The Surgeon's New-Year Wedding Wish

by Laura Iding

  “Danny?” She stared in surprise, hardly able to believe the boy calling for help was actually Danny Torres. But then she noticed the car sitting with its doors open and the crumpled figure of Quinn lying next to it.

  “Melanie, get a stretcher. Quick!” Leila hurried to Quinn, kneeling beside him and feeling for a pulse. Quinn’s skin was cool and clammy, but the reassuring beat of his heart, even if it was beating far too fast, gave her hope. She strove to hide the extent of her panicky fear. “Quinn? Can you hear me?”

  “Danny,” he whispered. His eyes were still closed so she couldn’t tell if he’d heard her or if he was confused and delirious.

  “Danny is here.” She glanced up and met Danny’s wide, frightened gaze. She gestured for him to come closer. “Danny’s here and he’s fine.”

  Actually, Danny didn’t look fine. He looked pale and sick, like his father. He was standing without his crutches and she tugged him close to her side, giving him a reassuring hug. As much as she wanted to ask him to speak, like he had when he’d called out for help, she didn’t want to push the issue either.

  “Put your hand on his arm, Danny,” she said in a low voice. “Let him know you’re here.”

  Danny awkwardly lowered himself to the ground, doing what she asked, staying near his father until Melanie arrived with the stretcher and several more of the ED staff, including Jadon Reichert, who was the ED attending physician in charge. As everyone crowded around Quinn, she picked Danny up, moving him out of the way so they could lift Quinn onto the stretcher.

  Quinn didn’t open his eyes, even when they’d wheeled him inside. Leila fetched his crutches from the car and kept Danny with her as they followed Quinn to the nearest trauma bay. There was no sign of her stab-wound patient. She thought he must have been moved to the arena.

  “Get me a set of vitals and start a peripheral IV,” Jadon snapped, his tension evident as he glanced around the room. “We also need a baseline set of labs. Does anyone know what happened before he fell?”

  A history of signs and symptoms would be helpful, but with Danny not talking, she wasn’t sure they’d get anything helpful. But she’d seen Quinn early that morning. Obviously, this wasn’t the time to worry about gossip or her reputation. Leila swallowed hard and forced herself to speak up. “I spent the night with Quinn last night. He seemed fine when he left early this morning.”

  Jadon’s gaze didn’t register shock or amusement, and she was thankful her personal life wasn’t his prime concern at the moment. Instead, he looked upset. “If he was fine this morning, what in the heck happened between then and now?”

  Danny’s hand slid into hers, his fingers tightening around hers. She glanced down at him in surprise. “Danny? Do you know what happened? Did your dad say anything before he fell?”

  There was a long pause as Danny stared up at her imploringly, as if he wanted to talk but couldn’t. Helplessly, Leila wondered if there was a sign language interpreter they could get hold of. They needed to know what, if anything, Danny knew. Without having information about Quinn’s signs and symptoms, they didn’t have a clue how to diagnose or treat him.

  “We need a sign language interpreter,” she said to Melanie. “Can you get hold of one stat?”

  Melanie nodded, heading for the nearest phone.

  “He said he needed medicine.” Danny’s voice was so quiet Leila had to bend closer to hear him.

  “He said he needed medicine?” she asked with a puzzled frown, not sure if she’d heard the boy correctly.

  He nodded.

  She held his gaze with hers, smiling at him reassuringly. “That’s great, Danny. That helps us out. Do you know what medicine your dad takes?”

  Danny looked distressed as he shook his head. “He said he thought he had flu.”

  “Flu?” Then it hit her. Of course, Dolores had been sick the day before. Only in her case, being so dehydrated had caused a mild heart attack.

  “He might have flu,” she said to Jadon. “Remember how Danny’s Aunt Delores came in yesterday with the same sort of symptoms? And we’ve been hearing for weeks that the flu strain hitting the public this year is one of the worst ever.”

  “Blood pressure is low, 95 over 44, and his pulse is tachy at 118,” Susan, the other trauma nurse, announced.

  “Open up those IV fluids,” Jadon said. “And get him connected to the heart monitor. Let’s make sure he’s not throwing any funky heartbeats. I want to know the results of his electrolytes now.”

  “I’ll get them,” Melanie said, picking up the receiver from where she’d set it down after Danny had started talking. Leila could hear her telling the lab tech she wanted the electrolyte results now, not in five minutes. Now.

  “Thanks for telling us what your dad said, Danny,” Leila said, crouching down so she was at eye level with Quinn’s son. She flashed him a broad smile. “With your help we know exactly what to do to make your dad feel better.”

  “Will he wake up?” Danny asked, his tone barely above a whisper.

  Her heart clenched for this small boy, who’d undoubtedly gone through hell thinking the worst when his father had collapsed on the ground. Even if the shock had helped him find his voice, remnants of fear still haunted his dark eyes.

  “Yes, Danny. I think your dad is going to be fine.” At least, she hoped so. Unless there was some medication that Quinn had been taking that they didn’t know about? She gave Danny a gentle, reassuring hug and then stood up.

  “See if Quinn has a medical record on file,” Leila said to Melanie. “Hopefully we’ll find out what medications, if any, he’s on.” She knew nothing about Quinn’s past medical history.

  “Okay, but first I have his electrolyte results. His potassium is low at 2.6 and the chloride is low, too. Even his magnesium is low.”

  “Hang twenty milieqivalents of potassium chloride and add another twenty to his liter of IV fluids.” Jadon snapped orders like a drill sergeant, but no one seemed to mind. “Give him a second dose of potassium before the magnesium supplement. Keep an eye on those premature ventricular beats and let me know if he has more than 16 a minute.”

  “Dr. Ross?” Leila glanced at Melanie. “There are no medical records for Dr. Torres on file.”

  Damn. Did that mean Quinn didn’t have any previous medical problems? Or that he just hadn’t used Cedar Bluff Hospital, the clinic or the pharmacy to renew his prescriptions? He’d only been in Cedar Bluff for a month or maybe a little longer. He may not have taken the time to transfer his prescriptions to the hospital pharmacy. “Okay, thanks for checking.”

  At that moment Quinn stirred. He let out a low groan and opened his eyes, then shut them again, turning away from the bright overhead lights. “Tell me I’m not in the ED,” he said in a low, strangled voice.

  Her lips twitched with relief. Waking up in the emergency department where you worked was every physician’s worst nightmare.

  “Okay, I won’t tell you,” Jadon said, his tense expression easing a bit. “Maybe you’d like to tell us what happened?”

  “Where’s Danny?” True to form, Quinn’s attention quickly shifted to his son.

  “Danny’s right here,” Leila said, stepping forward, bringing Danny with her. She glanced down at Danny with a reassuring smile. “Danny was a huge help. He told us you felt like you had flu and that you needed some medication.”

  Quinn’s eyes snapped open, even if his gaze didn’t seem entirely focused as he swiveled his head in her direction. “He did?”

  Her smile was broad. “Yes, he did. But you need to clue us in here, Quinn. We’re flying a little blind. Exactly what medication do you need?”

  “No meds, I meant IV fluids. Whatever you’ve given me is working. I’m already feeling better.” He looked at his son. “Danny? How are you? Are you doing all right?”

  She tried to nudge Danny closer to Quinn’s stretcher, but he leaned on his crutches, glued to her side. The boy nodded in response to his father’s question and she could tell Quinn was
disappointed he didn’t say anything.

  She frowned and tried to warn Quinn with her gaze not to make a big deal about it. “I’ll keep Danny with me for a while, until you’re feeling better.”

  Quinn’s eyes widened with alarm. “No!” At her shocked expression he hastened to add, “I mean, I want him to stay here. With me.”

  “Sure. I understand.” She hid her flash of disappointment, not sure why Quinn was being so protective about Danny, especially after the boy had made huge strides by talking, not just once during the height of the emergency when he’d called for help but then again a second time when they’d needed to know what was wrong with Quinn. Glancing down at Danny, who looked far less afraid now that his dad was awake and talking, she said, “Danny, your dad will get to go home soon, but not until the second bag of IV fluid is empty. Do you want to sit on a chair next to the stretcher for a while?”

  Danny looked at Leila and then back at his dad. “Could I play games on your computer instead?” he asked.

  There was a moment of shocked silence, and then Quinn smiled, his eyes suspiciously bright as he pushed himself upright and swung his legs over the edge of the cart. “Get me a wheelchair,” he demanded, swaying slightly as he struggled to stay upright. “Danny wants to play computer games in my office. I can get the rest of my IV fluids in there just as easily as lying here.”

  She was happy for Quinn. Really truly, happy for him. Clearly Danny’s talking hadn’t been just a passing phase. He was honestly doing better, seeming to have found his voice after all this time.

  Jadon looked like he wanted to protest about Quinn getting up, but the determined expression on Quinn’s face must have made him realize it would be futile.

  She knew she still had her stab-wound patient to return to, but couldn’t help staring after them as Quinn and Danny made their way to Quinn’s office, towing Quinn’s IV pole.

  There was no reason to be upset that they’d shut her out. Yet hadn’t the night she and Quinn spent together meant anything? Obviously not to Quinn. The sharp edge of disappointment sliced at her heart as she headed into the arena.

  Quinn still felt dizzy but he ignored the sensation, far too elated over Danny talking to care about himself.

  His son had spoken. Not just once, but apparently several times. He’d never tire of hearing the sweet sound of Danny’s voice.

  He tried hard to hide his overwhelming joy and thankfulness as he wheeled along beside Danny. He was too afraid to make a big deal about Danny talking, much as he wanted to.

  Instinctively, he knew that he should simply act as if Danny talking wasn’t a major milestone. He could hear Nancy Adam’s voice in the back of his mind, saying, “Keep doing whatever you’re doing.”

  The move to Cedar Bluff had been the best decision he’d made. Nancy and the people of the town, including his son’s classmates Charlie and Ben, had been wonderful in making them feel at home. Never once had Danny’s classmates made fun of him for not talking.

  Would Danny keep talking now that he’d started? A sudden doubt made his stomach clench. What if something traumatic happened, sending Danny back into silent mode?

  No, don’t borrow trouble, he told himself. Danny would continue to talk if he needed to. Hadn’t Nancy claimed that Danny was expressing frustration at his limited ability to communicate? Surely he’d keep talking now that he’d started.

  Quinn swallowed hard as he leaned over to log onto the computer. Sitting back, he gave Danny room to edge onto his chair, the walking cast on his leg making the movement awkward. He pulled the rolling chair as close to the computer as he could, so Danny could reach the keyboard.

  “So what game are you going to play?” he asked, keeping his tone casual. He tried to hide how weak he still felt.

  Danny lifted a shoulder in a half-shrug, his attention on the screen. He tried not to panic that Danny might be going back to his old ways. Just because Danny had started speaking, it didn’t mean his son would suddenly become loquacious.

  “This one,” Danny finally said, double-clicking on the spider solitaire game.

  His shoulders relaxed and Quinn couldn’t help but smile. He still felt lousy, the flu bug still wreaking havoc in his bloodstream, but he wasn’t about to complain. Not when he’d been given the gift of his son’s speech.

  He’d never complain again. He felt bad that he’d scared his son, but in the end things had worked out well. The humiliation of succumbing to flu in the first place and falling flat on his face in the parking lot was well worth it if Danny would keep talking.

  As Danny played the game, Quinn’s thoughts went back to Leila. He’d probably overreacted a bit when she’d offered to watch over Danny while he waited for his IV fluids to finish. Seeing Danny standing too close to Leila had freaked him out. He’d loved every minute of the night they’d spent together, but he didn’t want to change anything else that might affect Danny.

  Keep doing whatever it is you’re doing.

  He was going to concentrate on being a good father. On establishing a family-like atmosphere with Delores and Danny. He certainly wasn’t going to add something as dramatic as a new woman into the picture.

  He’d have to end his affair with Leila. Sure, maybe they could keep meeting in secret, but he knew that seeing her constantly in the ED would make things difficult. Besides, meeting only in secret wasn’t fair to her.

  The idea of never making love to her again made him feel as though a rock was pressing on his chest. He’d miss her. Very much. He still wanted her. But his needs weren’t important. He simply couldn’t afford to upset Danny.

  Nothing was more important than his son.

  Danny let out a disgusted sigh when he lost the game.

  “Try again,” Quinn advised. “We have a little more time yet before my IV fluids will be finished.”

  Without a word, Danny double-clicked on the game again. Quinn dropped his forehead into his hands, suddenly exhausted, feeling very much like he’d been run over by a cement truck.

  He hated to ask for favors, but even once he was discharged, he wasn’t going to feel good enough to drive home. And Delores was in no condition to pick them up.

  No doubt about it, he was going to have to ask Leila for help. One last time.

  Right before he told her they couldn’t see each other anymore.

  “Quinn?” At the sound of Jadon’s voice he prised his eyes open. “I’m going to wheel you back into the ED. Your IV fluids are finished, but I’m not going to discharge you until your vital signs are stable.”

  Quinn scowled. “I’m sure they’re fine.”

  Jadon cocked a brow. “Maybe. We’ll see.” He leaned over to release the brakes on Quinn’s wheelchair.

  “Danny? Shut off the computer now,” he told his son.

  “Why don’t you let him stay for a while?” Jadon asked. “Your office is safe enough and we can come and get him once you’re ready to go.”

  Danny glanced over at the adults. “Please?”

  How could he deny his son anything when he asked so nicely? He’d never get tired of hearing Danny’s voice. Ever. “No problem. But stay here, okay? No wandering around.”

  Danny nodded again, his attention already back on the game. Jadon wheeled Quinn back toward one of the rooms in the arena. “I bet you’re happy he’s talking,” Jadon said.

  “Yeah.” A massive understatement.

  “So what’s going on with you and Leila?”

  What? He stared at Jadon. “What do you mean? There’s nothing going on.”

  Jadon’s eyebrows rose in disbelief. “Who do you think you’re kidding? I already know there was no lost bracelet. When you were lying unconscious in the middle of the trauma bay, she told us you’d spent the night at her house but had seemed fine when you left in the morning.”

  Quinn winced. “Ah, hell,” he muttered. Now the whole world would know. There were no secrets in Cedar Bluff. None.

  “Hey, none of my business,” Jadon said, lifting
a hand as if to ward off an attack. “But I was once sitting in your shoes, half in love with the best woman in the world but refusing to acknowledge it.”

  “I’m not in love with her,” he said quickly, denying the sudden lurch in the vicinity of his heart. “We had a brief sexual fling, nothing more.”

  A footstep behind him made him freeze.

  “I see you’re feeling better, Quinn.” Leila’s voice, full of false cheerfulness, nearly made him wince again.

  Talk about rotten timing.

  He steeled himself to meet her gaze, nearly flinching at the wounded reproach in her eyes. He wanted to tell her he was sorry, that he hadn’t meant for her to find out this way.

  But nothing he could say would change the facts.

  Their relationship—no, their brief liaison—was over.

  “I am better.” His voice sounded polite. Formal. As if they hadn’t spent the night lost in the pleasure of making endless love. “Thanks.”

  She stared at him for a full minute, before giving a brief nod. “Good. Take care of yourself and Danny.”

  “I will.” He clutched the arms of his wheelchair tightly to prevent himself from calling her back when she walked away.

  “You are such a stupid ass.” Jadon’s tone betrayed his disgust.

  Maybe.

  He’d hurt Leila when he hadn’t meant to. The expression of betrayal in her eyes would haunt him for a long time. And he still didn’t have a ride home.

  But Danny was talking again, sweet music to his ears. He had to accept his life as it was, no matter how much his heart ached.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  LEILA blindly walked out of Quinn’s room, his blunt words echoing over and over in her head.

  We had a brief sexual fling, nothing more.

  Tears burned her eyes, but she held them back, refusing to cry. Hadn’t he warned her all he wanted was an affair right from the start? How stupid was she to let her emotions get involved when Quinn had made it perfectly clear he didn’t want anything but sex?