Once Found: The Pocket Watch Chronicles Read Online Free PDF Page B

Elsie couldn’t remember it.
    Jennifer must have read her stunned expression. “It’s okay, Dr. Quinn. Don’t worry about it for now. We are in the middle of a huge snowstorm and you were in an accident, but you aren’t seriously injured. Can you tell me your full name and birthdate?”
    Elsie looked at her blankly.
    “Dr. Quinn? What is your full name?”
    Elsie swallowed hard. “I don’t know.”

Chapter 5
    After his chat with Chuck, Gabe crashed for a few hours in an on-call room and woke in the afternoon. He checked in with the emergency room before taking a quick shower. He had every intention of going to the cafeteria to get something to eat, but found himself heading up to the ICU instead.
    When he walked into the unit, Jim, one of the nurses teased, “Hey, Dr. Soldani, are you lost? Peds is down a floor.”
    Gabe chuckled. “No, I’m not lost. Elizabeth Quinn is an old friend of mine. I thought I would check on her. Has anything changed?”
    “She’s conscious.”
    “Can I go see her?”
    “Maybe you better talk to Dr. Harper first. There she is.”
    Christie Harper, the intensivist on duty, walked out of a patient’s room. “Hey, Gabe, pediatrics must be quiet if you decided to come play with the big kids.”
    “It is, but I actually came to see Elizabeth Quinn. She’s a friend. Jim said she’s regained consciousness.”
    “She knows you?”
    “It’s been a few years, but yeah.”
    “Gabe, she’s awake, but she seems to have profound retrograde amnesia. She doesn’t remember anything.”
    “You mean about the accident?”
    “I mean about anything—her entire life. She has no clue who she is or where she is. You’d never know she was a doctor. She has already freaked once when she realized she had a Foley in, and she almost pulled it out. I’ve called for a neuro consult.”
    “Dr. Levi is in with her now,” offered Jim.
    At that moment, a scream came from one of the patient rooms followed by a panicked, “Get away from me. Get away. Don’t touch me.”
    Christie turned and ran toward the room.
    Gabe did too. It was Elizabeth’s voice.
    Martin Levi was backing away from the bed, an ophthalmoscope in his hand. Elizabeth was sitting in the middle of the bed with her knees drawn up and her arms over her face. Her nurse was trying to calm her, but Elizabeth struggled against her.
    Without thinking, Gabe strode across the room and took Elizabeth’s hands in his. “Elizabeth, you’re safe. Everything’s okay.”
    She calmed a little, lowering her arms. Her brows drew together as she looked at Gabe.
    “Do you remember Gabe?” asked Christie.
    Elizabeth searched his face. “I-I think I do. I don’t remember his name, but I think…I think I love him?”
    All eyes turned to Gabe. “That’s right, sweetheart. We loved each other.” He put his arms around her and she rested her head against him, completely calm again. His heart melted. In response to the questioning looks from the others in the room he added, “We went to medical school together. We dated for a while.”
    “I’m afraid,” she whispered.
    “I know. Let me try to help you.”
    “I want this thing on my neck off. Please take it off.”
    Gabe looked over his shoulder. “Christie, can the c-collar come off?”
    “Yes. The CT was negative. I just hadn’t written the order to remove it yet.”
    Gabe released the straps and removed the collar. “Is that better?”
    Elizabeth nodded, but glanced warily at Dr. Levi. “I don’t want him to touch me with that thing.”
    Gabe glanced at Martin. Confused, Martin showed him the ophthalmoscope. “I need to check her fundi.”
    “Elizabeth, he’s not going to hurt you. He’s just going to look into your pupils.”
    “Why?”
    “He’s checking for signs of increased intracranial pressure.”
    “What’s that?”
    Holy crap, she really doesn’t remember anything . He shifted into pediatrician mode to explain. “It’s…well, it’s a sign that you might have