*WOW* thank you all for the great response to my story! I promise the end will be worth the wait :)
Newly walked in just as Doc finished giving Matt and Kitty his diagnosis of Festus condition.
Looking over the sick man himself, he turned back toward the older man who had become his mentor. "Is there anything I can do Doc," he asked.
"Yes Newly," Doc replied sadly. "You and Matt can take Festus up to my office. I can at least make him more comfortable there."
Kitty stepped to Doc's side to give Matt and Newly room to carry Festus out of the tack room. "I'm sorry I didn't listen to you Kitty," Doc said under his breath.
"Doc," Kitty replied harshly. "Now don't you go blaming yourself for this! You had no way of knowing!"
"Yes I did," Doc said angrily. "You told me he was ill! And I didn't do a damn thing about it! Who else can I blame!"
Kitty sighed, she should have known the old doctor would blame himself for Festus being sick, but she would have to deal with that later as she followed Doc up the stairs to his office.
Once inside, she busied herself by stroking up the fire in Doc's stove as the doctor opened his black medical bag and took out the silver and black stethoscope. Opening Festus shirt, he place the flat surface upon his bare chest and listen for the sound he already knew would be there.
"Take a listen," he said handing the instrument to Newly. "It's in both lungs and his heart rate is increasing."
Newly listened to both sides of Festus chest, before replying. "There must be something we can do Doc," he said watching the hill man struggle to breathe.
Doc swiped at his mustache deep in thought for a moment before turning toward the cabinet he kept his instruments in. Opening the doors, he pulled out the drawer that he kept his syringes in. Taking out the largest one he attached the longest needle he had and returned to the table.
"What are you thinking Doc," Newly asked looking at the instrument in the trained medical professionals hand.
"Improvise Newly," Doc said looking at Kitty. "Bring me that basin Kitty!"
Kitty brought the basin and smiled reassuringly at the older man.
"Newly, I'll need some alcohol," Doc ordered as Newly handed him the glass bottle of antiseptic.
Doc poured the alcohol on Festus left side then took a deep and steady breath before speaking. "If we drain the lungs of fluid then at least he'll have a chance of recovering. If we do nothing he'll die for sure!"
"I trust you Doc," Newly said with a nod.
"Thanks Newly," Doc replied placing a finger against Festus rib cage, he felt for a space between the ribs but nearest to the lung. Once he was satisfied he'd found the correct area, the doctor placed the tip of the needle against the flesh and with a steady pace he inserted it into Festus side. "If this works," he said drawing the plunger of the syringe back. "The liquid will be a different color than blood. If I've missed and its blood then I'll have to try again."
Gently pulling the needle from Festus side, Doc placed it into the basin and pushed the plunger. As the clear fluid filled the basin the old man smiled for the first time all evening. "Newly, get another syringe and do just as I did!"
"Yes sir," Newly said relived that they at least now had a purpose, they didn't just have to sit back and watch their friend die.
After the fifth syringe of fluid was removed from each lung, Doc immediately noticed an improvement on Festus breathing. Picking up the stethoscope, he listened to Festus chest and then let out the breath he had not realized he was holding.
"Well," Kitty pressed. "Has it worked?"
"I believe for the moment he's out of danger," Doc remarked with surprise.
"You did it Doc," Matt said.
"Don't go throwing a party yet," Doc admonished. "I said he was out of danger, he's still very sick and it's likely this is only going to be a temporary respite. His lungs could fill back up with fluid at any moment."
"How long Doc," Kitty asked.
"Could be days Kitty," Doc replied tugging at his earlobe. "We'll just have to wait and see."