Chapter 8
Cait and Aaron walked into Dave's room on the 7th floor about 9:45. He had been moved there in the night from recovery. He was still sleeping from the pain meds, but he showed signs of it wearing off, just as the nurses had predicted.
A couple of minutes later, his eyes slowly opened and then shut. Finally, they opened and he looked around. He saw Aaron first, who rubbed his right knee. "How do you feel?"
"Like my throat is lined with sandpaper," he croaked out.
Cait rubbed his chest. "They put you down pretty strong last night. Dave you can't do much moving around for a couple of days or that wound will reopen. Arteries are very touchy." Just then a nurse's aide came in with hospital issue mug, filled with ice water. "Can he have some of that?" Cait asked.
"That's why they sent me in." Cait took it and bent the straw to Dave's mouth.
"Just a few sips first," Cait cautioned. "Don't push it," before the aide could say it. Cait looked at her. "I'm a doctor." The aide nodded, smiled and left.
"Why do I think you're going to be saying that a lot Doc in the next couple of days?" Aaron teased. Dave lifted a certain finger at Aaron as he took the sips. Hotch just smiled at his friend and partner.
The cold water down his throat felt almost as good as eighteen year old scotch. Almost, Dave thought. Cait pulled the straw away. "Can't I have more?"
"In a minute or two; let's see how you handle that first. You start throwing up because the water doesn't work with the anesthesia, and you'll be right back in surgery getting the same procedure done."
Dave relaxed against the pillow and looked at Aaron. "How are the boys?"
"They're fine Dave. Matt was still up when JJ called Cait last night while I was riding with you in the ambulance, so he knew. We told the other two at breakfast this morning."
"Figured Matt would hold down the fort," Dave said, still a bit hoarsely. "Cait, all my stomach is doing is grumbling for food. Can I please have more of that water?"
Cait smiled at him, and grabbed the mug. Dave started to push himself up from his prone position. "Dave," Cait scolded, "you have to stay flat. What did I just tell you? You can't put any pressure on those sutures and stitches."
Dave settled back down and Cait helped him drink more of the water. He took a pause and looked at Aaron. "The Ice Queen let you out of the office?"
"She gave all of us the morning off. And btw, don't say that around our youngest son again."
Dave flashed his wicked smile, although a bit weakly. "I still say she had a heart transplant while she was off." Hotch just shook his head at his friend. But he knew Bureau policy mandated to him as a Unit Chief he could not reveal why Strauss had took her recent leave. Of course, in the privacy of their bedroom, Cait knew.
Just then, a white lab jacketed doctor entered the room. "Good morning Agent Rossi. I am Dr. Nickoli, a member of Dr. Petrovsky's team. He was your surgeon last night. I will be overseeing your recovery. How do you feel," Nickoli asked, as he shook Rossi's hand.
"Hungry," Dave simply answered and motioned to Cait for more water.
"Excuse me; you need to go easy on that. Agent Rossi is….."
"Dr. Nickoli, this is my family; Aaron Hotchner," Dave said as he gestured to Hotch. The two men shook hands. "And his wife, Dr. Cait Barkley."
Nickoli smiled slightly as he shook her hand. "Pleasure to meet you Dr. Barkley; your reputation precedes you. I now get the family connection," Nickoli said, looking at the two men. "Because Mr. Hotchner, you do not share Agent Rossi's Italian heritage."
"Doctor, it's Agent Hotchner as well. And you still haven't addressed why I'm hungry." Nickoli looked at Cait.
"Have fun Doctor," she said with a smile.
"Agent Rossi, I'll get a nurse in here to get you a snack. We wanted to see how you handled the water first," as Dave took another gulp that Cait offered. "After that, we're going to put you a more mild pain killer, but enough to make you sleep more. With your blood loss and your BP still being a bit down, that's what you need most. How is the pain?"
"It hurts around the wound, but other than that I feel fine. Just a little weak."
Nickoli smiled. "When is the last time you ate?"
Dave looked at Aaron. "The both of us grabbed a quick sandwich around 2 yesterday afternoon," Hotch answered for him.
"I've read the incident report in the file. Once you are a bit more stable, getting some food in you will quickly improve your condition."
"Dr. Nickoli, Aaron and I have three sons that want to come and see Dave later this afternoon. Could we bring him some food then and any restrictions?"
"The meds I'm prescribing should wear off around late this afternoon, so I think that would be a great plan. And since there is nothing wrong with his digestive system, I don't see any food being any obstacle. Just go easy. I'll note in his file not to schedule food service for tonight." Cait smiled at him. "In the meantime Agent Rossi, it is imperative that you remain flat for at least another 24 hours."
"I already got that sermonette Doctor." Nickoli smiled.
"I'll see that you get a bite to eat. And please know that I'm on call, if you need anything."
Dave stuck out his hand. "Thank you doctor." Nickoli shook it and left.
Before Cait could ask, Dave looked at her. "Sal's Pizza."
"Way ahead of you Dave," she smiled at him.
Within an hour, Dave had a snack, received his pain meds, and fell contently to sleep.
-00CM00-
As Hotch pulled Cait's vehicle towards the FBI Training Academy on the grounds of the Marine base in Quantico, he looked at his watch and then at her. "Do you mind coming up and talking with the team? I'm sure they will all be in by now and want to know how Dave's doing." Hotch's SUV was still there from the day before.
Cait smiled at him. "Just let me check in with the boys." Aaron nodded and Cait made the connection and put her cell on speaker. They filled the boys in on how Dave was doing.
Being escorted by the Unit Chief of the BAU, Cait quickly made it through the security checkpoint on the ground floor and they got off the elevator together on the sixth floor to see Garcia and Morgan walking down the hall, both carrying their coffee mugs.
Garcia gave Cait her usual hug, which Cait reciprocated. She and Morgan shared a hug as well. Aaron opened the glass door with the BAU logo and let his wife, Garcia and Morgan enter as he followed them. He noticed JJ, Prentiss and Reid already at their desks. He rubbed Cait's arm. "Let me get my briefcase in my office and give Chief Strauss a head's up. She'll want an update as well."
Cait warmly smiled at her husband as she nodded her head. The three of them made small talk in the BAU break room. "Cait, I know you are the empress, I mean goddess of your kitchen," Cait beamed at Garcia, "but you're sure I can't help with anything for Matt's grad party?"
"Thank you Penelope, but I've got it under control. My parents, as well as my brother Jake are flying in tomorrow. And Aaron's brother and wife arrive Friday afternoon. I've got plenty of help. I'm just looking forward to you and Kevin being there. You too, Derek."
"Cait, I wouldn't miss that spread I'm sure you are going to lay out for the world," he smiled.
Cait winked at Garcia. "The way to a man's heart…."
"Is being damn good in the kitchen," Morgan said, wrapping his arm around Cait's shoulder as he beat his partner in crime to the punch line. "And you Mother Goose have got that down." He kissed her cheek.
"Amen to that," Reid added, as he joined them. He greeted Cait, as Emily did as well. JJ, hanging up her phone, joined Hotch to be with the group. As they all gathered, Hotch noticed Chief Strauss entering through the side door to the bullpen.
As she started to join the group, Brian Anderson and Gina LaSalle, working on something together at Anderson's desk, approached the group. Anderson spoke up. "Ma'am, sir," he said nodding at Strauss and Hotch. "We know Dr. Barkley is here to give the team an update on Agent Rossi's condition." He looked around the bullpen and then at Hotch. "Sir, we'd all like to know."
"It would be appreciated sir," Gina added.
Hotch smiled at his two agents and then his wife and made introductions to the other two agents. Although they had briefly met at Haley's funeral, Cait warmly greeted them. Strauss asked, "Do you mind Dr. Barkley?"
"Not at all Chief Strauss." Cait smiled at Aaron. That Dave was highly regarded by the group was one thing. Cait also knew Dave's personality had made him very open to all the agents in room. Dave didn't rely on his reputation to get along with all the agents in the office. It was just Dave being Dave.
Hotch got all their attention, told them to let calls go to voice mail, and introduced Cait. She quickly filled them all in on how Dave had progressed since entering the hospital.
One of the senior support agents spoke up. "So he's going to make a full recovery?"
"He should be rattling around here on crutches within two weeks," Cait smiled. The entire group breathed a sigh of relief and smiled at her.
The team, including Strauss, went to the round table room to ask a few more questions and then dispersed to get to their after action reports from the case done. Cait, reaching for Aaron to give him a hug to leave, was interrupted by Strauss.
"Cait, how in the world are they going to keep David towing the line with what he has to do to make a full recovery?"
Cait just smiled at her. "He will have three options, two of which he will not accept. And option three will make sure he tows the line."
"Doc?" Aaron simply asked. She smiled at them both.
"Trust me."
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