Free Prisoner in Time (Time travel) by Christopher David Petersen

corner.
     
    “Forceps, retractor,” Dr. Warner said in a hurried voice.
     
    Quickly, Nurse Booker handed him the instruments.
     
    Using his forceps, he pulled back the triangular flaps of the dural membrane and secured them in place with the retractors. With blood now freely flowing from the gaping hole, the source of the bleed virtually unknown, and the patient’s vitals continuing to fall, time and opportunity were quickly slipping from his grasp.
     
    “I’ll take the suction, you work the irrigation,” Dr. Warner said to Dr. Fullerton. “We need to clean out these clots and find the bleeder… NOW!”
     
    Dr. Warner took the suctioning wand from Dr. Fullerton. Using his forceps, he began to pull at the massive clot that covered the opening. As smaller clots pulled off from the main clot, he sucked them up with the wand. Breaking down the massive hematoma, he began to catch glimpses of the brain tissue underneath.
     
    “Irrigation,” Dr. Warner called.
     
    Quickly, Dr. Fullerton pointed another plastic wand at the clot. He depressed a button and released a flow of saline into the opening. Pointing the saline irrigator directly at the blood clot, the force of the water began to break it apart in small clumps. As the saline flooded the opening, the small clots drained out and were collected by suction. With the two doctors working together, the large gelatinous clot was nearly gone.
     
    Watching the computer screen, the area just worked showed an absence of material. Beyond the cavity, hidden to the naked eye, the computer image showed more clotting. Using suction, Dr. Warner began to draw out the clot from areas hidden under the skull. Working the wand under the edge of the opening, large areas of the massive clot began to be drawn out. Within minutes, the two doctors had once again cleared away large areas of the hematoma.
     
    Dr. Warner watched the saline enter the cavity and flush particles into the suction wand. As the color of the flow changed from red to clear, then back to red again, he knew the brain was still hemorrhaging. Concentrating on the larger area of discoloration, he began to test for bleeding. As the water flushed clear, he waited for the color to flow red. As it did, he placed cotton batting over the suspected area and watched for a stream of blood to darken.
     
    “Dammit, I thought we had it,” he responded in a disappointed tone.
     
    Leaving the cotton batting, Dr. Fullerton flushed more saline into the opening. As the clear flow turned back to red, Dr. Warner laid another piece of cotton over the suspected area. Both doctors watched intently.
     
    Suddenly, the cotton batting began to change to red. Dr. Fullerton poured more saline over the area to flush the cotton clear. Again, the cotton turned a bright shade of red.
     
    Using his forceps, Dr. Warner picked up the end of the cotton batting. Instantly, a tiny stream of blood erupted from a large vein. Dr. Fullerton pointed the saline over the area, then pulled it away. Again, a tiny stream of blood began to flow.
     
    “Got it… there’s the bleeder,” Dr. Warner shouted excitedly.
     
    “Good work,” Nurse Booker responded instantly.
     
    “I need the bipolar Bovie, stat,” Dr. Warner said anxiously.
     
    Nurse Booker handed him the cauterizing instrument, shaped like a pair of large tweezers. Quickly, he moved them to the opening and placed the two front points on each side of the bleeding vein. He energized the tip and instantly cauterized it. Dr. Fullerton flushed saline over the area once more. Moments later, the area flushed clear.
     
    “I think we got it,” Dr. Warner shouted excitedly.
     
    “Great job, doctor,” Dr. Fullerton responded.
     
    Loud and disturbing, the unmistakable sound of flat-line sounded from the cardiac monitor.
     
    “Shit, flatline!” Dr. Warner shouted. “Push another amp of epinephrine. Charge the paddles to fifteen.”
     
    Nurse Holder rushed to the defibrillator and set the