Left by the Wayside

by Criminally Charmed

Disclaimer - Chapter One, says it all

Do you have any idea how excited this is making me? Will try and keep updating, but life is a tad crazy, so I doubt any more three a week. Two is a good goal. And this one is a tad short but it ended in a good spot.

Chapter Fourteen – I think this counts as an emergency

Dr. William Axtell stepped out of the surgical suite, rolling his neck to relieve the stiff muscles from the grueling surgery. Sudden hands reached around his neck and began to massage the knotted tendons.

"Ah, Linda, you'd make a good wife, you know that?"

The nurse smiled as she continued to massage the stiff muscles. "You've been telling me that for fifteen years."

Dr. Axtell was about to respond when Dr. Pierce stepped out, whipping off her mask and surgical cap. As she started the water in the sink and tossed her scrubs into a laundry bin, the younger woman grinned. "You two are the worst kept secret in the world. What don't you just get married and drop the twenty year affair?"

Still grinning, Shana patted down her hands and went to dictate the surgical report, after reminding the senior surgeon that she had done the before surgery briefing, so it was up to him to go talk to Alan Tracy's family now.

Dr. Axtell and his nurse just looked at each other before starting to laugh. "So – so much for be-being discrete all th-these years," Linda laughed as tears poured down her face.

The surgeon was unable to speak at all, laughter stealing his breath away. He had considered proposing to Linda several times but had been extremely commitment shy. And then seventeen years ago, his best friend, Jordan Pierce, and his wife, Cassie, had been killed in a car accident, leaving their physically and emotionally traumatized daughter in his care. Bill had been afraid of upsetting Shana by bringing anyone new into their small circle. But now he could see that Shana had expanded their family to most of the hospital years ago. And, luckily, he was long past having to be "checking on a patient" – his euphemism for spending the night at Linda's when Shana was younger.

After William Axtell gave his long time nurse/lover another quick kiss, he headed towards the surgical waiting room, anxious to discuss the case they had completed with the patient's family. At that point, he might be able to consider his own "family" business.

"Dammit," Scott grumbled, "What is taking them so long!"

"Language," Jeff murmured as the sedative began to wear off and he regained consciousness.

John leaned closer to his father. "Dad, you're awake. How do you feel?"

Jeff stretched slightly in the bed and gave a small smile, trying to comfort his sons. "Better. Just don't get any ideas from this."

Virgil chuckled. "I don't know, Dad. This may be a good idea how to get you to rest at times."

Glowering at his middle son, Jeff knew his son was joking.

Or at least he hoped Virgil was joking.

Dr. Axtell stopped outside of Surgical Waiting Room D, puzzled. The door was open, the television was left on a news channel, and a blanket, still folded, lay on the floor. But there was no sign of the Tracy family. Shana had told him how stressed the family had been for information. Hadn't one of the surgical residents even contacted them for status?

"Yo, Ax-Man!"

Rolling his eyes at the cheerful greeting, Dr. Axtell turned to see Stan walking towards him. If he wasn't the best damn orderly EVER…

"Mr. Tracy collapsed," Stan said bluntly. Seeing the concerned look on the surgeon's face, the orderly quickly continued.

"He's gonna be alright. Dr. Littlefield appropriated recovery room seven, since its op is still being renovated. Hooked him to a monitor and ran a few tests. Stress just got to him is all."

Axtell breathed a sigh of relief. He had never met Jeff Tracy and the life and times of the rich and famous had never been of any interest to him. However, this hospital had been were he had spent most of his adult life and Jeff Tracy, living legend, dying in Baystate Medical Center would be very bad for their image. Worse, the death of his father, or even a serious medical condition, could be detrimental to the well-being of Dr. Axtell's patient.

"And the other members of the family?" Dr. Axtell asked as they began to walk towards Recovery Room Seven.

"All of the Tracys are in there," Stan answered. "And Mr. Tracy should be awake by now. Dr. Littlefield said to get you so you can brief them on the kid's condition."

Nodding, Dr. Axtell took a deep breath, readying himself to face the family. He never liked this part of his job.

Barry was still angry. "Hey," he snapped at a passing officer. "Can't I make a call?"

The officer looked disgusted but he wasn't going to be the one that some ambulance chaser would claim had denied the son of a bitch his "civil rights". Punching in a code, he unlocked the cell and escorted the prisoner out. Pushing Sheehan into a chair, the officer handed the younger man the phone receiver.

"Give me the number and I will dial it. The sooner you're done, the sooner I can get real work done than babysitting your sorry ass."

Barry glared at the officer but then focused on his phone call. The officer had begun to do some paperwork in order to give the suspect some semblance of privacy.

"Hello?"

Sighing with relief, Barry answered. "Dad. Dad, I am -"

"A disgrace to this family," Joseph Shaheen responded. Barry stilled at the utter contempt in his father's voice as the older man continued.

"Do you think I don't know what you did? Wharton's called to say you had been expelled, less than a week before you were due to graduate. You had everything going for you, you idiot. And you blew it. Drunk driving, using drugs, and a hit and run. You wanted to be famous kid? Well, you succeeded. Reporters have been calling non-stop, your mother was told by the bank to use her vacation time and the city told me that I was on "paid leave while matters settled'. We had to pull Willie out of high school and Hil called in tears from college. Seems like no one wants to be around the older sister of a murderous coward."

"But Dad -" Barry said, tears clogging his throat.

The older man interrupted. "What we provided for you was never good enough. You kept trying to show how much better you were. Well, you are certainly gonna be remembered. Your mother is in hysterics, I had to get your Aunt Ellen to call in a prescription for her."

A single tear ran down Barry's face as his last hope evaporated.

"Don't expect us to pay a penny for some lawyer for you. You did the crime, you can do the time. And if that boy dies, then you are dead to me as well."

Barry held the phone for a moment, listening to the sound of the dial tone echoing across the miles. He had never been close to his family, having always felt he was meant for something better. He had never seen that that had been the Shaheens' goals. Joseph and Marie Shaheen had worked hard, providing their children with clean clothes, decent food and an education. Hillary was attending a small college outside Chicago and living with friends while working weekends as a waitress. And Willie was only a Freshman, the same age as Alan Tracy. The irony of what Barry should have felt if the situation was reversed was completely lost on the eighteen year old.

After he was led back to his cell, Barry leaned against the wall, grumbling softly, "I didn't need them anyways."

The Tracys turned at the sound of the door opening but said nothing as Stan led another man – a doctor? – towards them. The question of the man's identity was answered when he began to speak.

"I'm Dr. Axtell. Mr. Tracy?" Jeff nodded while the brothers gave a small shrug, before finding seats – Scott and Virgil in chairs, John and Gordon on Jeff's bed.

"We completed Alan's surgery. His spleen was easily repaired and the lung is remaining inflated. The broken rib lost a small amount of bone but it was something we were able to work with. The important thing was that we found all the fragments. Now, our chief neurologist has examined Alan's skull fracture and the drain was successful. The swelling has gone down and his EEG looks good."

The Tracys were relieved, knowing that meant Alan's brain activity was good and most of his serious injuries were being treated.

Dr. Axtell had given the Tracys a moment to absorb the information before continuing. "Both the chest tube and the stent in his head have been removed. We will be keeping him on the vent for now in order to give his body time to heal. Once he wakes up, we'll remove Alan's tube, if it hasn't already occurred."

Turning to Dr. Littlefield, the surgeon gestured to Jeff. "Brian, can Mr. Tracy get out of bed yet?"

The resident looked at Jeff before turning back to Dr. Axtell. "When will Alan be moved to his own room?"

Examining his notes, Axtell was thoughtful before answering. "Alan will be in recovery – and no, no visitors in recovery – for another hour. We'll move him into Adolescent Critical Care then. He doesn't need ICU but he does need careful monitoring. I'll send Stan to get you when Alan is in his room."

"Fine," Dr. Littlefield agreed. "I'll make sure there is a recliner in the room. The only way I will discharge Mr. Tracy is if he agrees to rest in Alan's room."

When Jeff looked to argue, John covered his father's mouth with a hand. Smiling at the doctors, he spoke up. "Don't worry, docs. Dad will follow orders. We'll make sure of it."

Stan spoke up. "I'll snag room nine in ACC. It is usually a double but if we remove the second bed, it should have plenty of room for the watchdogs."

"In addition," Dr. Axtell continued, "ACC has more security. It should help with the media. Then again, the fourth estate is nothing if not creative."

Turning back to the orderly, the surgeon addressed him. "Stan, take care of the room and anything needed. We'll page you when Alan is ready to transfer and you can get the Tracys." That being said, Dr. Axtell left.

Dr. Littlefield looked at Jeff critically. "OK, I am going to run a few quick checks and then you can get dressed. Um, do you have another shirt?" When Jeff looked startled, the resident shrugged.

"We kind of cut off your other shirt."

Glaring at his sons when they tried – and failed – to hold back their chuckles, Jeff asked John, (Well, once his second born had removed his hand.) "Do you have my ready bag?"

"It's in the rental," John answered. "I'll go get it."

"I'll come with you, Johnny," Gordon said. "We can snag the Hackenbackers on the way back."

"They're here?" Scott asked.

"Uh, yeah," Gordon answered. Looking at John, he whispered, "I'll explain once we are out of the at-risk family members hearing."

Knowing the family was stressed about Alan, the red-head wasn't sure they would appreciate that the Hackenbackers were visiting with, and had forgiven, one of the Seniors responsible for Alan's injuries.

He knew Scott wouldn't understand Gordon forgiving Paul. At least not yet.

A/N - So, things SEEM to be getting better. You know, this was supposed to be a seven or eight chapter story, with a "next year" ending. Oh, you may still get that, but I have been inspired to give great details, creating new OCs and complications. Ah, life is good...

Alan - Good?

CC - Well, you are out of surgery. That's better.

Virgil - Yeah, Alan, you are out of surgery.

Alan - Virg, don't agree with her.

CC - Virgil! Nice to meet you. Ya know, I think Little Miss Bump has a bit of a crush on you.

Virgil - (frowns) What, she believes in cruel to be kind? You only hurt the ones you love? I've read her work.

CC - (sniffs) Yes, our little girl has really come into her own in the hurt/ comfort department. I am so proud of her. Hurting you guys comes easy to her. (shrugs) She's a Brit. They are good at that.

Alan - So what's your excuse?

CC - Stress management. We've been through this. And Virg? Scott needs you to help with Gordon. He was trying to get me to let him sing to Alan instead of you.

Alan - What? You want me to flatlne again?

CC - Nope. I have other plans. (Makes a shooing motion) - OK, Virg, head off and find your brothers.

Alan - (Nervous) Um, CC. Am I safe alone with you?

CC - For the moment. Hey, you don't think I made Barry sympathetic, did you? I didn't mean to, but Sammygirl1963 thought it was. To me, it was showing that his actions are hurting his own family - one of his arguments to Paul, if you remember - and he can still only think of himself. Not that he is hurting his parents and brothers, but that they are not jumping to help him.

Alan - Well, my dad always says that if you are truly sorry and want to be redeemed, you can be. And I don't think Barry is feeling that way. I sure am not about to forgive him.

CC - What about Paul?

Alan - Huh. I don't know. Probably. I mean, I'm gonna live, he wanted to help, and...Am I going to walk again?

CC - Um, no committment from the author. Well, I mean. Oh, heck. Maybe. Depends. Probably.

John - CC, are you scaring Alan again?

CC - Yep.

John - Well...OK.

Alan - JOHN!

John - Alan, she makes it alright in the end. Right, CC?

CC - Probably. Now, how about we sit back, relax and have a bit of cocoa and gluten free chocolate cake?

John - Chocolate?

Alan (shakes his head) - Uh, oh. CC knows your Kryptonite, Johnny boy.

John smiles as he sips the cocoa. - Hmmm. Allie, raspberry flavored cocoa.

Alan (takes a sip) - OK. But...Dang, this is good. But Scott will be back by the next conversation, right?

CC - Maybe. C'mon guys. You're on the movie channel. Maybe I'll be inspired.

Alan (whispering to his brother) - John! She gets inspired by watching the Hood. This is bad.

John - Hmm. But this cake is awesome, Alan.

Alan (takes a bite) - Yeah, it is.

CC - (grins) - Dang, I am good.