Chapter 1 The First Shift

Sophia POV My current name is Sophia Turner, I have taken on many names over the years. You may wonder why. I’ve been forced to hide my true identity to prevent my past from catching up with me. I’d rather die than go back to where I was. I’m a nurse at the Gillian Memorial Hospital. I do have many friends, but the ones I do have, are very dear to me and they are the only ones who know my history. I'm a beautiful woman. Strange how I only noticed it today. I wear my hair short and dye it an intense red, which highlights the color of my greenish eyes which have scattered blue specs in them. Many people comment that my eyes resemble those of a cat's. I have a narrow nose which suits the sharp features of my face. I've had plastic surgery and don't mind admitting to it either. This new face is who I am now. Who I was born to be. A grown, independent woman with likes and dislikes, strong opinions, and who no longer takes any shit from anyone. I'm 1.72 m tall and don't wear heels to work, although it wouldn't bother me as I am used to spending anything from 12 to 48 hours, at a time, on my feet. This job is definitely not for just everyone. For work I wear only the necessary. Besides the light blue uniform I always wear my hair pulled back and in a net, short well cared for nails with no nail polish and no make-up or perfume as make-up could be considered unhygienic in a sterile environment and perfume may trigger patients' allergies. What I do, in my free time, is as varied as the variety of patients who enter the hospital's emergency room and their ailments that they come to have treated. I've played RPGs and still do, with vigor, when I have the time to. I love listening to rock and classical music alike. I watch funny videos on TikTok and like to catch up with the news of the day. I'm still studying and just completed an article about special treatments for burn victims. I know I'm just a nurse, but I like to stand out and have more knowledge than people expect me to have. It's a cut above the rest. I've been asked why I'm not a doctor, to which I usually just answer that I don't have the time to study to become a doctor. Besides, I love being a trauma nurse in the emergency room. I'm not perfect but don't care to hide my imperfections. I was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder and Depression. I have, more recently, also been diagnosed with Hypomania. For those who don't know what Hypomania is, it is a condition that causes sudden bursts of over-activity and high energy behaviors. Because of my conditions, I go for psych evaluations twice a week and consult with a psychiatrist once a month. And no, I am not ashamed of it. I know the causes of my issues and know that I can't change anything about it. I just try to accept everything and move on with my life. This is me, or at least, a very short summarized, introduction to who I am. There is so much more that can be said. “Hey! Soph!” “Soph!!” “SOPHIA TURNER!” When I hear my name being called, I turn my head to see my friend, Luciana O'Connor trying to get my attention. She has blonde hair and brown eyes with a body that makes most other people jealous. “You were on the moon again!” I smiled and rolled my eyes at her. “You know I love to ramble!” Beeping catches my attention and I look around to see the red trauma light flashing. I go to the desk at the emergency entrance and grab a tablet. "Excellent! Now, it's Sophia back to Earth!" Luciana's laughter echoes through the room and a few people turn their heads to look at us. "C'mon C'mon! The ambulances, firefighters and police have an ETA of 10 minutes!” I shouted to all the staff in attendance. I already had the app on the tablet open and was reading through what I can expect to be dealing with. Working at Gillian's Hospital meant having access to only the best and latest technology. Our facility was revered as being the best trauma facility in the United States. The report I was reading indicated that we should be prepared for three severely injured patients who suffered multiple cuts and bullet wounds as well as a few more patients with minor injuries. The report further stated that the three bullet wound patients are suffering major blood loss. I sent an order to the blood bank to have O+ and O- bloods delivered to the theaters as soon as possible. I checked that the trauma bays and theaters would be ready and ordered that three theaters be reserved for the patients who will be requiring immediate surgery. The last part of what I did was not my responsibility as a nurse, but I am the head nurse in this section, so I did it anyway. I sent a text to the on duty trauma unit manager, Doctor Victor Benedict, to inform him of what was going on. He is considered one of the best in the country. While the medical team was waiting outside for the arrival of the patients, I was in the emergency room arranging the available nurses into teams according to their abilities. They checked that all the beds were made and all the equipment that may be needed were at the ready in each bay. The only outstanding thing now was the arrival of the patients. And we are ready. While we waited I thought it would be a good time for a little "pep talk". “Listen up everybody!" I called out to get everyone's attention. "It looks like we have an assassination attempt gone wrong! Most of the patients arriving are reported to be collateral damage to the failed attempt! All patients not requiring surgery will be tended to here, by us and the resident doctors!" I pointed to the doctors who were in the room with us. "The patients who require immediate surgery, will be taken directly to the theaters where teams are waiting for them!" “With that having been said, we all know that we are the best trauma facility in the city with the lowest death rate in the country! I don't want to see this rate increase on my shift! So let’s all do what we do best, and then, if all goes well, with no further incidents or disasters, and once our shift is over, John's Bar will have two free rounds for everyone on this shift! So don't let me down!" I completed it. There were whoops and yells of joy from some of the staff at the mention of free rounds, but some, who didn't enjoy alcohol, didn't share their enthusiasm. Then, as an afterthought, I added that I would be bringing my infamous Brigadeiro Cake for the next shift, for those who didn't drink. This appears to satisfy the non-drinkers' qualms. As soon as I’m done, the emergency doors open and the patients start coming in. Time passed quickly while all the wounded were attended to. It takes a long time for colleagues to approach me to either ask for permission or how to do something, when I notice that I already completed an almost 24 hour shift. “Sophia!” As I was going to clock out and change, I hear my name being called. It’s Doctor Miriam Davis calling me. She’s the head physician of the hospital. “I know it's been a long shift for you, but I need to ask you to stay for at least a few more hours." She looks sympathetic as she continues to explain: "The Houroux Family specifically asked that you manage and take care of the patients on the floor they are on.” I take a deep breath, close my eyes and lean against the wall. “My shift was brutal," I tell her. "I hardly stopped to rest.” I honestly need at least a few hours of sleep. “I've already been awake for more than 24 hours and need at least 3 hours of sleep." I said. “I know." she replied. "I did tell them that but they still insisted that it must be you. You can sleep in one of the empty rooms and I'll have them call you in four hours if you're not needed before then." she suggested. I felt Miriam's hand on my shoulder and open my eyes. I smirk as I reply to her. “Okay. I’ll just check in on everything and then I’ll go to sleep.” I push off the wall and proceed to the 42nd floor. Passing by one of the reception desks, I take one of the tablets and enter my password. I check into the system to look at the rotation schedule of the staff on the indicated floor. I smirk. It was so typical of the Houroux Family. They booked the entire floor just for their family and friends. On entering the floor, I noticed several men and women spread along the walls of the corridor, starting from the sides of the entrance doors. Some were wearing black suits where others wore black military-type uniforms. Their stature is clearly indicative of the name they stand for and represent. The Houroux name. “Army of Wolves.” I mumble to myself and roll my eyes as I walk up to the reception desk. I feel eyes following me all the way. Maybe they heard me mumble? These people are so well trained and would notice the smallest, insignificant details. It wouldn't surprise me if they did hear me. “Hey Julie, I need you to make a few changes to this schedule for me, please.” I pass the tablet to the woman at the desk. Julie was one of my closest friends. "Clear!" Her voice was a little shriller than normal and some would even say irritating, but I had gotten used to it by now. “Soph! Thank God!" I hear a male voice call out to me and turn my head in its direction. It’s Joshua Gregory. He’s probably the appointed doctor in charge. He has short, spiky black hair and wears his light gray lab coat over his suit. He has a well built body, which isn't quite as muscular as the guards' who were present. He has more of a model-type build, which, I know he achieves by spending a few hours at the gym every day. “Joshua! If I had known you were on duty, I would have denied the request!” I respond in a joking tone and then hug him and kiss him on the cheek. “Or you would have come here faster!” I roll my eyes and smirked. “At the very least you would have come just because it’s Floor 42.” He continued and I yawn. Getting back to business, I tell him that I already requested changes to the schedule for the floor staff and that I entered a few treatment suggestions for the patients. I handed him the tablet so that he could go through what I've done and make further changes if he deemed it necessary.