Kitabı oku: «His Surgeon Under The Southern Lights / Reunited In The Snow», sayfa 3
“It is. Now for the tricky part of the lesson.” He pulled some rope from one of the storage boxes on the side of the Ski-Doo and handed them to Chip Chambers, the station head who’d been instructing everyone, as the crew all crowded around.
“Okay, everyone,” Chip said. “It’s important to know that crevasses are everywhere out in the field. Those of us who’ve been here a lot learn to look for signs of them, but when they’re covered with blowing snow it’s a lot trickier.”
“Then how do you know if they’re there?” one man asked.
“You can’t always know. Which is why we try to have those less experienced travel into the field with someone who’s done it a lot of times, and why we have strategies for when things go wrong.” Chip held up the two ropes and began to tie them to the machine. “We attach these to the back, like so, set the throttle to a low speed and hold on as it travels, skiing behind it. If the machine heads into a crevasse, you have to release the ropes and just let it go.”
“I’m not sure I know what you mean,” another crew member said.
“I’ll demonstrate.” Chip sat sideways on the snowmobile, put the skis on, then to Jordan’s surprise, he actually got the machine moving with the ropes trailing behind in the snow. “There’s a kill switch right here. If you fall while you’re skiing behind it, hit the switch to stop the machine. Once it’s moving, stand up and pick up the ropes, like so, then let the skis take you until you’re trailing along behind it.”
As Jordan and the others watched him stand and let the moving snow machine and attached ropes tug him along on the skis until he was slowly pulled forward, she had a feeling he made it look easy. One of the young men—a guy who’d told her he worked in the kitchen—volunteered to try it, and she was glad, because she didn’t want to be the first one and possibly end up on her face.
“Okay,” Chip said. “Skis on, throttle going, stand to pick up the ropes, then move to ski behind it. Ready?”
“Ready.”
Doing exactly as he’d been shown, it looked like it was going to be an easy ride. Until he pushed the throttle a little too fast, which made him hurry and stumble trying to grab the ropes. Jordan gasped when he got tangled up and went down onto the hard ice, shrieking in obvious pain as he was dragged a short distance before he let go.
“Hell,” Zeke said, sprinting after the machine as it kept on going. Jordan and the station head ran to see how the man might have hurt himself.
She knelt down beside the guy, who was clutching his upper arm and rolling back and forth on the snow. “Tell me what hurts,” she said.
“My arm. Shoulder. Damn it, I think it’s broken.”
“Maybe not. We’ll see. But we need to go inside. It’s too cold out here to take off your snowsuit and everything. What’s your name?”
“Pete. Pete Sanders.”
“Think you can walk, Pete?”
“I… Yeah.”
“Damn it. I’m sorry this happened,” Chip said. “But Dr. Flynn will take good care of you, I know.”
Two people who’d been participating in the snowmobile practice came over to assist as Jordan and Chip carefully helped the man to his feet. As they moved toward the station, Zeke jogged up next to them, barely out of breath.
“Looks like you’re doing okay. Hang in there. I’ll take over for you, Chip.”
“Thanks. I’ll check on you as soon as I’m done here, Pete.”
Chip moved away and Zeke held Pete steady as his dark eyes moved to meet Jordan’s. “What did he hurt?”
“About to find out. Arm or shoulder, based on what he said.”
“Are we taking him to the clinic? Is it ready?”
“Is that a real question, Mr. Field Medic?” She smiled. “It’s not fully pulled together yet but ready to see patients. But you don’t need to come.”
“Might as well see if I can help, since you’re alone there until the next boat arrives.”
“Appreciate it.” And she did. Much as she could handle whatever was going on alone if she had to, if something was broken or dislocated, having someone there to assist would be a big help, especially without a nurse.
“That was a pretty exciting maneuver there, Pete. Wish I’d gotten it on video,” Zeke said as he kept a steadying hand behind Pete’s back.
The man managed a weak laugh. “Yeah. I’m never going to hear the end of this.”
“Being famous for crashing during the snowmobile practice is better than nobody knowing who you are, right? A good way to introduce yourself to the women at the base, who’ll all feel sorry for you and ask how you’re feeling.”
“One way to look at it, I guess. Thanks for that.”
“You’re welcome.”
Zeke grinned at Pete, and Jordan had to smile at the way he was taking Pete’s mind off his pain, which she had no doubt had been his goal.
As they moved through the long building, he proved to be a big help even before they got to the clinic, since he knew where to find an elevator so they could avoid most of the stairs. A good thing, because she’d been a little worried that the patient might be feeling light-headed and have trouble with that kind of exertion.
“Okay, let’s get your coat and shirt off,” she said once they’d gotten him seated on the exam table she’d thankfully just fitted with sheets and a blue paper cover. She and Zeke each carefully tugged at the wide sleeves of his coat and slipped it off, then unbuttoned his flannel shirt and did the same thing, exposing a fairly tight long-sleeved shirt beneath it.
“I hate to tell you this, but we’re going to have to cut this shirt off. Trying to move your arm and shoulder enough to get it off over your head isn’t a good idea. Okay?”
“Aw, man, I only have one duffel of clothes here to last me the year. But okay.”
“I’ll find scissors and get that done, Dr. Flynn,” Zeke said. “And don’t worry, Pete, we can always get more clothes sent here. It just takes some patience before it arrives.” With quick, efficient movements, he had the shirt off in mere moments, which surprised Jordan. Trained medic or not, it wasn’t what he did for a living, and she couldn’t imagine he dealt with medical emergencies very often in his line of work.
Slowly, she moved her hands along Pete’s arm, elbow and up to his shoulder, and when the man gasped and uttered a sharp cry, her eyes lifted to meet Zeke’s.
“Dislocation, probably, don’t you think?” Zeke said.
Just looking at it, she’d suspected the same thing, but her physical exam pretty much confirmed it, and she nodded. “Most likely. Which isn’t fun, but better than a break. I’ll get the portable X-ray to be sure. Is your arm numb or tingling, Pete? Can you move it?”
“Can hardly move it. And yeah, numb, and it hurts. A lot.”
“How much pain, on a scale of one to ten, with ten being the worst?”
“I think an eight. Or nine.” Pete grimaced.
“Okay. Be right back.” She rolled the X-ray machine over to take the pictures, with Zeke coming up behind her to study the computer screen over her shoulder. He seemed big and unnerving, the scent of him in her nose and the sound of his soft breathing in her ear. Disgusted with herself, she shook off thinking about how close he was, the hyperawareness of him that seemed to happen every time he was near. She called on her training to study the images and think about her patient and nothing else.
“Definitely a dislocation, with just slight damage to your glenohumeral ligament. That’s the ball and socket between your scapula and humerus—your shoulder bone and the top of your arm. See?” She pointed to the X-ray. “I’m going to do a reduction to pop it back into place again.”
“Will that fix it?” Pete asked.
“It’ll be tender for a while, and you’ll need to wear a sling to protect it and help the ligaments heal. And yes, it’ll fix it but you’ll have to be careful not to injure it again. I’m going to give you a muscle relaxant, and an analgesic for the pain, so the reduction won’t hurt too badly.”
“How about I find those drugs for you?” Zeke asked.
“That would be great. Except they’re still in a jumble in the box. I had them perfectly organized until that crazy earthquake while crossing the Drake Passage tossed them around, along with me. So you’ll have to look for them.”
Zeke’s brown eyes met hers. The twinkle and warmth in them showed he was remembering everything about that night, too, and all of it made her belly feel a little funny as she smiled back.
“There was an earthquake? While we were on the ship?” Pete asked, his eyes wide.
“No, no.” Jordan’s face felt a little warm, realizing she was dangerously close to flirting with Zeke, which she absolutely did not want to do. Especially since she enjoyed it too much. “Just a joke between me and Dr. Edwards.”
“Dr. Flynn seems to be accident-prone like you, Pete. Hopefully, not when she’s reducing your shoulder, though.”
“He’s joking about that, too, Pete.” She frowned at Zeke. Kidding around patients was good to a point, to help them relax, but not if the kidding made them worry that she didn’t know what she was doing.
Thankfully, Pete didn’t look horrified, chuckling instead. Jordan asked him for his personal information and filled out paperwork on the station’s hospital computer. She continued making notes regarding her diagnosis, X-ray results and treatment plan, while Zeke brought the medications and water so Pete could take the pills, and was glad he’d come with her to help.
With the meds now having had enough time to take effect, she stood next to the patient and firmly grasped his arm and shoulder, preparing to do the necessary reduction to put it back in place. “Ready? This is going to hurt some.”
Zeke reached to hold Pete’s hand. “Hang on to me and squeeze. It’ll help you get through it.”
Pete nodded and pressed his lips together, and Jordan could tell he was gripping Zeke’s hand so tightly it had to be uncomfortable. She concentrated on manipulating Pete’s arm to reconnect it into his shoulder socket. After a long moment of maneuvering it around, she heard the satisfying thunk and felt it lock back into place. “There! That wasn’t too bad, was it?” She stepped back to smile at her patient.
He huffed out a long breath. “Not gonna lie—it hurt. But it feels a lot better now.”
“Good. Now I need to get you a sling, so sit still until we get your arm immobilized. I’ll—”
“I grabbed one when I was back in the storage closet,” Zeke interrupted, holding it up. “I’ll put it on him.”
He didn’t even wait for her to respond, efficiently getting Pete’s arm and shoulder set up in the sling. She opened her mouth to comment on the way it should be done, then closed it. Obviously, he knew exactly what to do. Obviously also liked being in charge, even when he wasn’t. But she wasn’t about to complain, because it had definitely been better for Pete, and for her, to have Zeke there with them, helping get the procedure done as efficiently as possible.
With nothing to do at that moment, she found herself distracted by Zeke’s dark lashes fanning his cheeks as he concentrated on fastening the sling. At the focus in his brown eyes, interrupted with flashes of humor as he’d say something to Pete that made him laugh.
The man was too charming for his own good—or for hers—and eye candy, to boot. She didn’t want any distractions from her work or her diving device trial, and wasn’t about to get tempted by a guy who was not at all what she wanted for her future. Seductive brown eyes and a teasing, sexy smile didn’t change that reality.
“Pete, I want you to come back the day after tomorrow so we can talk about how you’re doing. Here’s more of that pain reliever, with my instructions.” She scribbled on a notepad, then handed it to him with the medication. “And sorry, but no snowmobile training, or anything else physical that uses your arm or shoulder, for at least two weeks. I suggest you rest for a while before you try to get back to work today.”
“Will do. Thanks.”
After another nod to Jordan and a shake of Zeke’s hand, Pete was gone, leaving Jordan alone with Zeke. Their eyes met again, and the sizzle between them was disturbingly obvious. To cover her awareness of it, and of him, she turned to strip the blue paper from the exam table and tossed it in the trash. Before she moved to put away the equipment, she paused and gave him a deliberately impassive look, hoping to squelch the electric zing she could swear she physically felt crackling in the air around them.
“You…you have an excellent bedside manner,” she managed to say, hoping to break the mesmerizing connection. “I’m impressed that you didn’t even flinch when he squeezed your hand so tight I thought he might cut off your circulation.”
“I’ve dealt with a lot of injuries in the field over the years. Offering a hand to someone in pain is the least I can do.”
“I assume you’ll be going back to the snowmobile practice?” she said.
“Nah. It’ll be almost over by now, and there are other people to help the newbies if they need it.”
He just stood there looking at her, his hands in his pockets, rocking back on his heels a little, and her silly heart sped up all over again at something in his expression she couldn’t quite define, leaving her feeling breathless.
“Well, if you’ll excuse me, I need to get to work. I have to organize all the things that are still a mess before more crew members get here, because as soon as they get settled in, I’ll be recruiting some of the scientists to try my parents’ earplug design for equalizing pressure during dives. Then schedule some dive time with them.”
His brows practically hit his hairline. “What? What do you mean?”
The shock on his face made her realize she should have told him about the earplugs before, since he’d be diving a lot for his work here. Why hadn’t she, when that was a big part of the reason she’d come to Antarctica? The obvious truth hit her. Feeling this constant push/pull of attraction every time he was near, and not wanting to feel that way, had knocked all thoughts of recruiting him straight from her brain.
“My parents have designed a device they hope will eliminate, or greatly reduce, problems with barotrauma. I’m an experienced diver and I’ll be testing it here, and asking for volunteers to be part of the trial.” She licked her lips and made herself ask the question she knew would result in them spending a lot more time together if he agreed. “Do you… Are you interested in being part of the trial, and diving with me sometimes?”
CHAPTER FOUR
ZEKE STARED AT HER, stunned. If she’d told him she wasn’t really a surgeon at all he wouldn’t have been more surprised. “You’re a diver?”
“Yes. It’s my parents’ hobby. Their passion, really, after medicine. I told you that both worked as doctors in international hospitals, and I grew up diving with them all over the world. My dad studied biomedical engineering before deciding on med school, and he’s sort of an amateur inventor. My mother loves to do underwater photography, has even sold some photos to magazines. I tried to dabble in that, but don’t seem to have her artist’s eye for it.”
It took him a moment to respond, still astounded that in all their conversations about his work she hadn’t said a thing about being a diver herself. “What is this device they invented?”
“Earplugs that equalize underwater pressure on the ear canal, without the diver having to clear their ears manually. They’ve just begun testing it various places. When I got this chance to come work in Antarctica, we all thought it would be a great opportunity to see if there are any differences in the way they perform in extremely cold waters.”
“And you need volunteers to wear them. But why would you be diving, too?”
“Obviously, working in the clinic and hospital, I’d only be able to come along on dives occasionally. But I want to do that to record divers’ thoughts right away, take their vital signs when possible and…okay, I admit it.” A small smile played on her lips as her beautiful eyes met his. “I can’t wait to see what it’s like under the ice. Excited and scared, both, to be honest.”
“Scared? Why?”
“You know as well as anyone that it’s got to be different diving beneath ice than in the Caribbean. Isn’t it?”
“It is.” And he suddenly knew that, more than anything, he wanted to be the one diving with Jordan for her first time here, making sure she felt safe. “I’d be happy to be part of your trial. The rest of the marine biologists will be coming on the next boat. How about I talk with them about your trial as soon as they get here? And you and I can plan on a dive as soon as we can make it happen.”
“Sounds perfect. I should have known that you’d dive right in…ha-ha—” she sent him an adorable smile “—and take over to help make it happen. And you know what? I’m getting rid of that independent streak you’ve scolded me about to tell you I really appreciate it. Having you be part of the trial and talk with your colleagues about it is going to be hugely helpful.”
The smile on her face and the way she was looking at him seemed to show she felt sincerely pleased, and his chest felt like it was expanding as he thought about how good it would feel to help her. About how it would feel to spend more time with her and dive with her. Then he forced himself to remember that he couldn’t let himself get attached to Jordan, that he’d be there for her when it came to working and diving, but anything more was out of the question.
He couldn’t deny that the attraction he felt for her seemed to grow every time he saw her. But how he felt didn’t matter. She might not be interested in a relationship, anyway, but if she was, she deserved someone she could rely on in every way.
He definitely wasn’t that man.
Zeke doubled down to get everything ready for when the rest of the crew arrived so he and Jordan could get diving as soon as possible. He and some of the station crew spent the entire day out on the ice shelf, using chain saws, drills and heating equipment to cut two dive holes about twelve meters apart. Having them finished left him feeling satisfied and excited about getting down there to see what they’d find this trip, and to see how Jordan felt about diving under the ice.
His prediction? She’d love it, and he was counting the hours until the next ship would arrive with the other scientists, so he could get busy with his grant work and go underwater with her.
With the dive holes ready, he finished the aquarium setup and tested it to make sure it was operating properly. He checked the filter systems he’d had up and running for the past twenty-four hours, then the water quality. Pleased that all systems were go, he knew the other marine biologists would be glad he’d come early to get this done. Once they were diving, they’d bring back algae, zooplankton and other marine life samples to test, study and, in some cases, tag and return to the sea.
He forced himself to do paperwork so he’d have it behind him when everyone arrived. The ship should have left Chile an hour ago, which meant only two more days until he’d have dive partners as anxious as he was to get in the water.
Revision of his most recent academic paper, soon to be published in a science periodical, was the first priority. That study was complete, and an important piece of the complex data he’d be presenting to get his new grant application finished.
His current research project would take the full five months he’d be down here, but initial data had to be compiled in time for the first grant deadline, which was in just less than a month. For every grant available there were at least ten applicants, and getting the fieldwork done, the initial data compiled and the preliminary paper finished by early November would take hard work and a lot of hours.
Being one of the first to submit the application was critical. As a presenter at next year’s international climate summit, he needed to have additional, irrefutable evidence of how the ozone hole above the Antarctic would continue to affect coastal cities and its inhabitants. Proving ways to reduce the amount of ice melt and disturbing water temperature rise, which was affecting the size and impact of hurricanes and typhoons, was what his life’s work was all about.
He knew, firsthand, that people were dying because of it. Many more, if he failed.
Zeke drew in a deep breath. He’d get it done. Then he’d knock the socks off various nations’ leaders and private enterprises interested in making corporate changes, and the global impact of all that would save lives around the world.
His grandfather’s laughing face, his grandmother’s sweet one, floated in his mind’s eye, and with the ache and guilt came a familiar feeling of determination. He made a call to the vehicle coordinator to make sure they had a PistenBully or one of the six-wheel vans available to get to the ice shelf the day his colleagues showed up, so he could start pulling samples. Then he worked on more paperwork until his eyes were blurring.
“Might want to cancel your reservation for transportation,” Bob Shamansky said as he strode into the room. “Looks like both of us are going to have to find more lab-and paperwork to do for a while.”
“What? Why?”
“Just heard that John Stewart notified the base supervisor that he’s keeping the tub docked in Chile because of the weather. Forty-knot storm on Drake Passage right now, and with the ship full, he doesn’t want to risk it. Planning to wait a couple days and see if it calms down.”
“Damn.” Zeke pressed his palms to the table, trying to figure out how to get rolling on fieldwork without waiting another four or five days. “Maybe you can be my dive partner. Just to be ready to throw me a line if something happens.”
“Pretty sure you need someone who can actually dive with you, in case you get the bends or a tear in your hose or whatever the hell can happen down there. Those things being why I don’t participate in that particular activity.”
“Yeah.” Diving alone wasn’t a great idea under normal circumstances, and here in Antarctica? Doing that would qualify as just plain stupid. “I’m going to see if anybody who’s already here is a diver.”
Except he already knew of one. Jordan Flynn. Would she be interested in diving with just him? Thinking about the excitement in her eyes when she’d spoken about it, he had a feeling the answer was a clear yes.
“Might be,” Bob said. “Don’t worry. If I know you, you’ll get that grant money done come hell or high water.” He clapped Zeke on the shoulder. “Time for first-round lunch. Why don’t you go to the galley and ask around to see if there’s a diver you don’t know?”
“It’s worth a try.” Without much hope that he’d get lucky and find someone, he headed to the galley and, as expected, struck out. Feeling too restless to go back to his paperwork, he decided to see if Jordan was willing to dive with just him, and if she was, find out when she could take the time to do it. And it wasn’t just an excuse to see her. He needed to get to work on gathering samples.
Though he couldn’t lie to himself—the thought of seeing her did make his step feel a little lighter, whether he wanted it to or not.
He found her in the storage room of the clinic, sitting on the floor with her legs crossed. Bags of medicines and medical supplies were sorted in front of her, next to multiple zippered satchels, her head tipped forward, a waterfall of smooth hair covering her profile. He knew how soft it felt from when he’d glued her wound and now stood there a moment, wishing he had an excuse to skim his hand down all that dark silk.
He cleared his throat. “I wanted to talk with you, but looks like you’re busy.”
Her head lifted and her eyes met his, her fingers pushing her hair behind her ear as she smiled up at him. “No, just getting travel bags ready. Which I’m sure you know all about.”
“What are you packing?”
“Drugs, syringes and other equipment, labeling each bag. Catheter. Fluid. Trauma. Circulation. IV. The usual.”
“The usual for Antarctica. I’m impressed that a hospital-based surgeon knows everything you might need down here for out in the field.”
“Well, much as I like to impress people whenever possible, I can’t lie. I was given a list when I was hired, before I even came down here.” She held up a sheaf of papers with a cute self-deprecating smile on her face. “Want to take a look and see if anything’s missing?”
He lowered himself to sit next to her and liked the way his shoulder felt pressed against hers as he leaned in to read it. “Looks pretty complete to me. You’re ready to go if there’s an accident or illness in the field, Dr. Flynn.”
“Good. I was a little worried that I hadn’t finished this yet, so I’m glad to get it done.”
“I’m glad, too. Because I came to talk to you about your work schedule and diving.”
She began to push to her feet, and he regretted no longer getting to sit so close to her, oddly comfortable considering how hard the floor was. He stood and held out his hand to finish helping her up, taking as long as possible to release her hand’s warmth. She didn’t seem in too big a hurry, either, looking up at him expectantly until she finally slid her hand from his.
“Do you have a dive scheduled with the new crew that I can come on?”
“Not exactly. Drake Passage is acting up again, and nobody’s getting here for a few days. I don’t want to get behind on gathering the samples I need for my grant application so I’m wondering—are you willing to dive with me alone?”
“Well, let me think.” She tapped her finger against her chin. “You’ve been diving in Antarctica during thirteen trips and I doubt if anyone coming can beat that. So, is that a real question?”
“Wasn’t sure if you’d feel safer as part of a bigger group, since you haven’t been under the ice before.”
“I know I’ll feel totally safe with you,” she said. The eyes meeting his were serious and trusting, and a strange feeling filled his chest that she seemed to truly feel those ways about him.
“We won’t wander too far from the hole, and stick close together. And whenever you’re ready to go back up, just let me know and we’ll finish right away.”
“When can we go?”
“Does tomorrow afternoon work for you? Bob Shamansky said he’d come with us whenever I get a dive pulled together, and I know he won’t be free until about three o’clock. He doesn’t dive, but whenever we go out, we have at least one tender along to help with all the equipment and keep an eye out up above.”
“An eye out? For what?”
“Marine mammals, among other things. Most are fun to see, like the penguins and the various seals, though you’ll notice that some of the male seals glare at you if you get too close. Especially underwater, so give them a wide berth if you can.”
“Sounds amazing.”
“It is. Except there is one thing you have to steer clear of—leopard seals. They’re dangerous, and if we see any in the water we move on and keep our distance.”
“Do they attack people?”
“Sometimes, and even follow divers occasionally, like the predators they are. They have sharklike teeth and are huge. Males are about a thousand pounds and females even bigger. A few years ago, an intern was badly mauled by one at a station south of here. Just one more reason why diving here isn’t like diving other places.”
“Being mauled by a leopard seal sounds about as appealing as hypothermia,” Jordan said, and her captivating smile showed him why he’d felt so attracted to her that very first day on the ship when she’d joked about that. “Which do you think would be worse?”
“Probably a toss-up. And I don’t want to experience either one to find out the answer.” But experiencing diving with the smart and fascinating Jordan Flynn? That he couldn’t wait to do. “Can you be ready tomorrow at three in the vehicle hangar? I’ll have all the equipment we need for when you and Bob get there.”
“I brought my dive clothes and equipment, but I’m not completely sure I won’t need something more. Do you have extra gear required for this kind of water?”
“Is that a real question?” For some reason, he couldn’t help but tease her. “Yes. And I’m sure you’re also prepared. All you have to do is wear what you’d normally wear when it’s twenty degrees below Fahrenheit.”
“Pretty sure there’s no ‘normal’ in that kind of water temperature. Except here.” Amused blue eyes met his. “Are you willing to try the earplugs?”
“Looking forward to it.” And he was, but not nearly as much as he looked forward to diving with her, and wished they could head out right then.
“I appreciate that. So—”
Voices from the lobby outside had them both turning their heads, and the deep stab of disappointment that he wouldn’t get to banter with her alone anymore surprised him.
“Uh…” He drew in a breath, knowing he had to quell this desire for her, because there was no point. “I guess you have a patient you need to see?”
