Under Southern Skies

Chapter 1

It was the first morning in a very long time where she didn’t wake up in a blind rush, got dressed half asleep and went to work barely awake, incoherent and functioning on a minimal amount of sleep. At the first glance at the clock when she opened her eyes, she felt that quick quiver of her heartbeat and the anxiety that rolled over her stomach, but then she realized she is not in DC anymore, and not working at St. Helen’s Hospital anymore. 

The decision to move to South Carolina, Myrtle beach was not an easy decision but probably one that saved her life and her sanity. Accepting the position as Head of the Medical Centre was an easier decision. Being a doctor came to her as second nature, and leading her own team had always been a dream of hers. Just not under the circumstances it had come to her. 

She released the breath she didn’t know she was holding in a big sigh and got out of bed to start her day. The smell of coffee made her already queasy stomach twist extra tight. She really needed this new chapter to be a success and she hoped to God that her past won’t catch up with her. She new she left her business unfinished back in DC, but she couldn’t stand it anymore. She needed an escape. Needed to escape.

It was in moments like this where she yearned for the comfort of her mother’s arms and her father’s kind and steady demeanor. She longed for the sweet silent feeling of being loved, and cared for unconditionally. But they have been brutally ripped from her in a life ending accident that left her and her brother, Benjamin behind. Bennie had been her support and lifeline for the months after their parents’ death, and then she learned to stand on her own two feet and continue living her life without them in it. 

Her life in DC had often been a lonely, sad one. Sometimes filled with anger, grief and despair. For every patient she lost she had grieved silently, and cried quiet tears when all her attempts failed. Often times she had to push away at the nagging heartbreak to celebrate the successes with her other patients. But it was also filled with many life-changing moments, from the happy tears she cried with the introduction of new life, the celebration of successful cancer treatment and the happiness of parents being reunited with their healed and healthy children. 

The adrenaline rush of the Emergency Department gave her a thrill and challenged her mind to think on her feet. The sudden rapid heartbeat, flush of the skin, the slight stomach roll before a patient gets pushed in and then the way everything around you slow down and you feel as if you are moving through a dream, hearing every word, every breath and every stutter and you just feel alive. It made her feel alive. Until that one day where it all changed, and everything that once gave her life made her hate it all even more.

She quickly snapped back her mind to the present and cleared her thoughts when she saw the sign approaching “Myrtle Beach Air Force Base”. She saw Lieutenant General Higgins waiting for her at the gate when she entered the base. She took a deep breath and exited her car.

“Lt. Higgins, nice to finally meet you,” she reached out to shake his hand, ignoring the slight tremor she felt. Just nerves she reminded herself, besides she is a highly trained Trauma doctor, nothing rattles her. 

“Doctor Hughes, so great to see you. I hope you are finding your way around Myrtle Beach.” “Please call me Lilliana,” she brushed it aside absent mindedly and found herself taking in the buildings and surrounding area.

“Allow me to take you on a brief tour of the base before I show you the medical centre.”

“Yes of course, I’d love that.” 

Lilly followed Lt. Higgins around the base and allowed herself to relax several times by gawking at the many different astonishing air crafts and sights over the base. She never really thought to find herself in any other environment than a hospital, but now she seems to find herself in the most extraordinary and culturally rich environments. 

A group of men and women came jogging past them and she caught the glimpse of faces, young and bright and thought it must be new recruits who started their training. 

“Morning Lieutenant, doctor.” She heard them muttering under their breath.

She still remembered being a brand-new doctor, eager eyed and ready to learn. She new the excitement of new beginnings, and hoped that this might be exactly the new beginning she needed.

“I didn’t realize anyone knew of my arrival until seeing it happen so quickly.”

“Ah yes, we announced your arrival this morning at the parade. Everyone knows of your arrival, so you should expect a few new faces to come to wish you welcome and introduce themselves.” Oddly touched by the idea of strangers going out of their way to welcome her and introduce themselves, she brushed the hair from her face nervously to keep her hands busy. 

“You should know Dr—Lilliana, that on Myrtle Beach we are as close as family. Not only in town but also on the base. You are one of us now, and we are happy to have you with us.” Higgins placed his hand in a kind fatherly gesture over hers and gave an encouraging squeeze. Touched again by the kindness of a stranger, she reached over to his hand to return the gesture.

“Thank you, Lieutenant. I look forward to getting to know everyone.” He patted her hand and gestured her towards the direction of the medical center. 

“I was wondering about—” The sound of panicked shouting had her swinging her body around to just catch the glimpse of the aircraft taking a nosedive just across the plane from them. Smoke billowed over the aircraft and red burning flames engulfed the scene. People were rushing around, shouting orders and pushing away to get to the scene to help. She heard the deafening sound of an emergency alarm and sirens nearby. Her feet moved before her mind even processed all the information. She saw a stretcher being pushed by two staff members towards the victim of the crash.

“Doctor! —” She saw them dragging the body of a man from the plane and securing him onto a stretcher and started to push him towards the emergency entrance of the medical center. 

“Talk to me,” she called out to them.

“Patient 35, male, BP 84/62 and dropping, SATS 92 on oxygen on 100. Left pupil blown. Activating protocol.” Luke, the attendee, shouted a report to her.

“We’re losing him, he’s crashing.” The deadly sound of the heart rate monitor went placid as John Doe’s heart stopped. Lilly leaped onto the stretcher, over the man, locked her fingers and started CPR. 

“Push 1 cc of Epi and charge to 200,” she ordered while Luke attached the electrode pads to the chest of the patient. 

“Epi in.” Anna announced and stood back from the patient with her hands raised next to her head.

“Clear.” Luke said.

SHOCK!

“No pulse. Continue CPR.”

“Another 1 cc, charge to 250.”

“Epi in.”

“Clear.”

SHOCK!

“We got a pulse.”

“Good, transfer him to Grand Strand medical Centre. I’ll get in touch with his family.” Lilly said as she helped them push the patient into the back of the Air Force ambulance.

“Can’t say the job won’t be interesting at least.” Lieutenant Higgins blew out his breath when Lilly approached him. 

“Nothing beats an early morning adrenaline rush. Lieutenant, will you be able to assist me in accessing patient records, I need to send over his details and contact next of kin.”

“Of course. Your patient is First Officer Chadwick. I’ll show you to your office, where all files are kept.” He gestured her through the medical center towards her office.

“Chadwick!” A shout came from behind that made Lieutenant Higgins turn towards the man it came from.

“Captain Blake.”

“Chadwick. Where is he?”

“First Officer Chadwick had been stabilized and taken to Grand Strand medical center.” 

“I need—I need…” 

“Cam. Hold on.” Lt Higgins rushed forward grabbing Cameron by the shoulders to stop him from rushing through the medical center. He shook him by the shoulders trying to get his attention. “Listen to me.”

“Oh my.” Lilly just caught him by the arm before he collapsed on the ground, supporting his weight with her arm slung around his side.

“Let’s get him to that bed.” Lt. Higgins grabbed Cameron Blake by one side and Lilly the other and moved him across the room to an empty bed. Lilly started to meticulously take his vitals, writing down all her notes carefully in a new patient file stored at each bedside. 

“It looks like he might have a concussion and a dislocated shoulder,” she muttered half to herself while flashing a penlight in his right eye then the other. “I’ll keep him for observation for a few hours, give him fluids and then send him home. I recommend at least 3 weeks of sick leave for the concussion and shoulder.” Lilly watched the Lieutenant carefully considering his options. He looked over to her, and she thought she could see a small glimpse of satisfaction on his face.

“I agree, Doctor. I will file the paperwork and check in later.” Higgins looked over the medical centre with an approving nod and made his way towards the door when he turned back to look at Lilly.

“Excellent work Doctor Hughes. Our base is certainly in very capable hands. Goodluck.” Lilly saw the smile tugging at his mouth and felt herself smiling back. She realized now that all the nervous jitters she felt earlier disappeared in the mix of the chaos and surprise of the day. She had her own team and her own facility to run now. Feeling satisfied and content with the beginning of her new life, she wandered over to her office to fill in the necessary paperwork and contact the family of First Officer Chadwick and now also Captain Blake.