Disclaimer – See Chapter 1

Authors note – See Chapter 1

Breathing Underwater
By:
AngelBabs81 and potterfan2006

Chapter 6

Levin allowed her to rest, getting the results back from the lab assistant of her most recent blood draws. Sammie's blood oxygen level was increasing, nitrogen and carbon dioxide was decreasing which was what they were looking for. Based on these lab results, she might be out of the hyperbaric chamber sometime in the evening.

SQ-SQ-SQ

A few hours had passed and Levin went back to Sammie's bedside, "Dr. Williams," he called softly.

"Yes," she replied groggily, as her eyes opened.

"Two things. First, I am going to draw blood again and second, would you like to try and drink something?"

"Okay."

He tapped the glass, got a lab assistant to get the blood samples and bring a glass of water. Minutes later, the glass was there, he sat beside her head, lifted it slightly and let her sip a little bit.

Sammie sighed when the water ran down throat, "That tastes good."

He chuckled and gave her a little more. "We'll see what this next result comes up as, but based on what I've seen, it looks like you might be able to get out of here this evening."

There was a knock on the glass and he turned to see a refreshed Dr. Westphalen. "I see she's awake," Westphalen spoke, smiling. "How are you feeling, Dr. Williams?"

"Better, but still a little tired."

"Dr. Levin, you can release those straps as long as she promises to remain still. You can't even stretch until your blood gas levels are completely normal and we know there are no more bubbles."

Levin shook his head, "I don't advise that Doctor. Just removing those straps may jostle a bubble in the wrong direction."

Westphalen paused to think, and nodded again before she sighed, "Dr Levin's right. Sorry, Dr. Williams."

"It's okay; I sort of want to keep my life any way. So I'll live with being tied down," Sammie said with some humor.

Westphalen looked at Levin who tried to hide a smirk. "I will relieve you in about an hour."

"Take your time" he replied. As he looked to Sammie, his stomach growled and he laughed, "Maybe I should have said to hurry instead."

Sammie chuckled, "I am stating to regret not eating dinner when I had the chance."

"Well, right now, you'll have to survive on water and IV fluids' until you get out of here."

Sammie nodded her head in understanding, "Do you know what they are having for dinner tonight?"

Levin shook his head, "the recommendation for you, is to keep it light with easy digestible foods so you don't get nausea and vomit."

"Knowing Cook from the rumors that I have heard, we may have something nasty for dinner anyway, so it won't be a problem to eat something light."

"Well, it's not that bad, but my recommendation and probably Dr. Westphalen's, would be toast, bread or crackers and applesauce. Nothing tangy, sweet, or spicy."

"I understand."

"Got to love lab assistants," Levin smiled, as he got the latest computer print out of the results and opened her chart, filling in the information.

"So, how am I doing Doc?"

"Oxygen and carbon dioxide levels are almost back to normal," he informed with a grin. "Possibly another 3-6 hours."

"Ok," she said closing her eyes. "I'm going to go back to sleep now"

TBC…