Road Rage

Chapter sixteen

"What's going on?" The nurse asked as she rushed back into the room.

"He's in pain. His leg…" Deaq managed to get out as he held his partner down worried that he'd hurt himself thrashing around on the bed.

The nurse checked Van's vital signs then gave him a sedative through the IV tube.

"This will calm him down." She looked over at them. "You two better leave, we can't have him getting agitated like this."

Van grabbed his partner's arm before he could leave.

"Please Deaq…Don't…let them…" His grasp loosened as the sedative took immediate effect and he started to drift off.

Deaq blinked back tears as he gently took his partner's hand and placed it back on the bed, he then followed Billie out into the waiting room.

"Billie, what are we going to do?" He felt totally helpless. He wanted to do what was best for Van and if that meant letting them take his leg he'd have to let them. But he knew his partner would never forgive him, and he didn't know if he could live with that.

Billie put her arms around Deaq and hugged him; she knew he was being torn in two different directions.

"Deaq, it's in God's hands not ours. If it comes down to it I'll make the decision."

"You know Van Billie, if we let them amputate…he'll never forgive us."

"He'll get over it Deaq, he'll have to. It'll take time but he'll realize we made the best decision for him. At least he'll be alive. If they can't stop the infection…he could die."

"I know Billie…but…" Deaq turned away as his eyes once more welled up. "Billie…he's my partner. I don't know if I could live with the look in his eyes if I don't do what he wants. I just…I just don't know what to do." He felt totally helpless as he walked over to a window and looked out. "Damn them for doing this to him. Damn them!" He said through clenched teeth. Right now all he wanted was to get his hands around the throat of who ever was driving the car that ran his partner off the road. A stupid case of road rage and now his partner might lose his leg, or even his life.

Three days later

Van had drifted in and out of consciousness throughout the past three days and both Billie and Deaq had taken turns sitting by his side. Deaq was at his side on the third day when the doctor came in for his daily visit. They nodded a greeting then Deaq got up and decided to leave the doctor examine Van while he got some coffee. When he came back he was horrified to see Van's bed being wheeled out of the room.

"What's going on?" Deaq asked as his heart pounded in his chest.

"His heart beat is irregular and his leg has gotten worse. We need to take him up to the OR and open up his leg again. It seems to be filling with fluid and once we get him up there we can get a better look…I'm sorry but we may have to amputate. It might be the only thing we can do to save his life."

Deaq leaned against the wall. His mouth slightly open, his face clearly showing his fear and disbelief.

"But I thought he was getting better. I thought his leg was fine."

"We thought so too, but he has developed a high fever and we're thinking that the infection in his leg might have returned. Since we haven't been able to contact any of his family members, we need you or Miss Chambers to fill out the permission forms."

"Oh God no." Deaq said softly as he shut his eyes. This is what he had been dreading ever since they had first learned that Van might lose his leg, that he or Billie would have to be the one to make the decision. "And if you don't amputate?"

"If it's the leg that is causing the fever and we don't amputate.,..he'll die."

Deaq sucked in a breath and held it before leaving it out slowly as he shook his head sadly.

"I need to call Billie, I can't make this decision on my own."

"Give her a call…but make it quick he's slipping fast."

Candy Store

Billie turned away from the computer screen she was looking at to pick up the phone.

"Yeah." She said as she spun back to the screen. She hit a few buttons on the keyboard and a file appeared on the screen. Since Van was out of action and there was no way she was putting Deaq out on the streets with his mind on his partner. She decided to send the file to headquarters to see if anyone there could work on the case.

"Billie…"

She immediately heard the worry and hesitation in Deaq's voice.

"Deaq, what is it?"

Deaq swallowed hard before he could speak.

"Billie, its Van…"

A cold chill ran up Billie's spine.

"Deaq what's the matter!" She could feel herself shaking and she prayed silently that he wasn't calling her to tell her Van had died. She had just been in to see him a few hours ago and even though he was unconscious he appeared fine.

"He's gotten worse. They…they might have to take his leg…I'm not sure."

"Oh no Deaq." She stood up. She knew Deaq would be taking the news hard and she needed to get to the hospital to be by his side.

"Since they can't locate his family…They need one of us to sign….Billie I can't do it." His voice cracked when he said the last sentence. He knew he should be strong and not put this on Billie, but when it came down to it, he knew he wouldn't be able to sign the consent form.

"I'll be right there Deaq. You hang in there."

Deaq could only nod as he hung up the phone.

Half an hour later

Billie made it to the hospital in record time. She had to be there for both Van and Deaq. She hurried to the nurse's station where Deaq was standing looking at the form letter which would most likely end his partner's career.

"Deaq." She said gently as she walked up to him.

"I'm sorry Billie…" He handed her the letter. "I thought I could do this but…" Tears filled his eyes.

"I wouldn't expect you to make this kind of decision. He's your partner…your friend."

"But he's your friend too Billie. I know I shouldn't put this on you."

"Yes, but I'm also his boss. I'll sign." She herself had tears in her eyes as she quickly signed the form and handed it to the nurse. It broke her heart to do it but if it would save Van's life, she had to sign the permission form to take his leg.

The nurse stamped the form then contacted the doctor who was already in the OR awaiting permission.

"Oh God Billie." Deaq turned away. "I can't believe this…" Images of his partner flashed through his mind. He and Van chasing drug dealers, running after gun smugglers, even dancing on the barroom floors and playing basketball. All things Van wouldn't be able to do anymore. Oh sure he could get an artificial leg but there was no way he'd be able to keep up with the criminals. By signing that paper they had just ended Van's career.

Billie put her arm around Deaq, she knew what he was thinking.

"We're going to have to be strong for Van. He's going to need us."

"I know Billie, I know." He could barely get the words out before he broke down.

TBC