Chapter 13
Now Kate is alone, standing in front of the door to his room, still unsure about what she will see. Taking up her courage as an officer of the RAN, she grabs the handle and opens the door slowly. Stepping inside and closing the door softly behind her, Kate is able to take a proper look at Mike for the first time since he has been admitted. Last time she saw him, he was lying in the wardroom, unconscious and very pale. Now she can see that a little color has returned, but it's still a far cry from his usual dark tan.
Stepping closer to the bed, Kate takes in everything that she sees in front of her. A lot of wires and tubes are going into his body at different places. The loud and constant beep of the heart monitor is the only thing that can be heard in the room. His low and even breathing is only visible through the slow rise and fall of his chest. A nasal canula feeds him with oxygen and at least three IV's are going into his right hand, a fourth one goes into his left lower arm, while a blood pressure cuff is around his upper arm, constantly measuring his pressure.
Kate sits down in a chair by his bed and takes his hand in hers, careful of the IV-lines there and strokes over the back of it. This is the second time that he is lying in hospital with a life threatening injury to one of his legs. Only difference is that this time it's his right leg and it wasn't shrapnel from an explosion, but a damn crocodile that hurt him so badly. Kate is angry at herself for letting him go without any form of protection. She should have stopped him.
Then she has to smile at that thought. Ha, as if anything could have stopped that stubborn fool when he has his mind set on something. Shaking her head, Kate turns her attention back to Mike, who at this moment seems starting to come to. His eyelids flutter and after a few blinks, his eyes are fully open. Looking around the room and becoming aware of the beeping sound coming from somewhere beside him, Mike realizes that he is once again stuck in hospital. But still confusion clouds his mind and he can't recall what happened, no matter how hard he tries. His mind stays blank.
Kate is relieved to no end, to see him wake up a lot more earlier then the doctor had predicted. She squeezes his hand gently and says his name softly "Mike?" Hearing his name, makes him turn his head. Seeing Kate sitting there in her whites and with clear tearstreaks on her cheeks, makes his heart go out to her. He squeezes her hand back and smiles slightly. Feeling the slight pressure on her hand, which is still holding onto his larger one, Kate smiles back at him. She uses her other hand and softly strokes his cheek "How are you feeling Mike?"
Looking at her, he answers "Like I've been run over by my ship. I'm hurting everywhere." Laughing slightly at his words, Kate says "That's understandable after what you've been through Mike. I'm just glad that you are back with us, with me." Seeing that confusion still clouds his usually bright blue eyes, she explains "While you were helping to safe locals from their flooded homes, you were attacked by a croc and you've lost a lot of blood. We nearly lost you Mike." Processing in his mind what he has just been told, Mike gazes up at Kate, as realization dawns on him.
"Shit! I should have taken my gun with me. I'm such an idiot. This could have been avoided. Damn!" Kate grins at hearing him rant and in her mind she agrees to it all. "So you remember what happened?" He nods and closes his eyes as a sudden onslaught of pain flares up his right leg. Seeing him grimace, she asks "Are you in pain? Shall I get the doctor or a nurse?" Not able to answer verbally as he tries to overcome the strong pain, Mike nods slightly. Kate squeezes his hand and standing up, tells him "I'll be right back. Hang on."
Even before Kate has left the room to get a nurse, Mike is unconscious again, the pain becoming too much for his still weakened body to bear. A moment later Kate returns with a doctor and a nurse in tow. The doctor immediately checks Mike's vitals and notes the numbers down in his medical chart, before taking a syringe out of his jacket pocket, which contains the pain medication. He inserts it into the IV-line and adjusts the drip accordingly, making sure that Mike gets the needed medicine as fast as possible. In the meantime the nurse had used a special cloth to moisten his dry lips, trying to prevent them to split open.
The doctor turns to Kate and says softly "We should leave now. His body needs all the rest it can possibly get. So I just gave him a sedative together with the pain meds, making him sleep for the next three days. I suggest you go home and rest yourself, come back refreshed in four days" he pauses a moment and goes on ,"he is out of danger now and rests comfortably. So no need to be worried. You can leave him and he'll still be here when you come back, I promise." Reassured by the doctor's nice words, Kate goes over to the bed. She leans over Mike and gives him a soft kiss on his forehead, whispering "Rest now Mike. I'll be back in a few days, so don't leave me. I love you."