to the patient. “But they aren’t and unless you get your ass into gear, they won’t be for much longer.”
Cassidy hesitated another couple of beats. “I hope you know what you’re doing,” she said quietly, unsure whom she was addressing.
It took her less than a minute to throw off her clothes, pull on clean scrubs and scrape her hair off her face. By the time she’d finished scrubbing Sam was behind her, holding out a surgical gown that she slipped over her arms after a searching look up into his dark face.
He must have correctly interpreted her probing look because his mouth pulled into a tight line. “This is a job for two people who know what they’re doing.”
“Monty—”
“Isn’t here,” he interrupted smoothly. His eyes caught and held hers. “We can’t wait, Cassidy. And you know it.”
Knowing he was right, Cassidy ground her back molars together. “You’re right,” she admitted briskly, moving towards the OR doors, “but you assist.”
Heather Murray had already positioned the colored electrode pads and was fitting a saturation probe over the patient’s forefinger when Cassidy hit the doors with her shoulder. Tying the surgical cap at the back of her head, she slipped her hands into surgical gloves the nurse held out.
She watched as Heather hooked Gail up to the heart monitor, a wrinkle of concern marring her brow when a rapid beeping filled the silence. Stepping closer to the ultrasound screen, Cassidy studied the strip of images Sam had printed out, before gently palpating the woman’s belly. A quick examination revealed the baby lying breech, with its spine facing upward.
She felt rather than saw Sam come up behind her. “I’ve delivered babies in worse positions than this,” he said at her shoulder.
“So have I,” Cassidy agreed, “but not without an OB/GYN on standby. The bleeding is also a major concern.” When he remained silent, Cassidy lifted her head to find him studying her intently. Her heart gave a little lurch. “What?”
His eyes lit with a warm smile. “You can do it, Doc. Have a little faith. Besides, I’m right here.”
She was about to ask if he’d done this before but the monitor beeped and Heather called out, “Heart rate increasing, Doctor,” and Cassidy realized they didn’t have time to hang around debating his experience.
Sam shoved his hands into latex gloves while the nurse tied his gown and mask. Cassidy moved to the patient’s side and hoped she wasn’t making a terrible mistake. As the doctor on duty, she was about to trust a man who thought parachuting into hostile territory armed to the teeth was like making love. “Major—” Cassidy began, only to have him cut her off.
“I think we’ve had this conversation before, Cassidy ,” he drawled, putting her firmly in her place as a colleague now. He looked big and tough and impatient—and most of all competent. After flicking a pointed look at Heather, he returned Cassidy’s gaze meaningfully. “We’re good.”
Biting back a sigh, she opened her mouth and said, “Let’s do this.”
Heather called anxiously, “Blood pressure dropping, Doctor.”
Cassidy’s gaze snapped to the monitor. “Keep an eye on the baby’s vitals and let me know if Mom’s BP drops below fifty.” Sam expertly swabbed the woman’s belly with iodine as Cassidy waited, scalpel in hand. The instant he was finished she felt for the correct place with her left hand and then made a clean incision with her right. The scalpel sliced through layers of skin, muscle and uterine wall. Sam gently coaxed the baby into position while she slid her hands into the exposed uterus. Within seconds the infant’s head and shoulders emerged and Cassidy could see why the baby had been lying breech—and why the mother was bleeding.
The placenta had detached from the uterine wall and the umbilical cord was looped around the baby’s neck and under her arm. The infant was blue and flaccid.
Cassidy’s heart gave a
Cassidy hesitated another couple of beats. “I hope you know what you’re doing,” she said quietly, unsure whom she was addressing.
It took her less than a minute to throw off her clothes, pull on clean scrubs and scrape her hair off her face. By the time she’d finished scrubbing Sam was behind her, holding out a surgical gown that she slipped over her arms after a searching look up into his dark face.
He must have correctly interpreted her probing look because his mouth pulled into a tight line. “This is a job for two people who know what they’re doing.”
“Monty—”
“Isn’t here,” he interrupted smoothly. His eyes caught and held hers. “We can’t wait, Cassidy. And you know it.”
Knowing he was right, Cassidy ground her back molars together. “You’re right,” she admitted briskly, moving towards the OR doors, “but you assist.”
Heather Murray had already positioned the colored electrode pads and was fitting a saturation probe over the patient’s forefinger when Cassidy hit the doors with her shoulder. Tying the surgical cap at the back of her head, she slipped her hands into surgical gloves the nurse held out.
She watched as Heather hooked Gail up to the heart monitor, a wrinkle of concern marring her brow when a rapid beeping filled the silence. Stepping closer to the ultrasound screen, Cassidy studied the strip of images Sam had printed out, before gently palpating the woman’s belly. A quick examination revealed the baby lying breech, with its spine facing upward.
She felt rather than saw Sam come up behind her. “I’ve delivered babies in worse positions than this,” he said at her shoulder.
“So have I,” Cassidy agreed, “but not without an OB/GYN on standby. The bleeding is also a major concern.” When he remained silent, Cassidy lifted her head to find him studying her intently. Her heart gave a little lurch. “What?”
His eyes lit with a warm smile. “You can do it, Doc. Have a little faith. Besides, I’m right here.”
She was about to ask if he’d done this before but the monitor beeped and Heather called out, “Heart rate increasing, Doctor,” and Cassidy realized they didn’t have time to hang around debating his experience.
Sam shoved his hands into latex gloves while the nurse tied his gown and mask. Cassidy moved to the patient’s side and hoped she wasn’t making a terrible mistake. As the doctor on duty, she was about to trust a man who thought parachuting into hostile territory armed to the teeth was like making love. “Major—” Cassidy began, only to have him cut her off.
“I think we’ve had this conversation before, Cassidy ,” he drawled, putting her firmly in her place as a colleague now. He looked big and tough and impatient—and most of all competent. After flicking a pointed look at Heather, he returned Cassidy’s gaze meaningfully. “We’re good.”
Biting back a sigh, she opened her mouth and said, “Let’s do this.”
Heather called anxiously, “Blood pressure dropping, Doctor.”
Cassidy’s gaze snapped to the monitor. “Keep an eye on the baby’s vitals and let me know if Mom’s BP drops below fifty.” Sam expertly swabbed the woman’s belly with iodine as Cassidy waited, scalpel in hand. The instant he was finished she felt for the correct place with her left hand and then made a clean incision with her right. The scalpel sliced through layers of skin, muscle and uterine wall. Sam gently coaxed the baby into position while she slid her hands into the exposed uterus. Within seconds the infant’s head and shoulders emerged and Cassidy could see why the baby had been lying breech—and why the mother was bleeding.
The placenta had detached from the uterine wall and the umbilical cord was looped around the baby’s neck and under her arm. The infant was blue and flaccid.
Cassidy’s heart gave a
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