Chapter 199: One Step Closer

"Time has laid its healing hand upon the wound when we can look back at the the pain we once fainted under, and no bitterness or despair arises in our heart." – Jerome K. Jerome

"Truth, like surgery, may hurt, but it cures." – Han Suyin

"Oh, make us happy and you make us good." – Robert Browning


Sydney looked to Tom, "Ok…successful…and?"

"The surgery went well. The surgeons opened the same incision that they had previously made for the surgery he had before to repair other ribs. They ribs were free floating, the surgeon said that we got him there just in time; that if we would have waited any longer, the lung would have been punctured. They were able to repair the damage and put pins in place to reattach the ribs."

"Pins?" Sydney asked.

Tom smiled, "They're small," he said with a wink, "and he actually has a few already – from the first surgery."

Sydney nodded, "So, he's ok?"

"I think he'll be fine."

Sydney smiled and let out a happy cry. She turned and hugged her father and then Amélie and everyone else in turn.

She turned back to Tom and hugged him as well, "Thank you," she whispered to him.

"You're welcome…"

"Is he awake? Can I see him?"

Tom smiled, "He's not awake yet and…well you aren't really allowed in there…but you can see him. Come with me."

Sydney turned back to the small crowd of people.

Amélie smiled back, "Go see him…"

Jack nodded, "We'll visit with him later."

Sydney smiled appreciatively and then followed Tom down the hall.

"So he's really ok then?" Sydney asked just for reassurance.

Tom smiled, "Yes, he's really ok. I didn't mean to scare you…but even I'm a slave to hospital policy sometimes. I can careen down a hallway and makes noises, but there are legalities I can't get around."

"It's ok Tom, I understand and thank you for letting me see him."

He stopped in front of a door marked "Recovery," and held the door open for her.

It was a large room, white hospital walls, lined with a number of hospital beds. It was a communal room, the beds separated by thin sheets that you could pull for privacy. Sydney searched the room, looking for Vaughn on the beds.

Tom moved ahead and she followed, walking past other patients in various stages of recovery. She passed a man who was obviously in a very critical condition, a ventilator on, the sounds of it filling his lungs with air echoing off the plain walls. Sydney got a shiver as she remembered Vaughn looking like that when she first saw him in the hospital, wires trailing all over.

She passed a woman, who smiled at her as she went by, her leg in traction, casted all the way to her hip. Sydney gave her an empathetic smile, and walked on with Tom.

There was an older gentleman who was sleeping, looking frail and sick next to the woman with the cast, and on the other side of the room, a trauma victim of some sort, their head swathed in gauze.

There were a few empty beds, and then Vaughn, and Sydney smiled, thinking Tom must have done that on purpose, distancing him so she could have privacy with him. Tom pulled the curtain around Vaughn's bed and stood next to Sydney as she took the chair next to Vaughn.

He was sleeping, his face peaceful, an oxygen mask on his face, an IV running into his hand. Sydney noticed his arm was back in a sling, and there were a few wires monitoring his heart, pulse and blood pressure.

She looked up at Tom, "The oxygen mask…is he having breathing problems?" Sydney asked worriedly.

Tom smiled softly, "No…it's just a formality, a precaution. He's breathing on his own…they'll put the tube oxygen back on when he's awake."

Sydney nodded, "How long do you think it'll be before he wakes up?"

"Not sure…everyone's different. Some people come out of it right away, others it takes longer…just gotta give him time…"

Sydney nodded again, "Can I stay with him?"

Tom looked to the door, "Yeah…I'll talk to the nurses, tell them it's ok…" He smiled, "I'll come back in a little while."

"Ok, thanks again Tom," Sydney said, grabbing Vaughn's hand and slowly rubbing her fingers over his, careful to avoid the IV. She ran her other hand through his hair, and getting up, placed a kiss on his forehead. She let her head linger over his, whispering, "I love you Michael…" before sitting down again.

She watched him breathe for a few minutes, and then started to talk to him quietly.

"Vaughn…everything went well…they repaired the ribs…and you're doing just fine. I'll be here when you wake up…" she trailed off.

She moved the chair closer and sat back, just watching his breathing and watching the heart monitor as it beeped steadily across the screen. She'd only been sitting for about ten minutes when his hand tensed and gripped hers.

She stood up and moved close to him, "Vaughn?" she said quietly.

His eyes fluttered and his gaze blurrily fixed on her. He smiled from under the mask; she could just see the outline of his dimples peeking around the edges.

"Hey…" she said, a huge smile breaking out, "Everything went well…they repaired the ribs…no complications…"

He nodded and blinked a few times and then extricated his hand from hers, moving it slowly up to his face. He moved the mask down, anxious to get it off.

Sydney smiled again, taking the opportunity to kiss him thoroughly and show him just how happy she was that he was ok.

Vaughn smiled and rasped painfully, "Water?"

Sydney smiled and kissed him, replacing the mask, "I'll get some…and tell the doctor you're awake…"

Vaughn nodded and watched her as she walked out.

Sydney returned with a cup of ice chips, and moved the mask so she could give them to him. After his throat reopened enough to talk, he smiled at her and said weakly and quietly, "Hi."

Her face brightened more than it was already and she kissed him again.

"Miss me?" he asked.

She giggled and kissed him again, "I was scared…I'm glad you're ok."

"Me too…" he said with a smile.

"How are you?" Sydney asked.

"I'm tired…and sore…it hurts…but I'm ok…"

She smiled and kissed him again, making him chuckle softly.

Tom trailed into the room a few minutes later, "Hey Mike…" he said happily.

"Hi Tom," he replied as Sydney supplied him with another ice chip.

"How ya feelin?"

"Tired…sore."

"Yeah…you will be for a bit…but it went well, great really. I made sure you had the best."

"Thanks Tom," Vaughn said with a smile. "Can I get this off?" he asked, gesturing to the oxygen mask.

"Yeah, you'll have to have the tube oxygen though for awhile…"

Vaughn nodded as Tom approached the bed and removed the mask, replacing it with the tube, "There."

Vaughn smiled in appreciation.

"The surgeon's gonna come in, in a few minutes to talk to you, then we'll monitor everything for another half hour or so and move you back to your room. Ok?"

"Sounds good."

Tom smiled and walked out again, leaving Sydney and Vaughn alone. She kept feeding him ice chips and fussing with the blankets and pillow, making sure he was comfortable.

"I'm ok Sydney," he said as she fussed with the blanket once again.

"I know…I just…I feel the need to hover."

"Hover away," he said with a smile.

Tom reentered with another man, about 5' 11" with brown wavy hair and sparkly hazel eyes.

The man smiled warmly, his eyes warm and inviting, "I'm Dr. Nicholas Osbourne, I performed your surgery Mr. Vaughn."

"Hi," Vaughn said.

Sydney smiled, "Thank you."

The doctor smiled, "How are you feeling?"

"Tired…and sore…" Vaughn repeated for the third time.

"You will be for a while, but the surgery was successful. We repaired the rib damage, and we put several pins in place; the same procedure that was used for your other rib surgery. After we monitor your vitals for a little while, we can move you back to your room." He turned to Sydney, "I understand you've been caring for him at home…"

"Yes," Sydney replied.

"Well, you've been doing a great job…The incision I made was reopening a previous one…so there are no new wounds to take care of. This one can be cared for in the same manner as that one was, just watch for infection…" He stopped and looked back at Vaughn, "We also redressed your other wounds, and removed some of the bandages on your back and chest/abdomen that aren't required anymore. Those are healing quite nicely, so," he turned again to Sydney, "when he goes home again, you'll have less to bandage."

"That's great," Sydney said looking at Vaughn.

Vaughn smiled and nodded, "Yeah it is."

"What about the infected wound?" Sydney asked.

"Tom's informed me he's been on antibiotics…and by my judgment, he has four more days of pills. The infection is nearly gone, the wound is still healing and will take a while to heal yet, but the infection will be cleared up for sure by those next four days."

"Good," Sydney said.

Vaughn nodded, "Yeah, cause that sucked."

Tom chuckled and Dr. Osbourne smiled, "Yes, I'm sure it did." He paused, "We also checked your shoulder. It seems to have been sprained slightly, and I understand that you've been keeping it out of the sling for longer periods of time?"

Sydney nodded, "Yeah…bad judgment…"

Dr. Osbourne smiled, "Well, it just won't heal as fast that way…or as well. I want you to make sure you keep it in the sling for at least another week – fully…then you can start to exercise it more…but slowly. The shoulder needs to rest…don't push it…keep exercising the fingers and that will help to strengthen the shoulder as well. Continue to take the pain medication and ice it if there is discomfort, or gentle massaging works too. Tom can check it then again in a week. Ok?"

Sydney nodded and Vaughn followed suit.

"Ok, then we'll check your vitals for another 15 minutes or so, then you can go back to your room."

"Thank you doctor," Sydney said.

Dr. Osbourne smiled and walked off, leaving Tom to chat with the couple.

"How long do I have to stay?" Vaughn asked.

"Well, as long as you feel ok, and we don't encounter any problems, you can go home tomorrow. I'd let you go home today, but I think you need to rest at least until tomorrow morning. K?"

"Yeah, ok," Vaughn replied.