All rights to the characters and story of Fog belong to E. L. James
This chapter is the answer to a question I have been asked by many of you. It might also inspire more questions.
Hmm…
Sunday, April 26th,
Seattle, Washington
Ana has lost all desire to continue to behave as a genial patient. She is past annoyance at the blood sucking lab technician and his butterfly needles. Just like every other morning, the tech makes his rounds at five in the morning in order to wake Ana and draw more of her blood, so Ana is wide-awake and wonders which goon Christian has planted by the door to her room. By seven-thirty, Ana has been checked over by the on-coming day shift nurse whose hair is peroxide blonde and is much too perky for Ana's liking. Ana is entering her fifth day in the hospital and so far, the only positive experience was when they finally removed her catheter and abdominal drainage tube. The downside about having them removed is that her surgeon ordered her to get out of bed and to start walking the halls. For Ana, walking is staggering down a hallway, bent over and holding her abdominal incision.
Ana and Luke were a few days into their stay in D.C. when she began to have a sharp and intermittent pain in her right lower abdomen. It came as fast as it went and Ana paid it no heed nor did she mention it to Luke. After Ana kept declining more site seeing excursions, Luke finally took notice of her appearance and could tell she was a bit paler than usual, and began to catch her wincing as though she was in pain. After Ana finally gave up the ghost and admitted she felt ill, Luke begged her to go the nearest emergency room. Being the stubborn and the insubordinate woman that she is, Ana refused, causing an intense argument between them that ended when Luke stormed into his bedroom and slammed the door.
While flying back to Seattle on the GEH jet and somewhere over the Midwest, Ana spiked a fever from out of nowhere and began to vomit repeatedly. The flight attendant did her best to alleviate her symptoms, but every cracker and sip of ginger ale that went down immediately came back up. When Ana became too weak to run back and forth to the bathroom, Luke led her to the jet's bedroom and placed a garbage can beside her. The flight attendant tells Luke that Ana probably has a stomach bug, but when they are half way across Washington State, they watch as Ana begins to shake uncontrollably and her face is blood red. They hurriedly take her temperature and they both go white when it registers over one hundred and four degrees. Grabbing up towels from the galley, Luke and the flight attendant soak them in cold water and rub Ana down with them in an attempt to lower her temperature. Unfortunately, it does not work.
When they are twenty minutes from SeaTac, Luke tells the pilot to radio ahead and have an ambulance waiting for them on the tarmac. No sooner than Luke steps out of the cockpit, Ana screams so loudly that even the pilot jumps. That sharp and intermittent pain in her right lower abdomen suddenly exploded and Luke watched as she alternated between throwing up and curling into a ball crying from pain.
Luke crouches down at the end of the stretcher after they load Ana in the ambulance. He immediately calls Taylor to let him know what was going on and that they were headed to Highline Medical Center, which was the one closest hospital to SeaTac. Luke listens to the paramedic's one-sided conversation with the emergency room physician who was giving him orders over the phone and watches them start two IV lines on Ana. The paramedic is telling the ER physician that Ana's blood pressure is alarmingly high as is her heart rate. They wrap her in a cooling blanket and as they back the ambulance into the ER bay, Ana starts fading in and out of consciousness.
By the time Grey arrives demanding to know his wife's whereabouts, Ana's labs have already been drawn and she is on another floor having a Doppler Ultrasound. Luke appears beyond angry when the ultrasound tech refuses to let him in the room with Ana. Luke's irritated expression changes into one of apprehension when two women dressed in scrubs rush in the room. After what seems like hours, the same women burst through the door rapidly pushing Ana's hospital bed in a direction that is not the way back to the ER. They are walking quite fast, although both appear calm and Ana is asleep.
"May I inquire where you are taking Mrs. Grey?
"Are you related to Mrs. Grey?" Luke reads RN on her name badge. She is an attractive woman who is probably in her fifties and speaks in a comforting voice.
"No, I am Mrs. Grey's personal security." Luke has picked up his pace to keep up with them.
"Well, I cannot tell you anything. Do you know if any of her family has arrived?"
"No. I have been beside Mrs. Grey upon arrival. But her husband has been notified."
The nurse ignores him and Luke watches as Ana disappears behind a pair of double doors with a sign reading Radiology beside them. Luke can only stand guard by them. No more than a minute later, Luke hears his name being called by the loud and booming voice of Christian Grey.
"Where is my wife, Sawyer?" Grey demanded while doing his trademark of running a hand through his hair.
"Sir, they have just taken her into the radiology department."
"Radiology? For what? Moreover, what fucking else have they done? What is taking so long?" Grey's voice is full of panic.
"Sir, Mrs. Grey has not been back there too long. Prior to that, they drew some blood for lab work and performed a Doppler Ultrasound. She's currently asleep, Sir."
"What the fuck is a Doppler Ultrasound? Are you positive she is not hurting, Sawyer?" Christian was pacing, which he only did when he was gradually losing control of a situation.
"Sir, she was asleep and did not appear to be in any pain. A Doppler Ultrasound determines whether or not an organ is receiving sufficient blood flow."
"FUCKING BLOOD FLOW TO ANA'S ORGANS?" Christian roared at Luke who keeps a professional and impassive expression intact. "Blood flow to what ORGAN? Holy, fuck! What the hell happened to her?"
"Sir, we had been in the air for a while when Mrs. Grey suddenly spiked a fever and began to vomit. At one point, her temperature was over one hundred and four. It was not long after having her temperature re-check that Mrs. Grey began having severe pain on the right side of her abdomen. Luckily, we were nearing SeaTac and I had the pilot radio ahead to have an ambulance waiting for us on the tarmac."
"Luke, why did you wait to call me before you landed? If you were that close to the airport the jet's phone would have been working." Taylor's voice was short and clipped as he quizzed Luke, who never broke Taylor's intimidating stare.
"They were not working. You can confirm this with the pilot and flight attendant."
The double doors swung open before Taylor could reply. If the two nurses had been pushing Ana's bed in a rushed manner on the way to Radiology department, this time they were practically running.
Luke and Taylor jogged along either side of the bed while Christian attempted to grasp Ana's hand.
"We do not have time to let you take her hand. Excuse us, please." It was not the attractive and soft-spoken nurse speaking this time. It was a much younger woman who appeared as though she could have just graduated nursing school.
"I am her husband god damn you and I will hold her hand if I fucking want to!" Christian Grey the caveman has made his appearance.
Both nurses glare at him, but seem to be in emergency mode and do not care to reply. The elevator ride down to the emergency department is deadly quiet and the older nurse is tapping her shoe on the floor impatiently. Christian was stroking the top of Ana's head when the door opened and the nurses practically slide the hospital bed into the ER sideways. They stop and push Ana into an exam room where two doctors were waiting for them by the door. One is a rather young female physician, the other, an older balding man. Luke and Taylor stand on either side of the doorway while the two physicians stop Christian at the door. Directly in front of Ana's exam room is the waiting area and every member of the Grey family is standing there watching Christian speak with the two doctors.
Dr. Trevelyan walks toward her son and both physician's.
"What the hell is wrong with Anastasia? Christian asks the female doctor, who is a kind and soft-spoken woman while he running both of his hands through his hair. Katherine Grey's emerald eyes are fixated on her brother-in-law, as she takes in his behavior.
"Mr. Grey, allow me to introduce myself. I am Dr. Joseph, a gynecologist on staff here. May I also introduce you to one of our surgeons, Dr. Rutledge?" Christian shakes both of their hands and is looking at his mother helplessly.
"Mr. Grey, we performed a Doppler Ultrasound over the area of Mrs. Grey's pain and it indicated she had little to no blood flow to her right ovary and right Fallopian tube. She then had a CAT scan on the same area and it found a large mass over her right ovary and the surrounding area. That is when Dr. Rutledge was brought in."
Christian walks away, repeatedly saying, "Fuck."
"I am Ana's mother in law, Dr. Grace Trevelyan. I assume you are headed to the OR right away?" Christian was rubbing his face with both hands as Grace placed a comforting arm on his shoulder.
"Yes, the nurses are prepping her right now. I am hoping to locate and remove the problem laparoscopically." Dr. Rutledge's attitude was curt and it was apparent he was in a hurry to get Ana into the OR. The nurses open the exam room and push Ana's hospital bed toward the surgical suite.
As they watch Ana disappear, Kate and Mia began to cry.
"Mr. Grey, this should be about an hour long procedure and then I will come out and inform you of your wife's situation." The surgeon was in such a hurry he was walking and had turned his head toward Christian as he spoke.
Grace walks back to the waiting area with her son as everyone starts firing questions at them both. Christian flops into a chair despondently and Kate's eyes dart to Luke and through his peripheral vision, he catches her look.
"They found a large mass over Ana's right ovary and performed another test that determined the area was basically cut off from blood flow. They have taken her back to surgery to figure out what is the matter and remove it." Even when Grace delivers bad news, she always sounds gentle and comforting.
Kate and Mia both throw a hand over their mouth as Grace spoke.
"Oh, God, Grace! A mass over Ana's ovary? What does that mean? A mass means cancer, doesn't it?" Kate began to weep and Elliot walked up behind her and placed both of his hands on her pregnant belly.
Mia broke down when Kate says the word cancer. "Cancer? Oh, my God! Mom, is Ana going to be okay? God, what are they doing to her?"
"Shh… Ana will be fine. The surgeon is doing a minimally invasive procedure and it should only take an hour. Come here, sweetheart. Don't worry." Grace enveloped Mia in her arms.
Carrick looks at his youngest son who is not speaking and looks as if he is on the verge of tears. "Son, you need to call Ray. As in, right now." Christian continues to withdraw into himself and does not reply. Carrick sighs and holds out his hand. "Christian, give me your phone and I will call him. He is Ana's father and needs to be here. Ray can decide if Carla needs to be informed."
Handing his phone to his father, Christian does not reply and Carrick steps in the hallway to call Ray. Elliot had finally calmed his wife down, but Kate is still staring at Christian as her brain is in overdrive as it attempts to decipher his behavior.
The one hour becomes two hours, and everyone keeps checking their watches or stares at the clock on the wall. Elliot is now pacing alongside Christian. Carrick is ordering his sons to sit down before they stop. Even the unflappable Grace appears worried as she begins to rub her temples. Kate reaches over and clasps her hand. Time continues to drag on until it is the third hour since they rolled Ana into the OR. Christian jumps from his chair, loudly exclaiming, "Fuck this!" and heads to the surgical wing where Luke and Taylor are standing guard by the unit's double doors.
"Elliot, pull a chair over to your wife so she prop up her feet. They're beginning to swell." Grace sounds exhausted and irritable and Carrick pats her leg. Elliot grabs a chair and loudly scraps it against the floor until it is close enough to lift his wife's legs on it.
"Do you feel like staying, baby? Maybe we should go home." Kate vehemently shakes her head no.
Christian returns to the waiting room just as Ray arrives. Ray takes in the expressions of his daughter's in-laws.
"Where is Annie? Carrick, I thought you told me this would be a simple procedure, but I can see that must not be the case. What has happened?" Ray's laid-back attitude has disappeared and his brown eyes reflect a controlled panic as he shakes the hand of the three Grey men.
"Ray, I wish I could tell you something. We've just been sitting here waiting and have not heard anything," Carrick murmured.
Four hours and ten minutes pass when an exhausted Dr. Rutledge enters the room. He is still wearing his blue shoe covers and looks at them with a grim expression. The entire Grey family rushes him, but it is unclear if Grace, Ray, or Christian got to him first.
"Mr. Grey, I am sorry to say that the procedure I told you that I would be performing on your wife was unsuccessful…"
"Unsuccessful? Unsuccessful, how? How is my fuc…" Christian loudly begins to ask the surgeon.
Grace grabs his elbow in a gesture to shut him up and allow her to talk to the doctor.
"Why was the laparoscopic surgery unsuccessful Dr. Rutledge?" Grace could still sound professional despite being exhausted.
"Dr. Trevelyan, once I had the scope over the affected area, it became obvious Mrs. Grey's situation was more complicated than we feared…"
"Complicated? What the hell does that mean?" Christian barks at the surgeon and Ray takes hold of Christian's arm.
Sighing deeply, Dr. Rutledge continues. "Mrs. Grey had an adnexal torsion which was caused by a large 13 cm ovarian cyst. Adnexal torsion means that Mrs. Grey's right ovary had grown very large with infection due to the large cyst and the ovary was twisted around itself three times. The twisted ovary had also adhered to her right Fallopian tube that was also twisted several times. The scope also proved that the adnexal torsion was so complex that it had all but cut off the blood supply to the ovary and Fallopian tube, leaving them necrotic and nonviable."
Ray looks puzzled and shakes his head. "Necrotic means dead." It is a simple statement and the surgeon nodded.
"So, you had to perform a laparotomy on Ana, Dr. Rutledge?" Grace knew that the entire family felt as if she is speaking Latin, so she looks at everyone to explain in a manner they can understand.
"In simple terms, Dr. Rutledge had to make an incision into Ana's abdomen instead of a lap, which just leaves you with three small incision sites. A laparotomy is one large incision where the surgeon can fully open up the abdomen and have total access to locate and assess the problem. I am very sorry to interrupt you, Dr. Rutledge. I have a very impatient family."
The surgeon looks thoroughly pissed and as if he could not give two fucks about her impatient family.
"Yes, we did a laparotomy and I made a Pfannenstiel incision, or simply put a bikini line incision. When I had an unhindered view, I saw that the damage was extensive. As I told you, the torsion, or rather the twisting of the ovary and Fallopian tube had cut off blood supply and both her ovary and Fallopian tube had to be removed. That 13 cm ovarian cyst had caused her ovary to swell to four times the normal size and it was grossly infected. It was the infection that led to her high fever and vomiting. As I began to remove the ovary and Fallopian tube, I ran into another problem when I discovered the ovary and tube had adhered to her peritoneum. This caused a bit of more difficulty than I wanted. After I separated the adhesion, we continued removing the necrotic tissue along with a small area of tissue that extended past the ovary and tube. Then I inserted a drain that we will leave in for several days."
Grace listens to Kate and Mia quietly crying and Elliot is quietly consoling them. Christian is covering his face with his hands while Ray holds onto his shoulder.
"Dr. Rutledge, this is nothing but curiosity, but a situation as serious as this would appear to have taken quite a bit of time to develop. Why do you suppose Ana had no symptoms until she suddenly fell so seriously ill? I know that she never complained of any pain or discomfort to me. Kate, Mia, did Ana ever tell you if she was having any pain in her lower abdomen?" Both women shook their heads.
"Christian, did Ana mention anything like this you?
"Never," Christian answered his mother in a low and monotone voice.
"Dr. Trevelyan, it has been my experience that situations such as these can occur suddenly as Mrs. Grey's did, or over a long period of time where a woman does have symptoms and complaints of discomfort and pain. I also wanted to let you know I did cut out the tissue to biopsy even though her blood work had her CA 125 within the normal range. But I wanted definitive proof that the mass was not malignant."
Christian appears as though he has been seized with panic. "Malignant? This could be malignant. It could be cancer?" Grace slowly shakes her head at her youngest son.
"Mr. Grey, the CA 125 levels were within a normal range. A CA 125 value is a test that can indicate ovarian cancer. Mrs. Grey's levels did not indicate that and I simply wanted to have some tissue biopsies just to be positive. I also do not believe we are looking at anything cancerous. The cyst did not look cancerous to me at all. But like I said, I just wanted to stay on the side of caution."
"Where is my Annie right now? When can I see her?" Ray's words are shaky and his eyes glassy. Kate goes to him and wraps her arms around him.
"Mrs. Grey is in recovery right now. Then I am sending her to SICU although I think it will just be for tonight. I want her in SICU to watch and measure the amount of drainage we get. She is also receiving two antibiotics intravenously. We have her in a cooling blanket since she still has an elevated body temperature. If she has improved by tomorrow, I will move her to a private room. SICU does allow two visitors at a time, but they have specific visiting hours and you cannot sit with her long. Just do not let her appearance alarm you. She could possibly not fully awaken until tomorrow due to the anesthesia and pain medication. She is receiving morphine via a pump. Now, are there any other questions or concerns?"
"I do Dr. Rutledge. This will not affect Ana being able to conceive a child, will it? I just assume it will make conceiving harder." Kate asked the surgeon, doing her best to not sound as though she was antagonizing Christian although she never removes her eyes from him.
The doctor shook his head. "I have seen some cases that women do not conceive as quickly as they would like, but a surgery such as this does not make a woman infertile."
"How long will Annie have to stay here?" Ray's impatience at not being able to see his daughter is coming through in his words.
"You can expect a five to seven-day hospital stay. It could very well be shorter, but that decision will be based on several things; when there is no longer any drainage, if her temperature normalizes and when her blood tells me she is free of any infection. You will definitely be looking at a four to six-week recovery period. Mrs. Grey will definitely require some care at home the first few days and will not be back to herself for several weeks. Can I answer anything else? If not, I will head to the SICU and tell the nurses to allow you to sit with Mrs. Grey for a while."
"Thank you, Dr. Rutledge. Our family is very grateful you took such good care of our Ana." As if Grace's words were their cue, each of the men shook the doctor's hand before he took leave.
"Well, it is late kids. You should all go home and come back in the morning. I am sure our dear Ana will be in a room of her own by then and we can all sit with her. I will wait along with your father, Ray and Christian."
Kate started to open her mouth in protest until Elliot pointed at her ankles. "Babe, you are about to pop out a baby and need to rest. We will come and sit with Ana tomorrow."
Kate actually is tired to her bones, but she also wants to see how Christian acts when he sees his wife, only Grace and Elliot will not allow it.
"We will be back first thing in the morning, Grace. Come with us, Mia. You can stay with us tonight." Kate hugs her mother and father in law, links arms with Mia, and then throws a death glare at her brother in law who is sitting in a chair and looking at his shoes.
Monday, April 27th, 2015
Seattle, Washington
It is the sixth day of Ana's hospital stay and she is being discharged home, or rather to Carrick and Grace's home. Ana is sitting fully dressed and in a wheelchair with a nice and patient hospital aid who is ready to take her out through a side exit of the hospital. Once the media found out that Ana was in the hospital, they had camped out in front of the place and making life miserable for everyone who attempted to enter or leave the hospital.
Ana would have long been gone if Grace, Mia, Christian and Kate would have just shut up. Christian is still being a pain in her ass about the fact she has gone along with Grace and Mia's idea to stay at his parent's home. Christian refuses to see that asking Gail to take on Ana's care is too much for the poor woman. As he begins to talk about hiring a nurse, Ana watches as the women all but lose their shit.
"Christian Grey, I have taken leave from work for the next two weeks and it is utterly ridiculous that you expect Gail to care for your wife. Did you forget about these dressing changes she requires?"
Grace has had enough. They have all been fighting about this for at least thirty minutes and it was time to call the game.
"No, mom. I have not forgotten and I am only thinking that Anastasia would be more comfortable at home. Wouldn't you, Anastasia?" Christian is looking over his mother's head at Ana.
"I would be more comfortable if you did not call me Anastasia." Her comment made Grace and Mia laugh, but Kate knew Ana was not kidding around with Christian, who is looking at Ana with his eyes narrowed.
"Christian, I have already told you that I would feel comfortable with your mother taking care of me. Expecting Gail to become a nursemaid is not realistic. Plus, it is not like you are at home long enough to help Gail with me if she needs it and…"
Christian is glaring at Ana. "I am at home. You are acting as if I am never at home and that is not true. I cannot help if I have twelve to fourteen-hour workdays! All I ever do is work and come home and you know it!"
The temperature in the room has dropped to freezing and the only one speaks up is Christian's lovely sister in law who pokes the bear, even if she does so in a seemingly joking manner. "Please, Christian. Like work and staying at home is all that you do."
The Grey glower has now been turned on Kate. "What the fuck does that mean, Katherine?" Christian asks, practically screaming.
"Christian! Did I not raise you better than to speak to a woman like that? Kate was joking with you in light of your petulance! Sometimes you behave like you were raised in a barn!"
"Christian, if Ana comes with me and mom, we can take care of her all the time and she will be up to the anniversary party I have planned for you two!" Mia is pouting in an attempt to soften up her brother.
"Mia. I have told you to cancel that shit. There is no way in hell that Anastasia is going to feel well enough to endure a party. My, God! It is on May 9th, which is in a week and a half. The doctor says Anastasia will not be fully recovered for four to six-weeks. Can you not see how impractical having a party is?" Christian's voice is raised again and he has closed his eyes from exasperation.
"I am your sister and not an employee of yours, Christian. The second Ana says she does not feel well enough I will cancel this party. The minute mom or me look at Ana and can tell she is not up for the party I will cancel it. And you know what big brother? You have been saying every word in the vocabulary for me not throw this party from the minute I brought up the idea. Now, you are using this to your advantage. Just do not worry about it. If Ana says she feels well enough for it, then I will keep it as planned. You just do what you have been hinting at since I informed you of it and not bother showing up. Plus, you're only worried about a timeline of four to six weeks because you can't have sex with Ana!"
"Mia Grey! I want the both of you to stop arguing. You are no longer children and Ana is sitting up in a wheelchair probably in pain. I have had it with whatever is wrong with you Christian and I am ready to take your wife home and put her to bed."
Christian throws his hands up in the air in an exaggerated manner.
"Fine. Do what you want to and I will go to the trouble of finding three of my security guys to your house mom. Just fine."
No sooner than Mia and Kate go to stand up, Ana begins to shout at Christian with such vehemence that has Kate terrified of what she will say next.
"Oh, SHUT THE HELL UP, CHRISTIAN! As if YOU will do shit about having more of your armed idiots sent to your parents house. The most work YOU will do is walk out in this hallway and tell your right- hand man, good ol" Jason Taylor to handle it for YOU! Because that is what TAYLOR is for, is he not, Christian? He does whatever you say without question, does he not? I wonder if HE has ever questioned anything YOU DO. HAS HE, CHRISTIAN? HUH?"
Somewhere in the middle of Ana's tirade, she attempted to stand and now she's bending over in pain. It takes the others a minute to clear their heads about what she has just said and how she said it, but when they see her holding her abdomen and attempting to sit back down, they all run to her. The hospital aid grabs Ana's arm and steadily lowers her back into the wheelchair.
"Ana, honey. Are you alright?" Grace softly asks her.
"I am fine. I just want the hell out of here and I want it to be right now." Grace nods her head and Mia and Kate follow her out of Ana's room.
h. Christian still has not responded to what Ana said. His expression is complete confusion.
"I mean it, Christian. Do not send one single idiot to your parent's house. They have security, a security system in their house, and I have Sawyer."
"Fine. I will also blame your outrageous behavior and the venomous look you are currently giving me on all of your pain medication."
"Yeah, let us blame it on that."
Ana does her best to look behind her, "I am sorry you've had to sit through this. Our family does not usually behave so abhorrently, I assure you." The hospital worker smiles at her.
Christian slowly walks beside Ana's wheelchair as they are leaving the room. He looks down at his phone, something in the garbage can catches his eye, and he pauses. It is a lovely flower arrangement that someone threw in the trash.
"Anastasia, why is there a vase of flowers in the garbage can?"
"Because I fucking well threw it in there. A bit obvious is it not?"
"I don't understand. Were they flowers you don't like?"
"No, I thought the flowers were beautiful. What I do not understand is why we are in the doorway of my room staring in the garbage can at a vase of flowers I threw away."
Christian shrugs his shoulders. "I am just trying to understand why you would throw away a vase of flowers you thought were beautiful."
Ana looks up at him with icicles hanging from both of her blue eyes that look into his with unadulterated fury.
"Oh, the flowers are beautiful. It is obvious that their sender did not touch them or else they would have shriveled up and died."
"You and you're fucking riddles. Therefore, you threw the flowers away because of who sent them. Well, who sent them?"
"Your gorgeous close family friend. Your business partner that you have dinners with that last until eleven o'clock at night. Your Mrs. Lincoln."
Christian stands there mutely.
"Sir, go ahead and wheel me out of here. My husband has us stuck by the garbage that is emitting an all too familiar, yet disgusting stench.
Anna's note—I hate everything about this chapter. It did not get into any character's mind, although it had our antagonist acting unlike himself. The ending is the direction of a most interesting chapter 19.