Chapter 24

Mary, Peter, Father, Catherine, and Vincent had all eaten lunch in the hospital chamber waiting for Devin to wake. He had moaned and turned his head from side to side a couple of times like he was trying to wake up, but his eyes remained firmly closed.

It was late afternoon before Jenny finally managed to get away from work and head Below. Just moments before her arrival had been announced on the pipes Devin had at last opened his eyes. Rebecca was sent for just as Vincent had promised he would.

Devin took a few moments to focus on what was going on and when he saw five anxious faces gathered around him he asked, "What happened?"

Vincent answered, "There was a cave in..."

Before he could say any more Devin had realized something, "Why can't I move?!"

This time it was Father that spoke, "Devin your back was injured and we need to keep you still until we know the extent of the damage."

Because his head was the only thing he could move, Devin craned to look at his body, however all but his arms was covered with a sheet and blanket, what he did see though caused him to demand, "Why am I tied down?!" Just then Rebecca and Jenny entered the room.

Rebecca knew the answer because she had been there when Devin came out of surgery, but Catherine had not explained the full details of his injuries to Jenny, so she was shocked to see that Devin was indeed restrained. She demanded to the room in general, as she crossed to his side and took hold of his hand, "Is this really necessary?!"

"It is," Peter Alcott told her, "We need to keep him from moving until we know the extent of his back injury."

"Alright, I could see that while he was asleep, he could move without knowing it. But, now that he is awake he could surely be set free!" Jenny protested.

"We have known Devin…longer than you have Ms. Aaronson, and know that while he would have the best intentions of behaving at first. As soon as he gets bored he would be trying to get up," Rebecca informed her.

"Hey! Will you guys quit talking about me like I'm not even in the room!?" Devin snapped.

"We know you are here Devin. You are, in fact, why all of us are here, because we care about you," Vincent tried to soothe his brother.

Devin, however, was not in the mood to be soothed! "Vincent, I want you to untie me right now! I know I can count on you to get me out of this nonsense!"

"Devin, you know that I always 'have your back' as it were, but in this case, that means doing what is best for you even if that is not what you want me to do. Now Father and Peter have said that the swelling will be down in a couple of days and they can better access your back injury then."

"A couple of DAYS?!" Devin practically shouted. "Do you really thing I am going to lay here flat on my back for DAYS until the old man gets his act together?!"

"Devin!" several people exclaimed at once.

"Listen here Devin!" Peter demanded, "The wait for results is not just Jacob's idea! There is no way we can tell without an X-ray what is going on with your back until the swelling goes down."

"Then why not get me an X-ray?!"

"Because this is the first I have heard of it," Catherine replied. "I will go Above and arrange for one to be delivered as soon as possible."

"Catherine that is not possible. X-ray machines are huge," Father informed her.

"They have portable ones these days Father," she answered.

"It must still be horribly expensive," Mary protested.

Devin and Jenny said in almost the same breath, "Catherine can afford it." Although one said it kindly, the other did not.

"I can, and money is no object if it will help my family. Peter, I will have it sent to your home instead of the office. It will be easier to get it Below that way, won't it?"

"Yes, Cathy. But you should try and rent one if possible instead of purchasing it," Peter advised.

She nodded her agreement at the suggestion, knowing full well that she wouldn't hesitate to buy the machine if need be. Catherine gave Vincent a quick hug, telling him she wouldn't be away long, and left.

To be continued…..