Dana cares for Emma after a particularly terrible shift at the PTMC.
This one-shot deals with a patient physically assaulting nurse Emma so skip this one if you’re not comfy reading about that. All my love to you always, Kate :)
Good day, Enema truthers! (Or Demma, or Evanolan, whatever.) I’m back at it with more age gap yuri *insert cheers from everyone here* and this time I’m writing about a post-shift situation.
A little McEvanolan appears if you squint, though the main ship here is still Demma.
I started writing this before the code hula hoop at the end of the 5:00 episode, and I fear I may have accidentally predicted the future. (I was hoping going over the STAMP acronym at the beginning of the season wasn’t foreshadowing but apparently it is.)
I used this headcanon generator for inspiration!
https://perchance.org/character-headcanon-generator-improved
“Dana instinctively cleans messes in their own house as well as other peoples’.”
This shift had been particularly gruelling. A reluctant mother brought in her son who had gone septic from untreated pneumonia and refused much treatment for a while, vastly decreasing her son's chance of survival from the infection.
Emma was assigned to this particular case with the help of Dana, who was handling more patients than usual today in addition to her charge nurse duties. Anyone in her position would be a little on edge. Though Dana has worked in medicine for over three decades, sometimes the job still has its ways of getting to her… especially when a combative patient comes for one of her nurses.
And the mother of the septic child chose the worst one to mess with (in Dana’s opinion): Emma.
It all happened so quickly, Emma’s braid was yanked by the mother after the nurse had suggested Zofran for the child’s nausea (a totally benign medication, by the way), and the surprisingly strong mom was having none of it. Twisting Emma’s head into the metal side of the hospital bed made a significant amount of noise so thankfully the entire emergency department was alerted almost immediately.
First on the scene was Doctor McKay, as she was treating a patient in the next room over. She opened the door to the exam room so forcefully that it made a slight dent in the wall, briefly startling the assaulting mother and giving Emma a chance to wriggle out of her grasp.
Dana followed closely behind and caught Emma as she stumbled to the ground, holding her tightly in her arms as Emma’s eyes filled with tears. Dana’s voice hurled insult after insult at the assailant as she dragged Emma out of the patient’s room and behind the counters in the central area.
“Shh, look at me, look at me. Where are you hurt?” Dana asked frantically, earnestly scanning for any obvious signs of injury on the new nurse.
“Head, Dana,” Emma whispered, tears falling from her eyes, dotting her skin with moisture. The left side of Emma’s head was beginning to swell, though no obvious lacerations were apparent.
“Cassie, assess her while I stabilize her head,” Dana commanded. The doctor whipped into action, kneeling down next to the both of them.
“Spontaneous eye response, pupils are equal and reactive,” Doctor McKay assessed, shining a pen light into the young nurse’s eyes.
“I’m in the PTMC, my name is Emma Nolan, it’s 2026.” Emma managed to say between sobs. Even in this state, she was still trying to be helpful. Can’t take the nurse out of the girl.
“Good, good. Shake your arms and legs for me?” McKay continued. Emma did so, and both Dana and Cassie sighed with relief. “GCS of 15, overall it doesn’t look too bad… turn your head for us?” Emma obeyed, wincing slightly.
“Point to it for me, dear,” Dana said, still not convinced her counterpart was in the clear for any immediate attention. Emma raised her hand gingerly and did as she was told.
“Blunt trauma to the left parietal area, diffusing a little from the focal point,” McKay acknowledged. Dana nodded along, agreeing. “You can let go of her neck now,” Cassie whispered so only Dana could hear. It took Dana a second to process this, as she was still intently in “nurse mode” as Emma affectionately called it. Emma reached to grab Dana’s hands and hold them there, though, and so Dana’s hands remained firmly in place.
In the midst of their assessment, the three missed all the hubbub that ensued concerning getting the mom out of the hospital and into handcuffs. Thankfully, a reaction from the PTMC security team was swift. Emma was swiftly moved to a patient bed, Dana emphatically at her side.
“Only an hour left in my shift and this had to happen,” Emma joked, trying to lighten the mood. Dana was visibly shaken, perhaps even more than Emma herself.
“I should have been there for you,” Dana whispered, reaching to hold Emma’s hand (the one not connected to the pulse ox reader). A beat of silence followed, only the steady beeping of Emma’s heart rate filled the room.
“I’m a big girl, I can handle myself. I’ve been here for over six months.” Emma attempted to comfort her mentor, squeezing Dana’s hand in hers. This attempt at lightheartedness didn’t really work, as evidenced by the frown that took root into Dana’s face.
“I know. But you’re still my responsibility,” is all Dana could say.
The remaining 45 minutes of their shift passed rather agonizingly for Dana. Every free moment she got, she was in Emma’s room. “Free” was subjective. No moment in Dana’s day was truly free of responsibility, but she moved Emma to a room directly next to her desk so that any slipping into Emma’s room for a brief checkup could be efficient.
Emma was improving minute by minute. She insisted on only taking Tylenol for the headache and Zofran (ironically) for mild nausea. It turned out that Emma was also dehydrated, a testament to how hard she was caring for others–and not taking care of herself as she did so. Dana would lay into her for that another time, though. In her eyes, the poor girl had experienced enough for one day.
Emma started to doze off. But, like the ever-protective person she was, Dana was having none of that. “You can’t sleep for a few hours after a head injury, you know that.”
“It’s been a long day, Dana. I just need a little nap, I promise,” Emma tried to reason.
“Not on my watch, hun. I’ll stay in here and talk with you to keep you awake.”
“Dana, no. You have patients to care for and an emergency department to run,” Emma responded.
“My shift ended, yours has too. I’m off the clock now. Any chaos out there is none of my business until tomorrow,” Dana said, gesturing to the main part of the emergency department. “I’m in here with you, and I’m not leaving.” Emma’s heart melted a little bit, but she still felt inclined to resist.
“Go home, I’m stuck here for the next three hours at least–”
“Absolutely not. You’re not driving tonight after this, I’m taking you home.”
“Okay. Thank you, Dana.” Emma smiled and scooted over, making room for Dana to sit in the patient bed alongside her.
“Not exactly an act of romance, but I’ll take the chance to lay down” Dana joked, climbing in. “Yikes, I forgot how uncomfortable these beds are. No wonder people want to get out of here as quickly as possible.” Emma laughed in response to Dana’s quip as she draped the thin blanket over the two of them.
“I should’ve had you turn off the lights before you got in here with me,” Emma said.
“You’re drowsy already, that’s a definite ‘no.’ Also, the two of us together off the clock is suspicious enough in the workplace, don’t want to add any additional speculation by having us alone in the dark,” Dana chuckled.
A small series of knocks sounded on the door before Doctor McKay let herself in. “Hey, I’m headed home. Just wanted to check on you one last time before I clocked out. You doing okay?” Emma nodded, thankful for the follow-up.
“Can I… give you a hug?” Emma asked the doctor. Cassie hesitated a moment before agreeing, and she walked over to the bed and wrapped Emma in her arms the best she could given both Dana’s proximity to Emma and all the monitoring wires. “Thank you for taking care of me today.”
“Of course,” Cassie said sincerely. “When one of our own becomes a patient it’s rough on everyone. I’m glad I could help.” She released Emma from the hug and let herself out of the patient room with a small wave.
Emma’s observation period is up now, and Dana is preparing to drive Emma home.
“This is all that you needed from your locker, right?” Dana asks, holding up a white floral duffel bag.
“Yes, thank you,” responds Emma, sitting up.
“Still feeling okay? No new nausea or other symptoms?” asks Dana (for about the hundredth time at this point).
“None,” Emma asserts, still happy to answer. She knows that Dana is doing all this because she cares.
“Good, let’s get you home.”
The two exit the hospital doors and a cool night breeze draws shivers to Emma’s bare arms. Dana notices, of course, so she takes off her hoodie and drapes it over the young nurse’s shoulders.
“What happened to being subtle at work?” asks Emma jokingly, though she is grateful for the warmth.
“We’re not in the hospital anymore, sweetheart. Come on, my car’s this way,” Dana says as she steers Emma with her arm across the younger nurse’s back. Dana insists it’s for stability, but Emma thinks it’s more to comfort Dana than to provide much physical support to her.
“Come on, honey. You’re safe now,” Dana tells Emma as they get situated in the older woman’s car. It smells lived in, not dirty but not brand new. Emma sinks into the cloth seat and drums her nails on the center console, focusing on the feeling of the leather on her palms.
“I want to talk about it. Is that okay?” Emma asks, not quite meeting Dana’s eyes.
“My house, please. I’ll make you some coffee if you’d like” Emma insists.
“You have had an absolutely shitty day. Nothing for me. I promise,” Dana answers as she starts to back out of her parking spot. She twists her body into the middle of the car watching as she slowly starts the car in reverse; Emma finds her closeness comforting.
They reach the intersection to turn out of the hospital parking lot and Emma gives the appropriate directions to her apartment, putting them in Dana’s phone. Dana’s been there before, but doesn’t know the route by heart yet. It’s only a ten minute drive and Dana notes this to Emma, promising that it’s not out of her way to drive the younger nurse home… especially after the day Emma’s had–the day they’ve both had.
Emma directs Dana to park in her designated spot since her car won’t be occupying the space tonight, and they gather their respective bags. Well, Emma tries to grab hers but Dana is too quick.
“Nope, I’m on bag duty today,” Dana says before Emma can protest. This is in reference to what Emma does sometimes to Dana after a shift that’s been hard on her joints–her back, particularly. Usually Emma would fight to say that she can handle herself, but the day has worn her down to practically nothing.
She wordlessly leads Dana into the elevator and presses the button to her floor, the elevator doors enveloping them in this enclosed space together. As the elevator starts to rise, Emma leans her head against Dana’s shoulder and wraps her arms around the older nurse. Neither of them say anything, they don’t have to. They both watch the number on the elevator climb until floor 6–Emma’s floor.
The door opens and a cool breeze hits the pair as they step out into the empty hallway. They walk more slowly than usual, Dana making sure to carefully analyse Emma’s steps in case she starts to stumble. Upon reaching Emma’s front door, Dana automatically retrieves Emma’s keys from the front pocket of her duffel bag and unlocks the door herself.
“I don’t need to be babied, Dana,” Emma insists as they enter the apartment.
Dana sets their bags on the floor next to Emma’s couch and responds: “I know you don’t. But I’m here and I can help, so let me.” The younger nurse stands in her entryway still, debating whether to change her clothes and climb into bed or just call it a night by letting the couch absorb her tired body.
Deciding for her, Dana opens her arms invitingly. Like a magnet, Emma walks over to her and relaxes into a kiss worth a thousand words. “Work clothes off, yeah?” Dana asks quietly. Emma nods against Dana’s shoulder and begins to lead Dana to her bedroom. A fresh clothes basket lies on top of Emma’s bed. (She meant to put away her clothes before she left this morning but didn’t get a chance to do so.)
“I’m sorry–” Emma starts, but Dana is already opening her dresser drawers and placing her clothes in their designated spots. “Dana, stop!” Emma raises her voice slightly and Dana pauses.
“Let me. Your pink sweatshirt with the flowers on it, do you want that one?” That’s Emma’s favorite so she reluctantly nods. Dana sets it aside as she finishes placing the rest of Emma’s shirts into the drawer. “Pajama pants, obviously.” Dana states matter-of-factly, placing the blue and pink plaid fabric next to the sweatshirt. Lifting up an uncharacteristically navy t-shirt from the pile, Dana starts laughing. “I was looking for this shirt, you know!”
Emma starts to apologise, but Dana cuts her off: “Navy looks beautiful on you, sweetheart. Want to wear this one now?” A small smile and a nod tells Dana all she needs to know. “Here, the makings of your comfortable outfit. I’m going to put on my street clothes, too,” Dana says. “Think about taking all the stress off in addition to your clothes. You’re no longer ‘Nurse Emma’ anymore,” Dana does little air quotes and draws a giggle from Emma. “You’re just mine for now. Is that okay?”
Emma's eyes can’t help but start to fill with tears again, so she kisses Dana again.