Disclaimer: I don't own BBC Sherlock. Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss are the creators.
…
Chapter 7: Perseverance
"John?"
"Yes?"
"When we were worried about Hamish's health, did anything show?"
"No. He was all clear, why?"
"What do you think of this?" Sherlock lifts up Hamish's feet and Hamish giggles at Sherlock touches his toes and feet ticklish. John smiles at him and looks back down at his feet.
"It's also on his hands." John looks him over and looks at his face.
"I'd say he's got acrocyanosis. It's very common in children."
"Acrocyanosis?"
"It's where there may be decreased oxygen in the bloodstream. He'll be fine. He's survived everything so far." John picks him up and spins him around causing a high pitches squeal to leave the boy and he giggles again. Sherlock smiles and goes back to working.
2 days pass when Hamish wakes up in the night and starts coughing uncontrollably. Sherlock looks over him to see Hamish's lips are blue. He removes Hamish's pyjamas and vest and looks over his chest, it is also tinged blue. He carries on coughing and blood splatters the corner of his mouth.
"John? John!" Sherlock shakes John trying to rouse him.
"What's wrong?" Hearing Sherlock's panicked voice he wakes up immediately and looks to his side at Hamish.
"It's spread. His body and lips are also blue. Is it the acrocyanosis?"
"No. It's central cyanosis which is really not good."
John takes his pulse and Hamish opens his eyes slightly, stretching his fingers to John's face before closing his eyes and John takes his pulse again, 10 beats per minute.
"He's barely breathing. Call an ambulance!"
John takes off Hamish's clothes and sees a dip on the right side of his chest.
"Shit. A lung has collapsed."
"How?"
"You know when you found him; his medical file said a fractured rib. It was left to heal by itself. Maybe his walking caused it to refracture and I think it's pierced his lung. That would explain the sudden difficulty in breathing and the development of cyanosis."
"The paramedics will be here in 10 minutes."
"Sherlock, that's too long. His other organs can stop working due to lack of oxygen in 5 minutes, mainly his brain. Grab me a pillow."
Sherlock does as he's told and hands John the closest pillow. John holds the pillow against the chest wall.
"This should immobilise the fracture and lessen the pain of each breathe."
"Of course."
Ok. Ok think. Think of a solution. Hamish will die if you don't. Possibilities: bus – takes 20 minutes, walk – 33 minutes, run – around 18 minutes, taxi – 9 minutes. Got it.
Sherlock picks up his phone and dials a number he rarely uses.
"Mycroft, Zeus."
John can't hear the other end of the conversation but meanwhile changes into day clothes.
"Thank you." Sherlock concludes and hangs up.
"What was that about?" John asks.
"Mycroft's already sent a car; it should be here in a few seconds."
"He knew before you called him?"
"He knows everything…the fatty."
Sherlock quickly dresses and they leave when a car horn sounds outside. They enter the car and before they've completely sat down they're moving.
"What is 'Zeus' code for?"
"In Greek mythology, Rhea secretly gave birth to Zeus. She handed Cronus a stone wrapped in clothes which he swallowed, thinking that it was his son. It doesn't mean anyone is going to eat Hamish but I use it signalling that Hamish is in danger. Also we've kept Hamish a secret from most of our 'friends' so 'Zeus' is appropriate."
"That's clever."
"I know."
Due to many laws being violated they reach the hospital in 5 minutes. Hamish is still breathing but is unconscious in John's arms.
They sprint into the hospital, leaving the car doors open and head to the front desk.
"Our child, he's barely breathing."
Doctors that overhear come running over and place Hamish in a bed immediately. Sherlock and John follow.
"Do you know the cause?" A female doctor approaches them.
"He has pneumothorax which has caused him to develop central cyanosis." The doctor has a stunned expression so John continues.
"I was an Army doctor. John Watson."
"Ok, that makes more sense. I'm Dr Jones, nice to meet you. Well done for the pillow by the way. You should know that we are taking him into surgery now. The treatment for this is –"
"Placing a chest tube within the chest cavity, through a small incision near the armpit, under suction and water seal." Sherlock interrupts.
"And you are?"
"Sherlock Holmes."
"Oh, you're that detective. I like your website."
"Um, thanks." he replies off-guard.
"Back to business. Did he show any signs of pain or shortness of breath?"
"He can handle a lot of pain and mask it. He was breathing heavily when he slept. That explains his recent change in sleep; he's been sleeping more so that he doesn't consciously feel the pain…"
Sherlock focuses again to see Dr Jones and John looking at him weirdly.
"Sorry mental note."
"Right…what did you mean by he can handle a lot of pain?"
"Read his file."
The doctor walks away to collect Hamish's file. She reads it, frowns and nods understandingly.
"The chest tube may need to stay in place for a few days before it can be removed."
"Can we stay here too?" John asks.
"Actually I recommend it. I think he'll recover better if he is around people he knows and trusts given his past."
All of a sudden doctors and nurses rush to the surgical unit, their voices raised and panic clear in their tone. A doctor whispers in Dr Jones' ear and her face drops. She looks at Sherlock and John distraught and joins the other doctors hurriedly applying anti-bacterial gel and latex gloves to her hands.
"Hello? Excuse me?" John tries getting someone's attention but they ignore heading to the problem. They decide to follow but are stopped at the doors.
"Who's hurt?"
"A toddler had a collapsed lung, it's been punctured and he's stopped breathing."
Sherlock looks to John who says to the doctor, "Sorry about this." before grabbing his top and pushing him out of the way. Two security guards approach them and Sherlock talks them out of removing them noting that if they have any quarrels they can contact D. .
Sherlock looks on in the theatre room. A flat line echoes from the monitor and he slides down the opposite wall situating his head on his knees and skilfully controls his breathing. John finds him and sits next to him leaning on him.
"He can't be dead…he can't be." Sherlock almost whispers in disbelief.
Dr Jones looks out the window at them and joins them her face forlorn.
"Do you have anyone you can stay with? Parents perhaps."
"Why?" Sherlock muffles.
"It's best you don't return to the place that holds his belongings; it usually results in the parents making reckless decisions such as suicide, homicide or extensive violence."
Neither Sherlock or John respond. Sherlock looking dazed at the floor while John stands and looks in at Hamish whose body is immobile and tinted blue by deoxygenated blood.
"I'm sorry but he's –"
A beep from the other room causes them all to look in. Surgeons recording the time of death and removing their masks whisk round to the cardiac monitor where the noise came from. The same noise is emitted and the doctors surround the infant. Dr Jones heads back into theatre and is informed of the situation. Before Hamish flat lined he was almost fully treated. A doctor finished placing the special bandage containing petroleum jelly on the wound to create a seal so air can escape the wound but not return and the rib was realigned in order for it to heal properly. His body was just resetting allowing enough oxygen to return so his organs could function. His heart begins to beat.
Sherlock and John continue to look on now with other doctors and nurses watching the event. They witness Hamish's leg twitch and then clench and unclench his fists as he returns to the living.
"He's going to be ok." Dr Jones marvels in mass confusion yet is relived.
John laughs in disbelief and joy while Sherlock looks intently at the boy.
"It's amazing he's alive, to be honest, he shouldn't be not with those injuries at his age. In my 5 years as a paediatric nurse I have never encountered anything like this. He is a fighter."
"Yes he is." Sherlock agrees.
Once it is assured Hamish is safe to be moved he is taken to intensive care where he will remain for 6 weeks with Sherlock and John by his side.
…
A/N – DOCTOR WHO TONIGHT YAY! (May extend later) I'm at Centre Parcs Monday 25th till Friday 29th. Depending when I get back chapter 8 may be out on the 29th or the 30th. I wonder whether Hamish will make a full recovery…yes I am that cruel…follow to find out xox
