All three men were immediately in front of the doctor.
"The news is in your friend's favor and he is stable, gentlemen, but let's set down and talk about it".
After everyone was settled, the older man began to speak about Face's condition.
"Face came through the surgery well and as I said, he is stable. Their was rather extensive damage, but I think he will recover with time, though he may have trouble from the injuries from time to time. A lung was hit and damaged, a small portion was lost. His colon was damaged substantially and a large portion of it was removed, though enough is left that he will not need a colostcomy bag. Kidney damage occured, but I believe he will eventually fully recover from this. Several stitches were needed to repair torn arteries and sections of intestines. The blood loss was extensive, we also have to take into account the chance of infection. We are giving him blood and I believe he will recover in that respect. Antibiotics are being given to fight infection.
The recover will be long and hard, and I do foresee lasting effects from the damage to his lung. Possibly, he will have after effects from the kidney damage. We can also not forget about the loss of blood to his brain. He is alive though, he is a fighter. He will need to keep fighting as the battle ahead of him will be a difficult and painful one."
After hearing all of this, Hannibal let his breath out. Face was alive. They had a long road ahead of them, but they would get through that and whatever they had to deal with in the long run would be dealt with. All that mattered right now was that he made it through the surgery.
Murdock stopped twisting the hat in his hands, put it on his head, and smiled for the first time since they got to the doctor's office.
BA grabbed the gold chest hanging on his chest and mouthed a silent prayer of thanks.
"Can we see him?" This anxious request coming from Murdock, though all three men were ready to go to their fallen friend's side.
"For a few minutes, he's not awake, but talk to him and he may hear you."
"Afterwards, I have a guest house you may stay in, it's right next door, so you won't be far from him."
"I must warn you that Face has several tubes and needles attached to him and he is very pale due to the loss of blood. He will probably look horrible to you, but he is stable and doing well considering what he has gone through."
Hannibal shook the Dr's hand and gave him his most sincere thanks, then the three men walked into the room.
Face was deathly pale and his small frame looked incredibly vulnerable and fragile laying in the bed, attached to numerous tubes and wires.
The feeling of guilt immediately hit Hannibal again. He was the first to Face's side and he picked up the ghost white hand.
He held it tightly while kneeling down to Face's ear. "You made it, kid. Now, we just have to get through the recovery, and we'll do that together. Whatever it takes we'll do it."
He laid the hand down and stepped to the foot of the bed, rubbing the socked foot, as Murdock stepped into the Colonels's place. He picked the hand up and held it silently, rubbing the top of it. BA went to the other side of the bed and did the same thing to the other hand, showing a side that isn't often seen. Together the three of them stand, giving their strong but silent support, hoping their friend, brother, and son knows they are there and that they will get through the struggle that lay ahead, as a team and family.
They stay like that until Dr. Haskell comes and tells them they need to leave the room and let Face rest. "You can see him again in the morning,
you need your sleep as well. He is stable and resting comfortably right now. You can relax.". With that, they tell Face where they will be, assure him they will be back early in the morning, and walk to the guest house next door.