for a couple of days to watch it and make sure it doesn't become a problem, but I think in a few days you'll be feeling much better. Dr. Sherman is going to be following your post surgical care for your foot, as well. Now that I know you don't have a more serious head injury I can give you something to help your headache, and I'll give you something for your nausea.”
He turned to the nurse and ordered some medication, then made a notation on Kara's chart. Once the nurse left he turned back to Kara. “Try not to think too much or worry about Dr. Sherman and the accident, Kara. All the evidence says he was just a witness. His car doesn't have any dents. There's even a man that confessed he was the driver. I'm sure you don't want to get Dr. Sherman into trouble here, accusing him of driving drunk, if it wasn't him. In a couple of days your head will be doing much better. Then if you still feel sure it was him driving, you can do something about it if you choose. But as your doctor for this concussion I have to suggest you wait until then, and don't push your brain to remember things right now. Your brain has an injury and it needs to rest so it can heal.”
Again he could tell she was considering his words carefully. “Okay, Doctor. Thank you.”
The nurse came back into her room shortly after Dr. Stone left. She had two syringes, which she emptied into Kara's IV. “This should help you feel better, Kara. One's for your headache, and the other should help keep you from feeling nauseous or dizzy when you move your head.”
“Thank you.”
“You're welcome. I hope it helps. You've had quite a day, what with the accident, seeing a man at the accident you thought was drunk, and then finding out he operated on your foot.”
“Yeah. Dr. Stone says the concussion may have me confused, though, and I may have seen both men at the accident and have them confused. I'm thinking he may be right.”
“Maybe. But you saw what you saw, and I wouldn't just take his word for it. I'm sure one doctor is going to cover for another doctor.”
Kara's eyebrows rose. Was this nurse suggesting Dr. Sherman was drunk? “Maybe, but Dr. Stone said a man admitted he was driving, and the police arrested him. What Dr. Stone said makes sense. I could have seen two men at the accident and now I'm getting them confused.”
The nurse opened her mouth to say something, but before she had a chance, they heard a voice from the doorway. “I think he may be right, too.” Dr. Nick Sherman walked into the room, putting his white coat back on as he did. “That's kind of the nature of concussions, Kara. But don't think about it too much and tax your brain right now. It's been injured and needs to rest, just like your foot.”
He moved closer to her to check on her. “How are you feeling by now?”
“Better,” Kara said. “At least I feel like I'm awake now. The last time you were here I think I was about half.”
“I would agree with that,” he said with a smile. “They'd just brought you up here from post-op and you were just waking up.”
“Yeah, I was pretty groggy yet.”
“So now that you're awake, is your foot hurting?”
“No, not really. Are you sure you did surgery on it?”
Nick chuckled and patted her hand. “I'm quite sure.”
“Then shouldn't it be really hurting?”
“It would be if we hadn't given you the pain killers.”
“But I thought the nurse just gave me something.”
“She gave you something to target your headache from the concussion. I gave you something for your foot right after surgery so you wouldn't wake up in pain. I'm glad to hear it's working.”
“It is. Thank you.” Nick watched as she looked from him to the nurse, and back to him. He thought she looked a little uneasy, like something was on her mind. He looked over to the nurse, as well. “Stella, did I interrupt you, or keep you from doing something?”
“No, Doctor. I came in to give her the two injections Dr. Stone ordered. I'm finished.”
“Okay, good. I'm going to stay and talk with Kara a few minutes, but I didn't want to hold you up from your other work.”
“No, I'm done. If you don't need me —”
“No, I won't. I'm just going to talk to my patient a few minutes.” Nick waited until Stella left before turning back to Kara. “Okay, what did you want to say, or ask?”
“How did you know?”
Nick just grinned. “It's part of my bedside manner. A good doctor knows when something's on his patient's mind. I don't want you overworking your brain right now, so why don't you just say what you're thinking?”
“Okay,” she said hesitantly. “I do have a couple of things to say, or ask. First, when you were putting your coat on when you walked in just now I saw a band-aid on your arm. Are you okay?”
He looked confused, and she pointed to his arm. He took his coat off and saw what she was referring to, and chuckled as he ripped the band-aid off. “I just had a blood test, is all.”
He threw the band-aid away, and when he came back to her bed she looked concerned. “Are you sick?” she asked.
“No, not at all,” he assured her. “A certain patient of mine accused me of being drunk while performing surgery. Although that's something I would never do, Dr. Stone thought it would be a good idea to get a blood test to clear it up once and for all. This way in case anyone else hears about it and questions it, the blood test should put an end to the issue.”
Kara looked away from Nick's face and spoke quietly. “I'm sorry. Dr. Stone said I may remember things differently in a couple of days, and I hope so. I didn't mean to get you in trouble if it wasn't you. But it seems like I remember it clearly.”
“I understand, Kara, and I'm not upset. I'm a doctor and although head injuries aren't my area of expertise, I know the basics of how they work. I'm more interested in your foot, though. Dr. Stone probably told you we're going to keep you here a couple of days?”
“Yes, he did. Is that really necessary?”
Nick smiled a rather sad smile. “Sorry, but yes, it is. I don't want you to put any weight at all on your foot for a couple of days, and I'd like you to keep it up, like it is when you're in bed. Dr. Stone also wants to watch for possible problems from the concussion, so you're kind of stuck here for now.”
“Can we compromise? Maybe I could stay tonight, and go home in the morning?”
Chuckling, Nick shook his head. “Sorry again, Kara, but no. Maybe Saturday.”
“Saturday? Not until Saturday? Absolutely not!” She paused, deep in thought. “What's today, anyway?”
Nick put his head back and laughed at his adorable patient. “Saturday's out of the question, but you have no idea what today is. You're obviously one feisty little lady, Kara. And for the record, today is Wednesday. We'll talk tomorrow, but I'm thinking you can probably go home Saturday. For right now, though, I have a few more suggestions.”
“Will they get me home earlier?”
