Part XI
The next day, A-Shift of Station 51 came filing back into the waiting area as soon as their shift was over. They were all bone weary and emotionally drained. And as much as Dixie wished she could just order them all to go and get some real rest, she knew that wasn't going to happen. Not until they knew something about Chet, one way or the other.
Still, she went around them, insisting on them eating sandwiches and drinking juice with help from the Station 51 women who had been standing the vigil while the crew had been on the job. So Dixie was there when the door opened, Dr. Brackett came in and every single person in the room tensed. When Dr. Early walked in a few seconds later sporting a smile, then tension popped like a balloon to the point that it was all Dixie could do not to start laughing out loud. She really, really needed to have a few words with Kel about that near-constant scowl of his.
Seeing the pent-up laughter evident in Dixie's face, but unaware of the cause, Dr. Early just gave her a slightly wider smile before looking over the gathered people in general.
"The swelling has gone down significantly - quite frankly, more than I had hoped. I've already cut back on the medications and he's back to breathing on his own. I think it's time to wake him up and move on to the next stage of recovery. Mrs. Kelly? Familiar voices will help."
She nodded slowly.
"I know. And if they are willing, I'd like for John and Roy to be the ones in there for him."
Dixie noted that Dr. Early seemed to be the only one that wasn't surprised by Mrs. Kelly's request. John and Roy both went directly over to Chet's mother. Roy's voice was soft and gentle as he questioned the choice.
"Are you sure you don't want to be in there yourself, Mrs. Kelly?"
"It's not what I want. It's what my boy needs. You two were the last ones he's likely to remember being with. Hearing the two of you will draw him back best, I think. He'll be expecting your voices. I know I would be. I think my voice might confuse him. And what's worse, worry him. He may cover it up with a load of blarney, but we Kellys are a bunch of world-class worriers."
She laid one hand on Roy and the other on Johnny.
"Go on now. Bring him back to us. The rest of us will see him once he can understand where he is."
Neither Roy or Johnny could argue with her reasoning and Dixie had to stifle another impulse to laugh when the paramedic pair each laid one of their own hands over Mrs. Kelly's briefly before turning to follow Dr. Early out - all in that near perfect unison they had as partners. Dixie reflected that she was way too easily amused and chalked it up to the combination of good news and lack of sleep.
Entering the room behind Dr. Early, Roy looked over Chet, who was already showing signs of restlessness. The bruising was still horrid, but?
"The swelling in his face looks like it's gone down some. . ."
Recognizing the question behind that, Joe just smiled again.
"It's not wishful thinking, Roy. His kidneys are outputting much better today and the excess fluid is coming out now. We're still going to be keeping a very close eye on volume, but I really do believe we've passed the critical mark."
The comment on keeping track of the volume took Johnny's gaze down to the catheter bag and he frowned to note that the liquid being gathered was pinkish. Apparently Joe had followed Johnny's gaze.
"He's passed a few blood clots as well. That's another thing we're keeping a close eye on, but so far, it looks like his body is doing its darndest to take care of things on its own."
Without words, the partners automatically positioned themselves on either side of Chet. On Johnny's side, the hand had various wires and an IV in the back of it, so he carefully rested his hand on Chet's wrist while Roy took the other hand in his own.
"Chet? We can see you stirring a little there, pal. Open those eyes and look at us. I hadn't had a chance yet to thank you for looking out for Roy."
"I'm here too, Chet. We all made it out of the building. Everyone's alright. We've just been waiting for you to join us again."
"If we'd had any idea that those other guys wouldn't watch your back, we would have never -"
Johnny stopped speaking when he noticed Chet's lips were moving. A slight word slipped out.
". . .know. . ."
Johnny looked between Roy and Dr. Early.
"Did he say no as in negative or know as in understand?"
"Kind of hard to tell, Junior. Ask Chet."
Roy felt Chet grip his hand back. Dr. Early gave over with a few ice chips and Chet took them eagerly. As he let them melt slowly to wet his mouth and trickle down his sore throat, he opened his eyes slowly. Then he swallowed and tried to speak again.
"Cap? Mike?"
It took a minute for them to figure out what Chet was asking. Then Roy remember that the last thing Chet knew was that Cap and Mike were being loaded into the ambulance for a trip to Rampart.
"They're both okay, Chet. Just got banged up some. Doctors had them hang around for a couple of hours, but then they released them both."
Johnny took the cup of ice chips from Dr. Early and offered Chet a few more. A tired sigh from the injured man escaped as they watch him frown, trying to piece things together.
"How long?"
They both glanced up to Dr. Early, who gave them a nod. Johnny cleared his throat.
"Cap and Mike went to the hospital on the 8th. We found you during the early morning hours on the 9th. Today is the 11th."
Chet looked about to say something else, then his eyes locked on Roy. More specifically, on the still puffy and discolored hand Roy was holding. His gaze started there and moved up that arm and then down the arm that Johnny was still resting a hand on.
"Me?"
It was obvious to them all that Chet was having trouble getting his thoughts out in words. Dr. Early stepped in closer to answer what seemed to be the question.
"Yes - that's you. This is as bad as the bruising should get though. They'll start fading from here."
Then the doctor's voice went very soft.
"Do you remember what happened?"
The shudder that went through Chet's body answered that better than any words could have, but he still answered.
"Yes. Don't want."
"Easy, easy. This is just one of those pesky neurologic checks. Who is on your right?"
"John."
"Left?"
"Roy."
"Where are you?"
They all held their breath as Chet frowned and was silent for a minute. Then he ran his tongue over his lower lip briefly.
"Noisy. ICU?"
They all smiled at that. Dr. Early looked very pleased.
"Well, just Rampart would have been fine, but that answer is perfectly fine as well. Now, at your next check, I'm going to ask you for the color I'm telling you now. So when I ask later, tell me the color of the day is green. Understand?"
A very faint smile formed as Chet spoke again. He was having trouble keeping his eyes open now.
"Irish."
That got a chuckle from Early.
"Okay, so I picked an obvious color. We'll leave you to get some -"
All of the monitors seemed to go berserk all at once and it was Johnny who figured it out first.
"Doc? Can't we rotate? One of us stay in here with him?"
The monitors started calming down at Johnny's suggestion and Roy joined in the pleading.
"Please? This all started because he was left alone."
Remembering his own words to Chief McConakee, Joe gave in.
"Fine - but I want a rotation going on here. No-one stays in here for over two hours before swapping out."
Johnny nodded.
"I'll take the first watch. Roy can go talk with the others and we'll work it out."
Chet's heart rate was nearly back to normal as Johnny found a chair and moved it over next to where Roy was, taking Chet's hand from his partner as Roy spoke to Chet.
"Go to sleep, Chet. You know Johnny and I promised we'd always be straight with you. We're going to make sure someone is with you all the time."
Johnny felt Chet's hand squeeze his own slightly as he just sighed and relaxed. He looked like he wanted to say something, but just didn't have the energy.
"We'll talk later, pal. Sleep."