Seeking Relief

Revelations Over Coffee

The purple rays of the sunrise were starting to crest the hills surrounding the area by the time Emmett and Jake had pulled the ambulance back into the station. They finished their end of shift paperwork, changed into street clothes, and grabbed their bookbags as they left. When they made it to the café the sunlight’s rays were turning from purple to pink and orange. Emmett opened the door and the old school bell on the top of the door jingled. They made their way to their favorite square table in the far corner. They took their seats, leaving the seat with the direct sightline to the door for Mitch. They made quick orders for coffee, but waited on ordering food until Mitch and Adam showed. While they waited for their friends to arrive, they chit chatted about the dull details that comes with life in general. They discussed the varying bills they have with the small house they’re renting and what chores need done. Jake and Emmett are not only partners in the ambulance, but they share a house that they rent together. Sometimes they share a bed and sometimes they share women that come through the same bed. They have a close friendship but feel that there’s no need to label themselves or commit themselves to just each other while they are enjoying their youth so much. Which gives them plenty of topics to talk about, which is a bonus considering talk helps pass the time during their night shifts. They were discussing whether or not the lawn needs mowed when Jake and Emmett’s cell phones dinged simultaneously with a text message.

“Bet that’s the group text.” Jake said referring to the group text message between the two of them, Mitch, and Adam. As he pulled out his phone, sure enough there was a message from Mitch. Jake didn’t bother reading it out loud since Emmett was looking at it also.

Mitch: Had paperwork to finish. Be there in 20

Emmett: sounds good, we’re here

A good 23 minutes later, the pair heard the telltale rumbling that you feel in your bones that comes from the exhaust of a particular friend’s motorcycle. Mitch walks through the door with Adam right on his heels. Both men were also changed into their street clothes and Adam was holding his motorcycle helmet under his arm. Jake immediately flagged the waitress over asked for 2 more coffees, so by the time the two men came to the table the waitress was already on her way to get cups for them.

“Uh. You look a little rougher this morning than usual.” Jake remarked to Adam.

“Thanks, asshole.” He replied, but his mouth was quirking up in a smile.

The waitress returned with cups for Mitch and Adam, leaving a carafe on the table for the men. She’d be back every 3 minutes refilling their cups, otherwise.

“Thank you,” Mitch told the waitress. He sat back in his seat and took a deep pull of the hot liquid. The waitress patiently stood by their table while the men gave her their orders. Mitch and Adam took a quick glance at the menu and made their decisions while Jake and Emmett ordered. When the waitress had left to put in their orders, Jake turned to the group.

“So, a s**t night.” Jake said as a statement instead of as a question. Adam just nodded staring into his cup. Mitch eyed Adam over the rim of his mug. They all were waiting to hear what Adam had to say, but since he wasn’t speaking yet, Mitch decided to catch everyone up. He recapped what he learned from Snyder, what Adam told him, and what he had already told Jake. But this way everyone was on the same page before Adam spoke.

“So, it’s apparent that she was the victim of domestic abuse, she has regular contact with a battered women’s group, she has a restraining order on her ex, and it looks like she just recently was starting life on her own. And what Adam told me earlier was that he believes that she accidentally OD’ed trying to cope with her chronic pain.”

“Don’t forget to tell Adam who is her current primary if we go by what her current prescriptions say.” Emmett interjected.

Mitch turned to Adam and said, “It’s Dr. Goff.” Adam’s reply was a sneer of contempt.  

Mitch finished, then adding, “I don’t think it wasn’t a suicide attempt, I think we all feel this way, but just to confirm opinions, we all felt that something was wrong and do not think she was attempting suicide?” Jake and Emmett nodded earnestly.

“Yes.” Adam said. The rest of the group turned to look at Adam at the same time. Adam cleared his throat and took a swig of his now lukewarm coffee. He grabbed the carafe and refilled his cup as he started talking.

“I believe her chronic pain is from untreated injuries. More specifically broken bones and internal scarring.” Adam stated. The rest of the men’s eyes widened in surprise, then realization dawned on them.

“What kind of injuries?” Mitch asked suspiciously.

“I think she had broken one of her hands, if not both. I’m worried one of them is now a nonunion. She has pain in her abdomen. Lingering pain in one of her shins and in one of her feet. I think the foot was broken at some point also. I’ve ordered a mass amount of XRAY’s and MRI’s for the areas that are hurting her. I’ve also reached out to the GYN director.”

“Jesus.” Jake said on whisper.

Adam took a deep breath and continued, he told them how Jade woke up while she was still in the trauma bay. How scared she was that there was someone else with her, how much coaxing Adam had to do to even get her to point out where she still hurts. He also told them of her night terror she had in the middle of the night. He told them he checked on her this morning when his shift ended, but she was dozing so he didn’t disturb her.

“Her eyes just seem so haunted. Like she doesn’t see what’s in front of her, but just ghosts.” Adam finished. He took a deep breath and confessed to his closest friends, “I feel like it’s my fault she didn’t get help sooner. She was in our ER before with her ex. A nurse didn’t follow protocol, because of that the typical domestic abuse screen didn’t work. Our system failed her. If I had pushed for code of conduct investigation sooner, that nurse wouldn’t have been working, and she wouldn’t have gone unnoticed. She could have been helped.”

“Hey. It’s not your fault. It was that nurse who broke policy.” Jake said, reaching for his friend’s shoulder. Adam gave him a side smile, but Jake knew that Adam would still sit with his guilt. But that’s what made Adam a good doctor, his guilt kept him from repeating mistakes. As Jake mused on this trait about his friend, the waitress came with their food.

While they ate, they came up with a plan on how to help their newfound mission. Adam had informed them of the emails and doctors he’d requested to check on Jade. He explained what type of road to recovery lays ahead of her and his plan on how to get her bills written off as part of a donation. Mitch revealed his plan to find a malpractice attorney, Adam smiled and told him he knew of a few good ones. But all the men agreed for whatever reason, they were drawn to this woman they barely knew, and were already determined to help her.

When they were almost done eating, Adam asked the group, “Would you guys like to come up and meet her?”