Chapter 2: Hospital
Iris paced the hallway unable to sit still. As she prowled she glanced over at Harrison Wells. While he and Joe had been hit with the same blast it seemed that Joe had been more severely injured. Harrison had been knocked to the ground while Joe had been blasted into a wall. Hartley had fled after he'd hit the two men, leaving Harrison to call for help and try to take care of Joe.
"Iris," Barry said, racing down the hall. Iris rushed to him, hugging him tightly. Hugging his best friend Barry looked to Harrison Wells. "What happened?"
"It was Hartley," Harrison said dejectedly. While he'd picked up a few new cuts and bruises, he emotionally felt worse than physically. "He attacked us, blasting Joe into a wall. I did what I could to stabilize Joe, but there was a lot of damage. He wasn't breathing on his own." Harrison ran a hand over his face, smearing it with dirt and dust. "Barry, Iris, I'm so sorry. This is my fault. Hartley wanted to hurt me."
"Family for Joe West?" A woman stood at the doorway, a serious look on her face and a clipboard in her hand.
"Go ahead," Harrison said with a nod to Barry and Iris. Exchanging a look the two turned and stepped forwards each taking one of the handles of Harrison's wheelchair. "What are you doing?"
"We're Joe's family," Iris said firmly. "I'm his daughter, Iris West."
"I see and you two gentlemen?"
"Barry Allen, foster son, and this is Harrison Wells his partner. He was attacked with Joe," Barry said. He and Iris glanced down at the scientist. It wasn't a new ploy, they'd used it before.
"I see, well if you'd follow me," the woman turned and the group followed. She led them to a room marked "Consultation" and motioned for them to enter. Iris entered first, looking a little confused as Barry moved one of the chairs away from the table. As Harrison parked his wheelchair in the space Barry had just created Iris understood.
"If you'll have a seat please," the woman requested. "I'm Doctor Izzy Jones."
"Is my father alright?" Iris demanded.
"Iris, please let Dr. Jones speak," Harrison said softly. "I'm certain she has a great deal of information for us." While he seemed calm on the surface, Iris could tell from the way Dr. Wells was gripping the arms of his wheelchair that he was worried.
"You're right. Sorry," Iris said. "Please go ahead."
"I'll cut right to the chase. We've managed to stabilize Mr. West," Dr. Jones informed them. There was a soft sigh of relief. "However, there was a substantial amount of damage." The doctor seemed to flounder.
"Yes, I know," Harrison spoke up. "You've stabilized him but how bad was the damage to his spinal column?" A surprised look passed over Dr. Jones's face. "I was present when he was injured. I did my best to stabilize his spine, but I had to keep him breathing." A look passed over Harrison's face and it made Iris reach out and take his hand to offer him support. "Is there any paralysis?"
"Yes," Dr. Jones said bluntly. "There's severe damage at his C4." Iris looked to Harrison to see his reaction.
"That's not good is it," she said, seeing the look on Harrison's face.
"No, it isn't," Harrison said. "At that level of injury Joe probably won't have use of his arms or legs. At that level, he might not even be able to breath on his own."
"Mr. Wells is correct. With your own disability you won't be able to provide the care Mr. West will need. Of course at this point, nothing is definite. There was severe cerebral damage," Dr. Jones continued. "Right now he's in a coma. If he wakes up, then we can begin to determine the extent of his paralysis."
"Wait, are you saying my dad could be a vegetable for the rest of his life?" Iris wasn't sure she was ready for that kind of news. She'd known it wasn't good from reading Dr. Wells's body language, but she wasn't ready.
"Iris, if the damage is at C4 then even if he wakes up, he'll be very limited," Harrison said, gently squeezing her hand. "Now, there's a chance that the damage isn't complete, but he'll still probably need 24 hour care."
"I realize that you three might need time to take this all in but I wanted to make sure you knew what Mr. West will be facing if he wakes up." Dr. Jones looked from one face to the next.
Iris started to cry, turning her face into Barry's shoulder. Harrison let go of her hand allowing her to wrap her arms around her brother and best friend. He sat, watching the two grieve and then looked away, trying to give them some privacy.
"I can take you to his room," Dr. Jones offered. She looked from the young man and woman to the man in the wheelchair. She felt bad for the man since he was obviously hurting but apparently didn't have anyone to support him. "I'm going to have to ask you to limit the number of people in visiting to two. One person may stay the night but I'm afraid we don't provide accommodations and food, drink, and cell phones aren't allowed in the ICU rooms or waiting room." She looked back and forth between the group. The lack of accommodations would be a problem for her patient's partner.
"Barry, Iris, why don't you two go ahead and visit with him," Harrison spoke up. "I'm certain he'd appreciate your presence." Barry and Iris nodded and stood to follow the doctor. "Dr. Jones, thank you for all your efforts." Harrison offered his hand and the woman took it, a little surprised by the firm grip.
"Thanks Harrison," Barry said. "We'll let you know if anything changes." Iris nodded and then the two followed the doctor out.
Harrison sat staring at nothing for several long minutes. Anger at Hartley and himself slowly bubbled over in his mind. Tears started to trickle down his face as he imagined his best friend in a hospital bed being kept alive by machines. It was his fault. All of it. Clenching his jaw tightly he toggled the joystick of his wheelchair and headed out the door. It was time to stop planning and instead take action.
