Mountain High
These good fellows don't belong to me but I promise when I'm done to pick um up, dust um off and with a kiss on the cheek return them safely home.
"Courage is being afraid but going on anyhow." Unknown.
Chapter 9
Roy and Pete came in with 2 boxes full of medical supplies. Kris sat back while Roy dug through the assortment looking for something specific. He pulled out the BP cuff and stethoscope. Catching Kris off guard he took her arm placing the cuff on it.
"Roy, what are you doing?" She was confused.
"Johnny's more stable than you. We both know that you need the fluids more than him." He continued to check her pressure. "Just what I thought 90/50, too low. Let's get your IV started first."
With the way she felt there nothing in her to fight with him about it. She knew he was right. An IV wouldn't save her but it would help her last a little longer. Holding out her arm she accepted the IV catheter.
"What fluids would you like my dear?" He smiled.
"I think I'll have the LR, thank you sir."
Roy got the fluids running. He turned the rate up for now to try and bring her pressure up some. She was bleeding internally and the IV wouldn't make that go away but he needed her to remains conscious as long as possible.
Next he gently placing the cuff on Johnny's arm. After checking his BP he reached for his wrist getting his pulse.
"BP is 150/90, pulse is 120." His hand then moved to his abdomen, "Respirations are 30." Next he leaned forward flashing the penlight into Johnny's eyes.
Kris smiled as Johnny batted his friend's hand away and whined, "Do you have to do the light Roy?"
"Of course I have to do the light, you know better than that. Now just be still and let me do my job, ok Junior?" He looked to Kris now, "Pupils are equal and reactive but somewhat sluggish."
"Ok, let's get it cleaned up and sutured. Let's do D5LR at 100 drops per minute and monitor his BP." Roy took Johnny's arm and easily started the IV then hung the fluids. Kris took the cleaner working on his laceration. He pulled away from her looking to Roy.
Kris thought he looked like a lost child all of a sudden and needed Roy to tell him it would be ok.
"Its alright partner, she'll take good care of you. Getting this sutured up will help the pain ok?" He talked in a soothing manner and Johnny calmed down again.
Kris drew up some Lidocaine putting a little all around the cut. When she knew it was good and numb she began to sew it up. Mike stayed beside Johnny, holding his arms so he wouldn't reach up. Kris felt that it probably comforting to both of them. Roy was very impressed with her suturing skills. She did a great job and he knew that Johnny would be pleased when he was awake enough to see it. The bleeding had stopped much to Roy's relief. Johnny also looked more relaxed as the outside pain had stopped.
"BP is now 120/70. Better Johnny. Your color's better too." Roy seemed more relaxed also knowing that Johnny was more stable. However, he was caught off guard when he saw Mike reach up to grab Kris. She was struggling to keep her eyes open now. The pain was becoming overwhelming to her and she couldn't hide it any longer. Johnny was stable. Now it was her turn.
"Roy. Think I could use one of your IV specials next." She knew the pain in her abdomen was ominous. "Might want to make that two IV's."
Pete jumped up when he saw Mike grab her, helping her to the other bed. She grimaced then cried out when they made her lay down. Roy moved to her side with Pete on the other. He put his paramedic skills into full gear.
Johnny tried to sit up on his elbow, "How is she Roy?" It didn't last long as waves of nausea took over forcing him to lay back down.
"No head injury. Broken ribs. She's having some difficulty breathing, maybe some partial collapsed lung. Abdomen is tense." He looked over to Pete. "She needs a hospital, a surgeon. We need to get both of them out of here."
Pete just shook his head, "Roy, the bridge is out, the weather won't allow any copter in, and the back roads are just too dangerous to travel on. You have to help her here."
Roy could see the deep fear in the deputy's face as he held onto her hand.
"Roy." They both looked down at her. "Pete's right. I know the roads here. Can't travel tonight. Get me another IV started, some oxygen for my breathing." She paused to catch her breath. "You have my permission to do anything Roy. I trust you."
"Kris, as much as I appreciate your trust in me I have to work under the direction of a doctor. With the phone lines down I can't reach Rampart General and when, uh, if you become unconscious you won't be able to give me orders anymore."
Kris smiled at Roy and took his hand. "I'm sorry Roy. I know this isn't easy. I also know that I'm not gonna stay awake for a longer. Give me an airway if needed." She paused again. "Just keep me going."
Roy's heart broke with what she was asking from him, knowing he couldn't make any promises on this dark and stormy night. They were stranded. He also knew he couldn't lie to her as she knew exactly what was going on.
"I'll do everything in my power Kris. Try and rest ok?"
He moved off her bed to help Johnny settle down in his bed. "You need to rest too partner."
"Guess senior partner is the boss huh?" Johnny looked worn out and didn't fight being tucked into the blankets.
"You got it Junior." Roy smiled at him then watched him drift off to sleep. "Mike, go see some sleep. We're good for now." Mike nodded his thanks and headed downstairs.
"Pete?" It was Kris. Roy looked over at them.
"Pete. The radio. I know it's broken but I had it almost working again. The new parts are with it. Maybe one of the guys can get it going again."
Pete didn't want to leave her but he brushed her hair back from her face and gently kissed her on the forehead. Roy smiled seeing the surprise on Kris's face. It was obvious that she liked it.
He headed downstairs to the group of men who were now dry, warm and drinking some coffee while sitting around the table. Marco was helping Anna clean up the kitchen while they conversed in Spanish.
"Mike? Can you help me get this radio?"
Mike winced as he stood up, "Sure."
Hank saw it. "Mike? You ok?"
"Yea, Cap, just sore and bruised from all the fun tonight," he didn't wait for a response as he left with Pete.
Hank frowned.
They came back a few minutes later with an old radio and a box of parts and tools. "Kris had been using this until last week when it died. She was in the process of replacing some of the old parts. Let's see if we can get it working again for Roy."
The men gathered around the radio working while they talked.
They were proud of themselves as they pushed away from the table.
"Everyone get some shut eye while we can." He knew they were way past the point of exhaustion. Seeing them move into the living room Hank carried the radio upstairs to Roy.
Roy saw him come in, "Get it working?"
"Well, we haven't tried it yet. So let's find out."
Hank took the radio as Roy collected another set of vital signs on both Johnny and Kris.
"LA. This is Cheska Ranch."
Static…
"LA, come in. This is Cheska Ranch."
"This is LA. You are transmitting on a secure channel. Please identify yourself." Hank about jumped for joy.
"LA. This is Captain Stanley with Station 51. We are currently off duty at Cheska Ranch and need an emergency relay to Rampart."
"10-4. Hold on for relay."
The response was full of static but it was still a connection.
Roy took the radio from Hank, "Thanks' Cap."
"Go ahead Cheska," the dispatcher said.
"This is Rampart, who am I speaking to?" The voice belonged to Dixie.
"Dixie, this is Roy. We are out here on vacation and have had some problems. I have two victims that I need help with."
"Hold on Roy, let me get a doctor." Dixie left the phone and hurried into treatment 2.
"Kel?"
"I have an emergency on the landline, can you take it?"
"Sure, be right there." He finished up writing the prescription for the patient. Moving out to the desk Dixie was waiting on him.
"Kel, its Roy. It's on vacation and has two victims."
Kelly frowned. He picked up the phone and put it on speaker.
"Roy? This is Brackett."
"Doc. I have 2 victims. First victim is Johnny."
Dixie stiffened.
"He has a moderate sized contusion on the right side of his head with a 4cm laceration. The laceration has already been cleaned up and sutured by a doctor. He was in cold water with hypothermia but we have since re-warmed him. His vitals have been stable, they are now 110/75, pulse is 80, and respirations are 18. His only complaint is a mild headache but he has been responsive and alert." He paused, waiting for a reply.
"Roy, who sutured him up?"
"Doc, we were in a rescue of a woman. She was the one that actually closed the wound. She's a doctor, a vet." Roy could just picture the exchange of looks between Brackett and Dixie.
"Ok, Roy what about your second victim?" Kelly was actually confused at this point. If there was a doctor there then why was Roy calling them? He decided to let him finish first.
"Doc, the second victim is our doctor. We pulled her out of a creek. She was also suffering from hypothermia but has also re-warmed. She has right sided broken ribs, suspect a partial collapsed lung with some labored breathing and diminished breath sounds. Abdominal tenderness with right sided quadrant rigidity. She is in and out of consciousness at this point. Vitals are 80/50, pulse is 125, and respirations are 28. She has 2 IV's of LR running wide open Doc with minimal improvement in blood pressure. She is on 15 liters of oxygen."
Kelly understood now. He realized that she must have taken care of Johnny before succumbing to her own injuries. "Roy, it sounds like you have them as stable as possible right now. Keep the IV's going and transport as soon as possible."
Roy leaned against the dresser and sighed, "Doc, that's our problem. We are in the mountains on vacation. The storm has taken out the bridge to get out of town. The back roads are flooded out and the storm won't let us fly them out. I don't know anything else to for them."
They could hear the desperation in his voice. Johnny sounded stable and could be closely observed where he was but the doctor was another story. She needed an OR. It was the only thing that would save her.
"Ok, Roy. Let me see what we can do from this end to help you. How do I get back in touch with you?"
"Just relay back through LA dispatch. We are Cheska Ranch."
"Ok, Roy. Let us know of any changes that concern you."
"10-4 doc. Out." Roy knew they couldn't help him but he still felt better talking to Bracket. To make sure he wasn't missing something obvious. He turned to Hank.
"Cap, I'm open to any suggestions at this point. We have to get her to Rampart."
"We'll brainstorm Roy. Send Marco up, he can an eye on them while you get something to eat."
Roy started to protest.
"Listen, it's already been an eternity since our fish dinner and we have a long night ahead of us. Get something to eat."
Roy headed downstairs. Marco and Chet had fallen asleep on opposite ends of the couch. Mike was snoring in the reclining chair.
Roy felt guilty waking him up but nudged him awake. "Marco, can you keep an eye on Johnny and Kris while I get something to eat?"
Marco rubbed his eyes but got straight up, "Sure Roy, go ahead." Patting Roy on the shoulder, he headed upstairs.
Marco sent Hank downstairs to get some rest. Mike got out of the chair as he heard Hank come down the stairs and go into the kitchen. He got up and followed to find some coffee.
"How's Johnny doing?"
Hank turned to see him, "Seems to be holding his own." He sat down. "Roy got to talk to Rampart but they can't help much. Its frustrating Mike. They are just over the hill," he pointed out the window. "And we can't get to them." Mike understood his friends anger.
Looking at Mike he remembered what happened before, "I know your hurting Mike, do I need to send you to Roy?"
Mike was caught off guard that Hank knew. "I'm ok. Roy has enough to worry about right now."
Hank furrowed his eye brow. "Don't ignore it Mike. If you need Roy to look at ya, do it. We can't afford another man down right now. I'm gonna need to rely on you until this is over. Ok?"
Mike conceded to his Captain, "Ok."
The two men sat in silence drinking their coffee. They looked up as they heard footsteps running down the stairs fast.
"ROY!"
Roy looked up from the little chair by the TV.
"She's not breathing."
