5 Part 4

Once everyone was in the car it was a short ride to the vet. Anna refused to not go in and see that her cat was seen asap by the vet. They found that indeed the cats leg was broken and said she would be casted up and ready to go home in a few hours once Annas parents explained the situation. The girl was reluctantly shuffled back to the car and sped off to the ER. That visit took quite a bit longer. The family sat in a crowded and noisy waiting room for what seemed like forever until finally a short and heavyset nurse hollered from the nurses station "Anna Chavez" Anna and Alexia stood, John staying put. They followed the woman to the back and down a hallway of curtained off spots that was the ER. They made it to the far end and was settled into the fairly small and utilitarian spot that was an ER bay.

The nurse took Annas vitals and asked what happened. Alexia explained from what she knew and the nurse looked towards Anna. "Is that what really happened young lady?" Annas eyes widened. This would be her chance to speak up. To finally admit what her brother was. "Well?" The nurse demanded impatiently. Anna nodded. The nurse made some more notes and summarily dismissed their existence with a "The doctor will be in momentarily", pulling the puce colored curtains shut around the bed.

Anna looked around the sparse space. A few monitors on rolling carts with drawers, many cords hanging on the wall around and behind the bed, and a large metal roll cart were all that were there besides bed and a single chair. Behind the curtain she could see the bump and bottom edge of what she assumed was a trash can. This was the first time in years she had been to the ER and just like last time she felt very out of place. Like she didn't belong here. Like she was faking her need of the assistance. She could hear a woman at the far end of the ward screaming, and a child crying quietly somewhere nearby. It dawned on her that here while everyone was in the same room technically, everyone was segregated fully. She assumed it was for the premise of privacy. There was quiet bustling and the curtain seemed to shift slightly each time someone walked past.

After several minutes, though it felt like close to an hour, a tall man who looked exhausted and rather displeased to even be there strode into her little area. His glasses were sitting slightly crooked on a nose that had seen too much sun and his salt and pepper hair was cut short, slightly longer on the top than down by his neck. His broad shoulders looked weird on his otherwise wiry frame. "I'm Dr. Davis, the attending physician tonight." Was all that he said before beginning to examine Anna. She flinched when he first touched her wrist, checking her pulse for himself. His eyes narrowed slightly as she did. He checked her heart, breathing, and ears before finally starting to probe gently at her jaw. She barely kept from screaming in pain when he pushed lightly at her lower jaw. As he was examining her, the short nurse was back, looking even shorter next to the doctor.