Disclaimer:  The characters of Emergency! do not belong to me.  Just having a little bit of fun.

Daybreak

By:  Vanessa Sgroi

The alarm clock stated to buzz, and the woman in the bed rolled over with a groan.  One eye popped open to glare at the offending instrument.  Her hand shot out from beneath the sheet and hit the button, silencing the noise.

With a sigh, Dixie McCall pushed back the lavender sheet, sat up, and snapped on her small bedside lamp.  A soft pinkish glow filled the room.  Dixie’s long blonde hair fell in a tangle down her back.  Rubbing the sleep from her eyes, she stood and stretched; the hem of her silver silk nightgown settled down around her ankles.

Dixie pushed her feet into a pair of soft slippers and headed for the bathroom.  After answering nature’s call, she twisted the knobs of the shower and adjusted the water temperature.  Slipping out of her nightgown, Dix hung it on the hook behind the door and then stepped into the shower.  The hot water was sheer pleasure.

As she shampooed her hair, the blonde nurse thought back to her voice class last night.  She hummed one of the tunes they’d practiced.  She’d always had a good singing voice, but six months ago on a whim she’d decided to take voice lessons.  Each class had been fun, and she’d learned to cultivate her talent.  The end of the class was coming soon, and the six students were scheduled to give a charity performance at the Red Carpet Auditorium.

With a cup of coffee calling out to her, Dixie hurriedly finished her shower.  After drying off and running a comb through her wet locks, she threw on her robe and made way for the kitchen.  Along the way, she stopped at her fish tank.

“Hey, Jack.  Hey, Jill.  Smooth sailing today, I see.  I’m still trying to talk the management into letting me get a cat.  You two would like that, wouldn’t you?”  As she greeted her two fish, she opened their food can and sprinkled a pinch in the water.  Leaving them to their breakfast, she strolled to the kitchen.

Within a few short minutes, coffee was brewing on the counter.  The heavenly scent filled her apartment.  While the French roast was brewing, she reached for the loaf of bread to make a couple of slices of toast for breakfast.  Noticing the little patches of green dotting the bread, she groaned.

“Ah, shoot, I forgot to stop for fresh bread last night.” 

Tossing the bread in the trash can, Dix pulled open her cupboard door and grabbed a bowl.  From another cupboard over the stove, she grabbed a box of corn flakes.  After dumping some in the bowl, she pulled the milk carton from the fridge.  With a sinking heart, she poured a trickle of milk over the dry cereal.

“And milk.  I needed milk.”

Deciding that it was easier just to grab something at the hospital, she poured a large mug of freshly brewed coffee and returned to her bedroom.  She sat the mug down on her dresser and pulled a white uniform from her closet.  As she donned her underwear, then stockings, and finally her uniform, Dixie’s mind was filled with thoughts of the coming day ahead.  A day that promised to be packed full of paperwork and patients.  In the emergency room at Rampart, there was rarely a dull moment.  And if there was, there was always a stack of paperwork to catch up on.

In stocking feet, the blonde nurse returned to the kitchen for more coffee and then padded into the bathroom carrying her cup.  Dixie applied her make up with a light hand.  Then pulled her hair dryer out from under the sink and dried her long hair.  After a quick brushing, she twisted it into a smart bun at the base of her neck.  She grabbed her white cap and arranged it carefully.  With a sigh, she pushed the last bobby pin in place to secure it.  A glance at the clock on the wall told her that it was time to leave.

Finishing the coffee while she donned her most comfortable shoes, she walked to the kitchen and deposited her mug in the sink.  After turning off the coffee maker and shutting off the lights in the apartment, she grabbed her navy blue sweater and her purse, pleased to here the jingle of her car keys in the sweater’s pocket.

Dixie pressed the lock button and pulled the door shut behind her.  As she walked down the hallway, she caught herself smiling and humming as she thought of her coming debut at the Red Carpet Auditorium.

I wonder if Kel would like to go with me that night.

* * *  The End  * * *

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