Chapter Five

St. Luke's Hospital

Room 214

"Good morning Bobby," Nurse Agnes Meyer says with a cheery tone as she enters the room of her patient, he remains quiet and still. She begins to prepare all the necessary items for a bath, and a shave. "I have a feeling that you are going to have some visitors today and you need to look good for them."

Nurse Grace Ellison smirks, "Agnes," she whispers to her colleague. "You don't really believe that, do you?"

Agnes shrugs her shoulders, "I am an optimist Grace, you never know."

The Town of Plattsville

"Mom you passed the Motel."

"I want to go to the hospital first then we'll check into the motel."

She steers the car into the right lane, "The entrance is there," Robby points. He sits up in the seat, "Wow, puny hospital."

"Well it may be small but at least you don't have pay to park."

The Reception Area

Alex stops at the reception desk, she tries to maintain a tight hold on her sons' hand, but he wiggles it away and begins to pace around the large room. "Excuse me," she says to the elder woman behind the large desk.

"Good afternoon, Miss, may I help you?"

"Yes, I'd like to see Robert Goren please?"

"Oh Miss I'm sorry but he's not allowed visitors."

"What?" Alex says surprising.

"He is only allowed family members at this time."

Alex arches her back trying hard to control her temper, "Family members?" She leans over the desk, "I'm his wife for Christ sake. Now what room is he in?" The shocked look on the senior citizens face causes Alex to stand erect, "I'm sorry," she holds up her hand. "Please forgive me. May I, is it possible for me to speak with his doctor?" The elder woman hesitates, Alex notices immediately. "Is there a problem?"

"No," she says shyly as she picks up the phone. "It's just that…"

Robby hears the distress in his mother's voice and returns to her side.

The elder woman sheepishly looks up, "We, we were under the assumption that he had no family." Alex shakes her head in disgust. Steven you are a dead man.

"What's going on Mom?"

Alex frowns, "Huh, what?"

"Can't we go up?"

"No, we can't, not just yet."

Over the loud speaker of this two-hundred-bed hospital they hear, "Doctor Brendan Winslow, please pick up line 3. Doctor Winslow, line three."

A phone buzzes immediately, "Reception."

"This is Doctor Winslow."

"Doctor, Mister Gorens' wife is here."

"His wife?" He hesitates, "I'll be right down."

"Ma'am," the elder woman calls to here. Alex turns, "The doctor is on his way down."

"Thank you and again I'm sorry." The senior citizen flashes a sweet smile.

"Mom?"

"Come on Robby, let's sit down." Alex escorts her son to one of the empty couches spread out through the reception area. "You remember I told you that Steven Sanchez called me?" she says his name with disdain.

Robby nods his head, "Yeah."

"Well he….Dad's been here for five days," the expression on Robby's face is one of surprise; Alex places her hand on his shoulder. "And because Steven neglected to notify us sooner. The staff," she gazes around the room. "They didn't know that….he had a family," she places her elbows on her knees covering her face with her hands. "My God this must be a nightmare." She sits up and crosses her legs. "I'll tell you Robby if I ever see that man again…."

"Missus Goren," she looks up when she hears her name. A short stout red haired man holds out his hand, "I'm Doctor Winslow."

Alex stands as she takes his hand, "Nice to meet you Doctor this is my son Robby."

"It's Robert," he interjects, Alex rolls her eyes. "Robert." The doctor shakes the young boys' hand.

"How is he Doctor?"

"Ma'am, may I speak with you alone for a moment?" Alex frowns, "Please," the doctor asks imploringly.

"Sure," the Doctor lightly touches her elbow guiding her to the other side of the room. Robby shakes his head, "Grownups." He sits down removing his DS from his pocket.

"Doctor what?"

"I want to ask you something?" he doesn't wait for her response, "Where the hell have you been?"

"Excuse me," she takes two steps back, taking a quick glance at her son, who….she is thankful is oblivious.

The doctor holds up his hand in defense, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to blurt it out that way."

"Doctor, I didn't know, I didn't know he was here, I….I just found out today."

"That lawyer Sanchez, is there something wrong with him?"

Alex frowns. "How do you mean?"

"He's not very sociable, seems strict when you ask the simplest questions."

"Steven is an excellent lawyer, by the book, honest but not a very warm and friendly guy."

"This is very strange," he shakes his head. "When your husband was admitted here on Monday I was informed that the facility would be in charge of his care, of which I am accustom. We have had residents here before but then I was informed that it was that fellow Sanchez. I asked him if he had any family and he said that he was estranged from his wife. I assumed, wrongly, that there wasn't anyone."

The doctor takes her hand as the color gradually drains from her face, "Let me help you," he guides her to the closet seat, a large armchair.

"Thank you," she says as she slowly sits down, "He's," she catches the doctors eyes, as tears are welling up in hers, "He's…he's been alone all this time," her voice cracks.

The doctor releases her hand, "Yes he has and…." He pauses turning his head away from her gaze.

"And," Alex grabs the Doctors arm pulling it so he will look her in the eye, "And what?"

"He's not responding to the medication," he says flatly.

Alex sits up, "Change it." She says bluntly.

"I have, twice," he lightly touches her forearm. "He contracted legionnaire's disease most likely from an old air conditioner vent at the facility. He is a relatively young man and from his medical records that I obtained from the facility he is very strong and healthy. The doctor from Gainsport called me and told me of his condition, he was giving him amoxicillin, and he was not improving. That was when he was sent here, I started him on ciprofloxacin and he was doing very well, then suddenly he…he was not, yesterday afternoon I started him on erythromycin….still no change. The thing is Ma'am with the medication we have been administrating, he should be improving, and the direction that he is heading now," he exhales. "I'm losing him."

She suddenly stands, "This is….this can't be happening," she says with a shaky voice.

Robby looks up over the miniature console, "Mom?"

She holds her hand out, "Robby please come here." He closes his hand held gaming system, then dashes across the room. She stands, embracing him tightly.

"Come on," the doctor says kindly. "I'll take you upstairs to see him."

Alex and Robby walk arm and arm through the reception area toward the elevator, this time he does not want to be released.

They ride the elevator to the second floor without speaking, "This way," the Doctor says, as he motions with his hand as a guide.

A few feet down the hall she hears her name from a familiar voice, "Alex," the tall thin, black haired man calls to her; she stops walking turning slowly to face him, she huffs as she recognizes him. "Steven," she wipes her eyes, "You stupid son of a bitch."

"Alex, please let me explain."

"Explain? Just be thankful that I don't have my weapon with me."

"Alex please listen to me," he says pleading. "I'm sorry I thought he'd be in and out of here within a day or two. I didn't know."

"You should have called me the first day Steven," the tears are streaming down her cheeks.

"Do you remember the last time I called you about Bobby?" She stares at him, remembering the conversation.

"Steven that was over a month ago and…."

"Alex you hung up on me."

"Yes I did, I was angry with him, I'm….Steven." She wipes her eyes with the last tissue in her pack, "I know that somewhere in there," she points to his chest. "There is a heart. You should try examining it once in awhile. I was…past tense angry with him but that doesn't mean that I don't love him."

TBC