Irene gave Martin a sponge bath after that, which Douglas graciously stepped out for.
Carrying him was one thing, sitting by his bedside holding his hand was another, but he really didn't wish to see that. He wandered down to the little shop and looked for a while before remembering he still didn't have any money.
When he returned to Martin's room, a technician was just finishing taking another set of chest x-rays.
After that there was only waiting until the doctor in charge of Martin's care came around for rounds.
Douglas spent that time on the web, reading out various aviation information pages to Martin, all of which Douglas was sure he knew already, but couldn't think of what else to do.
Irene arrived along with the pack.
"Douglas, this is Doctor Slidder," she said, gesturing to the man who was holding his hand out for Douglas to shake, which he did reluctantly.
She turned to the doctor and spoke to him. Douglas heard his name and Martin's and probably what meant partner. He was never going to forgive Carolyn for this.
The doctor turned to his entourage and began to speak in neat, clipped speech.
"He's just giving them the medical history now," Irene explained.
The man finished speaking and turned to pick up Martin's chart, hanging the x-rays up for the others to see and asking them questions about them. Or at least that was Douglas' assumption.
Irene argued with him for a minute before turning to Douglas.
"Now, I'm not implying anything, but I have to ask for Martin's sake. Has he ever mentioned anything to you about testing positive for HIV?"
Douglas leaned away from her. "What?" he spat.
"Has Martin ever-"
"I know what you said," Douglas interrupted, waving a hand at her. "I just don't understand why you're asking. And it's a no. A definite no. Martin would have mentioned something like that, and besides, this is... Martin!" He knew those words didn't hold the same meaning for her as they did to Douglas, since she didn't know him, but she would soon see that Martin was extremely cautious, bordering on neurotic.
"Alright," she said, nodding. "I believe you. We have to ask. It's just..." she hesitated. "Healthy young men like Martin don't often end up on a ventilator when they get pneumonia. He's just worried there's an underlying condition."
Douglas shook his head firmly. "No, this is just Martin being a stubborn idiot and not going to the doctor when he should have."
Irene nodded and turned back to the attending, reciting off what Douglas had told her. He nodded and added something else before turning back to his team.
"He just wants you to know he wasn't trying to make you uncomfortable. It's just that in cases like this, we have to ask questions."
Douglas nodded again. He was going to start straining his neck muscles. He slouched in the chair and watched the rest of the proceedings.
Doctor Slidder was talking to the small gang of people he had in tow, probably medical students or residents. They spoke some, and he nodded at what they had to say, occasionally adding something else, or perhaps correcting them.
The doctor spoke to Irene, and after that, they finished up and left.
"Well?" Douglas said. He hated being out of the loop.
"They're pleased with this morning's films, and he's going to continue what they're doing. The doctor thinks Martin will spend today and tonight on the ventilator and see about coming off tomorrow."
"That long?" Douglas asked with a frown.
Irene explained. "They're just being cautious. The last thing we want is for Martin to go into respiratory failure shortly after we extubate him."
Douglas nodded wearily, but he didn't like it.