Chapter 7
Staring at Sharona and feeling a little self-conscious, Randy started to say something, when the door to his room opened and Dr. Johnson walked in.
"Good to see you awake, Lieutenant," said Dr. Johnson. "How's your shoulder feeling?"
"Pretty sore," admitted Randy.
"Do you need some pain relief?" asked Dr. Johnson.
"Yes, I could use something," said Randy, trying to mask just how much pain he was in.
"Ok, I'll give you some morphine for tonight," said Dr. Johnson, "and when I release you tomorrow, I'll give you Percocet."
"Thanks," said Randy, "by the way, how is Joy?"
"Sleeping, which is what you're going to do as well," said Dr. Johnson, glancing at Sharona and giving her a not-so-subtle hint that it was time for her to leave.
"I'll see you tomorrow," promised Sharona, as she gently kissed Randy good-bye and followed Dr. Johnson out the door.
Content, Randy laid in bed thinking of his new relationship with Sharona and the future. The nurse came in and gave him morphine through his IV tube with the order to buzz when the painkiller wore off. As he began to doze off, dreams of a family formed in his head.
The next morning the sun broke through Randy's room, waking him. His shoulder and arm were stiff from lying in one position all night but that didn't keep Randy's spirits down in anticipation of Sharona's visit. Breakfast came and went as Randy hungrily devoured it, despite being hospital food. Randy realized that with all that had happened yesterday, he hadn't eaten since lunch the day before.
Glad that it was his right arm rather than his left, Randy shaved with the supplies the hospital provided. After his toiletries were complete, he sat in a chair and waited for Sharona.
In the CCU, the sunlight filtered through Joy's room as well, awaking Joy for the first time since the night before. Disoriented at first, Joy looked around at her surroundings. Comprehension of where she was and what she had tried to do came flooding back to her. The nurses had turned the radio on her bed on and Joy began listening as the song began.
Hope life's been good to youSince you've been gone
I'm doin' fine now, I've finally moved on
It's not so bad, I'm not that sad
I'm not surprised just how well I survived
I'm over the worst, and I feel so alive
I can't complain, I'm free again
And it only hurts when I'm breathing
My heart only breaks when it's beating
My dreams only die when I'm dreaming
So, I hold my breath, to forget
Don't think I'm lyin' 'round cryin' at night
There's no need to worry, I'm really all right
I've never looked back, as a matter of fact
And it only hurts when I'm breathing
My heart only breaks when it's beating
My dreams only die when I'm dreaming
So, I hold my breath, to forget
It only hurts when I breathe
Mmm, no, I've never looked back
As a matter of fact
And it only hurts when I'm breathing
My heart only breaks when it's beating
My dreams only die when I'm dreaming
So, I hold my breath, to forget
Hurts when I'm breathing
Breaks when it's beating
Die when I'm dreaming
It only hurts when I breathe
As the song came to an end, tears flowed down Joy's face. 'My life is so messed up,' thought Joy. 'I wished I knew how to straighten it out.'
The door to her room began to open and Joy, hastily wiping the tears away, half-expected to see Randy walk through; half-expected to see the disapproval on his face, so Joy was surprised to see a doctor walk through.
"Good morning, Joy, I'm glad to see you awake. My name is Dr. Johnson and I have been taking care of you," said Dr. Johnson.
"Where's Randy Disher?" Joy wrote on a pad of paper, disappointed that Randy wasn't there, but couldn't understand why she felt that way.
"Randy was here for a good portion of the night and I sent him to get some food and rest," said Dr. Johnson, omitting the fact that Randy, himself, was a patient.
"Are you not telling me something?" Joy wrote, the spitfire back in her green eyes.
"You caught me. I didn't tell you that you will need to stay here at the hospital for a week," admitted Dr. Johnson.
"I want to talk to Randy," demanded Joy, on paper, "I want to know what he says!"
"I already spoke with Randy and he agrees. It is because you won't talk to Randy, this is the reason why you are here," stated Dr. Johnson, firmly. "Randy has tried his best to get you to talk to him but you refuse. Now are you hungry? Do you want something to eat?"
Joy refused to answer Dr. Johnson, her stubbornness showing through.
"Ok, well let the nurses know if you change your mind. I have my rounds to make, so I won't see you until tonight," said Dr. Johnson, as he departed.
Frustrated and upset with her situation, Joy punched her bedrail a few times. Deciding to call Randy for help, Joy dialed his desk. As she waited for the phone to pick up, Joy kept thinking back to the song going through her head, "It only hurts when I'm breathing,"Finally, Randy's phone picked up as Joy started to say, "Randy," only to realize it was Randy's voicemail. Disgusted, she hung up and dialed Randy's cell. It rang and rang and all she got was his voicemail there as well. Joy began to panic. She couldn't reach Randy at either number, so she tried the only one she could think of --- Adrian Monk.
She dialed Adrian's phone number and waited four rings before Adrian picked up.
"Hello, this is Adrian --- Monk," said Adrian.
"Hey, Adrian, it's me, Joy," said Joy, quietly.
"Joy, how are you doing?" asked Adrian, worriedly.
"Ok, I guess Randy found me before I could off myself completely," said Joy.
"Yeah, he was really worried about you. He broke a dozen traffic laws getting to the hospital," said Adrian.
"Yeah, right, like he was real worried about me," scoffed Joy. "Then why hasn't he come by to see me? Why can't I get him on his phone? Where is he?"
"Uh, Joy, you don't know?" asked Adrian, fearing her answer.
"Know what, Adrian?" asked Joy, suspiciously.
"You know, I don't think I'm the best one to tell you. Uhm, maybe you can talk to Dr. Johnson," said Adrian, nervously.
"Adrian! Tell me! What happened to Randy?" cried Joy. "Is he dead?"
The thought of Randy dead as well, started the hysteria in Joy to swell. Realizing that he had made a bad situation even worse, Adrian backpedaled and relented to tell Joy the truth. "He's there in the hospital, Joy. He was shot last night in a robbery attempt. He saved mine and Sharona's lives."
Joy absorbed the news two ways. First, Randy had been shot. Second, Randy was a hero.
"What room is he in?" asked Joy.
"Room 1224," replied Adrian.
"Thanks, Adrian. You're the best," said Joy, as she hung up.
Buzzing her bed, Joy called for a nurse. As the nurse walked in, Joy wrote out, in a very agitated manner, " I need to go to room 1224."
The nurse looked at Joy and said, "I'll need to clear it through Dr. Johnson first." Joy argued with the nurse by shaking her head to indicate that she wasn't going to accept "No" for an answer, but the nurse ignored her until she spoke with Dr. Johnson. Hanging up the phone, the nurse told Joy that Dr. Johnson said that Joy may see Randy.
After receiving permission, Joy jumped up out of her bed and ran out the door.
Back in Randy's room, Dr. Johnson had come to examine Randy's arm. Pleased with how it was healing, he gave Randy a prescription for Percocet with directions on how to use it and orders to take two weeks off. Disappointed with two weeks off an not being able to go anywhere, Randy nodded his acknowledgement.
As Dr. Johnson left, Sharona arrived. Smiling at Randy, Sharona walked over and gave him a kiss good morning. The kiss lasted longer and became more passionate, leaving Sharona breathless.