TEN
Nancy walked into the room the next morning to find the two of them still asleep. She knew the intern would be making his rounds soon and went to wake Chris. As she got closer to the bed, Vin started coughing. Chris was awake instantly and supporting him. The coughing fit was a bad one, and Vin pulled off the oxygen mask."Easy, Vin," Chris said, rubbing his back and Vin quieted.
"I think I'm going to be sick," Vin said in miserable voice as he lay back.
"Hang on," Nancy said as she hooked the NG tube to suction.
Vin began to relax as he recovered from the fit. Chris was just thankful the nerve block was still working. He didn't know how Vin could stand the pain from coughing without it. Nancy went about her business taking blood samples and checking his vitals.
"His fever hasn't dropped at all," she commented. "That's unusual. The antibiotics should have been helping. After the intern comes to check on you, that chest tube will have to be drained. I want to try to get it done before the nerve block wears off. OK, Vin, let's get this mask back on."
"Don't want it," Vin complained, turning his face away.
"Vin, you need it," Chris said as Vin struggled to push him away.
"NO!" Vin yelled, swatting Chris with his right hand.
"It's alright, Vin," Nancy said in a calming voice. "You can leave it off for awhile."
"I'm sorry," Vin said in a small voice. "Don't feel so good."
"That's an understatement," Chris said, wiping the sweat from his face.
"Intern Thompson will come by soon and check on you," Nancy said as she headed for the door. "I'll be back after he's finished."
"I'm sorry, Chris," Vin said after she left.
"Whatever for?" he asked as he sat on the bed and pushed his sweat-dampened hair off his face.
"For being such an asshole."
"You're sick, Vin. You're entitled," he said with a smile as he kissed him on the forehead.
"I reckon."
"I know you hate being sick. And you hate being fussed over, but let me."
"How are you feeling? Anybody check your stitches?" he asked as he reached up to his chest.
"They're fine," Chris said capturing his hand. "Nancy checked them. She pulled your records and mine, so we aren't going to get away with anything."
Chris wet a cloth and began to wipe him down. He watched as Vin closed his eyes and tried to relax. Chris could tell his breathing was a little more labored, and he coughed a few times.
"Come on, Vin, put the mask back on," Chris coaxed.
"Alright," Vin sighed.
Chris placed it over his mouth and nose, and Vin took a deep breath. He could see the medication in the oxygen made his breathing easier. Chris continued to apply the cool cloth to his fevered skin. A half hour later, the intern walked in, followed by Nancy. Chris turned to face him so he could keep an eye on him. Vin watched him as he walked over to the bed.
"So, Mr. Tanner, I see the antibiotics aren't working," he commented. "I think I'm going to try a new drug on you. Its called Clindomycin. It's been very effective in fighting infections. The nurse tells me she is going to get you in the chair to drain the chest tube. She can switch the antibiotics then. Now let's check you out the rest of the way."
As with the day before, he was very abrupt in his actions. Chris felt like he just wanted to be finished as fast as he could. He gave Nancy some instructions and left as quickly as he came.
"I'm getting the feeling he doesn't like me," Vin said through the mask.
"It's not that," Nancy replied. "They keep the interns fairly busy. I will be going off duty soon, so I will introduce you to my replacement. She'll help get Vin in the chair. Vin, are you still feeling nauseous?"
"No, I'm OK now."
"Alright then, let me unhook the NG tube."
She turned off the suction and unhooked everything. She went out the door to get the new antibiotic and the other equipment. She came back a few minutes later followed by a dark haired nurse with brown eyes.
"Chris, Vin, this is Miranda. She's my replacement. I'll be back again tonight. I'm just going to give her a hand getting you in the chair."
They maneuvered Vin to the side of the bed and sat him up. Chris held him in place as they transferred all the tubes to the side of the bed. Chris was grateful to the intern for one thing. With the nerve block still going, Vin wasn't in as much pain as he had been the last time. They moved Vin into the chair, and the nurses hooked the tube to the bottle on the floor.
"Alright, Vin, I'll be back tonight. Miranda will take good care of you."
Vin leaned back on the chair and tried to get comfortable.
"Vin, before you get comfortable, can I do your chest therapy?" Miranda asked.
Vin was tired and just nodded. She began to clap her hands along his side just below the chest tube. Even with the nerve block, he could still feel it. He squeezed Chris's hand to try to block out the pain. Miranda noticed and hit the button on the morphine drip three times. She continued the therapy on his chest. When she was done, Vin was breathing a little faster. When she finished, she turned to Chris.
"Chris, can you come support Vin against you so I can do his back?" she asked.
Chris moved in front of Vin and pulled him forward. Miranda began clapping on his back, and Chris could feel Vin tense. He could feel his rapid heart beat. He stroked his hair to comfort him as Miranda finished the therapy.
"Alright, Vin, all done. You can lean back now and relax. I'm going to give you the new antibiotic now. Hopefully, this will bring down your fever."
Chris liked both the nurses. They told Vin exactly what they were going to do before they did it. Vin relaxed against the back of the chair. Chris stood close by in case he needed him. Miranda came back with another plastic bag filled with a clear liquid. She rubbed the alcohol swab on the connection for the IV, then inserted the connection for the other liquid. The antibiotic was now piggybacked onto Vin's IV.
"OK, I'm going to leave you for a few minutes," She said smiling. "I'll be right back."
"You OK?" Chris asked.
"I'm alright," Vin said taking off the mask. "Except my throat is so dry from this stupid thing."
"Nancy said no fluid because of the nausea."
"I know," Vin sighed.
"Everything OK?" asked Miranda when she came back in.
"My throat is really dry," Vin said.
"I can imagine," she said. "Chris, why don't you run down to the gift shop and get him some hard candies?"
"I don't think....." he began but didn't finish.
"He'll be just fine," she said as she ushered him to the door.
After Chris left, Miranda draped a blanket over Vin's legs. She checked the bottles and tubes.
"Vin, I have to go check on a few things. You'll be alright here by yourself. Don't go anywhere."
"Where would I go looking like this?"
"Well I heard they're shooting a horror movie down the street."
"Thanks," Vin said with a smirk. She laughed as she went out.
+ + + + + + +
Chris walked out of the gift shop and headed for the elevator. He got Vin some lollipops. He walked past the main reception area just as Buck walked in the door.
"Hey Chris," he called. "Junior must be feeling better if you left his side."
"Well, his fever is still high, and they just hooked him up to that torture device of theirs," Chris said as they continued to the elevator. "His throat was dry, but they won't let him drink anything. The nurse sent me down here to get him some candy to suck on."
"Poor kid," Buck said in sympathy. "The guys all sent me over with a few gifts."
"So, how did you get to be the one to visit?" Chris asked as they got in the elevator.
"We drew straws and I won," Buck said with a smile.
The elevator stopped on Vin's floor, and they got out. They walked to his room, and Chris opened the door. The sight that greeted them was a shock. Vin was lying on the floor on his stomach, convulsing. His arms and legs were thrashing wildly.
"Shit!" Chris screamed as he rushed to Vin's side.
"NURSE!" Buck yelled loud enough to wake the dead.
Miranda and another nurse ran into the room. When she saw Vin, Miranda told the other nurse to get the intern and the airway and intubation kit. She went immediately to Vin and made sure his airway was clear. She could see blood in his mouth and knew he had bitten his tongue. The convulsions were coming less frequently by the time the nurse arrived with the airway box, and Miranda sent her out to get a backboard and C-collar. The seizures finally stopped, and Chris watched Miranda suction the blood and saliva out of Vin's mouth while he brushed the hair off his face.
"Chris, do me a favor," she said knowing Chris had to help. "He pulled out his chest tube in the fall. Reach over and grab one of those Vaseline dressings in the blue box and press it against the wound. We need to prevent more bleeding and avoid another pneumothorax if we can."
Buck jumped up and grabbed a dressing off the table and handed it to Chris. Chris opened the package and placed it over the open wound. He didn't press hard because of Vin's broken ribs. Chris watched as Miranda secured Vin's oxygen mask and began to check him over. Vin was quiet now, and Chris could see he was starting to come around.
"What the hell happened?" Chris asked.
"Chris, seizures are not uncommon in patients like Vin who have had a high fever for a few days. We'll check his blood sugar to make sure it's not too low also." Miranda explained.
"Should we get him back on the bed?" Buck asked
"No, I don't know what kind of damage he did when he fell. It's a good thing his head landed on that blanket. I don't see any redness or swelling on his face or head, so I don't imagine he has any head injuries. I'm sure the doctors will want to take some x-rays."
Miranda rearranged the IV. He hadn't pulled it out during the seizure. She adjusted all the tubes for the morphine and the antibiotics. Vin was starting to stir, and she quickly moved into his line of vision. He opened his eyes, but couldn't quite focused.
"Vin, just relax," she said.
Just then the other nurse arrived with the intern. They were followed by an orderly carrying a backboard and a C-collar. The orderly and nurse moved to his side. He placed the backboard alongside Vin, and they got ready to roll him onto it. They decided to roll him to the left since that's the way his head was facing. Miranda had Chris stand out of the way with Buck. She knew he wanted to help, but would only be in the way. She braced his head as they began to roll him.
"Aw hell! My shoulder," Vin cried out.
Once they got him on his back, they could see his left shoulder was dislocated. The rounded end of his upper arm was pushing against his skin. Miranda gently put the C-collar on, and they strapped him to the backboard. Next, she carefully bent his left arm and taped it in place against his chest. The intern stood by and gave instructions. The orderly wheeled in a gurney, and they lifted Vin onto it. He cried out as his shoulder was jarred. They started to wheel him out of the room.
"Where are they taking him?" Chris demanded.
"Thompson wants him in ICU," Miranda explained. "They can monitor him there in case it happens again."
Buck cursed as he followed Chris to the elevator. They knew exactly where ICU was. Vin seemed to spend way too much time there. They got out on the floor and headed for ICU. There were only a few beds occupied, so it wasn't hard to find Vin. They entered the room as they were transferring him to the bed.
"You can't come in here," one of the nurses said.
"It's alright, Carla," Kathy said smiling at them. "They're regulars."
"Alright, I need to replace his chest tube," Thompson said. "Kathy, get me everything I need."
"Don't you think we should get him x-rayed first?" she asked. "And hooked up to the monitors?"
"No, let's do this first," he said.
Chris could see Kathy wasn't happy. She did as the intern said and got the equipment. He washed his hands and put on surgical gloves. Kathy hit the button on the morphine before he started poking around. He took the trocar and tried to insert it into the incision. Vin cried out and would have pulled away, but was still strapped to the backboard. The intern tried again.
"Aw, shit, that hurts!" Vin cried out in agony.
"Get away from him!" Chris yelled in a deadly voice.
"Mr. Larabee, this needs to be done," he said. "Do I have to call security and have you removed?"
"Don't threaten me, son," Chris snarled and advanced on him.
"Easy there, Pard," Buck said, grabbing Chris. "Kathy, I think you better get another doctor up here?"
"I think you're right," Kathy agreed. She didn't like what Thompson was doing to Vin. She picked up the phone and paged the chief resident.
"Nurse, I need your assistance," Thompson said looking at Carla.
"Stay where you are, Carla," Kathy said. Carla was new and wasn't sure what to do.
"Chris," Vin called weakly.
"Easy, Vin, everything's going to be OK," he said as he placed his hand on his forehead.
"Hurts."
"I know," he said wiping the tears from his face. "It'll be over soon."
"What's going on?" asked a young man standing in the doorway.
"Doctor Marcus," Thompson began, "I was trying to put in a chest tube when the nurse called you."
"Kathy," he said turning to her.
"Dr. Marcus this is Vin Tanner. He was just sent up from the floor after having a seizure. He has a severe case of pneumonia with a high fever. He has a few broken ribs from coughing. A chest tube was put in when he was admitted due to a collapsed lung. When he had the seizure, he pulled the chest tube and also dislocated his shoulder."
"Let's see the x-rays," Marcus said.
"They haven't been done yet," Kathy answered.
"And why not?" he demanded.
"I thought it was best we got the chest tube back in," Thompson answered defensively.
"Well, you thought wrong. Kathy, you know what's needed."
"Yes sir," she said. "Carla, call x-ray and have them send up a portable unit. We're going to need chest and spinal x-rays."
"Yes, ma'am," she said and went out to the desk.
"Kathy!!!" Chris yelled as Vin went into another seizure.
Kathy and Dr. Marcus moved quickly to his side. Chris moved out of their way as Kathy checked to make sure his airway was open. With Vin still strapped to the backboard, only his legs were thrashing, but it was enough. Buck stood along the wall and watched in horror as Vin convulsed. He looked at Chris and could see this was tearing him apart. The seizure was a short one and ended quickly. Kathy removed the oxygen mask and suctioned out Vin's mouth. When she was finished, Marcus checked his breathing. When he was satisfied Vin was breathing alright, he checked his other vitals. While he was doing that, Vin opened his eyes.
"Easy, Mr. Tanner, you're alright," Marcus said in a soothing voice. "You just want to be the center of attention, don't you?"
Chris relaxed as Vin smiled. He liked this new doctor and hoped he could take over Vin's case until Dr. Allen came back. The x-ray equipment showed up, and they took the x-rays. Marcus told them he wanted them rushed. After they left, Kathy started hooking Vin up to all the monitors.
"Chris," Vin called when he didn't see him.
"Easy, Vin, I'm here," Chris said as he came to the side of the bed. "How ya feeling?"
"Tired," he sighed and started coughing.
Chris watched helplessly as Vin cringed in terrible pain. Marcus adjusted the morphine drip and hit the button to give him a higher dose of the painkiller. The coughing fit eased, and Vin lay spent. Chris wiped the sweat from his face as they waited for the x-rays. They waited only a few more minutes until they were delivered minutes. Dr. Marcus moved over to the light board and put them up. Thompson followed him over and they discussed them. When they were done, they came back over to the bed.
"Well, the x-rays show no spinal injury, so we can unstrap you from that medieval device," Dr. Marcus smiled. "Your shoulder is dislocated, so we'll have to call the orthopedist down for that. Unfortunately, your lung collapsed again, and we need to get the chest tube back in."
"Don't want it," Vin said in a pained voice.
"I know it hurts, but it's necessary. Let's get you off the back board and as comfortable as we can."
Chris again moved out of their way as they unhooked him from the board. Kathy took off the C-collar, and they slipped the board out from behind him. Kathy hit the button to raise the bed into a reclining position. She arranged all the tubes and wires, and Vin relaxed. He watched as Kathy gathered the equipment and placed it on a table. Thompson started to put on surgical gloves and Vin panicked.
"Not him," Vin cried.
"Easy, Mr. Tanner, he won't be doing it," Dr. Marcus said.
Chris moved to Vin's left side. Kathy smiled at him and gave him Vin's right hand to hold. With him holding his hand across his chest, it would be out of the way. Buck moved to the end of the bed for moral support. Dr. Marcus pulled on some gloves and picked up a syringe. He injected the lidocaine close to the original incision. He waited a few minutes then gently pushed his pinky into the incision. Vin gasped and squeezed Chris's hand. Dr. Marcus was satisfied that the original incision could still be used and pulled out his finger. He picked up the trocar and inserted the plastic tube. Vin cried out, but Dr. Marcus got it positioned without too much difficulty. He picked up the chest tube and inserted it into the trocar. He got it in the intercostal space on the first try and removed the trocar.
"All done," he announced and moved away so Kathy could clean it and tape the tube in place.
"Thanks doctor," Chris said holding out his hand.
"My pleasure," he smiled and shook Chris's hand. "Kathy, I'll be taking over as Mr. Tanner's physician. Dr. Allen is due back tonight. I'll have the orthopedist come set his shoulder. See if you can get his fever down. That's probably what's causing the seizures. Thompson, I'd like to speak with you in my office."
"That boy's in for a tongue lashing," Buck said as he watched them leave.
"He deserves it, too," Kathy snarled. "He wasn't following procedure. How are you doing Vin?"
"Better," he answered. "Not as hard to breathe."
"I bet," she said. "I thought I told you I didn't want to see either of you in here again. How's your leg?"
"Itches," he said.
She pulled up the sheet covering his left leg to reveal the healing wound. She grabbed some moisturizer and poured some in her hand. She began to massage it into the wound. Chris watched as Vin slowly began to relax and fall asleep.
"You're good," Buck laughed.
"I know," she chuckled as she continued to massage his leg. "How are you doing Chris?"
"I've been better," he answered. "What am I going to do with him?"
"I don't know, put him in a glass box?" she laughed. "How are your stitches?"
"Fine. Nancy checked them last night."
"How'd the nurses downstairs know?" Buck asked.
"She pulled Vin's records. When she saw his folder, I guess she played a hunch and pulled mine as well."
"The two of you can give me a hand icing him down."
She went out and came back a few minutes later carrying a bucket of ice. She scooped some into a basin and poured alcohol over the ice. For the next half hour, they placed damp towels on Vin to bring down his temperature. When they were done, Kathy left them to take care of other patients. Buck watched as Chris ran a damp cloth over Vin's face. He took of the oxygen mask and carefully wiped around the NG tube. He replaced the mask and took a seat next to him. Buck had already gotten comfortable in another seat.
"Why don't you try to get some sleep?" Buck suggested. "I'll keep an eye on him."
"No, I'm alright."
"Chris!"
"Don't start with me Buck," he said with a snarl.
"This isn't your fault."
"I wasn't there when he had the seizure. I could have prevented this extra trauma."
"You don't know that, Chris. He still could have dislocated his shoulder even if you had been there. I know what he means to you, Chris, and I'm glad you found someone to love again, but you can't blame yourself every time he gets hurt."
"I don't know what you're talking about," Chris denied.
"We aren't blind," Buck laughed. "We knew the night we came to move the furniture. Well, actually Ezra's the one that figured it out."
"Damn," Chris sighed. "I don't care if everyone knows, but you know how shy he is. He was so nervous when all of you came over that night."
"I think it's kind of cute," Buck smiled. "Don't worry. We won't let on that we know. We'll let Vin be the one to tell us when he wants to."
"Thanks Buck," Chris said. "I guess I will take a short nap."
Buck watched as Chris got comfortable. After only a few minutes, he was asleep. He was only asleep for a short time when one of the monitors went off. They both jumped to their feet as they watched Vin's body begin to convulse. The nurses ran in, and Kathy moved immediately to check his airway. She could tell this was going to be a bad one as Vin's back arched and he stopped breathing.
"Carla, get me five milligrams Valium, STAT!"
Carla went to the medicine cabinet and grabbed the Valium. She double checked that it was Valium before she filled the syringe. When she was finished, she handed it to Kathy with an alcohol swab. Kathy rubbed the alcohol on the IV and injected the Valium.
"Come on, Vin, I don't want to have to tube you," she scolded.
As if he heard her, his body stopped convulsing, and he took a breath. She again grabbed the suction and cleaned the saliva out of his mouth so it wouldn't interfere with his breathing. She replaced the oxygen mask as Vin slowly opened his eyes, but she could see they weren't focused. Carla went around the room and turned off the alarms on the monitors.
"Chris, come over and talked to him," she said. "You, too, Buck."
She moved out of their way, but didn't go far. They both started talking, and she smiled. They were rambling about nothing in particular, but she could see Vin responding. She looked at Chris and knew he was pushing himself. She watched as Vin blinked a few times, and his eyes began to focus. He turned his head towards Buck.
"Hey, Buck," he slurred through the mask. "When did you get here?"
"Been here awhile, Junior," Buck smiled. "You've just been a little out of it."
"Sleepy," Vin said as his eyes began to close.
"Vin," Chris said stroking his cheek.
"Hey, cowboy," Vin said with a smile as he drifted off to sleep.
"He's OK," Kathy assured them. "The seizures take a pretty heavy toll. The Valium is also making him sleepy."
She checked all his vitals again and noticed the antibiotic was finished. She unhooked it and threw it away. She turned to Chris.
"Now, Mr. Larabee, are you going to come peacefully or do I have to drug you?"
"What are you talking about?" he asked.
"I want you to get some sleep," she said.
"She's right, Chris," Buck agreed. "You need some sleep."
"I'm not leaving," Chris said angrily.
"Don't be stupid, Chris," Buck answered in the same tone. "There's five others that are willing to watch Vin. You were only released from the hospital a few days ago. Do you want to end up back in here?"
"I'll tell you this," Kathy argued. "If you do have a relapse, you won't be able to see Vin. You'd be put in a completely different ward. I'd make sure the nurses kept you sedated, because the first chance you'd get, you'd be up here."
"Alright," he gave in. "But I'm not going far."
"Fine, we'll compromise," Kathy agreed. "I'll get a cot brought in here."
She went out and made the arrangements. A short time later, one of the orderlies brought in a cot, and Kathy had them place it along the wall out of the way. After he left, Kathy came over and grabbed Chris's arm. He sighed and followed her over to the cot. Chris reluctantly lay down and got comfortable. He didn't want to do this. He should be watching Vin. He closed his eyes and was instantly asleep. When Buck saw he was asleep, he covered him with a blanket. He walked back over and took a seat next to Vin. Buck sat quietly for awhile until he realized he was starting to doze. The constant rhythm of the monitors and bubbling from the bottles were putting him to sleep. He turned the TV on low and watched the talk shows. He was so engrossed in Jerry Springer that he jumped when his cell phone rang.
"Wilmington."
"Ah, our missing compatriot," Ezra drawled on the other end. "Pray tell, have you gotten lost?"
"No, Ezra, some trouble down here at the hospital."
"What's wrong?" Ezra asked, and Buck could hear the worry.
"God-damned disaster, that's what. Vin's fever is still high, and he went into convulsions. He pulled out the chest tube and dislocated his shoulder. They moved him to ICU."
"Shit!" Ezra exclaimed
"You said it," Buck laughed. He was surprised to hear Ezra use that crude curse.
"Are you OK there for awhile? None of us can get away."
"I'm OK. Chris and Vin are both asleep."
"Alright, keep us apprised of Mr. Tanner's condition."
Buck heard the phone go dead and hung up. He ran his hands through his hair and sighed. Vin started coughing, and he turned back to the younger man. He coughed harder and woke up. Vin pulled the mask off and tried to catch his breath between coughs.
"Easy, Vin," Buck said as he got up and sat on the bed.
"Damn, that hurts," Vin said as the fit passed and he lay back. "Can you hit that button for me?"
Buck reached over and hit the button for the morphine. With his arm taped to his chest, Vin couldn't do it himself.
"Where's Chris?"
"Right over there," Buck said pointing to the cot.
"Good," Vin said as he tried to get comfortable. He moved his left shoulder and cringed.
"I'm going to go find out when that orthopedist is coming." Buck got up to walk out when Kathy entered the room followed by an older man.
"Vin, this is the orthopedist. He's going to reduce your dislocated shoulder."
"Let me just take a look at the x-rays first." He said walking over and turned on the light to view the x-ray. "Not too bad. It's a simple dislocation, except this is going to hurt to put it back."
"What doesn't?" Vin sighed.
Kathy got a sheet and walked over to the bed. She and the orthopedist lifted Vin and put the sheet behind him. They laid him back down, then Kathy hit the button to make the bed recline. Once Vin was lying flat, Kathy hooked up another medicine to the IV to make Vin relax. It would release the medication two milligrams at a time over the next 15 minutes.
"Alright, Mr. Tanner, are you ready?" he asked.
"I guess."
Kathy got on the right side of the bed and hit the morphine pump. She grabbed the two ends of the sheet and waited for the doctor. He untapped his arm, raised it to a 45-degree angle, and bent it at the elbow. He nodded to Kathy, and she pulled hard on the sheet. Vin gasped when the sheet put pressure on the chest tube. The doctor pulled Vin's arm towards him and pushed up on his shoulder socket with his fist. The muscles spasmed, and he couldn't get the shoulder back the first time. He released the pressure and Kathy did the same. Vin lay panting and Kathy gave him more pain medication. They tried two more times before they heard a loud pop and Vin's shoulder was back where it belonged. Kathy released the sheet and they pulled it out from under him. She leaned over and wiped the sweat from his face. The doctor used elastic bands to immobilize the shoulder. Once he was satisfied everything was OK, they raised him back up.
"God, that hurt," Vin panted. Kathy hit the morphine and gave him some more of the pain medication.
"Hey, Vin, how do you feel?" Buck said.
"With my hands," he said with a chuckle.
"Oh, he's feeling good now," Buck laughed.
"He'll probably fall asleep soon," predicated the orthopedist. "I'll leave you now."
"Thanks doc," Buck said holding out his hand.
"You're welcome," he said, shaking Buck's hand.
"Chris must really be tired if he didn't wake up," Buck commented.
"Where's Chris?" Vin asked with a smile.
"He's sleeping," Buck smiled back. "Why don't you do the same."
"Not tired," he said and drifted off to sleep.