Jack lay on the hospital bed completely unaware of everything happening. He had been totally oblivious to the operation, the nurses, the hundreds of stitches running down his chest holding him together, and the pain. He lay in a deep, deep sleep, under the influence of many drugs that had been inserted into his body, the main one being morphine.

Kim stood outside the private room, with Tony at her side. She decided to go in alone at first, after the nurses had informed her of his condition and the positive responses they had seen from his body. Tony said he would wait outside and gave her an encouraging smile. She opened the white door end entered shyly, hearing the dull click as it closed behind her. She looked across the room and saw her father lain on the white bed sheets, none being used to cover him. He was wearing a pair of white baggy cotton trousers, there was not shirt, although the bandages covered almost as much space as it would have over his chest. She stepped over besides him and slowly sat down on the chair next to his bed. Every movement she made was slow and apprehensive as she patiently watched her father. She lightly held his hand and watched the dribbles of sweat that ran across his face.

There were four different machines next to his bed, round the other side, all had wires coming from them leading into Jack. She also noticed there was an I.V in his arm, which was transporting blood into his system. She sat listening to the beeps the different machines were making, the main one being the heart monitor that made slow bleeping noises in line with his heart. After a while the rhythmic beeps began to soothe her to sleep, but before she dropped off the nurse entered with a basin of water and cloths. She startled Kim and for a moment Kim thought that something was wrong.

"Sorry to bother you sweetie, it's just that he has a fever, it seems his body reacted to one of the fluids we put in him, so he will be getting hot."

She motioned to the water in a way of explanation.

"Oh, it's okay."said Kim as she moved out of the way and began to watch as the nurse ringed the water out of the cloth, and began to gently wipe it across his face, removing the beads of sweat. Kim came forward,

"I can do that, I mean.... if it would help you."

It didn't make any difference to the nurse, but she could see that the girl felt helpless as she watched her Dad, and so wanted to try make him better.

"Sure." She smiled. "He may get cold though, so you will need to get some blankets, you shouldn't worry about that though, at the moment his temperature is very high" With that she turned and left Kim alone with him.

She sat back down next to him in the large chair and softly did as the nurse had. Once satisfied she rolled the cloth up and laid it across his forehead to keep him cool. After this she leant her head back against the chair and fell asleep to the noise of the machines that were keeping her father alive.

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R and R!!!!