Chapter 3
It was early and as Kay's phone kept buzzing, it slowly woke her up. She could see that she had received multiple texts from Mike, but for now she put the phone in her pocket as she saw the door open.
Dr. B. came in to do a quick check on Cameron, who was still sleeping as well. He sat on the edge of the bed and nudged Cam awake. The rustling of the bed and hearing Cam's voice awoke the rest of the team. Cam looked exhausted and they decided that they would step outside to give Cameron his privacy with the doctor.
'Are you feeling better today?'
Cam shrugged, 'I dunno yet,' his eyes only half open.
'Can you sit up so I can take a listen?'
Cam pulled himself up using the side rails.
'Oh good job, but you still sound like crap.'
'I still feel like crap' Cam said, closing his eyes.
Dr. B sat with him a few minutes just seeming to study Cameron. After watching the monitors and IV dripping, adjusting the Oxygen mask a bit, he put his hand on Cameron's thigh and said, 'get some more rest, but let us know if you need anything,' and he started to leave.
The team returned and nodded to the doctor as he left, just as breakfast arrived. Cam pushed the button to turn off the light and gave himself some pain medicine and started to drift off to sleep.
Kay bent down and whispered to him to see if he would like to eat some breakfast. He nudged away from her, and shook his head to tell her, no.
With that Gunter stormed out of the room after Dr. B.
'Can I talk to you?" Gunter called out, catching the doctor's attention.
'He is terrible! He sounds terrible, just bloody awful!' 'He is skipping breakfast and seems so despondent. Can you help him?'
Since Cam was sleeping, Jordan, Dina and Kay all caught up with Gunter to hear the conversations.
'Guys, he IS sill awful. He is still sick with pneumonia. He still has a fever. The infection is still in his lungs. The only thing he has going for him is the concussion seems to be improving and stitches are healing, but I'm sure that his ribs still hurt like hell. He needs to recover for a few more days and then we can talk about next steps.'
'We have him attached to monitors to watch his breathing, heart rate and oxygen levels. Don't leave him alone, and with the monitors on, I'm sure he will be safe until then. Even when he gets up to shower, if he takes the monitors off, the staff will come running to check on him.'
'For now, just let the medicines work. He is getting breathing treatments through the oxygen mask, antibiotics, pain medicines and others to keep him comfortable. My thought is that if his body is comfortable, maybe his mind will get there too.'
The two men shook hands and the team returned to the room.
'You gonna eat? Cameron, you gotta! If you want to go home and feel better, you have got to eat!' Dina said, coaxing him to try some of the dinner.
'It looks gross!'
'What do you want? I'll order something."
'Look, why don't you all of out to dinner? I'll be fine while you are gone.'
Gunter quipped, 'What? Are you sick of us?'
Cam scoffed, 'Of course not!' You guys have been with me for days, and I just think you need a break.
Not at all! Cameron, Kay quickly replied. We are all happy to be here and help you get better.
Cam started coughing, and Kay helped him sit up further and rubbed his back until it stopped, giving him some water. ' See —how could we leave you?'
'Delivery it is!' exclaimed Dina.
He put his head back, knowing he had been defeated. 'Fine, maybe noodles, my throat is still sore,
Dr. B stopped in, 'Hey guys, How is everything going? I wanted to pop in before I head home.'
'Ya need anything?'
'To go home.'
'Clearly you can't go home tonight, but Ill be back to check on you tomorrow morning. We can probably take out the stitches soon.'
'Can I have the monitors off? I'm fine!'
'No, It's hospital policy.' 'But I do want you to start to get up, to sit in the recliner'
'That's great news, Boss" Jordan piped in!
'Just let the nurse know when you are ready. Kay can even take you for wheelchair ride if you want ."
'No, not tonight' Cam replied.
The rest of the night was spent coaxing more and more dinner into Cameron, and watching a movie.
The nurse came in to check on him and gave him his meds just before he started to dose off.
Kay and Jordan decided that they would stay with Cam, and Dina and Gunter would take a night off and head back to the Archives.
Kay grabbed the small sofa and Jordan took the recliner. The staff had made them quite at home with pillows and blankets.
Early the next morning, Dina and Gunter returned, before Cam was even awake. They brought in two duffle bags and a backpack and stashed them in the closet. The noise awoke Cameron, who let out a soft groan, and sat up in the bed a little, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.
He looks better, Dina thought to herself. She noticed that the oxygen mask had been switched out for a nasal cannula. His voice seemed stronger, and black eye seemed to be fading ever so slightly. He rubbed his hand through hair, and hissed and grimaced, as he caught the stitches.
Dina approached the bed and gave him a quick peck on the forehead and exclaimed, 'you feel much cooler. I think the fever is finally gone. How are you feeling?'
'Better, I guess.'
Kay walked over to the bed and laid her hand on his forehead, slowly allowing her hand to drift down his cheek. 'That's great news! I'm so glad you are getting better! How is your pain—your head—your chest?'
'Better, I guess'
'The nurse said that your vitals were good and I didn't hear you cough nearly as much, so maybe you are getting better and we can put this behind you.'
A tiny grin crossed Cameron's face, as he sat the bed up and rested against the pillows.
With that, breakfast arrived. Scrambled eggs, toast, coffee and oatmeal
'What would you like to try?' as Dina quickly started to fix his coffee and toast,
Cam gave her an irritated look. 'I'm not hungry," he whispered.
'Are we gonna go through this with every meal? She wagged her finger.
Cameron looked up at her with puppy dog eyes, and finally agreed to toast with jelly an iced coffee.
Dr. B came in, 'Well, I'm so glad to see that you are up and eating. You look more like the Amazing Cameron Black that I remember. Are you feeling better?'
'Ya, a bit'
He checked the monitors, and his chart, and listened to his lungs and felt along his ribs, which caused Cam to wince loudly and even gag, as if he might throw up.
'Oooh, sorry I just wanted to check.'
"Ya Ok', as he wiped the tears from his eyes, 'just warn me next time.'
'Ya think I can have these monitors off now? They are kind of starting to feel invasive…like someone is always watching me. Knowing when I wake up and fall asleep. It's kind of unnerving.'
'You do seem much better today, but I want you to talk to another doctor today. Dr. White.'
'Why? I'm getting better.'
'Cameron, she specializes in mental health'
"Oh so now I'm crazy! he shouted.
Dr. B gently laid his hand on Cameron's shoulder. 'Talking to her might help you cope with Johnathon's leaving.'
'I don't need therapy!' he huffed and turned away from Dr. B.
'Look Cam, your friends filled me in on what went down. They have also told me that you have said some things that have really worried them. We all just want to help you.'
'How can you help me? You can't fix the last 30 years of my life! You can't bring Johnny back. No one can!' he shouted.
'I spent my life believing that Johnny would always be here. We make each other whole. My thoughts were shattered when he punched me out.
'Hey Cam, you gotta calm down.' Kay said, as he started coughing and turned beet red.
Dr. B. quickly took the nasal cannula off and put the mask back on him, 'Take some slow deep breaths,— that's it.'
Kay shushed him and ran her fingers through his hair as she made eye contact with him. 'Shhhhh, just relax, close your eyes for a minute and just breathe.'
Finally the beeping monitors slowed, and his color returned to his normal self.
He opened his eyes and Dr. B removed the mask, returning the cannula to his face.
'I'm not thrilled to talk to her,' Cam whispered.
'I know, but I want to come see the 'Amazing Cameron Black', and I don't think you will get there alone. Think about it,' said Dr. B.
'In the meantime, you can be without the oxygen while you are in bed. Put it on when you are up. I want you up today, eating and drinking and maybe by lunch we can unhook the IV and only reattach it for medicines.'
Kay and Dina hugged each other at the news. 'That's so good Cam. I'm so happy!' Dina exclaimed.
'Now, lets take the stitches out.'
Suddenly, Cam had a frighted look on his face.
'Use the pain medicine button and by the time I am ready, you will hardly feel a thing.'
'Okie Dokie here we go" said Dr. B and Dina held his hand.
"There, all looks good. Take a nap 'till the nurse unhooks the IV, and then you can shower.'
'Monitors?' he questioned.
'Not yet, one step at a time.' now get some rest.
Cam nodded and closed his eyes.
'Finally a break', thought Kay. She pulled out her phone and scanned her new notifications.
She had multiple texts from Mike.
'How is everything?"
'Hay Kay—how is Cameron?'
'I heard from Dina he is in the hospital—do you need anything—keep me posted."
Kay- Do you need anything?'
'Hey sorry to bother u—thought u would want to know—we got a warrant to search MW's place. On our way there.'
'Here now—Boy could we use our Master of Deception or even our twin Master of Deception to help wth this one. Text u if anything comes up.'
'Marshal's code crackers working on map. They think they might have figured out a piece of it and are working toward finding Johnathon.'
'Me and Diekens hope we find him before they do.'
'C —she does have a soft spot for the Masters of Deception.'
Cameron was awoke by the RN unhooking the IV. 'Hi, he whispered, 'Dr. B said the monitors could come off too.'
She replied, 'In your dreams. He told me you would try to trick me.'
Cam smiled, 'You can't blame a guy for trying.'
She checked that all of the monitors were still attached correctly, took his vital signs and watched as he drank some Ginger Ale. She recorded everything on her tablet, while waiting to see that the soda stayed down.
'How is your pain?'
'It's ok'
"Now that the IV is out, you will need to ask for medicine if you need some.' He nodded.
Dina quickly approached him, 'You look like a new person…a new person who needs a shower and a shave!' exclaimed Dina.
He felt his scruff."Ya.'
'Everything you need is in the bathroom. Can you manage, or do you need help?' the nurse asked, but before he could even answer, she let the side rail down and helped him to slowly sit at the side of the bed.
'OOoooh, I'm dizzy ' he squeaked out, digging his fingers into the mattress. Immediately the team surrounded him for support.
'Are you gonna throw up? Kay instinctively asked.
'No, just a little dizzy. Not as bad as at the Archives. Just give me a minute.'
'We can do that.' Gunter said.
After a few moments he nodded at the nurse, Violet, who helped him up and guided him to the shower chair and left him to shower, explaining that the monitors were waterproof.
He emerged with his hair still wet. 'Ta-Dah'
'Well what a fine looking Cameron Black you are'" Gunter had brought him a black long sleeved t shirt and black joggers to wear. 'You look 1000 times better!"
Cam climbed back into bed, just as lunch was served. "Really, I'm not hungry. Maybe it's the antibiotics and other drugs or maybe it's... I dunno, but I'm not hungry. I had toast'..he said looking around sheepishly.
Kay handed him the ice cream, 'Here try this. You always have room for ice cream."
'Ok' and after a few bites he said, 'well my throat does feeds better today.'
'Wonderful news, Darling,' exclaimed Dina exclaimed, who was slightly distracted as she checked her phone and walked out of the room into the hallway. There she found Dr. B.
"Everything is all set.' he said.
'Great, I have everything he'll need. I'll go there to meet you. You guys get him in the wheelchair. I've already told Violet to come help and to get the Oxygen situated.
