Note: Yeah, it's already the last chapter. I know some of you are interested in the case that resulted in this injury and want to know more about the why, the who and all that it entails, but I admit I just wanted a bit of an hurt/comfort piece without the hassle of making up a backstory and case. So, this will have to be enough (for now, because who knows? Perhaps there might be a sequel with the aforementioned questions)
Note II: Merry Christmas everyone! I hope you can have some quiet days to rest and enjoy some down time.
Xxxxxxx
Rhythm of Silence
Chapter 5
Darkness lifted gradually, allowing him to slowly swim to the surface. He hadn't even blinked his eyes open before fire burned in his chest and pain spread quickly, seemingly all-encompassing within moments when it had been dormant before.
He didn't have the breath or the capacity to scream in agony though. Instead, his muscles tightened, his hands clenching, claw-like, curling around a foreign and yet known object inside of his right hand.
His fingers knew what to do with that information before his brain did.
A second set of hands tightened around his right one, gently directing movement, "that's it, G, just push the button."
His thumb found the plunger instinctively, depressing it, releasing cool fluid into his veins that quickly worked to blanket the fire that had burned his body. He didn't fight the darkness that spread along with it, giving into it, and letting it take him under once more.
Xxxxxxx
Sam watched his partner's breathing smooth out, his features relaxing as the heavy-duty painkillers did their job. He didn't let go of Callen's hand, instead continued holding onto it, feeling the faint beating of his partner's pulse where Sam's fingertips rested against the inside of his wrist. It was reassuring Sam of his partner's continued survival.
It had been touch-and-go for days.
The damage had been extensive, a fractured rib and several bone fragments had lodged themselves in the lung and pericardium as Sam had half-feared, leading to massive blood loss. It would take time for Callen's body to repair the damage, the open-chest surgery adding more areas that needed patching up due to the necessity of breaking more ribs to reach the protected organs inside. His partner had a long road of recovery ahead of himself, but by now the doctors were cautiously optimistic that he would be able to walk that road when days ago, the odds had been stacked against him.
Callen had coded five times in the first 24 hours after being hit - three times on the operating table and twice more while in ICU with Sam at his side.
The last time, it had taken an eternity to start his heart again, making despair clog Sam's throat. It had taken long minutes of doctors shouting orders, of continued CPR, electroshocks and maximum doses of drugs being administered before the continuous wail of the heart monitor had turned into a first stuttering, then strengthening sound of repetitive beeps.
Despite the steep odds, despite the extensive damage, his partner had made it through those first critical days. He still wasn't completely out of the woods yet, but his odds had improved into the higher double digits compared to the first day or so after surgery.
Sam straightened slightly in his chair when the door to the ICU unit slid open.
The diminutive figure of their operations manager slipped into the room, her eyes on Callen for a moment before sliding over to Sam, assessing, weighing, and measuring. Sam had refused leaving, irrationally thinking that once he turned away, his partner would be gone. So, after days spent at his partner's bedside, he knew he didn't look his best. He still wouldn't leave though. His fingers subconsciously tightened around his partner's hand. Hetty's eyes took in the gesture, and she pursed her lips, but didn't comment, instead silently backing down.
"How is he doing?" she asked instead.
Sam felt his shoulders relax. He didn't feel up to fighting against Hetty - especially since no one stood a real chance of winning against her. "He woke up for a brief moment. Well, more or less. He was in a lot of pain though."
Hetty nodded sagely. "It was to be expected. The doctors warned us of that."
"I know," Sam sighed, his eyes once more on his partner's prone figure, now sleeping soundly and peacefully.
Xxxxxxx
The next time he clawed his way back to consciousness, he felt woozy and disoriented. The regular beeping and antiseptic smell slowly penetrated the fog of drugs and Callen managed to put one and one together and come up with two.
Hospital.
Callen slowly managed to take stock of himself.
The roaring wildfire inside of his chest was down to a controlled campfire, merrily crackling away. Despite its presence, it was dull enough not to incapacitate him as it had before.
He remained still, knowing from previous experience that any movement had the potential to hurt. He didn't know the extent of the damage, but he knew from his general state and his exhaustion, that it must have been bad. His focus drifted to the warm weight around his hand, curiosity making him dredge up the courage to open his eyes and investigate.
When he finally managed to pry his lids open, he ignored the room, knowing it would be a standard hospital ICU cubicle that he'd seen the inside of before. Instead, he focused on glancing to the side, his lips pulling into a small smile when he found his partner sound asleep in a chair by his bedside.
Sam - faithful, strong and loyal.
His partner's presence warmed him - knowing he was not alone, instead was being watched over.
He knew it would take time, but he'd fought his way back to health before. He'd regained consciousness - which was more than he had expected when he'd breathlessly fought for air, when he'd watched the movement of that arrow in front of his chest as he tried to remain alive - and the rest was tenacity and hard work; and those were things Callen was proficient in.
Callen allowed his own eyes to close once more, his fingers briefly tightening around his partners before he relaxed and joined him in slumber.