Ch 10 Waiting
McCormick paced back and forth in the operating room waiting area. He'd heard the explanation of what was being done, and it scared him. The incision would be long and recovery slow.
"That donkey never should've put himself right into the middle of things if he didn't feel well," he muttered to himself. Yet, he realized that was just the way Hardcastle lived. If a friend was in trouble, he would put everything aside to help them. And, McCormick was his friend. He might give him a hard time about the small stuff, but when it came right down to it, the judge was the best friend he had ever had. Sure they argued, but any time you lived with someone, you were bound to get on each others nerves. Still, it never should have come to him leaving.
He sighed and glanced at his watch, it had already been two and a half hours. Then he closed his eyes and bowed his head and prayed again for the surgery to be successful and the judge to be okay.
H&M
"Mr. McCormick?" the doctor asked as he entered the waiting area.
Mark stood up immediately, "Yes."
"Things went as well as could be expected, your friend is in the recovery room now."
Mark closed his eyes to steady himself. "Thanks doc, when can I see him?"
"I'll transfer him up to the 4th floor once the anesthesia has worn off. It'll be a couple of hours yet."
H&M
So Mark was waiting in the judges room when they brought him back from recovery. He smiled at his friend as he sat beside the bed. The judge's eyes were closed but his breathing didn't seem even. The hesitation was not like the judge at all, and Mark figured he was in a fair amount of pain.
"Judge? Can you hear me?" he asked quietly.
"It was my gall bladder, not my ears. Of course I can hear you," was the immediate response, although he didn't open his eyes.
Mark pushed the call button, "you need something for pain judge."
"I'm fine."
"Listen, we've done too much arguing lately judge because you always have to be right. But this is not going to be something we argue about. I'm right this time, and I just called the nurse, and you WILL get something for pain. Do you understand?" McCormick's voice had gotten steadily more firm as he spoke.
Hardcastle opened his eyes and he stared at the kid. He was right, they HAD argued too much lately. Maybe he should give in and let the kid be right. And besides, he WAS in a lot of pain.
"Alright kiddo. Whatever you say," he whispered in a weak voice.
Mark stared at him and slowly a contented smile formed. "Now you're cookin," he whispered.
~ The End