Ê"Sam?" ÊNoah raised his head slightly as soon as the noise stopped, not quite willing to move out of the protective huddle they had formed over Catherine yet. ÊCatherine. ÊA wave of fear washed over him as he recalled how serious her condition was. Ê If the tornado affected the machines....
Ê"You okay, Noah?" ÊSam demanded, keeping one arm protectively around the younger man in case the twister headed back as he fumbled with his free hand, checking Catherine. ÊThe lights were flickering, preventing him from seeing the machines, from trusting the readings that they were showing. Ê'Please, please....' ÊHis mind frantically ran over his basic medical training, trying to plan a course of action if worst came to worst. ÊHe wasn't going to lose her like this, wasn't going to let her go without a fight.
Ê"She's still breathing, Sam," ÊNoah murmured, a slight feeling of relief washing over him as the adrenalin rush from the storm faded a bit and he started to notice more, to feel a soft stirring beneath him as the ventilator continued its job unhindered, forcing oxygen into Catherine's lungs.
ÊSam nodded although he knew Noah couldn't really see it, finally locating the proper place and checking her pulse, much more rapid than he thought it should be and her skin warm beneath his fingers. ÊThe two men moved off of the bed a bit, staying close just in case, but giving Catherine a bit more space. Sam's hand moved to her face now, gently stroking the bit of skin that was exposed as he looked with worry at the flickering lights and machines. ÊCatherine was safe for the moment, but if there was another twister, or the power failed.....
Ê"Everyone alright in here?" Êthey heard a voice call from the doorway as the lights finally stabilized, a bit dimmer than before but more than enough to allow them to see. ÊThe two men turned to find Colleen, Noah's friend, standing in the doorway with a worried expression on her face.
Ê"We got down as soon as we heard it coming." ÊNoah motioned for Colleen to come in, waving her towards the bed. Ê"What's happening with the power?" ÊIf they lost that....
Ê"Backup generators are running right now and the power company's on the way to work on the lines," ÊColleen told them as she started to check Catherine, relieved that the storm didn't seem to have caused any serious damage, any disruption of the ventilator or the IV lines. Ê "Everything's fine there. Under control." ÊShe didn't like the way Catherine's heartrate was looking though, much too rapid, taxing her body too much. Ê The infection was already putting a strain on her and if she became too frightened.....
ÊShe turned from the bed and headed for the door. Ê"I'm going to go and see if her doctor left an order for something to relax her a little bit more." ÊSedation had it's own set of risks but if they couldn't get her heart slowed soon, it wouldn't matter.
Ê"What's wrong with her?" ÊNoah asked softly as he reached out, gently covering Catherine's hand with his. ÊHe could tell from how Colleen was looking that although things might not be bad yet, they were heading that way. ÊHe saw Sam pale slightly, out of the corner of his eye. Ê They couldn't lose her now, not after all of this. ÊThere had to be something they could do, some way to help her.
Ê"Her heart's beating too fast. ÊRapid heartbeat's expected with a fever but with the fright of that twister, we need to get her calmed down now before it puts too much strain on her body. ÊWhy don't you try talking to her? ÊFamiliar voice might help as much as any medicine." Ê And with that, Colleen disappeared out the door.
ÊSam and Noah stared at each other. Talk to her? What on earth did one say to a person in this condition, at a time like this? "Uuuuhh, Sam? You got any ideas?" Noah asked softly. "Got no idea what to say." ÊHe had been able to talk to Catherine before but then he had been focused on keeping her conscious, and he could tell what was working and what wasn't.
Ê"Me either, son. But I guess we better try." The two men turned to the inert form on the bed. "Cath? Baby, can you hear me? It's me, Sam." ÊSam didn't really know what to say, how to make it better. ÊHe had only seen Catherine like this once before and then.... Ê Maybe if she knew that she wasn't alone though....
Ê"I'm here, too, Cath. It's Noah," the young man added, hoping that Catherine recalled what had happened earlier. ÊHe didn't want to frighten her if she didn't remember that he was actually alive. "Remember? I dug you out..." Noah paused, then stared at his hand, where it covered Catherine's. "Sam, I...it twitched."
Ê"What?"
Ê"Her hand. It twitched."
Ê"Damn! Baby? Catherine, can you hear us?" ÊMaybe, maybe this would work, would make a difference.
Ê"There it goes again, Sam! She hears us! She understands!" ÊNoah silently cheered at that weak motion under his fingers. ÊCath was still there fighting.
ÊSam closed his eyes in gratitude. 'Oh, God. Let us help.'
ÊNoah saw Sam's expression, emotions flooding them both, and he bent over the severely injured woman. "Cath, we're both here, and we're gonna stay with you, protect you, I promise --"
Ê"Me, too," came a hoarse interjection from the man beside him.
Ê"-- and we're gonna make sure you get better. I told the staff that you were my mom. Hope you don't mind." Both men glanced at the hand under Noah's, and saw it tighten for a long moment. They smiled at each other. "And I told 'em Sam was my dad. Hadda get us in to see you somehow. Besides, it's about halfway true." Another squeeze. "You don't mind?" Eyelids fluttered against pale cheeks, and the corners of Catherine's lips turned up just slightly. "Good," Noah said softly. "I'm glad."
Ê"Cath, it's Sam," Gerard spoke then. "Looks like we got that son we always wanted, after all, honey. Noah's a good one. He's taken good care of yo...of...of us. Of us both," he choked, remembering how Noah had looked out for him earlier that evening when he had passed out from low blood sugar. He paused for a moment, to get control, before continuing. "The rest of the team's on the way too. They'll be here soon. Ê Dunno what story we're gonna give the staff to get them in, but we'll think of something. That okay?" Noah nodded at her hand, indicating another light squeeze. Gerard nodded in reply. "Okay, darlin'." His natural accent began slipping through. "Doc's gone to get you something to help you relax, so I want you to lie there and just rest, okay? We're gonna get you well. I swear we will."