Emergency At Bayside

‘Hey, I’m just the doctor.’ Flynn grinned. ‘Still, if it does turn out too soon for you to be back just let me know and I’ll sign you off.’

‘Wouldn’t you just?’ Meg muttered, but Flynn wasn’t listening. Instead he was looking around the room, pulling from the walls half the equipment Meg had only just replaced.

‘What are you doing?’

‘Setting up for my lecture. Where’s Annie?’

‘But I haven’t finished checking resus,’ Meg argued. ‘And Jess said she’d already told you that Annie was off being repaired. Someone,’ Meg said accusingly, ‘apparently used her as a sparring partner.’

‘I did not,’ Flynn said defensively. ‘I was trying to show the interns how to reduce a shoulder.’ He flashed a smile and Meg knew there and then that he’d get his lecture. ‘Hey, Carla, any chance of rustling me up a coffee and then grabbing the other students? I’d like to get started.’

Only when Carla had willingly dashed off did Flynn speak again. ‘Before you tell me off, I don’t usually use the students as tea girls, but I wanted to get you alone and apologise.’

Meg was caught completely unawares, and in an attempt to cover up her embarrassment at suddenly finding herself alone with him her words came out far sharper than intended. ‘For wrongly accusing me of falling asleep at the wheel or insinuating that I’m a bigot?’

But Flynn just laughed. ‘Feisty, aren’t you? And to think I thought it was the Pethidine!’

Meg sucked in her breath. Damn this man, he really managed to get under her skin. ‘I thought this was supposed to be an apology?’

‘So it is.’

She waited, not quite tapping her foot, but her stance showed her impatience.

‘About Kathy,’ he started. ‘Look, I just went off at the deep end. I was more riled at you falling asleep at the wheel.’ He saw her open her mouth to argue and put his hands up. ‘Or ‘‘allegedly’’ falling asleep. I took Jake and Kathy out for a celebratory drink the other night and had my ear bent about what a wonderful sister you are. I won’t embarrass you by going into detail, but the upshot is I know now that I was way out of order.’

He didn’t look particularly sorry. ‘Is that it?’

Flynn shot her a surprised look. ‘Do you want it written in blood? Tell you what, how about I take you out for a drink or dinner? Show that there’s no hard feelings?’

Sub-clause B, Meg thought quickly as she shook her head. ‘That won’t be necessary, thank you.’ Delicious consultants with an over-supply of confidence and sex appeal were a definite no-no.

‘Oh, come on,’ Flynn said easily. ‘It would save us both a heap of trouble—I’ve got a feeling your sister’s in a matchmaking mood. Maybe we should just get it over with, before she deafens us both singing the other one’s praises.’

‘Are you always so romantic when you ask a woman out, Doctor? Because if the way you’ve just asked me is an indication of your usual approach, it’s no wonder you need my sister to help you.’

Flynn just roared laughing. ‘Is that a no, then?’ he asked as the students started trickling in.

‘Yes,’ Meg muttered blushing to her toes. ‘I mean, yes, it’s a no.’

‘Pity,’ Flynn murmured, and with an easy smile turned his attention to the gathered crowd.

Meg had to hand it to him. Within seconds of starting he had the students and nurses enthralled. BLS, or basic life support, was a subject they would all have covered at college, and on their ward rotations, but here in Emergency, given that it was an almost daily event, they would practically be guaranteed a chance to witness and, if at all possible, practise the life-saving skill.

And Flynn held them in the palm of his hand, explaining that what they learnt today and in their weeks in Emergency might never be needed in their entire career, depending upon their chosen field. ‘But…’ He paused, those expressive grey eyes working the room, ensuring he had everyone’s attention. ‘Statistically speaking—and I’m not talking about while you’re at work; I’m talking about when you’re at the library or doing the groceries, or dropping a video off at the shop—somewhere in the future, someone in this room will utilise this skill, possibly on a stranger, but maybe on someone you love. And you, as nurses, have a chance of doing it right; have a chance of saving a life. Pretty exciting, huh?’