"So we're going to keep Steve asleep and on the ventilator overnight and have a go at waking him tomorrow," the consultant informed Ted and Kate. The junior doctors had managed to find their boss and they were having an update in Steve's room.
"I think pain is going to be his main problem when he wakes up so we need to get on top of that,".
"He will be ok though?" Ted asked.
"He hasn't got any life threatening injuries but that's not to say he hasn't got a long recovery ahead of him,".
"And he will make it back to work?" Kate asked. That was her main concern right now.
"I would like to think so but he will need a lot of rehab before he is back on his feet again," the doctor warned. Kate understood what the doctor was saying and made a promise to her partner right then that she would help him at every opportunity in his journey to full recovery. The thought of him not being able to get back to full active duty something she would not allow herself to think about.
"Thank you," Ted said to the doctor once he had answered all their questions.
"You're welcome," the doctor replied before leaving them alone.
Ted turned to Kate once they were alone. She was still sat in the chair beside Steve with his hand in hers. "We should get going, Kate," Ted suggested. "Leave the nurse to look after Steve without us getting under her feet," he continued recognising it was going to be difficult to prise Kate from Steve's side. "You need some sleep before work tomorrow,".
"I've asked DCI Huntley for a couple of days off," Kate murmured, not looking Ted in the eye.
"You've done what?!" Ted asked, shocked she'd done what she had without checking with him first.
"Please, sir," she begged, looking forlornly at him. Ted could see they had a glassy appearance with un-shed tears. "I'm not going to be much use until I know he's going to be ok. DCI Huntley is not expecting me back until next week,".
"Ok. Let's hope James or whatever his name is can cope alone until then," Ted acquiesced. How could he refuse her request when she looked so sad? Jamie was quite inexperienced and Ted wasn't particularly enamoured with Steve's current partner. He was going to have to keep an extra eye on him now that he wasn't under Steve's guidance.
"Thank you, sir," Kate replied, gratefully.
Ted said his farewells and left Kate and the nurse with Steve. For the rest of the evening Kate didn't move from her watch point. She chatted with the nurse and made sure she wasn't a nuisance. As the evening wore on, the beeping of the machines keeping Steve alive and the whirring of the ventilator became quite hypnotic and despite her intention to stay awake, gradually lulled Kate off to sleep.
"Kate?" the nurse called trying to rouse Kate in the middle of the night by rubbing her back gently. Her patient's friend had fallen asleep with her head on Steve's bed close to where his hand rested in hers.
It wasn't long before Kate opened her eyes and got her bearings. "Everything ok?" she asked as she turned to look at Steve.
"Steve's fine," the nurse reassured her. "His parents have arrived and I'm afraid we can only have two by the bedside at any one time,".
"Oh god. Sorry," Kate said as she sat back. "I hope they haven't been here long," she said, worried she may have unintentionally upset Mr and Mrs Arnott.
"They've just seen the doctor and are having a drink in the relatives room,".
"I better let them come see him," Kate said and stood from her chair. The monitors around Steve started alarming at her actions. "What's happening?" Kate asked worried.
"His blood pressure and pulse have gone up again," the nurse said. "I'm not sure why. It was fine a minute ago and nothing's changed," she continued as she looked at her patient. Actually, maybe there was something that had changed she noted. It was only a minor thing but might be the cause of her patients distress. "Hold his hand again," the nurse suggested.
"What?" Kate asked but did as asked. It didn't take long for Steve's vital signs to stabilise and the alarms to silence.
"He seems to like you holding his hand," the nurse observed and Kate turned to look at her friend. She couldn't explain why but took great comfort in the fact that Steve liked her being nearby. But she couldn't stay there forever.
"Steve, your parents are here," Kate informed her friend as she continued to hold his hand whilst also stroking his face. "I've got to leave for a bit so they can see you. And I really need to pee," she continued. "I won't be far away I promise," she said before letting his hand go. This time there were no alarms and Steve's blood pressure and pulse remained stable allowing Kate to slip out the room.
She made her way to the relatives room. In all the time they had worked together, there had never been an opportunity for Kate to meet Steve's parents and although it wasn't the best scenario, she knew she should probably do so now.
Knocking on the closed door to announce her arrival, Kate slipped in to the room and saw a woman and man whom she presumed were Steve's mum and dad. "Mr and Mrs Arnott?" she asked. They nodded. "I'm Kate. Steve's partner," she introduced herself as she held her hand out in greeting.
"Oh, Kate! It's so good to finally meet you," Steve's mum said, getting to her feet. She ignored Kate's hand and engulfed her in a hug. "He's always talking about you whenever he calls,".
"Really?" Kate asked worriedly as Steve's mum released her. Her and Steve had been having quite a few arguments in their work recently and she wondered how much he had fed back to his parents. Lord only knew what they must think of her.
"Don't sound so worried," Steve's mum reassured her. "It's all good. He likes working with you,".
"I like working with him too," Kate replied as Steve's father stood and shook Kate's hand. "The nurse will be in to take you to him shortly. Sorry I was in the room,".
"It's good he had someone with him," his mother said. "We're not kicking you out I hope?".
"I could do with a quick break and to stretch my legs. You take as much time as you need,".
"Thank you, Kate," his father said before the nurse came in and led the two parents to their son's bedside.