttered. “Scott, you drive. I want Charity in the backseat of the sedan. I’ll hop in. We need to keep her head stabilized. She’s breathing, but shattered the hell out of her femur. I can’t tell if there’s any spinal damage until we get her to the hospital.” He pointed to the long wooden tray Margaret had brought the drinks out on. “Grab that for me, Charity.”

She did as instructed and grabbed Elijah’s and her father’s ties from the back of the chair they had taken off earlier. Working with Elijah they secured Jamie quickly onto the tray.

Elijah pointed at his mother. “Mom, get in the front seat and call Dr. Bailey. Get him on speaker stat and I don’t care if he’s fucking his wife. I want him prepping an ER.”

Charity was moving but she would never remember her steps. Her shooting, her mother’s death and her father’s heart attack did not compare. Jamie’s gossamer curls framed her peaceful face. She hoped Jamie would never remember this moment. She’ll make it through this. She’s going to be okay. She’s going to be okay.

Elijah looked into Charity’s eyes with fear that she had never seen before. The evening of perfection had suddenly turned into her worst nightmare.

It seemed to take forever to get to the hospital and yet they were there in the blink of an eye.

Dr. Thompson squealed up to the Emergency Department entrance.

“Shit, Elijah.” Charity noticed the seat of the car had blood on it. “I’m looking at Jamie’s femur. It’s a compound fracture. She needs blood. Get a peripheral drip going with some O neg. I’m worried about her bleeding out more than anything right now. It better not be anywhere near her femoral artery.”

Jamie was placed on a cart immediately and her head stabilized. Elijah and Charity rushed Jamie through the swinging doors and transferred to the table by a team of mostly residents. Jamie’s lips moved and grimaced her face. She moaned low and sad.

Charity burst into tears.

“She’s waking up.” Elijah barked out orders as Charity had never seen him do before. “I want acetaminophen, ampicillin, ketamine and NS started. Just have them all ready. Start with the acetaminophen. She’s two.” He glared at those around him. “Come on people! Move!”

Scott Thompson perked up. “You are trained professionals and anyone with anything on their damn minds other than this patient should get the hell out of here! Go flip burgers or whatever, just make room for people who give a shit.”

Elijah fixed his glare on Charity. “All non-essentials have to move outta here.”

Charity shook her head. There was no way she was going to leave the room while Jamie lay on the table. She had no license to be present but Elijah’s look was unchanging. She was clearly out of place in her blood soaked sundress.

Beyond angry, she stormed out of the exam room; making a clash with the swinging doors. Her eyes darted around the emergency department for a stray white coat. She ran into the hallway where she expected to find the closet where clean scrubs were kept so she could sneak in incognito. The hospital had cracked down on unauthorized personnel having access to scrubs, masks and other essential gear. The closet was locked and she didn’t have the necessary key card.

She spotted her key. “Hey, I know you!” She moved toward the young man standing a few feet away from her. “You’re Conrad, from next door on Huntington Ave. It’s Dr. Thompson-Bennet. Get your ass into the restroom and take off your clothes.”

“P-Pardon?” He followed her into the private restroom. “Y-You’re a m-married woman and my n-neighbor. I can’t risk my career,” Conrad stammered. “Or m-my life. Doctor Bennet will kill me.”

“Shut up, Conrad. I’m not making a play for you. I just need your clothes. Start stripping.” Charity’s tone relaxed a little when she saw that poor Conrad was trembling.

“Yes Ma’am.” Conrad undressed down to his skivvies.

“Jamie’s had a terrible accident. I need to look like I belong so I can get into the treatment room. I’ll throw on your garb which will be perfect and I know where to stand in order to stay out of the way. I’ll take your hair net and beanie as well. You have a ponytail, which you hide nicely. I’ll stuff my hair up so no one will see. Give me your elastic band as well.” How she was thinking and speaking so coherently was beyond her grasp. Hopefully the young orderly wouldn’t argue.

Conrad was standing nearly naked in the cold restroom.

“What do I do now?” Conrad asked as he attempted to cover his bulge with his hands.

Charity slipped on his pants before pulling her dress off. Thankfully she remembered she’d gone commando. “Sorry. I can’t help you with that.” She finished dressing and headed for the door. “This remains between you and me Conrad.”

With head covered, mask and eye protection, Charity was unrecognizable. She proceeded to quickly scrub up and walk into the treatment room with her head bowed.

“Ready for us in the operating room. I would like to assist. Unfortunately, ortho is not my specialty but I trust you Dr. Bailey,” Elijah said to the doctor beside him.

“Tell me what we’re looking at. I wish your wife was still here practicing. Jamie’s case is in her wheelhouse.”

“Jamie’s vitals are up to par but as you can see her femur got a greenstick fracture. There’s been blood loss so we’re pushing O neg and a NS drip.” Elijah squared his shoulders. “Save the leg and minimal scarring. It’s priority next to life of course.”

Dr. Bailey stepped forward to work.

Charity had positioned herself about two feet behind Elijah. No, you dimwit. We are dealing with Grade II nerve damage. We need to address possible long-term effects of axonotmesis. Charity took a step towards Elijah and whispered in his ear.  “Don’t yell, it’s me.” She didn’t even give him a chance to reply. “Don’t turn around or even acknowledge I’m here. Be sure he checks the femoral head. I think there’s another crack if you look closely at the X-ray. It’s a hairline and easy to miss but it can cause the synovial fluid to leak. It won’t do any good if she can’t use her leg.” Charity stepped back.

Elijah barely nodded.

“Bailey, before we go in, I want to address the femoral head and possible nerve damage,” Elijah said.

“Got it. Sounds like something Dr. Thompson-Bennet would suggest. Now get out of here and check on your wife. She’s going to be beside herself. Your daughter’s in safe hands. Nothing will go wrong with me in charge. Then come back in to check on her.”

Jamie was wheeled into operating room one, which was as if she were checked into the penthouse suite. It didn’t hurt that she was the chief’s granddaughter.

Elijah tore off his gown. He would have to change and scrub up again before entering the OR. He stepped into the elevator and Charity quickly followed. Thankfully they were alone. “Nice move Charity. You can’t pull that in the OR.”

“I know.” She pulled her mask off, surprised at how calm she actually felt. “If I’m caught and lose my license for life because of what I just did, it’ll have been worth it. Especially if Jamie has a positive outcome.” Her voice caught as her throat tightened.

“She will, Charity.” The elevator slowed. “Head over to the waiting room. Your dad and my mom are probably already there.” He pulled her tight against him and hugged her with all his might. “She’s going to be fine. I promise.”

He sounded like a mama bear protecting her cubs. She believed him and knew he would do whatever it took to make sure Jamie Lynn would be okay.

Guilt washed over her. She should have been watching Jamie better. The pile of rubble should have been hauled away sooner. She should be a better mother.

The doors opened and Elijah stepped out to assist in the most important surgery of his career.