Hey Ya'll! Hope you have had a great week. This story is sorta winding down, just a few more chapters. Thanks for hanging with it for this long! After this chapter, we will be exploring the recovery part of Clay's journey.
Trent had left the hospital begrudgingly, the last thing he wanted to do was leave Clay, but he needed a break and so did Clay. Trent was oddly a mother hen and especially because Clay was in such a vulnerable state.
He had left to run some errands and grab some good coffee. He ran to Wal-mart, got and iced carmel latte with half the syrup, and went to get a haircut that was long overdue.
He was in the middle of paying the barber, when his phone rang. It was Sonny and his heart instantly sank. He threw more than enough cash to cover the cut and quickly raced outside, answering the call as he did.
"Hey, everything ok?" Trent asked with a waver in his voice that had been around since the day Clay disappeared.
"Ah, hey Trent, is ah, there any way you can come back to the hospital? I hate askin' ya, but i can't be alone with him in this kind of state. They are using terms that i have no idea what they mean and i don't feel like i can make these kind of decisions, an Clay isn't with it enough to either. I just don't know what to do or say Trent."
"Of course, you don't even have to ask Sonny, i was already on my way there. Did something happen while i was gone?"
"Ah, ya, Clay was fine and then woke up and sounded like a fish i would catch and throw outta a pond. The nurse had to suction his air way, and the Doctor was talking about a different mask? I think he called it a B-Stap machine or something. I told them i needed to make a call before i decided the let them switch it. Clay seems really outta it and I'm worried about how he can't stay still or rest."
"Is it harder for him to breathe now? Has it been worse since i left?" Trent asked, knowing where he currently was, it would take him at least 30 minutes at least to make it to the hospital. If Clay was having enough trouble breathing to warrant a BiPap machine, then Trent needed to make sure Sonny let the Doctor know that he could switch Clay's mask. Trent didn't want to hold off making that decision, and making Clay struggle to get enough air for 30 more minutes, when Trent was able to get there.
"Yeah, he hasn't settled down the whole time you have been gone."
"Okay, Sonny find the Doctor and let him switch Clay's mask. It will help him breathe better and then i can chat with his doctor when i get there. Just go back to Clay's room and ill call the team on my way."
"Okay, thanks Trent. See ya soon." Sonny said, and Trent heard him sniffle before hanging up the call.
Sonny hung up the call and took a second to compose himself before heading back to Clay's room.
Sonny stopped by the nurses station and let the nurse assigned to Clay, Iris, that he was consenting to the mask being changed and whatever the Doctor decided was best for his care, was fine now that he had ran it by Trent. The nurse had left to find then doctor and then was going to do her rounds on Clay.
When Sonny entered the room, Clay was so propped up with pillows, that he was practically sitting up. His neck was arched back in a painfully stiff way. He was still wheezing, and didn't even acknowledge Sonny when he entered. Clay's one hand was clenched, and one was reaching up to clench the mask.
"Hey buddy, Trent is on his way and the Doc is gonna switch your mask, and you're gonna feel better in no time ok."
Clay didn't even open his eyes, he just kept struggling to breathe. The doctor entered the room, with Iris behind him with a tray of equipment.
"Hey Clay, lets change that mask and get ya feeling better." She plugged in the machine and gently lifted Clay's head to put the straps to the new mask behind his head. The BiPap will seal to his face and will force air in, and out better than a normal oxygen mask. It would be easier on Clay, and make sure he was taking deep enough breaths, to prevent even more problems. Iris took off the regular mask and fastened the new one tightly to Clay's face. After a few seconds, Clay relaxed slightly, much to Sonny's relief.
"Im gonna give him a light sedative, so he can relax and get some sleep. Call if you need anything. " The Doctor said, Iris injected the meds and then left.
Clay was out within 10 seconds. The struggle he had been through just too much. Sonny also dozed off while he was waiting for the team to come. Hopefully both of them can get some good rest before they have to dodge the next crisis.
