RJ Nolan - L.A. Metro

"What can I do for you, Dr. Phan?" Dr. McKenna asked.

"The patient you saw with me earlier in Bed Three is still complaining of chest pain. His EKG was normal. I'm still waiting on his cardiac enzymes to come back from the lab. His other blood work was normal."

"He has no history of cardiac problems. Correct?" Dr. McKenna asked.

"None."

"Any sign of arrhythmia?"

"No."

"And what was his age?"

The resident quickly flipped through her notebook. "Forty-one."

"Your patient is still in pain. So what do you do next?" Dr. McKenna asked.

Dr. Phan looked down at her notes and then quickly back at Dr. McKenna. "So far, all the tests for a heart attack have come back negative." She hesitated for a moment and then continued, "I would recommend trying a liquid antacid while we wait for the cardiac enzymes to come back. If that doesn't help then possibly a nitrate patch."

"Good. Try the antacid and see if that helps. Once his enzymes come back reevaluate the situation and decide if the nitrate is warranted. Get Dr. Bates to back you up if you need more help."

"Thanks, Dr. McKenna."

Kim shook her head as she watched the young resident turn and sprint down the hall. "Let me guess, new resident?"

"Yes, she is. Sorry for the interruption."

Kim hurried after Dr. McKenna as she turned and headed down the hall without another word.

* * *

During the tour of the ER, Dr. McKenna had introduced her to some of the ER staff and shown her the whole ER from top to bottom. She explained the procedures they used before calling down psych and the protocols the hospital used for holding patients. Kim had been particularly interested when several staff members approached Dr. McKenna with questions or problems. Her responses were the same as they had been with Dr. Phan, crisp and professional. There was none of the banter and camaraderie that Kim was used to seeing among an ER staff. In a high stress environment like an emergency room it was almost a requirement.

While Kim realized that as the Chief of the ER, Dr. McKenna might feel the need to distance herself a bit from her staff, this seemed more extreme than that. She had yet to see Dr. McKenna even smile. Kim wondered if the strict emotional control extended to the woman's personal life. Despite her off-putting demeanor, Kim was unwillingly attracted to her.

Kim was pulled out of her thoughts as Dr. McKenna stopped in front of the door to the staff lounge.

"I think that about covers it," Dr. McKenna said.

Kim smiled. "Thank you for the tour. I appreciate you spending the time with me."

"Not a problem. Did you have any other questions?"

"Not that I can think of off the top of my head," Kim said.

"All right then, I need to get back to work." With that, Dr. McKenna turned and headed down the hall deeper into the ER.

Kim stared after her for several moments. When she realized what she was doing, she turned away. Stick to business, she chastised herself as she made her way out of the ER. The last thing you need is to get involved with another ER Chief. Besides, you don't even know if the woman is a lesbian.

CHAPTER 2

JESS STOOD NEXT to the nurses' station as she waited for her quarry to emerge from the treatment room. When she noticed Penny watching her she randomly selected a chart from the rack.

Jess stared unseeingly at the chart. This is not a good idea. Although Jess had been telling herself that for days, here she was anyway. She was waiting for Chris Roberts to finish up with his patient so she could talk with him. Normally, she didn't have a lot of use for the man. He had made it clear on numerous occasions that he did not like to cover the ER. However, in this case, he could prove useful.

Inexplicably, she had not been able to get Kim Donovan out of her mind. The beautiful psychiatrist had dominated her thoughts since their brief meeting three weeks ago. Against her better judgment, she intended to try and learn more about the woman before she started her rotation in the ER next week.

Which was why she was waiting for Roberts. If anyone up in psych knew anything about Kim Donovan it would be him. Jess was sure that by now he had probably already asked Kim out. Not that she could blame him, but in this instance, she would have bet her next paycheck that it would not do him any good.

Jess was sure that Kim had checked her out when Philip introduced them, but it was more than that. She readily admitted that she had been immediately attracted to Kim. Who wouldn't be? Her curly shoulder-length blond hair coupled with warm sky blue eyes were an attractive start. Add in a beautiful face and a tall, lithe body and you had a spectacular combination. Jess vividly remembered the first time their eyes had met and held. It was as if a strong current had flowed between them. It had been disconcerting to say the least. Even now, Jess wondered if she had just imagined it.

A gurney banging against a wall broke Jess out of her contemplations. She cursed under her breath when she realized Roberts had walked past her while she was lost in thought.

"Dr. Roberts," she called after him. Jess caught up with him just as he reached the elevator. The doors slid open.

"What?" he asked in an impatient tone.

"I'd like to talk to you for a minute," Jess said.

"Fine." Roberts motioned for the people in the elevator that was waiting to go ahead without him. He turned back toward Jess with a scowl.

Now that Jess was facing him this didn't seem like such a great idea. She was unexpectedly tongue-tied. That in itself was so unlike her. I knew this was a bad idea.

"Is there a problem?" Roberts asked. "I'm needed back on the psych floor."

Jess scrambled for something to say. She cursed herself for not thinking this out before she approached Roberts. "Do you think the record of the patient you just saw should be flagged for possible drug seeking behavior?"

"Yes. I already told your resident that."

"Okay. Good. So how is the new psychiatrist working out?" Great segue, genius. "Um... Dr. Donovan... Right?" Like you don't know exactly what her name is.

"Kim is settling in fine," Roberts said. His confusion was plainly written on his face. "Was there something else you wanted?"

"No. That's it. Thanks." Jess turned and quickly walked away. Great, you looked like a total idiot. That's why you never do this. You're terrible at it. Stick to business. Last thing you need is to become interested in someone you work with. It worked out so well last time, she sarcastically reminded herself.

* * *

Kim picked up an empty tray and headed for the food line in the cafeteria. She glanced up when she heard her name called. She smiled and waved when she spotted Brenda, a psychiatric nurse-practitioner she worked with on the psych floor. She made her selections, and then headed for the table where Brenda sat.

"I see you decided to descend from the ivory tower today," Brenda said.

Kim laughed as she took a seat at the table. Brenda was a feisty, middle-aged black woman. She had taken Kim under her wing.

"It does feel good to get off the floor for a little while. See how the other half lives... so to speak," Kim said. That was one of the reasons Kim liked rotating in the ER. It could be isolating to spend an extended period on the psych ward.

"Ready to face the loony toons in the ER next week? And I don't mean the patients!" Brenda said.

Kim laughed. "I'm sure I can handle whatever they throw at me."

"I know you can," Brenda said. "Well, I need to get back to the floor. Group starts in an hour. I'll see you upstairs." She gathered her tray and with a wave headed for the exit.

Kim watched for a moment as Brenda walked away. It was hard to believe she had been at LA Metro for three weeks already. The time had just flown by. Although she was busy getting to know her fellow psych staff and settling in, she thought of the beautiful ER chief often and the brief time they had spent together on her first day. She had never reacted so strongly to anyone as she had Jess McKenna. The thought of her first rotation in the ER next week filled her with equal parts of anticipation and trepidation.