The Pandora's Box

Pandora’s Box

Chapter One
The Odd Feeling

The ER was quiet. It was very unusual for a Friday evening, she thought. It seemed rather suspicious for Dr. Susan Lewis. There was a feeling in the pit of her gut that told her that something would go on tonight. She stood at the admit desk, pondering, when Frank walked up startling her from behind.
“Sorry.” He said as he plopped a stack of papers on the desk.
“Hey Frank.” She said and went back pondering with her chin in her palm.
“You okay? What’s wrong? You look deep in thought.”
“Oh yeah”, she responded, “It’s nothing. I’ve just got a strange feeling in the pit of my stomach.”
“I’ll tell you what’s causing that. All of that damned mustard you stacked on that pastrami on rye before. I saw you pile it on like it was going out of business or something.”
“Hey…I like mustard, but, no. That’s not it. I just have a feeling that tonight won’t be quiet for long. But I don’t know. I guess I’m just not used to it being so quiet on a Friday night.”
“I hear you.”
“I hear you too”, said a familiar voice coming from behind him. They turned and sure enough, it was Romano, signing a paper and placing it on top of Frank’s stack of papers, “I hope it lasts.”
“Dr. Romano, why are you here? Shouldn’t you still be on leave?” Susan asked.
“Yep, should be.”
“Then why aren’t you?” Susan shook her head in confused disbelief.
“Uh, I got homesick?”

“That’s cute, but you’re crazy.”
“How’s the arm?” asked Frank.
“It’s still gone.” Romano said flatly.
“Smartass.” Susan said under her breath.
Susan, Frank, and Romano went along their business while holding their conversation when the doors opened up and in came Gary and Tony, the two new County paramedics. Gary was a white, tall and lanky fellow while Tony was Italian, short, and muscular.
“What do we have!?” Susan shouted as she ran to the patient.
“A gunshot wound to the chest. Her vitals are decreasing and she’s got a weak pulse!” said Tony, pushing the gurney.
“Ma’am, can you tell me your name?” Susan said.
“Oh la la, a pretty one”, Romano said walking over to them, “How long?” he asked Gary.
“About ten minutes.” Gary responded
“Ma’am, can you tell me your name!?” Susan tried again. The lady muttered ever so faintly.
“Ec. Ech. Eh-“and she passed out.
“I see the bullet. It needs to be out of here and fast. And they rushed the lady into the OR so fast that Frank’s head spun. He watched on in amazement and tried to distract himself with work. He too suddenly had a funny feeling in his stomach. Frank began to do something that he only did when he got a nice feeling about a person. He said a silent prayer and watched on.
Romano observed in the OR, for that’s all he was permitted to do. He studied the patient as Susan fished for the bullet. She seemed to have everything under control.
“Susan, what’s her rate and pressure?” he asked.
“Dropping, but wait. I. Think. I’ve. Got it.” and out Susan pulled a bullet, “Anymore closer and she would’ve been killed instantly.”
“Good job. Close her up.” Robert said. He admitted it. He was jealous that Susan was doing a job that could have done and his face tried to hide it, but Susan sensed it. He turned to leave when he heard the monitor indicate that she was flatlining.
“SHE’S FLAT!” Susan shouted, “No. She’s hemorrhaging! Abby, pedals now!” and Abby grabbed the pedals and jelly and fixed them up for Susan. She rubbed them together. “CLEAR!” Everyone looked up at the monitor. No avail. “AGAIN!” Still nothing. “Come on lady!” Susan began CPR. Romano watched on helplessly. He wanted so badly to help.
“No” he thought. Robert did the only thing he could think of. He moved everything out of his way and walked up to the lady’s face and just stared.
“Dr. Romano, move!” Abby said. Suddenly, the room was filled up with his voice.
“You will not die today! Live! Come back! NOW! I know you can hear me! LIVE!”
“CLEAR!” Susan shouted a final time.
Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep.
The whole room sighed with relief.
“Abby, her pulse?” asked Susan.
“68 a minute. Whoa.”
“Jesus. The hemorrhage stopped. Romano, there isn’t even a trace!” Susan said in disbelief. Romano stood smiling.
“I see that. Close her up and get her upstairs.” He said as he studied her features. She had a think body. Curvy, full lips and a very short haircut that reminded him of Jean Seberg. Yes. Jean Seberg.
“Abby. Could you?”
“Certainly.” Abby responded and she carefully wheeled her out. Susan stared at Romano with a confused eye. She had never ever seen him like that with any patient. She was taken aback by his actions.
“Dr. Romano? Are you alright?” she studied his smile and glow,”Dr. Romano?”
“Hmm, yeah?
“Are you okay? What the hell was that about back there?”
“I don’t know. Heat of the moment I guess.”
“Right.”
“Susan, she’ll live. Yeah, she’s going to live.” He nodded. Now she was defiantly confused.
“Wow Dr. Romano. I’ve never heard you sound so positive about a patient before. You don’t even know her name.”
“I know. She’ll most defiantly be okay. I have an odd feeling in my stomach about this one.” And with that, he quietly walked out, leaving Susan to think about how she just witnessed Dr. Robert Romano actually become human for a nameless lady.