EIGHT
Chris grabbed Vin around the waist and took him over to the bed. Vin lay down and curled up into a tight ball. Chris could see he was shivering, so he covered him with a blanket. He went into the guest bedroom and grabbed a pair of sweats and a shirt. When he came back into the bedroom, he could hear Vin coughing. He quickly got dressed and walked over to Vin to help him sit up. He noticed blood on the pillow he had been lying on. Vin moaned and tried to push him away."Come on, Vin," Chris coaxed. "I'm taking you to the hospital."
Chris sat him up and got him dressed. He went to the bathroom and grabbed a towel. When he came back, he wrapped a blanket around him and half carried him out to the Ram. He bundled him into the passenger seat and handed him the towel. He reached over and buckled him in. Chris walked around to the driver's side and climbed in. Vin started coughing into the towel and was having trouble catching his breath. Chris reached over and pushed his sweat-soaked hair out of his eyes. Vin gave him a weak smile and leaned back in the seat. When he did, he put his hands in his lap and Chris could see blood on the towel. Chris pulled out of the driveway and headed for the hospital in Four Corners. There was a small hospital close to the house, but he decided the doctors knew Vin in Four Corners. Chris was glad it was early in the morning and that there was no traffic. Halfway there, Vin started coughing again, and Chris winced. He could see this was hurting the younger man, but there was nothing he could do. After what seemed like an eternity, he pulled in the hospital parking lot. He parked the SUV and walked around to get Vin. He opened the door and reached over to unbuckle the seat belt. He looked into Vin's eyes and knew something was wrong.
"I'm gonna be sick," he slurred.
Chris barely got him out of the Ram when Vin threw up. He held him until he could feel the spasm pass. Vin straightened up, and Chris held him around the waist as he reached into the Ram to get the towel. He handed it to Vin who wiped his mouth with shaking hands. Chris wrapped the blanket around him, and they walked to the doors. They opened automatically, and they were greeted by chaos in the emergency room. Chris guided him to the desk and got the attention of one of the nurses.
"I need some help here," he said.
The nurse looked up and saw the flushed pallor of the young man he was holding. She quickly came around and helped him get him into one of the ER beds. She pulled the curtain around them and took his vitals. His blood pressure 85 over 40. She shook her head and checked his pulse. It was fast at 120 beats per minute. When she checked his temperature, it was 104 degrees. She put a pulseoximeter on his left middle finger, checked his oxygen saturation, and found it low. She hooked up a nasal cannula and placed it under his nose and around his ears. She set it at four liters. With his low blood pressure, it was procedure to start him on IV fluids. She went to get what was needed. Vin started coughing and opened his eyes. He tried to curl on his side, but Chris stopped him.
"Easy, Vin, just lay back," he said as he pushed him against the bed.
"Gonna be sick," he protested.
Chris searched frantically around the room for something to use. All he could find was the wastebasket and he grabbed it just in time. The nurse came in to find Vin throwing up into the basket. When the spasm passed, Chris helped him lie back. The nurse shook her head and came over to start the IV. She took his left hand and swabbed some alcohol on the back of it. Vin winced as she tried to insert the needle in a vein. She missed and had to try again. She also missed the second time. She went to try for a third time, and Vin pulled his hand away.
"I'm sorry, Mr.?" she apologized.
"Tanner," Chris answered.
"You're dehydrated, and I can't find a vein," she explained.
"Don't want it," Vin whispered.
"You don't have a choice," she said and grabbed his hand.
He tried to fight her, but was too tired. The struggle started another coughing fit. This one was really bad. Chris held him until it passed and he lay his head against Chris's chest. The nurse took his hand while he was catching his breath and found a vein. She started the IV and taped it in place.
"I'm afraid all of the doctors are busy at the moment," she explained. "There was a big fire down at one of the warehouses. A lot of people were trapped, and some of the firemen were injured. One of the doctors will be in as soon as he can, but it's going to take awhile."
She left the room, and Chris sat on the bed next to Vin. Vin coughed again and curled up in a miserable ball with his head on Chris's thigh. Chris grabbed the blanket and tucked it around Vin who was shivering. When he was done, he stroked Vin's hair and looked at his watch. It said 5:00 A.M. He reached in his pocket and pulled out his cell phone and dialed Buck's number.
"This better be good," said a disgruntled voice on the other end.
"Buck, I need, " Chris began, but didn't finish.
"Where are you?" Buck asked. He had heard the tone of Chris's voice and knew something was wrong.
"Four Corners Mercy Hospital."
"Hang on. We'll be right there!"
The line went dead, and Chris closed the phone and put it back in his pocket. He leaned back on the bed and tried to get comfortable. He'd almost found a spot when Vin started coughing again. When he was done, Chris took one look at his face and grabbed the basin the nurse had left. Vin retched, but there was nothing left in his stomach but bile. When he was done and Chris had wiped his mouth and face, Vin wanted to curl up against him again. Chris decided that it would be better if he sat up. Vin protested, but once he was up straight, Chris could see he was breathing a little better. Chris adjusted the oxygen back under Vin's nose and sat next to him again and waited.
"Where's Chris Larabee?" Buck demanded as he stormed up to the desk.
"Let me check," said the nurse behind the counter. "There's no Chris Larabee here."
"I know he's here. He just called me!" Buck said angrily.
"Easy, Buck. Give her a minute to find out," JD said, laying a hand on his arm.
"Michelle, did you check in a Chris Larabee?" the nurse asked.
"No, I just checked in a Mr.Tanner," she said looking at her chart.
"Damn," Buck cursed. "Chris Larabee would have brought him in."
"Ah," she said with a smile. "He must be the blonde that glared at me the whole time I was checking Mr. Tanner."
"That's Chris alright," JD said.
"Come on, I'll take you to them."
They followed her a short distance to a curtained-off area in the back of the ER. They passed a number of doctors busily working on other cases. She pulled back the curtain, and Buck could see Chris on the bed holding a miserable-looking Vin. He was shivering and leaning against Chris side.
"Damn, Chris, what happened?" Buck asked.
"Not sure," Chris said. "He woke me out of a sound sleep coughing. When I went to check on him, he didn't look much better than this."
"Hey, Pard, you look terrible." Buck said as he pushed the hair out of Vin's eyes.
"I reckon," Vin said and started to cough.
Chris prepared himself for another bad one. Vin only coughed a little and settled back down. The nurse came over and checked his vitals. They were pretty much the same, and she recorded them on his chart. She checked the IV, and when she was satisfied everything was in order, she left.
"How long have you been here?" JD asked.
"About an hour."
"What did the doctors say?" Buck asked.
"They haven't seen him yet."
"Why not?" JD asked in concern.
"Big fire down at the warehouses. Bunches of people were hurt. They are a little busy."
JD and Buck pulled up chairs and waited. They all thought Vin had fallen asleep when he started coughing. He doubled over, holding his ribs and gagging. Chris placed the basin by him, but nothing came up. Buck held him from the opposite side and stroked his back. When the fit was over, Vin lay there, panting. Chris waited until he was breathing easier and pulled him back into a reclining position. Buck gave him a hand and was alarmed at heat radiating off the smaller man.
"Jesus, Chris, he's burning up," Buck said.
"Isn't there anything else we can do?" JD asked worriedly.
"I know what I'm going to do," Buck declare as he started to walk away.
"Buck, don't badger the nurses," Chris warned.
"I'm just going to find out if they can give him anything for the nausea."
"Chris," Vin called in a weak voice.
"Easy, Vin. I'm here. So is JD."
"Want to go home," Vin begged.
"I know, but you can't," Chris said looking into his fever-bright blue eyes.
Vin settled against Chris and closed his eyes. Chris looked up to see JD was upset. He hated when the others were hurt and he couldn't help. Chris knew how he felt. Buck came back a few minutes later followed by the nurse. She checked Vin again, but nothing had changed. She made sure the IV was all right and saw it was getting low. She changed it for another one and asked Vin if he still felt nauseous. He shook his head yes, and she said she would see if she could get him something.
"When is a doctor going to check on him?" Buck demanded.
"As soon as one can." She said in sympathy. "They're almost finished with the fire victims, but some were pretty bad, and all the doctors were needed. I'm going to ask if he can have some Compazine for the nausea."
"Jeez, Chris, how did this happen?" JD asked after the nurse left.
"I'm not sure," he said with a sigh.
Buck walked over to the sink and ran the cold water. He found a towel and soaked it in the cold water. He came back and sat on the other side of Vin, facing him. He wiped his face, then continued down his neck and across his chest. Vin opened his eyes and looked at Buck.
"Thanks, Buck," he said weakly.
"Anytime, Pard," he said with a smile.
The nurse came back carrying a syringe. She saw Buck wiping his face with a towel. She came over and rubbed some alcohol on the IV line and injected the Compazine.
"There. That should help with the nausea," she said. "Now we have to try to get his temperature down."
She went out and came back in carrying some ice. She put it into a larger basin then poured two percent isopropyl alcohol over it. She grabbed a bunch of towels and placed everything on a rolling table. She pushed it to the side of the bed, then dropped the towels into the alcohol. She picked one up and wrung it out. She pulled back the blanket and placed the wet towel on Vin's chest. He shivered when she did.
"OK, this is what you have to do," she said. "When the towels get warm, take them off and start over again. Think you can handle it?"
"Yes, ma'am," JD said. Buck and Chris nodded.
"OK, I have to get back out on the floor," she explained. "I'll check back as soon as I can."
JD came over, and they started placing the towels all over Vin's body. He began to shiver and tried to push them off. Chris and Buck grabbed his hands and held them.
"Leave them," Chris said.
"Cold," he complained and started coughing.
This was another bad one, and he doubled over. Chris held him until he was finished. He leaned back on the bed and placed Vin's head in his lap. The Compazine was making Vin drowsy, and he was asleep in no time. Buck and JD continued with the alcohol towels. When Vin started to shiver, they stopped and bundle him in the blankets. The nurse came to check his vitals. The pulseox showed an increase in the oxygen in his blood, but it was still below normal. His breathing hadn't improved. His heart rate was still fast, and his fever hadn't come down. She said the doctors were almost done and left them again. They got comfortable and waited. JD fell asleep in the chair. Buck had his head on the bed and was snoring. Chris fell asleep leaning back on the bed. They were all awakened when the doctor came in and told them they would have to leave. Chris said he was staying. He told Buck to call the others and let him know what was happening. Vin woke up when they sat him back up. The doctor checked his breathing with his stethoscope. He wasn't happy with what he heard and ordered chest x-rays. With all the movement and prodding, Vin threw up. There was nothing left in his stomach but bile, and when he was done retching, he started coughing. He finally calmed down and lay back exhausted.
"This isn't good," the doctor said. "We're going to have to put an NG tube down so he doesn't inhale his stomach contents."
The doctor waited for them to take the chest x-rays. When they were finished, he gathered everything he needed to insert the nasogastric tube. Vin was still groggy from the earlier medication and just watched. The doctor came over to the side of the bed and started to explain what was going to happen.
"Mr. Tanner," he began. "What I'm going to do is put this tube in your nose and down your esophagus so we can empty your stomach since you have been throwing up. We don't want you to inhale anything into your lungs. I'm afraid this isn't going to be pleasant. What you need to do is drink this water slowly while I put this up your nose. You will swallow the tube as you drink the water."
"I don't want it," Vin protested.
"I'm sorry, but you don't have a choice," he said. "We can do this the easy way or the hard way. Your choice."
"No," Vin said and tried to get out of the bed.
"Vin, stop this!" Chris commanded. "If it has to be done, let them do it."
The struggle went out of Vin, and he lay panting. They waited for him to catch his breath. When he was ready, the doctor and the nurse put on gloves. The nurse lubricated the tube, then handed Chris a glass of water. She also placed a basin in Vin's lap. The doctor asked if he was ready, and Vin nodded. The doctor told him to drink slowly. Vin did, and he placed the tube up Vin's right nostril. The doctor kept telling him to drink, and he pushed the tube in. Chris cringed as it went in and Vin had a death grip n his hands. As it got to the back of his throat, he started to gag, but the doctor kept pushing it in. Once it was past there, he told Vin to stop drinking and he pushed it down the rest of the way. The feel of the tube caused Vin to retch into the basin. Chris held onto his shoulders until he was finished, then helped him lie back. The doctor placed a clamp on the end of the tube and placed it on Vin's chest. A nurse walked in with the x-rays and placed them on the light board. He flipped the switch and looked at them. He shook his head and walked back over to Vin.
"I don't know, Mr. Tanner. You don't get things half way," he said. "Your pneumonia is severe. It has caused your right lung to collapse. That's why you're having a hard time breathing. We're going to have to put a chest tube in to reinflate your lung."
"NO!!" Vin cried and fought Chris.
He lashed out at the doctor and clipped him on the side of the head. Chris grabbed him, and Vin tried to struggle out of his grasp. He finally gave up when he started coughing and gasping for breath. He lay back and Chris let him go.
"Please, Chris," Vin turned scared blue eyes to him. "I don't want that again."
"I know," he said pushing sweat soaked hair off his face. "But it has to be done."
Vin lay back and closed his eyes. Chris watched as tears escaped from behind his closed lids. The nurse got everything ready. She helped the doctor get into a surgical gown. When she was done, she helped Chris put one on also. She knew he wouldn't leave, so she didn't ask. She put a mask on him, then helped tie on the doctor's. She got her gown and mask on, then they went to wash their hands. When they were dry, they put on gloves and came over to Vin.
"OK, Chris, is it?" she asked.
"Yes," he answered.
"Alright, I want you to sit him on the side of the bed and hold him against your chest."
Chris sat Vin up and swung his legs over the side of the bed. He repositioned the blanket so Vin was covered. He knew he was shy and didn't want him to worry about anything. Chris took Vin's left hand and hung into it. Vin wrapped his right hand around Chris's waist and hung on for dear life.
"Can't you give him something for the pain?" Chris asked.
"I can't," the doctor answered. "His blood pressure is too low."
The doctor came over and rubbed lidocaine where he was going to make an incision. Vin turned his head away when the doctor asked if he was ready. He nodded, and they got started. The nurse rubbed iodine over the area, and the doctor made a cut by his fourth and fifth rib. Vin clutched Chris's hand. The doctor picked up pipe-like device and slid it over the rib into the space between the lung and the rib cage. Vin screamed from the pain. He tried to pull away, but Chris held him tightly. Chris was shaken from the outburst. The doctor tried to put the tube in, but the hole was too small. He pulled the pipe out, and Vin gasped. He then put his index finger in the incision to make it wider. Vin cried out again and buried his face in Chris's chest.
"Easy, Mr. Tanner, I'm almost done."
When he was satisfied the space was large enough, he took the tube from the nurse and inserted it. Vin cried out again and almost passed out from the pain. If Chris hadn't been holding him, he would have fallen. The last time Vin cried out, it was fairly loud, and Buck rushed into the room. When he saw what was going on, he stopped at the door.
"Oh shit!" he exclaimed.
Chris turned to look at him, and Buck wasn't sure who was hurting more. Chris was as white as a ghost. Buck backed out the door. The doctor finished torturing Vin, and the nurse cleaned up the blood and secured the tube with tape. Chris lay a semi-conscious Vin back on the bed when they were done. The nurse hooked Vin up to the glass bottles, then to the suction. The doctor ordered antibiotics. Since he was allergic to penicillin, he prescribed E-mycin . He also wanted Vin on a face mask with supplemental Albuterol. The doctor washed up and left everything else to the nurse. Chris took Vin's hand and stroked his hair. The nurse left to get a room ready for him. Buck and JD came back into the room and walked over to the bed.
"Damn, Chris," Buck said when he came over. "I can't believe they had to put one of those in again."
"Vin wasn't too happy about it," Chris said.
"What's wrong with him?" JD asked.
"He has severe pneumonia and it collapsed his lung," Chris answered.
"How the hell did this happen?" Buck demanded.
"That's easy to explain," said the nurse when she came back in. "When I checked his records, I saw he was only recently released after a high fever. His immune system was low."
"He got caught out in that cold rain the other day," Chris explained. "He came back in freezing."
"That wouldn't have helped. We're going to transfer him to a room."
A couple of orderlies came in and got Vin ready to move. They pulled up the sides of the gurney and pushed him down the hall. When they got him to the new room, they transferred him onto the bed. Vin cried out when they moved him, and Chris jumped. Buck squeezed Chris's arm and he could feel him shaking. The nurse hooked everything back up and placed the oxygen mask over his face. Vin fought it until Chris talked him into keeping it on. Once the nurse was satisfied he would keep it, on she left. Chris stroked Vin's hair until he fell asleep. Buck looked at Chris and knew this was eating him up.
"Chris, this isn't your fault," Buck said.
"I know," Chris sighed. "Did you get a hold of the others?"
"Yeah," JD answered. "They're coming over."
"Looks like it's going to be another long few days," Buck said