Goodbye Kiss

6. The Greatest of Gifts

The Greatest of Gifts
Season 7 x 09

i zipped up my coat, walking outside my apartment building.
god, it was freezing outside. it didn't help that chicago had its first big snowfall last night.
i walked around the block and up the stairs of the l station.
the l was packed full. probably because the streets were kind of undriveable currently..
i held onto a pole as we went off.

"god, it's crazy out there" i smiled, unzipping my coat at the admit desk.
i shoved it under the desk.
"cold?" weaver asked
"freezing" i smiled
"almost christmas" carter smiled
i raised an eyebrow "still here, huh?"
he nodded his head
"i'm heading home"
"good luck, it's kind of crazy out there"
"yeah, sorry for having you on nights, carter" weaver started
i walked off, past the trauma rooms.
"gianna, can you take this lady with the flu from me?" abby said, handing me a chart
"sure" i nodded
"curtain one?"
"yeah" she smiled
"thank you"
———
"so, chen gave birth?" i asked
"yeah, do you think we should send her flowers or something?" randy said
weaver shook her head "no"
dr. legaspi came up to the desk with a gift for weaver.
"i heard carters her birth coach" randy cackled
"really?" i laughed, scribbling into a chart
"drinking water upside down is supposed to help with hiccups, huh?" legaspi asked
"i've heard a spoonful of peanut butter works" i shrugged

i walked down the hallway with two boxes of medication in my arms.
"hey, rumour has it you're here" i said when i saw carter walking down the hallway.
"yeah and i'm gonna go snooze in the on call room"
i leaned myself against a wall.
"how's chen?"
"you know" he shrugged
i nodded my head. she wasn't keeping her baby. it must've been hard.
"adoptive parents are nice" he nodded
"that's good" i smiled
"i'll let you go unbox those" he yawned
i nodded my head, setting them down on the floor of the drug lockup.
——
"you're still puking, huh?" i asked my patient from earlier.
i adjusted her saline drip, looking at her chart
"yeah" she sighed
"your labs haven't been looked at by the doctor yet" i sighed
"he's slow"
"he's not a regular down here"
she rolled her eyes.
"i'll get him to look at them right now" i smiled
"and how about i get you a fresh gown?"
"thank you" she nodded

the puking patient had fallen asleep. that gave me more time for my new patient. it wasn't much better though. major migraine.
usually, i feel sympathetic toward these people. not today.
"don't stand there and take notes, help me" the patient groaned.
that's exactly why...
"the doctor is gonna come in any minute now" i smiled
"i wish i had the thought to go to mercy"
"so do i, ms. chambers" i sighed
"you can't say that"
i looked up at her and off of the chart.
"it's been a long day for all of us"
"well, make mine end faster"
"the more you talk, the worse your head will feel" i sighed
"so you're telling me to shut up?"
"maybe i am" i shrugged

"hey, gia-" carter began
from the corner of my eye, i saw my puking patient bend over.
"hold that thought" i said, running toward her.
i held out a basin which, she just barely puked into.
"good refluxes" she smiled
"i'm just gonna adjust your drip"
"how's that medication making you feel?"
"i'm puking less"
"yeah, that's good" i nodded
carter was now talking at admit to abby.
"anything i can get you?"
she shook her head
"once you stop puking completely, i might be able to get you a popsicle or ice chips"
she smiled, i rubbed her back.
"for now, hang tight"
"the meds will kick in more soon, alright?"

"hey, you're heading out?" i asked carter who was walking toward the door.
"not feeling well" he smiled
"tell me about it, three hours to go" i groaned, rubbing a hand through my hair.
"goodnight" he nodded
although, something about him seemed weird tonight..
"right" i nodded
i went around the admit desk.
"is something up with carter?" i asked chuny
"i don't know, he was pretty nervous earlier"
"talking with abby about something"
"she told him to go home"
"interesting" i nodded, watching him walk out into the cold.
really weird.