Chapter 6
The nurse finished taking Steve's blood pressure, smiled and moved to the bottom of his bed where she wrote in his chart. Cheryl sat in a chair at Steve's side, the nurse replaced the chart and took her place back at a desk near the door. Blood filled tubes from both of Steve's arms led to a machine which whirred gently at his bedside.
"Want me to continue?" Dr Jones asked from his seat opposite Cheryl.
"Please" Steve replied.
"Plasma is the liquid part of your blood that carries your blood cells, it also carries nutrients and minerals to your organs." He spoke slowly and clearly, making sure Steve understood as much as possible about his condition and treatment. "When you get an infection, in your case probably that throat infection a couple of weeks back, your body produces antibodies to fight it. Those antibodies are contained in the plasma too. In Guillain-Barré the antibodies get confused or malfunction, and instead of fighting the infection, they turn against the myelin sheath which protects the nerves. That's why you've been losing strength and sensation, and that's what the test's we did earlier were for."
"And removing the plasma removes the antibodies?" Steve asked.
"Pretty much" Dr Jones continued pointing to the machine. "The plasma is removed from your blood and replaced with a solution made up of the salts and proteins your body needs."
"So this process stops the condition getting any worse?"
Dr Jones paused "In theory that's true, and that's why we wanted to start you off as soon as possible. But" he smiled recognising Steve's apprehension. "But" he continued "I don't want to mislead you Steve. Just because we've started doesn't mean this thing will miraculously stop in it's tracks. I'm going to recommend a daily plasma exchange for the next few days, see how you go. To be perfectly honest though, you can expect to get worse before you get better, I know that's a cliché but it's true." He let the information sink in before continuing.
"The good news is that the statistics are very promising, there is every chance you'll make a full recovery. It's gonna take time, it's going to be frustrating and scary, but you have your father, and your friends around you" he smiled at Cheryl. "Each exchange will take about two and a half hours" he checked his watch "so you've about another two hours left here. Are you comfortable?"
Steve smiled in response.
"Good. The nurse here will be with you 'til you're finished, she'll keep monitoring your blood pressure and pulse and when you are done she'll take a blood sample to compare to the one we took earlier."
"You're taking so much of my blood today I'm surprised there is any left to clean" Steve joked.
"Yeah, I bet you've had better days. Do you have any more questions before I go?"
"Will I be able to work again after this?"
"It's early days Steve, that all depends on your recovery"
"How long until you can give me an answer"
"Again that depends on how you respond to the treatment."
Steve sighed in frustration.
"OK" Dr Jones conceded "I can tell you this much. The condition does follow one set pattern, it always reaches it's maximum severity within four to six weeks. After that time it stabilises and in most cases begins to recede within the following weeks. At that point we'll asses you fully and then I promise you I'll be able to provide you with information, if not answers to your questions."
Dr Jones stood and pushed one of his hands down into his trouser pockets. "I'll be back to see you tomorrow" he glanced at his watch and rubbed his eyes "make that this afternoon. If you need anything just ask the nurse here."
"Thank you" Cheryl and Steve murmured in unison as Dr Jones left the room. Cheryl yawned and Steve's eyes flickered from her face to the small window. The sky was pastel blue in the early morning light. "You can blame me when Masters gets on your back about falling asleep on the job today" he quipped.
"Last I looked he was still waiting outside to talk to you" she informed him.
"You explained to him it was nothing to do with our voodoo guy?"
Cheryl nodded. "Want me to get rid of him?"
"No, I'll talk to him, it's not like I can go anywhere else" his eyes shot to one of the tubes protruding from his forearm. Cheryl stroked the back of his hand and walked to the door. Moments later she appeared with Masters and Reynolds in tow. The nurse spoke to them in hushed tones and after a brief exchange Reynolds reluctantly left the room. Cheryl crossed the floor and stood by the window as Masters towered over the bed where Steve lay.
"How you doing Sloan?" he asked gruffly.
"I have no idea" he replied wearily.
Masters looked around the room nervously. For a man who'd spent all night trying to speak to somebody he seemed to have little to say. Just as Steve was about to break the silence Masters started.
"I talked to your friend, Jesse for a while earlier. He explained about your condition, that it's natural so to speak. It's got nothing to do with this psycho right". Steve couldn't tell if it was meant as a question or a statement. "Listen Sloan" Masters continued "I appreciate you're unwell right now, and I'm sorry for that, but I'm here to ask that you keep this quiet for the time being".
"Oh shucks" Steve replied sarcastically "and here was me about to run out in the street and tell the world".
Masters shifted his weight from foot to foot. He looked down at his shoes then let his gaze meet Steve's. "I'm sorry if I'm not putting myself across very well, let me explain. We have a delusional murderer out there, thinks he has the power to kill people with magic. He threatened you, and Banks" he pointed to where Cheryl stood by the window "and now you wind up in hospital. We've already talked about the security of information in this case. If he finds out about your….situation…it could fuel his fantasy, and it could put you in jeopardy."
Cheryl spun around, but Masters hadn't said anything that she and Steve didn't know already. "The only people who know about this so far are the medical staff here and the three of us. I'd prefer it if this information doesn't get back to the station or to the press."
"Fine by me" Steve looked at Cheryl who nodded her agreement.
Masters nodded towards Cheryl "Take the morning off" then looking at Steve "and you take care, I'll be back in and I'm sure Banks will keep me up to date with how you're doing. If you need anything, you know where I am". He patted Steve's shoulder before leaving the room.
"You should go and get settled in to the beach house" Steve commented as Cheryl sat back in the chair by his bed. She reached out and held his fingers gently, her thumb drawing circles on his palm.
"This has been one crazy night" she whispered, looking at the hand she held in her own. Steve watched her quietly and smiled at the tenderness of the touch he couldn't feel. Her eyes flicked upwards and locked into his gaze "are you feeling OK?"
"I barely feel a thing" he smirked.
"I mean in there" she tapped a finger on his temple.
He thought for a moment, then smiling began "tired, confused, tired, anxious, tired, tired hungry" he paused "did I mention tired?"
"I can take a hint, I'll go and hit the sack for a while. Want anything before I go?"
"If you see dad try and make sure he gets some rest"
"OK, I'll call back before work"
"No need"
"I want to" Cheryl squeezed his fingers tightly and pushed her face close to his. "I'll see you later" she whispered and lightly kissed his cheek. Steve couldn't reply as the haze of sleep began to wash over him.
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Amanda poked her head into the doctor's lounge where Mark sat alone at the table. "Hey, I'm just on my way down to see Steve, how are you doing today?"
"Oh I'm fine" the old man replied. His eyes fixed on Amanda "can I ask a favour?" Amanda pulled up a chair beside her friend. "I was wondering if you could have a word to Steve for me. These last few days have been so hectic, sorting out his treatment and going over his condition with him."
"He's doing OK with the plasma exchanges isn't he?"
"Yeah, they're taking their toll, he's quite tired but he knows it's for his own good. But he's been in here four days now and we both know how Steve is when he's unwell. He doesn't handle being out of action too good and I'm just worried about the stress, the mental aspects of the condition you know?"
"Of course, but any patient with a serious or incapacitating condition is offered counselling…"
Mark waved a hand to interrupt her "Arnie has explained that to Steve and offered to have somebody go talk to him but he refused. I hate to ask you to do this but could you try and persuade him it's in his own best interest to talk to someone?"
Amanda thought for a moment.
"I know he opened up to you before" Mark continued "when he was having those terrible nightmares"
"Dr Keller" Amanda smiled "Steve seems to rate the whole mental health profession along with sewer rats, but he made progress with Dr Keller."
"Of course, good thinking Amanda" Mark beamed.
"Want me to suggest contacting him?"
"If you could that would be great"
"OK, I'll go down there now" she gave an encouraging smile. "Oh, before I go, any changes in his condition I should know about?"
Mark grimaced "he's still very weak, they're trying to keep him moving his hands and feet as much as possible. He can't walk though so he's in bed or propped up in the chair most of the day."
"Can he support his head?"
"At the moment though they're using pillows to help, he's still leaning to one side a lot. He started asking about pain relief this morning though he claimed that it was a hypothetical question. But you know Steve, he's quite possibly in pain without letting on."
"I'll go and talk to him and report back later"
"Thanks Amanda" Mark called as his young colleague left the room.
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Steve was sitting up in bed when Amanda entered the room.
"Hey you" she called softly.
Steve smiled back and cast his eyes to the chair beside him as an invitation for her to sit down.
"How was the plasma exchange today?"
"Fine, I don't feel a thing while it's happening" a guilty grin spread across his face. "Well today there was a little discomfort to tell the truth." Amanda looked puzzled "I asked the nurse if we could have the radio on to deaden the silence." Steve rolled his eyes "two hours of non-stop John Denver classics!"
"OK, apart from John Denver overdose how are you doing?"
"I feel tired" he paused "and useless." Amanda waited for him to continue. "Cheryl and Masters have both been in, this jerk sent more of his stupid photos. I don't like thinking of dad and Cheryl in that house."
"They can look after themselves, you just have to concentrate on doing as the doctors tell you."
"But I worry about them, and it's so frustrating. For God's sake the guy could walk in here and do a naked war dance in front of me then turn around and walk out. I wouldn't be able to do a damn thing to stop him!"
"Frustrated, scared" she nodded understandingly "I guess this is all stuff your stress counsellor is talking you through?"
Steve gritted his teeth "you know I'm not seeing any counsellor" he spat.
Amanda faked surprise "You aren't? Well maybe you should be, maybe these are exactly the emotions and fears you need to discuss with somebody before they start causing you problems."
A tense silence filled the room. Amanda placed a hand on Steve's arm but he didn't notice. "I've said it before Steve and I'll say it again. I am here for you, I care about you so much, and if you ever need me you just have to call. But there are people better qualified to talk to you than I am." She paused before taking the matter further. "Once you got used to talking to Dr Keller you didn't find it so hard did you?"
Steve didn't answer.
"This is your decision Steve, you have your friends around you to help you through this but if you want me to call…"
"Not now" he interrupted, but there was no anger in his voice. He drew a long breath "I know you're right, dad's right, everyone is right. But I've got a lot of time on my hands for thinking right now. Just let me think about it for a while, and if I decide to talk to anybody then I think Dr Keller would be an appropriate choice."
Amanda tried to hide her smugness. "Now we've got that sorted" she whispered "tell me all about you and Detective Banks."
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Jesse wandered slowly from the beach up towards the Sloan's beach house. He reached the deck and called out through the open doors "Anyone home?"
"Just me" Cheryl replied "Mark's at the hospital"
"Mind if I come in?" Jesse asked.
Cheryl smiled and the pair sat down together at the kitchen table. After a few minutes of small talk Jesse decided to get to the point of his visit.
"I know this is gonna sound a little bit odd, and don't take this the wrong way, I know you are a very competent police officer…."
"But?" Cheryl prompted.
"Usually, well I mean sometimes, often…."
Cheryl tried hard to suppress a laugh and Jesse realised he wasn't really coming to the point after all. He grinned and began again.
"When Steve is working a difficult case, or he just wants to go over details with somebody, he usually turns to Mark," he paused "and me" then added hastily "and Amanda too." He smiled bashfully. "So, if there was anything you needed help with, or just to talk about the case, I wanted you to know that I don't mind if you…er…you know…come to me".
"Thanks Jesse" Cheryl smiled, genuinely touched by his offer. "I know Steve values your help a lot."
Jesse beamed from ear to ear at the compliment he'd waited eagerly to hear.
"It is difficult with such a high profile case, not being able to discuss it freely at the station, with colleagues. Steve is still showing an interest but he seems to be getting more and more tired each day, I don't want to add to his worries".
Jesse nodded his agreement "I know Amanda had a chat with him a few days ago, he's tired but responding reasonably well. Mark on the other hand is tired and not responding to any advice at all!"
"I know, I've barely seen him here since I moved in"
"But you've hardly been getting as much rest as you should either" Jesse reminded her, falling back into doctor mode.
"I guess we are all guilty of that. But what can we do?" Cheryl shrugged "we all care for Steve and we want to be there for him".
Cheryl's pager beeped loudly, looking down at it she raised her eyebrows and reached for the phone.
"I'll leave you to it" Jesse called heading back out onto the deck. He glanced up at the waves crashing in, then down to his watch. *Night shift in an hour, great* he thought to himself. He was about to step down onto the sand as he heard Cheryl shout from behind him;
"Jesse hang on" she called breathlessly, "there's been another murder."
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