K is for Kelly
By
Kelly Brackett sat at his desk in his office with his head in his hands. His shoulders heaved as he struggled to suppress the sobs that threatened to break out.
He was always so careful to maintain his profession guise in front of his staff. When ever his emotions threatened to get the better of him he simple retreated to his office until he had it under control. This morning, however, he had come very close to breaking down before he could get back to his office. And for once he didn’t care.
Johnny Gage had been caught in a ceiling collapse and been brought in with a massive concussion, three broken ribs, a punctured lung, and a broke arm. He and Joe had been able to release the pressure in John’s chest and things had been looking up until Johnny started bleeding into the brain. Subdural Hematoma.
Ignorance is bliss.
Kel had always hated that saying. He thought that one should find out as much was one could before taking any action. Nothing should be done without full knowledge of the possible outcomes.
Right now he was wondering if there might not be something to that saying. He would have given just about anything NOT to know all of the things that could be going wrong in the operating room just two floors up.
Breathing deeply, Dr. Brackett composed himself, checked to make sure he had everything in his pockets, and left his office. The waiting room empty except for the members of 51’s A-shift waiting for word on their friend.
“Any word?” Roy asked anxiously.
~~~~~~~~~~
Chet looked around the room at his shift mate. Brackett had finished updating them as to Johnny’s condition. He saw his own stunned expression mirrored on the faces of each of the men he looked at.
“No!” Chet shouted, then jumped from his seat and ran out of the ER doors.
The other men in the room looked at each other stunned for a moment before they could process what Chet had said. Roy started to stand, to go after him, but Brackett forestalled him.
“Let me talk to him, Roy,” Brackett said as he started after Chet. Roy looked after the doctor, Brackett wasn’t know for his understand of firefighters. Roy hoped that he would keep an open mind with whatever was troubling Chet.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Outside, Brackett found Chet leaning against the side of squad, sobbing into his hands. Kel quietly walked up and stood beside the distraught man. After a couple of minutes, Chet stopped crying and got his breathing under control.
Turning, Chet looked at the man standing beside him. “It’s my fault,” he whispered.
Huh? “How could this be your fault? You didn’t start the fire. Nor could you have caused the ceiling to collapse,” Brackett reasoned.
Chet just shook his head and repeated, “It’s my fault.”
“Look, Chet, I’ll admit that I don’t know you that well, but I am sure that you would never hurt any of the guys that you work with. That said, how in the world could Johnny’s injuries be your fault?”
“When the ceiling started to buckle, Johnny and I were running to get out. I tripped over some debris and fell. Johnny had to stop and pull me up. Then he pushed me along in front of him. We were almost to the door way when I gave way. Instead of running, Johnny planted his feet and shoved me through the doorway.”
“Chet, that doesn’t make this your fault. Johnny was doing his job,” At the belligerent expression starting to form on Chet’s face, Kel hurried on, “Johnny’s job calls on him to be a hero every time he puts on the uniform.
“All of you are,” Kel waved his hand to indicate the ER doors and the men beyond, “All of you, not just Roy and Johnny and the paramedics. I know that I have a reputation of being unemotional and detached, but that is the only way that I can keep my sanity around here.
“Before the program got started, I, like many people, took the fire department for granted. Like a lot of doctors, I looked at the rescue men and paramedic program as a bunch of amateurs that had no business in medicine. I think they, and Roy and Johnny in particular, have taught me more in the past two years than I taught them. About understanding people, and,” Kel paused a moment to make sure he had Chet’s attention.
“About understanding loyalty and selflessness. Even before the program was officially started, Johnny’s loyalty to Dix saved her life and could have cost him every thing that he had worked for. It the time, I wasn’t sure whether to be mad at him for breaking the rules, or to thank him for doing the same thing. Today he may not have been consciously breaking any rules to help you, but you can be sure he knew exactly what he was doing when he shoved you out the door. I know you would have done the same thing for him. It’s part of you job, and Johnny is extremely good at his job.”
“I know, Doc. I know, but it’s hard when I think of what he’s going through right now. I don’t know a lot about medicine, just what I have been able to pick up here and there, but even I know that brain surgery is risky.”
You probably don’t know the half of it. Be glad you don’t.
“Don’t what?” Chet asked confused.
“Huh?” Brackett didn’t realize that he had spoken his last thought.
“You said that I should be glad I don’t. Don’t what?”
“If I told you, then you would, so never mind.” The only response Chet gave Brackett this time was a bewildered expression. As he opened his mouth to ask what in the world that was supposed to mean, Roy ran through the automatic doors, beaming.
“His going to be okay! Dr. Early called down. The bleed wasn’t as big as they first thought and he should be fine. No complications and, barring something unforeseen, he should be back to normal in no time.” Roy spoke rapidly, trying to get everything into one breath. He then turned and dashed back into the hospital.
“That’s great,” Both men said at the same time. Chet and Brackett turn to each other and grinned. Both thinking the same thing, Johnny had beaten the odds again.
“Come on, Chet. Johnny will be in recovery for a while, but I think I can sneak you and Roy in to see him. How about that?”
“Naw, I can let you do that. The guys might get the idea that I like him and I can’t have that. And you better not tell them either!” Chet declared with a mock scowl on his face.
Brackett let out a great laugh. “Chet, I won’t tell them, but I think that they may already be close to guessing. I knew long ago, as good as you are at hiding you affection for that young man, you slip ever so often. Come on, let’s go catch up with Roy and the guys.”
The two Kelly’s walked back into
the hospital to check on the young man that held so much of their respect
and affection, thought they both would deny the affection if you asked them.
