a glimmer of hope

15.

(context: between end season 4 and season 5; the two year gap between seasons)

it had been a month and a half since quinn was been off to syria. everything had been silent to say the least.
i broke things off with ben a a couple weeks ago. if that's even a term that i can use for the lack of thing that went on between us.
he was needy.
it just wasn't right. things weren't weird though, i didn't see him much anyways.
i cleaned a wound, prepping it for stitches.
"ouch!" the boy winced
15 year old boy, he cut himself on a hand saw. his arm had a pretty bad lac..
"sorry" i said, continuing to irrigate his gash with saline.
"so, you use a hand saw often?"
"i'm building a table for my mom"
"that's great" i nodded
i patted the cut with gauze, picking up a needle off the tray.
"god, what is that?" he said
i raised an "you're scared of needles?"
"no" he scoffed
"it's to numb the area for the stitches"
i injected it near the site, throwing the empty needle in the hazard bin.
"that wasn't so bad, was it?" i mocked
"whatever"
"the doctor will be in as soon as she can" i smiled, leaving the room.
i walked down the hallway, tossing my gloves in the trash.
then, i picked up some new ones.
"alright, janice, i'm nurse cassandra" i smiled
"i'm here to do your rectal" i added
she gave me an unpleasant look.
"i know, it's not really joyful for either of us, but it won't hurt"
———
i discharged my rectal patient, a broke wrist and two lacs, and now i had a crying baby to deal with.
"she's been crying all day" the mother said, running a hand through her hair.
i listened to the baby's chest.
"her chest sounds okay" i nodded
"her temps a little high though"
"what is she, four months?"
the mother nodded her head.
"just a little over four"
i picked the baby up, bouncing her up and down.
"it could be early teething"
"or just a common cold"
"how's her appetite?"
"if seems to be good"
"she's eating as much or even more than usual"
"that's good" i nodded, setting her back down in the crib.
"honestly, there's no need for worry"
"i'll get the paediatrician in here just to make sure though"
"he might want to run some tests but we'll cross that road when it comes"
"thank you, nurse" she smiled
"of course"
"is there anything i can get you or baby lily?"
"i think we're okay for now" she nodded
"perfect, i'll be right back"
i went out of the room, dialling the phone.
"hey, cassandra, labs and films came back on your bronchial pneumonia patient" someone shouted from down the hall.
"thanks, i'll take a look at that" i smiled, leaving against the wall.
"hello?"
"this is ariti down in the er, can we get someone down her for a paeds case in room 12?"
"what's the case?"
"baby has a fever, irritated throat"
"suspected cold, just figured someone should take a look at it"
"we'll send someone down"
"sounds good"
i hung up the phone.
time for bronchial pneumonia..