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CHAPTER ONE
MAC
“Can you check bay two, please, Dr Flynn?” Without waiting for an answer, the nurse handed me the chart.
“Seriously? I’m just on my way out. I’ve been here since before eight this morning.”
“You’re not the only one, Mac, but we’re so short-staffed with it being the holidays.”
“I know, I’m sorry.” I scrubbed my hand down my face and blinked, my eyes blurry. When was the last time I made it out on time? I checked my watch. Yep, another nine-hour shift.
“It shouldn’t take too long,” she continued. “A young lad came off his skateboard. He’ll need an X-ray on his ankle. Possible fracture.”
That wasn’t too bad, at least, and with a little luck, it’d be a quick check, then send him up to X-ray. It might not even be broken.
I speed-read the chart and swept back the curtain to see a boy, no more than seven or eight, sitting on the bed, his dirty face streaked with tears.
“Who do we have here, then?” I sat on the edge of the bed. Poor kid looked terrified.
“This is my brother, Logan. He fell off his skateboard. I think his ankle is busted.” A sullen-faced guy with light green eyes the colour of jade answered me, his words softly spoken.
“Well, we’ll certainly check that out. And you are?”
“Frankie Dodds, his brother. Mum’s at work, so I brought him.”
“How old are you?” I asked, glancing at the chart.
“I’m twenty. Logan’s my stepbrother,” he said, his tone brusque.
“Okay, well, I’m Dr Flynn, but you can call me Mac.” I directed my comment to the young boy on the bed. I put the chart down and took a cursory look at his leg and ankle. “You’ve a nasty graze there, but the nurses will give that a good clean and make sure there’s no grit in there. I’m going to feel your ankle, and I want you to let me know where it hurts.”
Logan nodded and licked the snot on his top lip.
“Let’s get something and wipe that for you first.” It wouldn’t kill him, but a tissue was more hygienic.
I handed him a paper towel, all I had to hand, and while he was occupied, gently touched his leg.
“Ow, ow, that hurts,” he cried. “Make him stop, Frankie.”
Frankie held his hand, a sight that melted my heart, and I remembered back to when my brother had done the same when I’d broken my arm.
“You’re okay, Logan. Doc here will sort it out, and then we’ll go home and have ice cream.”
I continued to palpate the ankle. It didn’t feel broken, but that didn’t mean there wasn’t a hairline fracture somewhere in there.
“Dad says I’m not allowed.” Logan sniffed again, but at least the tears had stopped.
“Brian doesn’t need to know. It’ll be our secret.” Frankie whispered as if Brian were in the room with them. He looked over at me. “How long will we be here? His dad will be livid if we’re not in when he gets home.”
“I can’t tell you exactly, but a couple of hours, maybe.” This time of day was relatively quiet, or as quiet as it could be. “The nurse will take you down for an X-ray, and I’ll drop by and let you know the results.”
It was difficult to tell, but I didn’t want to move it around too much, just in case. With a bit of luck, it’d be a nasty sprain and not a break.
“Thanks, Mac,” Logan said and turned to his brother. “We won’t need to tell Dad, will we?”
“Yeah, we will. But don’t worry. I’ll look after you, okay?”
Was it my imagination, or did the young boy look terrified at the prospect of telling his dad?
