Chapter Twelve
"We've got a match, Doc!" Lucy shouted. "It came up on the last batch we tested." She carried a folder, and pulled a sheet of paper from it as she walked across the room.
"Who is it?" Cottle snapped, reaching for the things he'd need to prepare Kara for the surgery. He took the sheet of paper Lucy offered him, scanning it quickly. He seemed satisfied with the results.
"Helo," The nurse supplied. "He's getting prepped now." She smiled at Lee, who smiled uncertainty back. He still wasn't quite sure what was going on, except that it seemed to be good news.
"Okay," Cottle said. "I want you in the operating theatre." He said, giving her a list of instructions before turning back to Kara. Cottle injected something into her IV line, hanging a new bag of saline when he realised the old one was close to running out. He took Kara's vitals, writing them down on her chart. Lee hovered by the bed, worry etched deep into his deep blue eyes.
"Doc?" Lee asked "What's happening?" His hand tightened around Kara's as he watched the activity in the room suddenly become intense. It seemed that every inch of the room was covered in a hurrying person.
"We found a match for her bone marrow. It's Helo. We're going to harvest some of his and give it to her, but we have to give Kara drugs to kill off her own bone marrow first. We can't do any of that here, so we're moving her to the operating theatre." Cottle explained, his voice gentle.
"Will she be okay?" Lee asked, rubbing his thumb over the back of Kara's hand. "Will it hurt her?"
Her skin felt cool under his touch, her hand slack beneath his own. Lee longed for her to wake up, to do something. He'd even let her hit him. Anything was better than the frightening stillness that gripped her now. She'd never been one to sit still. He hated seeing her so ill. It tore at his heart.
"I can't promise anything, Lee, but you know what she's like…" Cottle said. "I'll give her the good drugs," He added, patting Lee on the shoulder a couple of times before leaving the room.
Lee felt a small smile start on his face as the truth in that statement sunk in. Oh, he knew Kara alright. She was a fighter to the end. It made him feel a little better. The worry in his eyes faded, becoming a little less intense. The tightness in his shoulders eased, and he let himself relax a little for the first time in hours.
"Yes, I know Kara," He said with a warm, wan smile.
Two new nurses appeared at his side. "Sir, we need to take her now." The taller one said. She raised the side rails on the bed, making sure that Kara would be safe. Lee brushed a lock of hair off Kara's face, smoothing it behind her ear. His hands moved, tucking the blankets around her more warmly. He didn't want her to be cold.
"Oh, okay." Lee said, even though he didn't want to let go of her hand for a second. Losing her would be like losing part of himself. It was unbearable. He bent and kissed her gently, whispering 'I love you' in her ear, before the two nurses wheeled her bed from the room. The door swung shut behind them, the noise loud in the now quiet room.
He was left standing alone, forlorn, with nothing to do but wait in the suddenly empty room.