Critical Care Read Online Free PDF Page B

gently." She touched Claire's arm. "Hey, I appreciate your doing the
peer counseling today. Really. And if you want to stop by Faith QD,
you know where to find us. Just say the word and I'll order you a
T-shirt." She hoisted the tote over her shoulder and strode away,
leaving Claire feeling suddenly very alone.
    She took a sip of her coffee, savoring the berry-sweet cocoa
flavor and wondering how this gutsy and dedicated charge nurse's
idea for a hospital fellowship would play out. Claire frowned at
Logan's cynical and sarcastic remark. God huddle. But then, Claire
already knew Erin well enough to believe she'd move ahead with
it, no matter what the insensitive ER director thought.
    And Claire was just as sure that she wouldn't be joining the
Faith QD gatherings. No need to gird your loins to write policy
manuals or help develop nursing procedures. Thank heaven she
was on her way back to those tasks right now. Out of the ER and
away from Logan Caldwell. A winning combination.
    As Claire stepped out of the utility room and walked past the temporary morgue, she noticed its door was ajar. It was only a crack
and barely wide enough for a faint light to escape from the inside,
a quiet vacuum now. The Do Not Enter sign was still in place, but
no doubt the poor child had finally been moved. That would help
put things back to normal for the staff, if there ever were such a
thing as normal in ER.

    Oh, great. Claire stopped short in the trauma room as she recognized him.
    The ER director, seeming even bigger if possible, stood there
in street clothes, chambray shirtsleeves rolled back over tanned
forearms, faded jeans, cowboy boots, and a pair of sport sunglasses
dangling from a blue cord around his neck. His dark hair looked
damp, like he'd just showered. Logan Caldwell, standing beside the
gurney of Jamie, the little burn victim with asthma.
    He glanced up from the sleeping child, his impossibly blue eyes
meeting hers. "Hi, Educator," he whispered. "Got us healed yet?"

    Claire hated it that her feet carried her forward as if she had no will
of her own, a moth headed for a complete and thorough scorching. Tired or not, she wasn't about to let Logan have the last jab
without putting up a struggle. She stopped at the side of the gurney
opposite him and bit back a sigh. It would be easier if he weren't
standing there with a little boy's fingers holding on to his. And far
less distracting if this medical director didn't look like he'd just
walked off an action-hero movie set.
    "I thought you went home," Claire said, noticing a smear of
burn ointment on Logan's muscular forearm as he slid his fingers
from Jamie's.
    The child dozed, lashes feathery against his cheeks, his breathing mercifully peaceful and rhythmic. His blond hair was still dark
at the tips, damaged from the fire's intense heat. Claire's chest
tightened as she remembered the story of the fire captain who'd
carried this boy from the burning day care. Firefighters. Heroesmy biggest hero-always.
    "I stopped by the CCU. To see that patient, the teacher." Then
Logan answered Claire's next question before she could ask it.
"She's awake. And giving orders." He shook his head. "Told me to
get a haircut."

    Claire smiled, equally pleased with the teacher's clinical improvement and her feistiness toward the imposing Dr. Caldwell. Not that
he looked so imposing standing watch at a child's bedside.
    "I thought I'd stick around until Jamie is moved to the room
upstairs. He only has his mom, and she was at the day care too.
She's been admitted already." Logan glanced at his watch and
frowned. "But looks like Jamie won't see her until the new shift
finishes report. I want to be sure he's got humidified oxygen at the
bedside and respiratory therapy available in case his asthma flares
up." He leaned over the bed, closer to Claire, and smoothed the
child's sheet.
    Claire watched him, more than a little surprised at the act of
tenderness. Could