Dr. Campbell's Secret Son (2 page)

‘Jamie. What brings you to the Royal?’ she said, striving to keep her voice even.

‘Work.’ he said dryly. ‘I need to keep my skills up to date, so I agreed to fill in here for a few weeks. But I’m going back to Africa as soon as I can. So, don’t worry, whoever gets Dr MacDonald’s job, it won’t be me.’

Lizzie looked at Sarah, puzzlement furrowing her brow.

‘You two know each other?’

‘We’ve worked together before.’ Jamie answered before Sarah could respond. ‘I guess you could say we know each other pretty well.’ He smiled politely, but his eyes were hooded.

‘By the way, what happened to you this morning? We missed you at rounds.’ Lizzie rushed on, seemingly unaware of the tension between her two colleagues.

Jamie looked a little sheepish. ‘I was in early, so I took the opportunity to pop in to see Mrs MacLeod across the road. You remember, the old lady who broke her leg last week? I knew she had been discharged home yesterday and I just wanted to check up on her. She lives alone. And she’s a stubborn one. The nurses told me she’d refused home help. I think I’ve managed to talk her around.’

It was unusual—if not unheard of—for A and E doctors to make house calls. But as Sarah well knew, Jamie had never gone by the book. It was one of the things she loved—
had loved
, she corrected herself—about him. She had known that she would have to see him again, but she’d always imagined that it would be at a time of her choosing. A time when she was prepared, when she could face him cool, calm and collected. Not like this, when he still had the power to set her pulse racing, make her go weak at the knees and, worst of all, send her thoughts spinning in every direction, except the sane, sensible path that she needed to keep him at a distance.

His skin, tanned by the African sun, added to his rugged good looks, making him drop-dead gorgeous. He had changed into theatre greens in preparation for the day ahead and the V of the tunic top revealed the dark crisp hairs on his chest. The trousers were too short for his tall frame, stopping just above his ankles, the thin fabric clinging to the muscles of his legs and hugging his hips. Images of being held in his strong arms, her head against his muscular chest, came rushing back. He was still the most disgustingly attractive man Sarah had ever met.

Before Sarah could think of anything to say, a nurse rushed in. ‘Ambulance Control has just phoned. Multiple RTA—ETA five minutes.’

Sarah felt a jolt of adrenaline at the familiar words. Ambulances would be bringing in the casualties from a multiple traffic accident to the department within five minutes. Thinking about Jamie would have to wait.

‘How many casualties are we expecting?’

‘Three, the two drivers and one of the passengers—a child of about five.’

‘OK everyone, let’s get ready. Lizzie, could you let theatre know that we might need an emergency theatre? After you’ve done that, meet me at the entrance.’ Jamie was already moving. His laconic manner had disappeared, replaced with an intensity that Sarah knew well. Despite the turmoil he had raised within her, she was glad that he would be working beside her for her first real challenge as a consultant. Whatever else she might feel about him—
And what would that be?
a small voice whispered—Sarah knew that Jamie was one of the best A and E doctors around.

As Sarah and Jamie stood waiting for the casualties to arrive, Sarah turned to Jamie. ‘I had no idea you were back in the country.’

‘And I had no idea until a few days ago that you had been appointed as the new consultant here. If I’d known, I wouldn’t have taken the post. Well done, by the way. I know it’s what you always wanted.’

I wanted you, she thought bitterly. She was dismayed to find how much his words hurt. ‘I’m sure we can both manage to put the past behind us,’ she said briskly. And then she thought of Calum. God—Calum. Jamie had no idea. How could they possibly put the past behind them?

‘We need to talk.’

Jamie narrowed his eyes. ‘I thought we had said everything that had to be said. But, sure. Name your time and place.’

The loud wail of sirens signalled the arrival of the road traffic victims, cutting off any further opportunity for discussion.

As the paramedics opened the doors of the ambulances, Jamie and Sarah swung into action. Sarah took the first ambulance, leaving Jamie and Lizzie the remaining two. Lying on a stretcher was a pale woman in her early thirties. She was unconscious. She had a large wound in her forehead which had bled copiously.

While Sarah bent to examine the patient, the paramedic rattled off all the information he had. ‘This is the driver of one of the cars. Her son was with her. He’s in one of the other ambulances. She’s been unconscious but breathing on her own, Glasgow coma scale of 7. Head wound looks superficial but she obviously hit her head quite hard—it was an older car so no airbag. She also has a broken leg. Not sure of other injuries. Pulse is 110 and blood pressure 110 over 50. Oh, and as you can see, she’s pregnant. Pretty far on, by the look of things.’

‘OK let’s get her into Resus.’ Sarah turned to one of the junior doctors she had been introduced to earlier. ‘Dr Thompson, could you take her in? I’ll be with you in just a tick, once I’ve assessed the other casualties.’

Sarah moved over to the other ambulances. The other driver, an elderly man in his seventies, was sitting up on his trolley, his face covered with an oxygen mask. Lizzie was talking to him reassuringly. She looked up as Sarah approached.

‘Mr James here is complaining of chest pain, but he doesn’t seem to have any injuries. I’m just taking him into Resus as a precaution. Jamie has already taken the child through.’

Sarah bent over Mr James and listened to his chest. ‘Thanks, Lizzie. Could you organise an ECG? I’ll be along in a minute.’

Sarah hurried inside to join her patient. She passed Jamie examining a small child in one of the cubicles. The child was distressed but conscious. Jamie looked up. ‘Neil here is fine. A bit shaken, but no damage done. His car seat kept him well protected. We’ll just keep him under observation for an hour or two. He said his mummy fell asleep, but that’s all I can get out of him so far. Except for a name—Lucy Croy. Do you need any help?’

‘Yes, please. If you feel Neil will be OK for the time being with the nursing staff? I could use you in Resus.’

‘I’ll be back just as soon as I can, Neil.’ Jamie said soothingly. ‘I’m just going to check up on your mum. Nurse Winter here will look after you. She’s got a little boy of just your age.’

As Jamie walked with Sarah she filled him in on the condition of the two other accident victims.

The resus room was a hive of activity when they entered. Doctors and nurses surrounded the two patients, taking blood and setting up drips. Although the air of tension in the room was palpable, everyone was working calmly and efficiently. Mr James had been connected to an ECG machine, which was checking his heart rhythm. One of the junior doctors, a cheerful-looking woman in her mid-twenties who had been introduced to Sarah as Dr Karen Davidson, looked up.

‘I’ll have the results of his ECG in a few moments and have also taken blood to check his troponin level.’

As one, Jamie and Sarah decided to concentrate on Lucy, who appeared to have regained consciousness but was thrashing around confused.

‘We’ve started a drip on this lady. We’ve taken blood and urine samples. I’ve rung Obstetrics and they’re sending someone down. Any clue as to what happened?’ Dr Thompson asked.

‘All we know so far is what the son has told us. He said she fell asleep, but whether he means before the accident or after is unclear. He said her name is Lucy, Lucy Croy,’ Jamie replied.

‘My son, is he OK? Please, I need to see him.’ Lucy’s eyes darted around the room, searching for her little boy. She tried to sit up. Gently Sarah pressed her back onto the trolley.

‘Just relax. Neil is absolutely fine. You can see him shortly. But first we need to check you over. Can you remember what happened?’

‘Not really. No. Nothing until I woke up here. My baby—is my baby OK?’ Lucy clutched her abdomen.

Lizzie bent over Lucy, using the Doptone to search for the baby’s heartbeat. She glanced up at Sarah. ‘Baby’s heartbeat seems fine. But I think we should get Lucy attached to a foetal monitor to be on the safe side.’

‘Good idea.’ She looked enquiringly at Jamie, who had been examining Lucy’s head wound.

‘Seems superficial, although it’s bled quite a lot. I’d be surprised if it’s serious enough to have caused the loss of consciousness, though. We’ll get a head CT just to be sure.’

‘Dr Carruthers, I have the results of Mr James’s tests, if you have a moment,’ Dr Davidson called over.

‘You go on. We’re fine here.’ Jamie said. ‘We’ll know more once we get the blood and urine results.’

Sarah introduced herself to the elderly man lying on the trolley.

‘I’m just going to examine you, Mr James. Can you tell me how you’re feeling?’

‘It’s Bill,’ he gasped, clearly in some pain. ‘I’m all right—a little groggy perhaps. But my chest. It’s awfully sore.’

He didn’t appear to have any chest injury—she’d checked for bruising or chest tenderness automatically in her rapid but thorough initial assessment.

‘Please—could somebody phone my wife? She’ll be worried sick. I was only going to the garage to get some petrol. She’d have expected me to be back a long time ago.’ Bill was clearly getting increasingly anxious. He struggled to get off the trolley. ‘I need to be getting back…’

‘Please, Mr James—Bill—try and relax. We’ll let your wife know where you are,’ Sarah said reassuringly.

She nodded to Dr Davidson. ‘Could you ask one of the nursing staff to try and reach Mrs James? I’d just like to re-examine Bill.’

Sarah’s brow furrowed as she reviewed Mr James’s ECG. She was at a loss to explain his chest pain. He was a little muddled and was unable to give a clear account of the accident. She fully expected the ECG to show ischaemic changes and was baffled when it appeared normal. But the old man continued to complain of severe chest pain. His blood pressure was low, where she would have expected it to be higher. Karen was looking to her to explain the symptoms, but she couldn’t. It was her first real test as a consultant and she was scared she was going to fail it. If only Dr MacDonald were here! She looked up from studying Mr James’s X-ray to find Jamie at her elbow.

‘Problems?’ he asked quietly. Jamie had always been protective of her, right through medical school and beyond. It was on the tip of her tongue to retort that she was managing just fine. It was
she
who was the senior doctor after all! But she knew her reaction was more likely a response to his proximity. Although she wanted nothing more than to put a million miles between them again, Sarah was too much of a professional to ever let personal feelings get in the way of patient care. And, she admitted to herself, there was no one whose medical opinion she trusted more than Jamie’s.

‘His symptoms don’t quite fit. I’ve looked at his ECG and there isn’t anything I wouldn’t expect in someone of his age.’

‘OK if I examine him?’

‘Please. I need all the help I can get.’

Jamie returned a few minutes later, looking worried. ‘You’re right, it is puzzling, but I have come across something like it once before. I can’t be sure, though, until I see his chest X-ray.’

‘I’ve got it up here.’

As Jamie moved closer to scrutinise the X-ray, he brushed against her. Sarah felt an electric shock go through her body that made her toes curl.

‘Tell me what you see,’ Jamie prompted.

Sarah studied the X-ray for a few moments. ‘His aorta seems a little wider than I would have expected—but I can’t be sure.’

‘That’s what I thought,’ agreed Jamie. ‘But it would be helpful to know if it’s always been like that or whether this is something new.’

‘Hey, doesn’t the department have a computer link with Radiology?’ Sarah said.

‘Good thinking. We should be able to compare this with any previous X-ray films.’ Jamie and Sarah grinned at each other and she felt the past drift away. God, it felt good to be working with Jamie again.
Just that?
The treacherous inner voice was back.

Sarah called Lizzie over, who confirmed that they were able to do what she had asked. Minutes later Mr James’s previous X-rays were displayed on the computer screen.

‘Bingo!’ Sarah exclaimed. ‘There, you can see that his aorta is definitely wider than before. Looks like it’s ruptured. That would explain his symptoms. We’d better get someone from Cardio. The sooner he’s taken to Theatre the better. Could you page for someone, Lizzie? And let Theatre know?’ She turned to Jamie and saw her delight mirrored in his eyes.

‘Well spotted,’ he said warmly.

‘Team effort.’ she replied sincerely

‘We always did make a good team, didn’t we?’

Jamie’s words hung in the air. Although she knew that he could be referring to when they had been trainees together, the look in his eyes told her that he meant something quite different.

‘Jamie, I…’ she started to say just as the cardiothoracic consultant, with an entourage of students, rushed in.

‘I believe you’ve got a damaged aorta for me?’

‘I’ll leave you to it while I check up on Mrs. Croy, shall I?’ Jamie dropped one eye in a slow wink before walking away.

‘We’re pretty certain.’ Quickly and concisely Sarah explained Mr James’s history.

‘You’re absolutely right,’ the surgeon congratulated her. ‘Well picked up. It’s a pretty subtle sign on the X-ray and quite often gets missed until the patient’s collapsed.’

‘I wouldn’t have picked it up without Dr Campbell suggesting it might be a possibility. It’s not something I’ve ever come across. Luckily he had once before.’

Once Bill had been taken up to Theatre, Sarah returned to Lucy’s bedside.

‘She’ll be going up to X-Ray soon,’ Jamie informed Sarah. ‘In the meantime, we’ll keep her under close observation.’ One of the nursing staff had brought Neil in to see her and he was sitting quietly, holding his mother’s hand and watching the activity in the room with wide-eyed interest. Lucy seemed a lot calmer now that she had her son by her side. Sarah stretched to ease the kinks in her back.