Chapter 4 Zack's Second Surgery

When Zack woke up a few hours later, both Carey and Cody had fallen asleep. Carey was curled up in the small couch in the private hospital room. Cody was sitting in the folding chair. He was slumped over Zack's bed. Zack picked up Cody's limp wrist to look at his watch and see the time. It was ten o'clock. He sighed, knowing that the next day he was going to have two more surgeries, one for his nose and one for his arm. He was still feeling weak and sleepy from his first surgery. He did not want to go through two more of them.

A tear slid down the side of his cheek. He hated to admit it, even to himself, but he was really scared. People died during surgeries—even small ones. Anything could go wrong.

"When did you wake up?"

Zack looked up and saw that Cody was sitting up in his chair, "Just a minute ago," he answered in a thick voice.

"What's wrong?" Cody asked, "Does something hurt? I can get a nurse to give you something for the pain."

"Nothing hurts," he said.

Cody frowned, "then what's wrong?"

Zack sighed, "I don't know."

"Come on, Zack, you can tell me."

Zack shook his head.

"Okay, we don't have to talk about that. You need to get some sleep anyways so you're ready for your operations tomorrow."

As soon as the word 'operations' escaped from Cody's mouth, Zack began to cry again, very softly.

"Oh," Cody whispered, "That's what's wrong, isn't it? You're worried about the operations."

Zack nodded, not saying anything.

Cody sat on the edge of Zack's bed and gently gathered his brother into his arms, careful not to hurt him or move any of the wires, "You're going to be fine, Zack," he promised, "The doctors know what they're doing. Your first operation went fine, and the next two will too."

Zack held onto Cody's hand as tightly as he could, "How do you know?" he asked through his tears.

"I know because you're strong," Cody told him, "You're going to be fine. You always are."

"Not today," Zack mumbled, "I couldn't even defend myself."

"That's because Drew had a whole crew of friends on his side," Cody reminded him, "You were all by yourself."

Zack shrugged. Cody sighed. He obviously wasn't getting anywhere. He considered waking up his mother and having her talk to Zack. But at the same time he knew that Zack needed to hear it from him.

"I just want to go home," Zack whispered.

Cody kissed him on the top of his head, "You will," he said, "That's why you have to go through with the operations and give it a hundred percent."

"It's not like I'm doing anything," Zack muttered, "I just lay there and let the doctors do all the work. I'm not even awake for it."

"But if you have a positive attitude you'll get through it easier," Cody argued, "I promise."

Zack looked up into Cody's eyes, identical to his own, "I'm really scared, Cody."

Cody squeezed his hand, "I know you are. Just remember that Mom and I will be there waiting for you. You aren't alone in this. You won't ever be alone."

Zack nodded, "Thanks."

Cody, who was still holding his brother in his arms, gave him a hug. He knew that Zack was still scared, but he hoped that he was starting to feel a little bit better.

Zack was scheduled for a ten 'o' clock surgery the next morning. He'd be having his nose fixed first and then his arm. Ellen would also use the surgery time to fix any other problems involving Zack's face that popped up. Zack was waiting with Carey and Cody in the prep room when Jake and Ellen walked in. Jake looked frustrated.

"What's wrong?" asked Carey, seeing the expression on Jake's face.

"The doctor I had scheduled to fix Zack's arm called in sick. He has the flu. I'm looking for a replacement but unfortunately there's a shortage of orthopedic surgeons today," said Jake.

"So I'm not having surgery on my arm?" asked Zack.

"We may need to reschedule," said Jake.

"Heard you have someone with a broken arm," said a voice from the door. Everyone turned their attention to the doorway. A doctor was standing in the doorway, drinking a cup of coffee and looking rather confident.

"Mark, where the hell have you been?" asked Jake. "I went to your office but you weren't there."

"Caffeine craving," said Mark.

"This is Dr. Mark Benson, one of the best surgeons at the hospital," said Jake.

"Broken arms are my specialty. I'm here to help," said Mark.

"This is Zack. He's got a badly shattered arm," said Jake. Zack waved with his unbroken arm.

"Mind if I take a look?" asked Mark, walking over to Zack.

"Go ahead," said Zack.

"Hold my coffee, Ellen," said Mark, handing his cup to Ellen.

"Sure thing," said Ellen, rolling her eyes and taking the cup. Mark carefully took the cast and brace off Zack so he could examine his arm. Zack winced a little as Mark felt his arm.

"Now that's a broken arm. Oh man. What happened?" asked Mark.

"Some jerk slammed a locker door against it," said Zack. "Do you think you can fix it?"

"No problem. You won't even know it was broken when I'm finished," said Mark. He put Zack's cast and brace back on.

"I'm going to get ready. I'll see you in the OR, Zack," said Mark. He took his coffee back and left.

"Your arm couldn't be in better hands then his," said Jake. "And your nose will be just fine when Ellen is done." Zack nodded. The tears started to come. Jake and Ellen said goodbye and then left so Zack could be alone with Cody and Carey.

"Oh, Zack, don't cry. They're going to take great care of you," said Cody. Zack let out a sob.

"I know. I'm just scared that something terrible may happen," said Zack. Cody and Carey leaned down and hugged Zack. They let him have a good cry. After twenty minutes, the nurses arrived to take Zack to surgery. Carey and Cody kissed Zack goodbye and assured him that they would be right there with him when he woke up. Zack gave his family a small wave as he wheeled to surgery.

Ellen and Mark were already in the operating room when Zack was wheeled in. Mark was getting his tools ready and Ellen was taking one last look at Zack's x-rays. Zack was helped onto the surgical table.

"Hey. Dr. Walker," said Zack.

"Yeah, Zack," said Ellen.

"My lips feel funny and a little numb. I think they were damaged or something when I got beat up. I meant to say something earlier but I was too scared. Anyway you can fix them?" asked Zack.

"Sure thing. They are looking a little swollen," said Ellen. She stepped back as Zack was put under. Ellen waited a couple of minutes as Zack was prepped. Ellen walked back to the operating table. Zack had a tube in his mouth and tape over his eyes. The tube was in the side of Zack's mouth so that Ellen could work on his lips after his nose. She slowly peeled the bandage off Zack's nose. The bandage stuck a little since Zack's nose was covered in blood and puss.

"His nose is really beat up. This is going to take longer then I thought," said Ellen. She squeezed Zack's nose. Blood flowed from his nostrils.

"Woah," said Ellen. "This is going to be tricky." The nose surgery was bloody and long. The punch to Zack's nose had shattered most of the bone. Blood poured from Zack's nose as Ellen worked. She finished after two hours.

"On to the lips," said Ellen. Zack's lips were damaged slightly. It took Ellen an hour to fix them. After that she and her team made sure he was stable and then stepped back so that Mark and his team could work. Zack's broken arm was stretched out and tied down. Mark let out a sigh and then cut Zack's arm open. It was a mess in Zack's arm.

"This is not going to be easy to rebuild. He may not have as much movement in his arm," said Mark.

"Do what you can," said Ellen. Mark nodded and got to work.

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