Chapter 21: Starting Again/A New Beginning
"When you reach for the stars, you may not quite get them, but you won't come up with a handful of mud, either." – Leo Burnett
Jack watched the scene unfolding before him with amazement. He could see the pain reflecting off of Vaughn. What amazed him more was his daughter. She was constant; she was there…like he had never been. He thought back to all that he had missed and all that he hadn't done. He felt so guilty sitting there witnessing this act of love. He felt like an intruder, trespassing on ground where he didn't belong. He silently wondered how a child that had been raised in an environment like she had, devoid of so much emotion, could turn out exactly the opposite, and be what he was not. He was brought out of his thoughts when the door opened. He immediately stood up; ready to help Sydney and Vaughn if it was one of the doctors, but thankfully, it was Weiss, with the transfer team.
Weiss took one look at the bed and then looked at Jack, "What happened? I came as fast as I could, when I heard. Why does Vaughn have to be moved?"
Jack looked at Weiss, "We've had some…trouble…with the staff at this hospital, most recently with a doctor who was not qualified to be doing the type of therapy he did on Vaughn. It's time we leave and move him to a better facility, better equipped for this type of trauma.
Sydney had been talking to Vaughn in hushed tones before and during Weiss' entrance.
"Dad?" she asked.
"Yes Sydney."
"I want to take Vaughn home with me."
Jack looked at Weiss and then back at Sydney, "Sydney, the transfer is for Vaughn to be moved to the Naval hospital, not your house."
"Yes, I know that dad, but I think Vaughn would be more comfortable at my house. He doesn't want to go to another hospital."
"Sydney, while I empathize with this situation, and I understand your need and want to give Vaughn what's best, I think it would be better if he was at least examined and released by the doctors at the Naval hospital."
Sydney looked down at Vaughn, "Maybe that is the best plan, Vaughn."
He started to protest.
"Wait, Vaughn. Just listen. We'll take you to the Naval hospital. The doctors will check you out, and then we can go home, ok? It would be better if I knew what to do for you. They can give me a list of instructions and everything I'd need to take care of you at home. Ok?"
Vaughn nodded his agreement.
"Ok, let's move him."
With that, the transfer began. Sydney stayed with a scared Vaughn through the whole process. The EMTs from the Naval hospital loaded Vaughn onto a gurney and prepared him for the ride over to the hospital. Once he was stabilized, they took him to the waiting ambulance, and Sydney and Jack got in the back while Weiss got in the front. Another team of agents followed in a car behind them, as security. They encountered no opposition form the doctors or staff at Good Samaritan, but of course, no one could get within five feet of Vaughn's gurney either.
Sydney held Vaughn's hand and talked to him the whole way to the Naval hospital. Jack watched again silently, and Weiss was also very quiet on the ride over, watching the couple with interest.
They reached the Naval hospital and unloaded Vaughn. They had been pre-informed of his condition, and the sensitivity of the case they were now handling. They were much more efficient than the staff at Good Samaritan. They let Sydney stay through all the examinations and limited the number of other people in the room to no more than two others. Once Vaughn was checked physically and they got him changed from his moist gown, they moved him to a private room. Sydney stayed with him again, while they waited for the prognosis.