JAG Lawyers

Chapter 16 - At The Hospital Ship Mercy

As the trauma unit wheels LCDR Rodgers to the OR, they are met by the duty surgeon, one Dr. Josh Davidson. Upon seeing Rick, he says in surprise, "Rick Rodgers, what are you doing here in my operating room?"

"You know him Doc?", asks the one Hospital Corpsman."

"He's an acquaintance from my last Command", Josh replies, and then to his surgical team, "Let's get him on the table."

The Corpsman who had asked the doc about his familiarity with the patient gives Josh a brief rundown on how Rick got wounded.

"So this team mate he saved from the grenade, is that team mate female?", questions Josh.

"That's affirmative Doctor."

With that info, Davidson instantly realizes what had happened. Rick had Kate's back and had risked his life to save her. It was an epiphany for Josh on just how much Rodgers cared for Kate. Rick had covered up on a grenade tossed at Kate and took the impact of it's explosion to keep her safe from any harm. Josh resolved then to do all he could to save this man. Josh still cared for Kate, and any man who sacrificed for her well being, was worthy of saving. The fact remained however that as a doctor Josh had pledged to save all people who came to him for medical treatment. Now Josh had a reason beyond just his oath to save Rodgers! He was intent now to see Rick survive his injuries, to go on, and to be with Kate. This despite the fact that this man was the reason he had lost Kate.

Josh could not help but wonder if he would have done the same, had he been in Rick's place at the time. According to the Corpsmen, Rodgers had apparently reacted immediately with no hesitation. Otherwise, Castle's timing would have been off and too late to protect her. Again Josh considered if he would have reacted in a similar fashion had Josh had been there instead of Castle. Would he have saved her from the grenade? Then Josh realizes, if Rick is lost to Kate from his injuries, she would be emotionally devastated in his passing. Josh would not have that happen, so again renews his resolve on making sure Rick Rodgers would live.

Once Rick is on the operating table, the surgical team does an examination of Rick's chest as the doctor who had attend to Kate arrives in the OR to assist Josh.

"Any word on this guy's teammate Greg?"

"She's fine, I treated her. She's in Recovery now after following me there, but let's get to her partner. He's the one we need to save now!"

Both doctors knew the situation was critical. They were examining X-rays of Castle. There was one good sized piece of shrapnel still lodged in Castle that had not been removed. It had just missed Rick's heart by mere fractions of an inch.

Josh now operated to remove that piece of shrapnel. He made a small incision into the entry wound to enlarge it so he could probe. Digging deeper into the enlarged cavity of his incision with a surgical tweezer, he felt the tweezer's grip the metal piece. Then he slowly extracted the shrapnel piece. It was like extracting a two bladed knife thru a small and tight surrounding channel. He could not allow the cutting edges of the knife to slice further at that surrounding area causing additional damage. The metal shrapnel piece had to follow a precise path to avoid any further harm. It took the steady and skilled hands of a seasoned surgeon to do what Josh was attempting.

Josh extracted the shrapnel piece ever so slowly. As he did so, his surgical team could but hold their breaths hoping the doctor's hand remained steady. What seemed like long minutes was in reality just several seconds when the metal shrapnel appeared out of the surgical incision made by Josh. Once the shrapnel was out, Josh directs his assisting surgeon, his friend, Dr. Greg Myers, to cleanup and close the wound. The operation is successful and with that Rick is taken to the recovery ward.

In the recovery room where Rick was taken, Kate is waiting. She had been brought here after escorting her doctor to this location and had been given a bed. So here Kate waited, herself recovering from her wounds and having been told Castle would be sent here after his surgery. Then Kate quickly recognizes the Recovery Room duty doctor.

"Lanie Parish what are you doing here? Is this your two week active duty for training?", she asked surprised by Lanie's presence.

"Actually, it is more like six months. With the doctor shortage in the Regular Navy we reservists had to pick up the slack. I am here on 12 months extended active duty and have been here for six months already."

"Really, the FBI gave you 12 months for military duty?"

"All federal agencies, to include FBI, were sent notices to seriously consider giving people who are reservists the opportunity to serve on extended military duty for a year. There is an overall shortage of personnel more so now with this current conflict. This conflict and the need for more military prompted the call up of reservists. So here I am!"

Lanie examines Kate and tells her that she will remain in recovery for a while.

"Well I for one am pleased with this, it is a pleasant surprise after what I just gone thru."

"I heard about it. Word gets out quick in this place. Rick must be head over heels to risk his life like that for you? But what about Josh, or has that boat sailed?"

"We broke up Lanie, he was not my one and done."

Lanie knew this but wanted to hear it from Kate directly.

"Then it will be surreal when I tell you that Josh is the surgeon on duty and is most likely treating Rick's wounds."

"Good. Josh is the best at what he does. I want that for Rick."

"Well scuttlebutt is that he still carries a torch for you."

Just then, Rick is wheeled into the recovery area, Kate is surprised when she sees Josh, her now ex, enter the room accompanying Castle, despite Lanie having given her a 'heads up' on the matter. Lanie, upon noticing Josh, leaves to give him a private moment with Kate.

"Kate", Josh says upon seeing her, "I heard what happened and just wanted to ease any concern you may have about Rick. We were able to remove the remaining shrapnel that just barely missed his heart. Now he is unconscious and we will keep him in that condition for the next 48 hours. Then we will discontinue the drugs that help to induce sleep and let him come out of it naturally. We expect a full recovery with no after effects, but nothing is sure. He may awaken with impaired memory of the event, or entire lost of memories from his most immediate past. It is just wait and see for now."

"Thank you Josh for letting me know. This eases my concerns a bit, but I am still apprehensive on the final outcome for Rick."

"I heard you piloted the medevac helo after the command pilot was injured badly. He by the way also underwent a successful procedure, but like Rick, it is also wait and see with him."

There is a brief pause. There is an obvious tension in the room with this unexpected meeting between ex's. But it's Josh's look that gives it away, he is with her now after some time had passed since their breakup. The longing in his face and eyes is undeniable, he's still in love with Kate. The look does not go unnoticed by Kate. She can read his tell and is also anxious about it.

Josh tries to appear unaffected with this reunion and speaks out, "So how are you by the way? Other than some minor wounds and bruises, I'm see that you appear to be fine."

It is a loaded question and by it Kate knows he means how is she since their breakup.

"Your remarks about sums it up for me, physically, I'm fine, but there is a continuing emotional stress from the incident and now from concerns on Rick's complete recovery."

"Perfectly understandable, but if it gets too much and you need some emotional support, I am here for you. We may no longer be together, but I still do care for you Kate. I have big strong shoulders for you to cry on."

Kate realizes this is an offer to come back to Josh if events lead to Rick's demise, but Kate replies, "Thank you for the offer, but I should be okay once everything settles down."

There is again a slight pause as Josh attempts to read more into Kate's remarks.

"Well, if you don't object, I will stop by now and then to see how you are doing."

"Josh, are you doing that as a doctor or as my friend?"

"A little of both I would say."

Kate had not wanted to have any further contact with the good doctor. She had been final about the breakup, but seeing as how Josh had saved Castle's life, she relents and says to Josh, "Well then, I do not object to seeing you on occasion. It certainly would be helpful for a professional opinion on my condition while I recover."

Josh is encouraged by her statement seeing that this may be a way back to her, so he tells her, "Alright then, I shall leave you to your privacy, but again, if it gets too much, I'm here for you", he says in parting and then gives Kate's hand an affectionate squeeze. She gives him an appreciative look and with that Josh leaves.

As Josh leaves, he asks the Universe for a good outcome for Rodgers but was pleased that he could give Kate an offer to return to him. He hoped that if it should turn out badly that Kate would turn to him for comforting and restart their now defunct relationship. It was a long shot, but Josh had given her an alternative, and that made him hopeful. At the very least, Kate knew it was his efforts and skill that had saved Rick.

Minutes later Lanie returns, she had kept her distance when she saw Josh enter her Recovery Ward. She needed to allow Kate and Josh some space. Still, remaining close by, Lanie had overheard all that had transpired between the two.

"So Josh offered a shoulder to cry on, you gonna take him up on that?"

"No, that ship has sailed and when Rick recovers, we need to make up for all the lost time we wasted. This event has made me realize life is too short and too precarious to avoid being with people who care for you and whom you care about in return!"

"You go Girl! But if you need it, come to me. I'm a better shoulder to cry on!"

"That is why I am so glad you are here for six more months. I could not have planned it better if I had to."

It would have been awkward if Josh, as her friend, became the only one who she could turn to for solace . They had been together carnally for six months and Kate knew Josh wanted that back. Still, she was not about to rekindle what they once had. For one, she was now fully committed to Rick. Secondly, Josh is a good and decent man. He deserved a woman who was always completely there for him. Kate had not been that woman and she felt guilty about it. But with Lanie here, she now had someone else she could go to and not have to worry she was running the risk of sending a wrong signal. She was over Josh, but could not say the same about him. Kate was not about to make the same mistake twice!

Her nurse comes in just then and asks Kate if there is anything she needed to help her sleep.

"Maybe just lights turned down low and an extra pillow", she says with humor.

With her answer, Lanie leaves Kate on her own. She gives Kate an affectionate embrace and then leaves. Lanie knew it was not over for Josh, but Kate did not need that stress currently, not after what she had just been thru. These were Lanie's thoughts as she departs for her other rounds.

Kate falls asleep almost immediately once she gets the extra pillow.