Page 39 of Ellie 1

“Code 32 level yellow,” the PA system announced. “All trauma and shifter department personnel to meet at the emergency services conference room immediately. Code 32 level yellow.”

“Ellie?” Dr. Carpenter asked as he was already heading for the door.

“Code 32?” I asked the people around me.

“Crash. More than ten,” Dr. Tai hurried to answer, waving me to come with her.

“New York had a major accident because of a bridge malfunctioning,” Ellie announced. “Permission was given to reroute as many as they can here because a warlock is on site who can open a portal and has to here. It’sone shotand too many will come. We need all hands on deck to help as they can.”

“Got it. Clark, you’re taking point with the shifters again,” Dr. Carpenter yelled over.

“Yes, sir,” I accepted, rushing after Tai. I was impressed that those not involved quickly moved out of our way and knew when to behave as a team even if we were all just disagreeing.

“I want orthopedics and pediatrics on standby since we don’t know what’s coming in,” Ellie instructed everyone as I was already walking out of the door. “Get our warlocks to the portal area. One goes through and can reopen if we can take more later. Assume one shot, but we’ll do what we can.”

That was the last I heard as we reached the stairs.

Five minutes later, I was in trauma gear and ready outside for where the portal would be opened. I nodded to EMS personnel that had arrived. I didn’t know if they were helping on this side or if some were going through the portal.

“Hear me now that all shifters do not enter this hospital unless assessed by Dr. Clark,” Dr. Carpentered said loudly as he came out with dozens of people. “I know he’s new and this is different. Adjust. We were going to already fill everyone in and have a lecture, but other issues came up. For those of you who don’t know him yet, learn him now.”

I waved and made a show of letting people know where I was.

“Okay, then we triage vamps, magics, and shifters to three paths,” Dr. Fitz said, getting teams in place a few feet from where the portal would open. “Dr. Clark isn’t trauma, but he’s the gatekeeper. Don’t argue, and assess who he clears.”

I was glad for the backup, but I knew it was because he was backing Dr. Carpenter. Still, I accepted it and was glad we could get on the same page.

Then we were out of time. The portal opened and immediately people started coming through. I called for any shifters and the third one was, so I quickly assessed and passed the guy off to the waiting trauma team.

Next came a wave of people who could manage through the portal with help. They were situated on wheelchairs and NYC’s EMS went right back through the portal with hopefully the warlocks Ellie had mentioned.

It wasn’t until about the fifth shifter I checked out that we had a problem. I signaled a member of Dr. Tai’s staff that I recognized. “This patient can’t go in the hospital. She’s not stable enough. I’ll be right with her.”

“Yes, sir,” one agreed, taking over the gurney and moving off to the side while the others couldn’t hide their shock.

I cleared who else had come through but then went for that patient. It took a minute, but then I got the woman to focus on me. “This is going to hurt, but you’re not stable enough to go in the hospital. I need you to work with me and I’m going to force your shift.”

Her eyes went too wide. “No. No, you can’t—you’ll kill my cheetah.”

“I won’t. I promise you,” I told her firmly. “I’m Dr. Ha-joon Clark. Have you heard of me?” I mentally swore when she shook her head. “I promise you that I will get you through this. Just listen to what I say and you’ll be okay. Ready?”

No. No, she wasn’t ready and she wouldn’t be.

So I started anyways, pushing my power into her and letting my wolf lure out her cat.

“Don’t fight,” I told her. “Your cheetah needs to come out. Let her. Let our animals do what they need to.”

It took another minute, but then she sort of shivered and the change happened. It wasn’t seamless or easy, but it was far from what most thought of when forcing someone to change forms.

“Good job,” I praised the cheetah when she was in front of me. “You’re still hurt, and your person needs to you behave. Tune out all of the noise and go hide around the corner with this nice lady, okay? Take a nap and I’ll come find you when it’s time to change back and treat your person.”

The cheetah nodded and looked to the woman who had taken over the gurney from me with big pleading eyes to help.

I gave instructions on what to do, and basically all of this was too overwhelming for an injured animal, so to get her out of there. Just not in the hospital because that would be a disaster too.

“Okay, I’m starting to be a believer,” Dr. Tai said as I came back to my position. “That was nuts, bro.”

“I don’t like to do it when someone is so injured like that, but such a disorienting injury hurts the bond and it’s like they can’t communicate,” I explained.

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