Christmas Miracles-----3
Andrew Lewis was used to long hours and today had been no exception, but at least his shift was coming to an end. He lifted the last chart and made several notations that would see the patient admitted for overnight observation.
"Dr. Lewis, a patient of yours is being brought in by ambulance," Charlene Newcomb said when she spotted the weary physician exit the cubicle.
"Who is it?" Lewis asked, feeling his early night ending with each ticking second.
"Joe Mannix…all I know is he was involved in a shooting and is being brought in by ambulance."
"So much for getting out of here at a decent hour. What's their ETA?"
"They should be pulling up outside any second. Dr Halliday was on the scene and he's coming in with them," Newcomb said, walking beside the physician as they headed for the emergency exit.
Andrew Lewis nodded and stepped through the sliding door just as the ambulance pulled to a stop. The back doors were quickly opened and his instincts kicked into high gear. There was no sign of the weary physician from moments before as he listened to Halliday call out the numbers and any pertinent information. He helped removed the gurney and raced toward the Trauma room. The detective had already been intubated and at least two IV lines ran into his arm. The man's face was whiter than the sheet he lay on and Lewis knew things were worse than he'd imagined.
They worked together, as they often had over the last few years and Lewis was glad Halliday had been on the scene or Joe Mannix might not have survived the trip to the hospital. As it was, he was in critical condition with a bullet lodged somewhere in his chest. They would need x-rays to find out exactly where the bullet was and he watched as one nurse took blood samples while two others cut the clothes from the injured man's body. They worked like a well oiled machine and he knew this was the best trauma team in the country.
"We need to get him stabilized and into the OR as fast as possible," Halliday stated the obvious as he cleaned the head wound.
"X-ray is on the way," Jenny Morgan explained as she finished checking the monitoring equipment.
"Hang a bag of O-positive and run the IVs wide open," Lewis ordered "Who's the vascular surgeon on call?"
"Sharon O'Leary," Jenny answered.
"Have her paged," Lewis said.
"Yes, doctor," Sherry Rideout answered and hurried to pick up the wall phone.
"X-ray is here, Dr. Lewis," Carol Manning called from the open door.
"Clear out, People," the physician ordered and knew time was a commodity they were quickly running out of. As soon as O'Leary arrived and looked at the x-rays and blood test results he knew Mannix would be headed for the surgical intervention needed to save his life. He stepped out of the trauma room just as Peggy Fair and Adam Tobias entered the ER.
"Dr. Lewis…Joe…is he…"
"Easy, Mrs. Fair, come with me," Lewis said and led her to the waiting area. "Gerald, come get me when they're finished with Joe."
"I will, Andrew," Halliday said and moved to meet the female surgeon hurrying toward him.
"What have you got, Gerald?" O'Leary asked.
"Gunshot wounds to the upper chest and head. X-ray is with him now. He's lost a lot of blood."
"How long ago did this happen?"
"Around forty five minutes ago," Halliday answered and knew Mannix was in the best possible hands with this woman. He'd seen her work her magic before and prayed she was in full form today.
MANNIXMANNIXMANNIX
"Doc, how is he?" Tobias asked.
"He's critical right now and that's about all I can tell you. As soon as we pump some more fluids into him and x-ray is done he'll be taken to surgery," Lewis answered and saw the fear in Peggy's eyes. "Joe's strong…he's a fighter and I'm confident he'll beat the odds again. Dr. O'Leary will perform the surgery to remove the bullet and repair the damage it caused, but it's going to take some time."
"Can I see him?"
"I'm afraid that's not possible right now, Mrs. Fair. We need to move quickly if we're going to save his life," Lewis answered. "Why don't you and Lieutenant Tobias go get something to drink and I'll come get you as soon as he's out of surgery?"
"I'm not going anywhere," Peggy vowed, and felt Adam place a hand on her arm.
"Peggy, it's going to be a long night," Tobias told her.
"I don't care, Adam, I'm staying right here until I know Joe is going to be all right!"
"Well, I can't force you to leave, but think about Toby and what he saw tonight," the policeman said and knew he'd struck a chord when soft sobs wracked her body.
"Oh, God, Adam, he can't die…Joe can't die," Peggy whispered against his chest.
"Peggy, Joe has the best trauma team in the country working to make sure he doesn't…and Dr. O'Leary knows what she's doing. I know it's senseless to tell you not to worry, but that's about all I can do right now."
"Andrew, x-ray is finished and Sharon wants to know if you're going to join her," Halliday said upon entering the room.
"Gerald, I think this one's better off with you there…I've been working for twelve hours and I'd rather have someone fresh in there. I'm going to grab some shuteye in the doctor's lounge on the surgical floor," Lewis answered.
"All right…I'll let you know when we're done," Halliday assured him before leaving the room.
"Thanks, Gerald. Peggy, you know where the surgical waiting rooms are and I want you to take advantage of the time to get some rest…yeah, I know you're not tired, but lie down and close your eyes for a while," Lewis ordered and stood up to leave. "Lieutenant, see that she gets some rest and I'll come find you as soon as there's anything to report."
"I will…thanks, Doc," Tobias said and watched the man leave. There was no finer physician than Andrew Lewis and Adam trusted him where Joe Mannix or any of his men were concerned. "Come on, Peg…"
"I need to call Toby and let him know…I can't leave him with Mama Giovanni all night," Peggy said, rubbing her arms as a cold wave of fear washed over her.
"You can use my cell phone, Peggy," Tobias said, taking her arm and lending support as they walked out of the room. His grip tightened as he spotted the stretcher being wheeled from the trauma room. There was no mistaking the dark hair that stood out starkly against the sheet and in spite of the monitoring equipment Joe Mannix looked for all intents and purposes to be dead.
"Oh, God, Adam…he looks so…"
"I know…why don't we go outside and call Toby and then we can stop in at the chapel and put in a good word with the man above?" the lieutenant offered and held Peggy until the stretcher disappeared into the elevator. She sagged against him as her legs threatened to give out and he knew she was exhausted with worry. "Come on, Peggy, there's nothing more we can do here."
"Thank you for being here, Adam…Joe would appreciate it and so do I," Peggy said, straightening her skirt before walking toward the exit.
MANNIXMANNIXMANNIX
Rosa Giovanni took a deep breath and wished her husband had not gone back to Italy. He would be home for Christmas, but right now she could use his strength and support. Her thoughts wandered back to the last conversation she'd had with Joe Mannix. He asked her to set up a special table near the fireplace for the trio on Christmas Eve. He told her that he was going to propose to Peggy Fair by getting down on one knee and offering her a ring that had been in his family for several generations. 'Please, God, let Joe's dream come true and give him the family he so deserves.' She thought before moving toward the back of the now empty restaurant.
Rosa looked into the kitchen where Carla was helping Toby put the finishing touches on a fully loaded pizza. There was sauce, cheese, and flour everywhere, but she didn't mind because for the last hour the child had been so immersed in making pizza that he hadn't asked if there'd been any news from his mother. She heard him laugh and he flicked some flour toward the waitress, but the smile disappeared as soon as he realized she was there.
"I'm sorry, Mama, we…"
"Now, Toby, you were having fun and Carla knows I have never stopped the staff from enjoying themselves. I see you have the Johnson's pizza ready for the oven. Did you remember extra cheese?"
"Yes, Mama," Toby said, smiling when she looked at the pizza before Carla placed it in the big specialty ovens. He grew serious and looked at the woman standing beside him. "Did mom call?"
"Yes, Joe is in surgery and she said to tell you to call her if you need her. Adam Tobias is staying with her, but if you want I can drive you over there once we close the restaurant."
"I want to be there, but I can wait until you close…I could take a taxi," Toby told her.
"No, you can't…not alone and at this hour at night," Mama warned. "Would you like to help me deliver this to the Johnson's house across the street?"
"Sure," the child said and hoped Joe Mannix would be okay. The police had taken the dead body away and would take his statement when he was with his mother.
MANNIXMANNIXMANNIX
Peggy paced the small waiting room, her arms folded in front of her body, her eyes filled with unshed tears as she waited for word on Joe Mannix. Nearly three hours had passed since the shooting and she knew the surgery could take some time. Andrew Lewis had come in to tell them the bullet had indeed damaged his left lung and lodged near his heart. They wouldn't know the full extent of the damage until the surgery was complete and Dr. O'Leary came to see them.
Adam had left fifteen minutes ago to grab some coffee, leaving her to dwell on her boss's condition. Boss, did she even think about him that way anymore or had things gone beyond that? Her heart ached every time they were apart and warmth spread through her body every time he was near. Was she falling in love with Joe Mannix?
'No, you can't be falling in love when you know in your heart that you already love him,' she thought and worried her bottom lip as she stopped in front of the window overlooking the city she loved so much. The house and buildings glowed with the warmth of the Christmas lights and decorations. The snow that had fallen had quickly melted and she could relive the joy of seeing Toby's face when he discovered that snow was falling, but all she could see was the crimson flood that washed away any trace of the light blanket of white. 'Please, God, don't take him away from us…from me. I don't know where this is going, but I love that man and I'm not ready to let him go.'
"Mom, are you okay?"
"Oh, Toby," she whispered and wrapped her arms around her son. She spotted Mama Giovanni standing in the open doorway and motioned her inside.
"Has there been any news?" the older woman asked.
"Nothing since I called you. It's taking so long," Peggy told her and the trio sat down.
"Mom, do you know the man who shot Joe?" Toby asked, having been shielded from the shooters view.
"I saw him, Toby, but right now I don't want to talk about him. Adam will be back soon and the police are going to want you to tell them what you saw," Peggy explained and thought about her own statement to the police. She'd recognized Raymond Spencer right away and knew the man had been more dangerous than any of them had thought. She felt sorry for Mrs. Spencer and her son, not because Spencer was dead, but because of the mistreatment they'd both suffered at the man's hands.
"I didn't see very much…I just heard the shots and saw Joe jump that man," Toby said, looking up when he heard footsteps. He recognized the policeman, relaxing as the man joined them.
"Any news?" Tobias asked, handing Peggy a cup of coffee and passing Toby a box of mixed donuts before hugging Mama Giovanni.
"Nothing since Dr. Lewis was here," Peggy answered, sitting back and sipping the hot liquid.
Sharon O'Leary was beyond tired…and had passed exhaustion long ago, but she'd thrived on the type of surgery she'd just performed. In spite of the critical nature of the wounds and blood loss she'd managed to repair the damage and hopefully the intravenous fluids would help replenish the blood supply. Twice Mannix's blood pressure had bottomed out and twice they'd worked to keep him alive and breathing. As of right now his chances were still 70/30, but at least he had a chance. She wrote several notations on his chart before helping the nursing staff settle their newest charge in the SICU room where he would be spending at least the next forty eight hours.
O'Leary knew the elevated temperature was just the beginning and was already taking steps to stop it from getting worse. She'd inserted a chest tube that would stay in place until the lung was completely re-inflated and would be leaving him on the ventilator for the next twenty four hours. After that it would depend on the numbers. "I'm going to speak with his friends, but I'll be back to check on him before I leave."
"Yes, Doctor," the SICU nurse told her.
Sharon walked slowly along the hall and walked away from the SICU. She stopped in the doctor's lounge and quickly changed out of the blood stained scrubs before continuing toward the waiting room. She stood in the doorway and noted that dawn was laying her glorious cloak over the city and hope the new day would not end in tragedy for these people. Taking a deep breath she stepped into the room and wasn't surprised to find the four people present stand up and turn toward her. "Is anyone here for Joe Mannix?"
"Yes…how is he?" Peggy asked.
"He's a lucky man right now. The bullet punctured his lung and if not for Dr. Halliday's quick action we wouldn't be here having this conversation…you'd be talking with the mortician," O'Leary told them seriously. She had never been one to pull punches no matter how harsh it made her seem. "We were able to insert a chest tube and get the bullet out although it did more damage than just his lung. He's on a ventilator and will stay that way until I think he's strong enough to breathe on his own. He'll also be kept heavily sedated for the next twenty four hours."
"He is going to be all right though?" Mama Giovanni asked.
"There are no guarantees…but we're going to do everything we can to see that he is with his family for Christmas."
"Doc, what about the head wound?" Tobias asked.
"Well, the bullet took a good chunk from his head, but there was no skull fracture…however with all head injuries there could be damage that we don't see. Again we're going to do everything we can to make sure he survives, but until he wakes up we won't know what's happening with the head injury," O'Leary answered and stood up.
"Can I see him?" Peggy asked.
"Not yet…the nurses are setting him up in the SICU and they need at least an hour before anyone sees him. Check with the desk and they'll give you a more precise time," O'Leary explained.
"We will, Doctor, thank you," Tobias explained.
"Toby, you'll have to stay with me while your mother and Adam visit with Joseph," Mama Giovanni said once the surgeon had left.
"But I want to see him…"
"Toby," Peggy began and waited for her son's moisture laden eyes to meet her own. "Remember the hospital has rules about children's visiting hours. I know you want to see Joe, but right now you're not allowed. I promise to let you see him as soon as the doctors and nurses tell me it's okay."
"Mom, tell him he promised to come to my next game," Toby said, fighting to keep his emotions under control.
"I will, Toby," Peggy promised and held her son tight while tears slipped from her eyes. Toby had never been this close to another male since his father's death and Peggy knew the child was feeling as if the rug was being yanked from under him again. She lifted his head until she could look into his eyes and smiles as she spoke. "Joe will be at that game, Toby. You have to believe that…"
"Do you, Mom?"
"Yes…yes I do," Peggy assured him and maneuvered him to the window where they looked out at the city they called home. "Joe is strong and Christmas is not far away. He is going to be sitting down with us to eat…"
"Turkey and candied yams and apple pie…"
"Yes, Toby," Peggy said, chuckling softly when Adam ruffled the boys hair.
"I might just show up on your doorstep if you keep talking about food," Tobias teased with a slight smile.
"Mom's the best cook ever," Toby said. The solemn group stood quietly looking out over the city that was just coming to life and hoped the new dawn heralded some good news.
The hour had been the longest one in her life, and Peggy held tightly to Adam's arm as they walked toward the SICU the nurse had directed them to. The nurse had just finished checking the last of the equipment and was opening the curtain that gave the patient a modicum of privacy while the more intimate aspects of his care were taken care of. She took a deep breath and realized she'd been holding it since leaving the nurses station.
Adam knew what to expect, but it didn't make it any easier when he looked at the man lying on the bed. Joe Mannix was not a small man, yet he seemed dwarfed by the amount of equipment surrounding his bed. The lower half of his body was covered with a light blanket, while the upper part was swathed in bandages. He knew the flesh beneath the bandages was covered in a multitude of bruises cause by the bullet and the subsequent surgical intervention. There were three IV lines, one of which was delivering blood to the patient's veins while the others contained saline and other medications needed to ward off infection and keep Joe Mannix sleeping. The monitoring equipment took up most of the upper half of the bed and Adam knew it was there for a reason…to keep his friend alive while his body had a chance to heal.
"God, Adam, he looks so pale," Peggy whispered.
"I know, but that's normal with the trauma he's gone through," Tobias assured her.
"I wish…" Peggy started and closed her eyes as the tears threatened to flow once more.
"I know, Peggy, but this wasn't your fault," the policeman said, seeing the guilt in her eyes.
"It wouldn't have happened if he hadn't been at Toby's game."
"Maybe not, but if he hadn't been there someone else might have been hurt or killed. Raymond Spencer has a record of assaults a mile long, Peggy, and he doesn't discriminate against one person. He hated everyone and blamed everything that happened to him on those around him. He lashed out at anyone who was in striking distance. His wife and son have been in and out of the hospital so often you can't count it on one hand."
"How do you know all this?" Peggy asked.
"I spoke with the officer assigned to his last case while you were with Toby in the chapel. There was no way you or Joe could have known Spencer would react the way he did. He's always been a coward, unless he has a gun or knife and even then he usually attacks people who can't defend themselves which explains why he hid in the shadows and waited for you, Joe and Toby to come out of Giovanni's," Tobias explained.
"Is he…"
"Yes, he's dead," Adam assured her and nodded when the nurse motioned them forward. "How is he?"
"He's holding his own right now. Dr. O'Leary left orders to keep him sedated, and I assure you he's in no pain right now," Jennifer Holden explained.
"He looks so pale," Peggy said and realized she'd said the same thing to Adam when they'd first arrived.
"He lost a lot of blood, but we're giving him fluids and transfusions. His temperature is slightly elevated, but that's to be expected after a trauma of this sort," Holden explained.
Peggy nodded and reached out to take his right hand in her own. He was warm to the touch and that gave her more hope than anything else that he was still with them. She fought the urge to lean forward and kiss him while others were there, but vowed to tell him just how she felt when they allowed him to wake up. The truth was she hadn't felt like this since her husband, and even then it hadn't been this strong a feeling. There was no doubt in her mind that she loved Joe Mannix, and she hoped and prayed she had the chance to tell him. She knew she could not stay much longer because her son needed her with him. With a heavy sigh, Peggy released his hand and walked out of the room before she lost control of her emotions.
TBC