Chapter Four

Pete, who had fallen asleep on a cot the hospital had brought into Mac's room the night before, was standing in Mac's room, facing the window while Jim-who had driven to the hospital the first chance he had-was sitting in a nearby chair.

"Shouldn't Mac be out of surgery by now?" Jim looked at the room's door.

"I…" Pete turned around only to be interrupted as Mac was wheeled into the room on a gurney. While Mac was being transferred into his bed, Dr. Phillips surprised both officers by walking into the room. He wasn't on duty-as his everyday clothes testified.

Pete looked from Mac, whose head was wrapped in bandages and was still unconscious, to Dr. Phillips while the other medical personnel took care of Mac.

"Doc?" Pete asked when it was just Jim, himself and Dr. Philips.

"I forgot a few things and came back to get them. I also wanted to see how Mac was doing, talk to the other doctors about him and to explain personally that Doctor Lance Haywood is Mac's new doctor." Before either Pete or Jim could ask why, Dr. Phillips was explaining. "I have had a family situation come up. If I could guarantee I'd only be gone a few hours, I wouldn't have another doctor put on the case. Only problem is, I could be gone anywhere from a few hours to a few weeks. Mac needs a doctor who is for sure going to be here. Trust me when I say Dr. Haywood is an extremely good doctor...one who gave that radiologist an ear full before he was fired. Dr. Haywood will do right by Mac. I'm sorry. I wish I knew for sure how long I'll be gone. I'm sorry."

"Yes, we most definitely understand and don't worry about an apology. We understand." Pete asked if there was anything Dr. Phillips could tell them before he left.

"From what the surgeon says, the operation went well. All we can do now is to pray for the best and hold on to hope. Aside from the obvious, Mac is very healthy. He has that going for him." Dr. Phillips looked at both officers. "May I safely assume one of you, Captain Moore or someone else from the police department will be here until he wakes up."

Pete again looked towards Mac and then back at Dr. Phillips. "You may." Pete then turned to Jim and suggested his partner go see if Captain Moore, who had gone home the night before, had returned. "He said he might stop by before going to work. That is, unless Dr. Phillips or someone else has seen, and talked, to him already." He looked back at the doctor as if to ask if Jim would be wasting his time.

"If he's been by this morning, I haven't seen the captain yet." Dr. Phillips looked at Jim.

"I'll go see if he's here." Jim stood up and walked out of the room.

Pete, who refused to entertain the idea of Mac not pulling through, asked, "What, if any, problems could Mac find himself dealing with after he wakes up?"

Dr. Phillips didn't have to ask why Officer Malloy would ask such a thing. Though, it took a moment for him to answer. He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, if he wakes up and doesn't ask for pain pills to knock out a huge headache, I'll be surprised. Let's just hope it doesn't turn into a chronic problem; that is, if he does wake up with one. His injuries could lead to a bit of irritability, and," the doctor quickly added-due to a smirk that had escaped Pete's lips, "don't tell me you won't know there's a problem if that happens. Mac can get irritated like anyone else, but he's not that bad."

"I know." Pete couldn't help but chuckle. "Just remembered a few times he was more than justified in that area is all." He then grew serious again. "What else?"

"He might be lightheaded for a bit, or deal with a bit of dizziness for a short spell. Light and noise could also be a problem for awhile." Dr. Phillips again shrugged his shoulders. "He also may be a bit confused at first. Though, as I just said, if that happens-it should clear up fast enough. I think the only real thing I'm concerned about is the fact that, due to the hairline fracture, he could wake up to extremely blurred vision."

Pete sucked in his breath. "Would that be long term? I mean, if that happens?"

"It shouldn't be only," Dr. Phillips took a deep breath, "I have seen, and heard, of cases where the problem lingered longer than a person would like. I even know a few cases where the problem-for unknown reasons-never resolved and the person was left legally blind for life. However," Dr. Phillips stressed, "those cases are rare. Look, anything Mac might face when he regains consciousness should be short term. Really. Just don't quote me on that. I mean, we're not supposed to hold out what the medical field deems 'false hope' to anyone. Gets rather frustrating at times. Everyone I know needs something to hope for, something to hold onto."

Pete let out a slow breath. "I know. Thanks."

"I need to get out of here before they," Dr. Phillips nodded towards the door-indicating the other workers in the hospital, "get it into their heads that I'm on duty and not just visiting a friend."

Pete gave him a small smile and told the good doctor not to worry and to get out while the getting was good.

"I'll do that." Dr. Phillips headed towards the door only to come to an abrupt halt, as if he'd just hit a brick wall. Slowly, the good doctor turned around and looked at Pete with a look so serious it made Pete sit straight up.

"What is it?" Pete kept his eyes on Dr. Phillips.

"Was Mac involved in any sort of altercation before the accident, or by chance fell before getting into his car?"

Pete was taken aback by the question. "Not that I know of, why?" He leaned forward in the chair he was using.

"I… " Dr. Phillip paused and then continued speaking. "I've been thinking ever since I was given details of the accident, along with the correct reading of his CAT scan. The contusion Mac suffered? I don't believe it was caused by one incident. I think two separate incidents caused the contusion to be bad enough to require surgery. Don't ask me to explain what makes me to believe that; it would take too long."

Pete took a deep breath. "And you just now realized this?"

Dr. Phillips could have taken offense at being asked such a thing. After all, some people would look upon it as a way to question their honesty. However, he didn't for the simple fact he knew the stress everyone was under. "I don't make a habit of handing out guesses. I've been reading test results more than once and rolling the details of the accident over in my head for quite some time. I'm still not a hundred percent sure, only I'm sure enough now to stand by the fact that I believe he either had an altercation with someone or had another accident of some sort. I think he didn't realize he'd really been all that hurt, got in the car and then got hit by the other driver-causing a small injury he'd already received to become even worse. Anyway, thought you should know in case you want to look into it."

"I'll do that." Pete sat back in his chair, looked at Mac and then picked up the phone that sat next to Mac's hospital bed.