Kedron was sedated, the area was shaved, and we were just having a quick time out to center ourselves when the operating room door flew open. My eyes grew big as a figure in teal scrubs with mask, head covering, booties, and a lab coat, came walking into surgical suite 4. No one is supposed to interrupt a time out, because it defeats the purpose. As I move toward the figure, their gloved hand moves up to remove the mask, and I hear, "good evening Wam, fancy meeting you here."
I have a mask on, so no one can see, but my mouth drops open as no other than Dr. Kelly Adams pulls a sawed off shotgun from under her coat and points it dead center on my torso. In annoyance I sneer, "you know they have a restraining order and warrant out for your arrest right? You shouldn't be here."
Kelly let's out an evil cackle that some might call a laugh. It almost felt like she should throw her head back and scream, "I'll get you my pretty..." Where did that thought come from? Is this what shock feels like? I'm known for staying calm under pressure. I need to calm my rapid breathing. Slow breaths, I need to slow down. I will myself to slow my breathing, knowing my heart rate will follow. Okay, this is really happening and you have a patient on the table. Protect your patient. "I'm not sure why you're doing this Kelly, but I'm going to sit down if it's going to be awhile." I move to the left toward a chair and sit down.
"What the hell do you think you're doing Dr. Teton?" Kelly waves the barrel end of the gun from me back toward the surgical circle that is still standing there. The eyes of most of the surgical staff are huge as saucers as they look to me and then back to Dr. Adams with her gun, moving back and forth. Many of them had instinctively put their hands up with palms open, when Kelly pulled out the gun. Smart idea, but not my first response. "I told you, to take a seat if this is going to take a while." I sat back on the metal folding chair someone hadn't put away, folded my hands with fingers entwined, and placed them behind my head. I then brought one foot to place on top of the opposite knee. I tried to give off a feeling of nonchalance. I wanted Kelly to see that seeing her here with a shotgun pointed at me, my assistants, and a patient is no big deal. In fact, she could threaten me, but leave my patient and staff out of it.
Kelly quickly moved further from the staff to prevent having her back turned to the group and still keep the gun on me. Obviously she was upset with me since she saw me as a bigger threat to focus on than the group of staff momentarily behind her. "You've never followed direction well, have you Dr. Teton? But don't you worry big boy, I brought buckshot, so there is more than enough to go around."
A crazy smile again took over Kelly's face. Had she really lost it, or has she always been like this? We all knew she held grudges, liked payback, seemed to keep score, and seemed to have no conscience. Okay, yeah..she has always been like this. Kelly evidently didn't like that I was deep in my own thoughts, and hit me in the eye with the butt of the gun. That flipping hurt, but I tried to smile through the pain as I felt a drop of blood trickle down from my brow. Yeah, she hit me hard, and in a place most likely to break open. Bitch! I tried to ignore the pain, and let it bleed. "I didn't hear you give me directions," I said quietly in an attempt at an innocent tone.
"I waved you back to the group. The 'Great Dr. Teton'," she exclaimed in a mocking tone, made awkward quote marks with her fingers around my mocking title. She then continued with her condescension, "just keeps going and going and never knows when to quit! You have it all Wam, while the rest of us almost kill ourselves trying to earn part of the money, respect, and especially the esteem. Oh that last one almost kills me…." Kelly laughs sarcastically while shaking her head, but the barrel of the gun remains in my direction. She continues her little explanation, "You are good at what you do Wam, I'll give you that. You're just so damn annoying with how easily they pat you on the back, give you awards, invite you to speak, and commend you, even in the press…" Kelly's beautiful blue eyes became red and watery, like she was about to cry, but she never let the tears fall as she spoke, "it take me doing illegal things and getting caught, to get my name in the newspaper. I was doing so good until you fell for that little whore!"
I could see her teeth clench and her eyes narrow. Not wanting to add to the agitation, I switch tactics. "Kelly, she is like a sister to me. I'm ten years older than she is. I know you jumped to conclusions because I care about her and was helping her, but it's not true. I don't know how else to convince you," I pleaded.
"Then why would you turn me down if you aren't with her? Am I not attractive enough for you," Kelly questions now with a blank face.
Her blank face was more scary than her angry expression. I could work with what I knew, but emotionless was much harder. As I contemplated how to answer, I think everyone in the room jumped when the telephone on the wall rang loudly. We rarely used the red corded telephone in the corner anymore and I'd all but forgotten it was there. With so many computers these days, there was no need as long as electricity and wifi exist. I remember each suite comes equipped with corded phones for emergencies, but I didn't think anyone ever used them. I sure didn't think that phone had ever rung. Good thing I wasn't operating.
Kelly yelled, "someone answer that!"
"Excuse me, Dr. Adams," the Anesthesiologist said meekly. "Can I please see to my patient?"
Dr. Adams nodded in response and the Anesthesiologist, Martin Danbury III, sat back down in his control chair at the head of the bed.
A petite young nurse held up the receiver of the red phone and said, "they'd like to speak to the doctor in charge."
Another maniacal laugh bubbles up from what sounds like the depths of hell. She stops laughing abruptly and says flatly, "no."
I hear the young nurse mumble into the phone and she hangs up. My eyes never leave Kelly but I noticed when the girl was talking to Kelly, Kelly shifted her focus slightly toward the girl. Was I fast enough? For now, we will play it safe. "Kelly, the truth is there just wasn't chemistry on my end. I'm sorry. I honestly never meant to hurt you. That was why I denied your requests previously to go out. You are a beautiful woman and a gifted doctor. I just didn't feel love for you," I finished quietly.
The muscle in Kelly's jaw ticked slightly and I wondered if honest was a bad choice.
Kelly nodded slightly and her face slackened even with a sheen of sweat across her forehead. Of course the emergency phone took that moment to ring shrilly again. I noticed every muscle in her body tense when the phone rang again. So much for honesty and deescalation on my part. It seems somehow the police were informed of our predicament and had announced, "this is the Rochester Police Department. I'd like to speak to the doctor in charge".
This time Kelly yelled, loud enough they most likely heard her on the phone, "no, and tell them to stop calling!" Kelly started to move side to side a little, like she couldn't contain her energy. I then began looking Dr. Adams over a little more closely and noticed her eyes appear dilated, she is slightly shaky, her temper seems enhanced, she appears to be losing patches of hair, has what appear to be dark circles under her eyes, and she appears unable to sit still. Before I thought better of it, I sit forward with my elbows on my knees and
my hands clasped, and I ask, "Kelly, have you been taking coke…or meth?"