Elise didn't think at this point that Brodi heard her, but she kept talking to him. It kept her mind off of things like, what was taking so long? He'd just had surgery, shouldn't someone be keeping a closer eye on him?
Just when she was about to cause a scene, the nurse returned. She didn't look up, wanting to keep her attention on Brodi. All she cared about was her friend; she had no time for small talk. Besides, shouldn't it be obvious that he needed attention? He was in excruciating pain, and the coughing spasms were terrifying her.
"He's in a lot of pain," she said between whispered words as she desperately tried to calm him. "Can't you give him something?"
"Of course. As soon as the doctor…"
"Yeah, he needs more. Do it."
Elise looked up gratefully at the doctor, who had apparently walked in before the nurse finished her sentence. Lucky for the nurse, Elise thought, because she was about to meet Elise Riggs in full fury. Of course, it would do Brodi no good if she were to get banned from the hospital before her friend even became lucid enough to figure out where he was. As it stood at the moment, she could only pray that she could soothe him enough to keep him from pulling something loose or hurting himself further.
The nurse nodded to the doctor and prepared a dose of whatever painkiller cocktail they were feeding him. She then kicked his oxygen up another couple of notches then slowly fed the syringe into the port in his IV.
Brodi looked at Elise, but there was so much pain and confusion in his eyes that she doubted he saw her.
"I'm here," she whispered, blinking away a tear. "I'm right here." She gripped his hand with one of hers, and buried the other in his hair while she stroked his temple and whispered to him. "Just hang on. That should help some."
His coughing eased up, and she lifted the oxygen mask enough to wipe his mouth with a tissue. He was still clutching at her hand, and still looking at her with a confusion that really tore at her heart. She kept whispering and making soothing noises, unsure what else to do. Finally the narcotics took their effect on him, and his grip on her hand relaxed and he was out again. Only then did Elise allow herself to be pushed out of the way by the doctor, who moved in to check his patient.
Elise watched as the doctor listened to Brodi's heart and breathing, then move on to check the dressing and the machines.
"He's not bleeding," he said, "and nothing appears to be loose." He followed the tubing from the incision in Brodi's side to the machine attached bedside. "His lungs sound good, and his heart rate is stable. Is his room on the post-surgery unit ready?"
"Yes, doctor."
"Go ahead and move him while he's out cold. No need to put him through the pain of moving him if we don't have to."
"Right away."
As the nurse left to make logistics arrangements for moving him, the doctor turned to Elise, who had collapsed into a chair.
"Miss Riggs?"
She looked up at him and nodded numbly.
"Yes?"
"You have durable power of attorney for him?"
Elise stood, sensing she might be in for a fight.
"Yes. I can receive information and make decisions if he's incapacitated. Dr…." She looked at him pointedly as she hesitated.
"Oh, Dr. Adams." He held out his hand and she shook it. "He's probably going to be out for a while. You should go home and get some rest."
"Thank you, Dr. Adams," she said, looking him in the eyes, "I appreciate the concern. But at the moment, I'd rather stay with him."
The doctor shrugged. "Suit yourself. But he really is going to be fine. He did exceptionally well with the surgery. The fact that he's an athlete and in fantastic shape are in his favor. He really did do very well. He's going to be on heavy narcotics for a few days, so in all likelihood he won't even know you're here. Take care of yourself; let us take care of him."
"I appreciate the concern, but I'm not leaving him. He's my best friend, and I'd rather be here whether he knows I'm here or not. Now, I'm going to go let our teammates know how he is, and then I'm going to join him in his room."
"I understand." he conceded, although Elise couldn't help but think that he looked annoyed. "I'm going to check on some other patients. Let me know if he needs anything. The nurses will page me."
Elise nodded to him as she followed him to the door. She didn't think she could stand watching him being moved, so she took note of his new room number then set off down the hall for the waiting room where her teammates were.
