To Die For
I DON'T OWN ANYTHING!
Chapter 9
Scott and Shelby were told about the court's decision; the judge had granted Scott the right to have the operation. They had both been taken to get various tests done. Mainly, the tests dealt with checking out their bodies to make sure that they were both healthy.
When the physicals and family history all came back clear, Scott was admitted into the hospital. The hospital put the two in the same room and although Peter didn't completely agree, he knew they wouldn't do anything, and he would stay in the room anyway.
Scott was given a hospital gown that he reluctantly put on and when he walked out of the bathroom, Peter was suppressing a smile while Shelby burst out laughing.
"Scott, I have to say this is a new you, you should think about wearing a gown all the time."
Scott just smiled sarcastically, "You're just jealous because I look better in it then you."
Shelby rolled her eyes, "Yea, you wish."
Peter laughed, "Ok Scott, the nurse said she would be right back to do the biopsy." Before the surgery could take place, Scott needed to undergo a liver biopsy to make sure his liver was healthy.
"Ok." Scott nodded and walked over to his bed and sat on top of it, he looked over at Shelby and smiled, but she could see the fear he was hiding
"Nervous Cowboy?"
He just smiled and shook his head, "Nah, I'm fine," Then he turned to Peter, "What exactly are they doing?"
"Scott, weren't you listening when the doctor told you?"
"Do I listen to you when you tell us things?" He shrugged his shoulders
"No I guess not," He laughed, "The nurse is going to take a sample of your liver through a needle in your abdomen."
"A needle?" Scott asked nervously
"Scared of a little needle?" Shelby smirked
The door opened and a nurse walked into the room, she smiled at the three then began talking to Scott, "Ok, Scott, I need you to take the top of your gown off, so just slide your arms out and pull it down. Can you do that while I go to get the supplies I need?"
"Sure." He said and she nodded then walked out of the room
Scott was having trouble reaching the tie in the back so Peter walked up and undid it for him. As he was sliding his arms out Shelby smiled,
"Take it all off Scott!" They all just laughed, usually Peter would tell Shelby not to say something like that, but he was trying to keep the mood light.
After Scott slide out of it, he laid down on the bed, Peter turned to Shelby, "Miss Merrick, are you going to hold Scott's hand or let him go through this alone."
Shelby looked surprised, "Really?"
"Well, if you don't want to…"
"No, I do!" She said and slowly got up with Peter's help and walked over to Scott's bedside.
When the nurse came back, she carried a tray with her, when he saw the size of the needle, his eyes bulged.
Shelby's mouth dropped, "Or a huge needle."
The nurse just smiled, "Nervous?" She asked Scott
He shook his head but the fear was evident in his face
"It won't be too bad."
"That makes me feel so much better." Scott said dryly
She laughed and shook her head. The nurse took an alcohol pad and rubbed it on a spot located to the right on the middle of his abdomen.
Before she made contact with his skin, Shelby, who was holding his hand, used her other hand to move his face so that he looked up at her, he smiled up at her until his eyes closed suddenly and a pained expression filled out his face. Shelby looked towards his abdomen and saw the needle was halfway through his skin; she looked back at Scott and squeezed his hand in support.
Scott groaned, his teeth were clenched and his eyes closed tightly. Shelby kissed his hand and rubbed his arm.
"Ok Scott, almost done, this is the worst part, taking the sample."
"It gets worse?" He asked, pain in his voice
"Just a little, take a deep breathe," Scott did
"Oww!" He said, although not yelling, he was heard clearly because no one else uttered a word during the procedure.
A minute later, the nurse pulled the needle out and placed a cotton ball on the spot of penetration, "Ok Scott, just hold this here."
She turned around and placed the needle and sample in a bag; she then opened a large band aid and placed it over the cotton ball.
Scott's face was slightly red and his eyes a tears lingering in them when the nurse left them.
"How are you feeling?" Peter asked
"Like I had a long needle pushed in my stomach and take some of my liver out."
"Well, sounds about right." He smiled, "Why don't you try and get some rest, you look exhausted."
Scott nodded and Shelby looked down at him, "Thank you." She whispered and kissed his forehead before Peter walked her back to her bed.
A few hours later, the tests came back with good news, Scott's liver was in good condition, Dr. Arkus scheduled the operation for the next morning at 7:30. Scott would be taken in first, then Shelby ten or fifteen minutes later. The night before, neither Scott nor Shelby slept much, although Peter told them countless times they needed to rest, both were too anxious to shut their eyes for more than twenty minutes at a time.
7:30 came fast for the two teens; Dr. Arkus came in with two nurses and a rolling bed they would take Scott on.
"Before we get started, I just want to explain what will happen once more," They three nodded and he continued, "Scott will be taken into the O.R. first, he will be put under general anesthesia, then we will get started. Once his operation is underway, we will come back to get Shelby, and start the same process. There will be two teams, one for taking the part of Scott's liver out, and one for putting it in Shelby. Like I explained before, we will also be removing Scott's gallbladder because it is right under the section of liver we will be removing. The whole operation should take 6-10 hours and when you wake up." He looked from Scott to Shelby, "There will be a tube in both your abdomens to drain any fluids. Shelby, you will have to wear a mask, and anyone who visits with you will also have to wear a mask until we are sure your body didn't reject the liver. Sound good?"
"Yea." They all said at different times
"Ok, Scott, if you could just come and lay on this bed, we will start."
Scott stood up, but before he walked over to the bed, he walked to Shelby who looked up at her, fear in her eyes.
"Don't worry, it will all be alright," She nodded, "Good luck, I love you." He smiled
"Good luck and I love you too." He leaned down and kissed her, and Peter just looked away so he didn't see it.
Scott took her hand, squeezed it, then walked over to the bed and laid on top of it. Before he was wheeled out, Peter spoke up, "Shelby, I'm just going to go with him, then I'll be right back."
"Ok." She nodded
The nurse's wheeled Scott out of the room, Peter walking next to him, and Peter noticed that once they were out of Shelby's view, Scott's strong confidence seemed to fade.
"Scott, you'll be alright, don't worry."
"I know, I'm not worried about me, it's just Shelby, I'm nervous about her operation."
"She's in good hands, she'll be ok."
They entered the prepping area where Scott was giving a showering like cap and an IV. Dr. Arkus stood next to Scott, and as the nurse was about to put the mask with sleeping gas coming out over Scott's mouth and nose, he said, "Hey Doc?"
"Yea Scott?"
"Listen, you know those two teams you were talking about?"
"Yea?" he asked
"Make sure you give Shelby the better one…take care of her ok?"
He smiled, "We'll take care of both of you."
"Yea, but make sure she's ok."
"Scott, she'll be fine, I promise."
He nodded then turned to Peter, "Tell her I love her."
"I will Scott." He nodded then the nurse placed the mask over his face
"Count backwards from 100."
"100…99…98…9..7…" And he was asleep.
Peter walked back to Shelby's room and told her what he said and tried to calm her nerves. Eventually the doctor and two other nurse's came with a new bed and the same procedure happened for Shelby. Peter walked to the waiting room and tried to watch the news which was playing on a TV in the corner of the room.
Three hours later, Dr. Arkus came out to tell Peter that everything was going fine, they were just about to take the portion of Scott's liver out, and both teens were doing fine. Peter sighed in relief. An hour later, Sophie along with the other Cliffhangers and Roger walked through the door.
"What are you all doing here?"
"They were all nervous about Shelby and Scott," Sophie said hugging Peter, "Do you know anything?"
He looked at all the kids, "Their doctor came out and said that everything was going good, and they were fine right now."
The group all took a seat in the waiting area, so read magazines, some watched the TV, and others just stared into space or talked.
Time seemed to stand still for the group, each minute that ticked away on the large black clock hanging on the wall seemed to move so slow, it almost appeared to be going backwards.
Two and a half hours later, Dr. Arkus walked into view. His hair was matted down with sweat and his scrubs were also visibly darkened with sweat.
Peter was the first to jump up and walk over to him, followed by the other seven.
"How are they?"
"Well, Shelby is being brought to the recovery room; you can go and see her in about thirty minutes…"
Peter waited for news on Scott, but when he saw that he was not going to continue, he asked, "What about Scott?"
Dr. Arkus hesitated and his expression turned sad, "Well…"
a/n- thank you for all the reviews you guys have given! Please review for this one also, I hope you liked it:-)