7PM Medbay
Chip had drifted in and out of sleep for the last few hours. Jamie and Lee had persuaded Lynsey to take a break. Lee insisted that she go home and that he would stay until she came back. Jamie had been checking on Chip and the output from the drain was reducing. His breathing was steady with the nasal cannula and he was resting comfortable.
Lee had drifted off for a few minutes in the chair next to Chip. As Jamie put the bedrail back up the clicking sound woke Lee out of his light sleep. Jamie smiled at him and told him everything was fine as he left for his office.
Lee decided to get up out of the chair and stretch his legs and he walked over to the window and looked out over the base.
"You won't see much from there" Chip said
Lee turned around to see Chip awake and trying to push himself up the bed he had been confined to. Lee could see the discomfort of his friend and wished he could help him feel better. Instead he thought he would just try chatting to him - he felt it had been so long since they had a conversation that wasn't over a hospital bed or a drug induced state.
"You're right. Total darkness out there" Lee said as he made his way to the bottom of the hospital bed.
"What time is it?" Chip asked still groggy from all the medication
"It's just after nineteen hundred hours. How do you feel?"
"Better than I did when I first came round"
"That's understandable. You have had a rough couple of days my friend"
"You can say that again. I'm sorry for all the trouble this has caused" Chip said looking rather sheepish. He felt he had caused a huge upset with all that everyone had done to help him this far.
"Trouble? Chip….I'm just glad you are ok. You don't need to apologise for being ill"
Chip sighed as he shifted around again. Lee could see something was bothering him besides the obvious.
"What's on your mind Chip?"
"A lot of things"
"Tell me" Lee sat down on the bed beside Chip.
"I remember being in Sick bay struggling for breath thinking that I'm not going to make it. I'm never going to see Lynsey again"
This made both men reflect on the past couple of days and Lee could see how visibly upset Chip was. He was a man who was what Lee called a silent steadier - went about his work, never rocked the boat but instead steadied it.. Within the last few hours the quiet XO had suffered a cardiac arrest, undergone a procedure to save his life and woken up somewhere not knowing how he got there. Lee knew that all of that weighed heavily on Chip's mind although he would never say it but he also knew what scared him the most was not being around for Lynsey.
"I can't begin to imagine the fear you must have felt in the past few days but... what I can tell you is that you survived it. You made it home to her and you are improving all the time. You just need to take each day as it comes" Lee said as he gripped Chips shoulder reassuringly.
Chip nodded and took a breath as he tried to compose himself. He knew he had to get himself together before Lynsey came back. She had had more than enough to worry about in the last few days. He knew Lee was right….one day at a time.
Jamie came back into the room and noticed the quietness of the room. The darkness now meant that the room was lit only by the few dim lights surrounding them. It almost felt like the mood he had walked into and he needed to brighten the horizon for both patient and visitor.
"Chip how would you feel about taking a walk?" Jamie asked. He knew that he may be pushing Chips limits so early but if he could show Chip that he could do something, anything it may improve his spirits.
Chip thought that Jamie was joking. Right now Chip didn't have the energy to move let alone walk.
"Walk?" He asked almost sarcastically
"I'm not talking a marathon just down the corridor. We need to get you moving"
"Come on Chip. What do you say?" Lee asked him trying to encourage him to push on with his recovery
Chip thought and nodded. He needed to start somewhere and there was no time like the present. Jamie moved the bed into the upright position and lowered the bedrail. He brought over a wheelchair to hold the oxygen tank and he would hold the drain as soon as they got moving. If they got moving.
"Ok Chip. Swing your legs round slowly and sit up" Jamie advised
Lee stood at the other side of Jamie ready to help Chip if he needed it. He slowly moved his legs round and sat up. Almost immediately he felt dizzy. Lee and Jamie grabbed his arms and Chips head fell onto Lee's shoulder. He felt like a rag doll - he had no control over his head and he was beginning to wonder if he was going to be able to get out of bed.
"You are going to feel a little dizzy for a few moments but it will pass" Jamie said
Chip took shallow breaths and the oxygen was helping him not to pass out. He could feel his breath rattle in his chest and it was an unnerving feeling. Once the dizziness passed he lifted his head and prepared to stand up.
With the help of Lee and Jamie he stood up and walked very slowly into the corridor. It had exhausted him but he was glad he had done it especially when he looked down the corridor and seen Lynsey watching him take his first steps to recovery. He smiled at his beautiful wife and she seen those beautiful blue eyes she fell so in love with. Chip didn't make it far down the corridor that night but it was enough to convince Lynsey that things were going to be ok. He made it back to his room and back into bed and swiftly fell asleep.
Satisfied with the progress his friend was making, Lee left shortly afterwards and Lynsey watched her husband sleep peacefully. He still had the nasal cannula to help him with his breathing but Jamie had removed the drain and IV. She moved the bedrail down and moved into the bed with him something she knew she shouldn't have done but she didn't care. She lay her head close to his and put her hand on his chest. She found it reassuring that she could feel his chest rise and fall. She kissed him on the lips and said "You are the love of my life Chip Morton".
He gripped her hand tightly never letting go as they slept until early next morning.