Finally had a few moments free to write. This chapter is a little short but marks the beginning of moving though some periods of time in little "chunks." For those of you who are still with me, a huge THANK YOU for your patience and your interest.
Chapter 25: Coming Around
Over the course of the next few hours, Callen asked about the condition of the young Radiology Techs once, was coaxed into drinking two more containers of apple juice, and had to be told four times to stop messing with the small bandage on his forehead. Because he was staying awake a little longer each time he roused from his restless sleep, he was getting better at hiding the intensity of his pain; his ability to school his emotions was improving.
Anna had come by several times, checking vital signs and taking care of whatever Callen needed. She even sat with him for a little while, giving Sam a chance to take a short break.
When the nurse made her rounds at 3:15 am, she found Sam had moved to the other side of the room, and was sitting quietly on the couch. Although she could see the exhaustion in her patient's eyes, she was pleased he was awake and seemingly more alert to his surroundings. As she inspected his IV placement and took his blood pressure, temperature and pulse, she could see him out of the corner of her eye, watching every move her hands made, occasionally glancing up at her bashfully.
Anna recorded the vital sign readings and laid her clipboard on the foot of the bed. She began tidying the room, accidentally knocking a small notepad and pen off the small table that sat next to the bed.
Sam instantly rose from his seat. "I'll get that."
"That's okay. I just need to slide this table away from the wall a little. If you'll hold this for a second," she said while handing him the gift basket Nell had brought, "I think I can reach it."
Callen peered over into the basket of Tootsie Pops his partner was now holding. "D'you buy those for me?" He asked tiredly.
"Nell."
A small, lopsided grin appeared on G's face. He was gazing up at the blue balloon when his amused look was suddenly replaced with confusion. "How's she know?"
"Don't ask."
Callen's eyes narrowed. "Hetty."
"Nope. Apparently we're known for forgetting to switch off our Comms while we're on stake-outs."
G raised one eyebrow.
"Yep. You got it, G. The geek-squad can hear every word we say."
By now, Anna had retrieved the dropped items and had pushed the furniture back against the wall.
Callen's head sunk deeper into the pillow. He looked blankly at the ceiling and let out a small breath. "Serves 'em right. They..." Callen winced but quickly recovered. "They have to suffer with me through that awful jazz noise you call music."
"Pffft. Better than having to listen to your constant whining about being hungry when I forget to restock the glove-box with candy. You're worse than my kids."
The nurse smiled up and Sam and then turned to her patient. "Can I get you anything, Agent Callen? Something to drink? Another blanket?"
Callen's eyes suddenly shut tight from a wave of pain. "I'm good," he grunted.
"He'll take some more apple juice," Sam stated while looking down worriedly at his partner.
Anna placed the gift basket back on the table and gathered up the items she had brought into the room. "I'll drop some off on my way back by."
"Thanks," Sam responded absentmindedly as the nurse exited the room.
Whether the pain was increasing, or he could feel Sam watching him, Callen brought his right arm up and draped his forearm across his eyes.
Sam gripped the side rail and leaned down closer. "Where do you hurt, G?"
With his eyes still covered, Callen gently shook his head 'no.'
"Anything I can do?"
This time, Callen's only response was a soft groan.
"G?"
With his eyes still tightly shut, Callen lowered his arm to his side. He bent his left knee and pushed his heel into the mattress, slightly arching his back for several seconds.
The big ex-SEAL stood helplessly watching while his friend's pain intensified.
By the time Anna returned, her patient was all but squirming in the bed. She sat the juice container on the portable table and made her way to the bed. "Is it his hip?"
"Not sure," Sam replied. "Got bad really fast."
Anna lowered the head of the bed and then placed her hand on Callen's right hip. "He's having muscle spasms again. I have something I think will help." She turned on her heel, and left the room.
The nurse returned a few minutes later with a tube of medication. While lowering the bed rail she asked if Sam would go around to the other side of the bed and help turn Callen onto his left side.
Sam quickly complied. He held G in a side-lying position by firmly placing one hand on Callen's shoulder and the other on his partner's thigh.
"I called Dr. Lee when this happened earlier tonight," the nurse explained while opening the tube and dispensing some of the contents into her palm. "He ordered this analgesic cream for you." She laid the medication to the side. "This may smell a little strong."
The air suddenly filled with the invigorating scent of wintergreen.
Anna lowered Callen's pajama pants just a little and began massaging the cream into the muscles surrounding his hip.
Callen took in a quick breath and tried to pull away from the nurse's hand.
Sam applied more downward pressure to G's thigh. "Hold still, G."
"Cold," Callen hissed.
"I know it is," the nurse soothed. "But it'll feel really warm in just a minute," she assured her patient while slipping her hand underneath the elastic of his pajama pants, continuing to massage his bruised muscles. "The doctor thinks that all the inflammation in your hip is aggravating the sciatic nerve, causing your muscles to cramp."
Callen reached back with his splinted hand and made a weak attempt to pry Sam's hand from his upper leg.
Sam was suddenly aware that his fingers were digging into Callen's thigh. He eased up on his grip and leaned down as far as he could while still holding on to his partner's leg and shoulder. "Sorry, G. Just try to relax... You need to breathe."
"Can't," Callen said through gritted teeth.
"Yes, you can. Take in a deep breath... Uh. Uh. That was wimpy, G. Come on. Try again," Sam continued to encourage. "That's it. Now let it out... Good. Again. Breathe in through your mouth... relax your shoulders, G... You're doing good. Just concentrate on your breathing."
"Now we're getting somewhere," Anna said with relief in her voice.
Callen began letting out small breaths through pursed lips. The tense creases at the corners of his closed eyes gradually vanished.
Keeping his hands in place, Sam loosened his hold of Callen's leg and shoulder. "You good?"
Callen opened his eyes and nodded once.
A few minutes later, the nurse discontinued her massage and repositioned the waistband of Callen's pajamas. "Would you like to stay on your side, Agent Callen?"
G shook his head negatively.
"Alright. We're going to ease you over onto your back. Just relax."
After being gently placed on his back, G raised his head from the pillow. He peered down at his feet that were so close to the foot board that he couldn't straighten his legs out completely.
Nurse Anna began smoothing out the folded draw sheet that was beneath her patient. "We need to get you scooted up in the bed. Don't tense up. Keep your hip muscles relaxed and let us do the work."
Before Sam and Anna had time to position themselves and take hold of the draw sheet, Callen had gripped the rail to his left and began straining to move himself up higher in the bed.
"Uh. Uh," Sam corrected while gently removing Callen's hand from the metal rail. "What part of 'let us do the work' didn't you understand? You're gonna make your muscles cramp up again. Let us do this."
Callen halted his movement. He was in the process of sending his partner a displeased look when he startled from the sudden movement of being lifted up from the bed.
Sam smiled down at his partner. "Relax, G. We're not gonna drop you."
After being lowered back down to the mattress, all the tension seemed to melt away from the injured agent's body.
Anna pulled the sheet and light blanket up over Callen. Taking note of his suddenly droopy eyes, she looked across and addressed his friend instead. "Is there anything else I can do?"
"Think we're good for now. Thanks."
"No problem," Anna said with a sweet smile before leaving the room.
Sam could see that this last episode of pain had drained his partner of what little energy he had left; G was getting sleepier by the minute. He went around to the other side, raised the head of the bed, and opened the juice container. "Here. Drink this before you pass out on me again."
When Callen reached out for the juice, Sam hesitated, and then placed the container in his partner's shaky hand. "Don't spill it."
"Yes, mom," Callen said groggily. "An em not gonna pass out."
"Yeah. Whatever. Just drink your apple juice."
A few minutes later the big ex-SEAL shook his head as he removed the almost-empty container from his sleeping friend's hand. Sam smiled and let out a relieved sigh. G was far from being healthy, but he was starting to come around.