Hello everyone! I hope you're up for a new chapter haha

I think you will like it. I wanted to thank you for the reviews you let (my 45th for this story!) and I'm glad because my english is improving every day!

Enjoy this new chapter !


CHAPTER 10: SMV

Matt woke up again with this damn breathing tube in his throat. Deep down, he knew it was here for a good reason, but everything was a blurr in his head. He tried to open his eyes for the umpteenth time, fighting to not close them because of the sunlight. Well, from what he could see. His sister Christie and Kelly were here near him, asleep or battling strongly against this sleepy. He turned his head to see better, but it didn't help at all. He was even more dazzled than before, and he heard himself make a sound, resuming his former position, which fully awoke Kelly.

"Hey..."

He feigned a smile while blinking and frowning, wanting to make him understand that this light that was arriving on him was bothering him.

"It's the light, isn't it?"

He didn't have time to nod, Kelly stood up discreetly to turn off the light and close the blinds. Matt's face relaxed almost immediately.

"Better uh?"

Kelly siad this ironically, he knew it was better for Matt. He tried to whisper to not wake Christie, but it was too late: this change of light in the room and the fact she couldn't feel the sun's heat anymore made her come out of her dreams. Opening her eyes, she saw for the first time her little brother awake. She didn't have words, but her relief was really high, and this made her cry. She didn't see it, but Matt was crying too.

"Matt? It hurts?" Kelly asked.

Matt closed his eyes, letting the tears streaming down his cheeks, and Kelly didn't understand why. Christie had reacted to the question by opening her eyes again and wiping the tears of her little brother.

"Matt, don't cry... I don't like when you're crying".

He didn't answer the question, and Kelly didn't know what to do. Should he call the doctor, the nurse, or nothing? Doubting and wanting to do the right thing, he pushed the nurse button so Emily could come. In thirty seconds she was here, ready to turn the light on;

"No, stop", Kelly explained, interrumpting Emily. "The light is making him dizzy".

The nurse nodded, explaining that after a brain surgery, photosensitivity could occur.

"There is a problem?"

"Well, I don't know, and I want to be sure. He... Look by yourself".

He pointed Matt, and Emily followed his finger. She saw that Matt was crying despite the fact that Christie was wiping them. She approached and made sure that Matt opened his eyes.

"You hurt?"

But Matt didn't respond, he seemed totally lost. He plunged his gaze in the nurse's, lost and slightly frightened. She checked his vitals and all the machines around the bed.

"Nothing indicates any pain despite the fact that we are lowering his dose of morphine. Matt? There is a problem?"

But again, he said nothing, there was no movement, he remained motionless, just staring. Unable to speak, no one could know what Matt really meant. The nurse stopped to the screen of the ventilator.

"Ah, I think I found the problem".

Kelly startled, surprised.

"So what is it?"

"He's trying to breathe on his own. That's what's happening".

Kelly opened his mouth. He absolutely didn't think about it. Christie, who held one of Matt's hands, felt his hand tighten as if there was a pressure exerted on it. She looked at her brother as he tried to nod.

"I think it is. He just shook my hand and... And he tried to nod".

"I'll call doctor Riley to discuss with him. I think we can try something. I can't do anything alone".

"You can do something?"

"Yes, I am a former anesthesiologist, so I'm allowed to deal with the ventilator. But always with the doctor's approval".

She paged the doctor while Kelly and Christie reunited all the pieces of the puzzle.

"You really want to do what? Because I didn't quite understand well".

"It's me who can tell whether a patient can breathe without a ventilator, what is the best option for him, etc..."

The door opened, revealing Matt's doctor.

"I see that our man is awake!"

He watched his patient carefully.

"And scared...", he added.

"Because this gentleman here is trying to breathe on his own. I would like with your permission, to move him from the AC mode to the IS mode".

"You want to decrease its dependence of the ventilator? Already?"

"It could probably help him get better".

Emily began to speak lower, almost whispering.

"And no offense, it's been ten days. His wounds have had time to heal a minimum. If we don't, he will fight the tube again, causing stress on his body and could be worse than move him to IS".

The nurse stood up to the doctor. After all, she was the expert here. He looked one last time Matt, totally lost and beginning to fight against the respirator.

"Alright. Do whatever it takes".

He left almost immediately, almost slamming the door while Emily smiled and sighed at the same time.

"What is happening?"

"Dr. Riley doesn't like to be contradicted. But ICU is my specialty. There are some things he doesn't know about mechanical ventilation".

"Like?"

"Like the fact that with a ventilator, you can breathe on your own".

Kelly's face suddenly showed astonishment.

"How?"

"Well, it depends of the patient, but we have created a new ventilation mode. This is called 'smart ventilation mode' or SVM, the time to find a proper name. This helps the patient to quickly no longer have a respirator".

"And how does it work?"

"This mode takes into account all parameters, and according to these, the respirator fits the patient's effort. We try it increasingly in ICU and patients seem to tolerate it better than any other ventilation mode. The aim is simple: Matt initiates inspiration, and according to his effort and his vitals, the ventilator can help him to take a full breath, let him breathe normally or take his place completely. As I said, a smart ventilation. When I shall think it's time I'll put the second level of this mode, consisting to allow the patient to breathe on his own, and if he stops breathing or if his vitals are passed below the minimum level, the respirator takes again its initial role until the patient breathes again".

"So... Matt should 't fight the tube anymore?"

"There is only one way to find out: try".

Kelly nodded, turning to Matt and Christie. She didn't understand everything, but she trusted Emily.

""Matt? When I say so, you can breathe, okay?"

The frown on his face faded, and he shook his head slightly. Emily tapped several buttons on the screen and asked Matt to take a breath.

"Come on now. Try!"

Matt frowned, absolutely not sure what he should do.

"he doesn't seem to understand... Mh... Ah! Matt? Act like you want to fight this tube down your throat".

Matt obeyed and began to fight. But he was seized with astonishment, finding no resistance and breathing on his own. He quickly took a few inhalations and exhalations, closing his eyes and letting emotion invading him. He could breathe without any problem. Emily smiled, seeing the relief appear on Matt's face. And seeing tears appear in the corner of his eyes.

"Well done Matt. Just like that!"

Kelly was stunned. He didn't understand everything, but he was there, mouth opened, staring with insistence at Matt.

"What did you do Emily?"

"I told you: smart ventilation! Basically, it's like you're breathing normally, but with a ventilator".

Kelly understood better what happened: Matt was breathing without any problems, almost totally free.

"Matt? You can open your eyes for me?"

He opened them, leaving the tears flow.

"It's better now?"

He nodded his head up and down, dropping the hand of Christie to move a little. He got it up to put it in his chin and then away to Emily, the palm of his hand always turned to him. Emily smiled again.

"You're welcome".

Kelly frowned a little.

"What?"

"Kelly, the movement he did is sign language, ASL. He just said 'thank you'".

Kelly blocked his gaze on Matt. He learned every day with him.

"Christie? You knew he could speak in ASL?"

"Our grandfather was almost deaf, and he often used to communicate in sign language. So Matt and I have learned".

"So... He can talk?"

"This language is used mainly with both hands and facial expressions. SO his communication is limited, but yes".

"The doctor will be happy: Now we know that his long-term memory and part of its mobility are intact. You can try to speak your brother Christie".

She turned again to Matt, clearing his voice.

"Hello!"

Hello!

His movements were very slow, but he could still communicate with his left arm, even if it was very sore because of the lack of skin.

"It's not hurting you?"

A little, but it's okay for now.

"And... You're breathing properly?"

Better than nothing. When it will be out?

She turned to the nurse.

"He asks when he will be out of the respirator".

"In a very short time. Hopefully by tomorrow or after tomorrow. We need to help your lungs to breathe spontaneously again".

Matt started talking again in sign language with his sister.

I didn't understand anything.

"You have to get used to breathe on your own".

Just for that?

"Doctors, you know them, right?"

Kelly could see a smile on Matt's face. But his expression changed quickly.

Why are you there?

"I came to see my little brother. Mom will come soon to see you".

Matt immediately frowned.

What?

"What 'what'?"

Christie... Mom is in jail.

Christie opened her mouth to continue the conversation, but no sound, no words came out. Something was wrong. And the nurse seemed too novice to understand what Matt had said. She decided to talk to him with sign language.

Matt... Mom is no longer in jail. It's been over a year.

Matt shook his head more and more violently. Signing at once.

No impossible! You never wanted it!

Matt calm down please!

"There is a problem Christie?"

Startled, she turned to face Kelly.

"I think so. Just wait a second".

She turned again.

Matt, what's the last thing you remember? The date I mean.

Matt had trouble understanding why she asked that.

Tell me Matt, please. It is important.

The last thing?

Yes. If you remember the date.

Matt was thinking, trying to gather all his memories.

I remember this car arriving at full speed. It was... April. 16th.

And the year?

I think it was... 2005.

Christie let out a cry of horror, and blocked her hands on his hand and letting out tears.

What is it?

Matt... It's April 19th, but we're in 2014.

Matt's eyes widened and he shook his head, closing his eyes and crying.

"What happened Christie!"

"Matt... Uh... The last thing he remembers dated on April 2005".