2020-08-28 - A Long Day Wraps At The Er

Well once again the rescue squads have had a day with shortages and Devlin is at the tail end of a double shift. And for the closing act of the day happens to involve a domestic dispute. Nothing like pissed off spouses grabbing weapons and stabbing people. Currently others are attending to the couple with the watchful eyes of some of the bigger orderlies close by. Devlin does appear to have caught something sharp the hard way, the slice going through his shirt sleeve. Rather than the expected deep cut, it appears someone put on a field dressing.. not exactly FD issue, but clearly Army. During the hand off, Devlin ignores the questions about his arm and instead gives the critical information needed on the patient he was treating. As staff is pretty busy, Devlin just steps back to catch his breath over to the side.

"Rough night?" asks a woman's voice beside him. "Or normal?" She can hardly fail to notice the bandage on his arm, and she frowns a little. "Let me have a look at that." Her tone suggests there will be no disagreement with this direction. At least the dark-haired woman is in a doctor's uniform. "Doctor Thule" she introduces while unwrapping the makeshift dressing. "I think I've seen you around. In this town, we see EMTs an awful lot."

At first it appears he is about to object and then as he turns Devlin sees your name badge, "Oh yeah.. I did get sliced. He was a little faster than I gave him credit for, still kept him from stabbing his wife. You should see the bruising she gave him with cook ware. It's Devlin, Doc." There is a minor hint of annoyance in his eyes as he politely corrects, "Paramedic in my case, Doc." As you unwrap the bandage, you can see a set of tattooed dates next to place names: Baghdad, Al Anbar, Ghazri, and Bagram. "I did a pretty quick job with it. And no time to clean it."

"The saucepan is one of the greatest weapons ever invented" Zara deadpans before looking over the tattoos. "How many tours?" she asks softly before grabbing some wipes from a neaby trolley. A glance over at the still bickering couple. "I wonder if it was always like that" she sighs sadly before turning her attention back to her patient. "Paramedic, sorry. Nice to meet you, Devlin. My name is Zara. I think my parents wanted me last on any lists. It's a clean cut at least." She pokes it with a gloved finger. "Pain out of ten?"

Devlin says, "Four tours with the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, Sixty-Eight Whiskey. Translation, Medic." He then hmms, "My scale or a normal person's scale?" He grins a bit, "Learned a bit of pain tolerance.. my scale.. a 4. Normal person, I'd guess a 7." He doesn't flinch as you look at the wound. "I think I have seen you in passing a few times. Sorry about missing intros. I have pulled so much over time they forced me to take 3 full days off a month ago."

"Three days? Nice. And in a month, not a decade? Wow, you Paramedics just loungs around, don't you" Zara teases before rolling her eyes at the pain scores. "So, I don't have to use anaesthetic to sew you up? Good. More for 'normal' persons" she winks. "I'll forgive you for not introducing yourself sooner. Just this once. After I've sewn you up, why don't you grab a few winks in one of the empty rooms?" Wound cleaned, it's time for stitches.

Devlin says, "Yeah. Normally I get a day here and there. Guess I am just to lazy." He kids, "You should hear them gripe when I take a drill weekend. That is a paid vacation these days for me. So what brings you to Gray Harbor or are you a returning native?"

"You're still in the Army? The drill weekend thing...or is that for fun?" Zara ask as she sinks the needle into his flesh; she could use glue but it seems that you're old school. "I'm from upstate, not local. I used to work at an asylum near here before deciding to roam the world. And now, for some reason, I am back." A snort of amusement. "It's not as if this place doesn't need doctors."

Devlin says, "Part time.. reservist. I'm part of a dustoff team attached to a MASH. I like the work. And yes, still a bit of an adrenaline junkie." He nods, "Damn.. Asylum.. Not sure I have the stones to work at one of those. I've been shot at and even had to treat an enemy that I shot before." Very clear he is impressed by that. "Yeah, always need a lot of good doctors and medics." He barely winces as you sew him up, "You have a nice touch there, Doc." He is looking forward though as you work on him. "Feels like they are neat and tight." He pauses as he sees something, and then speaks in a tone that carries, "Craig.. watch that elbow and sink down a little." When you glance it seems that hubby tried something and the orderly that Devlin called to is having to use a joint lock on the man. Craig nods and appears to make a fast correction to his hold maintaining control of the patient as a nurse gets ready to make use of better chemistry to calm someone down. "Whew.. would hate to see that guy get loose again. Don't want to mess up your work Doc. A place to crash does sound nice. Though, a light duty doctor's note would be nice.""

"Who doesn't like adrenaline" Zara retorts, "In appropriate amounts of course. I try not to think about it too much...the Asylum I mean." She's glad that you're impressed but it is a time she would prefer to forget. This town is strange but it is nothing compared to what happened in there.

"Aww, you trying to butter me up for something, Devlin?" she laughs about her neat and tight nice touch. "Flattery will get you everywhere." A quick glance is spared for Craig and the annoying husband, but it all seems under control. She has an injury to work on and that is more important. Zara takes half a step back to look over her work before nodding in satisfaction. A firm slap to the wound. "All better now" she smiles innocently before quirking a brow. "You serious about that note, Devlin?" Peeling off her gloves, she then indicates the room he can use. "Crash in there. Grab you a coffee or something?"

He nods, "Could be Doc.. Could be. Wouldn't mind a short break and I'd like to avoid a scar. Plus Chuck is coming off light duty tomorrow. Possible bonus, lunch or.." he furrows his brow.. "some meal with people rather than 4 walls or dealing with Mike's cooking at the station house. One other time of benefit, it gives me time to ponder if I should embrace a new brand of crazy and see if the Paramedic in Charge position is going to be opened. I'm a staff sergeant, so I have the administrative experience." Devlin hmms, "If you have hot water, I have the green tea." He smiles a bit, "Cargo pants are useful," as he pats one pocket.

"Chuck? Is that your boyfriend?" Zara asks with a smile. You should definitely go for that job. Remember, the higher you go, the less work you do, and the more you get paid. Win win." A laugh before she pats his good arm. "I think I can find some hot water. I'll be right back."

She slips away to find a kettle or already boiled water before turning back to add, "I'll apologise to Chuck if you get a scar, but you should be fine. Hey, I wouldn't wear any other kind of pant. Back in a sec."

Devlin laughs, "Chuck is one of the few of the happily married types in the GHFD. I'll tell his wife, she'll get a good laugh out of it and tease him for days. May be it will stop him from trying to set me up with one of his cousins." as you leave.

On your return, he is waiting patiently, he has pulled out a few sealed pouches with green tea bags that are on the table. He seems rather calm and for a moment perhaps zoned out. After your third step into the room his eyes fully open. "You catching lunch or something soon?"

"It's almost dinner time, Devlin" Zara grins while plugging a kettle in and placing it atop a shelf in the room. "That shouldn't take too long" she notes before she settles into a chair - the examination table is all yours to relax on. "Didn't wake you up, did I? Sorry about that." Though it seems she could do with a little relax time herself, sagging into the chair now she stares up a the ceiling for a moment. "It's been that kind of day" she sighs. "At least I'm not on the night shift. This place at night..."

Enough of that talk. "So, Mike is your boyfriend then" Zara teases. "Just a terrible cook." A look at the watch on her coat. "I get out of here in about thirty."

Devlin says, "Just a little meditation. I'm good. I know a couple of places that server some decent home cooked style meals." He starts steeping the tea. "I can hang loose and meditate for while as you finish up, if your game."

"Are you asking me out to dinner?" Zara looks surprised; not something that has happened in a while. "Umm...sure...as long as you don't mind me looking after a long day in Emergency" she smirks. "Mediate here and I guess I'll see you in thirty." She pushes her self out of her seat. "I best get back to work. Kettle's almost boiled."

Devlin just smiles, "Yes, I did indeed, Doc. We've both had a long hard day. So we'll match," he kids.