Apache Dawn: Book I of the Wildfire Saga by Marcus Richardson Page B

 
    George L. Honeycutt, MD, Chief of Emergency Medicine.
    Brenda closed her eyes.   First days suck .
    “What the hell are you doing back here?” barked a red-haired doctor with a narrow face as he helped the highest-ranked ED surgeon in the hospital to his feet.
    “I—” said Brenda.   She stammered a few nonsensical words, in total shock at body-checking her new boss on her very first day.   At least I didn’t salute him…
    “Look,” said the second doctor, as he waved a hand to cut her off.   He stole a glance at her visitor pass and his eyes narrowed.   “ Visitors aren’t allowed back here—”
    “Oh—“ she said, looking at his name tag.   “But—I work here, Dr. Wu,” said Brenda. She drew herself up and stuck out her right hand, “I’m Brenda Alston, the new EM resident transfer.”
    “Wait a minute,” the snippy, red-haired doctor said.   A wicked smile spilled across his face and he looked at the other two.   “You’re the new resident?”
    “You’re late ,” muttered the third doctor, a tall lanky black man with horn-rimmed glasses and an academic look about him.   He managed to look stern and supremely amused at the same time.
    “Oh this is perfect ,” said the first doctor, a smile spreading like an oil-slick across his pinched face.
    “Jesus, Stan, give it a rest ,” said the older man. He ignored Brenda’s outstretched hand and flipped through the limp, wet sheets on his clipboard. “Anybody seen Nancy?   Someone needs to inform her the new kid is here,” he said.   He stopped dead in his tracks when he saw the mass of people in the receiving area over Brenda’s shoulder.  
    “What the hell is going on here?”
    The pinched-face doctor cleared his throat and spoke up, ”George, this is what I was telling you about—”  
    “Don’t give me that ‘George’ bullshit, Stanley.   You said there was ‘a handful’ of inbounds—that’s what you told me.   A handful .   I see more like fifty! ”
    Accident forgotten, the Chief of Emergency Medicine bulled past Brenda and marched down the hall, the three doctors on his heels.   Brenda was about to go looking for Nurse Goodson when she heard her named called.
    “Dr. Alston, with me, if you please.”
    “Here we go…” Brenda muttered to herself.   She straightened her shoulder bag and did an about face out of habit before marching to her fate.   The long steps it took her to make it down the hall and catch up with Dr. Honeycutt gave her plenty of time to chastise herself for the great first impression she had just made.   She grimaced at the trail of coffee on the floor.
    The Chief and his court stood there at the edge of the group of people seeking help.   The other doctors were also expressing their shock and amazement at the scene before them when Brenda caught up.
    A raven-haired nurse in blue scrubs came around the corner, pulling off disposable gloves.   She had a stethoscope around her neck and a clipboard under her left arm.   She walked purposefully and without hesitation straight to the Chief of Emergency Medicine.  
    “ There you are, Dr. Honeycutt.   I’m going to need all the PAs we can spare.   We’re getting swamped out here.”  
    Brenda read the name badge hanging around the nurse’s neck: Nancy Goodson, RN.   The clear plastic sleeve holding her ID had a big red stripe at the bottom.   Plastered over that stripe in bold, white letters were the words CHARGE NURSE.
    “What is it?” asked Dr. Honeycutt.   He motioned for Dr. Wu to handle the Charge Nurse’s request.   Dr. Wu nodded and retreated from the group.
    “It’s presenting with typical flu-like symptoms: aches, pains, fever, and nausea.   But it’s only taking a few hours to bring people to their knees—and loved ones are bringing them here .”   She shook her head and wiped the sweat off her forehead with the back of her left hand.   “They’re coming in faster than we can process them.”
    A commotion