A Cut Above The Rest
A/N : Again a sincere thanks to those who are following this story and have read and reviewed it. Not being medically minded I have researched the details of this chapter to the best of my ability and have tried to keep them as realistic as possible. Here is the next part for your enjoyment hopefully.
Chapter 3
Steve's torment lasted a few more seconds and then very slowly he moved his smallest finger back and forth. Then his next finger moved but his hand was shaking violently and his face was etched in extreme pain and discomfort. Mike looked from Steve's hand to his face and then to the Doctor anxiously, aware of the extreme effort that Steve was having to put in to move his fingers and wondering how long the Doctor would allow him to continue. Steve moved his middle finger, again very shakily but his index finger and thumb didn't move. Steve was breaking out in a sweat and his breathing was coming in gasps. His heart rate had quickened and the machine was beeping wildly and so after a few seconds more the Doctor intervened.
"Ok, Steve. Take it easy. Stop trying to move your fingers. I want you to slow down your breathing now. Are you having trouble moving your index finger and your thumb Steve?"
Steve could feel sensation in his hand, fingers and thumb but trying to move them was causing extreme agony in his arm. He had forced his other three fingers to move despite the burning pain that had seared up his arm but the last two had proven even more painful but Steve knew he could move them if he could stand the extreme pain that he knew moving them was going to cause.
"No ... It's ok. I can move them. It's just sore that's all. But I can feel them. If you give me a few seconds I know I can move them."
"If it's that sore to move them, then it's better not to try Steve" the doctor instructed firmly but Steve wasn't listening.
Mike could tell that there was a problem and knowing how his partner's mind worked he also knew how stubborn he was. Regardless of how much pain it would cause he knew Steve would move his fingers just to prove that he could. Sensing that was exactly what Steve was going to do despite the Doctor's warning Mike yelled out.
"Don't Steve!"
But Mike's warning was yelled a few seconds too late. Steve was so anxious to prove that he could move his fingers, not wanting to even contemplate the fact that perhaps he couldn't, that he took a deep breath and he forced his index finger and his thumb to move but instantly regretted it as it felt like a red-hot poker had just been stuck into his arm. At the same time as the searing pain hit, blood began to spurt again from the wound causing a distinct circle of blood to grow steadily on the dressing. Steve sucked in his breath and held it, his eyes shut tight and a stifled yell escaped his lips. His heart rate had gone wild and alarms started going off on the machine. The Doctor flew into action and applied pressure to the wound at the same time accepting the fresh dressings and continuing to soak up the blood that was now free-flowing again from it.
Mike stood horrified, not quite knowing what he should do to help. The Doctor next addressed the nurse, distinct anxiety and urgency clear in the tone of his voice.
"Nurse! Page Dr Montgomery. Have him meet us up in the OR. We can't wait any longer. Tell him that we have signs of possible nerve damage to the index finger and thumb and that we have to repair this artery immediately before he loses any more blood. I need you to request two more units of A positive blood from the blood bank and page the anesthesiologist on call. Have them come down here stat. I need them to numb that arm for me."
As the nurse raced out of the cubicle, the Doctor turned to Mike.
"Lieutenant. I need your help. Apply pressure to this wound for me."
Mike didn't have to be asked twice and racing around to the opposite side of the bed he took over from the Doctor and applied pressure to the wound while still anxiously watching his partner who was in severe distress. The Doctor's last words "possible nerve damage" still echoing in his head. The Doctor took Mike's previous position by Steve's bed and removing the nasal cannula he placed an oxygen mask over Steve's nose and mouth instead and spoke to Steve firmly and yet very professionally.
"Steve, you need to take deep breaths for me. If you don't you're going to start hyperventilating. STEVE! LISTEN TO ME! I know you're in a lot of pain but you have to breathe through it. "
The pain was still agonizing but the Doctor's raised voice had gotten through to Steve. Knowing that he had to do what the Doctor instructed if he wanted things to improve he forced his lungs to gulp in the oxygen that was now free-flowing through the mask. The pain fought against him but he managed to at least establish a breathing pattern again albeit in heaves rather than normal breaths.
At that moment the nurse arrived back and informed the Doctor that Dr. Montgomery was on his way to the OR to prep for surgery and that Dr. Santos was the anesthesiologist on call and that he was on his way. Satisfied that at least Steve was taking in sufficient oxygen again, the Doctor concentrated on Steve's heart rate. Alarmingly fast, he instructed the nurse to get a mild sedative ready. The nurse prepared the syringe and handed it to Dr. MacKenzie and then she quickly turned her attention to Mike. Noting that the dressing he was pressing down on was saturated in Steve's blood, she took more clean dressing pads and took over from Mike changing over the dressings and applying pressure again. Mike stood back to allow them to work and realized for the first time that he was shaking himself. He stood staring at Steve, both his hands trembling, still covered in Steve's blood. The nurse noted the older man's anxiety and saw his shaking hands covered in blood and her heart went out to him. So while holding down on the wound with one hand she handed Mike a handful of antiseptic wipes with the other for him to clean the blood off his hands with. Accepting them he nodded his thanks accompanied by a grateful smile as he emotionally started to clean the blood off his hands and he quietly mumbled more silent prayers for his partner's recovery.
The Doctor administered the mild sedative as a calming measure. He had to get his heart rate back down and alleviate some of the pain and discomfort before they could attempt to administer the local anesthetic. Ten minutes later, Steve's heart rate had slowed enough for the alarm to stop ringing and his breathing had eased a bit. He still hadn't opened his eyes though and was still visibly in a good deal of pain. Dr Santos arrived in the cubicle and without needing further instruction came beside the nurse and started prepping the local anesthesia. The cubicle was starting to get crowded so Mike moved back further pushing the curtain out behind him to make room for those that were helping Steve. Again the Doctor spoke firmly yet compassionately to his patient.
"Steve. I've given you a mild sedative. It should kick in very soon and ease the extreme pain you're experiencing. You should remain conscious but you'll feel more relaxed and calm. Dr Santos is here now. He's the anesthesiologist on call and he's going to numb your arm ready for surgery. Ok? Now you're going to feel some more discomfort while he injects the local anesthetic into your arm in a few places to numb it. I want you to keep taking deep breaths for me when you need to and try to keep your arm as still as possible. As soon as the arm is numb the pain will stop and we'll take you up to the OR and fix you up good as new ok? Just bear with us now. I know it's very unpleasant but you're doing really well. Has the sedative started to help yet?"
Steve nodded but hearing the Doctor's words about more needles and more discomfort panicked him. The dreadful searing agony had eased but he was starting to feel strange due to the sedative starting to kick in and he still felt the burning in his arm and he was worried about the local anesthetic. Any more of that awful searing pain and he felt he might pass out. Forcing his eyes open he frantically searched for Mike. He knew if Mike was there he'd cope better. Fearing that he'd been sent outside when all hell had broken loose he felt himself start to panic and his heart rate visibly rose again as the beeping quickened.
"Where's Mike? ... I need Mike." Steve gasped breathlessly.
Seeing his patient becoming distressed again he quickly turned to beckon Mike over. He needed his patient as calm as possible while Dr Santos numbed his arm. But Mike had heard Steve's request and had already raced over and was right behind the Doctor. Allowing Mike in to calm down his patient, Steve visibly calmed when he saw Mike approaching, despite the dreadful burning in his arm.
"I'm here Steve. Everything's going to be alright. You need to try to breathe as easy as you can and the pain will ease up soon. Ok?" Then keeping his tone gentle and not scolding and warmly smiling at Steve he added. "You know, when you're feeling better we need to talk about that stubborn streak of yours! It always gets you in a whole mess of trouble!"
Seeing the worry and concern almost aging his partner's face, Steve felt a sudden pang of guilt on top of everything else for causing such trouble and stress to his partner and so he forced a half-smile and shakily and breathlessly answered.
"Sorry Mike ..."
But he couldn't maintain the smile as he felt the first needle pierce the wound. Sucking in a deep breath and shutting his eyes tight again as he felt the needle penetrate further he heard the Doctor telling him to keep taking deep breaths but he couldn't get his lungs to obey. It was Mike's voice that forced him to take notice.
"Ok Steve. You need to breathe through it. Come on now!"
Steve let go of the breath he had held and tried to breathe normally but as the second needle seared a burning path into his arm he groaned audibly and painfully gasped.
"Mike ... I can't ... it hurts ..."
Mike felt a lump form in his throat as he heard the distress in his partner's voice. Taking Steve's right hand in his and clearing his throat he spoke as soothingly as he could silently praying that his ordeal would end soon.
"I know buddy boy. I know. But you're doing really good. It's almost over now. Just hang on a bit longer. Squeeze my hand if it helps. Alright?"
Steve got more courage from Mike's words and support so he nodded and took more deep breaths. Closing his eyes again, he gripped Mike's hand tight. Seeing Steve struggling, Dr. MacKenzie had halted Dr. Santos from continuing to allow Steve to get his breathing back on track and when he saw Steve coping better he nodded for Dr. Santos to proceed.
From the hard grip Steve had on his hand Mike could only imagine how much discomfort Steve was in and he admired how the young man managed to do his best to bravely breathe as normally as he could. Steve was starting to feel light-headed and nauseous from the sedative, the soreness and the blood that was seeping out of his wound faster than the tube could feed it back in.
After two more injections the burning in his arm changed to a warm tingling feeling and Mike noticed Steve's grip loosen as the pain appeared to ease.
Steve's ordeal had lasted around fifteen minutes and at this stage the anesthesiologist was satisfied that he had fully numbed Steve's arm. Steve's arm felt very strange. It felt really heavy and almost as if it wasn't part of his body anymore but he was extremely grateful for the relief it gave him from the discomfort and the pain. Dr. Santos tested further for any signs of sensation and every time Steve had indicated no feeling so he nodded his satisfaction and approval to Dr. MacKenzie.
The Doctor then checked Steve's vital signs once more and noted thankfully that Steve was well under the effects of the sedative. He was very calm and relaxed and his heart rate had settled. His breathing was even and while he appeared restful and no longer agitated he was still responsive. The bleeding had eased up again but the Doctor continued to feed blood back in to his patient to make up for the recent blood loss. Satisfied that he was ready to be transferred up to the OR, he informed Steve and Mike of the imminent move. Disconnecting Steve's monitors but hanging the bloods and the IV fluids onto the Gurney for transporting the Doctor informed Mike that he wouldn't be allowed accompany Steve any further so Mike leaned in to talk to Steve one last time.
Steve was resting with his eyes closed as the ordeal and the sedative had totally wiped him out. Mike squeezed Steve's hand and spoke softly.
"Steve? Can you hear me?"
Steve's eyes flickered open and rested on his partner's face for a few seconds and he nodded drowsily.
"They're taking you up now so I have to go and wait in the waiting area for you to get back. You do as you're told up there now. Ok? When you get back it will all be over and you can start to heal. I'll see you soon and don't worry now, because you're in very good hands."
Steve smiled at Mike even though he was anxious about the procedure and even more anxious about how he was going to cope without Mike's comforting presence beside him. Putting on a brave face he winked at Mike and drowsily uttered.
"Thanks Mike ... I'll see you later."
Patting Steve affectionately on the shoulder he winked back and watched as they wheeled Steve out of the cubicle and off to the OR. As they turned the Gurney to exit the double doors Steve looked back at Mike and their eyes met once more. Mike swore that for just a split second he saw worry on his partner's face before he masked it again with his usual smile just as he disappeared from Mike's view.
Mike picked up his fedora that he had abandoned on the chair in the cubicle when Steve had got into difficulty and as he left the cubicle he saw the many blood soaked dressings that were still lying on the hospital tray. He rubbed a trembling hand over his face as the full realization of what had just happened sunk in and he felt heavy-hearted as he thought about the difficult surgery that Steve was going to have to endure while conscious. He kept hearing the Doctor's words " possible nerve damage" echo in his head and he remembered the difficulty Steve had in using his hand. He was so lost in his own troubled thoughts that he never heard the nurse from earlier return behind him and catching sight of the older detective she gently touched his arm so as not to startle him.
"Are you ok?" she asked very moved by the affection he held for his injured partner.
The nurse's touch brought him back to reality and realizing how foolish he must have appeared he blushed slightly and smiling at the nurse's kindness he stammered.
"Oh yes I'm fine. Thank you. Has he gone up ok?"
"Yes. You really mustn't worry you know. He has the best Doctors on his team. They'll take good care of him. You'll see. He'll be just fine. Can I get you anything? Maybe a coffee? You look like you could use one."
"No thank you. You've enough to be doing. I'll just go wait outside. I'd appreciate it if you could let me know when he's back though."
"Of course. But as for the coffee it's really no trouble. I think you might need more of these too" she said handing him more wipes and pointing to his hands that still had traces of Steve's blood on them. "Why don't you go take a seat outside and I'll bring you some coffee in a few minutes."
"Ok. And thank you."
Mike smiled warmly at the nurse grateful for her kindness and made his way slowly and wearily back out to the waiting area. Slumping heavily into a chair he put his hat down on the chair beside him and started to clean the rest of the blood from his hands. He thought about the brief look of worry and fear he had seen in Steve's eyes as they had wheeled him away and hoped that he was coping ok. Just then the nurse appeared and handed him a cup of coffee. He thanked her and as she returned to the ER he gratefully sipped down the warm reviving liquid and settled back for another long and agonizing wait.