Page 18 of Christmas at Watson Memorial

“Dr. Kumari, this isn't a joke. We have protocols that-”

“Who's joking?” Arya protests. “I'm dead serious. I haven't seen any helicopters take off or land. Have you? You're going off some emergency call that coulda been anyone, but you weren't at the helipad. Now those elves… they've been decorating pediatrics, and I'm pretty sure one of them ate half my sandwich yesterday.”

“There's no flight authorization for the helicopter,” Safira continues, ignoring Arya's comments. “Yet Dr. Winters is currently in OR 3 performing a heart transplant and-”

“Magic!” Arya interrupts again. “Christmas magic. Super powerful stuff.”

“It was my decision,” I cut in, dropping my voice to barely above a whisper. “I flew without authorization. Dr. Winters had nothing to do with this.”

“Except, y'know, being in the helicopter,” Arya points out. “Unless that was an elf in a doctor costume.”

“Enough, Dr. Kumari!” Safira snaps.

“The responsibility is mine alone,” I insist, jumping in before things escalate further. “I made the call, I took the helicopter without permission, risking Dr. Winters' life and valuable equipment. I broke protocol, so if someone needs to be fired or charged or whatever you're thinking, I'm your girl.”

“The board will discuss this, but you'll likely lose both your job and pilot's license at minimum. Unauthorized flight in dangerous conditions, FAA violations, stolen aircraft… Not to mention endangering a doctor's life.”

“Technically, Dr. Winters endangers her life every time she tries something simple like making coffee. That woman should not be allowed near electrical appliances,” Arya interjects, tipping her chair back on two legs.

“I repeat, this isn't a joke.”

“No kidding? 'Cause I think it's pretty fucked up that you care more about some stupid protocol or helicopter cost than saving a seven-year-old kid's life. Maybe the hospital needs to check its priorities,” Arya spits, leaving Safira speechless.

I stand and approach the administrator. After two tours in Afghanistan, I'm not about to let some angry bureaucrat intimidate me.

“You want to fire me or take my license? Go ahead,” I tell her, leaning in close. “I don't give a damn. You know why? Because there's a seven-year-old girl in surgery who's gonna live because some of us chose to act instead of hiding behind those fucking protocols.”

“Protocols exist to protect people,” she mutters.

“Right. They exist to protect the hospital's bank account. How much will legal charge to explain to the press why we let a seven-year-old die rather than risk a helicopter?”

“Dr. Kumari, one more word and-”

“Oh, I got plenty more words. Want me to draw you a fucking picture?”

“The board will discuss all of this. Both the unauthorized flight and Dr. Winters' involvement,” she concludes, standing up.

“They already told you Dr. Winters didn't do jack, you asshole,” Arya protests.

“This is a very serious matter.”

“You know what's serious? Telling this kid's mom — who's sitting right here listening to you — that her daughter died 'cause we couldn't be bothered to do anything. 'Cause we were too busy following our bullshit protocols — and we got so many of them that nobody can keep track. So instead of threatening the people who saved her life, why don't you go shuffle some papers or whatever the hell you do all day?”Arya growls, voice rising as Safira retreats, earning applause from the nurses at the next table.

“Worst part is you'll have to write the report as chief of surgery,” I remind her.

“I'm totally writing that elves delivered the heart. Dear stuck-up board members, Christmas magic is real, Holly Thompson's alive, and you can kiss my ass about protocols.”

“Thanks for having my back. I owe you one,” I say, bumping her shoulder.

“Messing with Safira's my favorite hospital hobby. Almost as fun as teasing Alexia about how she undresses you with her eyes every time she sees you.”

My response is cut off by a surgery nurse rushing in, slightly out of breath.

“Dr. Winters is starting to close now. Everything's gone well so far,” she announces, and Vivian breaks down in tears at the news.

“That's Christmas magic for you. Couldn't fail,” Arya says with a wink.

Chapter 11