Chapter 2 — Zoe

Before appearing on the unit, Zoe and Amber ducked into the ladies locker room to switch into their work clogs. When the pair arrived in the SICU, their nurse supervisor, Katharine was conducting an impromptu staff meeting. Katharine was a woman in her own category, much like her previous manager Nurse Herron, but more fearless. She was her staff's most supportive champion, always doing right by her nurses. She handled conflict with poise but wasn't certainly one to cross, especially if you were a surgeon abusing power in her unit. Physically, she was even more imposing, the statuesque blond woman was stacked in all the right places. She kept her icy blonde tresses short in a no-nonsense style, accented by tailored pants suits… never wearing a skirt. Angular features and high cheekbones combined with her frame gave Katharine a fierce high-fashion, editorial look, striking without any cosmetic influence. As if she wasn't perfect enough, Katharine was also very skilled in critical care and thought nothing of changing into scrubs and helping out on the unit, working alongside her staff.

Zoe felt fortunate, as she watched her leader command the attention of the room. She had been 'groomed' into the nurse she was today by Herron and Katharine. When Zoe was deemed 'ready' by nurse Herron, Zoe left her old unit as a one who was bright, motivated, and easy to teach. However, despite Zoe's maturity for twenty-six, she was shy and meek, one could even argue she was a pushover and easy to manipulate. In six years, with the aid of Katharine and the SICU's seasoned nurses, Zoe began to develop confidence and wielded it effortlessly in simple and complex situations alike. With patient care always at the forefront, Zoe earned the respect of both her peers and surgeons. 'Zoe, focus', she told herself. It was then she saw Katharine holding up a bright red pager, 'the trauma beeper.'

"Alright everyone, as we all know… it's Halloween." Katharine's confident voice paused and nurses and care techs nodded, whispering among themselves. "I have brought in extra staff to assist us with the expected onslaught that we will probably come in. Per the hospital board, all staff who are in direct patient care over the next week and picks up overtime will be given bonuses at the end of next month." There was a soft chatter of excitement, however, the veteran staff looked at one another worried. The hospital was not feeling generous; they expected complete and utter chaos.

Almost as if it were timed, there was a sudden deafening thunder. Everyone fell silent, eyes wide and shining. The only sounds heard were the soft beeps of monitors, medication pumps, ventilators, and life-support machines. Katharine swiftly sidestepped to the charge nurse station's computer and brought up the hospital's news feed. Everyone followed quickly behind her.

"BREAKING NEWS" flashed across the monitor and everyone gathered. There was live footage of an industrial area of Silver Bay, where warehouses, factories, and mills littered the seaport and its scattered piers… completely engulfed in flames, whipping and licking the air, consuming everything in its wake. Zoe's mouth gaped open and she looked over at Amber, who was gasping in disbelief. The SICU staff was completely floored, the silence finally breaking as a pretty brunette by the name of Josie spoke up. "We are going to have a lot of burns to manage tonight. Get ready."

Katharine shook her head slowly, face remaining glued still stuck on the screen. In a voice that seemed far away, paling in comparison to her demeanor just moments before. "No…" Adding even more quietly, "We won't. Fires like that take everything with it."

The realization washed across the group; everyone in that area would likely be burned alive. Zoe felt her mouth go dry as her skin began to prickle. She tried unsuccessfully to swallow her stomach back down from her throat, soft fingertips brushing and covering her lips. She felt Amber rest her head softly on her shoulder, the fingers of her free hand intertwining with that of her friend's.

Suddenly, the phone rang and the trauma beeper screeched to life. Some jumped while others remained lost still in thought. Josie answered the phone. "Hello? Yes. Understood. OR Seven with ETA of four hours. Multiple traumatic injuries. A K-9 police officer…wait, what do you mean the dog won't leave?" Josie raised her eyebrows as Zoe watched her furiously scribbling down details of the incoming admission.

Josie continued, "This is ICU. We can handle it. What? What do you mean they're staying down here? We are barely going to have enough room to accommodate patients let alone a troop of cops and a dog!"

Katharine snatched the phone from an exasperated Josie and simply said, "Bring the damn dog."

Katharine hung up the phone and glanced at Josie, while she understood the plea of her trusted head nurse, arguing with the admissions department, it would get them nowhere. Josie quickly regained her composure, passing out the assignment for the night. Non-critical patients had been moved out of the SICU in preparation for things to come, so there were a lot of empty rooms. They would fill quickly tonight and everyone standing there now, would be a different person come the morning. Josie swept a dark curl from her forehead with the back of her hand while dark chocolate eyes lifted under a thick curtain of ebony lashes, fixating on Zoe and watching her thoughtfully.

"Hey, Red?" Zoe immediately lifted her stare to meet Josie's. "This one is yours. A decorated K-9 police officer with trauma. ETA is four hours. The dog is with him, a black Rhodesian Ridgeback by the name of Rudy. There'll be a large police presence for his and our protection."

Zoe nodded, making mental note of the details as they spilled from the lips of her head nurse. "Amber will be your secondary, it sounds like you will need it. I will call respiratory for a ventilator, touch base with pharmacy… your big boy is over 6'6 and his weight-based meds will require additional concentration to keep him sedated and comfortable. Additionally, you'll need a bed extender."

Compliantly, Zoe nodded again, it would be a lie if she tried to deny her apprehension but this was her purpose. Amber was already on the phone with supply, looking for a bed extender while the other nurses scattered to their rooms to begin their shifts. Katharine who had suddenly disappeared, reappeared dressed in scrubs. She looked apprehensively at Josie, who was juggling between the phone and the pager. They exchanged worried, close-lipped smiles and nodded to one another.

The pager screamed, again and again, everything was coming to life and the unit bustled with activity. Like a well-oiled machine, the staff worked with a fervor, anticipating the needs of what the shift would bring. Silver Bay tonight would have their hands full.