So sorry it's been so long. I had issues with the autism and bipolar flaring up, than the physical/pain issues, than it went back and forth.
While waiting for the ambulance that held Johnny as a patient, Kel paced near the entrance. Although all hospitals were on standby and all personnel were called in, he ensured that Johnny would be received at Rampart.
Not that there is much of a problem there, Kel thought bitterly. Most of the patients are either firefighters and can wait, are too far gone, need to be taken directly to the burn ward, or have died on the way to the hospital. And unfortunately, many of those that are so critical are civilians, not that any of us in the area hospitals have seen a lot of them from what I have gathered. It seems odd to pray for any live patient, no matter the condition. Usually, we are praying for live patients in decent health. I guess with so many fires ablaze, our perception changes.
Seeing the ambulance roll up, Kel grabbed the door, anxious to see how Johnny was fairing.
Noticing the doctor, Roy gathered the supplies and started lifting the stretcher as he reported, "Blood pressure is now 95/70, pulse 70, respirations about 35. His pupils are still unequal and he is starting to respond to voice now, but is not completely coherent."
Nodding, Kel helped steer the gurney into the exam room, "How did this happen?"
"We think someone threw a bomb at him and he was either able to duck and cover or throw it far enough away before it did damage to him."
Looking sharply up at Roy, Kel's eyes were wide. Nodding grimly, Roy hung up the IV bag and attached the portable heart monitor to the exam room monitor.
Sigh inwardly, grateful on one hand that this wasn't something Johnny had done deliberately, but greatly disturbed by the lengths the arsonists were going to in order to continue their reign of terror, Kel went back to his exam.
"Can you grab his vitals again, we're a bit shorthanded."
Reaching for the blood pressure cup while Kel looked into Johnny's left ear, Roy noticed he was trying to wake up.
"Johnny, can you hear me?" Roy asked, leaning close to his face.
A groan was all that was heard.
"Can you tell me your name?" Kel asked, motioning Roy back.
Taking several shallow breaths under the mask, Johnny sounded breathless as he answered, "Jjj…oohhh…johhhnn."
"Good," Kel smiled slightly at him. "Can you tell me where it hurts?"
"Allll oo…vve…rr," he panted, trying to move to relieve the pain.
"I'm sure," Roy muttered, which caused John to squint at him.
Seeing this, Kel waved Roy forward and asked if he could help get a better answer while he figured out where the x-ray was right then.
"Can you tell me what hurts most?" Roy asked patiently.
"Aaarm," Johnny panted out. "Ribbbs, breaaathhing."
"It hurts to breathe?" Roy wanted to make sure he understood.
When nodding failed him, Johnny hissed out a yes.
"Dr. Brackett will be right back, but everything should be fine," Roy assured him. "You just took a pretty big hit back at the fire."
Blinking his eyes, John tried staying awake, but despite Roy's best efforts, the pain was too great and soon unconsciousness took him again.