Chapter 276

Alex sat next to Kate's bed in the isolation room next to Tegan and Sara's and held her hand. He was wearing full touch precaution. A gown, gloves and a mask. Kate looked like death warmed up. The dialysis machine was swooshing next to her. More IV and monitoring lines were inserted in her neck and arms. Bags of fluid and blood dripped into the lines and computerised pumps controlled the rate of infusion. Alex looked at her legs, propped up on pillows and had inflation devices around them. Covered only in an undone hospital gown to keep her temp down Kate looked vulnerable and exposed. Sax walked in looking haunted.

"Her pressure is low but it's holding. 80 over 65. She's febrile, 102.1. Peep pressure is up, I've adjusted the vent. She's still tachy, pulse at 124. O2 stats are holding on but it's only 93% on 100% oxygen. We have another 10 minutes of this round of dialysis. She's starting to make urine again" said a resident.

"Thank you, let's have a listen" said Sax. She proceeded to check Kate's heart and lungs before lifting the dressings and inspecting the surgical incisions.

"Let's do an ultrasound of the liver please, see if she's clotting better now"

Alex hadn't slept or eaten in days and he looked pale and exhausted.

"Alex, why don't you go get some rest. I'll stay with her" said Sax.

Alex shook his head fast. "No… no"

"Okay… try and get some rest in the recliner" Sax sighed.

"Please don't let her die… She's my little sister… please Sax" Alex begged, his eyes red with tears.

Sax crouched down next to Alex and put her hand on his knee.

"She's fighting very hard Alex, and we're not giving up on her. We're doing everything we can. Kate's a fighter if I've ever seen one. Making it into the hospital alive proved that. Just stay positive" said Sax.

"My parents went to the chapel for some peace and quiet. Kate's faith is so strong. I think she has a special relationship with God. My granmother always said that Kate was God's favourite. Why does God let something like this happen to somebody that loves him? I just can't…" said Alex and put his face in his hands.

"I'm no expert Alex… but I think that God very much held her in his hands in that plane… and I think he's holding her right now too" said Sax with her hand on Alex's back.

-0-

Kate was hanging on, barely, but she was alive. In the morning, Sax came into Tegan and Sara's room. They were still out of it.

"How is Kate?" asked Sonia.

"She's hanging in there. She's still critical but she made it through the night and that's a good sign" said Sax.

Sonia nodded looking troubled.

"I believe our other two patients had a good night. All stable" said Sax listening to Tegan's chest.

"Yeah… looks like it. Dr Smith was just here" said an emotional Lindsey.

Tegan opened her eyes slowly.

"Morning" Sax smiled sadly.

"Hey" Tegan grunted under the oxygen mask.

"How are you feeling?" asked Sax.

"Like shit… how's Kate and Sara?" said Tegan, weakly pushing away the oxygen mask

"Sara's doing well. She's asleep. She's stable. Kate's hanging in there" is all Sax shared.

"She going to be okay?"

"We're doing everything we can for her"

"Don't give me that shit" said Tegan out of breath and tried to move her uninjured arm but the soft restraint around her wrist prevented her.

"Seriously?" she muttered looking down at the restraints.

"Tegan!" said Sonia in a warning tone.

"We'll remove the restraints when you're awake but you may yank out your tubes when you're out of it" said Sax.

"Just tell me what's going on with Kate" said Tegan.

"Honest truth Tegan? I don't know if she's going to be okay. We're fighting very hard for her. Her condition is really critical. She's fighting too and she made it through the night and that's good news" said Sax.

"She's not going to die… she's not, I know it. She's strong… she'll make it" said Tegan looking Sax defiantly in the eye.

"Tegan, she's fighting but she really is very sick and…" said Sax before being cut off.

"She'll make it" said Tegan as loud as she could sounding agitated.

"She's fighting. We're all hoping and praying for the best Tegan" said Sonia stroking Tegan's hair.

"Thanks… for being honest at least" said Tegan and looked away dejected. She started crying.

"How about we make this morning a bit better and take that feeding tube out of your nose? I think it's time you started eating. We'll keep you on the IV nutrients of course but it's time we lose this bad boy. We'll take out Sara's too when she wakes up" said Sax.

"Yes, do it please! This thing is super uncomfortable, and then maybe you can take off the restraints knowing I won't yank it out" said Tegan. She still sounded weak and out of breath but it was clear that she was improving in leaps and bounds every day.

"Deal" Sax smiled.

A few minutes later a nurse was pulling out the NG tube and it made Tegan feel like gagging. She gave a few weak coughs and eagerly blew her nose with the help of a nurse.

"There we go… good job" said Sax and put a nasal oxygen cannula in Tegan's nose.

"Nancy here will make sure you get some breakfast in you. You're on a liquid diet for now" said Sax.

"Oh yum… hospital mush and Ensure" said Tegan rolling her eyes. "Do I have a… you know… the…." said Tegan before lowering her voice and leaning closer to Sax. "a… poop tube?" said Tegan sounding embarrassed.

Sax grinned. "I'm sorry but yeah… you have a poop tube… and a pee tube" said Sax.

"Fuck" Tegan grunted. "I hate the poop tube" said Tegan referring to the rectal catheter collecting… well, her poop.

"We'll try and get rid of it in a couple of days okay. Right now you're still extremely weak and your knee's not going to let you go anywhere on your own yet, especially since you have this massive cast that will probably throw you off balance as it is. It's that or a bed pan and soiled sheets so… Just try and forget about it. The physical therapist will probably try and get you out of bed today. Maybe test out the knee with a few steps and a few minutes in the chair. Meanwhile, they'll come and take some x-rays soon so we can see how those lungs are doing. The orthopaedic surgeon and the neurologist will be here in the next hour or two to evaluate your arm" said Sax.

"It feels kind of numb… is that going to go away?" said Tegan.

"They'll check it out for you and advise on further treatment" said Sax.

"I want to see Kate please, where is she? Why isn't she in her bed?" asked Tegan, not even caring about her arm anymore.

"How did you know she's not in her bed?" asked Sonia surprised.

"I hear only two sets of heart monitors… I think. And I don't hear a ventilator. You said she's critical… that means ventilator… I don't know… Where is she?"

"Kate's right next door in the isolation room" said Sax.

"You better not be fucking with me" said Tegan.

"I'm not Tegan… I wouldn't dare" said Sax. Sonia opened up the blinds separating the two rooms. Tegan glanced over and saw Kate on a bed on the other side of the glass, surrounded by machines and IVs.

"Oh Kate… dear Kate" she whispered and turned her head away.

"I don't know… if Sara… would want to see her… but I think she should… I think it would be of great comfort to Kate" said Tegan.

"I know… let's see if she's up to it. I don't want to push her" said Sonia.

"Yeah… can I see her? Can I see her now?" asked Tegan.

"Why don't you get some rest and we'll let you see her when you wake up again" said Sax.

"No, I want to see her now" said Tegan. She still sounded extremely weak.

"Just take it easy Tegan, you're still very weak" said Lindsey trying to calm her down.

"Why can't I see her? What are you hiding from me?"

Sax sighed. "Okay… you can see her. I'll get the nurses to help you into a chair"

"Can't you just push the bed over there?" asked Lindsey.

"No, she wants to see her she goes into the chair. There's not a lot of space in that room"

"I'm good to go… let's go" said Tegan.

"By the way. There's some investigators that want to talk to you about what happened. I sent them away, said they could come back in a couple of days"

"Thank you" said Tegan and swallowed hard.