Australian Affairs: Tempted: Tempted by Dr. Morales. Carol Marinelli

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      ‘Over here.’

      Lillian gestured to a place away from the nurses’ station and as they walked up to the drug fridge and out of Harry’s earshot, Cate took a deep breath, because she knew what was coming next. ‘Why,’ Lillian asked, ‘is the student nurse sitting in the observation ward, drawing pictures with Harry’s children?’

      ‘Because Dr Vermont, who was supposed to be the on-call consultant this weekend, has rung in sick. Sheldon was worried about a patient the paediatricians have discharged and luckily for us Harry came in. As it turns out, it would seem that the child has septic arthritis.’

      ‘Then why,’ Lillian persisted, ‘is a student nurse, who should be getting clinical experience, acting as a childminder, instead of being out on the floor?’

      ‘Because she was already rostered on the observation ward…’ Cate was saved from having to explain herself further when she looked up and saw that Louise was signalling her to come over so that she could have a word.

      ‘Excuse me,’ Cate said. ‘I’m needed.’

      ‘We’ll discuss this later.’ Lillian said. ‘This really can’t continue.’

      Cate knew it wasn’t over yet, but for now she was happy to escape a lecture and walked over to Louise.

      ‘What you got for us?’ Cate asked.

      ‘A very reluctant patient,’ Louise said.

      ‘So, what’s new?’

      ‘It’s Juan,’ Louise said, and Cate felt the colour drain from her face. ‘He didn’t want to come here but I’ve stuck to protocol and brought him to the closest Emergency. He seems okay…’ Louise frowned at Cate’s pale lips. ‘He came off a motorcycle. He’s got a few cuts and a nasty abrasion to his shoulder, but he’s had a previous spinal injury.’ Cate stood for a moment as she heard that it wasn’t whiplash they were talking about, that, in fact, Juan had broken his neck and had been paralysed for a period. She could almost hear her brain clicking as things fell into place.

      ‘Incomplete C5 and C6…’ Louise said, and Cate remembered her hands being removed from his neck.

      ‘There’s a slight weakness in his left leg,’ Louise continued, ‘but he insists that since the accident there always has been.’

      Cate recalled noticing the weight on his leg as he’d run and thought she might be sick. She really knew nothing about him, yet he had insisted on finding out about her.

      ‘We’ve taken all precautions,’ Louise continued. ‘I said I’d come in and try to do this as discreetly as possible.’

      ‘Okay.’ Cate nodded. ‘Bring him in.’

      If she had thought it might be hard facing Juan after last night, it was going to be close to impossible now.

      ‘It had to be you.’ Juan gave a tight smile as she came over. He was staring up at the ceiling and only glanced at her briefly. There were a few scratches on his face and his shirt was torn and she could see that his teeth were gritted and that he was struggling.

      ‘Well, they came and got the most senior nurse on.’ Cate tried for practical, tried to hold onto a strange anger that was building inside her. She was about to add that if he’d asked to be dealt with by someone he hadn’t slept with then he’d be lying on that stretcher for quite a while.

      She tried to hold onto the shout that was building.

      ‘I don’t need to be here,’ Juan said.

      ‘Then you shan’t be for long,’ came her pale-lipped response.

      They slid him over on a board and Cate held onto the top of his head and then covered him with a sheet to undress him, but as she went to unbutton his shirt he asked that she not.

      ‘I’ll just do some obs, then.’ Cate said, knowing how embarrassed she’d be if the roles were reversed. Not that she’d have been riding a motorbike through the hills with a previously broken neck.

      Neither would she have been white-water rafting.

      Or considering hitting the ski season in New Zealand or, next Sunday, diving out of a plane.

      Her hands were actually shaking as she did his routine obs and then a set of neurological.

      Juan answered her questions. Yes, he knew where he was and what day it was.

      As if he could ever forget.

      Yes, he could squeeze both of her hands tightly.

      ‘Just get the doctor in to see me,’ Juan said as she lifted the sheet to see two black boots.

      ‘Lift your leg against my hand.’ He did with the right.

      ‘And the left.’

      There was perhaps a slight weakness. Cate wasn’t sure she would even have noticed had Louise not pointed it out.

      ‘That leg has some residual weakness from my previous accident,’ Juan said.

      ‘I’ll just take your boots off.’

      ‘Please, don’t.’

      ‘It’s fine.’ Harry swept in and picked up on the tension. ‘Juan, how are you?’

      ‘I’ve been worse,’ came Juan’s wry response.

      ‘So I hear.’

      ‘I thought Dr Vermont was on this weekend,’ Juan said to Harry.

      ‘So did I, but I’m afraid you’re just going to have to make do with me.’ Harry was brisk and efficient as he started his examination. ‘Okay, Juan, you know the drill.’

      He went through today’s accident with him, which Juan could remember clearly. ‘A small animal came out of the bushes, I swerved…’

      ‘And your past medical history?’

      ‘Can we just…?’ Juan closed his eyes in impatience. Cate thought he was about to ask for the collar to come off, or to say that it was all unnecessary again; instead she raised her eyes slightly at what he said next. ‘Can you leave, please, Cate?’

      Two spots of colour burnt on her cheeks as Harry turned round and smiled. ‘We’ll manage, Cate.’

      Had it been a door and not a curtain, Cate might have slammed it as she walked out. She simply didn’t know why—she was not upset, she was angry.

      Harry went round with him for the CT and Cate tried not to let his dismissal of her sting.

      She tried her best to not give a sarcastic response when Harry came to speak with her some time later. ‘All the tests look good and Juan’s neck’s fine. I’ve had the orthopods take a look at the images. He’s got a lot of titanium in there! He needs a dressing to his shoulder—’

      ‘I’ll get СКАЧАТЬ