I don't own Ninja Storm, etc, etc. Thanks for the reviews!!!!!
Chapter 5: The Next Day
Blake found Cam easily enough in the waiting room. Cam stood, meeting Blake by the door.
"Is he feeling any better?" Cam asked as they walked out to Cam's car.
"A little. He's still got an IV, which isn't all that comfortable," Blake said, remembering his brother's annoyance over the needle in his arm that made it impossible for him to flex it. "But he's more coherent and he was talking to me."
It was a quiet ride back to Ninja Ops. After a brief recap with Sensei, Blake went into his room. It was an early morning, remembering to pack a few things for Hunter. When he was ready, he was about to head out when he heard Cam call his name.
"Leaving without me?" Cam asked, quickening his pace to meet Blake at the doorway.
"Sorry bro, I wasn't even thinking."
"I know, you got Hunter's things?"
"Yeah. I just hope they let him come home."
"Unless anything happened, which I doubt, then I don't see why they'd want to keep him longer."
"And I doubt he'd want to stay any longer than necessary. He really doesn't like hospitals."
"I don't
think anyone likes being in one."
"No, I mean, he really doesn't like hospitals," Blake said, stressing his
words.
Cam nodded, knowing that Blake wasn't going to share the particular part of his brother's past that made him say that. At the hospital, Cam followed Blake to the receptionist, who said that they could go in to see Hunter. At his brother's door, Blake slowly opened the door, poking his head in.
"Hey, bro, you up for some company?" he asked.
Blake saw Hunter wave, then came into the room with Cam a step behind him.
Blake took the same chair he had the night before while Cam moved another chair next to Blake's.
"I brought you some clothes and other stuff," Blake said, referring to the backpack slung over the back of his chair.
"Thanks, bro," Hunter said softly.
"How did you sleep?" Blake asked.
"Lousy. Thing automatically took my blood pressure every couple hours. And you know what I'm like when I'm woken up."
"Takes forever for him to go back to sleep," Blake explained to Cam.
"Good morning, Hunter!" Dr. Alexander said brightly, coming in to the room. "And how are you this morning?"
"Tired. Really tired," Hunter answered.
"I imagine you would be. Looks like you made it through the night without a single problem, which is good news."
"Can he go home today?" Blake asked.
"Let me take a look, and then I can tell you for sure. If you'll wait just outside for a few minutes," the doctor said to both Blake and Cam.
When the doctor retrieved Blake and Cam, both sat back in the chairs next to Hunter while the doctor told them that Hunter was able to go home.
"I'm going to get the discharge paperwork together," the doctor said as he removed the blood pressure cuff and IV from Hunter's arms. "But I'll still have some things to go over. And Hunter, someone will be up with breakfast in a few minutes. You make sure to eat."
"I will," Hunter promised; glad to be able to flex his arm for the first time in too long.
Cam watched the doctor leave, then said to both brothers, "And there will be no Ranger duty for you until I say so."
"Or I do, if it's later than Cam says," Blake added. "Here's your change of clothes and stuff."
Hunter nodded, taking the backpack from Blake. Since he was still weak, Hunter allowed Blake to help steady him on his feet. Hunter was thankful for the time out of bed, since his body was stiff from lying on his back all afternoon and all night. Once changed and cleaned up, he opened the bathroom door and Blake helped him back to bed. Breakfast came a minute later, and Hunter could only stare, frowning.
"You better eat, bro," Blake said, recognizing the look on Hunter's face.
Hunter glanced at his brother, who nodded, then sighed, sticking his fork into the eggs.
"Big bro isn't a fan of eggs," Blake said to a confused Cam, then took Hunter's fork from him.
"I'll make sure he gets a better breakfast at Ninja Ops. I can't let him have a lousy breakfast today," Blake explained when Cam inquired as to what Blake was doing.
"You don't like eggs, either, bro," Hunter said.
"You hate them. I can somewhat stomach them. One of us has to eat them."
While Blake ate his brother's eggs, Hunter ate the toast and fruit that accompanied them. The doctor returned a few minutes after the brothers had finished Hunter's breakfast, forms in hand.
"Before I let you go, there are some things that we need to go over. First of all, you'll have to check in with either a general practitioner or an allergist in a few weeks to test you for other insect allergies other than yellow jackets. But for now, assume that you're allergic to all stinging insects: bees, yellow jackets, wasps and hornets. And fire ants, although they aren't too common around here. If you do get stung again, you'll need to immediately get to a hospital. And I've written you a prescription for something called an Epi-Pen. I also have one to give you now."
The doctor handed Hunter a yellow tube with something inside it. Hunter took it out, studying it. It was pen shaped, although about twice as thick as a regular pen.
"It's has saline and epinephrine inside. If you do get stung, you'll need to give yourself that. It's quite easy to use. Just pull the end cap off, stick the black tip against your thigh and press down. You'll feel the needle; just hold the pen still for 15 seconds. With this, you'll still need to go to the hospital, but it'll give you more time."
Hunter put the pen back into the tube, capping it. Then he took the prescription from the doctor, who also handed him some information about his allergy.
"What happened to you yesterday was typical of someone with your kind of allergy. It's called anaphylactic shock and in most cases can be deadly. For your type of allergy, avoidance is the best thing to do."
"Don't worry, if it stings, I'll be avoiding it," Hunter said, glancing from the doctor to his brother.
"And I'll be watching out for him, too," Blake added.
Cam followed the doctor out the door to sign the paperwork so Hunter could leave the hospital.
"I'm assuming you just want to go home, right?" Blake asked once they were alone.
"I want my bed. I hardly slept last night."
"Then that's what you'll get. And breakfast, I'll make you a great breakfast."
"Think Cam'll move the TV and DVD player into our room for a little while?"
"No way. But I'm sure it won't be a problem if we go into the den to catch a movie or two. That is, after you catch up on your sleep."
Cam came back in, followed by a nurse with a wheelchair. "Ready to go?"
