To Watch Over You

Chapter 11

"Come on Charlie, please," Don held his brothers hand, rubbing his arm. Charlie was conscious, but non responsive. "God Charlie," Don whispered, he let his tears fall, he didn't care at this point. He had seen his dad's car, for him to have survived in that overnight would take a miracle and Charlie calling out for their mother. It was getting to be more then Don could take, he just didn't know anymore. Don laid his head on his brother's chest and let the tears come.

He felt a light touch on his head and looked up at Charlie's face, "Mom was down there," Charlie whispered from behind the oxygen mask. Tears fell from Charlie's eyes as they were now seeing Don, "Mom was there." he said again as Don pulled him up, "It's okay Charlie."

They came into the ambulance bay and Charlie was pulled out. Though his breathing had calmed and some of the shaking has subsided, he was still wheeled to an examining room to be checked out anyway. Don followed, but was stopped at the door, until the initial exam was done.

Within minutes of their arrival another siren coming in got Don's attention. He watched as his dad was wheeled by him with someone forcing air into his father's pale, still form. "Dad!" he called out as Alan was pushed into a room two doors down. Don forced his legs to move, he neared the door, which had been left open. He watched as they transferred Alan to the bed. Nurses were cutting his father's cloths off and hooking monitors to him. "Get the vent on him, warm oxygen, he's hypothermic body temp 92. I want warming blankets now. Looks like a head injury- left side. Multiple cuts and bruises. I want an x-ray of his chest and left leg now. Get typed blood and call the OR, we have possible internal injuries." Don watched, not much of the talk registering. He never noticed his team arrive and move next to him. He just stood in the middle of the hall watching the frantic work to keep his father alive. Suddenly the activity increased, "BP dropping," someone shouted as the loud scream of the heart monitor sounded, "Call a code, get that cart over here now." Don watched as someone hit a button on the wall, setting off an automated voice calling for assistance to trauma room 3. Doctors and nursed rushed from all directions.

"Nononono," Don backed to the wall, "Dad, don't you leave me!" he shouted as he watched the doctor call clear and saw Alan's body react to the shock that was sent to his heart. "No dad," he whispered as he slid down the wall, tears streaming down his face. David knelt beside him, placing a hand on his shoulder. Megan watched mouth open as tears also made there way down her face. Colby couldn't believe this was happening, he to watched as Alan was shocked another two times. Unable to stop the tears that formed, but didn't fall in his own eyes.

"We got it, let's get him upstairs," Personal cleared out as Alan was rushed quickly toward the elevators, then disappeared inside.

A doctor walked from the room and found one of the saddest sights he had seen in a long time. Don was on the floor, back against the wall, head in his hands. David next to him trying to comfort him. Megan and Colby looking fearful as to what news the doctor may be getting ready to deliver.

"Mr. Eppes?" the doctor knelt down in front of Don, who looked at him with despair in his eyes, "He's dead isn't he?" It was a choked whisper that came from Don, nearly breaking his teams hearts.

"Not at the moment, no. Yes you saw his heart stop, but we were able to get a rhythm back, he has gone up to surgery. They are going to check for internal injuries." the doctor watched to make sure he had Don's attention, "He was hypothermic with a body temp of 92 when he came in, we got it up to 94, before he went up. He has several broken ribs, though we don't believe any of them punctured his lungs. His left leg is broke, that will be taken care of in surgery as well. He is on a ventilator, because of the trauma of being suspended by his seat belt upside down for so long. It has cause a lot of internal swelling in his chest. After he is out of surgery they will be able to tell you more." the doctor looked at the others around him, "The waiting rooms for the OR is on the third floor." The doctor stood, "Thank you doctor," Megan said as the doctor turned to go.

"Don where's Charlie?" David asked Don quietly. He was still on the floor.

"Charlie!" Don jumped up quicker then the expected and sprinted the thirty feet down the hall to Charlie's door. He pushed it open.

"Don, I assume," the doctors tone immediately rubbed Don the wrong way as he ignored him. Don came the rest of the way into the room, followed by his team. "And you are?" the doctor asked sounding almost bored.

"Family," Charlie said daring the Doctor to say anymore. It was obvious Charlie didn't care of the doctors attitude either.

Don came toward Charlie's bed, "You okay?" Charlie took in Don's appearance as well as the teams, "That was dad wasn't it? The code?" Charlie swallowed hard as Don nodded, "Is he….."

"He's gone up to the OR. Charlie, I'm not going to lie to you, it looks bad, we just don't know for sure yet." Don took a deep breath and took his brother's hand.

"Doctor is Charlie okay?" Megan asked.

"Mild shock, we're giving him some fluids, he should be good to go in a couple hours." With that the doctor finished his notes and left the room.

"Charlie," Don looked at Charlie, making sure he had his brother's attention, "you said in the ambulance that you saw Mom, what did you mean?"

Charlie let out a shaky breath, "She was down in the ditch, in the middle of all the people, right in front of the car, looking toward it. When I said her name she looked at me and smiled sadly." Charlie closed his eyes as tears formed again. "Donnie, she looked like she did in that last picture of all of us, she was so beautiful." Charlie turned and looked at the wall, Don just looked at him.

There was silence for several minutes. "You going up to wait for Dad?" Charlie looked back at Don.

"Not until you can go up to. I'm not leaving you down here alone." Don looked hard at Charlie.

"I'll go let them know where to find you guys if they need you before Charlie can go up." Colby offered and left the room.