The first day, even before they got to the emergency room, he went into convulsions. His heartbeat rose dangerously, and there was a real fear that he might have an attack. After he was stabilized, after he was strapped down on a cot, after he made friends with a syringe… only then did Gus think to call Henry.
The blistering eruption after he summarized what happened left his ear stinging even five minutes after he finally clipped the cell shut.
Needless to say, Gus avoided Henry's presence for over an hour after the old man arrived.
On the second day, Shawn had his first panic attack. Gus wasn't entirely certain what triggered it, if anything. One moment, Shawn was more or less calmly sleeping. Then, a nurse stopped in to check on him, take his temperature, adjust his IV, and so on. As she was leaving, Gus stood to look out the window. Suddenly he heard a gasp, and turned to see Shawn, eyes wide and unblinking, staring at the corner of the room. Almost immediately he started thrashing on his bed, pulling desperately at his restraints.
Both Henry and Gus raced to his side, holding his arms while Henry slapped at the call button.
In seconds, nursing staff filled the room, semi-calmly taking over, but allowing Henry and Gus to remain close while they injected, soothed, and calmed.
When they finally left again, Shawn was sleeping.
On the third day, Shawn had a second and third panic attack. They weren't any easier to handle due to repetition either.
Also on the third day, Shawn had another convulsion.
On the forth day, Henry finally shaved in the small bathroom in the ICU. It was awkward, and he nicked himself twice.
Gus decided to pass on the razor.
Shawn slept all day.
On the fifth day, Shawn deliriously opened his eyes and, with a voice like veteran smoker, asked for a glass of water. When Henry pushed the paper cup towards his reaching fingers, he suddenly screamed and slapped it away.
On the sixth day, Juliet and Lassiter stopped by for a visit, but didn't enter the room. Shawn's blood-pressure had gone up again, and he'd become feverish. Nurses were restricting access for all visitation. The detectives spoke for a few minutes, a skill Juliet excelled in where her partner lacked. Then, with hugs from the female half, they left.
On the seventh day… on the seventh day, sunlight made soft patterns on the tile floor, casting warmth around the cool-toned room. On the seventh day, Gus finished reading the latest Tom Clancy novel, promptly forgetting the plot the second he closed the back cover. On the seventh day, Henry drank half a cup of stale coffee, finally giving up the effort and dumping the rest down the sink. Gus turned away when he saw the other man's fingers shaking where they gripped the porcelain edge. Also on the seventh day, a nurse delivered a vase of flowers with an anonymous note attached… a note that simply said "I'm sorry". Gus crushed them into the waste-basket.
They waited, watching breath stream in and out.
They prayed, never closing their eyes as silent supplication rose between them.
They feared, knowing each pulse beat rising, dipping, and rising again, might suddenly… stop.
They didn't speak.
And, on the seventh evening on the seventh day… Shawn opened his eyes…