Chapter 22: Pain
Everyone stood motionless and silent for a few moments, overwhelmed by Callen's display of physical and emotional pain.
Anna finally moved to the bedside. She carefully arranged Callen's gown so that it covered his exposed side. She assisted Hetty in pulling the sheet and blanket up to his chest, and together they placed his limp arms on top of the covers.
"Why does he have to remember the bad stuff?" Kensi thought aloud.
"I was just wondering the same thing," Marty said softly. "He barely knows what's going on, but he remembers what that jerk security guy told him."
"To him, it's like it just happened," Kensi added.
Dr. Lee took a few steps closer to where the team was standing. "With disoriented patients, sometimes events or statements that are traumatic will stick when nothing else does. Even if the memories are distorted, they keep coming back like a loop in their thought processes. Unfortunately, it's likely this won't be the last time he recalls at least some of the details pertaining to the information he was given."
Sam shook his head in frustration. "He didn't need to know."
"No he didn't," Hetty concurred. "And I am not at all surprised by his reaction to finding out what he had done. Mr. Callen risks his life every day, so that the innocent are protected. Causing harm to those defenseless young men in Radiology would, no doubt, be quite disturbing."
Dr. Lee gave Hetty a nod of agreement. "Anna notified me right after the visit by the head of security this afternoon. Once I have gathered more details of exactly what transpired, I plan to file a formal grievance with administration."
"We were able to confiscate a video of the incident. I'll be glad to forward it to you when the time comes."
"That would be helpful." The doctor turned and studied his patient for just a moment. "If he asks about it again, I recommend you be truthful with him, without offering additional details. Try to steer him away from the subject; get him to focus on something else. His mental well-being will play such a big role in his recovery. He's going to need a lot of support and reassurance while he's getting all of his thoughts and emotions sorted out. And keep in mind, not all of his confusion and memory loss is associated with the reaction to the Theradin. We are still dealing with a head injury here."
"Will he get his memory back?" Sam asked worriedly.
"It may continue to be spotty for a while, but Dr. Patel and Dr. Lindow were optimistic that he would make a complete recovery. And they were in agreement that this new medication would be the best option for preventing any irreversible damage from occurring… Speaking of medicine, Anna, did you get a chance to find out when the Florozine will arrive?"
Anna picked up the patient chart from the foot of the bed and then came to stand beside Dr. Lee. "They guaranteed delivery by 7:00 in the morning."
"Seven?" Hetty questioned.
"Yes," the Doctor confirmed. "I know this is a little past the twenty-four hour mark I had discussed with you. But this medication is so rarely prescribed that the hospital pharmacy does not keep it in stock. It's being overnighted from a pharmacy in Sacramento."
"I see. And how long does it take for the Florozine to take effect?"
"It should begin calming the nervous system after the first dose. But it will take about thirty-six to forty-eight hours for it to reach a level so that it is safe for him to start moving around more. No Olympic events, of course. But like I said earlier, we want to avoid complications that can arise from being confined to the bed."
"Dr. Lee," Anna cut in softly. "With all that's been going on, we haven't strictly adhered to the turning schedule."
"That's understandable. I'll write an order so that the nurses don't have to turn him if he's asleep, as long as he is moving enough on his own when he's awake, of course… I already discontinued the fluid intake log, right?"
"Yes, sir."
"And what about these, Doctor?" Hetty asked, lifting up one of the loose ties from Callen's wrist restraint.
"When was the last time he became combative?"
Anna turned and looked at Sam. "I think it was early afternoon, right? When the car backfired?"
"Right. About 1:00," Sam affirmed. "He's been restless since then. But that was the last time he tried to climb over the rail."
The doctor cut his eyes over to where Callen was laying, and then scrubbed his face with palm. "Considering his training, and how strong he is when that fight or flight response kicks in, it would take just about the whole staff to get those back on him."
Dr. Lee turned his attention from his patient, to the nurse standing beside him. "Even though the ties are not secured to the bed at the moment, I think it would be best to at least keep the straps fastened around his wrists and ankles. Give it a few more hours. If there have been no more incidents by midnight, then I think it should be alright to remove them."
Just then, Callen moaned, and his brow tensed from pain. He drew both arms in tight across his mid-section.
This time, it was Deeks who stopped Sam from bolting to the bedside.
After several seconds, G let out a breath and the tension left his body.
Sam peered across to his sleeping partner with narrowed eyes. "Why is the pain getting worse?" There was a hint of irritation in the SEAL's voice. "G's been busted up plenty of times, and he's never acted like he was in this much pain."
"I know this may be of no consolation, Agent Hanna," Dr. Lee began. "But it's likely your partner HAS been in this much pain before. It's just that, right now, there are periods of time when he is unable to govern his emotions; his 'Superman-mode' is turned off."
Sam looked down at the floor, and a slight smile appeared on his face.
"And you add to that," Dr. Lee continued, "the fact that he's had several episodes, in the past twenty-four hours, where his adrenalin has overridden his ability to protect himself from doing things that would actually cause additional strain and bruising to his body."
After a brief pause, the Doctor glanced up at the clock on the wall, and looked across to where Hetty was standing. "Nate should be calling for an update in just a few minutes. I'll be just a phone call away if you need me."
"Thank you, Doctor," Hetty replied with a curt nod.
The doctor gave his patient one more, long look, took the chart from the nurse's hands, and then exited the room.
Hetty let out a long breath through pursed lips. "It is just a few minutes past 7:30. I need to get back to the office so I can tie up loose ends with Director Vance and the FBI Director." The petite Operations Manager came around the foot of the bed. She stopped and looked up at Sam over the top of her glasses. "And now, Mr. Hanna, I need you to go get something to eat, and then find a place, other than your partner's hospital room, to sleep for a couple of hours."
"Hetty. I don't…"
"The waiting room at the end of the hall should be empty this time of night," She continued, deflecting the SEAL's protest. "Eat. And do not step foot back in this room until you have slept for at least two hours. I'll be watching."
"I'm sure you will be," Sam grumbled.
Anna looked up from taking Callen's vitals, clearly trying hard not to smile. "The main part of the cafeteria has already closed. But they have sandwiches and salads available, and the cashier stays on duty until 9:00. And if you'll come with me, Agent Hanna, I'll show you where the doctor's lounge is. You can rest in there after you've eaten. It will be much more comfortable than the furniture in the waiting area."
Realizing he was not going to win this battle, Sam lowered his head, and silently followed Anna out of the room.
Hetty turned her attention to the younger team members who were now left standing in the corner of the room. "Would one of you please stay with Mr. Callen until Mr. Hanna returns?"
"I'll stay," the female Agent volunteered without hesitation.
"I'll stay with her… I mean with HIM." Deeks quickly corrected. "And I don't have anything planned for tomorrow. Don't mind coming back to relieve Sam in the morning… That is, if Sam will let me."
"Oh, he'll let you, Mr. Deeks. I'll make sure of it." Hetty went to the closet and deposited the large tote bag she had brought with her. "And thank you both for helping out with Mr. Callen's care."
"No problem," Kensi and Deeks responded in unison.
After retrieving her purse, she walked to the side of the bed. She reached through the rail, rested the palm of her hand on Callen's shoulder for a moment, and then exited the room.
Without taking their eyes off of Callen, Deeks and Kensi took a step back, and sat down on the vinyl couch that was behind them.
A couple of minutes of silence passed before either of them spoke. Then they began quietly discussing the events of the week, and the Op they had successfully completed earlier that day, stopping in midsentence each time Callen moved or made the slightest of sounds.
Kensi had just commented on how strange it felt to be on an assignment without their Senior Agents, when she noticed Callen's eyes were open.
G raised his head off the pillow, turned his head toward the empty chair to his left and then slowly to the right, his confused eyes seemingly searching for something, or someone.
In no time, Deeks and Kensi were at his side.
Kensi leaned forward so that her face was in Callen's line of vision. "Hey, Callen," She said with a soothing tone.
G's questioning gaze met her brown eyes.
"You looking for Sam?" Kensi knew from the change in her Senior Agent's expression that she was correct in her assumption. "He's just down the hall."
"Hetty's making your partner take a nap," Deeks added. "I think she might have threatened the big guy with bodily harm if he didn't go eat and sleep."
Callen shifted his eyes to Deeks for a brief moment before lowering his head to the pillow. He closed his eyes and swallowed dryly.
Marty moved around to the other side of the bed. "Are you thirsty?"
G opened his eyes, looked up at the tall blonde, and nodded once.
Deeks poured a cup of water, raised the head of the bed just a little, and held the Styrofoam cup up to Callen's mouth.
After taking just a tiny sip, a sour look appeared on Callen's face.
Deeks drew back the cup that contained the offensive liquid. He picked up the pitcher from the windowsill and gave it a little shake. "No ice. I'll be right back."
The detective had not been gone more than thirty seconds when Callen grimaced, his whole body tensing up from a sudden wave of pain.
Kensi lightly rested her palm on the back of Callen's splinted hand.
When the pain had passed, G swiped his dry lips with his tongue, gave his female coworker a timid glance, and then turned his head away from her.
Deeks returned a few minutes later with the water pitcher and a container of juice. He stopped when he reached the foot of the bed, noting the change in Callen's demeanor and the look of concern on his partner's face. "Fresh ice water," He announced as he resumed his course to the other side of the bed, "and four ounces of apple delight, coming right up."
Callen locked his gaze on the small container of "apple delight," and watched as the familiar key was used to puncture a hole in the foil top, and a straw was rather theatrically inserted. And when the drink was brought to his mouth, he guzzled down half of its contents, not even bothering to raise a hand to help hold the container.
Kensi and Deeks shared amused glances at Callen's relieved expression when he stopped to catch his breath, closed his eyes and lowered his head back down to the pillow.
Deeks let several seconds pass. "You want more?"
Callen responded by opening his eyes and peering longingly at the liquid in question.
The remainder of the juice was consumed at a much slower pace, and was followed by a few small sips of cold water.
Deeks seemed to be pleased by his successful hydration endeavor, until he saw a flash of pain in Callen's eyes. Marty did not persist when G suddenly stopped drinking and weakly pushed the cup away.
Kensi's concerned expression returned. "Callen? Where are you hurting?"
Without acknowledging he had been asked a question, Callen closed his eyes tightly. It was obvious by his pained expression, his uneven breaths, and his restlessness that his discomfort level was quickly increasing. He bent his left leg, pushed his foot down into the mattress, trying to lift his hips off the bed. Only clearing the mattress by a couple of inches, he was too weak to reposition himself. He dropped back down to the bed in even more pain.
Deeks returned the Styrofoam cup to the windowsill. "What do you need? Do you want me to go get the nurse?"
At this point, it was obvious that the injured Agent's ability to hear, speak, or even to reason, was being overridden by the intense pain. Without warning, he jerked his right hand from beneath Kensi's. And in one painful movement, he reached across and grabbed hold of the opposite rail, and flung himself over onto his left side, letting out a groan through gritted teeth.
Deeks' eyes widened. "Whoa. I would've helped you with that, buddy."
Callen extended his right arm, hooked his elbow around one of the vertical bars of the side rail, and pulled, eliciting another grown. Hugging close to the metal bar, his chest and face mere inches from the side rail, Callen lay panting.
Even though this new position seemed to have alleviated some of the discomfort, Deeks could see by Callen's labored breathing, and the pained expression on his face, that things were not good. "Maybe we should call the nurse."
Kensi immediately pressed the call light and waited for a response.
"Can I help you?"
"Yes. Could you send the nurse?"
"Someone will be right there."
A few moments later, a short, stocky nurse, appearing to be in her mid-forties, entered the room. "I'm Marsha. Anna's on break. What can I do for you?" She flipped open a patient chart she was holding in her hands, and began scanning several of its pages.
"He's in a lot of pain," Kensi responded.
Marsha saw just how much pain when she took a good look at the patient who was positioned awkwardly on his side, breathing erratically.
Callen began repeatedly bending and straightening his left knee, slowly sliding the outside of his leg along the mattress.
The nurse closed the chart and placed it on the bedside table. "How long has his pain been at this level?"
"Maybe less than ten minutes?" Deeks estimated.
"Where is he hurting?"
"He hasn't said. He started hurting and then just all-of-the-sudden flipped onto his side."
"I see where Dr. Lee has discontinued all pain meds. We're just going to have to make him as comfortable as possible."
Kensi moved closer to the head of the bed so that the nurse could have better access to Callen.
Marsha lowered the head of the bed so that the patient's spine was now better aligned. She had just retrieved a couple of pillows from the closet when Anna stepped into the room. Nurse Marsha didn't even try to hide the relief she was feeling. "Oh, good."
Anna hurried to the bedside. "What happened?"
"I answered the call light. Your patient's in a lot of pain."
"So he didn't try to climb out of bed?"
"No. His friend said he'd been hurting for about ten minutes. Then he suddenly turned onto his side."
Anna breathed in through her nose, looked up at the ceiling briefly, then slowly released the breath. "I thought for a second that he had to be restrained again… Judging from his position, are we thinking the hip is the culprit?"
"I'm not familiar with his case. But that's what I was guessing. I didn't know what else to do for him, so I was about to tuck some pillows behind him so he won't have to strain so hard to hold himself up."
"That's good, Marsha. Thanks," Anna said kindly, reaching for a pillow. "I'll start with one behind his shoulders. May need the other one in a minute."
Anna moved the covers out of the way by lowering them to the foot of the bed. Deeks caught the look of compassion in her eyes when she looked down at her patient.
Callen's bruised back was damp with perspiration. His breathing was ragged. The tension in his body, and the almost continuous movement of his uninjured leg revealed the intensity of his pain.
Anna shook her head briefly, and then resumed her nursing duties. "Agent Callen? I'm going to put this pillow behind you to help hold you on your side." The nurse wedged the pillow between his left shoulder and the mattress.
But even with the added support, Callen continued to hang on to the metal rail for dear life.
Anna placed the palm of her hand on Callen's right hip, just at the waistband of his pajamas. "Is this where you're hurting?"
Callen gave no response.
The nurse used the heel of her hand to begin massaging the muscles around Callen's hip, careful to not apply too much pressure to the area where he had received so many injections.
Callen hissed and squeezed his eyes shut.
"Sorry. You're having muscle spasms. I know it hurts, but try to take deep breaths."
It didn't take long before Callen began to gradually relax.
"That's it. You're doing good."
When G's pained expression left his features, and his breathing evened out, Deeks looked up at Anna and nodded.
Without a word, Anna took the other pillow the older nurse had been holding, and positioned it behind Callen's lower back. She carefully covered him with the sheet and blanket.
Anna looked at Deeks, and then at Kensi. She pointed to the call light and mouthed, "Call me," as if speaking aloud would break the peaceful trance her patient had finally found.
After Marty and Kensi both indicated, with a nod, that they understood, Anna and Marsha slipped out of the room.
Kensi and Deeks apparently had the same thought about interrupting G's peaceful state. They stood silently at his bedside, thankful his pain had diminished for the time being.
