Disclaimer: As before don't own Numb3rs or the characters.
A/N: This is a bit shorter than previous chapters, I've hurt my back and can't sit for long periods! Sorry. Back allowing I will update with the next chapter tomorrow.
Chapter Twenty Six – 10 Bones
It was some considerable time later that Doctor Jensen reappeared in the waiting area. The nurses had been patient with the amount of people there but they were starting to trip over them so they had asked him to come out and speak to them and see if he could get some to leave, this was after all an ER and a busy one at that, there were other patients and their families to consider. He stepped out of the trauma room and approached Don and his team.
"Can I please have the attention of anyone who is waiting for news on Agent Granger's condition?" He called, immediately the hubbub of noise stopped and dozens of faces turned to him, including those of his team and their family. "Colby is still in a critical condition, we have managed to bring his temperature back up so have now been able to assess his other injuries. He has several broken bones, due to the gunshot wound he lost a lot of blood, he has received transfusions for this but the loss of blood combined with the hypothermia sent him into shock and he is now in a coma and we have had to put him on a ventilator to assist his body to heal as he doesn't have the strength. He is going to require an operation both to remove the bullet and to repair one of the breaks, he will be going to the OR for this shortly. I appreciate that you all want to know how he is, but this is an ER and we have other patients and relatives to consider. Could I please ask that you all go home and get some rest, we will ensure that his family is kept up to date on his condition and I am sure that they in turn will let you know how he is doing."
This rapid fire update on Colby's condition was met with murmurs from those assembled.
"Doctor Jensen, my team and I will be staying, we are Colby's family as well, his other family are too far away to be here right now."
"I understand, but we can no longer have the other law enforcement officers hanging around the waiting area, it's just not equipped to deal with this amount of people."
"I will sort it." Don responded.
Doctor Jensen left to see to Colby's transfer to the surgical team for further treatment.
Turning to address the group at large, Don took a deep breath. "I want to thank you all for being here for Colby. Please, do as Doctor Jensen has asked and return home, I will personally ensure that any updates on his condition are passed on to you all."
The group started to disperse, but not before each of them approached the team and offered words of support.
When the final officer and agent had left the ER waiting area a nurse approached them. "Colby has been taken up to the OR, when they have finished operating he will be transferred to ICU, can I suggest you go upstairs to their waiting room, it will be quieter? Maybe get something to eat and drink as you will probably have a bit of a wait."
Alan thanked the nurse and ushered the others out of the ER and to the cafeteria, ignoring the protests. "You have to eat. You heard the nurse, he has only just gone to the OR, it won't take that long to get something to eat, you all need to keep your strength up."
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Once finished in the cafeteria, where they had consumed large quantities of coffee and picked at sandwiches they headed to the ICU waiting area. A nurse watched them arrive, she had been told by the nurse in the ER to expect them so she left them in peace.
They silently took their seats and began another vigil for Colby, each lost in their own thoughts.
David broke the silence. "Oh no, I totally forgot we promised Sammy we'd let her know when we found Colby."
"Damn, I did too. I better go and call her." Don sighed.
"Let me." Said Megan.
He knew he should do it, he was the supervisor, but he didn't think he could face making another call with the bleak news. Colby's Mom had broken down when he called her, she was unable to fly out to see him due to health issues, she would need to wait for Colby's sister to collect her and drive up. Don had assured her that he would phone as soon as there was any more news.
"Thanks Megan, I appreciate it." He reached up and squeezed her hand as she got up to make the call. She was gone no more than 10 minutes.
"Is she OK?" Asked Liz.
"Yeah, she wanted to come down, but I persuaded her to stay at home with Jenny. She isn't going to tell her anything yet, I said I'd call again once he was out of surgery." Silence descended on the group once more.
Three hours later another familiar face appeared at the waiting room door.
"Doctor Vassen, what are you doing here?" Asked David.
"I was the on call surgeon for the ER, I removed the bullet from his leg. One of our orthopaedic surgeons did the tibia repair."
"How is he?"
"Holding his own. What do you know about his injuries?" She asked cautiously.
Alan quickly filled her in on what they had been told in the ER.
"Colby has a total of 10 broken bones. Both his tibia were broken, one of which was so badly displaced it had to be pinned, the other will heal using just a cast. His right radius was also broken, but again it will heal with the aid of a cast. He has a skull fracture, but there is no sign of any bleed so we will just monitor him to ensure that remains the case. The least concerning of these breaks is 4 ribs and 2 fingers on his left hand, which we've taped together. To be honest considering he was hit by a car I would say that he is lucky that he hasn't got more broken bones."
"Will he make a full recovery?" Asked Alan.
"We don't know, his hypothermia was severe, couple that with blood loss and his other injuries his body is having trouble coping which is why he has slipped into a coma. I can say that if he makes it his bones will heal, he'll need physical therapy to regain full movement though."
"Do you know how long he is likely to remain in a coma?" Liz wanted to know.
"There is no way of knowing at the moment, everyone heals at different rates. Given Colby's previous injuries in the last 12 months it may take him longer to come back from this."
"Well I keep saying he is stubborn, lets hope I'm right." Stated Liz.
"He is being brought down from the OR, once he's settled the nurse will come and get you. I don't need to tell you the routine, you've all been here before, sadly. I'm about to go off duty, but I will drop by again tomorrow to check on him."
"Thanks Doc."
A short time later the ICU nurse came to get them, although there was eight of them she turned a blind eye and let them all go in together, they looked like they needed each others support to get through this. She showed them to the room and left to give them some privacy, knowing her patient was being monitored from a bank of screens nearby.
Colby was laying in the bed surrounded by machines, it was nothing they hadn't seen before, but this time it seemed so much worse. One leg was encased in a cast, the other had a metal cage type contraption holding the fracture in place. There was also a cast on his broken right arm. A warm blanket was covering him and out of the top they could see a line coming from a vein in his neck to an IV. Don walked up to the bed and gripped the bedside railing tightly, what he really wanted to do was get his hands on Xavier Heller for doing this to his agent. Alan saw the pent up anger in his eldest son, he couldn't blame Don for being angry, but now wasn't the time. He rested a hand on his shoulder. "Its OK Donnie." He said softly, the senior agent turned to his father, his eyes filled with pain and anger. "He will get through this and so will you."
Don simply nodded and stepped back from the bed. David and Liz stepped forward. Neither could quite comprehend how this had come to pass, but as they stood there they both vowed to get Colby back on his feet and back to work as soon as possible. Alan again stood close to support the younger generation.
Megan, Larry, Charlie and Amita stood round the bed together, they simply didn't know what to say or do. No words could explain the multitude of feelings that seeing someone as fit and athletic as Colby laying in that bed brought out in them.
"I want you all to go home and get some rest." Instructed Alan. "I am going to stay with Colby overnight. I am not taking no for an answer."
The patriarch had spoken, everyone wanted to argue with him, but one glance at the man told them it wasn't up for discussion and they all said their good nights and reluctantly left.