head. ‘I think I’ve got an upper UTI. Can I borrow you for five minutes?’
He nodded. ‘Sure.’ Then he smiled and handed her a specimen bottle. ‘Let’s get you sorted.’
It took a little more than five minutes because Rob liked to be thorough. Once he heard her past history of having kidney problems as a child, leaving her prone to upper urinary tract infections, he gave a little nod, dipsticked her urine, rechecked her temp and listened to her symptoms of fatigue and an aching lower back.
‘You couldn’t come down earlier?’
She sighed. ‘I’d felt a bit tired but my back only started aching this morning and the new neonatal cardiac surgeon arrived today so I’ve been flat out dealing with him too.’
He gave her a nod and scribbled some notes. ‘What normally works best?’
She told him the name of the antibiotic that normally resolved her infections and he scribbled a prescription, then went to one of the cupboards and pulled out a bottle, signing a form to record it. ‘Okay, so I won’t make you trek to the pharmacy. But I’m still sending your sample away to make sure you’re on the right antibiotic. Results should be on the system tomorrow. I’m working then—will I give you a call?’
Esther gave a grateful nod. The computer system in the Queen Victoria meant that no staff could access their own records or results—no matter how tempting it was. ‘Perfect. Thanks, Rob.’
‘Any time. Not many perks to being in the NHS. We’ve got to look after our own. Are you going to take some time off?’
‘Me?’ She smiled and shook her head. ‘As soon as I start taking these, they usually work fast. This time tomorrow I’ll start to feel better. I’ll just take some paracetamol until then.’
He gave a nod. ‘Fine, but let me know if there’s anything else you need.’
‘An assassination attempt on a visiting surgeon, maybe?’
Rob looked up in surprise. ‘He’s annoyed Crabbie Rabbie? Wow, he’s brave.’
She waved her hand. ‘Don’t worry. I’ve told him how much I love him already. Hopefully he’ll do his surgery, fix my baby and leave.’
She gave Rob a nod and disappeared out the cubicle and back along the corridor. In a way she was happy. This had obviously been working on her for the last few days. At least now she knew why she was so unnaturally tired. It was sort of a relief to know that after a few days of antibiotics she’d be back to herself again.
As she pushed open the door, the manager of the A&E department was heading towards her. Shirley had her hands full, so Esther held the door for her.
She gave her a grin. ‘Lifesaver, thanks.’
‘No probs.’
Something flitted across Shirley’s face. ‘Hey, don’t suppose you could cover a shift on Thursday?’
Esther glanced at the pill bottle she’d just pushed into the pocket of her uniform. Thursday. Three days away. It was her next scheduled day off and she was bound to be feeling better by then. ‘Sure.’ She nodded.
‘Great,’ Shirley shouted over her shoulder as she continued to speed down the corridor.
Harry was doing his absolute best not to try and cause trouble. Only because Francesca had torn a few strips off him.
‘You were way out of line yesterday,’ she said quietly as they met the next morning.
‘How was I out of line? I don’t want some flaky member of staff caring for my baby.’
‘Your baby?’ Francesca raised her eyebrows.
He sighed. ‘You know what I mean. If I operate on them, they’re all my babies.’
‘Don’t try the mushy stuff with me. You’re being harsh. So, she spilt coffee and didn’t have time to change. Who hasn’t? Half the times I was called to a cardiac arrest, I went with half my lunch down me.’
‘Did you sleep in the hospital canteen too?’
Francesca shrugged. ‘Sometimes. If I’d been up all night on call, I might grab five minutes when I had to. Can you really say that you’ve never done that?’
He took in a deep breath and gave a conciliatory shrug too. ‘Okay, I might have.’
Francesca gave him a hard stare. ‘I’m just saying. This is the first time you’ve operated here. I’d try not to get on the wrong side of everyone you might come across if you’re going to be a visiting surgeon.’
‘Now who’s being harsh?’
Francesca started pulling up some results on a nearby computer. ‘Anyway. I would tread carefully. I’ve heard she’s got a nickname.’
‘A nickname?’
Francesca nodded and smiled. ‘Yep. Crabbie Rabbie.’
‘What?’ Harry frowned.
‘Something to do with Scotland’s national bard?’
‘I know who Rabbie Burns is.’
‘Well, apparently she got the nickname just after she arrived. Something to do with her strong accent and the fact she takes no prisoners with people she thinks are annoying.’
‘Are you trying to tell me something?’
‘Just that I think you’ve clearly just put yourself into the annoying category.’
He shook his head. ‘Oh, thanks for that.’ The door to the NICU opened and the day staff filed in, Esther among them.
Her dark hair was swept up in an elaborate plait. She still looked tired but maybe she’d put a little more make-up on, because there was more colour in her cheeks than there had been yesterday. She was wearing a different colour of scrubs today. Bright pink. He’d noticed the staff in the NICU wore different colours—sometimes even with child-friendly designs. The brighter colour made her not look quite so washed out.
It was odd. On any other day—with any other member of staff—he might actually have admitted that he thought she was quite attractive. But he didn’t have time for that. Harry didn’t usually date anyone from work. Too many complications. And he and Esther hadn’t exactly got off to a good start.
He wanted to ask if she was fit to work. He wanted to ask if she still had a temperature. He knew he wasn’t entitled to. Staff in NICUs were extremely familiar with the dangers of exposing babies to potential infections. He shouldn’t second-guess anyone.
Francesca tapped his arm. ‘Okay, I’m off to see another baby.’ She shot him another look. ‘Now, behave. Play nicely.’
He shook his head as she walked out the door.
