“Hold my hand.  They don’t want to give me anything for the pain in case I need surgery.  God it hurts.  Do you think it needs surgery?”

“Can’t tell, I’m not a doctor.”  He lied.  He knew there was no way that leg could be fixed up without some surgery.  He suddenly realized he had told more lies tonight than he had in months.  And he could justify every one of them.

The nurse looked up, “When did you last eat or drink?”

He looked at his watch.  “Just before nine we got coffee.”

The nurse laughed, “Police officers getting coffee.  It figures.  So that’s just over three hours.”

“Yes.”

While they were talking a technician wheeled in a portable x-ray.

“I hate to ask this but are you possibly pregnant?”

“Not unless it is an immaculate conception Penny quipped.”  She was feeling bad enough to be a little testy.

“OK, we need to get some pictures of your leg for the doctor.  Just lay still, the nurse and I will move you as carefully as we can.”

While the nurse lifted Penny’s leg the technician carefully slid the plate under it.  She positioned the machine and they all stepped out of the room.  Several more pictures were taken covering all of Penny’s leg and the right side of her pelvis.

That finished, the technician left the machine and carried out the films.  About 10 minutes later she was back.  The doctor wanted two more pictures of the area just above the knee but before they were taken the nurse gave her an injection in her hip.  The tech left again.  This time the doctor returned with the technician who took the x-ray.  The doctor stayed.  The technician wheeled the machine out of the room. 

The doctor was holding the films.  “I’m am ER general surgeon, I was here when you came in.  If this was just a flesh wound I would have done the surgery.  I’ve asked a vascular surgeon and an orthopedic surgeon who were already here to see you too.  They will be here in a few minutes.  In the meantime I have asked the nurse to give you a shot to reduce the pain a little.  Before she could ask a question the nurse was sticking a needle into her hip. It stung.