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Morton Residence
Lynsey woke up earlier than usual. She never did sleep well when Chip was away. She had a shower and dressed before heading downstairs to have something to eat. She looked out of the kitchen window as she waited for the coffee to brew. The storm from a few days ago seemed to have calmed and it looked like a more settled day. She was hoping that this outlook would be the same for Chip. A lot had happened in the last few days and she and Chip just needed today to be a better day.
Medbay – 7AM
Chip slowly became aware of activity around him. He felt the now familiar feeling of the thermometer being placed in his right ear, the blood pressure cup on his left arm tightening and chink of his medical chart being placed back on the foot of his bed.
He opened his eyes to the bright light of the sun streaming through his hospital window. The nurse that was doing all of his checks smiled at him and told him that the Doctor would be in in a few minutes to see him.
As the nurse left Chip needed to move around a little. He had been lying flat on his back for days now and as a man who usually slept on his side, he was struggling to get comfortable. The place where the tube had been placed still caused him a little discomfort but it felt better than yesterday.
Jamie walked in and broke him out of his train of thought.
"Good morning Chip. How are we doing?" Jamie asked
"I don't know. I'm a little fuzzy on the details from last night. Am I in a different room?" He said looking round his surroundings.
Jamie went onto explain the events from the night before. He explained the need to draw some blood and check how he was responding to the treatment.
As Jamie drew the fresh blood Chip asked"Doc don't you ever go home? It feels like you are here more than I am"
"It feels like it believe me. It would be so much easier to leave here if I knew my patients were behaving themselves and sticking with the recovery plan"
"Who me?" Chip asked innocently
"Yes you Mr Morton."
Chip laughed a little but quickly got a reminder of why he lay where he was. He coughed harder with each breathe as Jamie helped him sit up. When he settled down Jamie took a listen to his chest.
"Well?" Chip asked
"There has been an improvement Chip. You can hear for yourself that that cough is still quite fierce but you are making progress."
"What about the wound infection?"
Jamie peeled away the dressing and although the wound was still a little inflamed it was much improved from yesterday.
"It looks better. We will continue with the antibiotics for the rest of the day and see how we are going. I don't think you should be up and moving today. Complete bed rest"
Chip was a little disappointed to discover that he was on bed rest for the day. "Ok Doc but can I request one thing?" he begged
"What's that?" Jamie asked finishing up labelled Chips fresh blood sample
"A shower and a shave?"
Jamie laughed. Chip probably would benefit from both. He was always very proud of his appearance and at the moment he was looking a little dishevelled and had four day growth on his face.
"Ok Chip but I will have to get the nurses to help you"
"Fine by me. When can we get started?"
Lee yawned as he entered medbay just after 7am with Lynsey. Neither of them had had a particularly restful night after leaving Chip last night. They made their way to Chips room expecting him to still be asleep. When Lynsey entered her husband's room she was alarmed to see that he was not there. She immediately went to the nurses station and asked where he had gone.
"Looking for me sweet cheeks" Came a voice down the corridor
Lee could see Chip coming down the corridor and smiled with relief. Lynsey left the nurses station and walked towards Chip. She took the place of the nurse that was pushing his wheelchair and they all headed back to his room. Lee helped him back into bed and placed his IV back on the stand.
Lynsey sat on the bed and was so pleased to see how much better Chip looked today.
"You are looking dapper today sweetheart" Lee said poking fun at his XO
"You look like you slept in that uniform" Chip replied
Lynsey laughed at the pair and for a second almost thought that she was back home listening to the pair of them on a Sunday afternoon and not in a hospital.
"Do you feel better after a shower?" She asked reaching for his hand
"Much. And shaving…it was becoming unbearable"
Lee stayed for almost an hour before heading to work. He felt quite positive as he left Chip and Lynsey seeing the progress he had made since yesterday. A small smile sat on his face and he hoped that things would now go smoothly.
After Lee left Lynsey sat by Chips side. "So…truth. How do you feel?" Lynsey asked
"I can't get anything past you can I?"
"I give you points for trying" Lynsey laughed
"I do feel better than I did but I don't ever remember feeling this weak. I'll never get back to work at this rate"
"What's the hurry?"
"I honestly don't know. I would much rather spend time with you. Granted I would like it to be somewhere other than medbay and it would have been too"
Lynsey looked at him confused. "What do you mean?"
Chip explained how he had planned a surprise trip to San Francisco. Lynsey began to tear up to think he had gone to all that trouble for her.
"Oh Chip..That is so sweet of you" She leaned in for a kiss and lay by his side on the bed.
"I wish we could be there now" Chip replied disappointed
"So do I. The most important thing though is getting you well. Surely we can move our dates?"
"I'm sure we can" Chip replied as he shifted around on the bed.
"Are you ok?" Lynsey asked concerned
"I'm fine but I am a little frustrated lying on my back the whole time"
"I know but it will only be for a few days. Hopefully we can get you home in a day or two"
"I'm all for that. I miss sleeping next to you"
Chip took Lynseys hand in his. The talking and shower had zapped a lot of his energy. Lynsey could see was on the verge on closing his eyes. She lay there with him until he drifted into a peaceful sleep.