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Physical altercations with patients aren’t incredibly uncommon in EDs. Trinity knows this pretty well, having heard of what happened to Dana the day of PittFest. As well as all of the previous events that have happened in the history of this building and events since. But, to be completely honest, she wasn’t expecting to have something happen to her.
She should’ve noticed. The guy was pretty badly disoriented and still out of it when he woke up, confusion strewn across his face. Trinity doesn’t think he meant actual harm behind it, he was probably just scared.
That doesn’t mean it didn’t hurt like a bitch though.
Approaching him, she got a bit too close for his comfort and he ended up swinging. And, unfortunately for her, she didn’t react in time. He was a pretty good shot. Hit her square in the face and rocked her shit; ended up on her ass, leant against the wall with a definitely broken and bloody nose.
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“...antos? Ca– …ear me?”
Voices echo around her as she tilts, leaning towards the side. Trinity squeezes her eyes shut in pain, a reverberating ring piercing her ears as she groans. She feels a hand press into her shoulder as she wobbles. A tissue being wiped across her face, collecting the dripping blood coming from her nose.
“I got you. Just breathe. You with us?”
Looking through the blurriness of her vision, she sees Dana and McKay next to her; other doctors gathering outside the door. Trinity goes to respond but the words get trapped in her throat, like the fog of her head has turned the inside of her throat to mud; she nods slowly.
Even the movement of her head makes her stomach flip, the lights feel blinding and the noises are the worst. Trinity clenches her eyes closed, trying to shield herself from it like it will do any good. The light goes away— thank you to evolution for developing eyelids—but the pain continuously building in her skull goes nowhere, Banging on her shit excuse of a defense like a soldier at war.
Exhaustion hits her like a ton of bricks. She hadn’t been on the floor of the ED too long but now it feels like she’s been moving for days. Her limbs feel like stone that’s been tossed in water— a boulder at the bottom of a mud pit.
It would be so easy to just drift off. I’d be so—
“Santos! You can’t fall asleep now kid. Stay awake. Mckay, hit the lights.”
Dana’s voice bangs through Trinity’s head like the sound of drums. In the back she can hear McKay move and press something. She can hear bits and pieces of other doctors talking, probably about the incident that just occurred but all of it sounds overlapping and harsh.
“Try and focus on me, Santos. Deep breaths.”
Slowly opening her eyes, Trinity braces for the hit of pain that the lights emanate but it never comes. The buzz of pain in her head stays but the sharp knife of light sheaths itself. The room still spinning partially, Dana’s frame comes into focus in front of her, concern painted and pouring off of her face; she still holds a tissue to Trinity’s face.
Breathing in and out, Trinity grabs the tissue from Dana’s hand that’s pressed to Trinity’s face.
“There we go. Can you speak?” Dana’s voice is soft and quiet as she talks as to not cause Trinity any more unnecessary pain.
Trinity goes to speak, trying to form words, but all that comes out is a garbled mess of syllables. Dana’s eyebrows furrow in worry, she turns to Mckay who is kneeling beside her, concern painted on her face, and asks,
“Order a CT. She’s absolutely concussed, get someone to grab ice as well for her nose.”
“Will do.”
McKay gets up, walking out of the room. Trinity focuses her eyes back onto Dana, who’s looking to another doctor who peers in to check on them. Using all the power Trinity can muster in her throat, “Did… They get the guy?” It's slurred and mumbled, but it attracts Dana’s attention, her face turning towards Trinity.
Dana sighs, “Security got him.” She presses a hand into Trinity’s shoulder, it’s firm and the pressure sends waves of reassurance through her body.
Dana smiles bittersweetly, “Just breathe, kid. We’ll get you all fixed up.”