[center][h1][b][color=a187be]Natasha[/color] & [color=0072bc]Echo[/color][/b][/h1][img]http://thumbnails.cbsig.net/CBS_Production_Entertainment_VMS/2015/05/13/444620355703/CBS_CODE_BLACK_CUTDOWN_master_559134_640x360.jpg[/img][/center][hr][center][u][b]Location:[/b][/u] Apartment -> UCSFMC Emergency Room
[u][b]Interacting with:[/b][/u] Each other and hospital staff, Everyone Via Text, Sam via texts from Tas, Jeje via phone call from Nurse; [@HushedWhispers] [@Turnaround Amy] [@Universorum] [@Xtreme] [@Denny] [@ChaoticFox] [@lopsided] [@Aewin] [@SgtEasy] [@rougeLily]
[hr][/center]

	Tas grumbled as she sat there on the edge of the couch, pulling the towel off her head and making her way back into the bathroom. She was furious at this point, not so much over the fact that Claire had pranked her; but more so over the waste of the mousse. Okay, maybe not as furious as she was letting on to be but she was anything but happy right then. Letting out a sigh she looked at herself in the mirror and began to clean up the mess; washing it off and changing her shirt as she stepped back into her bedroom.

	She had a few appointments this morning at the hospital that she needed to make but with Claires little fridge bomb, she was running late. Her phone chimed and her eyes narrowed as she was welcomed to a picture of herself hanging out the window screaming. [i]"Oh pay back is going to be a bitch,"[/i] she thought to herself as she slipped her shoes on and quickly sent a text to Sam.

[center][b][color=a187be]To: My Man[/color][/b]
[color=a187be]Hey sweetie. Well as you have probably seen by now thanks to that little Irish $*&$@!, I need another mousse... ><!! Anywho, behind schedule now, meet you for lunch with the group? ^^[/color][/center]

	Hitting send she grabbed her bag and slung it over her shoulder, about to stick her phone in her pocket it began to ring. She didn't even bother looking at the caller id as she answered it.

	[color=a187be]"Tas here, what's up?"[/color] she answered as she propped her phone up between her ear and her shoulder, trying to dig her keys out of her bag.

	[color=9e0b0f]"Ms. Brinne? There's been an accident,"[/color] the voice on the other side of the line said. Tas's brows furrowed as she took her phone and switched ears.

	[color=a187be]"What do you mean there's been an accident?"[/color] Tas asked quickly. What did they mean accident? And why would the hospital be calling her to tell her if there was one? She had just gotten off shift, unless it was something major she wasn't due up for rotation for forty-eight hours.

	A sigh was heard on the other end of the line, then a pause [color=9e0b0f]"One Echo Young had you on her emergency contact list. She was in a car accident fifteen minutes ago. She's still en route right now, no word on her condition."[/color] The nurse on the other end of the line went silent. 

	Tas's heart plummeted into her stomach as a lump formed in her throat. She froze in place, trying to process everything. [i]Calm down doc, doesn't mean it is bad, just means there was a crash. She could be perfectly fine,[/i] Tas told herself, though if it was something small she doubted they would call her.

	[color=a187be]"Right, I'll be right there,"[/color] Tas said as she ran out the door, gripping her phone against her ear as she took the stairs two at time and burst through the Cafe, nearly knocking one of the staff over as she did.

	[color=a187be]"Let the ER know I'm on my way, prep center stage just in case,"[/color] Tas said as she hopped in her car.

	[color=9e0b0f]"Will do Doctor, it'll be ready when you arrive."[/color]

	Tas thanked the nurse on the other end of the phone and hung up as she started her car up and peeled out of the parking lot and down the road towards the hospital. Maybe she should have let someone know but Tas wasn't thinking about the others right then, her mind was on Echo and getting there as quickly as she could.

	[color=a187be]"Come on Echo, be alright,"[/color] she said to herself as she weaved through the morning traffic. It didn't take long before Tas had pulled up to the back of the ER and parked, leaving her things in the car, minus her phone that she tucked into her back pocket. Swiping her card she pulled the door open and rushed in, grabbing the first nurse she spotted and asking where the car accident patient was. She was pointed to center stage and Tas nodded before tearing off in that direction. Least they had listened.

	[color=a187be]"Echo?"[/color] she said running into center stage.

	Echo looked like she'd been run over by a transport truck rather than hit by one. Her nose was broken and her face scratched and covered in blood. Her breathing was shallow and wheezy, hinting at a collapsed lung. She looked up to Tas, fear in her eyes. It was obvious she'd been crying. Tas stopped in her tracks, looking over Echo and having to choke down her initial reaction of just breaking down into tears seeing her friend the way she was. 

	After a brief moment Tas went into Dr. Brinne mode, this was no time to get emotional. Echo needed help and the last thing she needed was to see worry in Tas's eyes. Holding her arms out one of the nurses pulled a gown onto Tas and tied it off in the back.

	[color=a187be]"Alright people, we have a potential pneumothorax, get me a chest tube and a scalpel. I need 4 units of O Negative,"[/color] Dr. Brinne said calmly as she stepped over to Echo and took her friends hand.

	[color=a187be]"Hey girl, I told you that driving without enough coffee was dangerous to your health,"[/color] Tas said with a faint smile as she reached up and brushed Echoes hair out of her face and leaned down close to her. [color=a187be]"Listen, I got you girl. Not losing the Yin to my Yang,"[/color] she reassured her before holding her hands out across Echo for the nurse to slip her gloves on.

	[color=a187be]"You know, I bet we could ebay that shirt of yours off now; Splatter Sirens, art work by Echo,"[/color] she teased, trying to lighten the mood. [color=a187be]"Alright, push 120 of Sux if you would,"[/color] Tas directed towards the nurse as she took the scapel. [color=a187be]"Going to be one hell of a pinch Echo but it won't last long,"[/color] she said as she cut away Echo's shirt and made a small incision. 

	Echo let out a loud yelp as Tas made her incision, having a death grip on the bed sheets. Her chest was bruised and she had at least three broken ribs visible. She closed her eyes while Tas worked, tears streaming down her face. Tas looked over to Echo for a second as she set down the scalpel and took the chest tube.[color=a187be]"Almost there girl, just a few more seconds"[/color] Tas said calmly before inserting the chest tube between the ribs and the light sound of a hiss rushed out as the lung re-inflated. Securing it into place she smiled over towards her friend.

	[color=a187be]"Better than that crazy straw I had to use last week,"[/color] she said as she righted herself.

	Echo looked over to Tas as she finished up. She looked exhausted, having hyperventilated for the first five minutes before a nurse hooked her up to oxygen. Now, she laid still, not even having the willpower to move her head that much. [color=0072bc]"...C-can you call Je....I need to say sorry..."[/color]

	[color=a187be]"You can talk to Je yourself in a little bit, I want to get you up to X-Ray first, see what type of damage we have inside,"[/color] Tas said before turning to the nurse. [color=a187be]"Status?"[/color]

	"Pressure is 120 over 90, she's a mid B right now, pulse Ox at 95% on 6 liters," the nurse rattled off.

	[color=a187be]"Alright, alert Xray we are on the way, let's move people,"[/color] Tas said as she kicked the lock for the gurney into the off position and began to wheel Echo through the hall with the help of a couple of others. [color=a187be]"Time to get your picture taken, remember to smile."[/color]

	"Dr. Brinne, we have someone out front saying there are Miss Youngs father," a nurse said as she rushed over.

	[color=a187be]"Be right there,"[/color] Tas said before looking back over to Echo. [color=a187be]"Gonna go let pops know you need some ice cream, I'll see you after X-Ray okay?"[/color]

	[color=0072bc]"....My dad's here..?"[/color] she asked in a worried voice. She cursed to herself. She'd wrecked his antique Mustang and really didn't want to face him about it, unsure of what he'd say.

	[color=a187be]"Yeah, no worries. I got this. Take a deep breath and relax,"[/color] Tas reassured Echoed as she slipped out of the blood covered gown and gloves, tossing them into a bin before looking back over to Echo. [color=a187be]"I'll be right back,"[/color] she said before she hurried out to the front of the ER to find Echos dad and explain what was going on.

	Upon arriving at the Xray room, Echo looked around nervously. She'd never felt so exposed in her life. So many people could see her, so many strangers. She suddenly wished Je-Je were here and tapped the nurse beside her. [color=0072bc]"Could you possibly call this number and get him to come over?"[/color]

	"Soon as we are done," the nurse said as she wrote down the number and put it in her front pocket. The few there helped to move the gurney over to the X-Ray machine and began to get the images that Dr. Brinne had requested as quickly as possible.

	It didn't take long for Tas to find Mr. Young and make her way over to him; she hated this part, having to tell a family member what was going on but she had at least met Echo's dad a few times. They hadn't ever really talked but he seemed alright from what she knew.

	[color=a187be]"Mr. Young,"[/color] Dr. Brinne said as she walked over to him and shook his hand. [color=a187be]"Listen, before anything else. She is stable,"[/color] she said quickly. It was always the first thing she wanted to let any family member know, if she started with the injuries it never went well. Granted telling a family member anything usually never went well but there were different levels of bad.

	[color=a187be]"She was in a bad car wreck, but she is awake, responsive and even talking. These are all good signs. I have her up in X-Ray right now so we can see the extent of the damage and plan where to go from there. I promise, we are doing everything we can to make sure Echo makes a full recovery from this,"[/color] she said in a calm voice as she rattled off what she knew already. She wasn't about to go into detail about the chest tube or the broken bones yet; that was need to know and patient privilege right then. Echo could decide if she wanted to tell him later.

	[color=a187be]"Right now though, I need you to stay calm. You can't see her yet but I will bring you back as soon as I can, if you would like I can show you to the family private waiting area,"[/color] she added as she looked at him. Tas was in full Dr. Brinne mode and knew she couldn't afford to get personal right then; emotions and medicine never mixed well.

	Echo laid in the bed. The Xray had revealed four broken ribs: one of which had punctured the lung, a broken tibia on her left leg left unoticed until the pain meds lessened the pain in her chest and finally some minor lacerations on her forehead. She also showed heavy signs of bruising around the bridge of her nose and had a moderate concussion. 

	Tas didn't wait around as her pager went off; deciding it was best to have a nurse show Mr. Young to the waiting room as she headed back to the Er to review the X-Rays. They showed no internal bleeding, which was a relief. The lung puncture had caused the collapsed lung but it didn't appear to be a large tear; leading Dr. Brinne to decide to wait and see if it would close by itself in hopes surgery could be avoided.

	Tas checked the time and grumbled, yeah, there was no way her or Echo were going to make the lunch but she wasn't going to tell anyone yet. That was Echoes choice, so she opted to send out a mass text to the group and leave it vague.

[center][b][color=a187be]To:My Peeps[/color][/b]
[color=a187be]Hey everyone, listen something came up last minute; Echo and I won't make it to lunch, sorry :( Will fill you in later.[/color][/center]

	Hitting send, she sent out one more as she made her way back to Echo.

[center][color=a187be][b]To: My Man[/b]
Baby, I won't be making it to lunch, listen I need a huge favor… Wouldn't ask if it wasn't an emergency, can you please use your emergency key, run by my place and pick up some clothing for me and Echo and bring it to the hospital? Long story, I'll explain when you get here. I love you.[/color][/center]

	At the nurses station, the nurse made the call, waiting for someone to pick up the line. [color=ed1c24]"Yes, is this Je? I'm calling for Miss Echo Young, she is in the hospital and is requesting you be here."[/color]

	After being brought back down the elevator where she promptly puked upon exiting it, she was put into a room by herself. She hoped the nurse had called Je-Je. She soon fell asleep. Tas made her way back into where they had wheeled Echo and shook her gently to wake her up.	

	[color=a187be]"Sorry girl, you have  a concussion; I can't let you sleep until we are sure there won't be any bleeding into your brain,"[/color] she said softly as she pulled up a chair and sat down.

	[color=a187be]"Okay, you are going to need a cast on your left leg, we're going to have to set and wrap your chest because of the ribs. Right now you have a punctured lung, but we are just going to keep the tube in for now in hopes it closes on its own; trying to avoid surgery if we can,"[/color] she explained calmly. Taking a small breath she leaned forward and rested her hand over Echo's.

	Echo groaned and very reluctantly opened her eyes, evidently not wanting to do much. She groaned as she looked over to Tas as she explained the various procedures, but went suspiciously quiet when she asked what happened. 

	[color=a187be]"Echo, what happened?"[/color] she asked concerned, Echo was always so careful and from the extent of her injuries Tas knew this wasn't the usual in town wreck, this was high speed.

	She looked away, taking the oxygen mask off of her face, a few tears rolling down her face. All the emotions and the guilt rushing back into her mind. The rhythmic beat of the cardiac monitor sped up rapidly and she began to hyperventilate. Her whole body was done, she was mentally and physically drained but her mind was going a mile a minute.

	Then it all faded out as she lost consciousness. Tas stood up and quickly put the mask back in place as the nurse rushed in to see why the monitors were going crazy. 

	[color=a187be]"Just anxiety,"[/color] Dr. Brinne explained. [color=a187be]"Page Ortho, we need a consult and to get her set soon,"[/color] Tas instructed as she sat back down. She wasn't on shift, she was even supposed to be there today but things change. Leaning back in her seat she kept a close eye on Echo. Resting her hand over Echos she wondered what could have caused this and why the sudden break down, other than fear. 

	Standing she paged a nurse and told her to remain with Echo. The nurse agreed and Tas stepped out; she didn't go far, just over to the family waiting area to update Echoes father and informing him once Ortho had taken care of what they needed to she would be back but that he still had to wait.

	He really didn't, family could go back but Echo was obviously upset and Tas would hold people off until she was ready. Sadly, friends could not come visit yet, which she had a feeling would be a problem; especially if anyone contacted Jeje. Sighing she wandered back into Echos room in the ER and waited for Ortho as she relieved the nurse.

[hr]

	Echo opened her eyes about an hour later. This time, she didn't talk or move, she just laid there feeling the pain from head to toe. The gentle hiss of her breathing through the oxygen mask was the only noise she made. While Echo was sleeping, Tas stayed by her side, having a quick consult with the Ortho Tech to work out the cast and chest bindings.

	Once Echo was awake, Dr. Brinne administered some pain meds now that she was stable enough to actually handle them and to make the moving around during the cast less painful. She wanted to Echo to feel as little as possible without knocking her back out. She wanted her alert so she could monitor her progress.

	The Ortho Tech did not take long, getting her leg cast on; Tas took over for the chest bindings, knowing that Echo would prefer her to do it than some stranger. Dr. Brinne was extremely careful and had a gentle touch when she worked. Once they were done, she had Echo moved to a private room on the third floor of the medical center; she would need to stay a few days for observation to make sure the lung puncture closed up and to make sure there was no long term effects from the head injury.

	[color=a187be]"Here we are,"[/color] Tas said as they wheeled Echo into the new room and Tas opened the window. Plopping down in a seat she pulled up next to the bed she let out a tired yawn and got comfortable. This wasn't the first time she had had to sit with a loved one while they were in the hospital and she doubted it would be the last. She didn't mind. Echo was her friend and if things got overwhelming for her, she had no problem kicking anyone out.