For uniwolfcorn who asked for Sicktember day 6: Nebuliser and Gordon. Warnings for mentions of blood and off-screen MCD
Penny held his hand. That never got old, and he squeezed back gently as another coughing fit seized him. Gordon knew she'd be talking to him, but at the moment it was all he could do to struggle to breathe.
She prepped the nebuliser for him, transporting him back to when he was a child and John would do the same for Virgil. Just as back then, he needed to have some modicum of control before he could use it.
'You're getting worse, dear.' His eyes crinkled as he tried to smile at her while breathing in and holding for a count of ten. Penny wasn't wrong, but the idea that he needed to see the doc again filled him with dread.
'When Samuel returns home I'll get him to run us up to the surgery.' Any grumbles Gordon may have had were lost in his second dose of medication. He swiftly put the handkerchief into his dressing gown pocket, but he knew he wasn't fooling his wife, not if that elegantly arched eyebrow was anything to go by.
'Ok, Pen. But don't let anyone know just yet, let them concentrate on the rescue.' She nodded and kissed him, leaving to make the necessary phone calls. Once she left the room Gordon pulled the hanky out and looked at it.
Just as he suspected, there was blood in among the mucus. He sighed.
Being side-lined from rescues due to an unremitting cough had been…frustrating at best. Knowing that their son Samuel – Sam – was trained enough to be primary pilot of Four now was only a small comfort. He missed her. And now he was worried he'd never be able to pilot her again.
'The only constants in life are death, taxes and that everything changes.' Grandma had been so fond of saying that to him and his brothers as they grew. How right she was. He could see her so clearly, one hand on hips and the other wagging a finger in warning. He missed her.
International Rescue was now commanded between Scott and John. It would be Scott's 51st birthday this next one while John was now 50. Virgil and Kayo were both 49, with four children between 18-21. They still flew their respective 'birds, although Virgil's eldest two were now co-pilots on One and Two. Alan was the same as ever, he'd be 42 the month after Gordon. Like the eldest two brothers, he was still single. And at the good age of 75 their Dad was still running TI full time.
He'd be 45 in a month. Too young to have a lung condition. Too young to be coughing up blood. Penny was right. Despite his fears, it was time to face facts. He needed to see a specialist.
Penny had not hung about. By the time the rescue was over and Samuel was back home she'd managed to get an appointment later that same afternoon with a specialist respiratory consultant.
Sam flew them straight over. The consultation was thorough, with lots of tests. Blood tests, breathing tests, a bronchoscopy. And talking. Lots of talking. With tea in china cups, which just made everything feel so surreal.
Bronchiectasis. He couldn't even pronounce it. Gordon sat there, dazed, as the doc and Penny discussed treatments. It was an irreversible damage to his lungs, but thankfully he was very fit and quite young (quite young? He should have bristled at that.)
Gordon came back into the conversation when the word surgery was mentioned. At this precise moment, the inflammation in his lung was quite bad, hence the blood in the mucus. The doc was suggesting the removal of one lobe, since his inflammation was localised to only one lung and he didn't seem to have an underlying condition that would cause the bronchiectasis to return.
He said no. Missing part of a lung would definitely stop him ever diving again. That was not an acceptable solution.
Strong antibiotics and steroids were prescribed and a follow-up appointment made for a month's time. They left, but Gordon could feel that the consultant was not happy with his answer, and he knew that there were going to be difficult conversations ahead.
When they got back to the island everyone was there waiting, and it took all of Gordon's self-control not to break down.
Whatever he – they – decided, the family would be behind him every step of the way.