Chapter 19
Don's back felt much better today. The tiny incisions, not even enough for stitches, were driving him crazy, though. He had to stop himself from backing up to a tree like a bear, and scratching. But at least he felt like he could stand here, at the window to Charlie's world, and not fall down.
Charlie was receiving another blood transfusion, and Dr. Stevens was inside. He spoke with the nurse, and turned to leave. He saw Don in the anteroom, and turned back to the bed. The doctor leaned over Charlie; Don could tell he was speaking to him. Then Charlie's head turned toward the door, and his eyes opened. He didn't seem really focused, and his attempt at a smile was a miserable failure, but he managed to lift one hand toward the window. Don smiled back, hoping Charlie could see him, or that someone would translate, and waved a greeting in return.
"His left lung has definitely developed pneumonia," said the doctor, as soon as the door swung shut behind him. "We're still not ready to say this is GvHD. We're going to try another antibiotic. We've also added Neupogen, a growth factor, to the mix. We want to try to stimulate his new bone marrow into making white blood cells."
"I understand," Don said simply.
NUMBERS NUMBERS NUMBERS NUMBERS NUMBERS
"I can't believe I let you talk me into picking up a night shift," Katie whispered fiercely, watching Don scrub his hands in the sink. "I can't believe what I let you talk me into. First, the attack of the bald tomatoes, now this…" She stopped talking.
"I appreciate all of it, Katie, I really do," whispered Don, flashing her his best grin.
"You can stop now," she said. "You're scrubbing your hands off."
"I want to be sure," he said. Lamely, he added, "I probably shouldn't be doing this."
Katie rolled her eyes as she helped him tie the gown in back and handed him a mask. "Well it's a little late now," she murmured, and opened the door to Charlie's room.
The two walked quietly to the bed. Katie checked his vital signs, and then leaned over the still form, shaking his shoulder gently. "Charlie!" she whispered, in the vicinity of his ear. Her aim was off, since she was also trying to look over her shoulder at the door. She tried again. "Charlie, wake up!"
Slowly the dark brown eyes opened, and focused on Katie. They widened in disbelief when Don stepped out from behind her, and laid his hand — his actual, non-gloved hand — on Charlie's arm.
Charlie looked to Katie. "Have I died?", he whispered.
"No," she assured him with a smile, "nothing's dying in this room tonight!" She turned to the door again, and Don heard her mutter under her breath, "except maybe my career…".
He smiled, and sat down in the chair nearest Charlie's bed, dragging it forward a little, to be closer to his brother. "Hey, Buddy," he said quietly.
Charlie smiled, the slow, sleepy smile that meant he still wasn't convinced. Then his eyes grew anxious, and he stirred in the bed. "Are you all right?"
"Charlie…" Don increased the pressure slightly on Charlie's arm. "I'm good, I'm fine. I just wanted to see you."
Charlie was awake now, but that confused him even more. He looked at Katie again. "How did you get him in here?" he asked.
"Your brother," she said, grinning mischieveously at her patient, "threatened to arrest me if I didn't."
Charlie's eyes widened again, and he looked at Don. He could see the crinkle of Don's eyes above the mask, and then he grinned also. "You know," he said, taking as deep a breath as he could, "Mathematically, I could probably prove you did it."
Katie snorted, and clapped her hands over her mouth at the same time that they all heard the door open. "Dr. Stevens!" she cried. "What are you doing here so late?"
The doctor stood silently and regarded them for awhile, and finally answered, "I had a patient in crisis. I thought I'd check on Charlie while I was here." He lowered his gaze to the chart in his hands. "If I were seeing what I am not seeing," he said, walking toward them, how long would I have seen it?"
Katie looked momentarily confused, and then answered. "Um… just a few minutes, Doctor."
He reached the side of the bed and leaned over Charlie to listen to his lungs with a stethoscope. "And since I am not seeing this," he continued when he finished, straightening up, "and I'm sure that I won't not be seeing this again, I don't need to speak with the nursing supervisor."
Katie regarded her toes. "Thank you, Doctor."
Dr. Stevens smiled at Charlie. "Next time I see your brother," he said, "I'll tell him that your lungs sound better. We'll bring in the portable x-ray in the morning and check again. This new antibiotic could be doing the trick."
Don smiled widely under the mask and moved his hand so that he was holding one of Charlie's in both of his. The doctor watched Charlie loose the battle to stay awake, and saw the lines of stress and despair fall from his face as he felt his brother touch him. Dr. Stevens looked at Don's gloveless hands for a moment and then turned to Katie. "Join me for some coffee, nurse?" he asked, steering her toward the door. "You won't believe what I just didn't see."
