It had been a few weeks since all the visitors had left the village. The trade with the pirates had been good. Chief Sika was very pleased and wanted Jason to continue with the plan of trading with the two much larger islands. When Heath wasn't teaching, he helped Jason, as he was also very good at trade deals.
Adam did his morning chores with the livestock and made breakfast for his children. Adam sent Alex and Eliza to school with Seth or Heath every day. Both children were excellent students. Alex would have rather stayed home to play, but, when reminded about making his fafa proud, went to school and did his best.
After the children were in school, Adam would either study, go to the hospital or sew. He was making eight new lavalavas for Jey, in exchange for two of the wonderful lounge chairs.
Every once in a while, Adam would stop what he was doing and think about the letter he'd written to the Queen. He could only hope she would appreciate the sacrifices his family had made for her.
The morning found Adam at the hospital. He was putting away the cloth bandages he, Trinity and Shawn had made from some of the pirate trade goods.
Adam was alone. He worked quickly and efficiently. His mind was going over the process of sterilizing the surgical tools Hunter used. His thoughts were suddenly invaded.
"Adam...help me..." A voice echoed in Adam's head. The blond turned, but he was still alone. He gave a shudder. Had he just fallen out of a day dream?
With a shake of his shoulders, Adam went back to stacking the bandage cloths. "Adam...help me..." The voice echoed in Adam's head once again.
Again there was no one there when Adam turned around. He had a thought. "Wade...is...is that you?" Adam wondered if he was now haunted by his lost husband. He felt both a bit frightened and silly.
Adam gave a startled yelp when Shawn suddenly entered the room. "Adam, do you need help?" The pastor asked with a smile.
Adam tried to catch his breath. "Oh Shawn, you frightened the life out of me. I'm just about finished." He thought now the voice had been Shawn calling out and he'd confused help me with need help. He laughed at how silly and scared he'd been.
Shawn looked at Adam with curiosity. "What's wrong? You look like you've just seen a ghost." He could see Adam had be well and truly frightened.
"Well, I heard a voice call out to me, I was alone. Then you came in. I guess it was just you calling out to me." Adam explained.
Shawn looked even more curious. "Adam, I didn't call out to you until I walked in. Maybe you were just day dreaming." He gave a shrug.
Adam gave a shrug of his own. "I guess I must have been. Anyway, I just have this last stack to put away." He nodded to the pile of cloths.
Adam went back to work with Shawn's help. "Adam...help me..." He heard the voice again. He turned to Shawn.
"What do you need help with?" Adam asked Shawn. He was getting a bit irritated now.
Shawn looked at Adam. "Nothing, why?" Adam was certainly acting odd.
"You didn't just ask me for help? Alright, I must be going insane. I need a cup of tea. I am done here, I am going home. Come for tea?" Adam was ready to get out of the hospital.
Shawn gave a laugh. "You should, you're working too hard. No, thank you. I am going to the church. I need to work on my sermon."
Adam gave Shawn a hug. "Can't wait to hear it. Thanks for helping me finish. Maybe I just need a bit of tea and a nap before school is out." He gave Shawn another hug. The pair left the hospital. Shawn went toward the church, Adam toward home.
Adam was just in his front yard. "Adam...help me..." Once again he heard the ghostly voice.
The blond was truly annoyed. He stopped in his tracks. A feeling suddenly washed over him. He recognized the voice. It was Roman and he was in trouble.
Without thinking, Adam went to Roman's hut, but the man wasn't there. The feeling that Roman was in trouble grew stronger and stronger.
Adam went to the church. Shawn would listen to him and not think he was crazy. He found the pastor at his pulpit, reading over his Sunday sermon.
"Do you know where Roman is?" Adam asked, a little breathless. I wasn't sure what was happening.
Shawn looked at Adam. He could see the distress on the younger man's face. "Adam, I'm not sure. He could be in his room at the hospital. He likes to study there. Sometimes we don't even know he's there, he's so quiet. Why?"
"I heard the voice in my head again. Only this time I was in my yard. I also recognized the voice, it's Roman and I think he is in trouble. I can't ignore it. What if he really does need help." Adam tried to sound calm and reasonable, but there was an edge to his voice.
Shawn now took Adam seriously. The blond was visibly upset. "I believe you. Let's go check his room. If he's not there, I'll get Hunter. He will help us." He came down from the pulpit. The two headed back to the hospital.
When they got to the hospital, Shawn and Adam went to the bedroom. Both men were shocked.
Roman was on the bed, curled up in a fetal position. It was clear he was drenched in sweat and in terrible pain.
Adam hurried to the bed. "I'll get Hunter. Start washing him." Shawn spoke in a hurry and rushed off to find his husband.
Adam quickly filled a basin with cool water and grabbed several cloths. He put the bowl on the bedside table. It was then that he saw something horrible.
The bandage over Roman's wound was stained with a greenish-yellowish color. He bent down, the sick sweet smell of infection invaded his nose. How could it have happened so fast? When they had changed the bandage earlier in the morning, it was fine. In less than six hours, the wound had become infected.
Adam left the bandage alone, and left Roman on his side. He dipped a cloth in the water and began to wash the sweat from Roman's body. He spoke softly as he worked.
"I'm here, Roman. It's Adam. It's going to be alright. I heard you call for me. Hunter will be here soon. I've got you, my friend." Adam rinsed the cloth and went back to wiping Roman's brow. A sense of guilt hit Adam's heart. Roman got the wound in the first place protecting him.
"Ad...am..." Roman's voice was dry and his tongue felt thick. He couldn't move, the pain was so intense.
Adam sat on the edge of the bed, Roman's back to him. Adam ran the cloth over Roman's neck and shoulders. Roman's skin was on fire.
"Yes, it's Adam. You will be alright. I will be right back. I need fresh water. Roman, I will be back." Adam threw the wet cloth over his shoulder and took the basin out to fill it with fresh, cool water.
When he got back to Roman, the man hadn't moved so much as an inch. He was still curled up in pain. Adam began to wash the fever flushed skin on the back of Roman's neck.
"Hu...rts...so...bad..." Roman's voice sounded more like a parched frog than a strong warrior.
Adam laid a second wet cloth across Roman's forehead. "I know. You're wound has become infected. It is probably going to hurt a lot worse. I am sorry. Hunter will make it better, I promise. I won't leave you. This is my fault." His guilt grew deeper and deeper.
Roman could only groan when Adam gently washed the skin close to the wound. It hurt Adam almost most as much, but it had to be done.
Hunter burst into the room, Shawn on his heels. The physician was soaking wet and wore a short lavalava worn for swimming.
"I was at the hot spring. Infection?" Hunter asked as he took the drying cloth Shawn had brought. Both men were extremely worried.
Adam nodded. "Yes. It smells and you will see the bandage. I haven't touched it."
Hunter nodded then spoke. "I need to wash. Shawn, I will have to operate. Can you help or do you want to get Trinity?"
"I will do it. Adam, I will prepare the surgery, you keep doing what you're doing." Shawn spoke with confidence. The Helmsley's left to prepare.
"Ad...am...love...you..." Roman managed to get out the words he finally wanted to say, before he died. Because, at that moment, Roman knew he was dying.
Adam smiled. "I love you too, my friend. You're going to be alright, Roman. While you're getting better, Eliza can read to you." He did love Roman, like a friend or brother. He prayed Roman's infection wasn't that bad and would soon heal.
Shawn and Hunter both washed their hands and arms in a mix of soap, water and alcohol. Hunter had changed into a shirt and trousers that he kept on hand in his office, just in case. Shawn had also pulled Hunter's wet hair into a pony tail.
"I have been afraid of this. The wound wasn't healing or closing. There must have been a pocket of infection growing where we couldn't find it. We did the best we could. At least now, I hope, I can cut the infection out. I am glad we still have some of the sleeping drug left. Alright, you prep the surgery and I will check our boy." Hunter kissed Shawn, but in away that only their lips touched.
Shawn went to the little used room at the back of the hospital. Hunter only used it when he had to perform an operation. There was a cot on taller legs and the room had no windows. The walls were solid and the inside walls were covered with cloth to keep any dust from getting in. Shawn lit twenty fat lamps. It was if the sun shone in the room.
Shawn went out and gathered up the medical instruments Hunter used most, along with a needle and black silk thread of medical quality. The last thing Shawn took was a bottle of liquid and a few small pieces of clean cloth. He then began to arrange things like Hunter wanted.
Hunter, in the mean time, went to examine Roman. Adam stood out of the way, but assured Roman he was still there.
Hunter carefully removed the oddly colored bandage. He held it out for Adam to take. Adam wrapped the infection soaked bandage in one the used wet cloths. Later, it would be burned.
Roman groaned in pain as Hunter moved the skin around the wound. "Adam, look. See how the infection looks. You see, there is a kernel? That is what needs to be removed before it bursts open. If it does, we will have a battle on our hands. Roman, son, I have to operate, but, you will be alright." He gave Roman's shoulder a squeeze.
"Ad...am. Stay...please...stay...with...me..." Roman reached with his hand, in search of Adam.
Adam took Roman's hand in his. "I am here, Roman. I won't leave you, I promise. You be strong. Alex and Eliza need their uncle Roman. I need my best friend." He held on tight to Roman's hand. Adam bent down and kissed the hot skin of Roman's forehead.
"Adam, are you ready to really be a nurse and assist me in surgery? I need you to be sharp and alert. You have to be strong, mentally and physically. I have to know you won't faint on me." Hunter spoke in a serious voice and a grim face. He needed a good nurse, and Shawn was too tender in the stomach to deal with a nasty infection.
Adam looked from Roman to Hunter. "I will do my very best, Doctor Helmsley. I may not be perfect, but I won't faint on you. I want to make you proud, and I want to help Roman." He spoke with confidence.
"Good. I knew I could count on you. Go wash. Scrub good and hard. Shawn and I will get Roman to the surgery. I will tell Shawn to have Heath or Seth look after the children. This could take a while." Hunter gave Adam his instructions. He then went to get Shawn.
Adam leaned over and kissed Roman's forehead again. "I will be right back. I have to go wash up. You hang in there. It will be alright, I promise." He caressed Roman's warm face.
Roman could only groan. He felt like he was going to die at any moment. He reached out for Adam. Adam squeezed Roman's hand. Adam then left to go wash and sterilize his hands.
Hunter spoke to Shawn as they entered Roman's room again. "...so, have Heath or Seth take the children home. We might be awhile. Also, tell Sika and Atta, they need to know. Then pray, Shawn. I will need His help, it is very delicate." Hunter sounded worried. It was hard to operate on someone you loved.
Hunter and Shawn moved to the bed. Shawn pulled a vial of Holy Oil out of his pocket. He uncorked the vial and tipped a few drops onto the index finger of his right hand.
With the oil coated finger, Pastor Helmsley made the sign of the cross in the middle of Roman's forehead. "I say this prayer for you, that God will touch you with His healing hand and give you the comfort and peace you need to help you get through this. We love you, son. In Jesus' precious name; Amen." Shawn bent down and kissed the top of Roman's head.
Shawn put more oil on his finger. He reached up and made the sign of the cross in the middle of Hunter's forehead and prayed.
"Heavenly Father, please take Hunter's hands in Yours and guide them. Grant him the strength to help our brother Roman. Bless Hunter with the skills to ease Roman's suffering. We rely on You to stand beside Hunter and Adam, as they use the skills You gave them. We also rely on You, O Lord, to be the greatest of Healers. In Jesus' precious name; Amen." Shawn without touching, made the sign of the cross over Hunter's hands to further bless him.
Shawn put the corked vial of oil back in his pocket. He went to the bed with Hunter.
Hunter spoke softly to Roman. "This is going to hurt, son, but we have to get you to the surgery. Try to relax, you will soon be back on your feet." With loving care and a lot of physical strength, Hunter picked Roman up and carried him like a baby in his arms.
Shawn made sure the door was open and the way was clear. Hunter was strong, but Roman was heavy load to carry.
Adam was in the surgery room. Mentally he went over everything he'd been taught. He wished Trinity was there to help him, but Adam also knew he had to do this alone, for Roman. Adam paused and looked up to Heaven.
"Wade...help me to help Roman. He is a good friend and is good to our children. They need him. God, give me the strength to do what I need to do. Give Hunter's hands the skills Roman needs. Please God...and Wade…help us...Amen." Adam cut his prayer short, he heard Hunter coming.
Shawn opened the door, Hunter entered, Roman in his arms. Hunter laid Roman on the raised cot, on his side. Roman groaned and was laced with sweat again.
"Good luck, Adam. The children will be safe. I will go speak to Sika and Atta. See you after. God Bless all of you." Shawn made a large sign of the cross and left the surgery. He closed the door.
Hunter looked at Adam. "Take the sleeping liquid and soak a small cloth. Use a piece of the thick cloth to cover your own nose and mouth, like this. Hunter took a strip of the thicker cloth and tied it over his nose and mouth. He showed Adam he could still breathe.
Adam did as Hunter did. He then prepared the thinner cloth with the liquid sleeping drug. The label read "Tsūsensan". Adam only knew what it did and that it was made from roots and plants.
"Hold the cloth to his nose..." Hunter directed Adam as he put his stethoscope in his ears. Roman, breathe in as deeply as you can. You will soon be in dreamland. When you wake up, it will all be over and you will feel better." Hunter laid a gentle hand on Roman's shoulder.
"Ad...am. Love…you...love…child...ren..." Roman managed to speak, but his voice was laced with sleep. He sounded a bit like a drunk.
"We love you, too. Now, relax and got to sleep. I am right here with Hunter." Adam still held the cloth in front of Roman's nose.
Once Roman realized Adam was there, he let himself drift off. He soon fell into a very deep, drug assisted sleep. Hunter checked his patients breathing and heart rate.
"He's out. Alright Nurse, let's get this over with." Hunter held out his hand. Adam placed the proper instrument into the waiting hand. Hunter took a deep breath, centered himself, and began the surgery to remove the infection from Roman's body.
Shawn hurried to the village school. It was outside play time for the younger students like Alex, Lagi and Vallea. Heath and Seth sat on a bench and watched the youngsters play. Shawn sat down next to his son.
"Pa? What's wrong? Is it father?" Heath immediately knew something was terribly wrong.
Shawn quietly explained about Roman, as he knew his son would be worried about his dearest friend.
"...so, your father and Adam have started the operation. Seth, can you take care of Eliza and Alex until Adam gets home?" Shawn looked at the former servant with a hope filled smile.
Seth quickly spoke. "You don't have to ask. Heath you go, I can handle things here. I will take the children and handle things at Adam's till he gets home...and then some. Dean will take care of the livestock. Don't worry about a thing. I will pray for Roman." He was adamant as he spoke.
Heath hugged Seth. "I will be at the hospital." The red head stood and jogged away.
"Thank you, Seth. I knew he would be upset. I don't know how long it will be. If it is really late, I will come and take the children to our place for the night. I have to go tell Roman's parents. Send for me if you need anything. Thank you again, Seth." Shawn hugged the young man.
"I will. Don't worry, they will be fine." Seth returned the pastors hug. He watched as Shawn hurried off to the village center.
Shawn found Atta first. She was busy over seeing the villagers who were still sorting and storing the last of the goods from the trade with McMahon.
"Atta, where is Sika?" Shawn asked as he tried not to sound and appear too anxious.
Atta smiled at the pastor. "He is out boar hunting, with his brother, Peter. Why? Brother, is there something wrong?" She could see there was something behind the smile Shawn tried to casually wear.
Once again, Shawn explained about Roman. It was the first time Shawn had seen Atta turn pale. He reached out to support her before she stumbled.
"Not our boy...not our boy...not like Malia...no...no..." Atta was having a hard time remembering how to breathe.
Shawn led Roman's mother to a nearby bench under a shade tree. He called for one of the villagers to bring Atta drink of water.
"He will be alright, Atta. You know Hunter is an excellent physician. Why don't you send someone to fetch Sika. We can either to to the church and pray or we can go to the hospital. He will hear us, either way." Shawn caressed the distressed woman's back as she took a deep drink of water.
"Go find your Chief. Tell him to come to the hospital, Roman is ill, very ill. Then tell everyone to pray. Go find my tane!" Atta firmly gave her orders to find her husband. The young villager bowed and hurried off to do Atta's bidding.
Atta stood. "Hospital. I have to be near my boy. We must pray it is not like Malia. I can not lose both my children."
Shawn stood as well. "I'm sure it won't come to that. Come, we will go." Together, Roman's mother and the pastor went to the hospital.
At the hospital, Hunter made progress. "See, I've isolated the kernel now. I have to squeeze, without causing it to burst. Keep the sweat out of my eyes." Hunter explained and instructed.
"I will. Let me swipe you now, before you start." Adam carefully mopped Hunter's brow. There was a bead of sweat that threatened to fall into Hunter's left eye. The twenty fat lamps and no windows meant the room was warm.
"Thank you. Adam, you are doing a splendid job. Now put a few more drops on his cloth. If he were to rouse, it would be bad. Then, I will start." Hunter nodded to the bottle of liquid sleep.
While Adam placed a few more drops on the cloth over Roman's nose. Hunter checked Roman's breathing and heart rate. When he was satisfied that Roman was in a deep, sedated sleep, Hunter was ready to start the delicate procedure. Most of the infection was in the hard kernel that was about the size of an arrowhead.
If the kernel burst, chances were the infected pus would soak into Roman's blood stream. If that happened, Roman's chances to survive were slim. Blood poisoning was extremely deadly. Hunter had read that studies of medicine for the treatment of blood poisoning were being worked on. However, Hunter had no idea as to their status, and of course, had no access to them. Roman's life was in his hands. Hunter prayed to God to steady his hands. With a nod to Adam, Hunter began.
Shawn, Atta and Heath sat in the room that Roman used. Heath had already changed the sweat soaked sheets. The fresh, clean bed waited for Roman's recovery.
Heath nearly wept with relief when Jason suddenly appeared, a full tea tray in hand. "Seth told me. I thought you could probably use a cup. It's ginger and chamomile, to steady your nerves. They still haven't found the Chief. Jey and Jimmy fear the boar took them further north than usual. As soon as they find him, they will relay a message to us as to where he is. Has there been any news?" As Jason spoke, he poured tea for Heath, Atta and Shawn. Jason lastly poured himself a cup and sat next to Heath on the window seat.
Atta sat on the bed. "No news. Sika may have decided they would camp. He will not take this very well… so much like little Malia, the sweet girl. A parent should never have to bury a child." She gave a deep sigh, but didn't cry.
Shawn sat next to Atta on the bed and put an arm around here. "No. They shouldn't. I have every faith in God, Hunter and Adam. It may be a long recovery, but Roman will be alright." He spoke with confidence. Shawn knew staying positive was the best thing for Roman.
Heath laid his head on Jason's shoulder. "I knew something was off with Roman the last couple of days. He just didn't seem to have much energy. Roman said he was just tired from studying late. I should have said something."
"It is not your fault, Heath. You know he does stay up late a lot. He will be alright. Hunter is the best. You told me how he saved so many lives when the sickness went around the village." Jason tried to comfort Heath. He wrapped an arm around the red head and held him close.
All the could be heard in the bedroom was the occasional sip of tea or clank of a cup. Several sighs were also released into the atmosphere.
At least an hour had passed for the people waiting for news about Roman. A young man came into the hospital. He called out for Roman's mother.
Atta and Shawn went out to see the young man while Heath and Jason remained on the window seat. The younger man clung to Jason like he was his life line. Heath knew he would be totally lost without Jason.
"Madame, we found the Chief on the most northeastern tip of the island. He and High Chief Maivia have camped for the night. Chief Sika wanted to come immediately, but his brother stopped him. It is too dangerous at night with so many male boars in rutting season. Chief Sika is very upset and wants to be here, with you. He said he will come at first light." The young man was nervous as he spoke. He knew Madame Atta could have a very bad temper at times.
Atta nodded. "Thank you, Fetu. It is a wise decision. I couldn't stand it if my tane was attacked by wild boar in the middle of the jungle at night. Tell everyone to gather and pray. Pray for the recovery of their future Chief Leati Anoa'i. I will send word as soon as I have some news. You are a good boy, Fetu. Go find something to eat and rest. I dare say you ran all the way." She pulled the young villager in for a hug.
"Fetu, tell everyone the church is open for those that want to go there to pray. Also, please stop by Adam's and tell Seth to make sure the children are kept from the news. Those two little monkeys have been through enough. Thank you, son." Shawn gave Fetu a warm smile of appreciation.
Fetu gave a nod. "Of course. I will do as you both ask. May I add my best wishes for Roman. May God bless his rapid recovery. If you need anything, send for me." The young man gave a nod and left the hospital.
Atta looked at Shawn. "Of all times for Sika to go hunting! He'd better be here first thing in the morning, with a dead boar or three." She put her hands on her slim hips.
Shawn placed a hand on the older woman's shoulder. "Wasn't it you who encouraged Sika to go hunting? Said he needed to get away after the stress of McMahon and Omega?" He gave Atta a wink.
Atta managed a light chuckle. "Brother Shawn, do you always have to be so annoyingly right..." She paused and looked over at the door of the surgery, where her son battled to keep his life. "Why doesn't Hunter or Adam tell us something? It has been hours. That means it isn't going well..." Atta's eyes filled with tears, but still, she did not cry.
Shawn gave the woman a hug. "Hunter said it was a long, delicate operation. He has to remove the infection kernel carefully so it won't burst open and poison Roman's blood. I've seen him do it once before, in a boar hunting accident. The wound got infected. If Hunter hadn't removed it, the boy would have lost his leg, if not his life. The operation took almost eight hours. Hunter was tested to his limits and was exhausted, but the boy is now running races. Be patient and keep praying. You wouldn't want Hunter to make a mistake because he hurried now, would you?" He'd led Atta back to the bedroom as he spoke.
Shawn smiled. Jason and Heath had fallen asleep. Jason's back rested against the wall of the window seat, he held Heath in his arms, as the red head's back rested against Jason's chest. The sun had almost set, Shawn lit the fat lamp on the beside table. Atta sat on the bed with a deep sigh. She knew Shawn was right, but she hated waiting.
In the operating room, Adam wiped Hunter's brow for what felt like the hundredth time. It was proving to be more difficult than Hunter had realized.
The kernel of infected pus was being stubborn and didn't want to come out. Hunter sighed. "I am going to have to cut it out, and I don't like it. One slip..."
"You can do it, Hunter. I know you can." Adam tried to give Hunter a boost of confidence. Now was not the time for doubt.
Hunter gave a nod. "With God's help. Scalpel." He held out his hand for the tool. Adam placed it in the Doctor's hand.
Time passed slowly…too slowly.
