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Chapter 37
Mike was rushed into surgery as quickly as he got to the hospital. Tom had taken Hannah to the hospital while the others dealt with Todd and the shooter. Christine and the other kids met them and they all waited. Christine was upset, but Hannah was beside herself. Watching Mike get shot had traumatized her even further because she blamed herself. It was all Christine could do to keep Hannah calm. Finally, a surgeon walked out and asked for Christine. She and Tom followed him into a conference room and he sat down across from them.
"First of all, Admiral Slattery survived the surgery but as you know; the gunshot was a through and through. Given the track of the bullet, using the entry and exit wounds, there is a chance that there might be some paralysis. A vertebrae was damaged, pretty badly. It doesn't mean that he will be, but it is something you need to be prepared for." The doctor, Dr. Gentry explained.
"How bad?" Christine asked.
"If he is, it'll be from the chest down. We will know more once he is awake." Dr. Gentry answered.
"How don't you know?" Tom asked.
"He is not reacting when we use physical stimuli on his feet, but there is a possibility there is some inflammation causing the lack of sensation. It's a waiting game now." Dr. Gentry told them.
"Can we see him? When will he wake up?" Christine questioned.
"You can. Only two visitors at once and the younger kids can't see him immediately. When he does wake up; he is going to be fairly agitated. The paralysis could be temporary, non-existent or permanent, but you need to be prepared." Dr. Gentry said. They walked out of the conference room and to Mike's hospital room. "We are slowly waking him up. He'll be in some pain and we don't want him moving around too much for obvious reasons." Dr. Gentry explained. Christine moved to Mike's side and took his hand.
"I'll tell the kids." Tom said and Christine nodded. She was fixated on Mike's face. She could tell he was trying to wake up and his head was rolling back and forth.
"C'mon, Mike. Wake up and tell us all how it's going to be. We can handle anything as long as we're together. If you're paralyzed, we'll handle it. We just need you." Christine said. She leaned over and gave Mike a kiss on the cheek and waited for what seemed like hours. Finally; Mike's eyes popped open and he looked around.
"Hannah?" He asked, almost in tears.
"She's okay, Mike. She's okay." Christine said before kissing Mike.
"I thought she got shot. I heard her scream." Mike said.
"She's still here. Do you want to see her?" Christine asked. She could tell Mike was confused by something.
"Chris; why can't I feel my legs?" Mike asked as he looked down at his feet, almost willing them to move. She lowered the bed rail and sat down next to him.
"The doctor told us that the bullet was a through and through, but did a lot of damage to one of your vertebrae. There is a chance as the inflammation goes down, you'll regain feeling, but we have to be prepared for that not to happen." Christine explained.
"You have got to be kidding me!" Mike yelled. Christine was shocked by the reaction. It was not like Mike at all.
"Do you still want to see Hannah?" Christine asked, worried Mike would blame Hannah.
"I don't want to see anyone right now. Send the kids home…go home." Mike said. He was staring up at the ceiling.
"I'll send them home, but I'm staying. And I'll let Hannah and Kaitlyn come in and see you. They need to know that you are going to be okay…" Christine said, and then knew it was the wrong thing to say.
"Okay? I won't be able to play with my kids. Walk my daughters down the aisle. Be any sort of husband to you. No, I won't be okay!" Mike stated. Christine patted his shoulder to give herself time to come up with an answer.
"And we love you anyways. This may not be permanent, and shutting the kids, your friends and me out will not solve a thing." Christine said.
"Will you love me when you have to help me shower and on and off the toilet? And what about the kids? I don't want to subject them to this." Mike said.
"Mike; let's not get ahead of ourselves. What I need you to do is put on a strong front for Kaitlyn and Hannah. Once they go home, you can fall apart. You can get mad. Whatever you need to, but those kids need you to still be Dad. Hannah is terrified. She is afraid you'll blame her for this and you can't afford that right now." Christine said. She knew she was getting through to Mike, but when he was in pain, he got angry. She would prefer he was angry at her, rather then Hannah. She squeezed his hand and watched him for a moment.
"Send them in." Mike said simply. She leaned down and kissed him again and then went and got the older girls. Sasha said she would stay with the twins and Joy, so that Christine could monitor everything. Kaitlyn was tough and immediately began plumping Mike's pillow and getting him a drink of water. Hannah stood back nervously. Finally, Christine pushed her towards Mike's hospital bed.
"Dad…I'm so sorry. This is all my fault." Hannah said as she began crying. Christine looked past her towards Mike and nodded.
"No, no. Not your fault. Come here, honey." Mike said as he gestured for Hannah. She sat down on the bed and cried into Mike's shoulder. Fortunately, Mike could move his arms a little and with some help, was able to hug Hannah. For Christine, it was a poignant sight. She just wished the situation was better.
Tom agreed to take the kids home so Christine could stay with Mike. By the time everyone left, Mike had fallen asleep. The nurse had brought a cot in for Christine and helped her get it set up. Fortunately, Mike was resting comfortably, and Christine hoped when he woke up, the inflammation would be down and he would feel his legs. If not, it would just be one more thing for them to overcome.