The Gift
Chapter 22
By the time they arrived at the hospital, Kaitlyn was already in surgery to repair the aortic tear, along with numerous other internal injuries. There was a head injury, but so far; they had been able to keep the swelling to a minimum.
Years before, Kaitlyn had listed Andrea as her next-of-kin, so Mike had no real say in her care, but Andrea discussed everything with him before making a decision. Kara had shown up and took Molly and Eli home with her so that Mike and Andrea could concentrate on Kaitlyn.
Finally, late into the evening; Mike and Andrea were let into Kaitlyn's hospital room. She looked so small and weak, surrounded by medical equipment. She was in and out of consciousness, having been sedated due to the pain. Mike bent down next to her hospital bed and kissed her forehead.
"Oh, baby girl. I'm so, so sorry. So sorry I made you feel like I didn't want you or need you. You gotta fight, baby. It hurts, but you have to fight." Mike begged. Andrea surveyed Kaitlyn and knew; they were in for a long fight. Torn aorta, bad concussion that they were waiting to see caused swelling, punctured lung, several broken ribs, bruised kidney, lacerated liver, ruptured spleen, along with a fractured wrist, shattered hipbone, a broken ankle and a femur that had been snapped like a twig. There were going to be more surgeries and Kaitlyn was not out of the woods. They might still lose her and Mike would be destroyed. He had already lost two kids, two wives and many years with his oldest daughter.
Kaitlyn slept the rest of the night, and by morning her vitals were improving to the point of having the next surgery on her femur and shattered hip bone. They would also be pinning her ankle bone and working on damage to her collarbone and shoulder caused by the seatbelt. It was a long surgery and Mike was starting to show the exhaustion and concern when they were brought back into Kaitlyn's hospital room. She was awake but heavily medicated.
"Daddy; you're here?" Kaitlyn asked weakly. Mike took her uninjured hand in his own and kissed it.
"Of course; sweetie. Do you need anything?" Mike asked.
"So thirsty." Kaitlyn said. The nurse nodded at Andrea and Mike carefully helped Kaitlyn take a drink.
"Better?" Mike asked.
"Yeah. Hurt." Kaitlyn moaned.
"I'm upping your morphine drip. You are bound to be in some pain though." The nurse told Kaitlyn gently.
"I don't want her in any pain at all." Mike insisted and Andrea rubbed his arm reassuringly.
"Its okay, Daddy. I am a little hungry. Can I eat?" Kaitlyn asked the nurse.
"Yes, soft things though. It's a good sign. She might need some help since her right wrist and left shoulder is broken?" The nurse mentioned and Mike nodded.
"We can handle that." Mike said as he tucked Kaitlyn's hair behind her ear.
"Why don't I go downstairs and get Ally some soup, along with some sandwiches and coffee for us, Mike?" Andrea suggested, using Kaitlyn's assumed name, since it was what the hospital had on file for her.
"Yeah, that sounds good." Mike answered. He had sit down next to Kaitlyn and was rubbing her arm.
"Alright, any special requests for soup; Kaitlyn?" Andrea asked. The nurse had left the room and Andrea knew Mike got frustrated at Kaitlyn being called Ally.
"Maybe potato or chicken noddle?" Kaitlyn asked and Andrea gave her a kiss on the cheek.
"You bet." Andrea told her. She also reached down and gave Mike a kiss before walking out of the room. As she headed to the cafeteria, she called Kara to let her know that Kaitlyn was out of surgery and awake.
She would be in the hospital for a while and Andrea knew that she would have months of physical therapy ahead of her. When Andrea had been shot at Mayport, Ally had been wonderful, and Andrea would return the favor. Kaitlyn would have care from Andrea and Mike would give her the love and attention she needed.
Mike carefully spoon fed Kaitlyn her soup. He was very offput by her pain level, but she was tough and assured Andrea and Mike they could go home and take care of Molly and Eli. Mike insisted on staying with Kaitlyn, but Andrea agreed to go home. Kaitlyn had fallen asleep and Mike was restless.
"I'll bring some comfortable clothes for the both of you when I come back later. Will you be okay until then?" Andrea asked.
"Yeah, I'll be alright. Kaitlyn should be. Sorry I choose to stay. At least until her pain level is down and she's on the mend, I need to be with her." Mike said.
"I understand and would expect you to. I knew you were really heartbroken." Andrea said.
"It was the last thing I said to her. I told her that maybe it would have just been easier if she had died when her mom, brother and sister died; so we didn't have to figure all this Ally stuff out. I hope she doesn't remember that." Mike admitted.
"Oh, Mike." Andrea said as she rubbed his arm.
"I know. It makes me a terrible person. I just pray she forgets it. I told my own baby that I wished she had died from a horrific illness, and she was horrifically injured in an accident." Mike said.
"It's a coincidence. You being here will mean so much to her. Just sit tight and be here when she needs you." Andrea said before giving Mike a kiss on the lips. She had stood up and for a moment, he just put his face into her stomach and rested. Andrea patted his back and just let him be, because she knew, he was really torn up. She would get him and Kaitlyn through what they needed to go through so they could heal.