"I was burned out from exhaustion, buried in the hail
Poisoned in the bushes an' blown out on the trail
Hunted like a crocodile, ravaged in the corn
"Come in," she said, "I'll give you shelter from the storm" - Bob Dylan, Shelter from the Storm
Garcia caressed Reid's cheek and stroked his hair as she sang her second rendition of "Mr. Tamborine Man". She never would have pegged him for a Bob Dylan fan, but whatever helped him get through the night was fine by her.
"Miss Garcia?"
Garcia looked up to see that Dr. Cheng had arrived with two nurses who were already reaching for the guard rails that she had lowered. "It's time to take him upstairs."
"Okay." She turned back to Reid, "Sweetie, these nice nurses are going take you upstairs to get your back all fixed up, okay? I'll be here with your jello when you get back." She patted his head one last time before stepping away from the bed, noticing how he gripped the guard rails as soon as they went back up. "Take good care of him."
"We will." Then he was gone.
"Wait...where is Emily?" Garcia hadn't even seen her leave.
"She's already upstairs." Dr. Cheng replied. "She said you have the footage I ordered?"
"Um yes, I - wait, aren't you going upstairs too?"
Dr. Cheng shook her head. "Not yet. Dr. Baker is the anesthesiologist who will insert the epidural. The prep and procedure will take about 30 minutes. The medicine won't take effect for another 20. We have time."
50 more minutes of pain? Ooooh, my poor boy. She had thought it would be much quicker. 50 more minutes of staying with Reid in pain. The last 10 were all she could handle. She didn't envy Emily. "Oh, right. Footage. Here we go."
"I need to see the first footage of his head injury as well as the cardiac event Agent Hotcher mentioned and the time of the knife injury."
"We see the the head injury in the first footage, but not how he got it," Garcia explained as she pulled up the file and pressed play. As if watching this the first time hadn't been bad enough, now she was going to have to do explaining. She wished she had ear plugs as Reid's voice filled the room.
"I won't choose who gets slaughtered..."
Emily finally finished her 10 minutes of prep scrubbing. Every time she thought of complaining about the scalding water and smell of beta-dine she kept her trap shut. If it helped Reid, it was worth it. She held still as the nurses put the cap and gown on her, followed by the mask and gloves.
"Now what is your job in this?" the supervising nurse asked her, again.
"To hold him still exactly as told, no matter how much he protests. And to leave when told. No interfering or disruptive questions."
"Very good. You ready for this."
"Not as much as Reid is."
"Alright, let's get this show on the road."
Emily followed them out, making sure to keep her hands up exactly as she was shown.
"This is not an invasive procedure so we'll be using a small room rather than an O.R suite."
"You know when my cousin was born, my uncle held my aunt for her epidural insertion and he didn't have to do all of this."
"This is to maintain sterility for the procedure that will follow. Due to his head injury, Dr. Baker wants the O.R. staff nearby to assist if required, but that's unlikely to be needed. Here we go. After you, Dr. Baker."
Another nurse held open the door as the four of them walked in to see two nurses finishing up the prep of the instrument trays.
"Thank you ladies, we'll take it from here."
The other two nurses left the room, leaving just the four of them and Reid.
"And you must be Emily. Pardon my manners, I'd shake your hand, but..." He wiggled his gloved fingers and laughed. "Hey, Spencer, look who's here. It's your friend, Emily. Speencer...no? Not even a smile. Well don't worry, kiddo, we'll have you feeling better in no time."
Emily stared at the man in disbelief. If ever a doctor reminded her of Patch Adams, it was this guy. He would be great in the pediatric ward.
"Okay so, before we get started, we're going to get you sitting up, Mr. Miss Emily, come right over here."
"Up, Dr.? Shouldn't he stay - " She stopped short at the pointed look that not even the mask on the good doctor's face could cover up. "Sorry, I just -"
"No worries, no worries. Normally I would have Spencer here lying down on his stomach actually, but with his breathing as is, that could cause problems: extra pressure, extra pain. We don't need that, plus you won't be able to hold him as securely while he's on his side like that. So sitting up is best, just needs to be done carefully, that's all. You leave that to us. Just follow our direction and everything will go smoothly."
Emily nodded, her heart twisting in her chest at the sobs and the pained look on Reid's face as the nurses slowly maneuvered him into sitting upright on the edge of the bed.
"Very good, Spencer. Very good."
Apparently this doctor had not been informed about either of Reid's titles, but she didn't think he'd take the interruption kindly. She at least had more sense than Gideon.
"Now, Miss Emily, if you would, come here please." No, she definitely wasn't going to correct him. "Spencer hold onto Emily, put your arms around her neck. That's right give her a nice big bear hug. Head on her shoulders, good. Now, Emily, hold his shoulders like this. No, not around his shoulders, at the side. You're holding his arms mostly. Do not put your hands on his back. That's where I'm going to be working. Now your legs, keep his between yours okay. No wiggle room allowed. There you go. You've got it, just like a pro. Okay now stay like that. Don't move. I'm just going to untie this ugly gown and get your back cleaned up, Spencer. It's going to be cold. Then I'm going give you some local anesthetic to numb you up for the epidural. Okay. That's good. Very good, just like that. Okay, now for the anesthetic injections, just a little pinch."
Emily felt Reid tense in her arms.
"You're okay, Spencer, just relax. I know, easier said than done, but this is so you won't feel the epidural."
"Hurts," Reid sobbed, his body shaking in Emily's stern grip. She could feel the tears falling on her shoulders, and was was glad she couldn't see his face.
"I know, buddy. I know. But you can't move once I start the epidural. You need to stay totally still, okay? Just calm down for me. Hold onto Emily, there you go. How about we play some music. How about that? Dr. Cheng says your friend has quite the voice."
"Oh, no that was..."
That damned pointed look again. "I'm sure Miss Emily is an amazing singer."
Emily opened her mouth to protest, only to shut it again a second later.
"I hear you're a Bob Dylan fan, Spencer."
"I don't know the words..." Emily started to protest.
"No, how about Simon and Garfunkel...?"
"Well I do know 'Cecilia'"
"Well lets hear it. Spencer, you want to hear Emily singing about Cecilia?"
"Speencer...well no 'no' is a yes in my books. I love my double negatives. Okay let's hear it."
Emily started singing as Dr. Baker reached for another injection.
"I'm down on my knees, I'm begging you please to come home," Dr. Baker's deep voice rang out, as he reached for another injection. How many did he need?
Emily decided that this guy was the craziest doctor she'd ever met. But it was working, Reid was still crying, but he was no longer shaking. He was about as quiet and relaxed as he'd been all night.
"'When I come back to bed someone's taken my place. Oh Cecilia...' Okay, party time is over. Emily's going to have to take over the singing now because it's epidural time. Hold him steady, steady. Spencer, no moving okay."
"Spencer, I need an answer."
"Okay," Reid's faint voice replied.
"Good boy. Now, Emily...how about some 'American Pie'. You know that? Very good, I'm going to go call my friend Patty over here, for just a minute. A long, long time ago, I can still remember how that music used to make me smile..." He gave a theatrical wave in Emily's direction as he listened to the phone the nurse held up to his ear.
"And I knew if I had my chance, I could make those people dance..." Emily sang as she listened to Dr. Baker's conversation.
"Hey, Patty, it's Bob. Hey, did you get a chance to see that footage you told me about? Right. Anything I should know about? Anything that might give us trouble over here? Good, good. No, Spencer and Emily are doing just fine. We're all fine here. Just about to start the epidural, just making sure I'm not going to get any nasty surprises. Okay then, see you in 30." He hung up the phone and joined in. "So bye, bye, Miss American Pie..."
Emily had forgotten how long that song was until she finally sang "And the three men I admire most, the Father, Son and the Holy Ghost, they caught the last train for the Coast, the day the music died."
"No more talk of death. No, I don't think we want that. How about happy thoughts?" Dr. Baker suggested, reaching for a needle. "Okay Spencer tell me when you feel my needle, it's just going to be a tiny pin prick, nothing major. Okay? Okay? Spencer, I'm not going to start the epidural until you talk to me, kiddo."
"Okay."
"Okay good. Now, tell me: Do you have any brothers or sisters?"
"No."
"No, poor kid. How about your pops. What did you like to do with your pops growing up? Fishing, Football?"
"No."
"No? Why ever not? Every son likes to go camping with his pops."
"Hate him."
"Hate your pops? Why?"
"Left."
"He left you? Well that doesn't make him much of a pops, then does it? How about your mama. You love your mama, right?"
"Love mom."
"Oh good, I've got a mama's boy on my hands. How is she doing these days? She well?"
"No. Sick."
"She's sick, oh I'm sorry to hear that. How about we talk about something happier. First, can you feel anything I've done. Have you felt any pricks?"
"No."
"No? Not even one? You must be superman or something, I've only poked you 8 times. Well, just one more poke okay, one more and then you'll get some of Dr. Baker's Happy Juice. Hmm. Everyone loves my Happy Juice. Here we go, hold him tight, Miss Emily. Now, Spencer, what did I tell you earlier? Do you remember?"
"No moving."
"That's right. You'll feel some pressure, but it shouldn't hurt much. If it does let me know, okay? Okay? Spencer?"
"Okay."
"Nurse Wilson, please hold Spencer's head down."
The second nurse stood behind Emily, holding his bowed head securely against Emily's shoulder.
Dr. Baker gave his nod of approval, then turned back to his tray. "Here we go."
Emily looked down at Reid's shoulders as she held him tight, she did not want to see the needle. She tightened her grip on him, bracing for a fight but it didn't come. He whimpered a little and tightened his grip on her in return. They would both have bruises in the morning, but he didn't move.
"Good job, Spencer. You are a trooper. Worst is over. So, what's your favorite movie?"
"Star Wars."
"Star Wars, huh? Who's your favorite?"
"3P0."
"3P0, I don't get that very often. Why the golden rod?"
"Statist..."
"You like statistics. Well looks like I've got a math nerd on my hands."
Emily rolled her eyes. Dear God, did Dr. Baker know what he was getting himself into? She could tell what he was doing, a clever way of keeping him talking so Dr. Baker could tell if any neurological problems developed from either the procedure or the head wound, but did he have to bring up statistics?
"So tell me, Spencer, what are the odds of Captain Solo successfully navigating an asteroid field?"
"1 in 3 thou-"
"Wow, one in three thousand, that is impressive. Maybe Captain Solo should play the lottery. Sounds like he would win beating odds like that. Oh here's one for you. Riddle me this. What are the odds of Luke finding his sister after bring separated at birth?"
"Don't know."
Emily stared at him as best she could. She never thought she'd ever hear those words from him.
"Oh come on, yes you do. Math nerd like you? Try me."
"6 billion on Earth, bu..."
"Ah, you don't know how many people are in that galaxy far, far away. Well that makes it hard to calculate if you don't have all of your numbers. How about this. Name all of the inhabited planets from Star Wars. Can you do that for me?"
"Alderaan."
"Okay that's 1."
"Tatooine."
"2."
"Hoth."
"No, not Hoth. There's not enough life on that ice cube to fill a space cruiser, remember. Pick another."
"Naboo."
"Naboo? So you've seen the new movies. How did you like them?"
"Didn't."
"You didn't like them? Well my grandson would agree with you, he didn't like them very much either. Got another one for me?"
"Coruscant."
"Don't remember that one."
"Captial."
"I'll take your word for it. Okay so that's four planets. How about now. What are Luke's odds now?"
"24 billion to...no 9 billion to 1."
"9 billion? How do you figure?"
"Human, sister."
"Ah, yes. I did specify sister, didn't I? And I guess aliens, old women and babies don't count. Now that's quite impressive. Here's another math question for you. How many seconds are in 15 minutes?"
"900."
"Okay, so Spencer here's the good news. We are almost done. The epidural is in, which means it is time for Dr. Baker's Happy Juice. Okay? Now the Happy Juice doesn't work quite like magic. It takes about 15 minutes to start working its wonders. So how about we start the count down, okay? We'll help you. I'll start. Let's make it easy. 8-9-9, less of a mouthful that way. Miss Emily?"
"8-9-8."
"Spencer? Spencer, your turn."
"8-9-7."
"8-9-6. Nurse Wilson, over here, please. Let's get Spencer lying down again. Poor boy needs his sleep. Spencer, when was the last time you slept?"
"84 hours, 10 min..."
"84 hours!? Dear boy, you really do need your sleep."
"8-9-5." Emily counted as she slowly let go of Reid and put him in Dr. Baker's capable hands.
The countdown continued until Reid was once again lying on his side, curled up against the pillows. Although this time, he wasn't gripping the guard rail like a life line. He almost looked peaceful.
"Nurse Stewart. Please page Dr. Cheng, I think we're ready for her and escort Miss Emily out if you will. I will see you tomorrow."
Once they left, he turned back to his patient. "So, tell me, Spencer, how well is it working? If your pain level was at a high of 10 when you came in, how is it now?"
"10...before."
"Before the hospital? Or before I got here with the Happy Juice?"
"Before Hosp-."
"Okay, before the hospital and once you got here?"
"8."
"And now?"
"5."
"Good, good. Now are you just counting your back pain or is that including the foot and head?"
"Back."
"Back only, okay so how about the rest. How is that pain?"
"8."
"Still an 8? Okay, Nurse Wilson, how about getting some ice from that O.R. next door."
"Numb?"
"Yes, Spencer, the Happy Juice will numb your back but it won't numb your head and it won't help the swelling. Like I said, it's not quite magical. Less swelling means less pain tomorrow."
"Tomorrow?" There was a time not too long ago, when tomorrow seemed like an unattainable dream.
"Yes, Spencer. Tomorrow. You'll feel right as rain tomorrow, or should I say this afternoon. It's already 1 am. You made it to tomorrow. Soon all of this will be one ugly nightmare." Dr. Baker cradled Reid's head in his large hands. The inflammation needed to come down now if the pain level had been at an 8 this whole time. The ice, of course, would not be enough but it was a start until it was safe to give him I.V. medications. "Spencer, don't move. We're going to put ice on your feet and head okay? Which foot hurts the worst?"
"Left."
"Left, okay how about above the ankle?"
"No."
"No, good. Okay, lets pack his feet up and get me one of those cold gel packs."
Dr. Baker turned his head slightly. "Its about to get as cold as Hoth in here, okay. But this will help where the Happy Juice can't reach." He slid the ice cold gel pack under the pillow case. "There you go. Time for bedy-bye. Just close your eyes, Spencer. Close your eyes, go to sleep and when you wake up, your back will be all patched up."
Why couldn't all doctors be like this? Reid wondered as Dr. Baker's gentle hands lowered his head onto the sweet, ice-cold relief. This felt amazing. His back was still hurting in some places and tingling in others, it was strange but comforting, especially as his back got more tingly and less painful. Breathing was even getting easier, well not much easier but less painful. It was still hard, his diaphragm didn't want to work with him, but no sharp stabbing pain with every breath.
Dr. Baker watched happily as Spencer's eyes closed and his breathing evened out. He loved his job. He was a little worried about nightmares, after all Spencer wasn't under general sedation and there was still some involuntary movement to consider since his head and arms weren't numb.
"Well aren't you a little miracle worker?"
"Dr. Cheng, always a pleasure. Just come on over and inspect the handy work." He eyed the I.V. bag and needle in her hand. "I see you brought the candy to the party. Everything all clear to go? Tox screen came back?"
"No but the crime scene vial analysis did come back and this 'candy' can't wait much longer."
"What flavors did you bring?"
"Shot of Erythromycin and bag of ibuprofen. Nurse Wilson, if you please." She handed the medicine off to the the nurse and turned her attention to Dr. Baker.
"Well as you can see I've been busy here. I've got the epidural at the T-5 but the injury goes a little bit higher. I can't go any higher with the numbing agent with his breathing as is, but if you want, I can put in another one and give him some non-numbing pain relief up at the T-1 or 2. What do you think, think you can finish the job like that or should this lucky guy get a double shot of Happy Juice?"
"Well that depends on the amount and flavor of Happy Juice you've already given him in addition to the epidural."
"Eight shots of Lidocain, my Lady."
"8? A bit of an overkill in addition to the epidural, don't you think?"
"I don't think so, it's a huge injury and the sooner he got relief, the less chance of movement during the insertion. I gave him four around the wound and then three of them above the epidural and then of course the one for the epidural itself."
"No, no double shots, then. You're only one inch away from the top of the injury." Dr. Cheng turned to the igloo cooler of ice that had been brought in. "Nurse, is there an ice blanket in that cooler?"
"Yes, Doctor."
"Okay, fold it up and drape it across the patient's back and neck just above the wound. The procedure will take a minimum of an hour. I'll start the procedure at the bottom of the wound and work my way up, he'll have plenty of time for the ice to numb his upper back. Between the Lidocain and the cooling he shouldn't feel the slight incision that will be needed up there."
"Well then, I leave him in your capable hands. If you need anything else you know how to find me."
"I believe you'll be in room 410. I hear your Magic Juice is in high demand."
"Ah, but it's not Magic Juice, it's Happy Juice. Makes people happy, but no magic. I do not have a magic wand."
"Well now I know what to get you at the next Secret Santa exchange."
"You can't spoil the secret," Dr. Baker pretended to pout as he walked to the door, turning back to see Spencer sleeping peacefully and unless his ears deceived him...those were snores. One happy patient down, only four more hours to go.
Once he was gone, Dr. Cheng turned her attention to the sickening sight of the knife blade... her pandora's box of the night. She turned to her new entourage of nurses. "Okay, lets get this thing out."
A/N: Dr Baker kind of wrote himself, that character had a mind of his own. I know Reid's favorite is probably Star Trek, but he did give the speil about the Death Star laser and I do know star wars so I picked that one. Who wants me to write the surgery from Reid's P.O.V. and who wants me to skip to the team getting the news? Featured in this chapter were lines from Cecilia by Simon and Garfunkel and American Pie by Don McLean.