Page 40 of Resuscitation
Nick hesitated, but then Connor’s weak voice cut through the tension. “She’s right…you gotta get out of here. Run.”
The two exchanged glances. Then they both looked at Sara.
“Are you sure?”
Sara glared at them, making the message clear. “That’s an order. You guys might be our only hope.”
That got their attention. Kelly gave Sara the towel she was holding.
Nick went to the door, looked down the hall. “Coast’s clear.”
Not even bothering to strip free of their surgical garb, both gave Sara one last look, then ran out, their footsteps quickly fading away.
With the room now eerily quiet, Sara turned back to Connor. His eyes met hers.
“I can’t save you,” she said softly, her voice trembling slightly. “Butwecan save the hostages.”
Connor’s gaze didn’t waver. “How?”
“If I stop the blood flow to the rest of your body, your heart will pump what’s left to your brain, keep you conscious.”
“How long?” He hadn’t even hesitated. Did he understand that she was talking about killing him?
“Not long. You’ve already lost too much blood. Maybe ten to fifteen minutes. At most.”
He nodded, giving her permission to both condemn him and absolve herself. “Do it.”
Breaking every oath she had ever taken as a doctor was a knife twisting in her gut, but there was no other way.
She drew a deep breath, took the clamp from the vascular tray, and gripped it tightly, focusing on the grim task. Carefully, she worked through the blood-soaked packing gauze to isolate the abdominal aorta. She chose the largest vascular clamp, strong enough to hold the blood vessel closed, gentle enough not to rip its walls.
As she worked, Sara couldn’t help but think of all the lives she had helped save in this very room. Now she was deliberately ending one.
She locked the clamp into place, sealing his fate.
Connor’s gaze remained lucid as the increased blood flow to his brain kept him painfully aware, his breaths coming in shallow gasps.
She replaced his intestines and packed as many towels as she could into his abdominal cavity. Then covered him with a drape. Hiding the evidence.
Backing away from her dirty secret, she stripped free of her bloody gloves and gown, pulled her mask off so Connor could see her face.
“It’s done,” she told him. “How are you doing?”
“Better. Don’t feel much, just cold.”
“Your blood’s being replaced with IV fluids, and you’re in shock.” She hesitated, but she had to give him the option, it was only right. “If things get too bad, I can?—”
He shook his head, his oxygen mask slipping. “No. No.” Then he whispered, “I never wanted any killing. Never wanted it.”
His gaze locked with hers, and despite her shame for what she’d just done, condemning him, failing him, she didn’t look away. He deserved that much from her.
“Save them,” he ordered her.
“I will,” Sara vowed.
ChapterTwenty-One
Friday,February 13th, 9:21 P.M.
