Chapter 7

It didn't take the ambulance very long to arrive at the scene. After a quick assessment, the paramedics loaded Kowalski into the ambulance. One of the paramedics helped Janet into the front seat while the other one stayed in the back with Kowalski. When they arrived at the hospital, he was taken to a room immediately. They made Janet wait in the waiting room while they got Kowalski settled in a bed and took down his information as the paramedics had already started an IV before they left for the hospital.

While she waited for them to let her in, she went over to the nurse's station. "Excuse me, could I please use the phone to call my husband. I don't have my cell on me," she asked anxiously.

"No problem," the attendant at the desk said as she turned the phone to face Janet.

"Thank you," Janet replied as she dialed Lee's cell number.

"Lee," Janet said softly.

"Sweetheart, where are you…are you alright…is Ski with you?" Lee rapidly fired the questions.

"Yes, we're at the hospital. We were in an accident so they brought us here."

"An accident...the hospital," Lee said loudly. "We just checked there." Lee figured they arrived after Jamie's call.

"Ski's not feeling well, please bring Jamie," Janet pleaded.

"We'll be there as soon as we can," Lee replied calmly as not to upset Janet but his heart was pounding.

"Okay but please hurry."

Lee heard Janet hang up the phone and disconnected his. "They're at the hospital. I don't know all the details. Jamie, come with me. Janet said they were in a car accident and that Kowalski is sick."

"Yes of course," Jamie responded as he ran to the car with Chip and Lee. Once in the car Jamie would call the hospital to find out what the status was on Kowalski.

"Lee, I'll follow you in my car," the admiral told him as he hopped into his car.

"Okay, sir," Lee replied as he got in Chip's car. He sped down the driveway of the mansion and headed to the hospital.

As they were driving, Lee's phone rang, it was Chief Sharkey calling, "Skipper, we checked Ski's house and they aren't here. Do you want us to wait?"

"No Chief, they're at the hospital. Please call the others and let them know where they are," Lee asked quickly.

"Aye, aye sir," Sharkey replied sharply. "We'll be there shortly."

Lee hung up the phone and smiled as he knew they would all show up to support Kowalski.

"Lee, have you considered putting a chip in Janet's arm like they do with dogs and cats. We could program your phone so you would be able to track her down," Chip teased knowing Lee wouldn't be mad at him because he knew Janet was safe.

"Chip, I know you're teasing me but that's not a bad idea. She can get herself into more situations," Lee admitted.

"She's almost as bad as you are," Chip answered with a smirk as they pulled into the parking lot of the hospital. Jamie sat in the back seat with a smirk on his face too.

((()))

The three men got out of the car and ran into the emergency room where Jamie hustled over to the nurse's station leaving Chip standing there as Lee was already pacing the corridor.

"Dr. Jamieson," the nurse said, "What are you doing here?"

"They brought a patient of mine in here a little while ago. Last name Kowalski," Jamie told the nurse.

"Yes, he's in exam room one with a Mrs. Crane.

((()))

Once they had Kowalski settled the emergency doctor came out to talk to Janet. "Hi, I'm Dr. Jordan, Mr. Kowalski's ER doctor. I understand you were in a car accident earlier this evening."

"Yes Doctor," Janet replied. "Can I see him...is he okay...what's wrong with him?" she asked urgently.

"Yes, you can see him as he's asking about you. Are you alright?"

"Yes, I'm fine, where is he?"

Dr. Jordan led her to exam room one. Kowalski had his eyes closed when she walked in.

"Ski," Janet said softly not wanting to disturb him.

Opening his eyes he asked, "Mrs. C., are you alright?"

"Yes, I'm fine, don't worry about me," Janet told him as she sat down on the chair next to his bed. "Dr. Jamieson should be here shortly with the Skipper. Just rest."

"My head still hurts but they won't give me anything until Doc gets here and fills them in on what's wrong with me," Ski reported to her.

Kowalski closed his eyes as Janet waited for Jamie and Lee to come. She hadn't been sitting there too long when they rushed into the room. Janet got up and gave Lee a hug and kiss. "I'm sorry I didn't have my phone, I wasn't expecting to leave. Jamie, Ski's had a headache ever since we left the party and he bumped his head on the steering wheel. He was mumbling about Blackbeard and duels before we went off the road."

"Why don't you and Lee wait outside while I examine him," Jamie said quietly. "I'll let you know how he is shortly."

"Okay, Jamie," Lee replied as he took Janet's hand and they walked out of the room.

Once in the waiting room, Lee led Janet over to an empty chair next to Chip. Before she sat down he gave her another hug. "Are you sure you're alright...you didn't bump you head...or hurt anything else?" Lee asked with concern.

"I'm fine. I had my seatbelt on and the ditch wasn't very deep," Janet replied as she sat down next to Chip and Lee sat down next to her.

"Ditch?" Chip questioned. "How did you get into a ditch?"

"Maybe I better start at the beginning," she replied looking at Lee then Chip.

"Sweetie, maybe you better," Lee answered as the admiral walked in and sat down next to Chip.

Taking a deep breath, Janet explained, "I was just coming back into the ballroom and saw you and Ski dueling. I went to help you up when Ski grabbed me and threw me over his shoulder. I had no idea what was going on...he threw me in the truck and drove away. Lee, I was afraid he would get hurt or hurt someone else. He was driving erratically but he wouldn't stop. He was mumbling about Blackbeard and dueling. We drove a little further when I saw a police car behind us but instead of stopping he sped up so they pushed us into a shallow ditch to stop us. They wanted to know if he had been drinking as he could hardly stand. I told them he had a concussion and I wanted to drive him to Med Bay but they wouldn't let because I didn't have my license so they called an ambulance. Ski didn't have his phone so I couldn't call until we got here."

"I'm glad you went with him," Lee remarked squeezing her hand. "Sweetie, where's Ski's truck?" Janet told them where the truck was. Lee would send Patterson to fetch it later on.

As soon as Janet finished telling the men what happened the rest of the group rushed into the emergency room. They saw Lee with Janet, Chip and the admiral and went over to them. Lee explained to them what had taken place and that they were waiting for Jamie to report to them on Ski's condition. They all sat down taking up the last few chairs in the waiting room.

((()))

When Jamie went into Kowalski's cubicle, Dr. Jordan was there checking the bump on his forehead. The paramedics had given him an ice pack to put on it so it didn't swell up too bad.

"Hi Warren," Jamie greeted him.

'Hi Jamie. I understand Mr. Kowalski is a patient of yours," Dr. Jordan said looking at Jamie.

"Yes, I treated him earlier this week for a concussion and gash on his head," Jamie replied. "Warren, do you mind if I ask him some questions?"

"No not at all," Dr. Jordan replied starting to leave the room.

"Please stay Warren. I don't think he'll mind you being here."

"Kowalski, tell me what's wrong," Jamie asked as he checked his chart for his vitals.

"Right now my head is killing me. But I've had a headache for the last couple of days. Doc, I just haven't felt myself. I'm depressed...irritable...tired...what's wrong...will I ever get better?" he asked worriedly. "While I was at the party I saw a guy dressed up as Blackbeard. I thought I was back on Seaview and working with Blackbeard again."

Dr. Jordan looked at Jamie when Ski told him about Blackbeard but didn't say anything to him as they were dressed in costumes so he maybe met Blackbeard there.

"Let's take another CT scan just to make sure they're no other problems after the accident," Jamie told him with Dr. Jordan nodding his head in agreement. Jamie looked at the bump on his head and put the ice pack back on it.

While the technicians took Ski for his scan, Jamie and Warren conferred on what to do about Ski. They decided if there was nothing on the scan, he would be released to Jamie and go to Med Bay. Warren knew that Med Bay was equipped as well as any hospital and knew Ski would be more comfortable staying there.

"I better report what's going on to Ski's friends before one of them, meaning Lee, storms in here wanting to know what's going on," Jamie told Warren as they walked to the waiting room.

Lee quickly stood up and went over to Jamie. "What's going on...is he staying...can I see him?" Lee asked urgently as the rest of them got up and surrounded Jamie and Dr. Jordan.

"They're taking him for a CT scan right now. If nothing shows up, Dr. Jordan, his ER doctor, will release him to me and he will go to Med Bay for a few days. So just sit back down and relax for a little while," Jamie stressed.

They all returned to their chairs except Angie and Wanda who went to the cafeteria and brought back coffee for all of them while they waited for Ski to return to his room. Jamie went over to Janet and Lee before going to the nurse's station with Dr. Jordan to wait for Ski and the results of the scan. "Are you okay?" he asked her as he looked her over.

"I'm fine," Janet replied testily. "I had my seatbelt on...I didn't hit my head or any other part of my body."

"Just checking," Jamie said as he patted her hand.

"I'm sorry Jamie. I know you're just concerned," Janet apologized. "I'm just worried about Ski."

((()))

Ski was gone for an hour before he was returned to his room. Dr. Jordan and Jamie walked into the room and Kowalski slowly sat up and looked at them intently.

"There's no bleeding in your brain," Jamie told him, "You have post concussion syndrome. Kowalski, it's just going to take time for your brain to heal. You've had previous concussions so it's going to take awhile. It could take a couple of weeks or longer. You're going to need to rest so Dr. Jordan and I have decided to let you recover in Med Bay where I'm going to keep you for a couple of days. We'll prescribe some medication for your headache and then get you ready to leave."

"But Doc..." Kowalski started to say but Jamie cut him off.

"I'll report my findings to the Skipper and Mr. Morton and I know they'll agree with me. You can go back on duty later next week provided you feel up to it."

"Yes sir," Kowalski conceded and laid back down on the bed. Dr. Jordan gave the nurse the order for pain medication before leaving the room.

((()))

Jamie went to talk the group while Dr. Jordan left to check on another patient. As Jamie walked into the waiting room he was immediately pounced on by the group. "Is he okay, Jamie?" Lee asked the first one to Jamie.

"Yes, he's going to be fine. He can leave here and go to Med Bay for a few days. He won't be able to return to work until the end of next week."

"That's good to know," Lee said exhaling deeply. "Can we see him?"

"Why don't you wait until he's in Med Bay," Jamie suggested. "I need to call Frank and see if he can stay with him the rest of the night before John and Betty come on duty in the morning." Jamie walked away from the group and made his phone call.

((()))

Two hours later Ski was settled in Med Bay with Frank's and Jamie's help. He was tired but wanted to see his friends before they left for the night.

Jamie went into the waiting room and looked at the ten faces staring at him. "Okay you can see him but only three at a time and only for a few minutes," he stressed.

"Angie, Wanda and Bobby, you go in first," Lee told them as they quickly walked past him and into the room.

They only stayed a few minutes and were followed in by Patterson, Sharkey and Riley. The admiral, Chip and Janet entered the room but Lee stayed behind to talk to the rest of the group.

"You can all go home. It's early in the morning and we're all tired. Pat, Riley, here are the keys to Ski's truck would you mind picking it up and driving to Ski's house?"

"No problem Skipper," they replied as Lee told them where the truck was parked. They left patting each other on the back knowing their friend was going to be alright.

The other three bid good bye to Lee and headed out the door. Bobby would follow Angie and Wanda home as they didn't live to far from his house.

Lee watched them leave and went into Ski's room just as the admiral was saying goodnight. He patted his shoulder before leaving.

"Goodnight," he said yawning. "It's been a long day."

"Goodnight sir," the trio replied as the admiral left the room.

"Skipper, I'm sorry Mrs. C. was in the car accident," Kowalski apologized. He looked over at Janet, "I'm so sorry I grabbed you and put your over my shoulder. I didn't know what I was doing. I saw that man and I thought Blackbeard had come back."

"Don't worry about Ski. I'm glad she was there to help you," Lee replied knowing he was going to have to explain what Ski just told Janet.

"No problem, Ski. I've never been put on anyone's shoulder before. It was kind of fun," Janet said as she patted his hand letting him know she wasn't angry with him. She was very curious as to what he meant by Blackbeard had come back.

Jamie returned to the room as Kowalski let out a yawn. "Everyone needs to leave. He's tired, I'm tired and I see the rest of you are tired too. You can check on him tomorrow."

"Goodnight, Ski," they said and walked out of the room as Jamie would check him out one more time before he left.

Chip, Lee and Janet walked to the car. Janet didn't even bother to try and stifle her yawn. "What time is it?" she asked.

Lee looked at his watch, "0300 hours. Well past our bedtime," he chuckled as he opened the door for her.

Chip dropped them off at their house and left for his. He too was exhausted and planned on sleeping until noon.

((()))

Lee turned out the light in the living room as Janet waited on the stairs for Lee to come up. She was so tired she could hardly walk. They removed their costumes, washed up and climbed into bed.

"Lee," Janet said sleepily as she laid next to him with her hand on his chest. "You never did tell me about your meeting with Blackbeard."

"Sweetheart, remind tomorrow to tell you about it," Lee replied yawning but his comment fell on deaf ears as Janet was already asleep. Good she's asleep. I'll have time to think up a story, Lee thought as he closed his eyes and fell asleep.

The End.

I hope you enjoyed the story. Thank you to everyone who read the story. A special thanks to those who wrote reviews.