Loving A Firefighter (Loving Series)

by Susan Leigh Carlton

  “Can we see Chip?”

  “He’s in ICU recovery and will be going into CICU when we’re sure he is stable enough to move. You’ll be able to see him initially when they take him into CICU. He’s going to be heavily sedated. Then it’s ten minutes every hour and two visitors at a time. Your son was in excellent physical condition and we got to him in fairly good time. Eighty percent of patients with a bullet wound to the heart that show signs of life when they arrive, survive. Cling to that statistic. It’ll help give you hope. He is getting excellent care. Parkland is one of the best trauma centers in the country. This where they brought JFK when he was shot.”

  “But he died any way.”

  “Yes he did, but he had extreme trauma to the head.” Dr. Walters left the room, leaving a stunned family with the enormity of what had happened to their son and the possibility he might die during the night.

  Chapter 9

  “Have you ever visited anyone in an ICU?” Cheryl asked the Reynolds.

  “I don’t think so,” said Mr. Reynolds.

  “It can be a shock. The patient will have a catheter in the bladder; I would imagine Chip will have at least two drainage tubes that will be draining blood, and sera. There will probably be two IV’s, oxygen tubes and vital sign measurement leads. More than likely he will be heavily sedated for several days. They want to take as much load off the heart as they can. You should be prepared for what you will see. He won’t know you’re there either.”

  A nurse led the Reynolds’s to the CICU where Chip was fighting for his life. The nurse said, “Ten minutes only, please.”

  Mrs. Reynolds caught her breath when she saw her son, unmoving with tubes disappearing under the sheets. She could see the bloody discharge in the drainage tubes. It looked as if the very life was draining from his body. Tears streamed down her cheeks, smearing the mascara into black streaks down her face. Her husband remained stone-faced in shock. “Oh God,” whispered Mrs. Reynolds. “Don’t take my boy,” she prayed.

  She walked out of the room just as a nurse came in. “The numbers on the monitor, are they good or bad?”

  The nurse looked across the room and said, “They’re steady and that’s good. They’re slow due to the sedation and that’s to be expected. Right now, he’s holding his own. He’s fighting and as long as he does that, he has a chance.”

  “Take care of my boy, please. Don’t let him die.”

  “We’re giving it all we have. We don’t give in easily.”

  Mr. Reynolds walked out of the room, and put his arm back around his wife’s shoulder again. “Come on honey. You need to eat.”

  “I don’t want to eat. I don’t want to leave Chip.”

  “It will be an hour before we can go back in. We’ll let them know where we are. We have to be strong for him.”

  * * *

  Carrie’s eyes fluttered open, closed and reopened. “Mama?” in a thin and weak voice.

  “I’m right here, baby. I’m right here.”

  “Mama, how…how’s Chip?”

  “He’s out of surgery, honey, He’s still alive. The doctor says he has a chance.”

  “What about Nathan? Why’d he shoot us?”

  “Nobody knows, honey. He’s dead. He shot himself. He can’t hurt you anymore.”

  “Mama, am I going to die?”

  “No honey, you’re going to be fine. They removed part of your spleen and sutured your liver. You’re going to be all right. They’ll probably keep you here about five days.”

  “Where are we?”

  “You’re at Parkland, honey. Where I can keep an eye on you. Chip’s here too. I’ll watch out for both of you.”

  “Mama, I really do like Chip. He’s so nice.”

  “Well, you can tell him in a few days. He’s in CICU now.”

  “That’s nice.” The eyes closed and she was sleeping again.

  Carrie was kept on the surgical floor for two more days and then moved to a regular room. The nurses had her up and walking with a sash around her waist and held by a nurse, the day after the surgery. She would begin therapy when she moved to a regular floor.

  Cheryl brought some clothes to the hospital and planned to sleep on a cot in the nurse’s lounge until Carrie was moved. Each visit began the same way. “Mama, how’s Chip?”

  The answer was the same. “He’s still fighting, baby. He’s not giving up. His heart stopped two times during the surgery. He almost didn’t make it.”

  “Mama, he saved my life. He told me to run and then he shoved me out of the way and moved toward Nathan. That’s when he got shot. He kept moving and then was shot again. He was protecting me.”

  “He was shot three times honey. Once in the liver and once in the heart and one nicked his spine.”

  “He was shot in the heart?”

  “Yes, the bullet is still in there. It was too risky to take it out.”

  “Mama, when can I see him?”

  “Not until he’s moved from CICU. I’ll let you know.”

  “Poor Mrs. Reynolds and Mr. Reynolds. They’re such nice people. Chip took me to meet them. She told me I was the first girl that he brought home in a long time.”

  Carrie’s mother visited her several times during her shift and was there when she was off shift. According to the doctors and her chart, she was doing well. She had been moved to a regular room on another floor the next day and would start therapy the next morning. Barring any complications, she would be discharged in four days.

  Cheryl checked and found his parents in the waiting area and went in to talk with them. She knew his condition but she asked them about him anyway. “The doctor says there are some slight signs of improvement, which is why they moved him. He says odds are looking better that he will survive.”

  “How is Carrie?”

  “The timeline they’ve given me is that I can take her home in four days. She starts therapy tomorrow morning but she has been up and walking with assistance.”

  “You must be so relieved.”

  “Oh I am. She’s all I have here. Her brother has moved away so it’s just Carrie and me. I don’t know that I could take it if I lost her.”

  “I know what you mean. Chip has an older brother and a younger sister and he calls himself the forgotten middle child. He’s joking of course because he knows we care. Our daughter made us grandparents a couple of weeks ago and he was proud of being an uncle. He’s a special, caring young man.”

  “That’s what Carrie was telling me after she asked about him when she first woke up after the surgery. That’s also why I’m up here right now. She asked me to check on Chip. She thinks he’s special too. She told me last night how much she liked him. Don’t let her know I told you that. It would add to the list of the times I’ve embarrassed her. I need to get back to her with the word.”

  “Thank you, Cheryl. We appreciate it.”

  “Would you mind if I brought Carrie up in a wheel chair to see you and maybe him?”

  “Of course not. By all means, do that.“

  Back in Carrie’s room

  “They see a slight improvement in his condition today, but he had a rough night. His heart stopped the other night but they brought him back and they have him on a ventilator to help him breathe… I’ll be right back.” She left the room and returned with a wheelchair after the nurse approved her plan. “Come on Baby, let’s go for a ride.” She wheeled Carrie to the elevator and pushed the button for the cardiac floor. Once there, she wheeled her down to the waiting room.

  Her face lit up like a Christmas tree when she saw the Reynolds’s. They stood and Mrs. Reynolds hugged her gently. Mr. Reynolds smiled and put his hand on her shoulder. “It is so nice to see you up and about.”

  “Mrs. Reynolds,” Carrie began, her eyes brimming with tears. “I feel this is entirely fault. Chip didn’t even know Nathan. He was protecting me. He yelled for me to run when he saw Nathan had a gun. I remember he shoved me out of the way and moved toward Nathan and was shot. When Nathan s
hot me again, Chip went after him and grabbed him. He was shot again. That’s all I remember but the detectives told me he was shot twice more and then Nathan killed himself. Nathan went ballistic when he saw Chip. He was stalking me. He thought it was Chip’s doing but I hadn’t even met Chip until after my apartment was set on fire.”

  “Child, what you’ve been through! It isn’t your fault. Nobody told us any of this but Chip is like that. He’s gone into building looking for survivors. He’s always been very protective of those he cares about. It’s a wonder his sister was able to get married with him around.”

  “Well, I care for him a lot and I’m just so sorry he got hurt protecting me. I just got promoted at the TV station and Chip was going to help me find a new apartment. I was treating him to dinner to celebrate my promotion.”

  “You didn’t tell me you had been promoted,” her mother said.

  “I just found out about it that day. I’m going to be a field reporter and will get on-camera time.”

  “Cheryl, it’s time for a visit. Why don’t you take Carrie in, and we’ll wait here until you get back?”

  “Are you sure? That’s so nice of you, I’ll only stay a minute so you can get in,” Carrie said.

  Cheryl wheeled her to the door and asked the nurse if it was okay to enter. She had them gown and glove up and put a mask over their mouths and noses. Carrie’s mother had prepared her for what she would see. She wheeled her to the bedside. Carrie stood, and placed her gloved hand on Chip’s hand. She said, “Chip, it’s Carrie. Thank you for saving my life. Now you have to get well for me. Hang in there, please.” She squeezed his hand gently and thought she imagined a squeeze back. It was her imagination. He hadn’t moved since before he was shot the third time. Eyes overflowing, she said, “Please keep fighting and get better and I’ll be back as soon as I can. I’m two floors down. We’re going to go so your mom and dad can come in now.”

  Carrie was crying like a baby when her mother wheeled her back to the waiting room. She was so overcome with emotion she couldn’t talk. Mrs. Reynolds came over and hugged her again and said, “God bless you darling. God bless you.” All Carrie could do was squeeze her hand.

  Chapter 10

  As they entered Carrie’s room, it was apparent someone had been in the room. There were three huge floral arrangements on the table. One was from the TV station. Another was from the station manager and the third was from her supervisor, Mrs. Tompkins. The note on her card identified who it was from and said, “Get well soon. Call me when you feel like up to it.”

  Carrie was apprehensive about the card. She showed it to her mother and said, “I wonder if my new job is gone?”

  “Surely not.”

  “I might as well get it over with.” She dialed a number from memory. When it was answered, she said, “Mrs. Tompkins, please,”

  “Mrs. Tompkins, this is Carrie Evans. The flowers are lovely, and I was going to call you anyway.”

  “How are you doing? You’ve had all of us worried here. You made our newscast the other evening you know?”

  “No, I didn’t know. I’d just as soon not made it that way.”

  “I’m sure. I wanted to talk with you anyway, but I have a selfish reason here. What would you think about us doing a segment on the ten o’clock about your experience? We carried a bit from the scene after it happened and a followup would be good news. We would have one of the co-anchors do it.”

  “Can you hold a minute? My mother’s here. She’s a nurse in the hospital here… Mom, what do you think, they want to do a news segment on me and the shooting?”

  “I think it would be neat. I’m sure the hospital would cooperate.”

  “Mrs. Tompkins? I think it would be okay. Will you arrange it with the hospital and let me know when?”

  “The hospital won’t be a problem. They love the publicity. We’ll get it all set up. How long are you going to be there?”

  “At least four more days. I start rehab in the morning.”

  “I’ll get back to you. How is the young man…Chip Reynolds? How is he doing.”

  “He’s still in the CICU. Mom took me up there earlier. They think there is a slight improvement in his condition.”

  “Get well soon, Carrie. We miss you and I need you.”

  Nothing she could have said would have made Carrie feel better. She turned to her mother and said, “They’re going to set it up. She told me they miss me and need me. I’m so relieved.”

  “That’s great, honey. I am so proud of you I could just burst. I’ve been thinking about where you’re living. I’m not sure it’s safe.”

  “There were no problems until Nathan set it on fire.”

  “I understand that, but what about them giving your key out without your permission.”

  “That won’t happen again, Mom. I have an agreement with the manager. He replaced my locks too and Chip says the new ones are good ones. Besides, I don’t want to move until Chip can help me find a new place. I want to wait for him. He may be living there some day.”

  “Carrie! Are you talking about getting married?”

  “No Mom, we haven’t, but if he wanted to move in, I’d let him.”

  “Have you…”

  “No Mom, we haven’t been doing anything. Besides, I wouldn’t tell you if we were.”

  “Okay, I have an alternate plan. You’re not going to be completely recovered by the time they discharge you, so why don’t you stay with me for a couple of weeks. You’ll have your strength back and maybe Chip will be out by then.”

  “I would hope so. I would like to stay with you for two weeks. It would be a big help since I don’t know when the doctor will release me to drive.”

  “Okay, let’s do that. Now I’ve got to go to work.” I’ll check in on you later.”

  “Bye, Mom. I love you.”

  “Love you too.”

  * * *

  Three days later, Carrie’s therapy had progressed well and she was allowed to walk unaided in the hallway. She had been cautioned not to overdo the walking.

  When the nurse came into her room, she asked if Chip was still in CICU. The nurse checked and said he had been moved to the ICU. She asked if it would be possible for her to go to the cardiac floor and see Chip. With the nurse’s approval, she went to the elevator and went up to the surgical floor.

  The Reynolds’s were in the ICU waiting room when she arrived. She went in and walked up to them. They stood and Mrs. Reynolds hugged her and said “I’m glad to see you’re better.”

  “I’m still a bit shaky, but therapy is going well and they said I could walk without a nurse or orderly holding onto me, as long as I don’t overdo it. How is Chip doing? I see they moved him.”

  “He had a good night. They’ve removed the ventilator tube and he can talk, but he mostly sleeps due to the sedation but he was awake once when I went in. Carrie, honey he can’t move from the waist down. The neurologist doesn’t know if it’s permanent or not.”

  Mr. Reynolds spoke up, “Carrie, why don’t you go in with Ellie and I’ll go to the cafeteria and get a bite to eat. I need to stretch my legs anyway.”

  “Are you sure, Mr. Reynolds? I can wait until you go in and you can tell me how he is when you come back.”

  “It’s okay, Carrie. I’ll see him the next hour.”

  “Oh thank you so much, Mr. Reynolds. I really appreciate that.”

  “Carrie, why don’t you just call me Tom.”

  “That wouldn’t feel right, Mr. Reynolds.”

  Carrie and Mrs. Reynolds sat and talked while they waited for the hourly visit. “Has Chip told you anything about me, Mrs. Reynolds?”

  “No only that you work at the TV station.”

  “Yes, and I was just promoted the day we were shot. I’m going to be field reporting. That means I’ll be on the air some.”

  “Your mother must be really proud of you.”

  “She is, Mrs. Reynolds. Chip is such a good person. He’s so kind and gentle with me, well,
except for the night we were shot. He wasn’t so gentle when he shoved me out of the way.

  He makes me feel good all over. You should be very proud of him, as my mother is of me.”

  “We are, Carrie. We are. I’m glad you like him. You two make such an attractive couple.”

  The nurse came out of ICU and announced visiting time. She listed the rules about washing hands, gloving and gowning up. They would also need to cover their hair. She then led the way to the patient area and waited at the entrance where they prepared themselves for entry.

  Having seen him before, Carrie was not as shocked as she had been the first time with all of the tubes and leads coming from beneath the sheet. She hung back while his mother went to the bedside. She took his hand and rubbed it gently. Chip stirred and his eyes fluttered open. “Hi Mom,” came out in a hoarse and scratchy voice.

  “Are you having any pain?” she asked. He shook his head slightly. “I have a surprise for you.” She motioned for Carrie to come closer. “Look who’s here to see you.”

  He angled his head slightly to where he could see Carrie. There was the faintest smile on his face. Carrie took his hand and leaned over and kissed his hand through her mouth covering. “I’m… sorry… I … let… him… hurt… you… I… tried… to… stop… him.” A tear rolled down his face.

  “It wasn’t your fault he shot us. What you did was the most heroic thing I have ever seen. Chip, you saved my life. If you hadn’t moved in front of me and shoved me out of the way and gone after him, he would have had a clear shot at me and I would be dead now. I owe you my life and I’ll never forget you or that,” Carrie said that in a voice filled with emotion. She was crying now. She moved her hand over his and he grasped it, squeezed slightly and smiled.

  “Thank you.”

  “Oh Chip, Keep fighting and get well, I need you to help me find a new apartment like you promised. I’m going to stay with Mom for a while till you can help me.

  “Good,” he said in a tired voice.

  “I’m going back to my room, Mrs. Reynolds and let you have some time with him. Thank you.” She leaned over the bed and whispered, “I’ll be back, Chip. Get well for me.”