Chapter 3
(Note: this is straight out of the episode - almost word for word)
"Mr. Lyman?"
"Yeah." A young doctor in a white lab coat was walking toward him. The kid couldn't be older than 30.
"I'm Colonel Leahy. I operated on Miss Moss."
"For what exactly? I'm a little behind the curve."
"She came in with a multiple compound fracture and a pneumothorax."
"Sorry, I . . ." Josh was surprised at how calm he felt, despite the circumstances.
"Uh, collapsed lung, broken thighbone."
"Collapsed lung? That's no biggie, right?" Josh was sure he had heard of people living through collapsed lungs all the time.
"We suctioned the air from the pleural cavity by chest tube," Colonel Leahy said casually.
"Really, 'cause that sounds a little . . ."
"No biggie." He smiled reassuringly. "The lung should re-expand within 48 to 72 hours."
"And the broken leg?" Josh probed tentatively.
"A compound fracture is one that protrudes through the skin."
"Uh-huh." Josh grimaced, staring off into space and trying not to picture that in his head. This was the part he had been dreading.
"And this was a multiple, so that means. . . "
"Yeah, got it. I got it." He cut the doctor off, feeling his stomach start to roll.
"Are you alright?"
"I get a little queasy." He stated. Colonel Leahy was looking at him like he was an 8 year old girl, so he added, "Plus, the . . . you know. . . jet lag." Josh wasn't sure he bought it, but he continued.
"In any event, the main fracture repairs went well. We inserted a metal rod through the bone."
And that did it. The blood drained from his face and he closed his eyes leaning over to put his hands on his knees. "Okay." He wasn't sure if he wanted to pass out or throw up. Maybe both. Damn his sensitive system.
"You wanna sit?" The doctor sounded concerned.
Josh took a deep breath, concentrating on keeping his stomach contents where they belonged. "I'm . . . I'm fine." He pushed thoughts of broken bones and bloody lacerations out of his mind and waited for his stomach to settle. "So she's gonna be okay?" he asked still hanging upside down.
Colonel Leahy bent down to Josh's level. "At the moment I'm more worried about you."
"I'm good." Josh stood back up as proof. When the doctor didn't look convinced he repeated it quietly. "I'm good."
Colonel Leahy nodded, although still looked skeptical. "Well, we'll want to perform some Doppler studies, ensure no clots have formed. Recovery from the pneumothorax may take several weeks. The fracture, months of physical therapy."
Weeks? Months? Josh blinked. Okay. At least she was still alive.
"Great." Josh replied. Colonel Leahy looked slightly confused until Josh followed up with, "I mean, not great, but considering . . ."
He smiled, understanding. "You can see her," he said. The taking in Josh's still slightly green complexion added, "uh, if you'd like."
Josh picked up his briefcase and coat and followed the doctor down the hall.