"Listen, Sam. We have to operate. If her appendix ruptures, there is a huge risk it will turn into a peridontitis. And I don't have to tell you, what happens next", Connor explained to his fiancee. Having their own child in the ICU complaining about pain in her stomach, pushed both parents to a new level.
"Are you out of your mind? We don't even know if we talk about an appendicitis here. There are hundred of other options, causing the pain in her stomach. Just to remind you. We talk about our 7 year old daughter with normal blood resultst, that you are ready to operate on an appendicitis she probably doesn't have."
Rhodes shook his head, wiping the sweat from his forehead.
"You know how tricky an appendicitis can be. You don't need high markers to be sure if there is an infection. You can have it, also can be infected without a high level of leukocytes."
Zanetti nervously took a deep breath.
"Connor, we have to make a deiscion by now. What about a bladder infection or gastitis causing the trouble? „
"No."
"How do you know that?"
"She always points to her right side, when I ask about pain."
"Yeah, but there was no sign when I hit the MC Burney point. Look, we can't start an operation, just to exclute an appendicitis."
"It's not what I planed. I think about laparascopy. We're able to see the whole part of her abdomen and it's less risk taking than the classic way."
Samantha sighed deeply. From the look on her face, you can tell she was ready to cry.
Her lips started trembling.
"Hey, look at me."
He touched her hands.
"She's gonna be fine."
Zanetti shook her head.
"I'm just scared", she sobbed, when Connor pulled her into a hug.
"I know. Me too."
Samantha get back to her seat, stroked one of her strands of her out of her face.
"Are you ready for this?"
Connor nodded.
"Sorry, but I'm not sure if I would be a great support on this operation", she said, her hainds trembling full of fear.
"It's okay. I'm gonna ask Halstead to join me."
Zanetti desperately kissed him, folding her hands.
"Safe Katie. You've got to promise me."
CMDCMDCMD
"You were right. Her appendix looks like hell. There is a chronical infection in different areas. See?", Halstead told Rhodes, who turned around when Zavetti entered the operating room without gloves.
Eventually she already heard the news, because she looked at Connor apologetic.
"That would explain her chronical nausea."
"I'm sorry", Zanetti whispered quietly, Rhodes shaking his head.
"Don't apologize", Connor answered.
"Why didn't we notice earlier?"
„Dr. Rhodes, please concentrate on your patient", Will interrupted both parents, to stop them from drifting away.
"Maggie? I need you to prepare the suture. We're ready to remove."
Zanetti watched how they put the equipment on her daughters abdomen, to get the infected part out of her belly.
"You're okay?", Connor wanted to know, when Sam touched her mouth, like she started to feel sick, before she abruptly left the room.
Rhodes turned around in concern, before he concentrated on his work again.
"Reese? Can you tell Dr. Charels to take a look at Dr. Zavetti?"
"Sure", Sara left the operation room.
"See, that's what I meant by operating close family members can be tricky", Halstead told his colleague, who shrugged his shoulders.
"By the way, you're sweating more than usual too, don't you?"
Connor gave him an angry look, while he helped putting the removed part in a bag.
"If you're a father, we'll talk again", Rhodes answered, finishing the stitches, before putting the equipment out of Katies belly button, tightening the suture on her belly area.
"Good work, everybody", Halstead praised the team. Meanwhile Maggie already cleaned the part of her stomach, removing the blood from her skin. Connor put his cloves away, carefully washing his hands.
"Thank you."
"For nothing", Will twinkled, walking to the door.
"Let me know when she wakes up, okay?"
"Sure", Connor agreed, grabbing a caster stool to sit down next to his daughter.
"Alright, she needs 200 Miligram of Panadol", he ordered, grabbing Katies hand, squeezing it and remaining silently on her side for a couple of minutes, until he got up.
"Maggie? She's ready to be transfered to her room."
CMDCMD
Just a few minutes later, Connor got so see something rare.
Samantha was sitting in one oft he break rooms. The curtains were closed and her sniffles disturbed the silence.
He entered the room quietly, carefully closed the door.
"Hey", Rhodes mourned softly.
Sam didn't look up, just continued crying.
He came closer, until he sat right in cross of her.
"She's gonna be fine. The operation went as well as expected."
Sam nodded her head.
"I'm stupid. I could have killed her."
Connor took her hand, squeezed it.
"Hey, don't do that to yourself. It's one oft he trickiest ilnesses. I never had a case like that. A chronical appendicitis is rare, especially in children."
She sniffled, whiped her tears away.
"Sam, you just wanted to protect her from unnecessary pain. I could have been wrong too."
"But you weren't."
"Let's stop thinking about that right now. Just be happy, that we found the reason in time."
At this moment, Zanettis alarm went on. Sam rolled her eyes.
"Damn it. I wanted to be there, when she wakes up."
Connor caressed her back,
"Go. I will get Fromson to cover my shift and stay with her as long as you need."
CMDCMD
"Mommy?", the 7 year old wihimpered, looking around a confused expression on her face.
"No, Katie. It's Daddy", Connor explained to his daughter, sitting next to her bedside, holding her hand.
Her crying eyes focused on her father. She started to relax, when she recognized his familiar face.
"Don't go away", she mumbled , thats when Rhodes stroked her face.
"I will stay as long as you need me. Mommy is on her way, too. Okay`"
He pressed a kiss on her forehead.
"How's your belly? You're feeling better now?"
"It doesn't hurt anymore."
"That's great news."
Katie streched her other hand, tiredly touching Connors face, like she wanted to convince herself that he was still there.
"You're skin is prickly", she whispered touching the part of his one-day stubble.
Connor smiled in relief.
"I know, munchkin."
His eyes met with the bag, April just brought in.
"Let me get you something", he got up, returning with something familiar.
"Look, what aunt April brought you in."
"That's Corey", she smiled weakly, pressing her stuffed girafe to her chest.
"Thank you."
Connor sat back next to her.
"What about restling a little bit? I'm sure Corey is really sleepy like you, mh?"
"You stay here?"
"Deal, big girl."
Connor continued by stroking her forehead, until she fell back to sleep…