Chapter 1: Work Problems

You get to meet the main character Nara and what she does.

 

Chapter 1

 

 

            The phone rang, for at least the fourth time that night; a hand reached out of the bed next to it and hesitantly grasped the phone. They picked it up and hit the talk button and hesitated a moment before putting the phone to their ear.

            “Hello?” A tired voice said. “Yeah this is Nara, what’s up? Ok, yeah I’ll be there soon.” She said hanging up the phone. She slowly put it down and sighed. Nara slowly climbed out of bed and looked around the dark room. She put on her black rimmed glasses, which looked extremely good on her face. She could see the black silhouette of a bed, bedside table, and a window with curtains pulled over it. Nara fumbled to find the light switch and when she finally found it she turned the bright light on. She blinked a few times and looked around before she headed to the closet. She pulled out dark blue boot cut jeans, a hot pink tank-top, and a black leather jacket. She headed to the bathroom, flipped on the light, and jumped in the shower. After she got out she put on the outfit she got out and went to the sink, and brushed her teeth and hair. She made sure her wavy, shoulder length, choppy, brown hair with blonde and red highlights looked good. She then put on some black eyeliner, gold eye shadow, black mascara, and some lip gloss. When she was satisfied with how she looked she grabbed her cell phone, purse, put her coat on, and headed out of her apartment, locking the door behind her.

            She pushed the down button on the wall and waited for the elevator to come. It finally got there and the doors opened. She was kind of shocked to see a man in the elevator, but she didn’t think about it and just got in. he looked at her but didn’t say anything right away.

            “What floor?” He asked.

            “Ground floor, thanks.” She said glancing at him then around.

            He nodded and pushed the button. “She what’s a girl like you doing in an elevator at two in the morning?” He asked looking at her.

            “I have work.” She said looking at him and kind of playing with her hair.

            “Work, dressed like that?” He said looking her over.

            Nara nodded. “Well kind of, it’s complicated.” She sighed.

            “Oh.” He nodded. “I’m Liam by the way.”

            “Nara.” She said as the elevator doors opened at ground level.

            “Well this is your stop; I guess I’ll see you around.” Liam said.

            “Yeah, see you around.” Nara said getting out of the elevator. She headed toward the door of the apartment building. She got out and headed to her car. She got there and got into her black Corvette Sting-Ray 3. She started driving through the city. She drove for a little until she pulled into the driveway of a house about half and hour outside of the city. The house had blue siding, white shutters, and there was a light on inside the house despite the early hour of the morning. It was big enough for a family of four to live in, but Nara knew only two people lived there right now. She turned off her car, got out and walked up to the door. She knocked four times and waited for someone to come to the door.

            A man with short brown spiky hair and bright green eyes came to the door. He was wearing a black tee-shirt with a canvas long sleeved over it; he had the sleeves rolled up though, jeans, and biker boots. He looked at Nara kind of surprised.

            “Collins, what are you doing here?” He asked.

            “It’s Nara, and Kaleigh called me. What are you doing here Dean?” Nara asked surprised it was him.

            “My brother Sam is dating Kaleigh. I was visiting.” He said. He stepped back to let her in. “Are you and Kaleigh friends?” He asked leading her down the hall.

            “Yeah we have been for like ever.” Nara said.

            “Oh.” Dean nodded. “You looked great by the way.” He said looking at her.

            “Yeah so do you, you haven’t changed a bit.” Nara smiled.

            “You’ve changed a lot though.” He said as they got to the dining room. “When did you get glasses?”

            “Yeah, well you know I couldn’t keep my hair one color, to many to choose from.” Nara joked. “I’ve had glasses, I just always wear contacts, but since I got up at two in the morning I didn’t want to put them in.”

            Dean chuckled. “Well someone like you must have a million guys after them, are you dating anyone?” He asked.

            “No, I couldn’t hold a relationship to save my life, you of all people should know that.” Nara laughed. “Why?”

            “I don’t know, I was just wondering.” Dean said smiling at her.

            Kaleigh walked into the room followed by a guy who had semi long, brown hair and blue-green eyes. She walked over to Nara.

            “Hey Nara!” Kaleigh said smiling as she came over to her. “I see you met Dean.”

            “I already knew Dean.” Nara said. “We used to date.”

            “Oh, wow I didn’t know that.” Kaleigh said.

            Nara shrugged. “So what did you call me for? She said like, it’s two in the morning what could you possibly want.

            “Ok well you know that case we’re working on for work?” She asked.

            Nara nodded. “The one you’re working on for your job but you called me for help anyway? Yeah. What about it?” She asked.

            “Yeah. Well I found out more and I think I know who might have done it, he is a really strong suspect and I want your opinion.” Kaleigh said.

            “Ok, what do you have?” Nara asked walking over to the table and looking at all the stuff on it. Dean and Sam walked over also and started looking at it.

            “What is all this stuff?” Dean asked going to pick something up.

            “Don’t touch it, don’t touch anything.” Nara said looking at Dean. “Its stuff for the case Kaleigh is working on.” Nara sighed.

            “Ok, so look at this guy.” Kaleigh said showing Nara her laptop.

            “Cameron Smith?” Nara said thinking about it. “Why does that name sound familiar?” She looked at Kaleigh.

            “Well he was on the news the other week, he went missing.” Kaleigh said.

            “Ok, what’s that have to do with us?” Nara asked. She thought the name sounded really familiar but she couldn’t figure out from where else. There had to be somewhere else.

            “That’s not all, he went missing right after Megan Jones went missing and Brian Jones was killed.” Kaleigh said. “Now look at all the evidence and tell me what they all have in common.”

            Nara looked at the evidence for a little. “I got it!” Nara said suddenly, making Dean and Sam jump a little.

            “You got what?” Dean asked confused.

            “You get what I’m saying?” Kaleigh asked looking at her.

            “Not, I don’t get anything you’re saying. I don’t know what’s the same between this stuff.” Nara said like who cares about it anyway. “No what I mean is that I know where I know Cameron Smith from.” She said.

            “Where?” Kaleigh asked confused.

            “I dated him. It was a long time ago, like back in high school, and I only dated him for like a month, but that’s where I know him from!” Nara said excited she figured it out.

            Kaleigh sighed. “Are you serious? You dated my murderer, kidnapper?!” She said like you’ve got to be kidding me.

            “Well yeah, he was popular in school, and he liked me.” Nara said.

            “Is there anyone you haven’t dated?” Kaleigh asked.

            “There are, like the guy I met in the elevator today, I haven’t dated him.” Nara said defensively.

            “Yet.” Kaleigh muttered.

            Nara shook her head. “Crap, what time is it?” She asked out of nowhere.

            “Umm, five. Why?” Dean asked.

            “Shoot, I have to go to work or I’m going to be late.” Nara sighed.

            “Aren’t you an FBI agent like Kaleigh?” Dean asked.

            “No I just help her out when she asks me too. I know some things. I’m an ER doctor actually. It’s complicated.” Nara sighed. “But now I have to go to work like this.”

            Dean looked at her funny. “Wow Nara you’ve grown up a lot. I mean a doctor! Jeez!” He said shocked.

            Nara laughed. “Yeah, well I got to go.” Nara said. “I’ll talk to you later Kaleigh, we’ll work on this then. See ya Sam.” Nara said looking at the two. She looked at Dean then. “I guess I’ll see you around.” She said looking him over. Nara smiled and headed out. She got in her car and started to drive to work. About half an hour later she made it to the city. She drove a little further before she made it to the hospital. She went and parked and started in, as she made it to the door an ambulance got there and called her over. The patient wasn’t breather and they needed her to do CPR. She ran over, handing her stuff to one of the paramedics, and got on the bed. She straddled the patient on her knees and she started doing compressions. They started to take her into the hospital and to one of the trauma rooms.

            They got to the room and she jumped off the bed and kept doing compressions. Two nurses and a doctor ran in and started to help.

            “We need to bag him.” The other doctor said. “Give me a 7-0 and a scope.” He said holing out his hand. The one nurse handed it to him.

            “I lost the pulse. I need a crash cart here!” Nara yelled as a nurse handed her the paddles. “Charge to 300.” She said. She waited before it was charged. “Clear!” She yelled and she shocked him.

            “V-fib.” The nurse said.

            “Charge to 360.” Nara said. “Clear!” She shocked him again.

            “Got a sinus pulse.” The nurse said.

             Nara and the others worked on the man for awhile before they sent him up to the OR to be operated on. She sighed and looked at her clothes, which surprisingly didn’t have any blood on them. She looked at the other doctor.

            “Nice outfit Collins.” He said grinning at her.

            “Shut up Ray.” Nara laughed. She looked around and saw her stuff in the corner of the room. She walked over and grabbed it. “I’m going to clock in and change.” She sighed and left the room. While Nara was heading to the doctors lounge a few people said stuff about her clothes but she shrugged it off. She walked into the doctors lounge and clocked in. she went to her locked and opened it and started putting her stuff in there. She had an extra pair of scrubs in there, so she changed her jeans into scrub bottoms. She started to pull out everything she would need and the scrub top with someone walked into the room. She put her stuff on the bench and shut her locker. She looked at who had entered and it was the guy from the elevator.

            “Hi.” He said looking her over.

            “Hi. You’re Liam, right? The guy from the elevator?” Nara asked confused.

            “Yeah and you’re Nara right?” He asked also confused.

            Nara nodded and pulled the scrub top on over her tank-top. “You work here?” She asked pulling on her lab coat.

            “Yeah I just transferred from LA.” Liam said. “What about you?” He asked.

            “I’ve worked here for awhile.” Nara said.

            “So is this where you were coming this morning?” He asked.

            “No I had to go to my friend’s house, for a work related thing.” Nara said. She considered Kaleigh’s FBI job, kind of like her own job as well, even though she wasn’t paid for it.

            “Are they alright?” He asked.

            “Yeah it was nothing.” Nara said. “So are you a resident?” She asked putting her stethoscope around her neck.

            “No I’m an attending.” Liam said.

            “Wow I couldn’t tell.” She said surprised.

            “What about you?” He asked.

            “I’m Chief Resident.” Nara said nodding slightly.

            “Cool.” Liam said.

            Nara stood there for a moment. “Well I’ve got to get to work.” She said walking around him to go out.

            “Ok, see you around.” He said as she left.

            Nara headed out a little confused and freaked out at the same time. She went to the desk and looked at the board. Not long after she got there a doctor came up to her and started handing off charts to her explaining it all to her. “Morris, slow down. Why are you trying to get out of here so fast?” Nara asked trying to get everything at once.

            “The night was horrid. People coming in all the time, no breaks, it was crazy. I want to go home.” Morris said handing her the last chart and heading out.

            Nara sighed and looked at the charts. She had about ten already and she had just gotten there. “Great.” She muttered, waiting for the attending running the board to come.

            Liam came out and waited as all the doctors came around to see who was running the board. Dr. Kovac was there so everyone figured he would be running it. He looked around.

            “Ok everyone, we have a new attending started today so we are going to give him a chance to run the board and see how he does. Everyone this is Dr. Liam Boyer.” Kovac said. He stepped out of the way for Liam to come up.

            Liam walked up beside the board and grabbed a few charts. “Ok, so I’m not sure how everything is run here. But right now I’m going to hand out the charts and you’ll present to me or Dr. Kovac when you’re ready.” He said. He handed out a few charts and he had four left, with only Nara left. “Here you can have trouble breathing and hockey accident.” He said handing her two charts.

            “Great, two more to my ten.” She sighed, taking them.

            “Think of it as showing your skills to me.” He grinned at her.

            Nara rolled her eyes. “That’s what I live for.” She said heading off. She took the top chart, which was trouble breathing and headed there first. After running some tests and such she diagnosed them with pneumonia and put them on antibiotics. She headed to the hockey injury next; there were two college aged boys in the room. Nara sighed and headed into the room to see what had happened.

            The two guys looked up at her when she walked in. “Dud you got a hot nurse.” The one whispered to the injured kid. The injured kid nodded.

            “So Mr. Parker what happened?” Nara said coming over and pulling up a chair and sitting down. His leg was pretty bloody and there was a pretty deep cut.

            “Dude are you the nurse?” He asked laughing.

            “No I’m your doctor, and I need to know what happened.” Nara said pulling on gloves and looking at the wound. They sounded drunk.

            “We were playing ice hockey and I hit the puck and it hit him in the leg, really hard.” The uninjured kids said.

            Nara nodded. “Well it looks like you’re going to need stitches, we’ll get you cleaned up and I’ll be back to stitch you up.” Nara said standing up. She headed out and she saw Sam Taggart, the one nurse. “Hey Sam, do you want to clean up that guy’s wound so I can stitch it up?” Nara asked.

            “Sure thing.” Sam said grabbing some stuff and heading in.

            “Thanks.” Nara said. Nara went around and helped a few other patients before she headed back in to those two guys. She walked in and they looked up at her. She pulled up a chair and Sam came in to help her. She told them what she was going to do, she numbed the wound, and she started to clean it.

            “So how long have you been a doctor?” The injured one, Parker asked.

            “I’m not going to tell you that.” She said concentrating. “Ok Mr. Parker, I’m gong to start stitching it.” She said pulling out the stuff.

            “Call me Mason.” He said smiling at her.

            “No, I’d rather not.” Nara sighed as she started to stitch him leg.

            “So what’s your friend’s name?” She asked helping Nara.

            “I’m Logan. Logan Adams.” He said smiling at Sam.

            Sam nodded.

            Nara looked at Sam. “Can you go get me 7-nylon?” She asked.

            “Sure, I’ll be right back.” Sam said leaving.

            “So what’s your first name, Dr……Collins?” Mason asked reading her coat.

            “Nara.” She said figuring maybe they’d shut up if she said it.

            “Nara, really? That’s like my favorite name.” Logan said.

            “Yeah, it always is.” Nara sighed, kind of annoyed.

            “No I’m serious. I love that name.” Logan said.

            Nara sighed and rolled her eyes. She reached over the bed to try and get gauze.

            Logan grabbed her wrist. “Will you go out with me?” He asked.

            “No I’m too old for you.” Nara said setting the stuff down. “Now let go of me.” She said trying to pull away.

            “Not until you agree to go out with me.” He said tightening his grip. It was obvious he was drunk now.

            “No, now let go of me.” She said pulling back. He let go of her suddenly, making her fall backwards. She hit one of the metal tables and it fell on her. She got up in pain; her head was bleeding a bit. “Security!” She yelled, and when she turned around the guy had a gun to her head. She gasped and looked at him. “You really don’t want to do that.” She said quietly.

            “Why doesn’t anyone ever want to go out with me?” He asked looking at her.

            “It’s not that I don’t want to…” Nara said trying to come up with something. “It’s just that I’m too old for you, I mean you can’t be older then 20.” She said putting her hands up so he didn’t shoot.

            “Yeah, so what?” He asked still pointing it at her. “I never get what I want, and all it does is make my head hurt. I mean everyday I wake up and my head hurts, thinking about how no one ever wants to go out with someone like me. It makes my head throb with pain.” He said. “I need something for the pain. Give me something for the pain.” He said.

            “I…I don’t have anything for that on me.” She said. She heard someone come in and she turned to see Sam there. When she turned he grabbed her and put the gun closer to her head.

            Sam froze, not sure what to do.

            “Give me something for the pain.” He yelled at Sam.

            “Umm……get him five of Demerol.” Nara said thinking. She wasn’t sure what to do, but she had to do something.

            Sam nodded. “Ok I’m going to go get it.” She said heading out of the room.

            Kovac looked at Sam when she came out of the room. “Where’s Nara I need to ask her something about one of her patients?” He asked.

            “Nara’s kind of tied up at the moment.” She said looking terrified.

            “What do you mean? Is everything alright?” He asked going to go into the room.

            “No! Don’t go in there!” Sam yelled to Kovac before he opened the door.

            Kovac stopped and looked at her. “What are you talking about? What’s going on?” He asked looking at her.

            “Nara…her one patient is in there, he has a gun to her head, I need to get five of Demerol.” Sam said.

            “What?! She didn’t call for security?” He asked.

            “I don’t know, I just walked in there and got told to get the Demerol.” Sam sighed. “I’m going to get it now.” She said heading back towards the medicine lockup. Kovac backed away from the door and looked at the man at the desk. “Frank call security right now.” He said looking at him.

            “Why, what’s going on?” He asked picking up the phone.

            “Just call.” Kovac said watching the door.

            Frank nodded and dialed the number. Not long after the number was dialed Nara walked out of the room, with no one behind her.

            Kovac went to go over to her.

            “Luka don’t.” She said sighing. “Don’t move, just wait.” Nara said closing her eyes for a second. Not long after that Logan came out with the gun. He pointed it at Nara’s lower back. She sighed and didn’t move.

            “Where are my damn drugs?!” He yelled, causing people to look over.

            “They’re getting them, just hang on.” Kovac said calmly.

            “I wasn’t talking to you! No one talk but her.” He said jamming the gun into her back. She winced in pain but didn’t say anything. One of the doctors moved and he moved the gun to her head. “No one move, or I swear I’ll shoot her!” He yelled.

            “W…wait what do you want besides the drugs, which are on there way?” Nara asked trying to think of how she could get him to let her go.

            “I just want the drugs.” He said.

            “Ok, fine,” Nara said.

            Sam came down the hall with the drugs. She walked over to them slowly.

            “Do you want me or her to give you the drugs?” Sam asked getting the needle ready with the Demerol.

            “You can give it to me.” He said. He took Nara and pushed her down against the counter.

            Nara fell and hit hard, she just sat there looking at him, because he still had the gun pointed on her.

            Everyone just watched. Sam gave him the Demerol and looked at him. “There you go, you got your drugs.” She said stepping back.

            “Ok, then I’m going to go.” He said looking around. No one moved, so he looked at Nara. “Thanks for nothing.” He said pulling the trigger on the gun. Sam suppressed a scream and just stood there.

            Nara almost screamed in pain but she managed to hold it back. The bullet had her left shoulder, and she grabbed it quickly putting pressure on it.

            Logan looked around and ran towards the door. The cops were outside and they caught him though.

            Kovac, Sam, and Liam ran over to Nara. “Get a gurney!” Kovac yelled, kneeling down in front of Nara. They got a gurney and took her to trauma one.

            “I’m fine you guys, just get the bullet out.” Nara said in pain.

            “No you need to go to angioplasty to see if it hit any bones.” Luka said.

            “No just get it out so I can get back to work.” Nara said, she had forgotten her head was bleeding.

            Liam came over and started looking at her head. He touched it, trying to see the extent of the injury.

            “Ouch! Watch it.” Nara said pulling away from Liam.

            “You’re worse then half my patients.” Liam said shaking his head and looking at her.

            “That’s because I’m fine. Just get the bullet out and – Ouch!! Luka!” Nara said trying to pull her arm out of his hand.

            Luka shrugged. “Sorry.” He said looking at her. He didn’t let go of her arm though. “That wouldn’t have happened if you hadn’t moved though.” He said.

            Nara sighed. “You’re a liar, I didn’t move my arm.” She said looking at him.

            “Ok.” He said. He started to clean the wound. They already had an I.V. set up on her, even though she didn’t want it. “Ok I’m going to call angioplasty before I take the bullet out.” He said.

            “It’s not that deep, just take it out.” Nara sighed.

            Kovac looked at her arm again. “Your right it’s not deep, it went straight through.” He said putting some gauze on it for now. Sam called angioplasty who said they were on their way down. Liam decided to wait for her head until after they came. Angioplasty came down and they talked to her for a little and they moved her a little, which hurt really bad of course. They told Luka and Liam that she was fine to just have it wrapped. When they came back in Nara asked them what angioplasty said, since they had not told her.

            “They said your fine, so I’m going to stitch and bandage your arm up.” Luka said. He asked Sam for a suture kit, who nodded and left to get one.

            Nara sighed and sat back. “That means I get a break from work, doesn’t it?” She asked, not thrilled.

            “Yep, just until your arm’s better.” Luka said.

            “Great.” She sighed, figuring she’d just go to Kaleigh’s house and help her then.

            “So what’d you do to him that he put a gun to your head?” Liam asked cleaning the cut on her head a little.

            “I told him I was too old for him and I wasn’t going to date him.” Nara said.

            “Are you serious?” He asked looking at her.

            “Yep, you’d be surprised what people will do if you turn them down.” Nara sighed as she saw Sam come back into the room.

            “Here you guys go.” Sam said handing them their suture kits. Kovac and Liam thanked her and then took their kits and opened them. They numbed her arm and head and started to irrigate them.

            “How are you doing?” Liam asked while cleaning out wound on her head.

            “”I’m hanging in there aren’t I?” Nara sighed. They both started stitching her up. They bandaged her up and told her the aftercare instructions, which she already knew. Liam told her he had to go to another patient but she should get better quickly.

            Luka looked at her. He got out a sling and helped her put it on and adjusted it for her. “Ok so you can’t work until your arm is better, but we’ll see you soon.”

            Nara sighed. “Yeah see you soon.” She said standing up.

            “Are going to be ok to go home?” Luka asked.

            “Yeah I’m fine.” Nara said. “Thanks Luka.” She said smiling a little at him.

            “No problem.” He said leaving the room.

            Nara headed to the doctor’s lounge and changed and grabbed her stuff. She started out to her car then. She got in her car and drove straight to Kaleigh’s house because she figured if she couldn’t work at the hospital she could help Kaleigh with FBI stuff. She pulled in and got out of her car. She then went to the door and rang the bell.

            Dean answered the door. “Nara, what happened?!” He asked, letting her in.

            “I’ll tell you inside when I tell Kaleigh and Sam.” Nara said heading into the dining room.

            Kaleigh and Sam looked up when the two walked into the room. “Nara what happened?!” She asked.

            “Ok, the cliff notes version. I told a like 20 year old guy I wouldn’t go out with him so he knocked me into a medical cart and then shot me in the shoulder.” Nara sighed.

            “What? Where were you at?” Dean asked.

            “The hospital, his friend came in for stitches and it happened. They were both drunk though.” She sighed. “But the point is I can’t work until I’m out of the sling, so I’m here to help.”

            “Oh ok.” Kaleigh said. She was standing beside her.

            Nara walked over to the table and looked at it. Dean looked at Kaleigh and Sam kind of confused about how that happened at a hospital.

            “nara we think we might have found out where Cameron is at.” Kaleigh said. “Now we’re not completely su—“ Kaleigh said as Nara cut her off.

            “Well then we better go check it out.” Nara said looking at her.

            “Nara, no. We need to get backup and we need to figure out if this is for real.” Kaleigh said looking at her.

            “Fine you go call backup and I’ll wait here.” Nara said.

            Kaleigh nodded and her and Sam left the room.

            Nara looked at Dean and started grabbing her stuff.

            “Where do you think you’re going?” Dean asked, looking at her.

            “To find this guy.” Nara said. “I can’t just sit around, I have to find him.” She said looking at Dean. “Either you can get out of my way or come with me.” She said.

            “I’m coming with then.” He said grabbing his stuff too. The two of them headed out to Nara’s car and Nara started driving off. She was heading into the city.

Author's Note

Chapter 2 soon to come. title of the chapter is still a work in progress, any idea feel free to share.

Reviews

[Wildecat]

I agree with Eldee, a wonderful story, just needs to be slowed down a bit.

[Eldee]

Hmmm, I think instead of totally compressing everything into the first two paragraphs of this chapter you could have dragged it out a little bit and added a lot more characterization to Nara. Following the first two paragraphs the only real feel I had for the character was that she was a bit..... vain.

The rest of the chapter was a bit of the same way. Slow down the story, add some memorable moments, or else this chapter ends up pushing the reader away and they won't continue. You have good description at a material level, but go a little deeper.