Broken: Healing Her Heart

Larissa, I put a new patient in room four for you, Merry Haines, the Hope County Hospital ER charge nurse, called out.

Okay. Larissa Brockman finished documenting on her recent discharge and then pushed away from the computer. The hour was well past midnight, but the ER remained incredibly busy on this Memorial Day Friday night. Or rather, Saturday morning.

She crossed over to room four but then stopped abruptly in the doorway as she saw the familiar face of her patient. Annie Hinkle, a fifty-year-old woman looking a decade older than she should, was seated on the gurney cradling her right arm against her chest.

No. Not again. The tiny hairs lifted on the back of her neck in alarm. This was the second time Annie had been here over the past month. The last time was for a black eye that she swore was not caused by her husband, Kurts, fist.

What would be her story this time? Larissa took a deep breath and let it out slowly before entering the room. Hello, Annie.

Hi. Annies gaze barely met hers before skittering away.

What did you do to your arm? Larissa asked, keeping her voice gentle as she approached. She had the distinct impression the woman was on the edge and wouldnt hesitate to flee if cornered.

I fell off the front porch you know how klutzy I am. Annie refused to meet her gaze but kept staring down at her arm as if the injury might heal itself if she concentrated hard enough.

I dont think youre klutzy at all, Larissa murmured. Show me where it hurts.

Right here, Annie said, removing her left hand to reveal a darkly mottled bruise encircling her wrist. Larissa felt a little sick looking at the injury, knowing there was no possible way this had happened from a fall. She could clearly envision a mans large hand squeezing hard enough to cause this. Shed be surprised if there werent a few broken bones hidden beneath the horribly discolored skin.

Okay, Im going to get you a cold pack for that, and Im sure the doctor will want X-rays, too. She kept her voice calm with an effort. Do you need something for pain?

Annie lifted her shoulder in a half-hearted shrug. Maybe a pain pill would help.

Larissa nodded, thinking the poor woman needed far more than a pain pill. She batted a wave of helplessness aside. Are you hurt anywhere else? she asked. Maybe you hit your head? Or your ribs?

No, just my wrist.

All right, Im going to check in with Dr. Allen, and then Ill be right back. Sure. Annies gaze jerked away, causing Larissas stomach to knot painfully.

She recognized the signs and symptoms of abuse. Only too well. Dark memories from the past threatened to overwhelm her, and she fought them back with an effort. Struggling to keep her emotions under control, she grabbed an ice pack from the supply rack and then went searching for Dr. Gabe Allen, the physician in charge of the patients on her team.

He was on the phone talking to the inpatient hospitalist about a patient he wanted admitted. She hovered nearby, waiting until he finished his call. He hung up the phone and flashed a warm smile. Hi, Larissa, whats up?

His smile was far too attractive, an effect shed been fighting for months now. So far, she thought she was hiding her feelings pretty well. I need you to examine my patient in room four, she said in a soft tone in a voice. Im convinced shes being physically abused.

Gabes smile faded. Are you sure?

Shed only been a nurse here at the Hope County Hospital for six months, but shed thought shed proved her competence by now. She scowled. Trust me, Im sure.

Gabe gave a terse nod. All right, let me finish up this inpatient admission, and Ill be right over.

Thanks. She hurried back over to Annies bedside, squeezing the disposable ice pack between her hands to activate the chemical reaction inside. Here, place this around your wrist, okay? she instructed. Dr. Allen will be here shortly.

Annie winced but didnt say anything as she placed the cold pack over her wrist.

Larissa struggled to find the right words that might break through the womans wall of denial. Annie, you dont have to put up with anyone hurting you. We have programs that can help keep you safe.

No ones hurting me, Annie swiftly denied. I told you I fell off the porch. Her voice rose with indignation, and instinctively, Larissa knew she needed to back off or the woman might bolt.

Okay, Im sorry. I just dont like the idea of anyone hurting you. She forced a reassuring smile. Youre such a nice woman, and you certainly deserve to be treated as such. Oh, look, here comes Dr. Allen now.

How are you, Mrs. Hinkle? he asked. I understand you may have broken your wrist.

I fell off the porch, Annie said, repeating her story like a parrot. Hmmm, Gabe murmured as he removed the ice pack from her wrist. His eyebrows pulled together in a dark frown when he saw the extent of the injury. He probed the skin gently, his expression serious. Were going to need several X-rays of this wrist, he said.

Larissa swiftly logged on to the computer. AP and lateral views? she asked as she entered the order.

Yes. Gabe replaced the ice pack and gave Annie a stern look. You know this didnt happen from a fall, he said bluntly.

Yes, yes, it did. Annies voice was beginning to sound desperate. Im klutzy and I fell off the porch.

Gabes frustrated gaze locked on Larissas, and she knew exactly what he was thinking. She gave him a tiny nod, acknowledging their dilemma, and then turned toward Annie. Okay, just relax for now. The radiology tech will be here shortly to take you over to get the X-rays. Dr. Allen, do you think she could have a dose of Percocet for the pain?

Of course.

Great, Ill be right back. Larissa walked over to the automated drug-dispensing machine and punched in her password along with Annies name and ID number. The Percocet drawer popped open, and she removed one dose before closing it up again. When she spun around, she nearly bumped into Gabe.

We have to notify the sheriffs department, he said in a low voice.

I know. The Wisconsin state statutes were pretty clear regarding cases of suspected abuse. Still, she knew that doing the right thing could also backfire in a big way. But you heard her. Theres no way shes going to press charges against her husband. And Im afraid that hell only get angrier once the deputy questions him. What if he takes that anger out on her?

Gabe thrust his fingers through his dark brown hair. You could be right, but what choice do we have?

I dont know, she admitted, hating the feeling of helplessness. The system was supposed to work for victims, but more often than not, it created a vicious cycle, one that couldnt be broken unless the victim took a stance. But too many of those victims didnt. Let me talk to the social worker first, okay?

Okay, but giving her pamphlets on domestic violence isnt going to help, Gabe said with a dark frown. We have to call the authorities.

She nodded, knowing with a sinking heart that he was right. She could only hope that the police could get through to Annie better than she and Gabe had been able to.

She closed her eyes and prayed that Annie wouldnt end up back in the ER with injuries that were far worse than a black eye or a broken wrist.

Please, Lord, keep Annie safe!

Gabe stared at the deputy in disbelief. Youre telling me theres nothing you can do?

Deputy Armbruster held up his palms in a helpless gesture. What do you want me to say? I could haul Kurt Hinkle down to jail, but if she doesnt press charges, hell be out by morning.

That couldnt be right. Surely theres enough evidence there to charge him with abuse even without her testimony?

Look, maybe he admits he grabbed her too hard, and she jerked away and oops? Look what happened? The deputy sighed heavily. Without Annie testifying against him, this could be made to look like some sort of accident rather than an intentional act of abuse. With no priors, hell walk.

Gabe sensed Larissa beside him, and he was annoyed that hed recognized her vanilla scent. Regardless, he kept his attention focused on the problem at hand. He just couldnt believe there wasnt something that could be done legally to prevent Kurt from hurting his wife. Again.

What about the black eye from a few weeks ago? she asked.

Gabe scowled. I dont remember that.

You werent working that shift, Larissa pointed out. I was on with Dr. Gardener.

Deputy Armbruster pursed his lips. We could maybe argue that its a pattern, but again, not likely. I got a black eye myself playing softball with my girls. He smiled grimly. My daughter Elise has a good arm.

Gabe understood what the deputy was saying, but that didnt mean he had to like it. So what can we do?

Look, I can go chat with Kurt if you want me to. At least hell know that were on to him and

No, Larissa interrupted harshly. Dont. What? Gabe glared at her. Why not?

Because hell be mad and take his anger out on her, thats why. Larissa turned toward Deputy Armbruster. If you cant arrest him, then just leave it alone.

Gabe couldnt believe what he was hearing. What was she doing? Why wasnt Larissa standing up for their patient? I think it would do Kurt good to know were on to him.

Why? Larissa asked, her green eyes sparking fire. So next time he can hurt her where the bruises wont show?

What? He took a step back. No, of course not.

Leave it alone, she pleaded. Ill talk to Annie, okay? Maybe I can help in ways the police cant.

Deputy Armbruster shrugged. Okay, let me know if anything changes. Gabe? We need your help over here, Merry called. This patients breathing is getting worse.

Go ahead, Ill talk to Annie, Larissa said.

Reluctantly, he nodded and hurried over to where Merry was standing beside another patient who was clearly in distress. The beeping oxygen-saturation monitor showed numbers that were steadily declining. Get me an intubation tray now.

All thoughts regarding his other patients vanished as he quickly focused on saving this gentlemans life. He placed the breathing tube and then quickly connected the oxygen supply, giving him several slow, deep breaths.

O2 sat up to 90 percent, Merry announced with satisfaction.

The respiratory therapist came over to secure the tube. Gabe kept an eye on the guys vital signs, reassured that he was holding his own, at least for the moment. All right, call up to the ICU and let them know we have a patient for them.

Will do, Merry promised.

Gabe did a quick visual check on the other patients under his care before heading back over to where Larissa was sitting beside Annie Hinkle. Annie was staring down at the cast hed ordered to be placed on her wrist after determining that indeed shed suffered two minor fractures.

Which could have easily been far worse. The good news was that she wouldnt need surgery.

The bad news was that hed have to discharge her home. Back to her abusive husband.

He paused outside the doorway, listening as Larissa spoke softly to Annie. Heres my name and phone number, Larissa said, pressing a small, folded piece of paper into Annies uninjured hand. Call me if you feel afraid, or if you just want to talk. Id be happy to help in any way I can.

Thank you, Annie whispered. But really, Im fine. Just a bit klutzy. Remember what I told you? Larissa asked.

Annie slowly lifted her gaze to meet Larissas. Her softly spoken yes sounded almost like an admission.

Call me anytime, Larissa repeated.

I will.

Gabe stood there for a long moment, wishing hed heard the entire conversation between the two women. Hed sensed right from the start that Larissa had identified with Annie on a level that he couldnt possibly imagine.

Because of her previous ER experiences? Or from something more personal? He was surprised by the flash of anger at the thought of someone hurting Larissa.

He signed Annies discharge orders, unable to get the thought out of his mind. From the moment hed first met Larissa, theyd connected on some sort of subliminal level. He was attracted to her, not just because of her pretty face and soft, wavy, blonde hair. But because they were both extremely dedicated to their patients and shared the same interests, like running. Hed caught sight of her several times when he took to the running trails, always giving her a nod of recognition but never stopping to chat.

Hed had to work hard to keep his distance from her. Romance and work did not mix, a lesson hed learned the hard way.

Hed come to Crystal Lake a year ago, his pride battered and his reputation tarnished. After a year, hed gained the respect hed so desperately needed. Soon, he hoped to win the position of medical director for emergency medicine, putting his painful past away once and for all.

He refused to even consider a personal relationship, especially with one of the nurses.

But as he watched Larissa give Annie a brief hug and escort her out the door, he couldnt help wishing that hed met Larissa under different circumstances. That she wasnt a nurse working in the ER with him.

Because he liked her, far too much.