Hey everyone! It's been awhile since I've written for you all and I decided to get back into it as a stress reliever during school and the madness that is Covid-19. It really bothered me to watch the episode of Grey's with Derek's death because the whole time I was sitting there like 'this would never happen in real life.' I work in the Emergency Department of a Level 1 trauma center in the northeast and while a few things will have creative license for story's sake, this is going to be fairly true to reality. This is something along the lines of how it would go in real life. Without further ado, Code T. Enjoy!

The moments right before death are highly romanticized. We supposedly hear voices, see apparitions and our life is supposed to flash before our eyes like some kind of projector film spinning off its reels. Sometimes, though, we get bowled over by life when we least expect it. One moment everything is great and then we turn around to find ourselves staring eye to eye with Grim Reaper. There's not always time for final montages of life. I never dreamed it would happen to me.

I watched the ambulance with Winnie and the others drive off in the distance, lights and sirens wailing. I took a moment to breath and the enormity of what had happened started sinking in as the adrenaline wore off. The fire department was still at work on the wreckage, figuring out a plan to remove the damaged cars. One of the cars still smoldered while they worked, the acrid smoke stinging my eyes and making them water. I wiped them and took another steadying breath. They would be okay. My job was done and it was up to the surgeons and staff of the hospital to take it from here. It's hard sometimes to essentially 'walk away' but I was proud of what I'd done. There was a loud 'thunk' behind me and I turned to see a fireman drop a coil of rope on the pavement. Out of curiosity, I approached him.

"What can I do for you, doc?" He was young, maybe mid twenties, with a crooked in grin on his face. A nametag on his turnout coat read Jim Henley.

"Hey, so what facilities are near here? I'd love to call in later and find out what happened."

Jim propped a hand on his hip and thought for a moment before calling over to another fireman just rounding the corder of the rescue engine, "Hey, Cap! Did EMS call Dillard or St. Mary's about the victims?"

"I'm pretty sure it was Dillard. Planning on a follow up?"

I smiled, "Probably. Just for my own curiosity, I'd like to hear how they turned out. I'm no trauma surgeon and I'm hoping there's nothing I missed. I didn't know there were any trauma centers way out here." I gestured to the miles of wilderness around us.

"Dillard's not a level one center, but they'll do what they can," his radio squawked suddenly, pulling him away.

Jim wiped some sweat from the back of his neck, "You did some great work out here today. Makes me glad there are still some good people in this world."

I shrugged, suddenly feeling a bit self-conscious, "My specialty is neurosurgery so there are others that are way more qualified than me to manage something like this but I did what I could. How are you guys doing with the wrecks?"

I peered over his shoulder to watch a rollback tow truck maneuver into place to remove one of the vehicles.

"It's coming along. We should be out of here probably in an hour and a half or so. Once we get the spills contained it's pretty much smooth sailing.

A woman in turnout gear dragged a bag of absorptive material toward a growing puddle.

"Hey Jimmy!" She called out "You gonna talk the doc's ear off all day or you gonna do your job?"

"I'm coming!" James waved a brief goodbye and jogged off.

I turned and started back across the street to where I'd left my car in a hurry. Regardless of the chaos happening on the road, the birds continued to chirp and the breeze continued to slide down the mountain. Discounting the fireman, there was nobody else out here. No houses in the distance and the only man-made thing I could see was the high-tension power line snaking over the ridge on the horizon. I didn't realize in the heat of the moment, but I was lucky help even made it at all. Suddenly remembering my flight, I glanced at my watch. If I hurried, I might still be able to make it. I slid into the driver's seat and started the engine. I gave a quick glance around me and started to ease the car out onto the road.

The ringing of the phone caught my attention and from the vibration, it sounded like it had fallen down between the seats. It was probably Meredith. I'd promised to text her when I got to the airport and she was probably getting concerned by now. I leaned down to wrangle it out, instinctively leaning on the brake. When I'd retrieved it I was about to answer the call when the sound of an airhorn rattled the air and my mind just froze.

I'd stopped in the middle of the road.

The semi-truck barreled down on me and the only thing I could do was to throw my hands up to protect my head and face while everything slowed down for just a moment. Just one. Then I felt my body being slammed and everything around me exploded in screaming metal and a spray of glass. Then the darkness came.