by Laura Acton
This Is a Strange Hospital
35
August 3
St. Michael’s Hospital – Room 1030 – 8:15 a.m.
Dan felt the warmth of a tiny hand holding his hand as he woke. Blinking his eyes open, Dan beheld a delightful sight. Standing on a chair next to his bed holding his hand and staring at him with sparkling eyes and a lovely smile was little Allie.
“Daddy, Daddy, Uncle Danny wakeded up, he wakeded up. Uncle Danny, you done napping? You wanna colors with me? I drawded pictures so you happy.” Allie pointed to the wall.
Turning to look, Dan noticed a wall entirely covered with colorful drawings. He gave Allie a huge grin and nodded as she squeezed her hand gently.
Allie beamed. “I colorded every day. You nap too long. Wanna come to the moodies with me? We color after.” She lifted a small bag of crayons. “I brings crayons so we can color.”
Bram walked into view and said, “Allie, Uncle Dan just woke up. He can color later, but not now, Sweetie.” He picked her up and settled her on his hip. “Besides, we have to go, everyone is waiting for us. I promised them we would be only a few minutes.”
“But I wants my Prince Charming to comes to the moodies.” Allie pouted. Her eyes got earnest as she tried to negotiate. “You comes to the moodies, and I share my gummy bears with you.”
Dan grinned again. Allie had such innocence—it reminded him of Sara. He wished he could go with her to make her happy.
Bram stepped in because the doctor told Dan not to talk. “The doctor says Prince Charming has to stay in bed. Maybe he can come to the movies next time. Give Uncle Dan a hug goodbye.” Bram leaned close so Allie could give Dan a hug.
Allie gave Dan a sort of hug around his neck and dropped the bag of crayons on the bed. “You keeps these. I have lots more at home. I comes back later we color. I brings you oatmeal raisin walmut cookies. Mommy said we could make some now you done napping.”
Bram put Allie down on the floor. “Nana’s right outside the door. Go wait with her, Sweetie. I’ll be right out.” He watched his daughter head out of the room, glad he could finally ease her fears by letting her see Dan.
Dan waved to Allie as she waved goodbye to him and skipped happily from the room.
Bram turned to Dan. “I hope you don’t mind. I had to bring her. She has been so worried and constantly begged to see you. I didn’t bring the other girls up yet because I didn’t want to overwhelm you. I think one at a time is better if you’re okay with them visiting.”
Dan found the pen and paper the nurse had left for him when the doctor instructed him not to talk. He scribbled out, Nice wake up. Thanks for bringing her. Tell Allie, can’t wait to color with her. Love to see all your girls. Dan smiled as he turned the paper to show Bram what he wrote.
Bram saw the grin because they’d replaced the full mask with the nose cannula sometime during the night. That smile made him happy. “I’ll be back later. We stopped by on our way to the movies. The theater is playing a special double feature of Sleeping Beauty and Beauty and the Beast today only. Promised to take the girls.
“Lexa left a few minutes ago, she will be back later tonight, she is helping Boss redo Martin’s old room. She needed to catch Boss before he goes to headquarters to get him to select the final color. The Boss and the guys will be busy running trials today. They’ll be in sometime in the late afternoon.
“The general was here earlier and wanted to stay, but Scott said he had orders to take the general back to where they’re staying to get some rest. Scott indicated that if your father didn’t comply he would face the righteous wrath. No idea what that’s all about, but whoever they’re staying with seems to rule the general with an iron fist. She’s been taking good care of your father. Scott should be back shortly.”
Bram added, “If she didn’t force him to leave, your father would’ve stayed here twenty-four seven.” He saw the grin on Dan’s face and assumed it was for the fact his father showed he cared, but he didn’t mention it.
Righteous wrath—it must be Bella, Dan thought as he grinned yet again, his cheek muscles getting a work out this morning. Bella was the only one who ever ordered the general around. He had overheard a conversation between them once when he lived with Bella. It shocked him when the general abruptly caved to her. Later, when Dan dealt with Brogan, he learned if you were smart, you didn’t piss off Bella—his dad was smart, Brogan certainly wasn’t.
Bram squeezed Dan’s left bicep. “Patch will be by when his shift allows. I gotta go now. See ya later.”
Dan made the okay sign with his hand then waved as Bram left the room.
Alone in the room, he laid his head back and took stock. He looked at his right arm. Stitches gone, new scar. Dan ran his hand gently above his right eye, stitches gone, too. He wondered how bad the scar was and if it was visible. Dan gazed down at his chest, pulled the gown away and saw only bandages. Unable to see the damage, he thought, Oh well, what’s one more scar.
A funny thought struck him. Dan could star in a movie called Sleeping Beast. He was pretty messed up, and Lexa kissed him before he woke up. Still inspecting the bandages on his chest, he noticed the bruising was almost gone only a little dull yellow-green showed.
All things considered, Dan felt fairly good but extremely weak. He didn’t like feeling weak, or that his breathing was still so damned labored. My lungs must have been hit hard. His mouth felt like cotton and tasted like old leather. I need a shower and to brush my teeth.
Dan pressed the call button. He was more than surprised nurse Betty agreed to the shower, but with some conditions. Dan usually had to fight tooth and nail with nurses about it until Patch intervened or he simply ignored them and did it anyway or left against medical advice. Patch would ream him good when he left AMA.
Betty’s condition was he couldn’t shower unaccompanied. She explained it was for his safety because he had been lying in a bed in a coma for weeks and his muscles would be weakened. Dan bristled at first but reluctantly accepted the fact—he became tired from only sitting in bed.
The door opened, admitting a burly orderly. Jerry came to the bed and switched the oxygen line to a portable tank which he attached to the base of the rolling IV pole and asked. “You ready for your shower?”
Dan answered by pushing himself up. He sat at the edge of the bed a moment to catch his breath.
“We’ll take this slow,” Jerry said as he assisted Dan to stand.
Dan stood on shaky legs which wanted to give out. The orderly dragged the rolling IV pole for him and helped him shuffle to the shower and sit down on one of those stupid shower stools due to his weakened state. Dan was completely out of breath by the time he reached it and legs felt like jelly.
Jerry placed a washcloth and liquid soap near the patient and removed the hospital gown as he said, “I’ll help if you need. Try not to get the bandaged area too wet. The nurse will change the dressing after, though.” He turned on and adjusted the water temperature before handing Dan the handheld showerhead attached to a long hose. To give Dan a little privacy, he stood back, yet remained close enough in case the patient faltered.
Dan washed his lower body himself. When he lifted the showerhead to wash his hair, his weak grip on the hose slipped. The water hit him full force in the face. His body reacted to the water.
Jerry rushed forward as his patient fell backward and the showerhead dropped to the floor of the shower spraying water straight up into the air. He caught and held Dan as his patient jerked and passed out.
“Darn it!” Jerry knew should’ve insisted on doing it for his patient. In Dan’s weakened state, he couldn’t believe he had been ordered to allow the patient to be in charge and dictate what he could or couldn’t do. He held Dan as he reached for the emergency pull cord to get help.
The world came back into focus. Dan realized the orderly held him upright in the shower. It was damned embarrassing. “I’m … fine,” Dan rasped as he opened his eyes and stared up at the orderly.
Water in Dan’s face always freaked him out. Dan felt the heat on his face as he blushed being held naked and soaking wet in a shower. He also felt bad the orderly was now dripping wet as the water from the showerhead, turned water fountain by its position on the floor, rained back down on them.
Jerry stayed his hand before he pulled the emergency cord. “You look fine, sir,” he said drolly. “No more speaking or you’ll end up coughing.” He guided one of Dan’s hands to the shower hold bar. “How bout you hold the bar, and I’ll wash your hair and back? Then you can brush your teeth sitting here before we get you back into bed.”
Reluctantly Dan nodded. He wanted to do it for himself, but he was out of breath and exhausted. It was uncomfortable letting the orderly wash him, so he closed his eyes and imagined it was Sexy Lexa instead.
Jerry efficiently washed Dan and when he finished handed Dan his toothbrush. He waited with a cup of water for Dan to rinse. When the patient was done, he helped to dry him. “Wait here. I’ll get your clothes.”
Dan snorted. Yeah, like I can go anywhere on my own. He was surprised when the orderly came in with a pair of his own lightweight sweatpants. Someone must have brought those to the hospital for him.
As the orderly helped him into the sweats, Dan thought, What no boxers?
Jerry saw the look and explained, “Easier for you to use the restroom without the extra hassle.”
Dressed in his own clothes rather than a hospital gown, Dan relaxed feeling less exposed and vulnerable. He stood with assistance and leaned more heavily on the orderly than he liked. The snail pace walk to his bed left him wiped out. He barely made it to the bed before his shaky legs gave out. The orderly lifted him up, helped him get positioned, and pressed the call button.
“Betty should be in any minute,” Jerry said as he reattached Dan’s oxygen from the portable tank to the wall outlet.
Dan took time to just breathe, then he opened his eyes and got the pen and paper as the orderly used a dry washcloth to wipe his own wet hair. Dan wrote, Thanks. Sorry, u got wet and showed the message to the orderly.
Jerry grinned. “Welcome and no problem, it happens all the time. Surprised you made it on your own two feet. Never seen anyone do that after being out for several weeks.”
Dan scribbled, Name?
“My name is Jerry Fields, call me Jerry. You have a t-shirt here, too. Just need to wait until Betty redresses your wound before you put it on. If at any time you need a steadying hand, I’ll be here—been assigned to this floor.” He continued to dry his own hair with the damp cloth.
This is a strange hospital, Dan thought. Usually, hospitals controlled everything and forced him to do things their way and on their schedule.
Betty entered the room all bright and bubbly. “I see you got your shower. Let’s get the dressing changed for you and get your shirt on.”
Dan examined his chest when she removed the bandage. One hell of a scar! Apprehension invaded his thoughts. Would this disgust Lexa? He leaned his head back and squeezed his eyes shut not wanting to know if the answer was yes. Old self-image issues filtered in as he recalled Julie’s reaction to his scars. Would Lexa be like Julie or like Anastasia? He hoped like Anastasia.
Betty efficiently capped off the IV line so Dan could put his t-shirt on. “All done. Jerry can help you with your shirt. I’ll be back in a moment.”
Jerry handed him his shirt. His mood unsettled after seeing his scar, he angrily wrote, I CAN put my own damned shirt on with NO help!
“Sure.” Jerry stepped back and wondered at the change in mood.
Getting his shirt on was painful and slow. At least he could raise his arms above his head without help, and Jerry allowed him to do it by himself. The soaked orderly only waited patiently for him to finish. Dan was surprised by this, too. By the time Dan was done with the simple act of putting on a shirt he was utterly exhausted again. The pain level was back to needing meds. Though surprisingly his mood improved. They didn’t treat him like he was incapable and let him go at his own pace—strange for a hospital.
Betty returned with a small machine she attached to the rolling IV pole. “Good news. Dr. Markson ordered a self-administering medication pump for you, Dan. Ever had one of these?” she asked making conversation.
Dan shook his head.
First, Betty reattached his IV line, and as she attached the pump line to the IV line, she explained to Dan, “Well, this here little gadget puts you in control of your pain medication. You press this little button,” Betty held up the controller, “and your meds are delivered. Don’t worry about getting too much. It’s locked to a prescribed dose.”
Watching as the nurse attached everything, he listened as Betty said, “You’re in control, but don’t let it go too long in between doses. You’ll get out of here faster if you keep your pain managed properly.
“Give it a try now, push this button to release the dose. All the moving with your shower and dressing had to hurt. Also, remember to let me know if it doesn’t bring the pain to a manageable level. The doctor ordered the dosage set low and frequent. If you need more, I’m authorized to give you a booster dose. No reason for you to be in pain.”
Dan pushed the button, and it gave him a sense of being more in control. He relaxed as the medication entered his system—only enough to take the edge off. He gave Betty a genuine smile and thumbs up as a form of thanks and closed his eyes needing to sleep.
Betty gave Jerry a smile and quietly said, “Go change now.”
Jerry nodded and left the room still amazed by this patient.
As Betty did a vitals check, she let her mind roll back to the hastily called meeting early this morning between the tenth-floor nursing staff, Patch, the general, Heather, Dr. Markson, and Dr. Fraser. Patch insisted on some things which were way out of normal protocol.
Dr. Markson resisted at first. Patch declared Blondie would do better and heal faster with some control and if he isn’t fighting the system. The general firmly backed Patch’s position. He told them if they wanted Daniel to stay in the hospital and receive the proper care, they would follow Jim Shea’s recommendations. Dr. Markson finally agreed after Dr. Fraser explained Dan’s condition when he left the ICU against medical advice after the gang war.
The main rules they needed to follow were to allow Dan as much control and freedom to move about as safely possible, do things at his pace, and by himself if possible. The nurses were directed to find safe compromises if necessary to accommodate to his requests.
General Broderick insisted Daniel be allowed to wear his own clothing and dictate what and when he ate among other things. He even specifically requested the orderly who lent Daniel his clothing when he was in the ICU previously. He wanted to ensure his son had compassionate caregivers and the orderly’s deeds spoke loudly to the nature of the man.
Betty smiled as she left the room recalling Patch hugged her fiercely when she suggested the pump. She shared her observation Dan disliked asking for pain meds and waited too long to ask for them. With the pump, Dan can manage his pain without having to appear weak by asking for pain meds. Betty giggled when she remembered what Heather said, they would add this to the pain management section of the Proper Care and Feeding of Dantastic manual.
For Now, It Is a Start
36
August 3
St. Michael’s Hospital – Room 1030 – 12:30 p.m.
Dan woke again aware someone sat near him. He looked to the chair, and his body automatically stiffened. He mentally chided himself and forced himself to relax. Will that ever stop? Probably not, he realized. His dad smiled at him.
“Good to see you, Danny,” William said as he rose and ambled towards the bed deliberately using the name he had called his son when he was little.
Dan grinned back at him. Hoping it wouldn’t start a coughing fit Dan softly and carefully said between breaths, “Good … to … see … you, … Dad.”
William leaned down and gathered Daniel into his arms, gladdened w
hen Daniel’s arms wrapped around him also. As father and son warmly embraced, the iceberg of sorrow, mistrust, hurt, and anger separating them started to thaw. After several minutes, William gently laid Daniel back down.
He sat down after he pulled a chair close to the bed. William took a deep breath then started the rebuilding of his relationship with his son. They both understood it would be slow and missteps bound to happen given their stubborn natures and ingrained behaviors. But for now, it is a start.
Dan wrote, Are you okay?
“Yes, I’m well. Clean through with no significant damage. Would you like a drink of water?” William asked.
When Dan nodded, his father poured a cup, lifted it to his lips, and held it while he took several sips. When he finished, he wrote his next question. Who shot me?
A pained look crossed William’s face as he answered, “Corporal Merrill, a member of my staff.”
Dan’s eyes narrowed as many questions crowded his mind. He started to write, but his father’s hand laid over his, stopping him. Dan looked to his father.
“I’ll tell you all I know.” William talked while Dan responded with a few written words, hand signs, and nods as they quietly discussed what happened in the past few weeks.
So they were all here? UM, UE, UR, S, A, J, Z, & K? Dan wrote.
William read the initial shorthand Daniel used for his uncles and cousins. “Every last one of them. None of them wanted to leave and stayed as long as they possibly could, hoping you would awaken but duty called. Scott will be here another eight days.”
Dan was also stunned his uncles and cousins stayed for two full weeks and spent nearly all their time here with him. It was still hard to reconcile everything in his head and that they cared about him.
Leaning forward, William shared, “Your cousins forged some friendships with your TRF team members. In some ways, they paired off interestingly. Adam took a liking to your Sergeant. Jon and Jeff, they make quite a pair. If they ever team up as drill sergeants, it would be rather interesting. Loki is a hoot. He and Kyle had everyone in stitches several times. Zach gravitated to Ray, those two had many quiet conversations. I’m partial to Bram. I’m glad you reached out for him when you needed a friend. Scott and Lexa, those two really hit it off.”