Chapter 9

Mike left the hospital after having a brief chat with Moira and explaining about Steve's stomach-churning embarrassment over the hospital gown.

"It's really bothering him that much, is it?" she smiled. "Don't worry, I've probably been a nurse longer than Steve has been out of diapers. Rest assured, there are ways of achieving these things without harming his dignity. I've no doubt he'll sleep for a few hours now. He's completely tuckered out from the events of the day. You just go home and get a decent meal inside you and leave the rest to me."

"Okay, if you say so. Do you think he'll be moved to a room this evening? It's getting quite late now."

"Well, it's still on the cards for tonight. If they do move him, I'll be sure to ring and let you know."

"Thanks, Moira. If he wakes, tell him I'll be back later." He turned to walk away and turned back again. "And don't stand any nonsense from him!" Moira smiled and, with a brief salute, Mike turned towards the elevator.

For the next hour or so Steve slept deeply. Moira checked on him frequently and was amused at the little snores he gave every so often.

Just before six o'clock, Dr Truman stepped out of the elevator and approached Moira at the nurses' station. "Good evening, Nurse. I'm here to see Inspector Keller." He swept past and on towards the entrance to the ICU ward.

"Oh, good evening, Dr Truman. Certainly. I'll just get his file for you." She picked up Steve's hospital notes from the desk and hurried after him into the ward.

"How is he progressing?"

"He's doing very well. He's been awake, alert and talking. He's not given too much concern on my part other than his pain management, but I'll feel happier when you've seen him of course. Cubicle 4, Doctor." She parted the curtain and handed Dr Truman the file.

"I spoke to Dr Cranmer about fifteen minutes ago. He reported he's happy with the general progress of the Inspector's other superficial wounds and the burns he sustained but, as you have just said, I believe there have been some concerns about pain relief." He gave Moira a questioning look and picked up Steve's chart from the end of the bed.

"Yes, Doctor. He was given morphine earlier this morning after the ventilator was disconnected, but I understand the dose was kept to 10mg because of the effect it could have on his breathing. However, the dose wore off earlier than I had anticipated, and he was in intense pain. He had another dose of 10mg but you were in theatre so I called Dr Cranmer and he assessed him, and he's increased the dose of the morphine and also written him up for Oral Tylenol as a top up when needed. He had the increased dose of morphine just over an hour ago and he's sleeping peacefully as you can see."

"Has he had any Tylenol?"

"No, not yet."

"That's fine. Right, I won't disturb him too much. I'll just have a look at the leg if you'll turn on the overhead light please." He closely examined Steve's leg and the frame, but Steve never stirred. "That all looks fine, Nurse. What about his mood? Any problems?"

"No Doctor, not really. He got a bit agitated with his partner, Lieutenant Stone, this afternoon, but that man is marvellous and knows just how to handle Steve... er... Inspector Keller, and he was able to calm him down without too much difficulty."

"Hmm! Probably the enormity of the situation is only just beginning to sink in. He's presumably seen the frame of course and appreciates it's serious, but with the naivety of the young, he won't have fully absorbed and considered the implications of what's ahead of him. Well, I won't disturb him. Let him sleep for now. Tomorrow will be soon enough for me to spell it out to him and put him in the picture. I'm making no changes to the meds but carry on with the periodic ice packs. I'll continue to liaise with Dr Cranmer. Good night, Nurse." And with that he briskly handed the notes back, turned and left the cubicle.

Another hour had passed peacefully when the phone rang on the desk.

"ICU. Nurse Lowe speaking." She listened. "Oh, that's very good to hear. About eight o'clock you say. Yes, we'll be ready. Thank you." She put the phone back on its rest.

She looked around the ICU and spied who she was looking for. "Kathy, could you help me please? Steve Keller is being transferred to a room downstairs in about an hour and I need to get him ready for the move. Could you help me when you have a moment, please?"

"Sure, Moira. Five minutes."

"Thanks." Moira went to the linen cupboard and extracted a hospital gown and a clean top sheet and then made her way back to Steve's cubicle. She held her breath as she entered preparing for battle with the young man in the bed if he was awake, but he was still sound asleep.

"Let's hope he stays that way for the next few minutes," she spoke under her breath.

Kathy entered the cubicle and Moira looked at her and put her index finger to her lips and whispered, "I anticipate trouble if he wakes so we need to do this as quietly and carefully as possible."

In well-practiced moves, Moira disconnected the IV from Steve's arm and lowered the top sheet to Steve's waist. They gently picked up each arm in turn and slid the gown up his arms to his neck and gently tucked it under his shoulders.

Suddenly Steve stirred, gave a light snort and spoke. "Not again tonight, Babs. I have to be up early."

Both nurses stilled their movements and looked at each other with huge grins on their faces. They waited a minute, but Steve didn't stir again. They pulled the gown down, so it lay over the top sheet. They then pulled the soiled top sheet from under the gown and straightened the gown over Steve's good leg leaving the thigh of his injured leg uncovered. The sheet was removed from the bed and replaced with a clean one which was tucked in at the base and pulled up the bed, again leaving the frame uncovered. Moira then re-connected the IV.

"Well that wasn't too bad, modesty protected, but I'd hate to be the one who has to remove his catheter!" Moira chuckled.

With a smile Kathy prepared to leave the cubicle with the soiled sheet. "Anything else you need?"

"No thanks, I can manage the rest."

Over the next half-hour Moira carried out all Steve's checks again, updated his charts, and replaced the saline bag and catheter bag with fresh ones. She then returned to the desk and rang Mike to update him of the move.

"I can't thank you enough for all the wonderful care you've given Steve, and myself, whilst he's been in the ICU. You've been very understanding and so kind. Er... Did you put him in a gown...?"

"Yes, Kathy and I did. The gown is on and he slept through it all blissfully unaware," she laughed gently as she spoke.

"Well that's a relief. Thank you again."

"Both of you are very welcome, Mike. It's what we do up here. I hope Steve progresses and copes well in the coming weeks. There's a long road ahead of him... ahead of both of you."

"Oh I think he will do and he knows, deep down, the hard work that's ahead. He's very strong and resilient... when he puts his mind to it." There was a pause. "He'll do well, I'm sure of it."

"I'm sure too. Goodbye, Mike. Best of luck to you both." She rang off.

The time was fast approaching for Steve's next meds so she decided to administer the shot a few minutes early before he woke up so he would be comfortable during the move. Again, he didn't wake. She then busied herself until the elevator doors opened and two male orderlies and a nurse's aide stepped out and approached the desk.

"Patient, Steven Keller, to be moved to Room 208, Nurse." The accompanying nurse's aide looked at her notes and spoke to Moira.

"He's all ready for you." Moira led them to the cubicle and pulled back the curtains. With practised ease, the IV was unhooked from the stand and hooked onto the back of the bed. A small portable oxygen cylinder lay on top of the covers and, with Steve's 'hospital bag' at the foot, the bed was pushed out of its space and quietly wheeled down the ward and into the elevator. As the doors closed and Steve went on his way still completely oblivious to what was going on around him, Moira whispered, "Good luck, young man. I think you're going to need it." All that remained for Moira to do was to return to the cubicle and make it ready for its next occupant before she went off duty. It had been a long day. Her part in the long treatment and recovery of Steven Keller was over... but someone else's was just about to begin.