Chapter 219

Apparently it was a quiet night for the trauma and emergency surgery teams because Kate was the only patient in the recovery room.

Sara sat down next to her and took Kate's warm hand in hers. Kate was paler than she'd ever seen her. Tegan sat down on the other side of the bed, she looked exhausted and nervous.

"Hey baby… I'm right here okay… you're okay, everything's going to be alright" said Sara and kissed Kate's healthy hand that was now decorated with a finger pulse ox meter and an IV line.

Sara looked up at the monitors. Kate's pulse was a steady 82, higher than normal but nowhere near what it had been earlier that evening. Her BP looked stable at 105 over 70. Her sats were normal, 98 but she was still on oxygen.

Sara just sat holding her hand for a few minutes. Kate groaned softly, her eyes still closed. She moved her head and her eyes fluttered open. She seemed groggy and blinked slowly a few times.

"Hey sweetie… hey my love. You're okay… everything's going to be okay. I love you" said Sara softly stroking Kate's cheek. Kate weakly pushed the oxygen mask away.

"What happened?" mumbled Kate.

"Your appendix ruptured. You were in surgery for a couple of hours. Saxon said it all went well, you're going to be okay. You just take it easy now" said Sara.

"It hurts" whimpered Kate.

"I know sweetie… I know" said Sara and kissed Kate's hand.

"Hmmm that's better" breathed Kate smiling weakly.

"She's just looking to score a snog!" joked Tegan.

"Heeey Tee" said Kate groggily and turning her head.

"Hey you... You scared the fucking shit out of us you know. But don't worry... you're okay now, we love you tough guy" said Tegan.

"Sorry" whispered Kate.

The anesthesiologist came in to check on Kate. He did a quick neuro check and checked her vitals.

"Water… please?" croaked Kate.

"Only ice chips for now Dr Morgan. Sorry, I know the ET tube can leave you scratchy and dry" smiled the nurse and put a few into Kate's mouth.

"I'm so cold" whispered Kate.

The nurse checked Kate's temperature.

"Well, your fever is practically gone so we can get you nice and cozy" said the nurse and tucked Kate under another blanket.

"I love you, I'm sorry about this" mumbled Kate.

"Nothing to be sorry about… just get some rest now okay… I'll be here when you wake up" said Sara.

A few seconds later Kate was out again.

Saxon walked into the room a few minutes later looking at Kate's chart.

"I believe I missed her lucid moment" smiled Sax.

Sara nodded. "According to the anesthesiologist she's doing just fine. I'm going to have her moved to ICU now. Why don't you guys go back to your hotel to get some rest. It's 3.45 in the morning!" said Sax.

"No way… I'm not going anywhere" said Sara holding Kate's hand tighter.

"I'll take good care of her Sara" smiled Sax.

"No… I'm staying. Tegan, go home" said Sara.

"I'm going to stay for a few more hours. Until I've had a conversation that lasts more than 2 minutes with her, then I'll go get some rest" said Tegan.

"As you wish. Kate's lucky to have you" smiled Sax.

"We're the lucky ones" said Sara.

"Why don't you go grab a coffee in the waiting room. I'll come get you as soon as we have her settled in" said Sax.

"Okay… Dr Sinclair… Thank you so, so much" said Sara sincerely after grabbing Sax's hand.

"You're welcome Sara. Call me Sax"

"Tee… I'm sorry but we're going to have to cancel or postpone tomo… I mean today's interviews. Maybe even tomorrow's. I can't… I have to stay with her. Unless you want to do them alone" said Sara as they waited for Sax to call them into ICU.

"That's fine Sar. I'll speak to Tom. We've got tomorrow off remember. Anyway, an emergency is an emergency" said Tegan.

"Hopefully she'll be out of here sooner rather than later and if Alex and Erin are flying in they can take care of her" said Sara.

Tegan smiled and nodded.

"Are you at least going to try and get some sleep" said Sara.

"Are you?" shrugged Tegan.

"How was your date?" asked Sara and smiled. The worst of the stress slowly leaving her body.

"It was awesome… So great. It was so nice to just have some time with Linds… just the two of us, she's amazing" smiled Tegan.

"I'm glad to hear you had fun" said Sara.

"Loads of it" said Tegan and winked.

"No no…. TMI Tegan" said Sara mock disgusted.

"We should take turns babysitting sometimes so we can all have more date nights" said Tegan purposefully trying to distract Sara.

"Yeah, sounds good" said Sara. She got up and paced around again.

"Why are they taking so long?" she said.

"It's the middle of the night Sar. They're probably short staffed. Or maybe Sax got paged for a trauma and forgot to tell the nurse to come get us" said Tegan.

"I'm going to check…. Can't stand not being next to her" said Sara.

Sara paced around nervously outside Kate's room. She rolled her head around, reminded yet again how much she hated hospitals.

"Sara, you can go in. She's still snoozing. She loves sleeping that one, doesn't get much of it but when she does I've never seen anybody sleep like her" laughed Saxon. Her laugh easing Sara's fragile nerves a bit.

Sara rushed into the room but as soon as the door opened Tegan remained frozen in one spot. She closed her eyes and everything just came rushing back to her. The ICU in LA... the pain, the fear. The memory of her own illness caused her breathing to speed up and her head started to spin. She felt as if she was going to go down any second and held onto the wall for support.

"Tegan? Are you okay?" asked Sax with her hand on Tegan's forearm.

"Um... I'm sorry" whispered Tegan.

"It's okay just sit down for a minute" said Sax kindly and led Tegan to a chair at the nurses station a few feet away.

"Deep breaths... you're okay" said Sax gently taking Tegan's wrist in her hand to feel her pulse. Fast but strong.

"There we go... deep breaths" said Sax.

Tegan blinked hard and pulled out her inhaler. She inhaled two deep puffs.

"I'm sorry... I'm okay. Just give me a minute" said Tegan.

"You sure?" asked Sax.

"I think so" said Tegan putting her head in her hands, elbows resting on her knees. She was shaking.

"Tegan... I know you had a very traumatic experience yourself. Hey... look at me" said Sax kindly. Tegan straightened her back and look at the striking surgeon.

"It's okay... you're okay. You're safe. You're doing great. You don't need to be scared. We're going to take good care of Kate" said Sax.

Tegan nodded as she felt the anxiety slowly leave her body. She thought about a pain pill for the first time since her detox but swiftly pushed the thought away.

Sax silently led Tegan back into the room. Sara sat next to her love and kissed her hand. "I've asked the nurse to bring the two of you some blankets. Get some sleep it you can" smiled Sax.

"Thank you, we'll try" said Sara.

Tegan softly ran her fingers through her friend's hair before plonking down in a recliner next to the bed. She threw her head back and Sara put her head on her arms on Kate's bed. A nurse dimmed the lights. Neither of them could sleep. The monotonous beeping of the heart monitor too familiar. Tegan closed her eyes and tried some of the relaxation exercises Violet taught her. It helped, for the moment and Tegan slowly fell into a troubled sleep.

-o-

Kate woke up feeling groggy and sore. She saw Tegan snoozing in the recliner next to her bed. She turned her head and saw Sara sleeping with her hand in hers. She didn't want to wake her but Sara looked super uncomfortable sleeping in a seated position with her head on her arm. She tried to reposition herself to get more comfortable. Sara's head snapped up.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you" said Kate softly.

"That's okay… hey sweetie, how are you feeling?" said Sara kissing Kate's hand.

"I'm okay… much better than last night" said Kate laughing weakly.

"You scared me… I'm so happy you're okay" said Sara holding Kate's hand to her cheek.

"I'm sorry sweetie… I should have listened to you and came here earlier. I don't know how the fuck I miss diagnosed myself" said Kate shaking her head.

"Don't do this sweetie… Saxon said it wasn't a typical case" said Sara.

"I still… sorry" said Kate.

"Just happy you're okay" said Sara again.

Tegan moved around moaning. "No... no more... hospitals... no" she mumbled and gasped as her eyes flew open.

"Tegan it's okay" said Sara standing up. "Just a dream sis"

"Sorry" said Tegan looking embarrassed.

"Morning Tegan" said Kate weakly.

"Hey bud... how are you feeling?" said Tegan getting up. She put her shaky hand softly on Kate's shoulder.

"Better... thanks" said Kate.

"Good morning" said Saxon walking into the room a few minutes later.

"Well if it isn't the famous Dr Sinclair, Morning" said Kate.

"Well you sure kept me busy last night Morgan, looks like California's making you soft" said Sax with her hands in her sides.

"Come here" said Kate and hugged Sax as she bent over her.

"You know I don't like hugs" blushed Sax.

"I don't care… I do… Thanks for everything Sax" said Kate.

"You got it. How are you feeling" winked Sax.

"Sore… what the heck did you do in there? You could've been a bit more gentle you know" joked Kate. "Seriously though… I feel okay. Bit shaken up and weak but good" said Kate.

"I'm sure you are a bit shaken up. It's not easy waking up in ICU, no matter how familiar you are with the place" said Saxon.

"Tell me about it" mumbled Tegan softly enough that nobody heard.

"So… tell me aaaall about it. Give me all the gory details" said Kate leaning back against the pillows, she still looked pale.

"Looked like a bomb exploded in there" said Sax.

"Or an appendix" said Kate dryly.

"Well… you know I'm a clean freak so I made sure we washed you out reeeally well. I think I used about 6 units of saline in there" laughed Sax.

"Do I have pretty bowels?" joked Kate.

"Lovely, when they're not covered in puss" said Sax.

"I think I'm gonna be sick" said Sara.

"Sorry, we sometimes get carried away" said Kate laughing. She clutched her stomach.

"Ahhh" she moaned.

"Take it easy" said Sax.

"Don't make me laugh" said Kate gritting her teeth.

"Anyway, let me check you over" said Sax.

"It's not time for rounds?" said Kate.

"It's not rounds" said Sax.

"Wow… you're telling me I have the Chief of Surgery personally taking care of me?" joked Kate.

"Yes… lucky you. I'm not going to let some resident fuck up with my favourite ex trauma fellow. You're way too valuable" said Sax dryly putting her stethoscope on Kate's chest.

"Well, your pressure's good. Temps okay, slightly high but I'm sure it's just post op. Nurse took bloods earlier and the white cell count is definitely dropping fast. Lungs sound clear. Pulse is back to a more normal range and your rhythm's normal" said Sax a few minutes later.

"Awesome, move me out of ICU then for fuck sakes. You know as well as I do I don't need to be taking up a bed in here" said Kate.

"Yeah, maybe later. We've got room. Remember, a normal post-op ward means no overnight visits. In fact, it means no visits outside visiting hours. No exceptions" said Sax.

"Oh in that case, I don't feel so well keep me here" joked Kate.

"Look… you're still pretty pale and you look super tired. Just take it easy, you'll get out of here soon enough"

Sax looked down at Kate's hand.

"So I hear you were playing the hero again Morgan… guess you miss work or something" said Sax and picked up Kate's hand.

Kate shrugged. Sax frowned examining Kate's fingers.

"Your fingers are swollen and they feel a bit cold… I don't like this" said Sax.

"Just a bit of fluid retention… what with all the shit you're pumping into me it needs to go somewhere" said Kate motioning to the IV stand.

"I don't know… your urine output is more than adequate.

"Sax, it's nothing" said Kate.

"Kate… these hands are way to valuable to fuck with" said Sax.

"Oh problem because I…." joked Kate. Everyone blushed, including Kate herself.

"Kate… seriously" said Sara shaking her head.

Sax cleared her throat. "What I meant to say was, that I'm not willing to take chances when it comes to these magic hands"

Kate sighed dramatically as Sax checked her capillary refill time on her fingers.

"Yup, healthy hand cap refill is a second. This one… 4" said Sax and moved the pulse ox meter to a finger on Kate's other hand. "Yeah look at that, pulse is slightly diminished"

"What next" sighed Kate.

"Relax. You have your breakfast. I'm going to ask ortho to have a look at this" said Sax still looking worried.

"You're overreacting" said Kate.

"Is she? Like I was overreacting last night? Dammit Kate… you're not superwoman" said Sara becoming emotional.

"I'm sorry… okay, it's fine do what you need to do" Kate said to Sax.

"Alright, then when they're done with you we can perhaps work in a game of chess. Unless you've still got operation head. It will be a good excuse for when I kick your ass" smiled Sax.

"You're on" said Kate. Chess was one of Saxon's favourite pastimes. She was pretty good but so was Kate. There used to be a healthy rivalry between the two surgeons back in the day.

"Oh and I wasn't kidding. Get some rest" said Sax halfway through the door.

-o-

The head of orthopedics, Dr Andrew Constantine gently put Kate's hand back down on the pillow after examining it.

"It's definitely more swollen than it should be. Since we have you here I think we should remove the cast, ice it, do some ultrasound therapy and hopefully, when the swelling has subsided a bit we can recast it. I'll check with Dr Sinclair and prescribe you some IV anti-inflammatories. That should sort you out soon. I'm probably going to need some more rays anyway so the cast should go for now" said Andrew.

"Not complaining about that, my arm's itching. What's causing it, the swelling?" asked Kate.

"Don't know, but this cast looks a bit too tight for me. I think blood flow is being restricted. Who cast it?" he asked.

"The ER" said Kate.

"Dr Cooper" said Tegan.

"Tegan why don't you go home and get some rest" said Kate.

Tegan looked pissed. Kate couldn't figure out if it was at her or Sam. She highly suspected the latter. Tegan shook her head and picked up her jacket.

"Okay, I'm pretty beat… call me with an update Sar. Don't worry about Amelia, we'll take good care of her. And you… feel better. Take it easy. I'll be back this afternoon. Maybe we can bring Amelia for a visit once you're in a normal room" said Tegan and kissed Kate's cheek.

"I'd like that. Bye Tee... thank for taking care of me last night. You were awesome" smiled Kate.

"It was nothing" mumbled Tegan and waved goodbye.

She headed down the elevator and started walking towards the main entrance when she heard her name.

"Tegan! Wait up" said Sam.

Tegan stopped and turned slowly. Her face the picture of fury.

"How's Kate?" asked Sam.

"She's going to be fine... No thanks to you" said Tegan crossing her arms.

"Sorry... what?" said Sam confused.

"Kate came in here with plenty of symptoms the other night... you should have been more thorough. She could have died you know... but you were too keen to get rid of her" snapped Tegan.

"Tegan I'm sorry... I did all the tests I should have" said Sam looking confused.

"Really... oh and by the way, looks as if you fucked up her wrist and her hand too. The head of ortho is up there right now trying to fix your mess" said Tegan.

"Oh god... why... what's wrong?" asked Sam suddenly white as a sheet.

"Talk to Dr Sinclair. You know, the real doctor? She's looking to have a word with you. I'm done here" said Tegan and started walking.

A/N: Did Sam screw up or is Tegan jumping to conclusions and being unfair?

Three chapters in one day! That deserves a couple of reviews no?