He had clung to that moment, knowing it might be a long time before he would get another chance to be near her like that.
Chibuzor's voice was barely audible as he muttered, "It's not her fault, it's mine."
Olisa turned his attention to him, puzzled. "What did you say?"
Chibuzor sighed deeply as he leaned back on the couch, his thoughts heavy. "I promised to protect her, to shield everyone and everything she cares about."
"And yet... her best friend is lying in a coma, beaten up under my own roof. Some protection that is." His voice was laced with frustration and guilt, each word a bitter confession.
Olisa glanced at him, his own emotions mirrored in his eyes. He quickly looked away, guilt tugging at him as well. "What about me?" he said softly, almost to himself.
"She's hurting now, and I don't even know how to ease her pain. I promised myself I would always keep her safe from any kind of hurt, yet here we are."
After a moment of silence, Olisa reached out and placed a comforting hand on Chibuzor's shoulder. His lips curved into a weak, understanding smile. "We both failed her, didn't we?" he admitted.
"But what matters now is what we do next. The best we can offer her is our presence and our efforts to ensure something like this never happens again."
Chibuzor nodded, the weight of the shared guilt easing slightly at Olisa's words. They might have failed in the past, but they were determined to do better for her in the future.
For Chibuzor, it was a bond that would end with the contract. For Olisa, it was a lifetime commitment to someone he saw as family.
Olisa spent the next hour meticulously checking on Nnenna, ensuring she was stable enough for the transfer.
As her attending physician, and now supervisor for the team handling the move, it was his responsibility to ensure no detail was overlooked.
First, he reviewed her recent vitals, heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation. He frowned slightly at her fluctuating oxygen levels but quickly adjusted the ventilator settings to stabilize her breathing.
"Bring the portable ECG," he instructed a junior doctor on his team. The machine was wheeled in, and Olisa attached the leads to Nnenna's chest to monitor her heart rhythm.
After a few tense moments, the screen showed a steady sinus rhythm. He let out a relieved sigh.
"Good. Let's run a reflex test." He pulled out a penlight and shone it into her eyes, observing the pupil dilation response. While sluggish, it was present, a promising sign. Next, he checked her pain reflex by applying slight pressure to her nail beds. No reaction.
Olisa's jaw tightened as he made a note. "Still unresponsive to pain. We'll have to monitor this closely during transit."
His voice snapped the junior doctor out of their daze of working with a genius. "Doctor Ifechukwu, prepare the portable ultrasound. We'll check her cranial blood flow again before the move," he ordered.
The team worked swiftly, using the transcranial Doppler ultrasound to measure blood flow in her brain. Olisa studied the readings carefully, relieved to find no signs of swelling or clots.
"ICP levels normal. Good. Now for the blood gas analysis," he said, gesturing to the respiratory technician. Within minutes, they had results confirming her oxygen and carbon dioxide levels were balanced.
Finally, Olisa moved to the bedside, his expression softening. "You're stable for now, Nnenna. Let's keep it that way."
When all the tests were complete and her vitals were satisfactory, Olisa turned his attention to the transfer logistics. The paramedics arrived, equipped with a specialized ambulance designed for critical patients.
He supervised as they carefully transferred Nnenna onto a stretcher, ensuring her ventilator and IV lines remained intact.
"Remember," Olisa addressed the paramedics, his tone firm, "she's a coma patient. Any movement or jostling could disrupt her condition. Monitor her vitals continuously. The moment there's any change, notify me immediately."
"Yes, Doctor Olisa," the lead paramedic replied, nodding in understanding.
Satisfied, Olisa turned to the portable monitors one last time, his fingers brushing the edge of Nnenna's blanket. "You're going to be okay," he whispered softly.
Meanwhile...
Upstairs, Chibuzor stood beside a sleeping Olaedo, debating whether to wake her up. The sight of her face, pale from exhaustion, tugged at him more than he liked to admit. Finally, he reached out and gently shook her shoulder.
"Hey, Olaedo. It's time to get ready," he said softly.
She stirred, blinking up at him in confusion. "Time? What time is it?" she murmured.
"Time for the transfer," Chibuzor replied. "Nnenna's stable, and the ambulance is ready."
Olaedo sat up abruptly, her eyes widening. "Oh, right. I need to—"
"Relax," Chibuzor interrupted, handing her a bottle of water. "You don't need to rush. Freshen up first."
Twenty Minutes Later
The paramedics worked efficiently, securing Nnenna into the ambulance. Olisa climbed in after them, double checking every piece of equipment himself.
As Olisa climbed into the ambulance to ride with the paramedics, the director of patient services appeared at the entrance of the hospital.
His sharp suit and polished demeanor exuded authority, but there was a touch of reverence in his eyes as he approached the vehicle.
"Dr. Olisa," the director called out with a wide smile, walking briskly toward the ambulance. "It's truly an honor to have you work with us, even if just temporarily. We couldn't ask for better hands for this transfer."
Olisa glanced back, nodding politely but without breaking his calm professional facade. "Thank you, Director," he said. "But this isn't about me, it's about ensuring my patient gets the best care."
The director nodded, his admiration evident. "Of course, of course," he agreed quickly. "Still, I can't help but wish you were permanently on our team. A doctor of your caliber is hard to come by."
Olisa gave a faint smile, one that didn't quite reach his eyes. "I appreciate the compliment, but I belong at Prestige for now. My patients come first, no matter where I am."