Chapter Four

“Section 146 we've got a code blue, open up two rooms immediately. Older man is ready to go into surgery,” Jerry said into his two way radio. Jerry was the head of the medical team that rescued the Kents and now he was taking initiative to get the Kent 's immediate care.

Martha rushed in behind him, being awake for almost the whole drive, she was ready to get something done. Jerry kept pushing he behind him when she tried to look at Clark , but she always managed to get a different view of him. It was weird, the way he laid there on the stretcher. His face was bruised and there was a gash over his left ear. Martha still hadn't been bandaged up.

That changed, however, when she found herself being escorted away from the procession of carts wheeling her husband and son away. She watched helplessly as they disappeared down the hall. “Mrs. Kent ,” the doctor said softly, let's get you cleaned up.” She turned and looked up at him, nodding slowly. “My name is Dr. Jennings, if there's anything I can do, you just let me know, okay?”

Martha nodded and followed him into the closest room. About five other patients were in the same room, being treated for cuts and gashes like the one Martha had above her eye. Two were little children, and the other three were women about her age. She smiled politely and then sat herself on the examining bed the doctor appointed her.

“Mrs. Kent ?” a female voice asked. Martha turned around and saw Helen Bryce standing right behind her, in the opening of the door. She walked in and set her clipboard behind Martha. “I thought that was you, is everything okay?”

Martha's lip trembled as she looked up at the kind woman. “Clark and Jonathan have been taken to urgent care,” a tear trickled slowly down her cheek and she quickly wiped it away.

Helen's eyes widened, “What happened?”

“A power pole fell on Jonathan's leg,” Martha said, her lip still quivering. “And…I…I don't know what's wrong with Clark ,” she lied. In reality, she didn't know what was wrong with him, but there was kryptonite in the water, who knows what could have happened.

Dr. Jennings walked back to Martha with a strip of gauze and smiled at Dr. Bryce. Helen set an arm on Martha's shoulder, “I'm going to go find Clark myself, alright? I will do whatever needs to be done.”

Martha nodded, reluctantly, and Helen smiled, leaving out the door and running to the desk. Martha looked back at Dr. Jennings. “Mrs. Kent , I don't think you have to worry about a thing. The medics in the ambulance couldn't find what was wrong with your son other than he was unconscious. When they figure out that problem, I'm sure the source will be right behind it.”

It wasn't much of a relief, but she took it as comfort. Jonathan had stuck too many thoughts in her head to be able to think for herself when it came to Clark . She always wanted to be able to trust doctors, but now she couldn't really make that judgment just by looking at them. Dr. Bryce had just helped them a few months ago when she and Clark were on the verge of death, she knew something was different about Clark .

Maybe that comforted her more than she realized. If Helen operated, or at least examined, Clark, that would mean less people would find out about Clark 's extraordinary blood work. Helen had already seen it. It would have been more reassuring if Jonathan's voice hadn't popped into her head, Helen Bryce is engaged to Lex Luthor, we don't want our family's business to be the center of pillow talk. However true that seemed, something about Helen made Martha want to trust her. Maybe it was mother's instinct, or a woman's instinct, but it comforted her for the time being.

“There you are, Mrs. Kent ,” Dr, Jennings said with a smile. “You'll be as good as new in no time.” He walked back over to his tray and sat the remaining bandage on it and removed his latex gloves. Turning back to the woman he said, “Now I would advise you to take this time to call any family that might be interested, or that could help out. If you'll follow me, I will get you a blanket and some coffee.”

Subconsciously, Martha glanced at the clock. 10:30 p.m., where did time go?

Operating Room
“Menser, check the blood sample. Griggs, we need information from his wife, grab the clipboard and ask Jennings where she is,” Nathan Jerry shouted across the dark hospital room. He turned back to his patient, “Jonathan, we'll have you in recovery in no time.”

Jonathan groaned through the oxygen mask that covered his face, “Where's…where's my son?”

Nathan patted Jonathan on the shoulder and whispered, “Don't worry about him, Mr. Kent, he's in good hands.” He turned away from the man lying in the bed and stood over a tray. He picked up an IV needle and the medication for it, carefully inserting it into the needle. He laid it back down on the tray and pulled on a pair of gloves. Turning back to Jonathan, he said, “We are going to put you under in a few moments, and prior to that I'm going to give you an IV.” He picked the needle up off the tray and showed it to Jonathan.

Jonathan winced, trying to stay awake, and trying to comprehend everything that the doctor was telling him. The doctor carefully took his hand and put it at an angle, looking for the biggest vein. Jonathan couldn't even remember Nathan inserting the needle before he went out again, probably all for the better. Nathan gave a satisfied sigh and glanced up at Menser, “Good thing they found him when they did. Another ten minutes and we would have lost him. What did you find about the blood sample?”

Menser handed him the printout, “Looks like a O.”

Nathan glanced up, “O?”

“Yeah, why?” Menser asked thoughtfully.

Nathan shook his head, “That's what I am…pretty rare, for a farmer anyway.”

Menser, “Does he need blood?”

Nathan laughed, then became serious, “Yes. Go file a request for the purest O you can find. If we don't get him hooked up fast, soon after surgery anyway, we're going to lose him.”

“Nathan, we don't have O at the hospital,” Menser said, looking over his clipboard.”

Nathan growled, “That's why I said go file a report, dumbass! We need to find someone in this town that does!”

Menser nodded, embarrassed, and ducked out of the room. Griggs walked in a moment later, “Mrs. Kent says that his record is clear. No heart attacks, strokes or even a severe hospital visit within the last ten years.”

Nathan smiled, “Perfect.”