Chapter 10
Don leaned forward, eyes shut, head down, both hands covering his face. An angry "no, dammit" escaped his lips. His world was shifting again and just like before; Don was powerless to stop it from happening.
Alan, hung his head, and closed his eyes. He could not fathom how this was allowed to happen to his son. Alan used shaking hands to wipe away his tears. He took a deep breath and then locked eyes with Andrew Cosmos.
"Take me to see my son." Alan demanded.
"At the moment, my colleague, Ana Vaidya, is completing her consultation with Charlie regarding the biopsy and our GCM concerns." Andrew explained.
Don suddenly bolted upright in his chair. All his attention was now on Andrew Cosmos.
"Who the hell… we should be having this conversation together as a family." Don roared.
"He's right. We should be with Charlie." An even angrier Alan exclaimed. "He has to be wondering where the hell Don and I are."
"It was Charlie who made the decision that I bring his family members up to speed while he and Dr. Vaidya conferred." Andrew cautiously explained.
Andrew had tried to persuade Charlie to change his mind, but the man was adamant; if a more in depth discussion was needed; Charlie wanted his discussion to be private.
Andrew Cosmos relented only because Ana with her much warmer personality was the right person to discuss the good and the bad of his unique situation with Charlie.
"Charlie obviously had no idea how serious his situation was when he made that decision. You, however, had some idea." Alan heatedly countered.
"I used every argument at my disposal to try to get your son to change his mind." Andrew responded. "We were at an impasse and…"
"Charlie waited you out." Don stated. He after all, possessed his own experiences with his younger brother's "wait until they crumple" strategy.
"He did," the cardiologist guiltily admitted. Andrew watched the younger man briefly smile.
An uneasy silence settled between the three men.
A scary thought occurred to Alan Eppes. He was almost too afraid to give it a voice. He moved to the edge of his chair.
"You said your colleague, Ana Vaidya, is a cardiothoratic surgeon." Alan guardedly addressed Andrew Cosmos.
Don turned to look at his father.
"Yes, Ana Vaidya, performs both surgical and non-invasive operations to treat any conditions that affect a patient's heart, lungs, esophagus and organs inside the chest as well as the tissue, muscle and bone that make up the chest cavity." Andrew volunteered. He could tell by the set look on Alan Eppes' face that his blanket statement would not put an end to the man's questions.
"So this Ana. Your colleague. She will be the one to handle Charlie's next level of treatment." Alan said.
"Yes." Andrew responded.
Don took the lead from his father.
"Which means you will only be handling the biopsy and inserting the pump."
"Correct."
"She's taking over if there is a diagnosis of GCM." Don stated.
Andrew needed to put an end to this line of questioning (more like interrogation where the youngest Eppes was concerned) until he received word that Ana had spoken fully to Charlie Eppes.
"It will be a team effort." Andrew Cosmos answered. He looked nervously at the phone on his desk.
Don did not like what he was hearing. Andrew Cosmos was purposely being vague. He looked at his father for a sign that Alan wanted him to continue to press the cardiologist. Alan gave him a slight nod.
"What type of treatments are Dr. Vaidya's specialty? What is she called in to handle." Don questioned.
Andrew had been expecting a whole different question from the man and was momentarily thrown. He recovered and responded:
"As an exemplary cardiothoratic surgeon Ana is often called in for: heart valve repair or replacement, pacemaker implantation or implantable cardioverter defibrillator, open-heart surgery, off-pump heart surgery, angioplasty and vein and artery grafts."
Andrew deliberately left out the one superior skill that separated Ana from almost all the other area cardiothoratic surgeons.
All three men jumped when the phone on Andrew's desk suddenly sprung to life. Dr. Cosmos picked up the small device; he talked to whoever had tracked him down and then put the phone back on its docking station. Andrew was informed that Ana had concluded her discussion with Charlie Eppes. The cardiologist now had permission (from his patient) to fill his family in on all the subject matter that Ana had discussed with Charlie.
Alan picked up where Don left off. He needed an answer to a question that he did not want his eldest son to have to ask.
"Except it's your belief that none of the treatments you just listed will work for Charlie because at this point the GCM cells have already severely damaged my son's heart." An anxious Alan Eppes pointed out.
"Please don't respond by saying correct. Just tell us what treatment will work for Charlie."
"If the GCM is as invasive as Dr. Vaidya and I believe that it is, then the only viable treatment that we can implement for Charlie to prolong his life would be a heart transplant." Andrew stated.
The two men first stared blankly at Andrew and then at each other.
All three men sat unmoving and stone silent.
Stunned, Alan wanted to tell Don to get up and help him find Charlie. Together the three of them would get the hell out of St. Vincent's and never look back. Except his brain had shut down and there was a roaring in his ears.
A concerned Andrew Cosmos asked Alan Eppes if he needed a glass of water.
Alan somehow made his hand move and waved away the offer. He did not want Andrew Cosmos anywhere near him right now. The man had just blown his world apart.
Don slumped forward in his chair and stared a hole into the carpet. He could not stop thinking about how Charlie had stood waiting on the sidewalk outside of Van Acker's office for him.
Andrew Cosmos wanted to be wrong about what he felt the biopsy would reveal. He would sooner walk into Charlie's room results in hand and tell the kid "Oops, sorry I over-reacted" and have Don Eppes punch him in the face than to have the biopsy results come back showing the presence of GCM.
A shaky voice weaved its way into Andrew's thoughts.
"Are we rushing things? I mean the biopsy has not even been performed and we are sitting here talking about a heart transplant being Charlie's only option." Alan chocked out the last part of the sentence.
"I understand your concern, Alan." Andrew said patiently. "As I stated before; Charlie has been symptomatic for a long period of time. It was during that protracted time span where a series of non-evasive treatment could have been introduced. If by some slim chance, the biopsy does not reveal GCM: the damage done to Charlie's heart will still have to be addressed."
Alan Eppes sadly realized that the best outcome he could wish for his son was for Charlie to just have congestive heart failure. "My god," the emotionally drained man whispered.
Don had no words of comfort that would take away his father's pain and there was nothing he could do to stop what was happening to his brother. Useless. Don felt useless.
Time was becoming an issue. Andrew did not want to rush the men out, especially in their current state, but he had a biopsy to perform.
"Charlie is waiting for you." Andrew addressed Alan.
Alan knew that was his clue to get out of his chair, but he felt weighed down by fear, worry, and anger.
Andrew Cosmos looked pointedly at the still seated man. "Alan, please tell me now if you don't think you can do this. I cannot allow you to go into Charlie's room and add to his anxiety."
"Hey!" Don angrily snapped at the physician. He turned back to his father. "Dad, it's okay. I'll go tell Charlie…"
"Nothing," Alan quickly interrupted. He looked at Andrew. "Let's go." He shot out of his chair, pulled open the door, and left the room without uttering another word.
A relieved Andrew Cosmos made his way around the desk. He found his way barred by an unyielding and irritated looking Don Eppes.
"Don't ever speak to my father like that again." Don warned the towering man. "You have no idea what this is doing to him."
Andrew Cosmos while impressed with the younger man's concern was not intimidated. This showdown was nothing compared to the one he had with the husband of a recently deceased patient who in anger lashed out and broke Andrew's nose.
"My priority is Charlie." Andrew stated calmly. "I will do and say what I have to in order to insure that his already tenuous health does not become further compromised. If that means feelings get hurt as I try to do my job; well then it is what it is." Andrew shrugged his shoulders. "I will never apologize for looking out for my patient."
Andrew Cosmos held the intense man's stare. While there was a hell of a lot of inner turmoil brewing in Charlie's older brother Andrew knew that Don Eppes posed no threat to his well-being.
After sizing each other up for several more seconds; an unspoken truce formed between the two headstrong personalities.
Don stepped to his right and allowed Andrew Cosmos to make his way toward the door. He silently followed the doctor out of the room.
Alan Eppes was pacing at the end of the hallway. Don and Andrew Cosmos hustled their way down the hall.
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Charlie, finally alone in his room, tried to remember a specific event that had caused him to be as frightened as he was at the moment. It was true that the first time a bullet whizzed past his head had left quite an impression on him, however, Charlie's heart was telling him that nothing would ever trump the discussion he just had with the Ana Vaidya.
Charlie almost laughed out loud.
"Why should he take notice of what his heart felt?" The weary man pondered. Especially since his heart had turned against him.
If Larry were here he would have innocently pointed out the irony of it all.
The sudden thought of his oldest friend left Charlie on the verge of tears.
The staff member who had attempted to block Don from entering his exam room was back. Charlie roughly rubbed his eyes. If he did not to cry in front of Don; he sure as hell was not going to do it in front of Megatron Miles.
Miles used an alcohol swab to wipe down the injection port and with a syringe added medication ordered by Andrew Cosmos.
He rotated and moved the IV bag in order to successfully mix the added medication. Miles then slapped a red sticker onto the IV bag.
"All done Professor," Miles announced. "You should feel a little more relaxed shortly."
"What's with the red sticker?" Charlie asked. "Am I going to become radioactive." He joked.
"Nah," Miles answered seriously. "It's just the color coded system we use here." He proceeded to gather up his materials and left.
Charlie made a mental note to not waste his witty sarcasm on Miles Megatron as the man obviously did not possess a sense of humor.
Dr. Cosmos had definitely ordered the good stuff for Charlie because he began to experience the drug's effect almost immediately. It felt as if the permanently "on" switch in his brain had been flipped to the off position and seeing how Charlie had always felt that his brain had not come equipped with an off function: it was an interesting feeling.
Charlie settled against his pillows.
"Nope," Charlie decided, "The feeling was not at all interesting. It was weird."
There were no concepts, expressions, thermos, or formulas battling and dueling for his immediate attention.
The mathematician had long harbored jealousy over how his brother and father were able to switch off their thoughts. Yet, now that Charlie had what he always envied he found it to be not as an enjoyable as he had always imagined it would be.
Charlie hoped his dad would walk through the door soon. While he missed his dad and needed his company; Charlie also theorized that if he had someone to talk to, it would help distract him from the creepy quietness going on in his head.
Alan, Don and Andrew Cosmos all reached the door to Charlie's room at exactly the same moment. Nevertheless, it was Alan's hand that was now wrapped around the door handle.
"Mr. Eppes, staff will be coming in to start prepping Charlie in about ten minutes; until then I have given instructions that no staff members are to interrupt your time with your son." Andrew Cosmos stated.
The cardiologist was handed a clipboard with numerous papers attached by a passing staff member. He scanned the first and second pages and instantly looked relieved.
"Charlie signed the consent form that allows me to ask the transplant team for an evaluation." Andrew stated to the two men.
"This is so unfair," Alan quietly addressed the door. He was now white knuckling the door handle.
"Yes, it is," Andrew replied and then added, "Are you okay?"
"No, I'm not" Alan answered in a low growl. He squared his shoulders, pushed open the door, and walked into the room.
Charlie heard the door open, looked over, and when recognition hit (a little slower than normal); he gave the man in the doorway a crooked smile.
"Hey Dad," Charlie called out. During his wait Charlie had almost nodded off.
"Hey kiddo," Alan Eppes answered brightly as his heart continued to break.
"I calculated with 100% certainty that I will not be going to Cabo." Charlie announced dryly. He had made the decision to not spend what little time he had with his dad talking situational details.
He could tell by his father's forced smile and the sadness in his eyes that Alan was well aware of what was going on.
Unseen, Don stood behind the partially opened door and waited. He wanted to join in on the conversation. As much as Don wanted to be in the room; he knew his father needed time alone with Charlie.
"Well, you know what Charlie; I have it on pretty good authority that tuna, blue marlin, and sailfish all but jump out of the water and into the deep sea charter boats in Cabo come early December." Alan said with an honest smile. He noted that his youngest son was valiantly trying to stay focused.
"Really." A skeptical Charlie replied. He yawned. It hurt deep in his chest. He set out to put a hand on his chest, felt his father's eyes on him, and instead grabbed and yanked up his cover. He then made a great show of smoothing it out as if that was his intent all along.
As Charlie went about smoothing out his cover; Alan used the time that his son was not looking in his direction to fight back tears.
Alan noticed that the way the pillows were placed behind Charlie were not the way his son liked them. Alan proceeded to re position the pillows. As he did, Alan announced: "Field and Stream only prints the truth Charlie."
The statement made Charlie laugh.
An antsy Don heard his father and brother laughing and simply could not wait any longer.
He walked into the room and stood next to his father.
In all fairness Don should have allowed his father more time with Charlie. He gave his father a genuine "I'm sorry" expression and was relieved when Alan playfully nudged his shoulder.
"The three of us are going to do it." Charlie commented. He had meant for it to sound like a statement, but given all the times over the years that the three of them have spoken about going fishing; it came off sounding more like a sarcastic remark.
"Definitely." Alan vowed. "As soon as you are up to it." He carefully took hold of Charlies hand and smiled when he felt his son's fingers wrap around the back of his hand.
Alan then gave Charlie's hand a gentle squeeze.
"It's probably not going to happen for a while." Charlie responded. It was the only affirmation of his current situation that Charlie was prepared to issue.
"Hey," Don said. He tweaked his sibling's covered foot and gained his attention. "Cabo's not going anywhere."
"True," Charlie answered. "The three of us will get there." He announced. A family fishing trip to Cabo was now a goal and Charlie had always achieved every goal he ever set for himself.
"Damn straight we will." Don stated with a smile.
"Ditto," Alan added. He welcomed the sight of both of his son's smiling.
An auburn-haired staff member with the Amanda embroidered in white thread on her scrub shirt entered the room.
"I have to get our friend here ready for a meet and greet with Dr. Cosmos." She stated to Don and Alan.
She threw Charlie a comforting look and then patted his knee.
Alan checked his watch. He could not believe that his ten minutes were up already.
Scared Charlie looked to his father and brother for reassurance.
"We'll be close by Charlie." Alan said. He reluctantly let go of his son's hand. He pushed away some curls and planted a kiss on his frightened son's forehead.
Alan whispered into Charlie's ear.
Charlie smiled broadly.
Alan reluctantly moved to allow Don to have some words with his brother.
Don feared dislodging the IV catheter inserted and taped to his brother's hand; so he instead latched onto Charlie's fingers.
"You'll be back here before you know it and we'll be waiting." Don said to his nervous sibling.
Charlie blinked rapidly several times. He was still not going to cry.
Don could do one thing for his brother. He could help Charlie relax.
"Whatever dad said to you goes double for me," Don declared. He knew Charlie would take the bait.
"He told me that I was his favorite," Charlie said with mock seriousness. He heard his father chuckle.
"Well, okay then." Don replied as if he was wounded by his brother's words. "You're now not my favorite brother."
"I'm your only brother," An amused Charlie answered.
"Lucky me." A sincere Don replied. When Charlie flashed him a smile; Don returned the favor.
Amanda was well aware that Andrew "by-the-book" Cosmos was waiting. So she wedged herself between Charlie and his none-too-pleased looking brother.
"I'm sorry but it's time to go." Amanda announced to Alan and Don. She managed to herd the two unwilling men toward the door with one hand and opened the door with the other.
As Alan and Don moved past Amanda she said to them, "He's going to be in good hands."
Alan whispered a "thank you."
Out in the hallway, a numb Alan Eppes leaned up against a wall and closed his eyes.
Don watched as the door began to close slowly. The moment Amanda started walking back toward Charlie; Don stuck a foot in the doorway and effectively stopped the door from shutting all the way.
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"Okay, professor!" Amanda said lightly. "What is your comfort level with the added medication." She checked IV lines while waiting for an answer.
"Same scale?" Charlie asked.
"Yes the tried and true 1 to 10 rating system unless you've whipped us up a new one." Amada said with a smile.
Don noted the breathless sound of his brother's voice. Charlie had not sounded at all like that while Don was in the room. He tried not to think about the energy Charlie wasted putting on such a convincing performance.
"Four." Charlie answered honestly.
"Good that makes me happy." Amanda replied. "The last time I asked you that question you told me 8." She commented as she checked readouts.
"I'm really tired." Charlie quietly announced.
"Charlie allow yourself to rest." Amanda replied.
Don heard the woman's voice growing closer.
A small multi-colored clog pushed against Don's own well-worn shoe. He grudgingly took a step backwards and the door silently shut in a nervous Don Eppes' face.