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When Cassidines Fall
Secret Weapon
"You don't have to do this today." The coach tells Rita.
Rita is dressed down in a white tshirt and blue shorts. The team
is already practicing tossing the ball back and forth in a
scrimmage after school in the sorta dingy gym of Queen of Angel's
school. What money came into the school wasn't spent on the
athletics department.
"The team is already formed. I can't be putting this off any
longer." Rita says grimly. She rotates her shoulders around
getting loose.
"I read the papers. You might not have been mentioned by
name but I know who Judge Porter's minor daughter is. I'm
surprised you were even in school today." The coach whistles
and with a hand motion redirects the action.
"It wasn't too bad." Rita downplays. The coach looks at
her with disbelief. "Really. It was a just a couple of hours.
My dad was there and I knew help was on the way. The bad guy is
in jail. Problem solved."
"Okay, then." The coach shakes her head. "You're
going in on the next substitution."
"Elaine, I'm talking less than bare bones here." Carly
wanders in the apartment, a cell phone pressed to her ear
speaking to her contact at Wyndams. "The guy wants to move
in tonight. So delivery is a priority. The actual decorating will
have to wait until I can talk to the guy more and find out his
likes and dislikes." Carly walks into the bedroom. "I'll
need a queen size, no make that king sized, mattress, boxspring
and frame. Bedding, masculine colors. One set until I can get
more info." Carly notices that there is no overhead light.
"Send along a reading light-- make it two of those standing
ones so I don't have to deal with actual furniture until later."
Carly goes into the walk in closet. "You're taking notes
right? Okay two dozen hangers-- wooden not padded."
She walks into the bathroom. "Shower curtain, towel sets...
hmm make it seven of them-- that coffee brown color, you know
what I mean-- right, egyptian cotton-- the good stuff."
Carly walks out of the master bath, through the bedroom and out
to the living room. "Dang, I'm really going to need a
comfortable chair but I don't want to pick out anything without
seeing it. I'll take care of that later." Carly walks right
by Ricky who is keeping Michael occupied into the kitchen.
"Mama shopping." Michael tells Ricky confidently.
"Yeah, I guess so, Mr Man." Ricky picks up the little
one and follows Carly into the kitchen. Bemused by the speed this
is all happening. This woman could give his mother a run for it
as far as shopping and spending money.
"Okay in the kitchen now." Carly announces to Elaine.
"Somebody put up wallpaper with little roosters on it. Yeah,
it's a Victorian that's been split into apartments. It's got a
great airyness about it. Great windows lots of light and space
but chickens?! Guess it means Chrome is out." Carly squints
at the wallpaper getting in really close. "I'm picking up
accents of tan and red. The stove and fridge are almond. Okay.
Need a microwave, coffee maker, toaster, starter set of nonstick
cookware, stoneware not china, glasses not crystal-- don't send
too many. I might get fussy on those. How soon can you arrange
delivery?... Elaine, that's not going to cut it. You know I have
to be home by six. Wait. Okay how about this-- delivery after
seven, the client will be home. That'll give me a little time to
take him out shopping for electonics and a real chair. Right. I'm
on the cell if there are any problems or things you want to run
by me." Carly hangs up after saying goodbye. "There
that's taken care of. Now for the man toys." Carly walks
over to her purse and pulls out her keys tossing them to Ricky.
"You drive."
"Cards on the table time." KC takes a seat next to
Monica in front of the mirror in the ladies room of the
restaurant. "My boss said this is about a consult on a
patient who was injured in a car accident. What is going on out
there at the table doesn't feel like a consult."
"I told your boss it was a consult." Monica admits.
"And it is. There is a patient for whom Stefan is going to
want you to take over care. Monica brushes back her hair and
looks in the mirror reaching into her purse for a lipstick.
"But it felt like an interview, didn't it?"
"Yeah, it does."
"It is. Cards on the table just like you want." Monica
agrees she turns to look directly at KC rather than using the
mirror. "General Hospital is short a neurosurgeon. The head
of the department was in an... accident a couple of years ago--
has nerve damage in his hand. The rest of the department is
either competent or young. Tony Jones was an excellent surgeon
and brought a lot to the department but...." Monica allows
her voice to fade off.
"But you need a hired gun. So why isn't Dr Jones here? Why
is a cardiologist making the offer?"
"Someone has to manage the shop while both Stefan and I are
out of town." Monica lies smoothly. "You are finishing
up your residency here. It's time to move on. I think you would
be a good fit for General Hospital."
"I was planning on going home." KC counters. "I
have a standing offer from the hospital there. I have plenty of
time. You know what it's like. I've been pulling 16-20 hour days
for the last ten years without any real break."
"I vaguely remember." Monica smiles wryly. "Ah the
life of a resident. Dr Ryan, while General Hospital is not
exactly a break; we don't do 2500 neurological procedures a year
like John Hopkins. Our referrals are from New York, okay-- parts
of Canada too but not nationwide. One of the good things about
General Hospital is it does allow time for family, friends,
hobbies."
"Hobbies? What's are those?" KC jokes.
"Exactly. We should go back out there. I hate being a
stereotypical. And the women in the bathroom thing has been done
to death."
"Guys have their clubs. We have ours."
"Honey, I'll be shopping all the way up to six but you'll be
happy to know it's on somebody else's tab.... Ribs from Eli's
sounds wonderful. Could you get an extra thing of coleslaw?
Theirs is great and Michael loves the stuff." Carly turns in
her seat to check on her son in the back seat of the SUV. "I'd
invite you to shopping with us but you really do suck at
electonics.... I know it was only one stereo...." Carly
looks over apologetically to Ricky. "I'll be home by dinner
I promise." She hangs up the phone. "Sorry."
"One stereo?" Ricky asks not taking his eyes from the
road.
"My husband." Carly explains. "He's kinda
technology challenged. But AJ thinks we make a good team."
"That must have been hard to find." Ricky quips.
"You know the only reason I'm not kicking your ass is cause
you're driving and my son is in the backseat. Even if you do
speak the truth."
"Yeah, I heard about the way you jumped my dad in the middle
of the Port Charles Grille. That took some brass considering
you're pregnant and all."
"Pregnancy is no problem for me. Getting pregnant is no
problem either." Carly admits wryly. She adds with some
dread. "It's the actual child birth thing
where I get all girly. Luckily the result is worth it. This is
our stop." Carly points out the store.
Ricky pulls into the parking lot. Carly gets out of the car and
frees Michael from his booster seat. Ricky gets out the stroller
from the back. "Isn't he a little big for this thing?"
"Yes. But this way we'll know exactly where he is while we
shop." Carly slides Michael into the stroller over his
protests and fastens him in so he can't escape from the stroller.
She starts pushing Michael toward the store. Ricky catches the
door.
"Mrs Quartermaine!" There is a practically a rush of
staff toward the front door to greet Carly.
"Commission." Carly says quietly as an aside to Ricky.
"First thing first, guys. It has to be delivered tonight or
we're off to the next store."
"No problem, Mrs Quartermaine." The store manager
replies. It would be no problem even if he had to use his own
truck. "What can I interest you in tonight."
"Not me, him." Carly starts to the wall of stereo
components and televisions. Ricky and the manager trail after her.
JD stops by the gym to pick up Rita after he has finished with
work. He takes a seat in the bleachers watching the end of
practice. All the other girls head toward the showers. Their
rides go back out to the cars to get them warmed up for the trip
home. Only Rita and the coach remain. The coach starts a game of
HORSE picking positions around the court for set shots. She
watches Rita's form carefully as well as her accuracy. When the
game is finished she tosses the ball to Rita. "Freethrows.
Ten of them." Rita steps up to the line. The back of her
shirt is wet with sweat as are her palms. She rubs then down her
shorts and then taking the ball bounces it twice and then sets up
her shot. Smoothly, easily. The coach stands under the basket and
retrieves each shot bouncing it back to Rita for the next one.
When Rita makes the ten in a row the coach amazed by the shooting
percentage just keeps feeding Rita the ball until she misses a
shot. "Hit the showers."
Rita realizes her dad is there for the first time. "Hey
Daddy!" She waves enthusiastically.
"Hey pumpkin. Cookie called. We're having dinner over at
Ricky's new place. As soon as you get changed we're going to head
on over there."
"Cool!" Rita races to the showers.
The coach walks over to the bench and starts putting all the gear
away. JD walks down from the bleachers and starts assisting her.
He waits for her to open the conversation. "It really isn't
fair for me to bring on a new girl... the roster is already set."
"Yes." JD agrees with a nod.
"And her body type is all wrong for basketball. She should
be interested in gymnastics or something like that. She's not
going to break 5'5" Hell! I'd be surprised if she broke 5'3"."
"True. Actually she is more into horses year round."
"Most girls are. They grow out of it in a couple years."
"I hope not."
"Spoken like a true father." The Coach grins but the
grin fades. "We play a tough schedule. And I don't just mean
that the level of skill is fierce but that the competiveness is
vicious, very physical. I'm not exaggerating. The girls game
right now in our league is rougher than what the guys play. It's
why we play to a packed gym and nobody shows for the guys games.
Most of the girls are going to have 6inches on Rita and that's at
the guard position. She'll never get a good look at the basket."
"I've found when people are trying to let someone down easy
they start with the positives and work toward the gentle let down--
the negative. So I'll put it in there for you... But..."
"She has game awareness." The coach admits. "Even
on the first day working with the team... she knew where everyone
was and who to get the ball to. She knew where the ball and the
basket were at all times. And the freethrows! Gees. I don't think
I've seen that since I've been coaching. Physically, she's a no.
Mentally... damn. Why couldn't she be a foot taller?"
"Because she takes after her mother in that regard. My late
wife was petite."
The coach isn't even listening for the Judge's reply. "She's
a fourth quarter player." Rita comes back from taking the
shortest shower on record. Her hair is still wet and curls around
her face. The coach turns to Rita. "You're on the team.
Expect to spend a lot of time on the bench until you work
yourself into the rotation. I'll probably only call on you if
Alice gets in foul trouble. Can you deal with that?"
"Yeah!" Rita cheers. "You won't regret this, Coach."
"You might. Rita, I'll be straight with you. You are going
to take a lot of abuse out on the court."
"Then they're idiots 'cause I'll kick their ass on
freethrows." Rita says confidently.
"I'll put it to you straight. Your freethrows are the reason
why you are on the team. You will get fouled alot until the
opposing teams figure out that you'll kill them from the line.
Once they figure that out then you'll have room to start making
shots from the field. Then they'll try to stop you from getting
the ball."
"I can get the ball."
"Monica, didn't you have to call your family?" Stefan
suggests.
Monica looks from one to the other. "I think I'll head back
to the hotel." She rises to her feet. "It was very nice
to meet you, KC. I hope I'll be seeing more of you."
"It was good to meet you too, Monica." KC waits until
Monica has left. "Considering I'm here for a consult... you
haven't said anything about the case."
Stefan takes a deep breath. "I could use some fresh air,
will you accompany me?"
"Sure." KC rises grabbing her coat. They walk in
silence to the street. The breeze is cutting across the inner
harbor, Baltimore's jewel of revitalization. Since it's her town
KC takes the lead walking Stefan down toward the piers past the
aquarium. Darkness has fallen and the the lights of the city and
the Christmas decorations break the night. There is a bustle of
people around them getting in some shopping after work. Stefan
adjust the collar of his charcoal gray wool overcoat. KC jams her
hands in the pockets of her heavy coat. "What's the case?"
"My... nephew's mother was in a car accident on Thanksgiving
night. She has yet to wake from it."
"That's only been about week. What kind of trauma?"
"There were internal injuries but no obvious head injury."
Stefan says with some frustration. Stefan names the doctor down
in Carolina. "...has consulted on the case. But Laura will
be transferred as soon as she is stable to General Hospital. All
of her family lives in Port Charles."
"He's good." KC compliments. "What is his
recommendation?"
"I was not privy to the consultation." Stefan replies.
"I have a copy of her file and all the tests back in my
hotel room."
"You weren't privy to the consult but you have her medical
file." KC quirks a brow at that.
"I am CEO of the hospital." Stefan
says simply.
"I need to see the file. Where are you staying?" KC
demands. Instead of answering Stefan flags down a cab. Holding
the door for her to enter he waits until she seats herself and
then climbs in next to her. He gives the address to the cabbie.
"This better not be some kind of send up on showing me your
etchings."
"The need is real." Stefan says flatly not allowing
himself to be distracted by the smell of the woman's strawberry
shampoo... or the delicate blue veins showing beneath her
porcelain skin or the electricity between then that had nothing
do with carpeting. He forces his thoughts to the matter at hand.
"You can't be happy at John Hopkins."
"I can't?" KC looks to him with some surprise at the
outburst.
"Dr Quartermaine called it... an old boys club. While the
medicine might be progressive the... working environment must be
hostile or at the least obstructive."
KC smiles grimly. "Occasionally. But that's true of any
hospital."
"Not General Hospital. We have a significant number of women
in positions of authority-- ob, psychiatry, cardiology, nursing,
even chief of staff."
"And you get to be boss of it all." They've arrived at
the hotel. Stefan passes the required fare and tip to the driver
and gets out of the car holding the door and assisting KC from
the cab. He holds the door for her as they enter the hotel and
leads her to a bank of elevators. KC waits patiently with the
little voice in her head screaming a warning as Stefan keys open
the lock on the door.
"Be at ease." Stefan suggests taking her coat and
hanging it in the closet by the door. "I'll get the file."
KC walks over to the window. The hotel is tall enough to see the
harbor and the constant river traffic that made Baltimore one of
the busiest ports on the eastern seaboard. Stefan takes Laura's
file from his briefcase and sets it at the table switching on the
light. KC comes over to the table and seats herself grabbing the
file. "This might take awhile."
"I am available if you have any questions." Stefan
realizes she is already focused on the file and goes over to the
phone to order a pot of tea from room service. Going over to a
nearby chair, he logs on his computer and begins checking his
email. Room service comes and goes, the tea grows cold and Stefan
orders another before KC looks up from the file. "Well?"
KC stretches having grown stiff reviewing the file. She stands up
and paces briefly. "There are a couple of rule outs that
weren't done." She admits.
"Rule outs?"
"Just what it sounds like. Things that need to be ruled out."
"For example?" Stefan rises and pours a cup of tea for
both of them. KC takes the cup automatically using it to warm her
hands rather than drinking it.
"Possible allergic reaction to whatever anesthesia was used.
The gas passers use a cocktail. There could be a reaction to any
component."
"And the other?"
"Oxygen deprivation either at the scene of the accident or
during surgery."
"Laura's mother and daughter were both with her when the
accident happened. Her mother is a doctor. She made no mention of
Laura not breathing only that she was unconscious at the scene."
"Interesting." KC bites her lip. "Your file is
made up of the consultation notes from the specialist. It isn't a
write up of the actual surgery. It is a description of what is
rather than why. The EEG's chart activity and progress. And the
progress is based on the comparison of EEG's done after the
accident and then again a few days later when the specialist came
on line. Like I said... there are pieces missing."
"What do you need?"
"The original doctor notes, the notes from the surgery both
from the primary and the anesthesiologist. I need to know what
cocktail was used." Stefan goes over to the computer and
calling up Lucky's email address puts in the request as well as a
request for the time frame to get the needed information. "What
are you doing?"
"Getting you the information requested." Stefan replies.
Lucky must be on line cause there is an immediate reply. "I
will have the information within the hour."
KC glances over to the clock by the bed. It is way after business
hours. "You're an optimist then. Hospitals might be 24/7 but
records are strictly nine to five."
"Dr Ryan, I am not an optimist by nature instead an
expedient man who works with others who feel the same way."
He's going to have someone hack the records. KC realizes.
"Perhaps I'm misunderstanding you, what I'm hearing is an
implication of an illegal act."
"There is a release of information signed by Laura's next of
kin for a release of all information regarding
Laura's condition to General Hospital. I am merely insuring the
timely completion of that obligation."
"So you don't mind bending the rules. If we're going to
break them all to heck then could you get me a copy of the police
report as well. I need to know what kind of cars were involved
and the angle of impact and estimated speed."
Stefan is startled by that request. "I believe Lucky already
has that information." He sends off a quick email. This one
takes a longer to get a reply. The reply has an attachment with
the pertinent data along with a terse note for Stefan to not
bother him for the next hour. Stefan opens the attachments.
KC comes to look over his shoulder at the monitor screen of the
laptop. "Is Lucky your nephew?"
"No, my nephew's brother. Why do you need this information?"
"My specialty kinda got me interested in this stuff. You
know how a cop can guesstimate the speed of impact based on
skidmarks and positions of cars? Injuries can do the same. And
vice versa. I know what kind of injuries to expect from seeing
the accident." KC says absently as she is reading. "Okay."
KC walks over to the table and starts pulling out the chairs
setting them up like a vehicle. "The kid was sitting in back
buckled in. The other woman here. You play her. I'll be the
driver."
"I fail to see the point of this exercise."
"Indulge me. We've got an hour to kill." Stefan comes
over and takes the front passenger seat. KC checks the report
again and then comes at the vehicle at an angle. "The
other vehicle is coming from here. You see the accident coming.
What do you do?" Stefan extends his arm pressing against
what would be the dash. "Right-- you tense up, brace
yourself. It's instinctive." KC comes around to where Stefan
is sitting. And as a result end up with a twisting fracture/break
of this bone here and serious shoulder damage from impacting on
the frame of the car-- the first point of impact. You might even
bump your head against the frame as well causing momentary
dizziness maybe a loss of consciousness. Depending on the speed
of the impact-- concussion. Considering the age of the passenger
I'd say she's in a cast shaped something like this." KC
holds her arm away from her body.
"Exactly." Stefan's eyes narrow. "And Laura?"
KC takes the seat next to him. "Sees the impact coming as
well. White knuckles the steering wheel starts to make a
correction to minimize the impact." KC pantomines a turn of
the wheel. "And then boom." Stefan watches in a sick
fascination as the imaginary impact rolls thru KC's body complete
with her head whipping to the right and then back straight. She
slumps her head falling forward, her hands in her lap. Her body
held erect by the imaginary seat belt. "Come around."
Stefan walks around to the other side of KC. "Put your hand
on my shoulder." Stefan follows her direction. "That's
the height of the hood of the truck that hit them."
"If she hadn't tried to turn the wheel..."
"Then I wouldn't have wanted to be the kid in the backseat.
Look at the angles. She put the most distance between the threat
and her kid as she could in the time frame."
"And her injuries?" Stefan bends at the knees so that
he is at the same eye level as KC.
She runs her hand across the bottom seat belt strap. "Internal
along here bruising all along the top one. Different pattern of
injuries than the passenger who was stopped by the car door. That
spread the impact along the whole side of her body. Laura was
stopped by the belt itself."
"And the coma?"
"Concussion for sure. I have to get all the data for the
rest. And if she hasn't come out of it by the time she's
stablized to travel then she needs a head CT."
"That's an x-ray."
KC nods. "In a way, it sections the body like slicing cheese.
That way you can examine each section for anything out of the
ordinary. I'm thinking that hospital she is in doesn't have one
or the specialist would have ordered it when he was called in."
"I want you in Port Charles when she is transferred. I want
you to consult."
"Monica told me you wanted a hired gun. Dr Jones has a good
rep in my field. You'd be putting a few noses out of joint by
bringing me in."
"Ego is irrelevant. Laura's care is paramount. What do you
want?"
"Excuse me?"
"A grant for the hospital in Kambala? The note paid off on
your family's farm? What do you want?"
"Ricky, are you in here?" Rita races into the apartment
followed at a more reasonable gait by her father. "I made
the team!"
Ricky comes out from behind the entertainment center where he is
hooking up the stereo. "Was there any doubt? All the coach
had to do was see your free throws and you were in like flint."
"Yep, I'm going to be the secret weapon she brings out in
the fourth quarter to put the game away." Rita fakes a free
throw. Then looks around. "Wow! This place is great. A lot
better than the place over Mr Morgan's garage. Where did you get
all the stuff?"
"Cookie sicced Carly Quartermaine on me."
"Isn't Carly great?" Rita is so excited by all the good
news of the day that she is practically bouncing off the walls.
"She's like Roboshopper. You should have seen her when she
bought Mr Roberts." There is a knock on the door. "You
want me to get that?" Rita is already at the door. She
hollars back to her Dad and Ricky in the living room. "It's
Wyndams!"
The delivery guy hands her an invoice and says. "Microwave?"
Rita gives him directions to the kitchen and the next guy is
there holding another package. "Towels?"
"Oh this is fun." Rita says with glee. In her element,
she starts bossing them all around-- telling them where to go.