Chapter Eleven
Thank you again for your continued support with this story, I have deliberately kept the chapters fairly short so far as I am fully aware that it is quite a heavy subject matter and I didn't want to run the risk of overdoing it. Anyway on with the next chapter and thank you so much to all of you that have reviewed the sequel to Blood and Thunder, One Shot that I posted last night- please keep it all coming!
Chapter Eleven
It felt like an eternity to the waiting group, when Jamie was finally wheeled out, in reality it had been a mere two hours. Frank breathed a sigh of relief at seeing his youngest child safe and sound, if not slightly groggy in front of him.
"How you doing?" he whispered softly to his youngest.
"Am ok" Jamie replied softly, his sleepy eyes locked onto his father's face. "Danny?" he questioned softly.
"No update yet" Frank replied squeezing his son's hand softly. "You get some rest son, we'll let you know when we hear anything" he promised, and his son's only acknowledgement was a small nod as his eyes drifted shut and he fell into a much needed sleep.
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Frank remained beside his youngest son as the time ticked by, he knew that Jamie would be sore for a few days, especially around his hips- but nothing that the boy couldn't handle, and nothing that he wouldn't trade for helping his brother. He just hoped that his brother would still be here in a few years to prove this was the right decision.
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"How long has he been in there for?" Linda asked her sister in law quietly, her nerves jangling as she waited for word on her husband.
"Four hours" Erin replied, equally as worried about her brother.
"Shouldn't be too much longer" Linda replied hopeful that her husband would soon be re-joining them, and sure enough thirty minutes later her words were confirmed and the consultant came straight out to talk to them. "Just wait one second while I get his father" she requested softly, hustling to get Frank so that she didn't have to repeat the words of the doctor. Within seconds the two were back and eager for the update.
"Everything went to plan with both Jamie and Danny. Jamie just needs some rest and hopefully we will be able to discharge him tomorrow with a course of antibiotics- although he should avoid any exertion for the next week just to be on the safe side" he told them with a smile pleased that things had gone well.
"What about Danny?" Erin asked, her face showing the concern she felt for her brother.
"Danny came through it okay and he is stable, just sleeping now. The danger will be keeping free of any infections over the next couple of weeks- he will be on an aggressive regime of IV antibiotics and nutrients. He will feel very weak and tired for probably the next two weeks, but hopefully will start to feel more human after that" he continued.
"Can we see him?" Linda asked softly, just desperate to see with her own eyes that her husband really was doing ok.
"He is just getting settled in a sterile room, I'll come and get you when you can see him- but you will have to take some precautions" he pre warned them.
"What sort of precautions?" Frank asked in concern.
"Face masks, head coverings, and shoe coverings- he can't take any risks of Danny picking up an infection" the consultant replied seriously, and all three Reagans nodded in instant agreement. Frank squeezed Linda's hand in a show of support before getting to his feet.
"I am just going to check on Jamie and update him if he's awake" he told the two ladies, before heading off to his youngest.
"He's going to be okay" Linda stated, more convinced than she had been since her husband had been diagnosed.
"Of course he is, Danny is too stubborn to be anything else" Erin replied with a smile, relieved that finally things were seemingly going her brother's way. A nurse appeared in front of them a few moments later.
"if you want to come this way and get changed" she invited them, just as she spoke Frank appeared beside her.
"I'll let you two stay with Danny, I'll stay with Jamie and switch with Erin in a while" he suggested and his daughter nodded in agreement, before the Reagan women followed the nurse. They smiled at the items she handed them to wear, but put them on without argument. They chuckled as they caught sight of each other, and then each washed their hands thoroughly before stepping into the room.
Danny laid on his back, blood pressure cuff around one arm, monitor attached to his chest to measure his heart rate, plus several other leads and wires that monitored his progress. They both stepped in closer to the recovering man. Linda carefully reached out and held his hand.
"Danny?" she questioned softly, checking if he was awake. Sleepy brown eyes finally appeared under heavy lids and locked onto her.
"Linda?" he asked, confused from the drugs pumping around his battered system.
"I'm here babe" she replied quietly.
"How you feeling Danny?" Erin asked reaching out for her brother's other arm feeling the overwhelming urge to touch her brother to reassure herself that he was there and alive.
"Groggy" he replied, his voice strained as he turned his head and caught sight of his sister. His brow furrowed in confusion at their attire. "What are you wearing?" he asked with a weak smile. Linda and Erin exchanged a sheepish glance at his amusement.
"All your visitors have to dress like this Danny to protect you from infection" Erin replied, trying to appear matter of fact but also recognising how fragile her brother's health truly was at that moment in time. He chuckled as much as his tired aching body would allow.
"Oh babe, I know I always talked to you about the whole nurse's dress up thing, but this is not what I had in mind" he whispered to his wife with as much of a cheeky grin as he could muster. Linda laughed out loud at his words.
"Well, we'll work on that when you come home" she whispered back gently caressing her husband's face and wishing that she could kiss him. Danny turned his head into her touch, relishing it.
"Jamie?" he enquired softly, knowing that any second sleep would claim him and he needed to know that his brother was safe.
"He's fine Danny, you rest" Erin reassured him, and it took no persuasion for him to follow her advice.
End Chapter Eleven