AN: Again, this chapter contains medical terminology. A new apology for the medical inaccuracies that may exist. Please remember, this is for entertainment purposes only.
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Chapter 14: I'm so sorry!
After ending his call with Danny, Junior is in the corridor, determined to get some news about Catherine's condition. He's sure that the next time Steve wakes up, he'll interrogate him mercilessly and he desperately wants to be able to give him some encouraging news.
He walks towards the nurse's counter and asks for Dr. Yang, sitting down in a chair to wait for him.
Ten minutes later, the little man with the stethoscope hanging from his neck and his glasses about to slide from his nose, comes walking quickly through the corridor towards him. "Doctor ..." says Junior anxiously. "How is Lieutenant Rollins?"
Dr. Yang sighs, taking off the glasses from his nose and giving a soft massage with his fingers in the point where his thick black eyebrows meet. "We have had some complications", the doctor sighs again and begins his answer, trying to use simple phrases so the other man understands. "The patient has had some arrhythmias which, as I said before, are normal in this type of pathology, so we have started with the administration of antiarrhythmics for try to normalize her hearth condition. The good news is that the results of the tests have ruled out a subdural hematoma. "
"Do you have any theory as to why she is still in a coma?" Junior asks without knowing if he really wants to hear the answer.
"There is a presence of intracranial hypertension, we have performed the tests every two hours and, fortunately, it has not increased. We hope that, with the treatment, the pressure decreases. We need to wait 24 to 48 hours, so the level of oxygenation we have reached so far, remains. Also, we've started with an antibiotic treatment to fight the infection and reduce the fever. "
"And, what happen if the pressure doesn't decrease?" Junior doesn't want to anticipate events, but he wants to be prepared.
"At the moment, we don't expect that. The patient currently shows a score of 7 on the Glasgow scale". The doctor interrupts himself for a moment, trying to explain, "That is a scale of neurological application that allows us to measure the level of consciousness of a patient. The score, although low, helps us to make some predictions. At this time, there is some response to sounds, there is a certain degree of motor stiffness, but when she got here she didn't have any. Also, unlike when she arrived, now there is ocular movement before certain painful impulses. Therefore, I think it's better to wait for that period of 48 hours, until make some conclusions, to let the inflammation to give way with the medication. There are some extreme measures to reduce intracranial hypertension, but they are not recommended, unless the patient has a score of 5 or less in Glasgow scale. In summary, I think we can say that she's improving at the expected speed."
Upon hearing these last words, Junior allows himself to breathe again, finally asks "Can I see her?" Although Junior has known her for a very short time, he knows that, when Steve wakes up, he'll ask if he saw her. He wants to be able to tell he did it.
The doctor looks at him sympathetically and says "Just for a few minutes, okay?", He makes a sigh to a nurse to come over and asks her to take Junior to Catherine's room in the Intensive Care Unit.
The second time he wakes up, he feels a little better. The dizziness has gone and, although the headache is persistent, it's at a level that he can recognize as normal, given the circumstances and his previous experiences with a brain concussion. Presses the button and tilt the bed to a semi-sitting position. Junior is not there, he hopes he went to sleep and eat something, but he doubts it.
A couple of minutes later, confirming his suspicions, Junior enters the room with a paper cup of coffee in his hands. When the young SEAL sees him sitting and awake, he greets "Commander... Good evening, I thought you would sleep longer".
"Hey, Junior" Steve greets him with a slight smile. "I feel better. Is there any news from Catherine?"
"Yes. I just saw her", says Junior, feeling satisfied to be able to tell Steve something about her. "The doctor explained to me, that she's getting better at the expected speed. Although she's still unconscious, her responses to the stimuli are improving." Trying to avoid his words have the wrong impact on Steve, he says "Lieutenant Rollins had intracranial hypertension, but the doctor says that it has decreased and she's doing great ".
"What happened to her, Junior? What did that bastard do with Cath?" Steve stares into the man's eyes, trying to intimidate him into telling the truth.
"She was tortured..." Junior says sadly, "Waterboarding, sir ..." Junior can see how Steve closes his eyes, and closes his hands, squeezing them until his knuckles are white, trying to contain himself.
"I want to see her!" Steve says, determined, while presses the call button.
"The doctor said they will be keeping an eye on her and they won't have a clear prognosis until 24 to 48 hours after, I don't think it's a good idea for you ..."
Steve looks at him with a frown and asks, "Is there something you're not telling me?"
"No sir. I told you everything the doctor told me, it's just that ... "
"What's wrong, Junior?"
"It's just that... when I saw her ... I felt ... helpless. And I don't want you to feel that way ..."
Steve smiles sadly and says, "Junior. Catherine and I have been through this many times. We've waited in a hospital corridor until one doctor give one of us some news about the other, It has happened more times than I want to remember." Then makes a pause, waiting until Junior looks at him, "I trust you and I know you wouldn't lied to me, but I need to see her ... I need to be sure ..."
At that moment, the nurse gets into the room, asking, "Did you call, Mr. McGarrett?"
"Yes, Miss. Can you find Dr. Zhang for me, please?" Steve wants his voice to sound friendly, but he can't hide the slight tone of urgency. The nurse says, "I'm going to look for him ..." and goes out, closing the door.
To lighten the tension a little, Junior says, "I've just talked to Danny."
Steve repeats his earlier sad smile, sighs and says, "And he probably started telling you that I put myself at an unnecessary risk and I'm a kind of trouble magnet, didn't he?"
"Indeed, the only thing he told me is he now has irrefutable physical evidence that his partner is a hardhead," Junior replies timidly, smiling as he recalls Danny's rant.
At that moment, the door of the room opens and Lynx and Crackerjack get in. Lynx smiling asks, "Wow! Smooth Dog! How are you doing, buddy?"
Steve greets them and answers, "I'm hanging in there. It's just another day at the office." Then he looks at Lynx's arm, which is caught in a sling, and asks, "And you, how are you?"
"I'm fine. I only need that beer I told you before, but here my guardian is not going to let me until my doctor frees me."
They spend a couple of minutes talking to Steve, about the arrest of the other members of the SAD team. "Our friends of the black car almost collapsed from shock when we showed up in their hotel room" says Lynx smiling "Now, all the members of the SAD team we have in custody , are on a plane bound for the United States, to face a court martial. The rest of Adler's men who managed to survive the shooting, await trial in Lantau."
Dr. Zhang enters the room, greeting "Good evening, gentlemen," walks to Steve, and checking the IV asks, "Did you ask to see me, Commander?"
"Yes doctor. I was hoping you could help me with something. I need to see Lieutenant Rollins." Lynx and Crackerjack look at him, surprised.
Zhang makes a puzzled face and asks, looking at Junior. "Is she the lieutenant in the Intensive Care Unit?" Steve nods. "I don't know, commander. I understand your concern, but I must consult with Dr. Yang about that. He´s her doctor and the visits to the ICU are not recommended, especially in the condition in which you are. Please don't forget your brain concussion."
Steve shakes his head and sits on the bed, trying to suppress the million nails hurting his brain, taking a deep breath says, "Just for a moment. I've just learned that Lieutenant Rollins was tortured and her condition is serious, but ... she is ... very important to me. I need to see her..."
Dr. Zhang approaches Steve, pushing him gently on the shoulders to force him to lie down again, sighs slightly and says, "I'll see what I can do, but I don't promise anything, okay?"
Steve nods silently, laying his head on the pillow and closing his eyes.
Junior walks down the hospital corridor towards the ICU, gently pushing the wheelchair. Steve is restless, with his hands on his thighs and moving his fingers rhythmically. Dr. Yang has authorized a brief visit, but only after Zhang told him that if they don't let him to do it, they were risking Commander McGarrett going to see Catherine without authorization and making his condition worse than it's now.
When Zhang explained Yang's decision to Steve using these words, Junior had to look away, to prevent his boss from seeing his smile, and he could not help but recognize Dr. Zhang's perceptive skills. It seems like the man really knew Steve and knew what that man is capable to do to get what he wants.
Now they are facing the closed door of Catherine's room. Junior opens slowly and pushes the wheelchair so both can get in.
Steve sighs when he sees Catherine, lying on the bed, with the oxygen mask covering her nose and mouth, and the different plastic tubes sticking out from the sheets in all directions. When he reaches the side of the bed, he gently takes Catherine's left hand and speaking in a barely audible tone says, "Junior. Please give me a few minutes with her. Can you do this?"
The young SEAL nods silently and gets out, closing the door behind him in silence, and walking towards the chairs that are on one side of the corridor.
Steve has remained silent, watching Catherine sadly. There are some bruises; he can see them on her arms, neck and face. With infinite tenderness, he caresses the red marks that the ties left around her wrist. Slowly he bends down to kiss the hand he's holding, while a couple of tears roll down his cheeks, as the only visible sign of the frustration and guilt that crushes him right now.
"Cath ..." he says in a soft voice "I'm sorry! … I'm so sorry! If I had been there, with you, none of this would have happened." Then, he rests his forehead on the mattress, still stroking her hand, and his mind fills with memories of the times they have been in this situation: One holding a hand, standing beside a hospital bed, hoping the other wakes up.
Each time it happens, he tells himself that it must be the last time. He can't stand the sense of helplessness that now pervades him, which is the same one he had felt every time she was hurt over the years. The times she was hurt because he couldn't or didn't know how to protect her, and the times he swore to her and to himself, that it would not happen again.
"Cath ... I need you to wake up for me. I want to know that... what happened between us, somehow changes everything, and maybe... we have an opportunity ... I really need to think we can do this, because my life doesn't mean anything, doesn't work the same way since you're not with me. "
At that moment, Steve feels how the hand he's holding moves the fingers slightly. Surprised he says, while pressing the button to call the nurse. "That's it ... Cath, wake up for me, please, open your eyes."
Junior is sitting in the corridor, when two nurses and Dr. Yang comes close running and get into the room quickly. Uneasy, he stands up, trying to see what is happening, but the door closes immediately.
Steve turns to the door, to see the doctor suddenly entering the room, with the agitated voice he says, "She moved her fingers doctor! ..."
Dr. Yang approaches the other side of the bed, and takes Catherine's other hand, saying out loud, "Lieutenant Rollins, if you hear me, please squeeze my hand." Everyone stay silent for a couple of seconds, but nothing happens. "Lieutenant, squeeze my hand, please," One more time, nothing happens.
At that moment, Steve leans over until his mouth is an inch from Catherine's ear, and says "Cath ... Please, squeeze my hand."
All eyes are staring at the joined hands of Steve and Catherine, when they see, with surprise, that she moves her fingers and lightly squeezes his hand. Steve sighs and tilts his head until his forehead touches the hand she has just moved. Now the tears run freely. "That's it Cath ... That's my girl!" Then he looks up to see doctor Yang leaning over Catherine and checking her eyes in the light of a small flashlight.
"His pupils are responsive and there's eye movement", then he looks at Steve and gives him a wide and eloquent smile, saying, "I don't want to rush into my conclusions, but I definitely think that this is good news. Very good news! Now, Commander, we should take Lieutenant Rollins to make some tests, I must ask you to go back to your room. As soon as I have the results, I'll go and inform you, okay? "
One of the nurses starts pushing the wheelchair out of the room, where Junior is impatient to know what has happened. For a moment, his heart stops when he sees Steve's face covered in tears that the man desperately tries to dry with the back of his hand.
"What happened?" He asks, looking alternately at Steve and at the nurse. She looks at him and gives him a reassuring smile, but says, "Please. Take Commander McGarrett to his room. The doctor will be with you as soon as we have the results of the tests." The nurse goes back into the room and closes the door.
Junior begins to push the wheelchair away, wondering what could had happened, when the door of Catherine's room opens again, and the two nurses come out, pushing the bed down the corridor heading the elevators, with the doctor walking quickly behind them and talking frantically on the phone. Junior moves the chair to one side, to let them pass through and they both look at Catherine until the elevator door closes behind them.