Original: To His Grave: Chapter 4
Title: To His Grave
Author: avari_maethor
Summary: This is not a story about romance. This is a story of friendship and how far that friendship goes.
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Some m/m situations mentioned. However it is not a main piece of the story.
To His Grave
Chapter 4
“…li… Eli!”
Eli blinked and jerked back from his memory as a hand was laid on his shoulder. Robyn White stood in front of him, a frightened and worried look on her face. His tongue stuck to the roof of his mouth, he wanted to spill everything that happened and how worried he was… but nothing came out. Eli could only point to the nurses’ station with a shaking hand.
Robyn turned and went to the nurses’ station to find out what was happening with Tommy. Watching her walk away, Eli wondered how she had gotten there so quickly… But then he remembered that Tommy’s mom was a nurse at this hospital. Of course the nurses would know who Tommy was and they would have paged.
She came back a few moments later with a clipboard to fill out about Tommy; she was biting her bottom lip from worry. Thirty minutes later Daniel White ran in very out of breath.
“Sorry! I would have been here sooner but I was helping with an assisted delivery. Mother and foal are just fine. How’s Tommy?” He questioned.
“The doctors haven’t said anything. All I know is that he had a serious attack. I hope that’s all it is,” Robyn answered.
“It’s not…” Eli murmured. Daniel blinked as if he just noticed him sitting there.
“What do you mean, ‘it’s not’, Eli?” He questioned.
“Toms was in too much pain. It wasn’t like he just couldn’t breathe… It was more than that. It was like he was hurting deep inside… right here,” Eli explained placing his hand over the area of his heart. Daniel and Robyn looked at each other and lapsed into a worried silence.
Twenty minutes later a doctor appeared in the waiting room. He looked around for a moment before spotting Robyn. As he walked over, she and Daniel stood. Eli wondered if he should stand as well. He was still pondering this when Robyn reached her free hand back for him to take. With that clue Eli got to his feet and stood on her other side.
“Dr. Tarvin, how is Tommy?” Robyn questioned.
“Exhausted, this attack has really taken it out of him.”
“So it was just a powerful asthma attack?” Daniel asked. Eli wanted to throttle him! He had just told them that this attack wasn’t like any attacks Tommy had had in the past.
“No, Mr. White. Tommy had a relatively light attack but the attack was brought on by something else,” Dr. Tarvin told them.
“What was-” Daniel was cut off by Eli.
“When can we see Tommy?”
“I’m afraid only family members can see him.” Robyn’s eyes flashed.
“Dr. Tarvin.” Her voice left no room for argument. “Eli might as well be my son. He will be given the same permission to see Tommy that my husband and I have.” Daniel nodded in agreement.
Dr. Tarvin sighed, he didn’t like it, but if the parents gave permission there was nothing he could do to say otherwise. “Follow me. As I was saying before… we will need to run further tests to determine what brought this attack on.”
“How long will that take to determine?” Daniel questioned.
“A few hours at least,” Dr. Tarvin answered. They took the elevator up to the third floor and followed Dr. Tarvin to the forth door on the left. “We have Tommy using an oxygen mask to make sure that he doesn’t have another attack. If he should have another attack the mask will provide him with extra air.”
Tommy opened his eyes tiredly as they came in. He smiled and tired to sit up but Robyn rushed forward and stopped him. She kissed his forehead and brushed his hair back chattering about things that didn’t really matter. Daniel came to stand beside her and Eli went to the other side of the bed and took Tommy’s hand. Tommy smiled at him and squeezed his hand.
“You’re here,” Tommy murmured. Eli nodded.
“Thanks to your mom. The doc didn’t want to let me back.” Tommy smiled at his mom and Robyn smiled back.
“Get some rest honey. We’ll be here when you wake up,” she assured him. Tommy agreed tiredly and gave in to sleep. For the next three hours they sat by Tommy’s side waiting for the doctor to come and tell them something… Anything.
When their stomachs started to growl, Daniel went to get them something to eat. Eli called his mother so she wouldn’t worry, about him at least; Tommy was like her other son as well so of course she was going to be worried about him. Tommy had woken a few times over those three hours but he always went back to sleep.
While Daniel was gone Robyn studied the printouts of Tommy’s heart rate. She had been watching the lines on the machine for a while now, a small frown on her lips. Eli became very curious as to what she saw when she picked up the printouts. Being a nurse, surely she could see something that made no sense to him.
“You’re right Eli,” she said finally. Eli knew his eyebrow’s rose in question and confusion at her statement. “This wasn’t just a regular asthma attack… It wouldn’t be affecting Tommy’s heart rate this long after. There is something else wrong.”
Eli bit his bottom lip. He hated to ask this but he had to know.
“Is there something wrong with Tommy’s heart, Mrs. White?” She stared at the printout for another long moment before answering.
“I don’t know for sure. But as a nurse… I would say yes.”
Eli gripped Tommy’s hand harder causing him to wake. Just as Tommy was about to question the action, Daniel came through the door carrying the food he had gone to get.
“That smells great,” Tommy said with a smile.
“I didn’t know how hungry you would be so I just got you a turkey sandwich,” Daniel told him.
“Thanks, Dad. Sounds and smells great.” Daniel passed out the rest of the food he had gotten and they ate in silence. When he had finished his sandwich Tommy closed his eyes and fell back asleep.
“Eli, you can go home. There’s no telling how late we will be and you have school in the morning,” Daniel told him. He was honestly surprised when Eli fixed him with a cold glare.
“I’m not going anywhere until I know Tommy is going to be okay,” Eli stated. Daniel started to retort but Robyn stopped him by laying her hand over his.
“Eli, you can stay as long as you want but I would rather you go home at eleven. You do have school tomorrow and I don’t want you falling asleep in your classes,” she told him. Eli thought about it for a moment and then nodded.
The next three hours passed slowly. They talked to Tommy when he woke, but the medicine given after a serious attack always took it out of him. Eli told them all what he knew of his mother’s latest novel and Daniel made them laugh with a few funny stories from his vet practice. Finally, as four hours approached there was a knock at the door. They all looked at the door as the doctor opened it.
“Mr. and Mrs. White, we have Tommy’s test results. I need to speak with you…” His eyes landed on Eli. “Alone.” Glancing at each other Daniel and Robyn stood and followed him out the door. When the door closed Tommy squeezed Eli’s hand.
“…I’m scared Eli…”
Eli bowed his head over his and Tommy’s joined hands, his forehead resting on their knuckles. To tell the truth he was terrified after what Robyn had said about Tommy’s heart readings, but he didn’t want Tommy
to know that. He had to be strong for Tommy.
Eli raised his head and gave Tommy a smile. “Don’t worry Toms. I’m sure it’s nothing to really worry about. Even if it is… This is a really good hospital… And I’ll be here.”
Tommy returned Eli’s smile, grateful for the reassurance. “Thank you, Eli.”
---
Dr. Tarvin led Daniel and Robyn to an empty room and closed the door behind them. He went over to the X-ray lamp and placed the three X-rays on it. Studying them for a moment, Dr. Tarvin gathered his thoughts before turning to Daniel and Robyn.
“As you can see we have taken some X-rays of Tommy’s chest. We were concerned by the readings of the heart monitor after the asthma attack passed and his heart rate did not return to normal.”
“What do the X-rays show?” Daniel questioned.
“There’s a shadow on Tommy’s heart,” Robyn said stepping forward to point it out. Dr. Tarvin nodded at her observation.
“We’re not sure how serious this is yet. I would like to keep Tommy for a couple of days and run some tests. This could be very serious or it could not be. Whichever it is we need to find out and take the necessary measures to treat it,” Dr. Tarvin explained.
---
Over the next two days Tommy was subjected to various tests to try and figure out what the shadow on his heart was. Eli came after school bringing him the homework he was missing and get-well cards from various students. Tommy was very thankful for his company after only being around the nurses and doctors all day. His mother came in when she could but both she and his father had to work.
They were all eating supper together when Dr. Tarvin knocked on the door. Daniel and Robyn moved to stand but he motioned for them to stay seated. He wasn’t smiling which meant it was bad news.
“Tommy needs to hear this as well. Normally I would ask you to leave Mr. Combs but I know you would refuse and it would only upset Tommy. We have to be very careful now,” Dr. Tarvin told them. Tommy grabbed Eli and his mother’s hands, fear and worry in his eyes. Robyn took hold of Daniel’s hand, the same emotions in her eyes.
“What is it, Dr. Tarvin?” Daniel questioned.
“We got Tommy’s test results back… Tommy needs a heart transplant.”
Author: avari_maethor
Summary: This is not a story about romance. This is a story of friendship and how far that friendship goes.
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Some m/m situations mentioned. However it is not a main piece of the story.
To His Grave
Chapter 4
“…li… Eli!”
Eli blinked and jerked back from his memory as a hand was laid on his shoulder. Robyn White stood in front of him, a frightened and worried look on her face. His tongue stuck to the roof of his mouth, he wanted to spill everything that happened and how worried he was… but nothing came out. Eli could only point to the nurses’ station with a shaking hand.
Robyn turned and went to the nurses’ station to find out what was happening with Tommy. Watching her walk away, Eli wondered how she had gotten there so quickly… But then he remembered that Tommy’s mom was a nurse at this hospital. Of course the nurses would know who Tommy was and they would have paged.
She came back a few moments later with a clipboard to fill out about Tommy; she was biting her bottom lip from worry. Thirty minutes later Daniel White ran in very out of breath.
“Sorry! I would have been here sooner but I was helping with an assisted delivery. Mother and foal are just fine. How’s Tommy?” He questioned.
“The doctors haven’t said anything. All I know is that he had a serious attack. I hope that’s all it is,” Robyn answered.
“It’s not…” Eli murmured. Daniel blinked as if he just noticed him sitting there.
“What do you mean, ‘it’s not’, Eli?” He questioned.
“Toms was in too much pain. It wasn’t like he just couldn’t breathe… It was more than that. It was like he was hurting deep inside… right here,” Eli explained placing his hand over the area of his heart. Daniel and Robyn looked at each other and lapsed into a worried silence.
Twenty minutes later a doctor appeared in the waiting room. He looked around for a moment before spotting Robyn. As he walked over, she and Daniel stood. Eli wondered if he should stand as well. He was still pondering this when Robyn reached her free hand back for him to take. With that clue Eli got to his feet and stood on her other side.
“Dr. Tarvin, how is Tommy?” Robyn questioned.
“Exhausted, this attack has really taken it out of him.”
“So it was just a powerful asthma attack?” Daniel asked. Eli wanted to throttle him! He had just told them that this attack wasn’t like any attacks Tommy had had in the past.
“No, Mr. White. Tommy had a relatively light attack but the attack was brought on by something else,” Dr. Tarvin told them.
“What was-” Daniel was cut off by Eli.
“When can we see Tommy?”
“I’m afraid only family members can see him.” Robyn’s eyes flashed.
“Dr. Tarvin.” Her voice left no room for argument. “Eli might as well be my son. He will be given the same permission to see Tommy that my husband and I have.” Daniel nodded in agreement.
Dr. Tarvin sighed, he didn’t like it, but if the parents gave permission there was nothing he could do to say otherwise. “Follow me. As I was saying before… we will need to run further tests to determine what brought this attack on.”
“How long will that take to determine?” Daniel questioned.
“A few hours at least,” Dr. Tarvin answered. They took the elevator up to the third floor and followed Dr. Tarvin to the forth door on the left. “We have Tommy using an oxygen mask to make sure that he doesn’t have another attack. If he should have another attack the mask will provide him with extra air.”
Tommy opened his eyes tiredly as they came in. He smiled and tired to sit up but Robyn rushed forward and stopped him. She kissed his forehead and brushed his hair back chattering about things that didn’t really matter. Daniel came to stand beside her and Eli went to the other side of the bed and took Tommy’s hand. Tommy smiled at him and squeezed his hand.
“You’re here,” Tommy murmured. Eli nodded.
“Thanks to your mom. The doc didn’t want to let me back.” Tommy smiled at his mom and Robyn smiled back.
“Get some rest honey. We’ll be here when you wake up,” she assured him. Tommy agreed tiredly and gave in to sleep. For the next three hours they sat by Tommy’s side waiting for the doctor to come and tell them something… Anything.
When their stomachs started to growl, Daniel went to get them something to eat. Eli called his mother so she wouldn’t worry, about him at least; Tommy was like her other son as well so of course she was going to be worried about him. Tommy had woken a few times over those three hours but he always went back to sleep.
While Daniel was gone Robyn studied the printouts of Tommy’s heart rate. She had been watching the lines on the machine for a while now, a small frown on her lips. Eli became very curious as to what she saw when she picked up the printouts. Being a nurse, surely she could see something that made no sense to him.
“You’re right Eli,” she said finally. Eli knew his eyebrow’s rose in question and confusion at her statement. “This wasn’t just a regular asthma attack… It wouldn’t be affecting Tommy’s heart rate this long after. There is something else wrong.”
Eli bit his bottom lip. He hated to ask this but he had to know.
“Is there something wrong with Tommy’s heart, Mrs. White?” She stared at the printout for another long moment before answering.
“I don’t know for sure. But as a nurse… I would say yes.”
Eli gripped Tommy’s hand harder causing him to wake. Just as Tommy was about to question the action, Daniel came through the door carrying the food he had gone to get.
“That smells great,” Tommy said with a smile.
“I didn’t know how hungry you would be so I just got you a turkey sandwich,” Daniel told him.
“Thanks, Dad. Sounds and smells great.” Daniel passed out the rest of the food he had gotten and they ate in silence. When he had finished his sandwich Tommy closed his eyes and fell back asleep.
“Eli, you can go home. There’s no telling how late we will be and you have school in the morning,” Daniel told him. He was honestly surprised when Eli fixed him with a cold glare.
“I’m not going anywhere until I know Tommy is going to be okay,” Eli stated. Daniel started to retort but Robyn stopped him by laying her hand over his.
“Eli, you can stay as long as you want but I would rather you go home at eleven. You do have school tomorrow and I don’t want you falling asleep in your classes,” she told him. Eli thought about it for a moment and then nodded.
The next three hours passed slowly. They talked to Tommy when he woke, but the medicine given after a serious attack always took it out of him. Eli told them all what he knew of his mother’s latest novel and Daniel made them laugh with a few funny stories from his vet practice. Finally, as four hours approached there was a knock at the door. They all looked at the door as the doctor opened it.
“Mr. and Mrs. White, we have Tommy’s test results. I need to speak with you…” His eyes landed on Eli. “Alone.” Glancing at each other Daniel and Robyn stood and followed him out the door. When the door closed Tommy squeezed Eli’s hand.
“…I’m scared Eli…”
Eli bowed his head over his and Tommy’s joined hands, his forehead resting on their knuckles. To tell the truth he was terrified after what Robyn had said about Tommy’s heart readings, but he didn’t want Tommy
to know that. He had to be strong for Tommy.
Eli raised his head and gave Tommy a smile. “Don’t worry Toms. I’m sure it’s nothing to really worry about. Even if it is… This is a really good hospital… And I’ll be here.”
Tommy returned Eli’s smile, grateful for the reassurance. “Thank you, Eli.”
---
Dr. Tarvin led Daniel and Robyn to an empty room and closed the door behind them. He went over to the X-ray lamp and placed the three X-rays on it. Studying them for a moment, Dr. Tarvin gathered his thoughts before turning to Daniel and Robyn.
“As you can see we have taken some X-rays of Tommy’s chest. We were concerned by the readings of the heart monitor after the asthma attack passed and his heart rate did not return to normal.”
“What do the X-rays show?” Daniel questioned.
“There’s a shadow on Tommy’s heart,” Robyn said stepping forward to point it out. Dr. Tarvin nodded at her observation.
“We’re not sure how serious this is yet. I would like to keep Tommy for a couple of days and run some tests. This could be very serious or it could not be. Whichever it is we need to find out and take the necessary measures to treat it,” Dr. Tarvin explained.
---
Over the next two days Tommy was subjected to various tests to try and figure out what the shadow on his heart was. Eli came after school bringing him the homework he was missing and get-well cards from various students. Tommy was very thankful for his company after only being around the nurses and doctors all day. His mother came in when she could but both she and his father had to work.
They were all eating supper together when Dr. Tarvin knocked on the door. Daniel and Robyn moved to stand but he motioned for them to stay seated. He wasn’t smiling which meant it was bad news.
“Tommy needs to hear this as well. Normally I would ask you to leave Mr. Combs but I know you would refuse and it would only upset Tommy. We have to be very careful now,” Dr. Tarvin told them. Tommy grabbed Eli and his mother’s hands, fear and worry in his eyes. Robyn took hold of Daniel’s hand, the same emotions in her eyes.
“What is it, Dr. Tarvin?” Daniel questioned.
“We got Tommy’s test results back… Tommy needs a heart transplant.”