Accident
(Thursday Afternoon, August 1st)
"You know," Dr. Roberts comments, "I'm better able to prepare for a medical evaluation if I'm able to study the subject matter beforehand."
"Yeah," Ben acknowledges. "I'm sorry. It was just too embarrassing to tell anyone else."
"What seems to be the problem?" he inquires.
When Ben fails to speak, Charming informs, "He's starting to have a hard time holding his bladder for as long as he's used to."
Ben folds his hands, "There's been a couple accidents."
"Well," the doctor addresses, "you'll be glad to hear you're too young to be at risk for prostate cancer. Even the rarest cases of younger men are only in their mid-thirties. You're nearly a decade younger, which makes it highly unlikely."
"It's not the medication," Ben addresses.
"Different people react differently," he answers, "but no. It's not a known side effect." Ben doesn't respond, and he questions, "Have you been experiencing any burning or pain with urination?"
"Um," he tries to recall.
"Why don't you lay down?" Dr. Roberts suggests. "I want to see if you feel any tenderness." Ben moves over to the exam table, and after he lightly presses his abdomen, Ben winces. "It feels like there could be inflammation," he informs. "I need to see it."
After Ben's shirt is moved up, he sees his sudden concern, "Right. I have a bruise."
Charming stands from his seat, "God, Ben."
"How long have you had this for?" the doctor asks.
Ben wets his lips, "Almost a week. I thought it would heal, but it's been getting worse."
"And you didn't think to mention this?" Dr. Roberts questions.
Ben takes a moment, "I was hoping it wasn't the problem."
"And when did your bladder issues start?"
He mumbles, "A day or two ago."
"I'm going to need to bring another doctor into this."
"What?" Ben leans up. "No."
"Bruises are caused by bleeds," Dr. Roberts seriously says. "Yours has not stopped, and now it's putting pressure on your other organs." Ben's frown deepens, and he continues, "If I'm right, you're going to need surgery." Ben lays back down, and the doctor inquires, "Can you tell me how you got this?"
Ben stares up at the blinding light, and Charming questions, "Did your father do this?" Tears escape his eyes, and as he shakily breathes, he places a hand over the pain of his stomach.
Ben watches the three doctors talk in front of him, as they hold up a simulation of the procedure. Their expressions are grim and serious. How much longer would he have had to wait for this to kill him? He glances over them. They must all be thinking the same thing his doctor thought: who would have close enough access to the king to do this, and why wouldn't he have gotten help before now? The answer is obvious. King Beast ruled the land with an iron fist and brough the lands together with threats, but he wouldn't do that to his own son. Would he? "Ben?" he hears his name, and his attention is brought back to them.
"Sure," he answers, and after he notices their confused expressions, he turns to Charming and asks in French, "How long is this going to take?"
The blond surgeon answers, "Given the seriousness of the injury, surgery will be scheduled for a few hours from now. You will need to abstain from food and drink until then, and you will be monitored for at least two days afterwards. Given your status and the injury, we may want to keep you for a week."
"And the recovery?" Ben inquires. "What should I expect?"
"Because the hematoma has been pushing against your bladder and digestive tract," she informs, "tubes will be placed to directly collect urine and offer nutrients."
"So, I can't eat anything after surgery?" Ben's brows raise.
"We would start with an IV of electrolytes," she explains, "and then either use a feeding tube or continue with soft foods like ice cream or gelatin."
"Don't feeding tubes hurt?" he worries.
"If you fight it," she acknowledges. "It's easier with focused breathing. You can think of it like getting a shot."
"I don't like shots."
She takes a moment, "If the injury isn't as bad as it appears, you might not even need to worry about it."
The male doctor next to her says something, and Ben brows furrow, "Pardon?"
She translates, "You will be meeting with someone before surgery to discuss different anesthesia for you to sleep during surgery." The other doctor looks at her, and she hands him the clipboard, pointing to something on the first page.
"What's going on?" Ben asks.
She answers, "I was showing him your preferred language is listed as French. I understand that someone in pain might have a harder time concentrating and understanding medical terms of a different language."
Ben takes a moment, "Thank you."
She nods, "Do you have any other questions?"
"No," Ben scratches the back of his head. "I think that's all."
After Ben's moved into a recovery room, the surgeon says, "Visiting hours will be ending shortly, but we will allow you to stay until he wakes up."
"Thank you," Charming comments.
She informs, "When we examined him, the injury did meet our expectations. We will be using a feeding tube to reduce the risk of a rupture occurring. It may be a few days, so we recommend a gastric tube, which would require another surgery." She reassures, "It would be mild. He would be given a pain killer and a numbing spray for the throat, but he will be able to stay awake. He should feel no pain."
"What exactly is in a feeding tube?" he questions.
"It contains one thousand and five hundred calories of vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, fats, and proteins you would need in a day." She notices his concern, "Is something wrong?"
"He wouldn't want me to say anything," Charming comments.
"If it's relevant to his medical needs," she advises, "you should tell me."
He faces her, "Ben's a carnivore. Does that make a difference?"
She deeply frowns, "His chart doesn't list him as a carnivore."
"Does it make a difference?" he asks again.
She takes a moment, "I believe there's a high protein option for the feeding tube."
"But?"
She hesitates, "The science behind a carnivore's needs aren't well-studied, and King Ben is already underweight. I will have to address this with the others to find a solution." Charming nods, and she asks, "Is there a chance that Ben might deny the feeding tube?"
Charming takes a moment, "I don't know if he would deny liquids. He's just been really stressed about some things."
"If he does deny it," she warns, "you and Belle will have to sign against his wishes as his emergency contacts."
He sighs, "She can't leave the castle right now. She says Adam's not doing well."
She takes a minute, "Someone between the ages of sixteen and twenty-one can only have their wishes overruled if both emergency contacts agree it's in his best interest."
"What do you normally do in situations where the parents can't be contacted?"
"Ben's over sixteen," she reminds him. "In the eyes of the law, he's old enough to take on his own medical needs."
"Seventeen is hardly old enough for someone to know themselves that well," he debates.
"The law exists for people like him," she sternly remarks. "When the parents are too busy to take care of their kid or the siblings decide to take charge, those kids can still get the help they need. However, if you're that worried Ben may deny the tube, then you need to get his mother here to sign the paperwork."
Charming softly states, "I don't know if it's safe for her to leave."
The blond doctor settles, "Then I hope King Ben respects your word enough to make the decision for himself."
When Belle answers the door, she sees the two officers, "Well. Morning."
Rinehart frowns, "Are you aware your son is in the hospital right now?"
She slowly nods, "Yes."
Kolinski comments, "We're here to offer you safe passage." Belle looks over her shoulder. "You're worried about what will happen when he finds out you left."
She faces him and whispers, "This is my home. What happens when I come back?"
"We understand." The brown-haired officer offers, "But we've made arrangement to post someone here, should you find it necessary."
"I'm in no danger," Belle denies.
"We're not asking," Kolinski asserts.
After a moment, Rinehart informs, "You will have the security detail, until we no longer find it necessary. The only question is whether you want it inside or outside the gate."
"Inside," she quietly answers, and they nod. "You said you could take me to my son?"
"This way," he instructs, and they guide her to the car.
"Ben," Belle sadly smiles, before he looks at her, and she takes the seat next to him. "How are you?" She swipes the hair from his eyes, "Are you okay?"
He stares ahead, "Don't touch me."
She removes her hand from him, "Honey."
"And don't call me that," he stresses.
"I just want to know you're okay."
He faces her, "Since when do you care?" before he looks away from her, and a nurse enters the room.
She addresses, "King Ben." and he looks at her. "We're ready to administer the feeding tube."
Ben looks back at his mother before facing the nurse, "I don't want it."
"Ben," Belle whispers, "don't be foolish. You need the calories."
Ben straightens, as he partly smiles at the nurse, "I don't want to do it. Thank you."
She nods before widening her eyes at Belle, "Your Highness. May I speak with you in the hall, please?"
Belle stands from the chair and follows her out of the room, "I don't know why he's doing this." The nurse hands her the clipboard. "What's this?"
"It's to wave your son's decision," she informs.
She sees the other signature, "Charming already signed."
"We need yours to proceed," she encourages.
"This would just be for this time?" Belle makes sure. "We're not taking his rights?"
"It would be in regard to his current medical situation," she states. "As soon as the hospital releases him, this document becomes null and void."
Belle takes the pen and signs, "He normally sleeps in the morning. Wait until after he wakes up to do it, please."
She nods, "We can do that."
After his mother leaves the room, Ben sees the officers, "Nice to see you again."
Officer Rinehart informs, "It's hospital policy to report any suspicious injuries. Would you like to tell us how you got yours?"
Ben eyes off, "It was an accident."
"An accident?" Kolinski doubts.
It's not like his father wanted to hospitalize him. "Yes," he confirms. "An accident."
- Posted: 02/22/2020