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Sturgis ran along side of the gurney in shock. How could this have happened? He was broken out of his reverie by a nurse shaking his arm.
"Sir, does the patient have any family that can be called?"
"Yeah," Sturgis said slowly, still keeping his eyes locked on Harm lying motionless on the bed, surrounded by wires and tubes. "His mother, but she lives in California. I'll try and get the number," he said not moving from his spot. "Is he going to be okay?"
"Well have to run some tests, and see. Why don't you go wait in chairs, and I'll have the doctor come and get you when we know something," the nurse said kindly and led Sturgis to waiting room. Sturgis sat down on the hard chairs in the nearly empty waiting room, his mind still reeling from what happened.
(One hour earlier)
Harm and Sturgis were playing basketball like they do most nights, but tonight they were both venting from a hard day in court. Their client had been found guilty, like both Harm and Sturgis knew he would be, but instead of just taking it like a man, he knocked out the guard, took his gun, and killed himself.
Harm and Sturgis spent the next two hours in blood splattered uniforms filling out the necessary paperwork, regretting not being able to stop the petty officer in time.
"Hey, Sturgis; why don't we go down to the gym and play some ball?"
"Sounds good man, say around 1400?"
"I'll see you then," Harm said heading towards the elevators
(1400 hours)
"Ready to play some ball," Harm asked throwing an easy lay up into the basket.
"Only if you're ready to get your six kicked," Sturgis said grabbing the ball, and throwing a two point shot.
"Ha, in your dreams"
After some hoarse play, they decided one a game of twenty one, talking while they played.
"So did you and Mac have a nice weekend?" Sturgis asked stealing the ball.
"What makes you think Mac and I spent the weekend together?" Harm asked making missing his shot.
"I overheard you and Mac talking about taking you bi-plane up."
"What are you, the office gossip now?"
"I'm just relaying what I heard. Remember on Friday when I was bringing you the Carl's deposition?"
"Ah," Harm said finally making his shot.
"So did you?" Sturgis asked.
"Yeah it was okay. But we didn't spend the whole weekend together. Just one afternoon," Harm said blocking Sturgis's shot.
"It seems like you two are doing a lot of that lately."
"Doing what?" Harm said stopping and looking at his friend.
"Spending a lot of time together," Sturgis said innocently.
"We're friends, Sturgis. That's what friends do. That's what we're doing. I am teaching Mac how to fly. She's getting pretty good at it. She'll be ready to get her license soon I think."
"Are you thinking about taking your relationship to the next level?"
"Sturgis I thought you said you would stay out of this?"
"Hey man, I'm just looking out for the best interests of my friends."
"Do you know something I don't?" Harm asked in his interrogator voice.
"Whoa, power down there man, I'm just asking."
"Sorry Sturgis," Harm said passing him the ball.
"Listen man, I'm not one to be giving you advice, but-"
"You're right you don't."
"Harm if you love her then tell her."
"Sturgis you don't understand."
"What is there to understand?"
"It's complicated."
"Listen Harm, I'm not gonna push you about this tonight, but- "
"Good, then don't."
"But you and Mac need to talk about this."
"I thought we came here to play, not discuss my personal life."
After what seemed like hours, Harm and Sturgis were about to call it a night. One point more and Sturgis would win. They were standing close to the basket; Harm was trying to block Sturgis's shot, when Sturgis bumped Harm with his shoulder sending him head first into the pole.
Sturgis watched in horror as Harm's neck bounced of the pole with a sickening crack.
"Harm!"
But he got no answer. Sturgis ran to his bag and pulled his cell phone, while Harm was lying unconscious by the basket, the ball bouncing towards the door.
(Present time)
Sturgis paced the waiting-room, waiting for some word on Harm's condition. He had been taking up to surgery almost four hours ago, and there was still no word. He had gotten hold of the Admiral who had made the call to his mother. Now the whole gang waited with him waiting for someone to come and talk to them. The only thing that they knew was that Harm broke his neck, and there was pressure on his spinal cord.
"Is anyone here for Commander Rabb," a doctor in scrubs asked walking towards the waiting room. When the group stood up, the doctor seemed momentarily surprised that so many people were here for one man, but said nothing. There were more pressing matters to discuss. No pun intended.
"What's going on doctor?" The Admiral asked.
"Well the fall that the commander took was a bad one. When he broke his neck, it put pressure on his spinal cord."
"What does that mean?" Harriet asked clutching Bud's sleeve.
"It means that he is paralyzed from the waist down. I'm sorry."
"For how long," Mac asked.
"I'm afraid it could be permanent."
"Could be?" Bud asked.
"There is no telling until the pressure goes down."
"So that could be days, week's maybe," Sturgis said hopefully.
"I'm afraid I don't know. He is awake, and he knows what is going on. He is asking for everyone. But please keep it short, he need's his rest."
Walking into Harm's room, everyone felt sick to their stomach. Here was their friend, their co worker that they loved so much, and now he would never walk again. He looked over at the group and offered a week smile.
"Hey everybody," Harm said weakly.
"How are you doing Commander?" The Admiral asked stepping closer to the bed.
"I'm doing okay sir."
We called your mother sir; she took a flight a little while ago, and should be here soon." Harriet said gently.
"Thanks Harriet."
"Do you want us to get you anything Harm," Mac asked trying to keep her emotions in check.
"No, I'm okay," Harm said trying to keep his eyes open.
"Try and get some sleep sir," Bud said.
"We'll check in on you tomorrow Harm," the Admiral said patting Harm on the shoulder.
"I'll be looking forward to it sir."
But before the group could reach the door Harm called them back, "So I guess my career is over Admiral."
The Admiral looked at Harm a long time before he could answer, "We'll see Commander."
After the group walked out of his room and were in the parking lot, Harriet could no longer keep her question to herself.
"Sir we both know that the commander can't go back to work. Why did you say-?"
"Why did I tell him there was some hope? Because there still could be"
TBC
Sturgis ran along side of the gurney in shock. How could this have happened? He was broken out of his reverie by a nurse shaking his arm.
"Sir, does the patient have any family that can be called?"
"Yeah," Sturgis said slowly, still keeping his eyes locked on Harm lying motionless on the bed, surrounded by wires and tubes. "His mother, but she lives in California. I'll try and get the number," he said not moving from his spot. "Is he going to be okay?"
"Well have to run some tests, and see. Why don't you go wait in chairs, and I'll have the doctor come and get you when we know something," the nurse said kindly and led Sturgis to waiting room. Sturgis sat down on the hard chairs in the nearly empty waiting room, his mind still reeling from what happened.
(One hour earlier)
Harm and Sturgis were playing basketball like they do most nights, but tonight they were both venting from a hard day in court. Their client had been found guilty, like both Harm and Sturgis knew he would be, but instead of just taking it like a man, he knocked out the guard, took his gun, and killed himself.
Harm and Sturgis spent the next two hours in blood splattered uniforms filling out the necessary paperwork, regretting not being able to stop the petty officer in time.
"Hey, Sturgis; why don't we go down to the gym and play some ball?"
"Sounds good man, say around 1400?"
"I'll see you then," Harm said heading towards the elevators
(1400 hours)
"Ready to play some ball," Harm asked throwing an easy lay up into the basket.
"Only if you're ready to get your six kicked," Sturgis said grabbing the ball, and throwing a two point shot.
"Ha, in your dreams"
After some hoarse play, they decided one a game of twenty one, talking while they played.
"So did you and Mac have a nice weekend?" Sturgis asked stealing the ball.
"What makes you think Mac and I spent the weekend together?" Harm asked making missing his shot.
"I overheard you and Mac talking about taking you bi-plane up."
"What are you, the office gossip now?"
"I'm just relaying what I heard. Remember on Friday when I was bringing you the Carl's deposition?"
"Ah," Harm said finally making his shot.
"So did you?" Sturgis asked.
"Yeah it was okay. But we didn't spend the whole weekend together. Just one afternoon," Harm said blocking Sturgis's shot.
"It seems like you two are doing a lot of that lately."
"Doing what?" Harm said stopping and looking at his friend.
"Spending a lot of time together," Sturgis said innocently.
"We're friends, Sturgis. That's what friends do. That's what we're doing. I am teaching Mac how to fly. She's getting pretty good at it. She'll be ready to get her license soon I think."
"Are you thinking about taking your relationship to the next level?"
"Sturgis I thought you said you would stay out of this?"
"Hey man, I'm just looking out for the best interests of my friends."
"Do you know something I don't?" Harm asked in his interrogator voice.
"Whoa, power down there man, I'm just asking."
"Sorry Sturgis," Harm said passing him the ball.
"Listen man, I'm not one to be giving you advice, but-"
"You're right you don't."
"Harm if you love her then tell her."
"Sturgis you don't understand."
"What is there to understand?"
"It's complicated."
"Listen Harm, I'm not gonna push you about this tonight, but- "
"Good, then don't."
"But you and Mac need to talk about this."
"I thought we came here to play, not discuss my personal life."
After what seemed like hours, Harm and Sturgis were about to call it a night. One point more and Sturgis would win. They were standing close to the basket; Harm was trying to block Sturgis's shot, when Sturgis bumped Harm with his shoulder sending him head first into the pole.
Sturgis watched in horror as Harm's neck bounced of the pole with a sickening crack.
"Harm!"
But he got no answer. Sturgis ran to his bag and pulled his cell phone, while Harm was lying unconscious by the basket, the ball bouncing towards the door.
(Present time)
Sturgis paced the waiting-room, waiting for some word on Harm's condition. He had been taking up to surgery almost four hours ago, and there was still no word. He had gotten hold of the Admiral who had made the call to his mother. Now the whole gang waited with him waiting for someone to come and talk to them. The only thing that they knew was that Harm broke his neck, and there was pressure on his spinal cord.
"Is anyone here for Commander Rabb," a doctor in scrubs asked walking towards the waiting room. When the group stood up, the doctor seemed momentarily surprised that so many people were here for one man, but said nothing. There were more pressing matters to discuss. No pun intended.
"What's going on doctor?" The Admiral asked.
"Well the fall that the commander took was a bad one. When he broke his neck, it put pressure on his spinal cord."
"What does that mean?" Harriet asked clutching Bud's sleeve.
"It means that he is paralyzed from the waist down. I'm sorry."
"For how long," Mac asked.
"I'm afraid it could be permanent."
"Could be?" Bud asked.
"There is no telling until the pressure goes down."
"So that could be days, week's maybe," Sturgis said hopefully.
"I'm afraid I don't know. He is awake, and he knows what is going on. He is asking for everyone. But please keep it short, he need's his rest."
Walking into Harm's room, everyone felt sick to their stomach. Here was their friend, their co worker that they loved so much, and now he would never walk again. He looked over at the group and offered a week smile.
"Hey everybody," Harm said weakly.
"How are you doing Commander?" The Admiral asked stepping closer to the bed.
"I'm doing okay sir."
We called your mother sir; she took a flight a little while ago, and should be here soon." Harriet said gently.
"Thanks Harriet."
"Do you want us to get you anything Harm," Mac asked trying to keep her emotions in check.
"No, I'm okay," Harm said trying to keep his eyes open.
"Try and get some sleep sir," Bud said.
"We'll check in on you tomorrow Harm," the Admiral said patting Harm on the shoulder.
"I'll be looking forward to it sir."
But before the group could reach the door Harm called them back, "So I guess my career is over Admiral."
The Admiral looked at Harm a long time before he could answer, "We'll see Commander."
After the group walked out of his room and were in the parking lot, Harriet could no longer keep her question to herself.
"Sir we both know that the commander can't go back to work. Why did you say-?"
"Why did I tell him there was some hope? Because there still could be"
TBC