Chapter 51: Over
Castor was sitting on the couch, reading something on his phone, when someone knocked on the door and stepped inside the hospital room.
Agent Castor was on his feet, within seconds, standing protectively between the unfamiliar male.
"It's okay," Olivia assured from the doorway. "This is Dr. Lee… Mr. Callen's doctor."
Castor visibly relaxed. "Sorry," he apologized, while sheepishly stepping out of the doctor's path.
The Doctor gave him an understanding nod. "That's alright. I just need to see how Mr. Callen is doing and do a quick examination."
"Should I step out?" Castor asked.
"That won't be necessary." Dr. Lee looked toward the bed and smiled. "It's not uncommon for Mr. Callen to have a roomful of people when I make rounds." With his eyes still on Callen, he continued to the bedside. "How are you feeling?"
G's eyes met the doctor's. "Okay," he replied softly.
"Are you dizzy?... Feeling light-headed?"
Callen shook his head negatively. "No."
"I got a call at the office that there was a blood pressure issue this afternoon. Can you tell me what happened?"
Callen looked down at his lap and shook his head, again.
The doctor's brow furrowed. "Did you get up too fast?"
"I don't remember," he replied, keeping his gaze lowered.
Doctor Lee exchanged glances with the nurse. "It's okay. That's not uncommon when someone loses consciousness. As long as you're feeling alright now." He released the bedrail and dropped it down. "I need to check out how your lungs are doing."
Olivia went around to the other side of the bed and assisted the doctor in lowering the blankets to Callen's hips, and then in pulling his t-shirt up.
G shuddered.
"Sorry." The doctor gave him a sympathetic wince. "We'll get you covered up in just a sec."
Callen sucked in a small breath when the cold stethoscope piece touched bare skin.
"Bear with me," the doctor said quietly. A short time later, he withdrew the stethoscope from Callen's chest and looked across at Olivia. "Was his heart rate high the last time you took vitals?"
Olivia nodded. "It's been up ever since he passed out. And his tremors have been more pronounced."
Dr. Lee stopped a moment to study his patient. "Mr. Callen. Will you hold your hands out like this, for me?" The doctor demonstrated the desired position by holding both his hands out in front of him, palms facing downward.
Callen slowly raised his shaky hands as requested.
"Okay. You can lower them… Is something causing you stress, Mr. Callen?... Are you nervous about something?"
G averted his gaze and pressed his lips together in a slight frown.
"If I may," Castor hesitantly interjected. "He might be concerned about his team. They're in the field this evening."
Callen raised his head off the pillow and peered around the doctor to where Agent Castor was standing.
After receiving a slight shrug from the young agent, Callen lowered his head to the pillow, and closed his eyes.
Doctor Lee looked across the bed and met eyes with the nurse. "Olivia. Would you make a note that I'd like a call in the morning, if his heartrate is still up?"
"Yes, sir."
Doctor Lee lowered the head of the bed. "Mr. Callen, will you to turn onto your left side for me?"
Callen opened his eyes and looked up at the doctor with uncertainty.
"I need you to turn over onto your side so I can listen to your lungs."
G immediately began maneuvering onto his left side, grimacing from the pain the movement caused.
When he reached for the opposite siderail with his casted hand, Olivia firmly grasped his shoulder. "Here Mr. Callen. Don't hurt your wrist. I've got you."
Callen lowered his hand and allowed the nurse to hold him steady in the side-lying position.
"Alright," Doctor Lee said when he was finished. He waited for his patient to be released and return to lying on his back. "Your lungs sound clear… How do those ribs feel?" He began lightly pressing on Callen's lower chest.
Without giving an answer, G closed his eyes and held his breath, managing to flinch only twice during the examination.
Dr. Lee pulled Callen's shirt down to cover his torso and then raised the siderail.
The nurse had just dragged up the multiple layers of blankets when Callen looked up at the doctor. "I want to go home."
The doctor's eyebrows shot up, surprised by his patient's sudden level of interaction. "Not just yet."
"When?"
"Let me see… This is Wednesday night… Maybe Saturday? I'd say, Friday at the earliest."
Callen let out a small huff.
"I want to give those ribs… and your hip… a couple more days to heal… and make sure you've adjusted to the medication. Among other things, the florozine lowers your blood pressure. That puts you at risk for falling."
Callen scowled and looked the doctor in the eyes. "I don't want to take that medicine anymore."
Dr. Lee tilted his head to the side for a moment, giving his patient a sympathetic look. "I know the florozine causes you to be extremely cold. I've been told that it's such a deep cold, that no amount of heat completely cancels it out. But it's crucial that you continue taking it until the Neurologists have determined that you brain has healed sufficiently."
A deeper frown line formed between G's brows. "Isn't there…" He paused to let a small, unexpected shiver pass. "… something else you can give me?"
"You may not remember, Mr. Callen, but you reacted very poorly to the first medication we had you on. You were hallucinating to the point of becoming combative, at times."
Callen blinked at the doctor once. Then with a sudden look of remorse, he averted his gaze and lowered his head.
"Our ultimate goal is to get you back to functioning at one hundred percent. And this is the best alternative to the standard medication."
After a few seconds, G relaxed some, and nodded once.
"You've come a long way," the doctor encouraged. "Hang in there. You'll be ready for discharge in two or three days."
"Excuse me, Dr. Lee," Olivia said, as she pressed the control button to elevate the head of the bed. "Last night, you said he could shower on his own in the morning. Do you want that order to remain?"
"How did he do this morning?"
"Esther assisted him. According to her notes, there weren't any issues. And he did fine, a little while ago, when he got up to go to the restroom."
"If his pressure is stable, and as long as someone is close by, I'd still like for him to try showering on his own. It'll be a good indicator of whether or not he's ready to go home."
Olivia nodded her understanding.
Doctor Lee turned his attention back to Callen. "Your discharge is also contingent on you increasing your calorie intake."
G looked up at the man for a moment. He pressed his lips together and breathed out through his nose. "I'm not hungry."
"I know," the doctor sympathized. "Unfortunately, the florozine is working against us, by suppressing your appetite. But I'd like to see you eating better before you leave here. I've asked the nurses to really encourage you to eat more at meals… and to push the protein shakes."
From where Castor stood, he was fairly certain he saw Callen turn even paler at the mention of consuming the shakes.
"I'll see you tomorrow night, Mr. Callen," Dr. Lee said before leaving.
Nurse Olivia began tucking the covers in around Callen's shoulders. "I'll be back in a little while." She picked up a protein drink, and spoke quietly to Agent Castor before leaving the room.
To Callen's dismay, as soon as the door had shut behind Olivia, Castor was holding the opened protein shake in front of him.
G glared at the container for a moment and then turned his head. "I don't want it."
"Your nurse said I needed to get you to drink it now. Something about being groggy after you get your medicine in a little while?"
"Don't want that either," Callen murmured.
"I'm just the messenger," the brunette said, still holding out the drink.
G looked up at Castor, a worry line forming on his forehead. "Have you heard from Sam?"
"Not yet… Do you need a straw?"
Callen didn't respond, seemingly now lost in his thoughts.
"I'll get you a straw, anyway." Castor searched the room, finally finding the straw supply in the table drawer next to the bed. He removed the paper, dropped it into the drink, and resumed holding the container in front of Callen.
G unenthusiastically took the shake and began slowly sipping on it.
Twenty minutes later, Castor rose from the couch, and pulled his buzzing cellphone from his pocket. "Castor," he said when he had answered. "Yeah, he's awake… Sure." He walked to the bed and regarded the restless agent for a moment. "It's for you."
G reached for the phone with a trembling hand.
"I'll hold it," Castor said, positioning the phone close to Callen's ear. "Agent Blye, you're on speaker. Go ahead."
"Callen?... We got 'em." she said excitedly. "Zamora's in custody."
Callen tensed. "The team?"
"We're all good. Everyone's okay."
G breathed out. A look of relief washed over him as moisture gathered in his eyes.
"Callen? Are you still there?"
"Yeah," he answered, breathlessly.
"We're wrapping it up here, and then we have to go up to the office to file our reports. As soon as we're done, we'll be back up to the hospital." Kensi paused for a moment. "I've gotta go… Sam said to tell you we'd fill you in when we see you."
"k."
Castor ended the call and pocketed his phone. "So, they got their suspect. That's good news."
G gave a faint nod, closed his eyes, and let the back of his head sink deeper into the pillow. "It's over," he whispered.
