Feelings

Chapter 2

Melendez could just tell what the doctors were doing wasn't working and if he couldn't get into the ER, he was going to find someone who was already quarantined and to get them to help Lim. Where was Dr. Shaun Murphy when he needed him? He glanced over towards a large crowd of people and he found Shaun lying on the floor in the fetal position, covering his ears. He had to have someone get Shaun's attention, "Dr. Murphy? Dr. Murphy, can you hear me?" he shouted through the doors. Melendez noticed one of the nurses trying to get Shaun's attention, but he didn't seem to be responding to her words. After several more moments, he finally stood but he started spinning in a circle, like he was trying to choose something or someone to focus on currently. He finally noticed Melendez calling out to him and he walked over to him, "Dr. Melendez, you can't come in here. This ER is under quarantine."

"I know, and I'm not going to come in, but I need you to follow my directions exactly," said Melendez. Shaun nodded and Melendez took a deep breath, trying to compose himself so he could calmly give Shaun directions, "I need you to get an oxygen mask and albuterol. I also need you to get another dose of whatever antiviral medication you all are using. I need you to put on your HAZMAT suit and go and give the oxygen and albuterol therapy and antivirals to Dr. Lim. Do you understand?"

Shaun didn't say anything but he just walked away, so Melendez had no idea if Shaun was doing what he had asked of him. It seemed to be taking Shaun forever to get the proper treatments, so Melendez figured Shaun had gotten distracted and that Lim wasn't going to get any treatment. He went back over to observe isolation and was shocked to find that Shaun was already in the room, fully protected by the HAZMAT suit, obviously arguing adamantly with the nurse about Lim's course of treatment. The nurse finally agreed and upped the dosage of antiviral medication and also put the larger oxygen mask on her and started the medication. It took about another ten minutes before Lim's O2 levels and respiration rate increased. Still below normal, but better than it was beforehand. He could finally breathe a sigh of relief, at least for now.

Melendez finally realized that he had been so worried about Lim that he had forgotten about his own patient, so he made his way back up to the conference room to see if he could find Andrews. When he arrived, Andrews stood and said, "Dr. Melendez, nice of you to join us again."

Dr. Andrews," Melendez acknowledged his superior, "I was just on my way here to talk about a course of treatment for Chris Santos," Melendez looked over at the monitors and mentally smacked himself, just now realizing that Andrews would've seen him on the monitors. Thankfully, Andrews didn't say anything, at least not yet, "It would involve expanding the quarantine just for Chris's donor and another doctor so one of the quarantined doctors can extract the bone marrow and hand it to me so Dr. Browne and I can do Chris's bone marrow transplant," explained Melendez, "I will follow all quarantine protocol and I will make sure no one else is exposed to the virus."

Andrews crossed his arms over his chest and took a deep breath, "Dr. Melendez, you realize expanding a quarantine zone could very well set up a potential for the spread of the virus even further. The emergency room is under quarantine for a reason."

"Dr. Andrews..."

"I know you desperately want to save your patient, but the hospital has to live with mortality rates," explained Andrews.

"Well, without bone marrow, Chris Santos will die," said Melendez steadfastly, "He's already died once."

"But if we expand the quarantine zone, many more individuals could die. This virus has been killing it's victims within hours after the infection has begun. And Chris's donor might have been exposed to the virus; if he's infected, the bone marrow could be spread to Chris, exposing other patients in this hospital," said Andrews. Melendez side-eyed towards the monitors and Lim appeared to be somewhat stable, "I'm sorry, Dr. Melendez, but I just can't risk it. You're just going to have to find another way," Andrews stated firmly. Melendez sighed and went to leave the room, "Nice going with Dr. Lim, by the way."

"What?" asked Melendez, turning towards his boss.

"Getting Dr. Murphy to help treat her symptoms. I spoke with the CDC; the team should be here in a few hours."

"Good," Melendez breathed a sigh of relief, sincerely hoping they would arrive in time to save Lim. He went to go find Claire, though he couldn't help but worry about the situation down in the ER. Not only was Lim severely ill, but Park's son was having an asthma attack, Morgan was struggling with the emergency surgery, and Shaun was clearly overwhelmed by all of the chaos. Thankfully, for Lim's sake, he had chosen to focus on following Melendez's instructions. He finally found Claire and explained that Andrews didn't approve of the plan.

Claire took a deep breath and asked, "So what now?"

"I don't know," Melendez admitted honestly, "We can continue monitoring for a good match from the registry, but I don't know if it'll come in time for Chris."

Claire nodded her understanding, "If he flat lines again, we can't..."

"I know," Melendez admitted, "It would be too risky to revive him more than once. All we can do is hope for a miracle."

Claire nodded in agreement, "How's the situation in the ER?"

"Andrews told me that the CDC team will be here in a few hours. I just hope no one else in that emergency room has been exposed. If Bob Cravens tests negative we can get his marrow. If he's positive, who knows?"

Claire knew Bob Cravens wasn't the only person Melendez was concerned about in quarantine. Word has gotten around the hospital that Dr. Lim was infected with the virus and she knew how close Melendez and Lim were. She could feel the tension when she had set foot in that elevator a few weeks ago. Sure, they were both vying for the Chief of Surgery position at the time, but there was always a certain amount of chemistry between them. In fact, most of the staff at St. Bonaventure noticed except for Drs. Melendez and Lim themselves, "Well, I'll keep checking the registry; I'll have someone page you if anything changes with Chris."

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Melendez knew he was supposed to be taking a break, but somehow, his feet had once again led him to the ER. There was a break room on the first floor where the emergency department was so he could go back and forth between the ER and the break room. He finally decided if he didn't eat, he would become a patient and he wouldn't be able to help anyone then. When he arrived at the room, Park was already in the lounge, "Dr. Melendez," he acknowledged him.

"Dr. Park," Melendez answered back. He grabbed his lunch out of the refrigerator, "How's your son doing?"

"Kellan is doing better," informed Park, "Some of the staff found him some emergency albuterol. I just hope he doesn't have that virus. The asthma is bad enough; I can't even imagine what it would do to his lungs."

"I was informed by Andrews that the CDC should be here soon. Hopefully, they can get a handle on whatever the infection is," said Melendez.

"Right," Park responded. Both doctors heard monitors going off and several individuals rushing around so they both went over to the glass doors to check out the situation, Melendez hoping and praying it wasn't who he thought it was, but sure enough, his worst fears were true. Dr. Lim had gone into cardiac arrest. Shaun, Morgan, and several other doctors had already started CPR, but her heartbeat was extremely irregular. He couldn't watch it any longer without doing something. He was going into the quarantine, "Distract the guards," Melendez ordered Park.

"Excuse me?" questioned Park.

"Distract the guards while I go find a decontamination suit. I'm going in," he asserted.

"Dr. Melendez!" called Park, "You can't go in there. Dr. Andrews is monitoring the whole area. He'll see you and your job will surely be in jeopardy. And even if you don't get fired, you can certainly kiss the Chief of Surgery position goodbye once Andrews finally gives up the title."

"Maybe so," Melendez agreed with Park, "But Dr. Lim won't get it either if she dies."

"Dr. Melendez, I can't in good conscience let you into that room," said Park.

"Watch me," Melendez walked away from him.