Chapter 33
Catherine honestly didn't know how to break the news about Joe to Jenny, so she chickened out and remained quiet about the subject. They talked about general things until Catherine's stomach began to growl. She laughed and claimed that it was the baby that was hungry. Jenny shook her head and went to the phone. She ordered Chinese food to be delivered and then insisted Catherine stay.
"You know I will! Every time I mention to William that he should try to make Moo Goo Gai Pan he glares at me muttering about 'no foreign food from his kitchen'!"
Jenny laughed and patted Catherine's shoulder in sympathy.
Catherine didn't stay long after lunch was over. Jenny insisted she was fine, and because of the baby, Catherine was always tired in the late afternoon. The long cab ride would get her home just in time for a nap.
While Catherine and Jenny had their visit, the hospital chamber back in the tunnels was a hive of activity. Somehow Mary had gotten wind of the X-ray machine arriving and she hurried to dress and return to help. Rebecca was still there along with Father, Peter, and Vincent. Winslow and Kanin had been dismissed after getting the machine into the room because it was becoming too crowded.
Father and Peter poured over the instruction book while the rest waited to be told what to do. Father looked up at Devin at one point and asked, "Devin you aren't wearing anything metal are you?"
"Oh come on!" he protested, "You guys put me in a tunnel nightshirt before you did this cast! What kind of question is that?!"
"I was just checking," Father replied.
"Well enough! If you don't remember how to use the blasted machine, let Peter do it! I'm sure that his knowledge is a lot more up to date!"
"Devin!" Vincent chided.
"Hey it may be harsh, but you know its true Vincent!"
"Devin is right Vincent. My knowledge over the last thirty plus years has only been from medical journals and magazine articles. Peter is better suited to do this X-ray and I will merely observe," Father replied.
Peter spoke up, "Running the machine is just a matter of getting it placed right and then turning it on. The true skill comes in reading the slides when we get them developed."
"In that we will rely on you as well Peter," Father insisted.
"Oh no you don't, Jacob! When you were Above, you used to be a pro at picking out the slightest flaw in X-rays! I am sure that you haven't lost that ability," Peter stated as he and Vincent moved the machine in place over Devin.
"You will need to remain as still as possible for fifteen seconds Devin. We want to get a good clear picture."
Devin nodded his understanding and then froze in position as the machine was turned on. The process didn't take long at all, the wait would come while the film was developed. Time crawled by as they all waited and worried. The hour, that seemed to stretch like several, went by and then three of them waited some more as Peter and Father stared at the films.
Vincent, Rebecca, and Devin could only look on as the two doctors poured over their work. The two of them talked in hushed whispers for a while nodding and pointing at times. Finally it was Rebecca that could stand the suspense no longer. "Please tell us something!" she begged.
They got up from the table they had been working at and rejoined the others in the main part of the chamber. Peter nodded to Father who looked over the three worried faces and then settled on Devin's, "The X-rays are not totally conclusive. We can tell that your back is not broken, but because of the swelling we still can't determine if the cause of your temporary paralysis is bruising or a pinched nerve. If it is just bruising, it will heal on it's own in a few days. However, if it is a pinched nerve it might mean surgery to fix it. But in either case, you should make a full recovery Devin."
"That's wonderful news!" Rebecca exclaimed.
To be continued…..