DISCLAIMER: I do not own these characters. They belong to James Duff and the Major Crimes franchise.
Chapter 4
"Okay Lieutenant I have your test results from the CT scan and ultrasound of your heart" the doctor said. Sharon and Andy both squeezed each other's hands at this moment. "The ultrasound of your heart looked very good. Your heart is pumping blood in and out like it is supposed to be doing. Your CT scan looked very good as well. It does not show any signs of blockage anywhere. While you were in there I also ordered them to check your carotid artery as that is where your blood clot was last year and it is clear as well" he continued. Both Sharon and Andy breathed a sigh of relief at this point. "So what caused me to have chest pain and collapse like that doc?" Andy asked. "Well, you had something called atrial arrhythmia, or an irregular heartbeat" the doctor said. "Irregular heartbeat?" questioned Sharon. "Yes, it happened for a short time and many of its symptoms are what you were experiencing tonight before and when you arrived here" the doctor continued to explain "Tell me Lieutenant, how long were you experiencing shortness of breath, a twinge in your chest, stiffness, fluttering feeling of your heart?"
Andy looked at him and had to think about what he was asking "Well, I guess I had those symptoms for a couple of days" he said with a cringe. "A couple of days, Andy!" Sharon exclaimed with a worried look on her face. "Why didn't you say something to me?" Sharon asked. "Cause I thought it would go away, plus I didn't want you to worry because we caught that case and the with shooting in the courtroom, you had enough things going on that you didn't need to be worrying about me on top of that" Andy tried explaining to Sharon. They both looked at each other and Andy gave his puppy dog eyes back to Sharon which in turn she just shook her head. "Alright, Lieutenant I have been in touch with your cardiologist while you have been here and since you are back in normal sinus rhythm, we are going to keep you for observation the rest of the night tonight till possibly tomorrow night up in our cardiac wing. We want to make sure you stay in normal sinus rhythm and this will be a good way to monitor it. Also, I am placing you on a cardiac diet" as soon as the doctor said this Andy groaned and Sharon gave him a look "We are also going to adjust your medications. All of these steps Lieutenant, plus a little rest, will help keep you in tip top shape, enough to get back and chase the bad guys, and your other normal activities okay?" "Okay" Andy agreed and looked at Sharon who was looking back at him and gave him a smile. "Also, are you hungry right now?" the doctor asked. "Yes, I'm starving" said Andy. "I'll make sure once you move upstairs to your room that they send some food up there that is on your cardiac diet, oh and Captain, if you would like some food as well we can send something up for you too" the doctor finished and smiled as he shook Andy's hand. "I will check on you during my rounds tomorrow morning." he said and then proceeded to walk out of his room. "Oh doctor can you wait a second?" Sharon asked. "Sure" he replied. "I'll just be outside Andy" Sharon said to Andy as she got up to speak with his doctor. Andy thought that this could not be good and wondered what Sharon had up her sleeve for him.
"I just wanted to thank you for everything you did for Andy" Sharon said in a hushed voice. "No problem Captain" the doctor replied. "Umm, I do have one question doctor. Can Andy resume normal activities once he leaves the hospital?" she asked. "I'd like for him to take it easy for a couple of days, but yes I do not see any restrictions on any activities for him, both for work and at home" the doctor said smiling. Just then, the doctor was paged. "Sorry, I need to take this" he said and stepped away. Sharon stood there and took a deep breath before heading back into Andy's room in the ICU. "How are you feeling?" Sharon asked. "Better" Andy replied and grabbed Sharon's hand. "I am sorry about all of this. I know I should have told you that I was experiencing those symptoms but I thought" Andy started to explain but was interrupted by Sharon "you thought what Andy? Didn't you learn from last year not to keep your health scares a secret from me?" she said. Andy looked defeated at that moment. Sharon leaned in and kissed him gently on his lips. She lingered for a few seconds, cupped his face in her hands, and smiled at him. "I'm going to go out into the waiting room to let everyone know what is going on and to send them home. I'm also going to send Patrice in here to sit with you until I come back" Sharon said. All Andy could say was "okay" and smiled back at her.
Sharon walked out into the waiting room area and was met by Nicole, Rusty, Gus, Provenza, and Patrice. Everyone else had been sent home by Provenza. Sharon asked Patrice if she could go sit with Andy while she was out here because she didn't want him to be alone. "Sure" Patrice said. Nicole walked up to Sharon and said "How is my father doing?" Sharon replied "He's doing just fine. He had an irregular heartbeat and apparently had symptoms for a couple of days but neglected to tell me about it". "What an idiot!" Provenza said. "How could he not tell you he was experiencing that for days?" he asked her. "He said with everything that was happening he didn't want to worry me and thought it would go away on its own" Sharon explained. "Anyways they are going to keep him overnight for observation, change his diet, and adjust his medications that he currently takes and everything should work out" she continued. Nicole gave Sharon a hug at this point "I'm glad he has you Sharon" she said to her. "Me too" Sharon replied back. "Rusty I think you should go home now as there is nothing more to do here" Sharon had said to Rusty as Rusty gave her a hug. Rusty nodded and asked "Do you need me to bring anything for you?" Sharon replied "tomorrow morning a change of clothes and some clothes for Andy would be great Rusty, thank you". Rusty nodded and he and Gus left the waiting room to go outside towards Gus's car.
Sharon said to both Nicole and Provenza "would you like to go back and see him?" Nicole nodded and Provenza told her yes and was going to give him a piece of his mind when he saw him. "Go easy on him Lieutenant, he's had a rough night so far" Sharon said. "Alright Captain but just for you" Provenza replied and the three of them walked back to Andy's room. Once inside Nicole walked over to her father's bed. "Hi sweetheart" Andy said to her. "Hi Dad" Nicole replied back in a shaky voice and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "We were worried about you but Sharon explained what the doctor had said and its good news" Nicole said. "Yes, they are supposed to keep me here overnight for observations. I got to change my diet now and they are going to tweak my meds but other than that I'll be fine" he smiled back at Nicole. "You can go home now honey, I'm in good hands here" he said to her. Nicole nodded and agreed with her father on him being in good hands, especially with Sharon there. "I'll check in on you tomorrow dad, okay?" Nicole said to him and he nodded his head. Nicole left the room but had stopped to speak to Sharon before leaving. "Please let me know if you need anything Sharon" she said to her. "I will Nicole, drive carefully and give those two boys a big hug from me and your father" Sharon said as she hugged her outside Andy's room.
Meanwhile Provenza moved in close to Andy and just gave him a look. "I know okay? I messed up again" Andy said to him. "Haven't you learned anything?" Provenza asked in a hushed tone. "I didn't want Sharon to worry" Andy started but Provenza finished "yeah, well what do you think she's been doing ever since you collapsed outside her office, huh?" Patrice walked up to Louie and patted his arm and said "Come on Louie, I think we should also go home" "Okay Patrice" Provenza said. "I'll check on you tomorrow" he told Andy and then walked out of his room with Patrice. Patrice was stopped by Sharon who thanked her for everything and gave her a hug. "Try to get some rest Sharon" Patrice said and then walked out with Provenza who just nodded to Sharon. Just then, two orderlies came into the room with a nurse and informed both Andy and Sharon that they would be moving him up to the cardiac wing of the hospital into a bigger and more comfortable room. Sharon walked over to where Andy's belongings were in a plastic bag and reached inside for his bracelet and sobriety ring. She placed the bracelet around her wrist and placed his ring on her finger. Andy looked at what she was doing and he gave her a questionable look. "I don't want you to lose them as we move to a different room" she said to him shrugging. Sharon walked next to Andy's bed as he was being wheeled towards the elevator and followed the nurse upstairs to his new room for the night. It felt weird wearing a ring, Sharon thought to herself, however she could get used to it again as she smiled when Andy looked up at her as they got to his new room.
