“How’s my favorite oldest granddaughter?” Gail asked sitting next to Karen on the couch by the nurse’s station.
“A little over-whelmed, but hey, it’s part of the job,” Karen replied faking a smile, “So is Lee any closer to ending this strike?”
“Actually, yes. Your grandfather has been working non-stop to end this strike, and Stefan finally seems ready to cooperate. Speaking of working non-stop, you look like you haven’t slept in days. Scotty told me you two had a misunderstanding, is there anything you want to talk about?”
“A misunderstanding? Is that what he called it? Thanks for the offer, but there’s nothing to say.”
“Honey, something is obviously bothering you and I hate seeing you have to fight it on your own.”
“No offense, Gail, but I don’t need a psychiatrist,” Karen replied standing up.
“That’s not what I meant. I want you to talk to me as your grandmother, not as your psychiatrist,” Gail said taking Karen’s hand.
Karen was silent, not wanting to admit what was really going on, but half hoping that she had the courage to do so. She gently pulled her hand away and spoke.
“I’m fine, Gail, really. I’m just a little stressed from the strike. Don’t worry about me, I can handle it.”
Karen walked away leaving Gail on the couch shaking her head.

“I’m heading to the ER, but if anything changes with Mrs. Holmes, just page me,” Chris said to Eve as he closed his locker.
“Will do. So, how are things?”
“You mean the divorce. It’s okay, Eve, you can say the word. I’ve come to the realization that Julie and I are over and done and that it’s time to move on,” Chris smiled thinking of Karen’s invitation.
“Well that’s the best news I’ve had all day! Congratulations on finally coming to your senses!” Eve exclaimed as Chris glared at her, “Alright, I’m sorry, but I’m glad that you’re okay with all of this. You deserve so much more, Chris and I hope that you can find a woman who sees that.”
“Thanks Eve, I appreciate it. I need to get going before the Chief comes around handing out more assignment,” Chris said heading out the door.

“Joe, I need you to change IV’s on four,” Karen ordered.
“I thought Chris was handling that?”
“He was, but I sent him to cover the ER.”
“Well, I’m sorry, Karen, but I’ve got medication to hand out. Can’t someone…”
“Alan’s agreed to let Julie do it and the nurses should be back to work soon anyway. Please just go to four and don’t argue with me about it.”
“Ya know, this job has gone straight to your head. You just love getting to order all of us around and having us jump when you snap your fingers,” Joe said coldly before storming down the hall.
Karen angrily kicked the wall before leaning against it and shutting her eyes. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a pill. Holding it in her trembling palm she popped it into her mouth and swallowed it without hesitation. She started down the hall as her pager went off. She turned around and headed for the ER instead.
“Karen, we’ve got an eighteen-year-old female on her way in. Possible drug overdose,” Chris barely got the words out as a gurney burst through the doors.
“Sydney Evans, eighteen-year-old female, looks like alcohol poisoning,” The paramedic reported, telling the doctors the patients vitals.
Chris turned to Denise, who had just come in with Katie behind her and ordered a tox-screen, CBC and a few other tests.
“Her friend found her unconscious on the bathroom floor, not breathing. She wouldn’t say if she had taken any drugs, but there was cocaine and marijuana all over the apartment,” The paramedic finished explaining.
“Dr. Wexler her pressure’s dropping. She’s going into V-Fib!” Katie said.
“Gimme the paddles and charge to two-hundred. Clear!” Nothing, “Two-fifty, clear!” Nothing, “Three-hundred. C’mon Sydney, don’t die on us now! Clear!” Karen pressed the paddles Sydney’s chest and her body jolted back to life.
“We need to get her stomach pumped and I need the results of that tox-screen STAT!” Chris ordered.
Denise handed Karen the folder as Chris got the tube down Sydney’s throat to pump her stomach. He looked over at Karen, who had a blank expression on her face.
“What does it say, Karen?”
“Oh, I’m sorry,” Karen snapped out of it, “BAC of .1 and ten milligrams of…um, of diazapam.”
Chris was confused by her reaction, but quickly remembered that Karen had once been addicted to the drug.
“Karen, we’ve got her stabilized, I can handle moving her up to a room…”
“Don’t worry about it, I’m fine,” Karen insisted putting down the chart and grabbing the side of the gurney with her unsteady hands to lead it to the elevator.
Both Karen and Chris were silent as they got Sydney settled in her room. Finally Karen spoke.
“I’m going to be in my office, but will you please have someone call me as soon as she wakes up.”
Karen hurried out of the room before Chris had a chance to reply.
When she got to her office she collapsed into her chair, her face falling into her hands. Images of Sydney’s unconscious body flashed in her head. All she could think about was that girl who almost died on the table because of a drug overdose. Yet, here she was craving another pill to make herself feel better. She shook her head, wiping away the images and took a pill out of her desk drawer. Before she could put it in her mouth, the phone rang.
“Hey Karen, Chris told me to call you to let you know that Sydney’s awake,” Katie told her.
“Already? Okay thanks, I’ll be right up.”
Karen hung up the phone and put the small, yellow pill on her tongue. She closed her eyes and swallowed hard, then left her office to head upstairs.