Chapter 3
After entering the ship, the entire family followed the stretcher down to the medical bay. Dr. Smith, who had appointed himself head physician, turned to see them standing behind him and exclaimed, "This will not do! Please leave me and my patient in peace. I cannot have eyes boring into my back while I am working."
Judy defiantly stood her ground and announced, "I am not leaving."
"My dear young lady, I must be free to work and I cannot perform my duty to the good Major if I am worried about you."
John caught his daughter's eye and added, "Go, Judy, I'll get you as soon as Dr. Smith and I are done. Don's unconscious now and won't even know you're gone."
She was adamant as she stated, "But I'll know."
"Judy, you'll be in the way. Dr. Smith and I will examine him. Go check on your sister. We'll call you as soon as we're done. I promise." He realized that he was being harsh, but he was still trying to protect his daughter.
She knew that every minute was crucial in diagnosing and treating Don's injures, so she stopped arguing and brushed Don's forehead with a kiss. As soon as she left the medical bay, she began to lose control. She leaned against the wall and hugged herself. What had happened to her strength, she wondered? She wiped the tears from her face and went to find the rest of her family.
Maureen had dressed Penny's bruises and was giving both children something to eat. When Judy entered the room, Maureen hugged her close.
Penny burst into tears. "I'm sorry, Judy. It was all my fault. If I hadn't been in the cave, none of this would have happened."
Will added, "No, it was my fault. If I hadn't wanted to go back to the cave, you wouldn't have been there."
Maureen admonished both children. "We're not looking to blame anyone. If it's anyone's fault, it's mine for allowing you to go there in the first place."
To everyone's surprise, Judy sadly laughed. "Listen to all of you! Don would have a fit if he could hear you now. How about blaming the earthquake? If that hadn't happened, we'd still be lying on the blanket…" A sob escaped her lips and she fingered her engagement ring.
Maureen gently asked her, "Judy, what is it?"
Tears slipped down her face and she whispered, "He asked me to marry him today."
Will and Penny stood up to hug her with their mother and Will offered, "He'll be okay, Judy. You know Don. He's really tough."
Judy buried her face on her mother's shoulder and together they cried.
The diagnostic tube was put away as they awaited the final printout. "Well, Dr. Smith?" John queried as Dr. Smith perused the results.
"I'm afraid that the x-ray and MRI has found damage to his lower spine. There is a strong chance that he will be paralyzed. We won't be sure until we examine him when he's conscious. The printout said to check the responsiveness of the limbs when the patient is awake. We also need to give him a corticosteroid shot that might limit the swelling and antibiotics to discourage infection. He will have to be immobilized for the time being, but we should put the water mattress under him to discourage skin sores."
John rubbed his face with his hands. "What should I tell Judy? Do I tell her he might be paralyzed, or do I wait until we're sure?"
"Professor, you tell her the truth, which is that his spine is damaged. That is all we know."
John looked at Smith gratefully, seeing a new side of the irritating man. He supposed that being needed brought out the best qualities in a person, and Smith was no exception. "Thank you, Dr. Smith. I suppose you're right."
