This is kind of a transition chapter. I think one more will finish up the story. I didn't want to do an "All better, the end" ending because healing from this type of injury doesn't happen overnight. I hope the humor hits the mark.

chapter 9

Kallan gently shook the officer's arm and wasn't surprised when he went from sound asleep to wide awake almost immediately. It seemed to be a "cop thing." She liked that his eyes went immediately to the patient in front of them rather than to the monitors. She started talking reassuringly. "Everything's okay and your friend had a pretty good night. It's about 6AM and rounds will start in an hour. Kevin has a temperature. That's not unexpected after surgery. However, we're going to come in and get him freshened up, give him some Tylenol, draw some blood before rounds. You need to skedaddle until about 8 AM or so."

Ed had slept well. Waking only when the respiratory therapist came in to suction out the breathing tube. That looked like some kind of torture to be reserved for the most dangerous of terrorists. He was glad the nurse had explained that Wordy would remember none of this time. He jumped up quickly. "Yeah, sure. I hear you. Do you need help? Wordy's kind of big and you're so small. Do you need help moving him?"

"That's very kind of you and I know you mean it with the best of intentions. Patients in the hospital and especially the ICU have a lot done to them. They lose a lot of privacy. I have a thing about protecting their dignity whenever I can. I think Kevin would appreciate it if we took care of him on our own. I'll have plenty of help. The nurse taking care of him today is Melissa. I'll let her know that you will be around. Here's a tip for you. If you want to sweet talk her, bring back an extra Double Double from Timmy's and maybe a bagel. She'll love you forever."

Ed folded his blanket and thanked the nurse for her kindness. "Will you be back tonight?" he asked hopefully.

Kallan replied cheekily, "Yup, and I suppose you will too?"

"That's affirmative. I'll see you then. And really, you made a hard night a lot easier. It means a lot."

The nurse met his eyes, "Wordy is lucky to have such strong family support. Know that police officers and their families throughout the area are pulling for him."

Officer Lane nodded as was his way and strode toward the ICU doors. As he left the hospital, he glanced at his watch. Too early to stop by the house. Knowing small kids, he'd have them all awake. Ed flagged down a cab and directed the driver to the station. A shower and change of clothes sounded pretty good right at this minute. He could do that, grab his own car and still hit the Timmy's before the 8AM visiting time. As he pushed open the door to the barn, he realized that yesterday morning seemed like a lifetime ago. He checked in and gave updates to the queries of Team Two as he made his way to the locker room. As each guy asked what he could do to help, Ed passed on the surgeon's recommendation of donating blood. Finally, he was alone and having a hot shower.

Once dressed the team leader stopped by the communication center to talk with Winnie. "Wordy?" she asked. Ed smiled reassuringly, "He seems stable. The nurse assures me he's doing what he's supposed to do at this point. She's a dynamo so I think he's in good hands. I'm headed back there now. If everything still looks good, I'm thinking 11AM for a debrief from yesterday. Could you put that tentatively on the schedule?"

The rarely ruffled dispatcher made herself a note on that and gave Ed a smile, "Got it. Let me know if anything changes. Give Shelley and Wordy my love." "Copy that!" came the reply. By the time the constable hit the Tim Hortons and got some extra coffees, some bagels and Timbits, it was nearly 8AM. As he reached the doors to the ICU, Ed noted that the unit was much busier during the daytime. He used the intercom to ask for admittance and the disembodied voice on the other side asked for five more minutes.

The officer cooled his heels in the waiting room for the requested five minutes then stuck his head in the ICU. Wordy's room looked quiet. The nurse at the bedside was typing on the bedside computer. She was even tinier than Kallan, the night nurse. Her long blond hair was pulled back into a tidy French braid. She turned with a friendly smile. "Officer Ed Lane, I presume." Ed held out the coffee and treats and the nurse continued. "Ah, I see that Kallan told you I can be bribed. You are my favorite visitor so far today."

"Aren't I the only visitor so far today?" said the officer. "Well, there is that." replied that nurse. She adjusted one of the medications and then gave Ed the update. "Officer Wordsworth's vital signs are very stable. His blood work this morning showed no evidence of continued blood loss so that's a very good thing. Do you have any questions?"

Ed was relieved that Wordy was progressing as expected. "When will he be off the ventilator? It's hard to see him like that and his wife should be back any time." The nurse explained that the current plan was to keep him on the machine for the day and then very early in the morning they'd do a rapid wean of the sedatives. Hopefully, he'd be off the machine by the next morning. The good news satisfied the patient's friend and he decided to return to the waiting room and update Shelley and the team.

As he walked in to the comfortably appointed area, he found Shelley and Greg already there. After a quick update, Shelley went to visit her husband. Ed gave Greg the play-by-play of the evening. The two called the team to update and arrange the time for the debrief. Soon Ed was pacing around the small area. The sergeant watched indulgently for a time and then held up his hands.

"Eddie, what's on your mind?"

"I'm fine, Boss."

"Hmmm, really?"

"Yup"

"That's funny. If I didn't know better, I'd think, just maybe, you had some type of feelings you needed to express."

"No feelings, Boss. It's just, I'm glad Sleeping Beauty in there is doing what they expect him to be doing right now. And I'm glad we took the subject down without bloodshed, but now I'm…" Ed's voice trailed off. Greg picked up the conversation.

"Got it. You need to hit something. Okay, give me a minute to check on Shelley." Greg left the room without waiting for an answer. He walked quietly in to check on the Wordsworths. Shelley sat beside her sedated husband.

Greg talked quietly, "How are things doing in here?" Shelley smiled wanly. "I know they want him to rest, but I'm ready for him to be awake. I hate seeing him like this." The sergeant replied, "I hear you. It sounds like it won't be long now though. By tomorrow, Wordy will be complaining about the hospital food. Can I get you anything?"

Shelley shook her head and showed him the book and magazine she had on her lap. "I'm good for now."

"Ed's needs to go punch something for a while so I thought we'd head back to the station before debrief. You'll call if you need us?" he asked with raised eyebrows.

Shelley chuckled and offered, "Well, we wouldn't want our favorite Edward Tucker Lane to actually share his "feelings" so you'd better get him to the punching bag quickly. Spike and Raf went to the house this morning and scrubbed the driveway clean so my mom could take the girls home. Sophie might want to see Ed sometime today though."

Greg answered with the expected, "Copy that." He gave Shelley a hug and went to retrieve his team leader before the dreaded emotions spilled out.

As the men were driving back to the barn, Greg turned to Ed and asked, "Did you know Spike and Raf went over to Wordy's house already this morning to scrub the driveway down so the girls wouldn't be upset?"

"Nope, that suggestion didn't come from me, Boss. Considering the hour they finally got home last night after returning our gear and it's only 9AM now, I wouldn't have thought they'd be awake yet."

"Kids these days…." said Parker with a proud smile.