FORGOTTEN MEMORIES!—17

Paula watched her patient closely and knew he was awake. She moved to take a cloth and wash it over his face. The NG tube had been removed earlier and her patient had tried to eat the simple fare that was set before him, but it hadn't gone well. The fever running through him was sapping what little strength he did have and she knew Dr. Lewis would soon be there to examine him. There'd been talk of moving him out of ICU later in the day, but she wasn't sure that was going to happen now. She checked the flow of oxygen through the nasal canulas and hooked up a new bag of antibiotics.

Joe felt the nurse fiddling with the IV lines and oxygen, but didn't acknowledge her presence. Since waking he'd been in pain, yet he tried to ignore it. His mind was becoming more aware, and he knew someone was missing. He remembered Peggy's abrupt departure and Art Malcolm's soothing words about why she'd left, and the assurance that she would be back. Images swam through his mind, and he worried that she was gone for good. Nausea rose and fell as he tried to remain still, but he shifted slightly, crying out as the pain he'd tried to ignore slammed into him with a vengeance. With each breath he took his ribs seemed to pound against his chest, and he knew he was going to be sick.

Paula reached for the basin and helped ease her patient onto his side as Andrew Lewis hurried into the room. She didn't have time to speak as Joe Mannix cried out in pain as the contents of his stomach emptied into the basin. She tried to stay neutral when it came to her charges, but something about this man tugged at her heartstrings. She eased him back on the pillows and reached for the cloth in the basin.

Andrew Lewis watched as the nurse cared for Joe Mannix. Paula Wilson had been part of the SICU team for nearly five years and he knew she fought to keep her emotions in check. On more than one occasion he'd caught her swiping at tears as she listened to a patient's distress and pain, yet she was able to keep it from those she cared for.

"How often has this happened, Paula?"

"He hasn't been able to hold anything down, Dr. Lewis. That's one of the reasons I called. The second is that his temperature is up again."

"Damn! All right, listen, Joe, we're going to put the NG tubing back in place until we can figure out what's making you feel sick. Paula, I'm going to add Zofran to his list of medications. Would you prepare the first dosage immediately?"

"Yes, Doctor," Wilson said as she pulled the tray closer to the bed. She went to the med cart and prepared the meds, including the pain medication Lewis ordered.

"Joe?"

"Y...yeah..."

"I'm going to put the NG back in place..."

"…have...t...to..." he asked, eyelids fluttering open to reveal fever glazed eyes.

"I think so, Joe, at least until everything settles. The Zofran should help...and hopefully things will get better. How are you feeling right now...and I don't want to hear 'I'm okay'...got it?"

"Think so...f...feel like hell...hurt every...where...hot..."

"Well that's to be expected. You've been through hell and then some. Okay, Paula just gave you your meds and I'm ready to insert this thing. Try to relax for me okay?"

"...o...kay," the injured man said, fighting to remain still as Lewis performed the uncomfortable procedure. His hands clenched into fists at his side and his chest felt on fire as the tube was fed down his throat. He knew these things were being done to make him more comfortable, but right now all he felt was misery. He felt the cloth washed over his face and smiled weakly at the nurse as Lewis finished the procedure. "Thanks..."

"You're welcome, Joe," Paula said, smiling as she looked towards the door. "Do you feel up to having some visitors?"

"Vis...itors?"

"Peggy and Art are here...do you want to see them?"

"Peggy," the detective whispered as Lewis looked into his eyes.

"She's right outside the door."

"An...gry..."

"Who's angry?" Lewis asked, placing the stethoscope in his ears.

"Peggy...ca...can't blame her..."

"I don't think Peggy's angry, Joe. I think she was upset at how badly you were hurt, but she's not angry at you," Wilson explained.

"Seems like th...that's all I do...upset h...her," Mannix stammered.

"Joe, could you breathe in for me?" Lewis asked, listening carefully to the detective's breath sounds. He knew the man's lungs were weak and the water he'd ingested was causing even more problems. The antibiotics were not helping and he took the stethoscope and placed it in his pocket. "Joe?"

"...hmm..."

"I'm going to order a few more tests to see if we can figure out what's causing this fever. I'll let Peggy and Art come in, but I want you to rest when you need to. Don't try to overdo things."

"O...kay..." the detective said as Lewis motioned for Paula Wilson to follow him out of the room. Joe let his eyes close, but knew the moment Peggy entered the room. The familiar scent of jasmine mingled with the medicinal hospital smells and he soon felt her hand on his left shoulder.

"Hi, Joe," Peggy said, her voice soft as she leaned over and kissed his forehead.

"Hi, Peg," the weak man forced a smile to his face as he opened his eyes and looked into the warm ones above him.

"How are you feeling?" Fair asked.

"Tired...Paula just gave me a shot I think."

"Good, there's no reason for you to be hurting when they can give you something to help you. Don't be afraid to ask, Joe, it doesn't make you any less of a man."

"Thanks, Peggy...Toby okay?"

"Toby's fine. He misses you though, and I don't know how much longer I can keep him away. He drew a picture for you. Do you want to see it?"

"Y...yeah," the injured man answered and waited for her to hold the picture in front of him. It showed three people...one child and two adults, a soccer ball, and a set of goal posts.

"Toby says he wants to join a soccer team, and he wants to know if you'll come to his games?"

"Tell him...tell him I wouldn't miss it," Mannix told her.

"I will...would you like me to put this in the drawer?"

"No...ask Paula for tape...want it on the wall."

"Okay," Peggy said as Art joined them.

"Good to see you awake, Joe, how are you feeling?"

"Better," the patient lied as Paula came back into the room.

"What a beautiful picture. Would you like me to tape it on the wall beside you, Joe?"

"Please," Mannix said and yawned tiredly.

"Why don't you go ahead and sleep, Joe? We'll be here when you wake up."

"No...no...need to say so...sorry..."

"For what?" Peggy asked.

"Hurt you..."

"You didn't hurt me, Joe."

"Yes...did...make you w...worry...want me t...to quit...I w...will..."

Peggy let the tears fall as she took his left hand in her own and looked into sorrow filled eyes. "Don't you know I'll always worry about you? No matter what you do there's bound to be some kind of danger. Even tending grapes can be dangerous...farm equipment...I've seen it, Joe, seen people hurt by the equipment..."

"If you want me to give up what I do I w...will..."

"I know you would...but I don't want you to, Joe. You know what you're doing and the people you help are grateful to you. A lot of them wouldn't be around if it wasn't for you. It scares me sometimes, Joe, knowing you're going out there to face the worst man has to offer, but I know it's part of what makes you Joe Mannix. So don't you dare give up, Joe, you keep helping those people who come to you and I'll help you in any way I can."

"Peggy...are you s...sure?"

She bent over the bed, placed her mouth next to his ear, and whispered so only he could hear. "I fell in love with you, Joe, not for who you could be, but for who you are. I don't want you to change. Okay?"

"...try not...not...to..."

"Joe, what's wrong?" Peggy asked worriedly.

"Do...don't know...hard to bre...bre...breathe..."

"Paula?" Malcolm asked.

"Hold on...I've got a call in to Dr. Lewis. Joe, just hold on and we'll get you some help!" Wilson ordered.

"Help...ca...can't s...seem...to...God...it hu...hurts!" the injured man cried as he tried to curl into a ball.

"Joe!" Fair cried as Lewis and another doctor hurried into the room.

"Art, get her out of here now!" Lewis ordered as Paula began telling him what happened. "Joe, can you hear me?"

"Ye...yeah...hurt's...doc...can't breathe," Mannix mumbled through clenched teeth.

"Where does it hurt, Joe?"

"Every...where...chest..." The detective watched as Art pulled a reluctant Peggy from the room and tried to reassure her, but darkness was reaching for him and he wasn't sure he could beat it back this time.

Andrew Lewis heard the curtains being closed as he quickly began examining his patient. His expert gaze had taken in the readings on the monitors and he knew they had to do something quickly. He looked at Jack Raines and was glad to have the other man's help.

"Paula, put him on a full mask," Lewis ordered as he listened to Mannix's chest. The man was having difficulty breathing and he silently cursed as he realized there was diminished breath sounds on the right side.

"Andrew, how does it sound?"

"Not good. Joe," he called and saw the eyelids flutter open and look up at him. "Don't try to talk, just listen. We've been trying to ward off pneumonia with antibiotics and other treatments, but it doesn't seem to be working. I'm ordering a chest x-ray to make sure and if it's what I suspect we'll put you on stronger antibiotics and inhalers to help you breathe."

"O...okay," Mannix managed past the uncomfortable pain in his chest. He felt the two men examining him and heard the orders given, but he couldn't acknowledge them anymore as he gave in to the call of darkness.

MANNIX-MANNIX-MANNIX

It was nearly an hour later when Lewis returned to check on his patient and he shook his head as he saw the duo sitting on opposite sides of the bed. His patient was still sleeping, yet something told Lewis that he knew he was not alone.

"I thought I left orders that you two were to get some rest?"

"I can't leave him when he's like this, Doctor. Please tell me you have good news?" Peggy asked.

"I'm afraid it's what I thought. Joe has pneumonia, but it's not as advanced as it might have been without the antibiotics. I've started him on a new regimen of antibiotics and we should see some improvement within the next few days. There's also some good news."

"What?" Malcolm asked hopefully.

"Well, I just received a call from animal control and the dogs that attacked Joe were up to date on all their shots so that's one less thing we have to worry about."

"So he doesn't have to have the rabies shots?" Peggy asked.

"That's right and if all goes well we'll be able to move him into a regular room tomorrow, but it all depends on how he responds to this new course of treatments. Now he's going to sleep for several hours and I want you two to go home and get some rest. No arguments or I'll have you both banned for twenty-four hours. Cooperate and you can come back in eight."

"I don't want him to wake up alone," Peggy told him.

"He won't, Peggy. The nurses here will make sure of that. Believe me Joe's a very popular patient here and there has been more than one inquiry as to taking care of him."

"That's what she's afraid of, Doc," Malcolm said and got the reaction he wanted in the way of a smile from Peggy Fair.

"Art, I'm just worried about him..."

"I'm f...fine, Peg...go home...sleep," the words were muffled behind the oxygen mask, but they were clear enough to understand.

"Joe, I thought I told you to sleep!" Lewis stated as he watched the man's face for any sign of pain or discomfort.

"W...was. Just wanted to m...make sure Peggy was o...okay," Mannix said and tried to stifle a yawn.

"I'm fine, Joe. Now you go on back to sleep."

"W...will when y...you p...promise me s...something."

"Anything, Joe," Fair said and realized her mistake when he smiled thinly.

"Want you to g...go home...g...get some s...sleep. Come back t...tomorrow."

"I'm beginning to think you don't want me here."

"Never, Peg," Mannix assured her and knew she saw the truth in his eyes. "Always here," he told her as he placed his left arm over his heart.

"Oh, Joe..."

"Art, you'd better g...get her o...out of here be...fore the w...waterworks start," Joe said, smiling as he looked into the woman's dark eyes. "I'm okay, Peg."

"Go to sleep, Joe, I'll be back in the morning."

"S...spend s...some time with T...Toby. G...give him a h...hug f...from me," Mannix said tiredly.

"All right that's it. You two out of here!" Lewis stated and then turned back to the bed and softly scolded the injured man. "And you stop talking and sleep. No arguments!"

"N...not..."

"Quiet, Joe!" Lewis said and checked the monitors. Satisfied by what he saw, he ushered the others out of the room and directed Art and Peggy to the elevators.

TBC