AN: Okay! A new chapter! I am a complete layman when it comes to the subject of traumatic brain injury, apart from a unit I did for my psychology degree. From what I was able to tell, it is an extremely hard situation for the patient's family and it must be very overwhelming and frustrating (especially over a long period of time,) because I didn't have a clue about some of the medical terminology! I apologise for any rookie mistakes, but it's been nearly 3 years since my classes. Thanks for the indulgence; I unfortunately don't have the time to do all the research that I used to.
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Part 17
A nurse came in to inform them once Kim had been taken from pre-op into the OR for surgery, telling them that it would most likely be an hour or two before the surgery finished, after which they'd be taking Kim for more CT scans, if her condition was stable enough.
After just one hour, Harm was terribly restless, so Mac suggested that they go for a short walk, just to channel their nervous energy into something else.
"We could see if there is a hospital chapel, if you'd like?" Mac suggested, not knowing much about Harm's reigious beliefs.
"I was thinking that I'd like to check on Yan, actually," Harm shook his head, knowing that the hospital chapel was probably the last place he should be, when he was in this frame of mind. Over the years since his ex-wife's disappearance, he'd drifted away from the Christian roots his Mother and Grandmother had instilled in him.
They found Yan's Father at the vending machine outside, getting himself and his wife some coffee.
"Commander, Major… How is Kim?" the man was anxious, despite the good prognosis his son had been given.
"Kim's been taken downstairs for surgery," Harm told the man, his expression grim, "She has some very serious head injuries, Doug. Her brain is swelling and they are going to do some procedure to insert a shunt, to help control the pressure inside her skull."
"I'm so very sorry to hear that, Harm…Kim will be in my family's prayers…"
"How is Yan doing, Colonel?" Mac asked.
"He's concussed and is still unconscious, but the doctors expect him to make a full recovery. My wife is still somewhat afraid to leave him though. I was just about to bring her some coffee."
"We won't keep you, Doug," Harm patted him on the arm, "When he wakes up, please give Yan our best wishes."
"Thank you so much Commander. Our very best wishes to Kim, also."
After that, Harm and Mac went down to the hospital cafeteria. They didn't like the look of anything in the vending machines and even though neither one felt hungry, they knew they'd have to keep their strength up over the next few hours, or they'd be exhausted by the time Kim was brought back upstairs.
They spent nearly an hour downstairs in the cafeteria, before they decided they should get back to the pediatric floor to wait for any news. A nurse came to them, just as they stepped out of the elevator.
"Colonels Redgrave and Grant have been in touch, Commander, Major…The surgery has gone very well and they are feeling confident enough to prepare Kim for some CT scans. It shouldn't be too much longer, now."
They both thanked the woman before returning to Kim's room. Uncomfortable silence filled the room, until Mac bit the bullet.
"I was thinking that we'll all need some things for the next few days…Clothes, toiletries and that. Once Kim is brought back upstairs, would you like me to head to your house and gather some things together, for you?"
"It's getting very late," Harm shook his head, "I'd rather wait until the morning, but thanks…I just don't want to be worried about you, too, out on the roads at this time."
"Okay," Mac nodded, understandingly, "It'll wait until tomorrow morning…"
The next hour was just as terminable as the last had been, but knowing that the risky surgery had been gone well was a small part of the emotional load off their minds.
They almost jumped right out of their seats, as the door bumped open, to admit Kim's hospital bed.
"This is one heck of a little fighter you've got here, Lt. Commander, Major…" Colonel Redgrave greeted them, then introduced them to the other surgeon who had joined in the surgery straight from another serious emergency surgical case, "This is Colonel Grant, the surgeon who assisted me your daughter's surgery and will take the lead in the interpretation of the results of Kim's CT scan. Grant, this is Lt. Commander and Major Rabb, Kim's parents."
Harm and Mac quickly glanced at each other, neither sure if they should bring up their actual association to each other. Through silent agreement, they both agreed that it was probably best left until another time.
"Commander, Major…Sorry, I would have come to meet you before the surgery, to explain everything to you, but I was in another surgery and moved straight into your daughter's, after that. "
"Please, just call us Harm and Mac," Harm interjected, "It's simpler and less confusing than using rank. Thank you so much for your help, Colonel Grant."
"That's quite alright, Harm. That's one heck of an officer-in-the-making you've got there. Kim's the one who has done most of the hard work. She came through the surgery like a champ and was stable enough to be taken right in for the CT scans. After the nurses have gotten her all settled here, Colonel Redgrave and I will go and take a closer look at the scan results, so that we can give you a fuller, updated picture on Kim's condition."
After Kim was settled, the nurses left them alone once again, so they could take some private time together.
"Welcome back, my little warrior! You have no idea how worried Mac and I have been about you!" Harm kissed his child's forehead, his expression as reverent as that of a pilgrim worshipping a holy figure, "I'm so proud of you for fighting so hard. Keep up the good fight, sweetie. Mac and I are right here alongside you."
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