Chapter 92: A Long Night, Part 2

"Long is the way, and hard, that out of hell, leads up to light." – John Milton

"All things are difficult before they are easy." – Dr. Thomas Fuller

"Courage and perseverance have a magical talisman, before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish into air." – John Quincy Adams


Tom checked the wound, moving the washcloth before moving him, "I need another washcloth," he said holding out the bloody one to Will and Francie.

Francie looked extremely ill at the sight, and still in a state of shock, so Will grabbed the bloody cloth and brought a fresh one, handing it to Tom.

Tom placed it over the wound, making Vaughn groan again, but Tom held it tightly.

"Ok…we have to turn him…" Tom said looking to Sydney.

"Isn't that going to hurt him? How are we going to lay him?"

"What meds did you give him? Morphine?"

"Yeah…I gave him everything we have – first I gave him ibuprofen, naproxen, Vicodin and Percocet, but even that combination didn't work. So, then I…well, Will helped give him a shot of morphine."

"See…that's why I don't worry about you guys – that's exactly what you should have done…can I see one of the syringes?"

"Sure – there's some more right there," Sydney said pointing to the nightstand.

Tom left Sydney holding Vaughn and the cloth and grabbed the two syringes that were on the nightstand. He checked the levels in them and then looked off, calculating in his head.

After another few minutes, he said, "I need one more…"

Sydney looked to Will, "Can you get–" but before she finished he was already gone, getting the syringe.

He brought a handful and gave one to Tom, laying the rest on the nightstand.

Tom stuck Vaughn with the first syringe and then followed quickly with the other two.

"Ok…let's get him down, he's gonna get real sleepy, real fast…" He motioned for a pillow, "Let me have that please…" Will handed it to him and he lay it perpendicular to the regular pillow so it made a "T" shape.

"Ok…we're going to lay him on his stomach – the way I have the pillows should take the pressure off…and it should allow him to breath ok too…" he looked to Sydney, "Ready?"

Sydney nodded and they began to move Vaughn's now lifeless form.

He didn't grunt or moan this time when they attempted to move him and his head was lolling again slightly. He seemed awake, but distant.

They eased him down onto the pillow; Tom gently moved his head to the side and laid it on the pillow so he was facing away from the door. He adjusted his head and neck on the pillow to make him more comfortable and then ran a hand through his hair.

He checked to make sure Vaughn was in the middle of the pillow and then stood up.

Sydney smiled at his obvious affection and then moved herself so she was sitting next to Vaughn on the bed, stroking his hair and neck and then moving all the way down his back with her gentle strokes.

She smiled sadly, "You sedated him, didn't you?" she said watching him, breathing evenly, eyes closed.

Tom shared her sad smile, "Yeah…" he said slowly, drawing out the word, "I did."

He looked at Vaughn, "He'll be more comfortable this way. I hate to do it, but he was in a lot of pain."
Sydney nodded; "As long as he's comfortable…" she said trailing off.

"He'll probably be really tired again for a few days. Try to make him exercise a little bit though. Otherwise, this might happen again…"

"What about the wound?" Sydney asked, dropping her gaze to the washcloth covering it.

"The bleeding will stop pretty soon," he said moving over to uncover the wound. There was still blood on the cloth but, "see…it's stopping already – there's a lot less blood on this one than there was on the last one…He'll sleep now…by morning, it should be ok again – well – not ok, but it'll be stopped enough that you can bandage it normally. Just watch it tonight – check it periodically to make sure the bleeding is slowing. Once it gets closer to morning you can put some more Cavilon on it and then cover it with the TAD, ok?"

Sydney nodded, "Is he going to be in that much pain in the morning?" she asked worriedly.

"I think it'll be better tomorrow. Once he's rested awhile, everything will mellow. He'll be sore, but I don't think the pain will be as sharp."

"That's good," Sydney said rubbing Vaughn's neck.

Tom moved over to the bed and positioned Vaughn's left arm differently, feeling along his shoulder. Sydney watched him and then smiled when he looked up at her, finished.

He smiled sheepishly, "Keep his arm bent like that. Otherwise it could dislocate again."

"Ok," she smiled; "Should I put it back in the sling then tomorrow?" she paused but asked before he answered, "Can he sit tomorrow? Does he have to stay on his stomach? Is that going to hurt his ribs?"

Tom smiled, "The position he's in now should be ok…It won't hurt his ribs – the pillow elevates them enough and like I said, his breathing should be stable too…I'm going to turn up his oxygen for tonight just to be safe, but I'm confident it'll be ok. Then you can turn it down when he wakes up. Let him decide how he wants to lay or sit or whatever. If it's too uncomfortable, just let him lay on his back – the wound won't heal as fast, but he might be more comfortable. Or maybe the couch would be better for a few days – let him decide."

Tom moved the washcloth off the wound again, turning to Will, "Can I have a fresh one?"

"Sure," Will said, going to the bathroom.

"Bring two," Tom said after him.

Will came back with two as requested. Tom placed one over the wound and the other one on Vaughn's neck.

"Ok…check the wound every three hours and change the cloth – even if there's not a lot of blood on it, change it for the temperature, ok? I'll call you tomorrow morning to check up. You call if you need something sooner. I'll send an EMT over tomorrow too with some more supplies – morphine, meds, bandages and a new oxygen tank too…"

He sighed, shaking his head, "Rough night…"

Sydney smiled, "Thanks Tom. I'm sure all of this could be easier for you if he was in the hospital."

"Nah…he'd be an ass in there anyway…really, he wouldn't be doing this well if he were in the hospital…he's better here Sydney. I've never seen him so comfortable with anyone else."

Sydney beamed, "Thanks…you're a great friend to him Tom."

Tom beamed back, "Thank you…" he said quietly, "Mike's a great guy," he said looking at Vaughn.

He nodded on more time, "Ok, I'm gonna go…call if you need anything…"

"Ok Tom, thanks again."

Tom nodded, shook Will and Francie's hands and left.

Will was the first to speak. Sydney was still sitting on the bed, playing with Vaughn's hair when Will said, "I can help out with the washcloth thing."

Sydney smiled, "No, it's ok Will…I'm sure I'll be up anyway."

"You need to get some rest too, Syd," he protested.

She smiled, "I'm too worried about him to sleep Will…but thanks."

"Syd…you take the first shift – the first part of the night, and I'll take the second. You need to be awake when he gets up in the morning."

Sydney debated a while before saying, "Ok, thanks Will."

Sydney looked at the clock, "Oh God! Guys – I'm sorry…it's after 10:00…you've spent your whole night in here…"

"It's ok Sydney," Will assured her.

He looked over at Francie, who hadn't said a word practically all night long.

"Syd, you didn't eat anything, you want me to get you something?"

"Uh, maybe a sandwich?"

"Sure," he said smiling, pulling Francie with him, and out of her reverie.

When they got to the kitchen, Will pulled out bread and a few other items to make Sydney a sandwich. He turned to Francie, "Can you hand me the mayo?" he asked.

She didn't respond.

"Fran?"

She finally looked at him, "Hmm? What?"

"Can you hand me the mayo?"

"Oh, sure," she said reaching into the refrigerator and handing it to him.

"What's up with you?" he asked taking the mayo from her.

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"You've been weird all night – the whole time Mike's been in pain…what's goin' on?"

Fran looked down, "I don't know…I just froze…he was in so much pain…it was scary…seeing him like that."

"You worried?"

"Yeah, I was…still am."

"Yeah…it was hard, but he's gonna be ok…"

"I know…just…all that blood…you know…"

"I guess it was kinda gory…"

She smiled, "I just don't know how Syd does it…you know? You too – in there with the syringes and stuff."

He smiled bashfully, "Ah…well…I just did what I was told."

"You were great Will…"

"Thanks."

"I'll explain myself to Sydney later."

Will smiled back, finished with the sandwich, "Why don't you take this in there," handing her the plate, "explain now. Mike won't remember, Syd will."

She sighed, taking the plate, "Ok."

Will smiled, cleaning up the makings of the sandwich.