"Mrs. Carter," Lori heard the desk nurse call and she looked her way. "They have taken your husband up for a scan."
"During visiting hours?"
"No, he should have been back by now but they were backed up. He should be back shortly. You can wait in his room."
"Okay thank you."
Lori went into Callen's room and sat down on the chair. Five minutes later Callen was brought in.
"Oh hello Mrs. Carter," the doctor greeted her. "Sorry your husband wasn't back yet at the start of visiting hours. Scans were a little backed up."
"It's okay."
"I'll come by later with the scan results."
"Thank you doctor."
The nurses settled Callen back into the room before they left as well.
"Hey G," Lori greeted him and gave him a kiss.
"Hey Lori."
"How are you doing?"
"I'm okay. Just bummed I have to lay around all day. I can't even move."
"I know honey, I know it's tough but you have to."
"I know. I'm glad to see you again."
Lori sat down on the chair next to the bed and grabbed Callen's hand. "Me too honey. I miss you at home."
"Don't worry honey. I'll be back before you know it. I'll be around so much you want to get rid of me," Callen joked.
"Get rid of you? Never," Lori replied with a smile.
"I'll do everything I can to get back on my feet as soon as possible."
"Take you time G, don't rush it."
Just before Lori had to go back home the doctor stopped by.
"Well, I've got your scan results. They are not that bad, which is a good sign. But there's still significant damage to your vertebrae. For now you have to lie down on the bed and stay as still as possibly."
"For how long doctor?" Callen asked.
"For at least two weeks. Then we'll take another scan to see if there's been any progress. But it's vital that you move as less as possible for the next two weeks. The early stages are very important. If you do too much right now it will possibly make things worse."
Lori saw that her husband didn't like lying still for two full weeks.
"Don't worry doctor. I'll make sure that he does," Lori told the doctor.
"Do I have to stay in the hospital?" Callen asked.
"Yes sir. For now at least. It's best for now so we can monitor you. I know it's hard sir but it's what's best for you now."
"Okay," Callen replied but he didn't like it.
"I'll be back later to check on you."
"It's gonna be okay G."
"Two weeks in the hospital! I have to stay here for at least two more weeks!"
"I know honey, I know. You have to okay. It's what's best right now. I'll be here and I'll bring the kids with me too. I promise. And maybe we can skype or something when I'm home. It's gonna be okay G. We'll get through this."
"I'm not good at staying in a hospital, let alone lie still for two full weeks."
"I know G. But you have too. If you don't you may be paralyzed forever. It's gonna be okay. You can watch some TV or catch up on your languages. They'll be over before you know it. But it is gonna be a long road. Even when you get out of here you have to take your time to let your body heal."
"I know. It just sucks."
"Yes it does G. But I'll be there to take care of you. It's gonna be okay."
Lori stayed until the visiting hours were over.
"I'll see you tonight." Lori gave Callen a kiss. "I love you."
"I love you too."
"And lie still."
"I will, I promise."
"Good."
Lori gave Callen one more kiss before she left. Just after she left Sam stepped into the room.
"Hey G," Sam greeted his partner.
"Hey Sam, how are you?"
"I'm good. Don't worry about me. How are you doing? Lori told me what happened."
"I've been better. Have to stay here for at least two more weeks and I have to lie still."
"You have an injury to your vertebrae G, you have to lay still if it's gonna get better."
"I know, I just hate it."
"I know you do. I remember how you were when you got shot back in two thousand nine. But this is different, you could have been paralyzed man."
"Yeah I know, guess I was lucky."
"Yeah I guess. Don't worry about Lori and the kids. I've asked Michelle and she agreed to go help them if necessary."
"Thanks Sam. Have you heard anything from the office?"
"Yeah just now. Eric and Nell found the group and Kensi and Deeks have arrested them all. They are in custody. They finished the case."
"That's good."
"Rest up G. I'll stop by later."
"When can you get out of here?"
"Probably tomorrow. Just rest up G. It's gonna be okay."
Sam left the room and went back to his own room.
….
Emily was at the house just after 8am the next day. It was Monday and Myra and Julie had to go to pre-school in the morning. Lori was going to work in the morning. It was her first time going back after the boys were born.
"Alright, Myra, Julie, it's time to go. Put your jackets and shoes on," Lori spoke just before 8.30am.
Lori helped Myra and Julie with their jackets and shoes.
"Bye my little boys, be good to Emily," Lori spoke to Finn and Charlie and gave them both a kiss.
"Don't worry about them Lori, they'll be fine."
"You can always call me."
"I know."
Lori gave them both one more kiss before she left. She grabbed Myra and Julie's backpacks and went to the car. She strapped Myra and Julie in their car seats before getting in herself and she drove to school.
"Have fun at school today," Lori told them and gave them both a kiss.
Myra and Julie walked into the classroom. "Hello Ms. Newman," Myra and Julie greeted their teacher.
"Good morning Myra, Julie."
Myra and Julie put their cups and snacks away in the box and sat down at their table. Once Lori knew that Myra and Julie were safely inside she left and went to work.
"Good morning Mrs. Callen," Hetty called as Lori walked in and Lori walked over to her office.
"Good morning Hetty."
"How's Mr. Callen doing?"
Lori sat down on the chair. "He's doing better. He's got a long road to go but the doctor is very positive. He has to stay in the hospital for at least two weeks and he has to lay completely still to let his body heal. After two weeks the doctor will take him for a scan again and then we'll see how it goes from there. But it will be a while before he's back to full fitness. The doctor said the whole process might take four to six months. But we'll have to see how it progresses and how the physical therapy goes."
"Knowing Mr. Callen he's not gonna like it."
"No he won't. He already wanted to go out of the hospital. But don't worry Hetty I'll keep an eye on him."
"That's good. If you need some time off just let me know."
"Thanks Hetty. While G is in the hospital I'm okay to work. Once he's home I'll just have to see how it goes."
"If you need some assistance at home with Mr. Callen just let me know, I might know someone who can help you."
"Thank you Hetty."
Lori walked to the bullpen and sat behind her desk. It felt good to be back at work again but she missed her two little boys at home. But today was only a half day. She would go pick Myra and Julie up at 12.30pm and she would take them to see Callen.
"Morning," Kensi and Deeks spoke as they walked into the bullpen.
"Morning Kensi, Deeks."
"Welcome back Lori," Kensi spoke.
"Thanks."
"How's Callen?"
"He's okay considering. The doctor took him for a scan yesterday and it didn't look worse than before which was good. But he has to lay flat and still for at least two weeks. Then they would take another scan and we'll go from there. Then maybe he can start physical therapy."
"How long will it be before Callen is better?"
"Not sure yet but the doctor said it could take between four to six months."
"Callen's not gonna like that," Deeks interjected.
"Nope he's not. But he has to. But yeah it's gonna be a long and difficult road."
"If you ever need anything just let us know," Kensi offered.
"Thanks Kens."
Luckily today was pretty quiet so they could catch up on some paperwork. Just after noon Lori left and went to the girls' school.
"Mommy!" Myra and Julie yelled as they came out the school.
"Hey Myra, hey Julie," Lori greeted them and gave them both a kiss. "Did you have fun at school?"
"Yes. Teawer read a book and made dwawing," Myra answered.
"What about you Julie?"
"I play pwincess and made paint."
"That's very nice. Come on let's go get something to eat and then we'll go see daddy."
"Yay daddy!" the girls cheered.
Lori took the girls to a small café nearby to have lunch. It was nice to just go out for a little while with the girls. They had been busy at home with the boys so it was nice to do something with just the girls.
"Would you like something to drink?" The waitress.
"I would like some coffee," Lori answered. "Myra, Julie, what do you like to drink?"
"Coco," Myra and Julie answered.
"Chocolate milk please," Lori told the waitress.
"Thank you, I'll be back later to take your order."
Lori looked at the menu card. "What do you want to eat Julie?"
"Pancakes!"
Lori looked at the menu card. They did have pancakes. "Do you want something on it?"
"Powder and banana."
"And you Myra? What do you want?"
"Pancakes! Wiss syrup."
"Okay."
When they waitress came back Lori ordered the pancakes for Myra and Julie and she took a sandwich with sunny side up eggs. Myra and Julie got kids pancake in the shape of Mickey Mouse.
Once they had finished their lunch Lori paid for it and she took the girls to the hospital.
"Mommy, wewe daddy?" Julie asked as they walked into the hospital.
"He's upstairs in a room."
They took the elevator upstairs and went to the ICU. Before walking in Lori crouched down in front of the girls.
"Listen girls, daddy is very sick so we have to be very careful with him. Daddy's back hurts so we can't go jumping or climbing on his bed. We have to be very careful. We can't do too much with daddy okay."
"Okay mommy," Myra and Julie responded.
Lori told the desk nurse she was here to see Callen and she was send in. Lori, Myra and Julie had to sanitize their hands before they could walk into Callen's room.
"Daddy!" Myra and Julie squealed as soon as they saw Callen.
"Hey my sweet little girls," Callen spoke with a smile as he saw Myra and Julie.
Myra wanted to climb onto the bed. "Myra! What did I say?! No climbing on the bed," Lori told her in a stern voice.
"I give daddy kiss."
Lori lifted Myra up so she could give Callen a kiss.
"Hey sweetie," Callen spoke to her.
"Daddy sick?" Myra asked with a sad face.
"Yes, but don't worry. Daddy will be just fine. Don't worry about daddy."
"I give daddy kiss too," Julie interrupted.
Lori put Myra on the ground and picked Julie up so she could give Callen a kiss too.
"Hey sweetie."
"I miss daddy home."
"I know sweetie, I miss you too. But daddy has to stay here."
"How long?"
"I don't know yet sweetie. But for a while. But don't worry mommy is home with you and I'm sure Emily, Sylvie and maybe grandpa and grandma will come and help mommy."
"I want daddy home," Julie said and she started crying a bit.
"I know sweetie. Daddy wants to be home too. But daddy has to stay here so daddy can get better. But you can come visit me with mommy."
"I sweep here with daddy?"
Callen couldn't help but smile a bit.
"Sorry sweetie, that's not possible. But during the day you can come visit me."
"I make daddy dwawing."
"I'd love that sweetie."
Lori sat down on the chair with Myra and Julie on her lap. They stayed until visiting hours were over. They all gave Callen a kiss before going back home.
…..
It had been two weeks since Callen had to lay still. They would take him for another scan today and then they would see how it would go from there. Callen hoped that he at least could go home. He knew he had to take it easy and probably lie a lot but at least he would be home.
"Hey honey," Lori spoke as she walked into Callen's room just after 2pm.
"Hey baby."
Lori gave Callen a kiss. "Have they taken you for a scan already?"
"Yes they have. The doctor would come by shortly to tell us the results."
"Okay good."
"How are things at home?"
"They are good. The kids all miss you but we've got it covered. Emily has been there a lot and my sister has been helping out too. Michelle stopped by a couple of times and so did my parents."
"That's good. How about work?"
"It's going good. Got some cases but we've managed to solve them."
"You're going out into the field with Sam now?"
"No not yet, Sam's still at home. We all miss you at work G but we've got it covered. Don't worry about it."
A few minutes later the doctor walked in.
"Ah good Mrs. Carter, you're here. I've got your husband's scans results here."
"How is it doctor?" Lori asked.
"Well it's good. The damage is getting better. It's not completely gone yet but it's less than two weeks ago."
"So I can go home?" Callen asked hopeful.
"Unfortunately not. But we are gonna move you to a regular room and slowly we can start physical therapy. You still have to lay down a lot but we can get you moving a bit again. But it's not gonna be easy and it might hurt. We'll evaluate again at the end of the week to see how it's going and what our next steps are gonna be. But first we're gonna move you to a regular room and then later today a physical therapist will stop by to go over the plan with you."
"Okay thank you."
A few nurses came and rolled Callen's bed out after unhooking the machines and hanging everything on the bed so it would go with them. Lori grabbed Callen's stuff and followed the doctor. They brought Callen to a room on the orthopedic floor. They put the bed next to the bed that was in the room. Carefully they rolled Callen on his side so they could slide a backboard underneath him. They picked Callen up on the backboard and put him on the other bed. Carefully they rolled Callen on his side again and removed the backboard. The nurses hooked Callen back up to the machine and made sure the bags were hanging good again and that all the wires were still in place.
"How was that moving for you back? Not too painful?" The doctor asked once the nurses were done.
"It was okay."
"Okay good. The physical therapist will stop by around 4pm and talk you through the plan."
"Alright. Thank you doctor."
Since Callen wasn't in the ICU anymore Lori could stay a little longer. Lori left the hospital just after 3pm and promised she would be back tonight at 7pm.
Callen was glad that he was in this room and no longer in the ICU, apart from Lori being able to visit more Callen was now finally allowed to slowly start moving again. He couldn't wait to get out of here but he knew he didn't have the strength just yet.
Just after 4pm the physical therapist stopped by.
"Hello Mr. Carter, I'm your physical therapist Joey. How are you feeling?"
"Could have been better."
"I understand that you have been lying down for the past two weeks since you had an injury to your vertebrae."
"Yes that is correct. Doctor had me lying flat for two weeks and no moving."
"Okay. I'm here to help you. It's gonna be rough at first. You had severe damage to your vertebrae so it's gonna take a while for that to be healed. We have to go slowly at first, not put too much weight on your back just yet. But we can do some small exercises. I'm just gonna examine you first so I know what I'm dealing with, is that okay?"
"Yeah it's fine."
Joey stepped up to the bed and felt around Callen's back and did some small movements with Callen's legs.
"That's very good sir. Now can you sit up for me with your legs over the side of the bed?"
Joey slowly angled the head rest up so Callen was already a bit more in a sitting position. He then helped Callen sit up and grabbed Callen's legs to swing them over the side.
"How's this sir?"
"It's okay. But it does hurt a bit in my back."
"That's to be expected. Do you think you can take a few steps so you can sit down on the chair?"
"I can try."
With Joey's help Callen stood up. It actually hurt pretty much to just stand like this. He hadn't noticed until now how much his back actually hurt. Slowly Callen tried to step forward. It was harder than Callen had thought.
"Take slow short steps sir."
Normally Callen would have made it over to the chair in like one or two steps but he took much longer now. After a few minutes Callen was finally seated in the chair. There was a pillow in the chair to support his back.
"That was very good sir. You did really good." Callen didn't want to admit it but the very short walk had made him tired. "Does your back hurt when you sit like this? Is it uncomfortable?"
"No, it's okay. It's manageable."
"Okay that's good. Just sit here like this, I'll be back in fifteen minutes to help you back in the bed."
Joey left and Callen sat there in the chair. It was nice to be out of the bed but he wasn't looking forward getting back into the bed again. It was hard to just walk this short distance. This was going to be a long road before he was back to full fitness again.
Fifteen minutes later Joey was back in the room.
"How did it go sir?"
"It was fine but I can feel my back is starting to hurt again."
"Okay. Let's get you back in the bed again."
"Can I use the bathroom first?"
"Yeah sure."
Since Callen could walk a bit again the doctor had removed the catheter. Joey grabbed the wheelchair that was in the room and helped Callen sit down in the wheelchair. Since the bathroom was a little further away Callen couldn't walk that just yet. Once at the toilet Joey helped him up and sat him down on the toilet. He gave Callen some privacy until Callen was done and then helped him back in the wheelchair. He put the wheelchair a little bit away from the bed so that Callen did have to walk a few steps. Callen was dead tired when he was back in bed.
"You did really well sir. I'll be back later to help you in the chair again."
"That's fine."
Not soon after Joey left Callen fell asleep.
When Lori came during the evening visiting hours Joey was just helping Callen back into bed.
"Hey G," Lori spoke surprised to see that Callen was out of the bed.
"Hey Lori."
Lori waited until Callen was back in the bed and Joey had left.
Lori gave Callen a kiss. "What were you doing out of bed?"
"Therapy. They want me out of the bed and sitting."
"Ah okay. How did it go?"
"The walking was actually pretty hard, harder that I thought."
"It's gonna take some time G."
"I know. I just wish it would go faster."
"I know honey."
Not soon after Lori left Callen fell asleep again.
Two hours later a nurse came storming into his room when she had heard a crash.