A/N: I have received some wonderful reviews, better than I ever could have hoped for, and I just want you all to know how very much I appreciate them. Thank you. I hope you all continue to enjoy the story.
Chapter 4
As was Mike's wont all too often in circumstances like this, the waiting room became the focus of his world for the next several hours. Roy had left to return to the office but not before he'd extracted a promise from Mike to call him as soon as there was any fresh news. A questionable cheese and pickle sandwich, a Danish and about four or five insipid coffees later, one of the receptionists finally called him over to the desk.
"Lieutenant Stone. Dr Cranmer and Dr Truman would like you to go up to the ICU waiting room on the fourth floor. They'll be with you shortly."
"Is Steve out of surgery? Is he okay?"
"I'm sorry, Lieutenant I have no further information than that, but I think it must mean he's out of surgery."
Mike nodded, went back to his seat and collected his smoke-stained raincoat and his fedora, and hurried past the reception desk towards the elevator.
"I hope all goes well for the Inspector. I'll pray for him, sir." The receptionist, who had watched Mike's anxious pacing back and forth for the last few hours, had a concerned look on her face and Mike managed a smile as he went past.
"Thank you, my dear. It's very kind of you. I appreciate that... and I'm sure Steve would too." He hurried towards the elevator, cursing under his breath when he saw the light showing it was already on the fourth floor so he would have to wait for it to return to the first floor. His anxiety began to grow, and he felt his stomach knotting and churning. It was the kind of feeling he always got when entering a dentist's surgery or, as he was getting more and more used to, when he was waiting for news of Steve from the doctors caring for him.
Please, God, let him be alright. He turned his fedora in his hands first one way then the other, the soft felt feeling comforting to the touch. A bell pinged, and the elevator doors opened. A young couple walked out with their arms around each other, the woman quietly sobbing on her partner's shoulder. Mike looked at them compassionately as they passed. They must have had bad news, poor devils. With worry lines etching his brow, he couldn't help but pray that wasn't him in a few minutes time.
He pressed the button for the fourth floor and, as he was carried upwards, he felt his stomach drop almost into his boots. He was the only one in the elevator and it didn't stop at any other floors. Suddenly there was a soft lurch and it came to a halt and the doors opened. He stepped out into a large reception area and crossed to the desk.
"Excuse me, I'm Lieutenant Mike Stone. Dr Cranmer and Dr Truman asked me to meet them here. I'm waiting for news of Inspector Steven Keller."
"Oh yes, Lieutenant. Would you like to go into the relatives' room over there behind you and to your left. They'll be with you shortly."
The relatives' room again! Dear God, how he hated those words. They always made him jittery. He entered and looked around. It hadn't changed from the last time he sat here whilst waiting for news of Steve. When was that? January?... no February... almost on Valentine's day. Steve had been trying to arrest a man and had caught a nasty blow to the head knocking him unconscious for several hours. As a precaution he'd been sent to the ICU and Mike had again waited for hours for news of his progress. On that occasion all had turned out well, and he could only hope the same would be said of this particular occasion. He was re-living those moments as he sat on a hard chair over by the window. The door opened and in walked Dr Cranmer, still dressed in theatre scrubs. Mike noted that at least he had a smile on his face and took a deep breath as he stood.
"Mike, do sit down, please. Dr Truman will be joining us shortly to better explain his part in the surgery, but I'll try and settle your concern right away by telling you that the rest of the surgery went well. I examined the puncture wound to his left arm and removed the piece of wood. Thankfully it didn't damage any vital nerves or tendons so that shouldn't pose a future problem. There was another deep laceration to his chest wall and another on his arm but, again, no serious internal damage. We also had our plastic surgeon, Dr Carr, on hand to repair the damage to Steve's face as neatly as he could whilst we had him under the anaesthetic, and I must say the repair looks excellent. He also assessed the burns with me and we're happy that they're very superficial and won't need skin grafts. A couple of weeks and they should heal well. From my point of view, other than his leg, he's a very lucky fellow to escape so lightly. I believe Dr Truman is very pleased with the results he's been able to achieve too, but he'll update you more when he gets here. Steve's still in recovery and he'll remain there for the next couple of hours, then we'll move him into the ICU and you can see him then. He's still on the ventilator I'm afraid. Dr Ramona, the anesthesiologist, did try to ease him off it, but the trachea is still quite oedematous so we're leaving him on it and keeping him sedated for the next few hours till he feels happy to try him off it again, though Dr Ramona is very pleased that the drugs we've given him have reduced the swelling considerably. We don't want to strain his lungs and breathing at this early post-op stage, so we'll continue to let the ventilator breathe for him for a while longer."
"Thank God, Dr Cranmer. I can't tell you what a relief it is to hear you say that and I appreciate all that you and Dr Carr and Dr Truman have done for Steve. I've been going through all kinds of scenarios in my head whilst I've been waiting. It's the leg that worries me the most and any effect it may have on his future as a serving police officer. His career means a hell of a lot to him and, I might add, to his superiors. They, and myself, see a very bright future for him within the department. Now I know Dr Truman advised staying optimistic but it's not easy I can tell you. He's... er... rather... er... curt isn't he... Dr Truman? Has rather an unusual bedside manner I have to say though, as long as he knows his job, I suppose I shouldn't complain." Mike smiled at the other man who chuckled back.
"Mike, I don't think I'm exaggerating when I say he is a very good orthopaedic surgeon and we're very lucky to have him on our staff. I agree his manner is a little... shall we say... unusual to say the least, but his work is exemplary as I have just witnessed. Your partner has the best chance for full recovery from his leg injuries under Dr Truman's care. In light of that I think we can excuse him a few foibles, don't you?"
"We certainly can," said Mike as he grinned broadly. "I apologise if you think I spoke out of turn. I'm just not used to someone being so... outspoken."
"Not at all. I'll let you into a secret... me neither." He smiled broadly and winked at Mike. The door opened behind him and, looking over his shoulder, he turned to greet Dr Truman as he walked into the room pulling the green surgical cap off his head as he did so.
"Ah, Dr Truman, Mike here is anxiously waiting to speak to you. I've already given him a brief outline of Steve's post-op condition."
"Well, I'll keep this brief as I don't have long. I need to check on Inspector Keller again shortly and I do have other patients under my care. I presume Dr Cranmer has given you the main facts, so I'll just tell you that I've managed to relocate the dislocated knee. There was some ligament damage due to strain but no actual tearing of the ligaments, so rest will put that to rights in time. As he won't be mobile for quite a while he'll get plenty of the rest that his knee needs, but we also need to guard against the knee seizing up so he'll be started on physical therapy as soon as we reasonably can. We have to walk a very fine line between rest and mobility. As for the fractures... they are nasty, but I've seen worse. Fortunately, one was reasonably clean and as for the other... well... there was some splintering but I was able to wire the pieces back together and I've pinned and plated the fractures which have come back into alignment reasonably well. There is a great deal of bleeding into the surrounding tissue which will take some time to re-absorb into the body, and there's also some torn muscle especially around the area of the compound part of the fracture. As I said, I've pinned and plated the fractures and attached an external fixator to the leg which will very much limit his mobility, but it's a necessary piece of equipment I'm afraid. We must, of course, continue to guard against infection with antibiotic therapy and good nursing hygiene. All that being said, I'm hopeful of a good outcome, but it's going to take a great deal of patience on your partner's part and also a great deal of dedication on his part to adhere to the physical therapy programme that will be set for him. I hope you understand that his recovery is not going to be a five-minute job. A patient mindset will reap the highest reward. Is he a patient man, Lieutenant? In my experience, few men of the his age have the patience to comply fully with my instructions and the instructions of their physical therapists. They always want to run before they can walk... if you'll pardon the pun. Patience and perseverance to the recovery routine comes better with age. As I've said the young are far too impatient."
Mike had listened patiently to all he'd been told but he didn't like the tone Dr Truman had taken. "Steve may be young, Dr Truman, but he is not a stereotypical young man. He's very mature, way beyond his years, and I'm sure he'll want to do all he can to hasten his recovery, and if that means co-operating with complete and wholehearted commitment to all he's asked to do by you and the physical therapists, then that's what he'll do. I know him better than anyone and I know he'll want a complete recovery so that he can return to his career in the police department as soon as he is physically able. You have my word he won't do anything to jeopardise that." Mike was shaking with subdued anger by the time he had finished his speech. How dare Dr Truman make assumptions about Steve and his attitude to recovery. He hadn't even spoken to Steve personally yet, the kid being totally unconscious all the time he was in the emergency room.
Dr Truman glowered at Mike. "Mmm! I think I hit a raw nerve there, Lieutenant, did I not? You must understand I have more experience of physical trauma in the young than you have, but I am prepared to accept that I shouldn't judge a book by its cover. For the time being therefore I'll reserve judgement. I'll do my very best for your partner, but I'll expect total compliance with my instructions in return. Now, if you'll excuse me I do have other duties to attend to. Good day to you, Lieutenant." Mike almost felt a chill breeze as Dr Truman turned and walked briskly out of the room.
"Mike, I think you'd better sit down. You're shaking. I know what you're thinking and you're right. Dr Truman is brusque, possibly to the point of blatant rudeness, but just keep telling yourself he's the best person to have fighting in Steve's corner. If anyone can get Steve back to full fitness he can. Everything he said is correct... though I'll admit he could possibly have voiced it a little less bluntly. Is all that true about Steve? Does he have the patience needed?"
Mike looked up at Dr Cranmer with a twinkle in his eye. "Steve is probably the most impatient young man you'll ever come across and in his capacity as a hospital patient he can be totally impossible," Mike laughed guardedly, "but I'll threaten and cajole that young man and I'll hog-tie him to the bed if I have to before I'll give Dr Truman the satisfaction of proving himself right and me wrong. I will personally ensure that Steve is a model patient even if I die in the attempt."
And with those words ringing in his ears Dr Cranmer reached forward and grasped Mike's shoulder giving it a squeeze. "This is something I must see, Lieutenant!" The amusement on his face told of him looking forward to witnessing the possible clashes to come between the Lieutenant and his partner. "Steve will remain in recovery for the next few hours and, when I'm happy that he's stable, he'll be moved to the ICU. You can see him then and someone will come and fetch you. Oh, and by the way, I will be in charge of his general care whilst he's here and it looks like we're going to be seeing a lot of each other in the hospital over the next few weeks, so I'd be happy if you'd reciprocate allowing me to call you Mike by calling me George." He turned to walk away from Mike, hesitated, then turned back again. "Dr Truman will be responsible for Steve's orthopaedic care and, just in case you were thinking of asking... Dr Truman is always known as Dr Truman." He then turned again and walked out of the room leaving nothing but a chuckle behind him and a man holding a fedora talking to himself.
"Buddy Boy, I fear we're going to have a battle on our hands and for once you're going to do as you're told, and I won't accept no for an answer or be held responsible for the consequences if you don't."