A/N: I am not quite sure where Spike's father falls ill, but I have inserted that as part of the storyline. Not a major part, but this keeps the story focused more on the team. Yes, this is a short filler chapter!
"Spike, open your eyes!" Lou's voice was full of panic as Spike's eyes started fluttering shut. Spike forced his eyes open again. He was just so exhausted and his body hurt so badly. Maybe if he just shut his eyes for a few minutes, he would feel a little better.
"Just keep his eyes open." The paramedic said as he gave Spike some morphine through the IV he had started. "We'll be at hospital soon." He couldn't stop a wince as he glanced over the injuries that covered Spike's chest. He had cut the constable's shirt open and bruises covered every inch of the exposed skin. He looked like he had been through a war.
"Damn, you know how to get yourself into a mess don't you?" Lou managed a small wry grin at that. "You're gonna be just fine." He tried not to let Spike see just how worried he was. Spike's face and chest was a mess. His jaw was swollen and had turned a nasty shade that was a mix of black and blue. Spike tried to mouth something, but he couldn't get the words to form. "Don't talk, just stay with me."
"Let's get him out!" The paramedic flung the doors as the squealed into the emergency room ambulance entrance. "You'll need to stay in the waiting area." The paramedic informed him as Lou ran alongside the gurney, not letting Spike's hand go. He gave it a squeeze before he let it fall back against the gurney. Spike's eyes widened in fear as he realized that Lou wasn't going with him. All Lou wanted to do was to stay by Spike's side and make sure that he was okay. He was left in the hallway alone, watching his best friend be whisked away behind the doors.
"Any news?" Wordy was the first to speak up as the entire team came storming through the doors and rushed to where Lou was pacing back and forth. The SIU had barely even asked one question before clearing them for their lethal action they had taken and they had ran for the SUVs and driven as fast as possible towards the hospital.
"Not yet." Lou couldn't get how scared Spike looked as he was wheeled away out of his head. He wished he could have gone with them and stayed with him through this. He couldn't imagine how terrified Spike was and he was surrounded by strangers.
"Spike's a fighter. He's going to be okay." Sarge said as he put a reassuring hand on Lou's shoulder, stopping his pacing. "I'm sure the doctor will come out soon." The team settled themselves in the corner, hoping news would come soon.
"Constable Scarlatti?" The doctor looked at the name on the chart as she emerged from behind the doors. The entire team leapt to their feet. They were eager to know how Spike was.
"We're his team." Sarge spoke up as the doctor looked a little shocked. "His family has been informed." Mrs. Scarlatti had demanded to be kept up-to-date, but she had been forced to stay home with Spike's father, who was too sick to leave his bed. She had demanded several times that she be updated the second that they knew anything.
"I'm Doctor Link. Constable Scarlatti is in surgery at the moment to wire his jaw into place. He also required ninety stitches to close the various cuts across his face and chest. He also has five broken ribs and a broken right clavicle. We also took a CT of his head and found three separate skull fractures. He's going to be in the hospital for about a week for observation and will need to rest for at least a month and a half before going back on light duty." The team was shocked. They were used to the smiling Spike who rebounded from everything, not one who would be out of commission for so long.
"What, what about the um, emotional toll?" Sarge hated to ask, but the worst aspect of this whole ordeal could be the residual emotional damage that would exist even after the physical wounds healed.
"I am not a psychiatrist, so I can't tell you for sure, but it's going to be a long road until he's recovered." Dr. Link couldn't imagine what the young man had gone through. He had had extensive injuries. It never ceased to shock him the horrific things that human beings could do to other people. "He's going to need all the support he can get."
"We'll get him through it." Sam was the first to speak up. The team got through their toughest days together and kept each other from falling. They would get Spike through this. Spike had always been ready to listen and give a hug when needed. Now it was their turn.
"How long until we can see him?" Jules spoke up, blinking away the tears that she wouldn't allow to fall until she was alone. Wordy gave her a gentle squeeze as he wrapped an arm around her. He could tell from the slight quiver in her voice that she was close to losing it.
"I will have a nurse come and tell you the second that Constable Scarlatti has been moved out of Recovery." The doctor could tell how close the police officers before him were. Their body posture and the bags underneath their eyes showed that they had not slept in a good while and he guessed they wouldn't until the constable was out of the woods.
"Thanks." Greg nodded his thanks as the team all settled back into their chairs. He pulled out his phone and quickly gave Mrs. Scarlatti the little bit of information that they had been given. He thought grimly to himself as he half fell back into the hard chair, it was time to begin the waiting game.
"Constable Scarlatti?" The team all converged on the nurse as she entered the waiting area.
"We're his team." Greg was eager for news. He really wanted to see Spike and know that he was okay.
"He's doing well. He's been moved to a private room on the fourth floor. I can take you there now if you would like!" The nurse said with a smile on her face. The team felt some of the tension that was caked up in their system start to melt, but it would not all go away until they saw Spike with their own eyes.
"Yes!" Lou had a hard time not screaming the word in the woman's face. He wanted to see his best friend, his brother. She nodded and beckoned them to follow her. They wanted to push her faster and sprint to the room, but they knew they had to control their emotions for a few minutes more.
"Here we are!" The nurse said after an excruciatingly long elevator ride. It felt like the elevator had some type of personal vendetta against them. She pointed to the room on the right and swung the door open for them. She scurried off to find the doctor to update them.
"Thank you." The team mumbled as they all walked through the door and were taken aback by Spike's appearance. His whole face was puffed up almost beyond recognition. They could see metal rods emerging from the sides of his face. Tubes and wires were attached everywhere. His chest was exposed and was completely wrapped up. His right arm was in an immobilizer sling. He looked like he had been thrown into a wood shredder, but he was alive. While an oxygen mask was resting on his face, the rise and fall of his chest was not from a tube that was shoved down his throat. The team felt more of their worries sliding away.
"I'm Doctor Hemingway. I was Constable Scarlatti's surgeon." A knock on the door caused everyone's heads to turn. They were grateful for the updates.
"What can you tell us?" Greg felt like he had been unconsciously nominated the team's spoke person. They really hadn't talked during the wait. Everyone was lost in their thoughts and the fear that they could lose a team member. It was one of the biggest fears that they all held in their minds every time they went out on a call, but not one they normally had to worry about when they weren't on duty.
"I'll give you a rundown of what you see. The skull fractures will heal on their own, but the wires on his head are to monitor the pressure in his brain. The fracture in his jaw was very severe and we have inserted several rods to re-align the jaw. His ribs have been taped and he should stay as still as possible for the next few weeks. The IVs are providing morphine and nourishment, since he will not be able to eat for a month, possibly longer. All things considered, he has been extremely lucky." The doctor looked over the man before her. He looked like he had been to hell and back, but he had made it back.
"When will he regain consciousness?" Jules had moved to Spike's bedside and was carefully holding his hand, avoiding the wires and tubes.
"He should wake up when the anesthesia wears off. That will most likely be within the next hour or so." The surgeon looked more grave, "Be prepared, he will be disoriented. You will need to keep him still." The team got ready for another long wait, their eyes not wavering from Spike as they waited for him to wake up.
A/N: Yea, that's not my best ending, but I wanted to get something small up. Suggestions on how to open the next chapter?