Chapter 25
YAY! Chapter 25 is now up, and hopefully Chapter 26 will be too soon! Please don't forget to REVIEW!
When Hank returned almost half an hour later Jean, true to her word, advised the other doctor of their patient's condition in the moments prior to his return, and of the young Rogue's visit.
She'd looked exhausted, and Hank had nodded kindly in understanding as she'd voiced her concerns. Her complexion, rather than tinged with it's usually healthy flush, was pale, her eyes sunken in their sockets, and surrounded by dark shadows, her cheeks painted with an angry shade of rose.
It hadn't taken the trained and experienced eye of the kindly blue mutant long to recognise that she was probably into her seventy-second hour without any significant length of sleep – although his initial suggestion that she needed to take a break from her vidual over Logan's bedside for a few hours hadn't been too well received, despite the fact that her body was evidently beginning to feel the strain.
He had known the young red head long enough to know that her individual strength and merit didn't come entirely from her unique gifts alone, he was stubborn and wilful when she wanted to be, with a huge heart, and an even greater capacity for human compassion and understanding. Hank had remained adamant on the subject however, and even Jean had had to finally admit defeat, realising that her own body could not withstand the demands being made on it once sleep deprivation began to set in, and had reluctantly relented – resigning herself to the need for a few hours proper sleep.
There could be no denying however the evidence of their own eyes and observations as far as Logan's condition was concerned. He was still very evidently in a significant amount pain and discomfort, and as Hank was left alone with Logan for the fist time since his surgery, and since his healing abilities had first shown the initial signs of beginning to take effect, he struggled to conceal his own anxieties.
The kindly blue mutant was still concerned over the state of the other mutants continually deteriorating health, and the fact could not be ignored that since the initial rejection of his stitches Logan had since shown no further sign or indication that he was beginning to feel any better and they were quickly running out of options.
He was still evidently in more pain than Hank would have ideally liked at this stage, and was running a mild fever, which wasn't entirely unexpected after all he'd been through, although still of some significant concern – and he'd began to experience some difficulty in breathing, prompting Hank to make the difficult decision to put him back on oxygen in order to elevate any respiratory distress.
He'd decided that Logan probably needed to start eating again – but after all the mutant had been through over the past few days he realised that he'd probably still be reluctant, quite understandably so – and Hank had no idea how he might react to this suggestion, nor even how his body may react to the introduction of solid food back into his system.
But Logan's body was failing, his system was weak from a lack of nutrition, and whilst this remained to be the case his healing abilities had little or no chance of returning back to action.
The kindly blue mutant sighed, making his way over to the wall phone in the corner of the room at this, before picking up the receiver and dialling the Professor's internal line – where he was aware Storm had been left to take care of his office whilst he was way. He didn't dare risk disturbing Jean, if she was finally now resting proper for the first time in days.
Logan, apparently still exhausted, appeared to remain oblivious to his entire conversation with the young mutant however, and even when Colossus appeared a couple of minutes later carrying a tray baring a single slice of bread and butter, and a half filled glass of water he did not stir until the moment Hank approached him, placing the tray down upon the small instrument table nearby.
"So, how am I doing blue?" Logan groaned weakly, forcing his eyes open – still heavy with apparent exhaustion – as he sensed the other mutant standing over him.
Hank sighed. "Well I know that you're probably not going to like what I'm going to ask you to do next." He explained sympathetically, smiling slightly as Logan reached up one shaky hand to remove the oxygen mask covering his mouth and nose. "But I need to see you eat something."
Logan grimaced with the thought of this. "You're right blue, I don't." He confessed.
"You should be feeling better by now." Hank frowned, as Logan began to shift uncomfortably, subtly adjusting his position until he was finally sitting upright, as Hank made his way over to the tray of food, and returned wafting a saucer bearing a single slice of bread and butter under Logan's nose.
"A man can't live off saline alone." He smiled reassuringly, with a small laugh.
The ailing mutant grimaced at the sight of the small plate in front of him however, swallowing hard as the smell of the freshly baked bread and greasy butter assaulted his nostrils, making his stomach churn.
He hesitated, reluctant to eat the doctor's meagre offerings, but looking into the blue mutant's face saw his expression, set and resolute – determined to see patient at least attempt to eat something – and realised that he wasn't going to win.
Logan sighed painfully – he convinced that he wasn't going to be able to keep anything down… but how could he know if he didn't at least try.
Reluctantly he lifted the slice of bread to his dry and cracked lips, slowly taking a bite – quickly followed by a second, and then a third until, within less than a minute, he devoured the entire slice.
Hank smiled down at him warmly, although the effect upon Logan's digestive system was almost immediate, as, as soon as the bread began it's descent down into his digestive track his stomach began to churn painfully, and the hot bile began to rise in his throat.
Logan swallowed hard in an attempt to keep his meagre meal down, but as his already pale complexion blanched, the beads of sweat trickling down his pale forehead, Hank recognised this patient's distress immediately, and frowned.
"Logan, are you alright?" He asked.
Logan nodded, taking a sudden gulp of air before responding. "I'm… fine…" He replied breathlessly, but the doctor recognised what was about to happen and quickly reached for a near by kidney dish, just as Logan gagged and vomited violently ino the bowl.
He sighed, rubbing the other mutant's back soothingly as his ribs and diaphragm continued to convulse, heaving and gagging until there was nothing left for him to bring back up… it was clear that Logan was still no better now than when he'd first became ill.
When the contractions which had suddenly wracked his body finally ceased however and Logan was finally able to relax he lay back, breathing heavily.
"I'm sorry…" He apologised as Hank replaced the oxygen mask, and smiled reassuringly – a concerned expression now plaguing his features however, despite his attempts to conceal it.
"No, I'm sorry Logan." He explained. "You just rest easy now…" He spoke, patting his friend gently upon his bare shoulder.
"What's wrong with me Hank?" The ailing mutant asked anxiously, in a tone broken by mixed emotion.
"Your body has been through a massive ordeal Logan, which it's never been used to before due to the nature of your mutation." He explained – although he himself remained unconvinced. "We mustn't expect too much too soon. It may yet take a little longer for your appetite to come back, and for your stomach to completely repair itself again… but I'll take some more bloods just to be sure we're not missing anything."
Logan grimaced with the thought of this.
"No… not more tests blue." He groaned, but Hank just looked down at him sympathetically… there wasn't much more he could do.
"I'm sorry Logan." He apologised. "I promise I'll make this as quick as I possibly can."
Logan hesitated, but finally nodded reluctantly.
Fearfully he too realised that there were clearly no easy answers… and, wondering just what was really wrong with him, and where things had gone so horribly wrong, he too recognised that, at least for the moment, there was nothing more the kindly blue mutant could do for him.