Traveling Blues 2/2
Part Two of Traveling Blues
The sun shined through the semi-closed blinds, spilling the muted light right into Blair's face. He scrubbed his eyes briefly with the ball of his hand, blowing out a puff of air to move his hair out of his eyes.
His door was ajar and he could hear people moving around in the hallway, someone pushing something on squeaky wheels. The sounds of the hospital washed over him, bringing him more awake and with it the persistent pains wrapping around his stomach.
He watched the clock tick off the minutes, sweat trickled down his spine and he squirmed to find a comfortable position.
It seemed like forever until his door was pushed open and Jake came. "Hey, I'm back on my shift. I hope Sally treated you nice."
The nurse's smile was easy as he moved about the bed, checking and recording readings from several monitors.
The night was kind of fuzzy, Blair could only remember a women coming in late to check on him and to give him his next dose of painkillers. He really couldn't even remember what she looked like. "I guess so, I was kind of out of it." He admitted, bringing his knees up, his feet flat on the bed. It didn't seem to hurt as much that way.
"Yeah, I heard she gives out the good stuff. Just so happens I've got your next dose, which is a little overdue." Jake pulled a syringe from his pocket and uncapped it with his teeth, using the port in Blair's IV to deliver the much needed medication.
"I'm sorry for that. We had a bit of an emergency and now I'm behind on all my patients." Jake dropped the used needle into a red bin hanging on the wall. "You should be feeling right as rain in a few minutes."
Blair sighed, as the medicine worked its way through his veins, happy for the numb feeling.
"The doctor wants you up and around today." Jake moved a chair closer to the bed, one of those recliners. It was dark green and narrow. Blair didn’t think it looked too comfortable. Jake put a sheet over the fake leather and some sort of large pad on the seat, like the one he was laying on. "I'm supposed to sit you up this morning and then we'll see how it goes.
He pulled back Blair's covers and helped him adjust the thin gown he wore. "Let's see if you can swing your legs over the side."
Blair moved his legs, panting slightly as he was eased into an upright position. A pair of gray bootie socks were quickly and efficiently pulled onto his feet. "Okay, I'm going to hold you under your arm and support you as you walk toward the chair. Just stand up slowly and let me do most of the work."
He stood, clutching the nurse's hand. Although the medicine had kicked in, he still felt as if his insides might slide out of him and onto the floor. He shuffled the few steps to the chair and followed when Jake turned him around and pushed gently on his shoulder to get him to sit. Once in the chair his gown was pulled and maneuvered again and a warm blanket was laid across his legs. Jake pulled the side table closer and sat his phone and remote on top along with the call button.
"I've got to go and check on a few more people and then I'll be back. If you need anything just call."
Blair watched him leave and then tried to shift in the recliner. It was hard to move because his feet didn't touch the floor. After several tries he gave up and laid his head back against the rest, turning on the TV in hopes of finding something good on to distract him.
*~*
Several more hours had past when he next awoke. The sun poured in through his open blinds, it probably was at least noon. Even though Jake had checked in with him a few times, he mostly slept sitting up, which didn't seem to do anything for his aching back and belly. He felt almost like he was a little bloated and he hurt between his legs too.
Time passed, but he just couldn't shift into a comfortable spot and his mouth and throat were so dry. He could feel the tears start at the back of his eyes and he roughly scrubbed them away.
I am not going to feel sorry for myself.
Soon the chair became unbearable, even his tailbone was hurting and he longed to just get back into the bed. Jake had warned him not to try to get up on his own, that he had too many tubes and leads to be moving around, but the pain was coming back with a vengeance and he knew it was still several hours until he got his next dose of meds.
Finally he gave in and pressed the call button.
"Yes Mr. Sandburg?" a female voice cracked over the loud speaker.
"I ah...I want to get back in bed." He wasn't really sure what to say.
“Someone will be in to help you.”
Jake breezed into the small room several minutes later, looking at Blair's chart, a slight frown marring his handsome face.
"I can see you're starting to hurt again." He observed, even as he pulled the blanket off Blair, goose bumps raced over his legs and arms. "Let me help you into bed and then I'm going to see who's on call."
He was pulled up and man handled to the bed, grateful when his head hit the pillow.
Blair dry swallowed. "I know you said nothing by mouth, but my throat is so dry."
Jake patted his leg, "I'll bring you some lemon sticks."
A short while later, the nurse returned, carrying a styrofoam cup. He pulled out a swab and touched Blair's lips with it. It was just damp and smelt of lemon. Jake ran it around the outside of his mouth before telling him to open. A new swab was placed in his mouth and ran along his gums and teeth, and over his tongue. It took away the dry feeling and left his mouth feeling refreshed.
"I'll leave the cup here if you need them. Just do what I did but don't suck on them. I'll see if I can round up some chap stick too."
"Thanks." Blair closed his eyes, exhausted.
"Before you go back to sleep I wanted to tell you Dr. Ward will be in to see you soon. I told him you need better pain control."
True to Jake's word the on call doctor entered an hour later. He seemed like a nice enough man, but he was a little hard to understand. He checked Blair's belly again and asked a ton of questions before ordering a sonogram.
A portable machine was wheeled in a few minutes later.
"I'm just going to take a look at your belly." The doctor informed, squirting something cold onto Blair's stomach.
A wand was gently pressed into him and then moved smoothly over the gel. Soon the pressure was increased and Blair held his breath, closing his eyes tightly.
"You're belly's a little puffy." The doctor observed. "I think I see the problem."
The wand was removed and Blair felt like he could breathe again. "So what's wrong?"
"When you first came in, we thought you were having an acute attack, but since your pain is not responding like it should to the meds I suspect it might be chronic. The scan shows some stones blocking your bile duct."
"What does that mean?" Blair nodded gratefully to Jake as he wiped the slime off his stomach.
"I'm afraid that they will have to be removed surgically."
"Wh..what?" He could feel the blood rushing from his face.
"We'll have to wait until you've recovered a little more, but once the stones are removed you should fully recover and hopefully not have any reoccurrences." The doctor flipped through his chart, making a few notations before handing it to the nurse.
"I'm writing orders for a pump. You'll be able to self-medicate and that way you should be more comfortable and get some rest. We'll talk more about the surgery once you're a little more recovered." The doctor patted his leg through the blanket before leaving.
"I'm going to get what I need to set up your pump. I'll be right back." The nurse left and returned a short time later.
Blair was just drifting, not really feeling like being alert and talkative. He could hear Jake moving around the bed, adjusting the IV tubing.
"Okay, all set."
He opened his eyes to see Jake handing him something. He took the black handle, not really sure what to do with it. Jake guided his thumb to the tip of the wand and pressed down. "You just push the plunger when you feel you need it. If you're at your limit it won't deliver the dose. We'll check back in a few hours to see how your pain control is."
Blair nodded, already feeling the effects of the drugs. His eyes slipped close and he could feel the nurse straighten his blankets before stepping into the hall, the noise from the corridor fading as the door was pulled closed.
He drifted for a time, still feeling a slicing pain in his stomach. He had to press the pump two more times before he was comfortable enough to finally fall asleep.
*~*~*
Blair pressed the pump button again, but nothing happen. He knew from his earlier attempts that the pump made a slight buzzing noise when the medicine was being delivered.
He dropped the wand to the bed, tears welling.
God, this really sucks.
He was hot all over, his hair was pulled back, but the ends were drenched and stuck to his neck
The TV droned on, but it was all just background noise to him. His mind kept jumping from one thought to the next. There was no rhyme or reason. One minute he would be thinking about his work and everything he would have to do once he recovered and then he would start to think about stupid stuff, like he would have to put away his laundry when he got home because the trip was so last minute he left his basket sitting on the end of his bed.
Then he would start to think about home and how it would really be nice to have a familiar face around to distract him.
His sheets felt wet and he wondered if the night nurse would be coming in to sponge him down.
He tried the plunger again, but no noise means no medicine so he squirmed to find a spot that brought some kind of relief.
The tears dropped now, halfway to turning to his side, but he just couldn't make it and he flopped back over.
What time was it? It had to be time soon, right?
Did he remember to call his mom? Where was his cell phone anyway?
If he could just shift his hip, even a little...
God, please, please, please...nope, still no noise from the pump...
Come on...what time was it. The hall lights are dim, all the lights in his room where off...
His hand reached for the wand, but brushed the phone instead. He punched in the number known by heart and sobbed when a voice came on telling he had to dial one for long distance calls. Carefully he dialed again and it rang. He wiped his eyes and nose, knowing that Jim would see that he was crying.
The mechanical voice of the answering machine toned and he nearly lost it again, but maybe Jim would pick up.
"Um...it's me. Can you pick up? I ah...what time is it anyway? You're probably in bed, right?" his voice cracked a little and he cleared his throat. "I'll call you..."
BEEP
Right.
He guessed he rambled a little too long. Shifting slightly he put the phone back on the table, feeling the wand press into his side. He picked it up, waiting a few seconds, knowing that he probably wouldn't hear the noise even if he did press the button.
He squinted at the machine in the dark, daring it to work. His hand shook as he pressed the button and heard the noise.
Oh god...
He pressed again and again, afraid that he wouldn't hear it.
He had to tell Jim to reset the answering machine...it should be...longer...
Eyes drooping he could feel his breath evening...did he take his whites from the dry...
*~*~*
Part Five
"Mr. Sandburg?" A persistent tapping on his arm brought him back from a drug-induced sleep.
Blair carefully opened his eyes, squinting up at the person hovering over him. A woman dressed in a bright scrub top continued to rub and tap at his arm. It took a few seconds for his brain to engage and finally he was able to open his mouth to answer her, even if a slight moan was the only thing that came out.
"Hey there," she smiled. "I had a hard time waking you. How are you feeling?"
He just looked at her, hearing her talk and seeing her mouth move, but he wasn't too sure what she was asking.
It took her a few minutes to record whatever she was writing in his chart and then she made sure the call button and remote were close enough for him to reach. With a final pat to his arm, she was gone.
He looked around, wondering what time it was. The clock on the far wall was still in shadows, so either it was early morning or early evening. He had lost all track of time, usually sleeping most the day and night. The nurses and doctors came on and off, usually waking him for a few minutes to poke around and then letting him go back to sleep.
The one thing that didn't really seem to change was the ever-present pain. Sure, it would dull from time to time allowing him to rest, but it always came back and it seemed that with each new awakening it would be worse.
Dr. Ward had already upped his dose of pain meds two times, but still he would go for a period between doses when he was just miserable.
Shifting carefully to his side, he watched as people walked the halls, trying to judge the time of day by the activity on the other side of his door. The halls were still dim, but people seemed to be moving regularly up and down. He could hear some people talking around the alcove just outside his door. Every once in a while he heard a name, thinking that they must be talking about the patients on his ward.
Soon his door opened and a group of people came in. "Hi, Mr. Sandburg," the only man he recognized said.
Dr. Ward stood off to the side of his bed, a group of men and women around him. The doctor checked the chart and addressed the other doctors in his room. Blair drifted in and out, not really following the conversation going on around him. The doctor seemed to be asking questions about his case and then a young woman stepped up and placed her stethoscope on his chest.
It was odd, because she didn't really look at him.
He closed his eyes again. The shuffling of feet told him that the group had left.
"You okay?" This time when he opened his eyes, Jake was standing at the bottom of his bed. The nurse bent to check a drainage bag hanging off to the side then he moved closer, checking Blair's I.V. tubing and monitors. "You look a little flushed, how's your pain?"
A warm hand rested on Blair's forehead and he shivered. "I'm feeling okay."
"Seems like the night nurse pumped the last of your dose in a few hours ago. The meds should be working pretty good about now." Jake went back to doing whatever he was doing, moving around Blair's room, making little noise, but it was hard for Blair to keep his eyes open.
The shrill of the phone made him jump. He groped the table until he found it and brought the receiver to his ear. "'ello."
"Blair." Jim's voice blasted from the other side and Blair had to pull the receiver back a little.
"Jim, you okay?" He asked.
"Yeah, Chief. I just had been trying to get a hold of you for a few days. Every time I call you're sleeping."
Blair moved a little on the bed, trying to see the clock again. 10:30. Must be day, because he could see the light coming in through the blinds. "I'm sorry."
"Don't be, Chief. I've been talking with your doctor. I guess I...well it's just nice to hear your voice. You had me a little worried after your last call."
What was Jim talking about? "Last call?"
"Yeah, the other night you left a message; sounded a little upset."
"Oh..." Blair moved his hips slightly, sticking to the sheets.
"Well, I'll let you get some more rest. I'll try calling this evening, okay?"
Blair nodded, forgetting that Jim couldn't see him and hung up the phone.
*~*~*
"Excuse me. Can you tell me what room Blair Sandburg is in?" Jim stood just inside the lobby of the hospital. People lingered around some of the tables and chairs that were placed between the gift shop and deli.
The young woman behind the dark wooden kiosk typed his partners name into her computer. "Mr. Sandburg is in room 619." She looked up at him and motioned to a hall that was adjacent to her work area. "You take the green elevators to the six floor."
"Thank you." He headed for the elevators before changing course and entering the gift shop. Jim nodded politely to the elder man behind the counter before moving to the magazine rack on the far wall. He picked out a few for he and Blair and then decided to see if there were any novels Blair might be interested in.
Purchases made he walked to the elevator, waiting as a few people boarded before him. A young doctor punched in his floor and then looked expectantly toward Jim. "Six please."
Once exiting, he read the plague on the wall. The burn unit was to the right, but other room numbers were posted to the left and Jim walked up to the double door, waiting as they parted automatically.
Down the hall a few feet was a nurse's alcove and he found Blair's room to be just across from it. He smiled at the lone nurse that manned the counter. At the door, he waited a brief minute. Listening to the sounds coming from the other side, he found that the TV was turned on, but the volume was low.
When he pushed open the door, the room was fairly dark. A light over the sink was on and some more spilled from behind the partially closed curtain that concealed the other bed. Jim passed the first bed, glad to see that it was empty. He ducked around the curtain and stopped, taking in the figure curled on the bed.
It seemed Blair was sleeping, but not from a natural sleep. He noted the tubes and wires snaking from under the blankets and the one that was up his friends nose. An oxygen mask was over his friend's face, but Blair's breathing still seemed a little shallow.
Finding a chair in the corner he sat, placing his bag on the air conditioning unit under the window.
A little while later a man entered, pulling the curtain open as he came. "Oh, hello."
"Hi," Jim stood waiting for the new comer.
"I'm Jake, the nurse on duty today."
"Jim. Jim Ellison." Jim took the offered hand.
"I'm glad you made it to see him." The nurse checked on his roommate, recording Blair's blood pressure and temperature, checking the IV lines. "He had a bit of a rough night."
Jim sat, waiting for the nurse to finish up. "I could tell. I talked to him last night and he seemed a bit...out of it."
"Yeah," Jake untangled a few of the leads and tucked the blanket more snuggly around Blair's shoulders. "The doctors are trying to help him get better pain management. They're going to re-evaluate him this evening."
Jim nodded, but kept silent until the nurse was done.
"I'll be here until eight tonight. If you need anything just buzz me."
Again he nodded, watching as the man made his way to the door, closing it quietly behind him.
Alone again, Jim scooted closer, carefully taking Blair's hand in his. "I'm here buddy...you just get some more rest."
*~*~*
Blair started awake and pain blossomed through his gut. With eyes half opened he rubbed at his eyes, hand bumping into the oxygen mask. He searched the bed near his side for his hand pump, wanting to medicate himself and go back to sleep. It seemed that sleeping was all he did most days and it was a reprieve of sorts.
"Here you go, buddy." The wand was placed firmly in his hand and Blair slowly turned his head to see who was talking. Jim sat close, his knees almost touching the bed.
"Jim?" Relief washed over him, a flood of tears followed.
"Shhh. It's okay." His friend gently wiped his face with a tissue. "It's going to be okay."
"How did you get here?" Blair tried to shift, if even a little. His back was killing him, but he didn't want to dope himself up if Jim was here.
"Well," Jim said. "I got on a plane."
Jim smiled at him, helping Blair move onto his side. "I got done with the court case and flew out as soon as it wrapped."
"What time is it?" Blair tried to see the clock, but the numbers were fuzzy, his glasses were on the bedside table.
"It's almost six in the evening. Tuesday."
"Oh..."
"I ah...I got some magazines and a few books. You feel like reading?" Jim picked up the bag and dug out the scifi book he picked up for Blair.
"I don't think so, but thanks." Blair picked up the clicker and turned up the TV. "Maybe something good will be on."
After surfing the channels twice, he settled on some documentary. The TV droned on, but he really wasn't paying too much attention. It was hard for him to concentrate, he was covered in sweat, his sheets were soaked and he knew that he must smell.
"You need anything?" Jim's voice startled him.
"No, I'm good." His friend studied him for a minute or two and then went back to his book.
Time passed, Blair finally gave in and pressed the pump a few times and was just sort of drifting when the doctor came in. "Mr. Sandburg?"
Another person followed the doctor, both shaking Jim's hand before turning back to him. "I was in a little earlier to check in on you."
Blair had no recollection of the doctor's visit.
"I see that you are still having pain and because of that, we need to try a different approach."
The doctor pulled back his blanket and gently pressed into his belly. "You still have a little swelling. We're going to try a local. It should take care of the pain and allow your body to recover some more so we can schedule your surgery."
The woman standing next to the doctor moved around the room, opening cabinets and pulling out things. "I'm going to leave you in Dr. Archers hands. She's going to set up your local and I'll check on you again in the morning."
The doctor left, leaving him with his blanket peeled down and shivering. Jim pulled up the covers and patted his shoulder. "It's going to feel better in a few minutes."
"Okay, Mr. Sandburg. I'm going to insert a small catheter into your back. It's the same kind of local we use for laboring women." The doctor arranged the needed item on the side table, and then ducked out of the room for a minute.
Jake came back with her and helped to pull Blair into a sitting position. The rolling table was pulled over and some paper work was place in front of him.
"I just need you to sign here." The doctor then explained what she was going to do and asked if he wanted his friend to stay.
He looked to Jim, nodding.
Jake moved to stand in front of him, pulling Blair so that he was resting his head on the nurse's shoulder.
Blair shivered when his gown was parted, exposing his back and naked rear.
He was glad that Jim still sat in the chair, watching from the corner of the room.
"Okay, just try to relax." Something cool dragged across his back and then he could tell her hand was resting against his spine. "I'm going to numb you now."
The needle pierced his skin, burning as it went in.
"Just a little more."
He couldn't feel anything that time, but he couldn't stop shaking against the nurse. Warm arms held him and he didn't know why, but the tears started all over again.
Jim moved to stand by Jake, taking one of his lax hands. "It's okay, Chief. Just relax."
He nodded against the nurse's shoulder, tensing when the doctor announced that she was putting in the catheter.
He listened to the movement from behind and then felt a weird sort of pressure on his spine.
"All done." He was quickly laid flat and his blankets were pulled up to his chest. "Let me know when you feel anything." His legs were tingly and he told her so. "That's normal. Soon your whole lower body will be numb."
She stayed for a while, noting any changes. After a few minutes he couldn't feel his legs, a weird weight settled into his gut and moved right down to his toes. Jim stood close by, still holding his sweaty hand.
After a while his frame was racked with chills, but he felt hot...really hot.
"It's just a side effect." The doctor told them. "It will pass."
An hour later the doctor left them and Jake returned. "I'm going off duty in a few minutes." The nurse told them. "In the morning if you feel up to it, we'll get you cleaned up."
A little later Jim came out of the bathroom with a washcloth. "How about I wash up your face."
The cloth moved over his face and neck and Jim even ran the cloth under his arms. He felt a lot better after his impromptu bath and closed his eyes, finally falling into a natural sleep.
*~*~*
Part Six
A few days later, Jim was still occupying the same chair.
He spent most of his day with Blair, only going back to the hotel by the airport in the evenings to eat and rest.
He had called Simon with regular updates, pleased when he entered Blair's room the day before to find a large plant from the guys at the station. Simon and Megan had called a few times too, which really seemed to lift his friend's mood.
Ever since they had gotten Blair's pain under control, it seemed that his friend was getting back to normal.
Well, as normal as Sandburg can be.
Blair would sleep well at nights and stay awake comfortably during the days, reading or watching TV. He had to stay in bed because of the epidural, but he could at least sit up, sometimes playing cards with Jim or Chess purchased from the local Wal-Mart.
The doctor had been in that morning already and had told them that the surgery was scheduled for later in the day. Blair seemed okay with the news, but Jim could tell he was a little tense.
"You want to watch some TV?" Jim asked, scooting his chair a little closer to reach the TV remote.
"I guess." Blair raised the head of the bed a little, settling a stray pillow under his right arm.
During the day nurses would come in and move him, because he was unable to move his lower body on his own, the down side was that because he couldn't feel anything, he was at a greater risk for bed sores.
"That's good."
Jim stopped on the morning show, watching his friend watch the banter between the two TV hosts.
Jim decided to read some more of his book. Several chapters later his stomach rumbled.
"Hey, man. Why don't you head down to get some lunch?" Blair flicked off the TV and lowered the bed. "I think I'm going to take a nap."
Jim stowed his book in the bedside table drawer before standing and stretching. "You want me to help you onto your side?"
"Nah, I'm good."
He pulled the blanket a little higher, smiling when Blair swatted his hand away. "Be back in thirty." He said, moving to the door.
"I'll be here," his friend tossed back as Jim quietly closed the door.
*~*~*
Later in the morning a nurse came in and shot something into Blair's I.V. line. "Someone will be in soon to move you to the operating room."
Twenty minutes passed and he started to worry that Jim wasn't going to get there before they took him into the O.R. He occupied himself with the TV, flipping the limited channels, but nothing held his interest.
He had to admit he was a little nervous.
"Hey, you ready for a ride?" Jake stood in the doorway.
He looked beyond the nurse, hoping that Jim would be in the hallway.
Jake moved into the room, followed by another man in scrubs. They pushed a gurney and aligned it with his bed. Both men worked to lift and transfer Blair.
On the way down the hall, he could feel his heartbeat pick up, but he took a few deep breaths, trying to calm himself.
"You okay, Chief?"
Blair craned his neck on the pillow to see his friend walking behind him. "Yeah. I thought you weren't here."
"I was talking with your doctor." Jim moved to his side as they waited for the elevator. "I'm sorry."
"It's okay, man. I'm just a little nervous." The door parted and several people exited the compartment. He was pushed forward into the small space, relieved that Jim had joined them.
The bell dinged each time they passed a floor and once the doors opened they were moving swiftly again. The halls were deserted, not too many doors lined the sides. At some point Jim had grabbed his hand and Blair wasn't quite ready to let go yet.
The orderly used a key card to open a wide set of double doors and Blair found himself parked in a hallway.
"There's a waiting room at the end of this corridor." The orderly indicated the room and left them alone.
"Well," his friend said. "I guess I'll see you in a little while."
Blair nodded, watching Jim until he disappeared around the corner.
It seemed like a long time until someone came up to him and checked the band on his arm. "Okay, Mr. Sandburg." The woman unlocked the brakes on the gurney and pushed him down another hall.
The doors at the end opened and he passed through a few small rooms. People moved about, talking. He was parked again, but soon a person in a surgical mask checked his band again and rolled him into a large room. Bright lights hung from the ceiling and an ominous looking table took up the middle of the room.
He was helped onto the table, large sheets were quickly draped over him and his gown was pulled from his body. Someone pulled the arm with the I.V. out from his body and it was strapped down to the extended armrest. His other arm was left alone for the moment as people bustled around him.
The stereo was turned on and he was asked what he liked to listen to. "Anything is fine."
The stations flipped, finally settling on an easy listening channel. The sheet covering him was pulled up and clamped to the poles on either side of him, cutting off his view of his lower body. Cool air rushed over him as the other end was hiked up, leaving his lower regions and legs bare. Seconds later another sheet covered his hips and legs, but he could still feel the cool air of the room caress his belly.
More people came in and his other arm was strapped down, a funny cap was put onto his head, his hair briskly tucked in. A face hovered over him and someone patted his shoulder. "I'm going to be moderating your vitals. If you feel anything, you need to let me know."
He nodded, not recognizing the voice.
Another person leaned around the drape that blocked his view. "I'm Dr. Morgan,
Mr. Sandburg. I'm going to be doing your procedure."
She had a soothing voice and bright blue eyes, but the mask she wore obscured the rest of her face. "The epidural will keep you from feeling any pain. You can expect some pressure, pulls and tugs, but no pain, okay?"
He nodded again, closing his eyes. He was sleepy, but he knew he was going to be awake for this operation. Dr. Ward explained that it was going to be done with several small incisions and a special instrument that let the doctors see inside of him. He would be able to recover fasted and get home sooner.
"Okay, we're starting."
He spent the next few minutes looking at the ceiling, the pole that held his I.V., the far wall full of equipment, and down at the drape that covered him. Every once in a while he could feel a tug or some pressure, but it wasn't too bad. A few times he was sure he had nodded off, but even with his eyes closed he could hear the radio and the quiet chatter of the people in the room with him.
Before he knew what was happening, he was being lifted back onto a gurney. "We'll take you to recovery for a little bit and than you can go back to your room."
In the recovery room a nurse pulled the catheter from his back, slowly the feeling returned to his legs and he bent them, resting his feet on the mattress. His belly was sore, but not nearly as painful as it was.
The nurses checked in on him regularly and finally he was released to his own room. Jim joined him in the hall and rode up with him in the elevator. "How ya feeling, Chief?"
"Better."
Soon he was snug in his bed, resting comfortably on his side, a few pillows supported his back. Jim stayed close, only leaving his room to have lunch and make a few phone calls.
Later in the day Jake came in to tell him the doctor would be by soon to remove the tube up his nose and that he could have his catheter removed.
"Once the tube is out, he'll put you on a soft diet." Jake said, taking care of another uncomfortable tube. "I'll bring you a tray later tonight."
"When can I get up?" Blair asked, shifting a little.
"Probably this evening."
Jim came in as Jake left. "Good news, Chief?"
"Yeah. Dr. Ward will be by soon and I'm hoping he'll say when I can get out of here."
His friend took his usual seat and Blair went back to the magazine he was reading. It was almost dinnertime when Dr. Ward came in. "How are you doing?"
"Better." Blair watched as the doctor lifted the sheet and checked his belly. He had a few small band-aids around his stomach and gauze covering his belly button.
"Everything looks good. Let's get that tube out." Blair was handed a basin and the doctor opened a few packages of gauze. "I want you to take a deep breath and hold it. Don't be alarmed if your nose bleeds, that's pretty common."
The tube was quickly pulled free and Blair had the urge to vomit. After a few steady breaths his stomach was back under control.
"I want you to get up and walk around a little this evening and I'll have a food tray sent in. Do you have any questions?"
"When can I go home?" Blair asked.
"Maybe the day after tomorrow. We have to make sure you can hold down food and move your bowels." The doctor cleaned up the area before leaving.
Jake came in a little later with a food tray. Jim stood to help Blair, stuffing a few pillows behind his back as he raised the bed.
"You can get up and move around after you eat." Jake told him. "You can walk in the halls and use the bathroom, but no shower until tomorrow."
Blair sipped on a clear broth, watching a game show on TV. Even though his dinner was plain, it was still very tasty. He finished off his jello and juice before pushing the tray away from him.
"All done, Chief." Jim asked, moving the table away.
"Yeah. I think I want to try to get up." His friend helped him, wrapping another gown around him as a robe and steadying Blair when he stood.
"Okay?"
He took a minute then nodded, moving his feet slowly toward the door. He was a bit dizzy, but Jim's strong arm around his waist helped and soon he was making a circuit around the ward. They ended up in the waiting room and Blair stood near the large window over looking a pretty big city. "Hey, Jim?"
His friend stood next to him, staring out over the city lights. "Hmm."
"Where are we? What city?" Blair turned, catching his friend's smirk.
"Welcome to Detroit." Jim said, laughing as they made their way back to Blair's room.
*~*~*
The cabin was dim and Jim looked over his sleeping roommate. The airline that Blair had used, offered to fly them in first class for the price of coach, so his friend would have enough room to rest and not have to worry about being jostled by the other passengers in tighter quarters.
They had been in the air for almost three hours and Blair, although feeling much better, still slept a lot.
His partner mumbled something in his sleep and Jim pulled the light blanket up a bit, tucking the corners around Blair's shoulders. It had been ten days since Jim had gotten the call informing him that Blair was in a hospital in Michigan and another five before Jim could get to him.
A flight attendant came by and removed a dinner tray from in front of Jim. It was Blair's, but his friend only picked at the chicken and rice. Jim kept it for a while in hopes that he might eat some more. Blair's stomach was still a little tender, but he was keeping down his food and was able to use the bathroom with no problems. The doctors cut him loose earlier the evening before and Blair came back to Jim's hotel to spend the night.
In the morning, the afternoon flight was arranged and Blair was able to get in touch with his mother. From Blair's end of the conversation, it seemed that his mother was a bit upset, but Blair calmed her down pretty quickly.
"Jim?"
He shifted to his side, facing his friend. "You okay, Chief?"
"Yeah. Are we almost home?"
A small smile lit Jim's face. "Yeah buddy. Won't be long."
*~*~*
The loft door opened and Blair moved to the couch, gratefully sinking into the soft comfort.
He watched as Jim carried his luggage up to his bedroom then returned to help Blair remove his shoes. "I picked up your suitcase before I left," Jim told him. "And I put away your laundry, so if you want to lay down..."
"Maybe later." A small smile turned the corner of Blair's lips. "You put away my laundry?"
"Sure," his friend said. "I wanted to make sure everything was ready for when you got home."
Jim busied himself in the kitchen and Blair turned on the TV. A sandwich and bottle of water were placed in front of him. "Thanks, man."
"No problem." Jim ate his own sandwich while sorting through the mail.
It was getting late, but Blair didn't want to go to bed just yet. It was so nice to be back home.
He ate most his sandwich, debated on taking a shower, but decided to turn in instead. "I'm going to hit the sack," he told Jim.
His friend nodded, picking up both plates as Blair made his way to his bed. Everything was just as he left it, well except the basket he left on his bed was gone and his clothes were put away. The blanket on the bed was turned down and he realized that Jim must have done it over a week ago.
Suddenly tears flooded his eyes and he wiped at them as he crawled into his bed and covered up. It was silly, really...but at least these tears were for a very different reason from all the others he had shed over the last week.
He could hear Jim moving around in the living room, shutting off lights and checking locks and then a soft knock sounded on the doorframe.
"I'm heading up Chief. You need anything?"
"No, I'm good....thanks Jim." Blair snuggled deeper into the comfort of his own bed, closing his eyes.
"You're welcome."
Blair sensed his friend was still in his room. "You okay, Jim."
"Yeah, Blair." Jim moved backwards, pulled the door half way closed. "Welcome home, Chief."
And then Blair could hear feet on the steps and the springs from the mattress above as Jim lay down.
Home.
He was finally home.
*~*~*
The end
The sun shined through the semi-closed blinds, spilling the muted light right into Blair's face. He scrubbed his eyes briefly with the ball of his hand, blowing out a puff of air to move his hair out of his eyes.
His door was ajar and he could hear people moving around in the hallway, someone pushing something on squeaky wheels. The sounds of the hospital washed over him, bringing him more awake and with it the persistent pains wrapping around his stomach.
He watched the clock tick off the minutes, sweat trickled down his spine and he squirmed to find a comfortable position.
It seemed like forever until his door was pushed open and Jake came. "Hey, I'm back on my shift. I hope Sally treated you nice."
The nurse's smile was easy as he moved about the bed, checking and recording readings from several monitors.
The night was kind of fuzzy, Blair could only remember a women coming in late to check on him and to give him his next dose of painkillers. He really couldn't even remember what she looked like. "I guess so, I was kind of out of it." He admitted, bringing his knees up, his feet flat on the bed. It didn't seem to hurt as much that way.
"Yeah, I heard she gives out the good stuff. Just so happens I've got your next dose, which is a little overdue." Jake pulled a syringe from his pocket and uncapped it with his teeth, using the port in Blair's IV to deliver the much needed medication.
"I'm sorry for that. We had a bit of an emergency and now I'm behind on all my patients." Jake dropped the used needle into a red bin hanging on the wall. "You should be feeling right as rain in a few minutes."
Blair sighed, as the medicine worked its way through his veins, happy for the numb feeling.
"The doctor wants you up and around today." Jake moved a chair closer to the bed, one of those recliners. It was dark green and narrow. Blair didn’t think it looked too comfortable. Jake put a sheet over the fake leather and some sort of large pad on the seat, like the one he was laying on. "I'm supposed to sit you up this morning and then we'll see how it goes.
He pulled back Blair's covers and helped him adjust the thin gown he wore. "Let's see if you can swing your legs over the side."
Blair moved his legs, panting slightly as he was eased into an upright position. A pair of gray bootie socks were quickly and efficiently pulled onto his feet. "Okay, I'm going to hold you under your arm and support you as you walk toward the chair. Just stand up slowly and let me do most of the work."
He stood, clutching the nurse's hand. Although the medicine had kicked in, he still felt as if his insides might slide out of him and onto the floor. He shuffled the few steps to the chair and followed when Jake turned him around and pushed gently on his shoulder to get him to sit. Once in the chair his gown was pulled and maneuvered again and a warm blanket was laid across his legs. Jake pulled the side table closer and sat his phone and remote on top along with the call button.
"I've got to go and check on a few more people and then I'll be back. If you need anything just call."
Blair watched him leave and then tried to shift in the recliner. It was hard to move because his feet didn't touch the floor. After several tries he gave up and laid his head back against the rest, turning on the TV in hopes of finding something good on to distract him.
*~*
Several more hours had past when he next awoke. The sun poured in through his open blinds, it probably was at least noon. Even though Jake had checked in with him a few times, he mostly slept sitting up, which didn't seem to do anything for his aching back and belly. He felt almost like he was a little bloated and he hurt between his legs too.
Time passed, but he just couldn't shift into a comfortable spot and his mouth and throat were so dry. He could feel the tears start at the back of his eyes and he roughly scrubbed them away.
I am not going to feel sorry for myself.
Soon the chair became unbearable, even his tailbone was hurting and he longed to just get back into the bed. Jake had warned him not to try to get up on his own, that he had too many tubes and leads to be moving around, but the pain was coming back with a vengeance and he knew it was still several hours until he got his next dose of meds.
Finally he gave in and pressed the call button.
"Yes Mr. Sandburg?" a female voice cracked over the loud speaker.
"I ah...I want to get back in bed." He wasn't really sure what to say.
“Someone will be in to help you.”
Jake breezed into the small room several minutes later, looking at Blair's chart, a slight frown marring his handsome face.
"I can see you're starting to hurt again." He observed, even as he pulled the blanket off Blair, goose bumps raced over his legs and arms. "Let me help you into bed and then I'm going to see who's on call."
He was pulled up and man handled to the bed, grateful when his head hit the pillow.
Blair dry swallowed. "I know you said nothing by mouth, but my throat is so dry."
Jake patted his leg, "I'll bring you some lemon sticks."
A short while later, the nurse returned, carrying a styrofoam cup. He pulled out a swab and touched Blair's lips with it. It was just damp and smelt of lemon. Jake ran it around the outside of his mouth before telling him to open. A new swab was placed in his mouth and ran along his gums and teeth, and over his tongue. It took away the dry feeling and left his mouth feeling refreshed.
"I'll leave the cup here if you need them. Just do what I did but don't suck on them. I'll see if I can round up some chap stick too."
"Thanks." Blair closed his eyes, exhausted.
"Before you go back to sleep I wanted to tell you Dr. Ward will be in to see you soon. I told him you need better pain control."
True to Jake's word the on call doctor entered an hour later. He seemed like a nice enough man, but he was a little hard to understand. He checked Blair's belly again and asked a ton of questions before ordering a sonogram.
A portable machine was wheeled in a few minutes later.
"I'm just going to take a look at your belly." The doctor informed, squirting something cold onto Blair's stomach.
A wand was gently pressed into him and then moved smoothly over the gel. Soon the pressure was increased and Blair held his breath, closing his eyes tightly.
"You're belly's a little puffy." The doctor observed. "I think I see the problem."
The wand was removed and Blair felt like he could breathe again. "So what's wrong?"
"When you first came in, we thought you were having an acute attack, but since your pain is not responding like it should to the meds I suspect it might be chronic. The scan shows some stones blocking your bile duct."
"What does that mean?" Blair nodded gratefully to Jake as he wiped the slime off his stomach.
"I'm afraid that they will have to be removed surgically."
"Wh..what?" He could feel the blood rushing from his face.
"We'll have to wait until you've recovered a little more, but once the stones are removed you should fully recover and hopefully not have any reoccurrences." The doctor flipped through his chart, making a few notations before handing it to the nurse.
"I'm writing orders for a pump. You'll be able to self-medicate and that way you should be more comfortable and get some rest. We'll talk more about the surgery once you're a little more recovered." The doctor patted his leg through the blanket before leaving.
"I'm going to get what I need to set up your pump. I'll be right back." The nurse left and returned a short time later.
Blair was just drifting, not really feeling like being alert and talkative. He could hear Jake moving around the bed, adjusting the IV tubing.
"Okay, all set."
He opened his eyes to see Jake handing him something. He took the black handle, not really sure what to do with it. Jake guided his thumb to the tip of the wand and pressed down. "You just push the plunger when you feel you need it. If you're at your limit it won't deliver the dose. We'll check back in a few hours to see how your pain control is."
Blair nodded, already feeling the effects of the drugs. His eyes slipped close and he could feel the nurse straighten his blankets before stepping into the hall, the noise from the corridor fading as the door was pulled closed.
He drifted for a time, still feeling a slicing pain in his stomach. He had to press the pump two more times before he was comfortable enough to finally fall asleep.
*~*~*
Blair pressed the pump button again, but nothing happen. He knew from his earlier attempts that the pump made a slight buzzing noise when the medicine was being delivered.
He dropped the wand to the bed, tears welling.
God, this really sucks.
He was hot all over, his hair was pulled back, but the ends were drenched and stuck to his neck
The TV droned on, but it was all just background noise to him. His mind kept jumping from one thought to the next. There was no rhyme or reason. One minute he would be thinking about his work and everything he would have to do once he recovered and then he would start to think about stupid stuff, like he would have to put away his laundry when he got home because the trip was so last minute he left his basket sitting on the end of his bed.
Then he would start to think about home and how it would really be nice to have a familiar face around to distract him.
His sheets felt wet and he wondered if the night nurse would be coming in to sponge him down.
He tried the plunger again, but no noise means no medicine so he squirmed to find a spot that brought some kind of relief.
The tears dropped now, halfway to turning to his side, but he just couldn't make it and he flopped back over.
What time was it? It had to be time soon, right?
Did he remember to call his mom? Where was his cell phone anyway?
If he could just shift his hip, even a little...
God, please, please, please...nope, still no noise from the pump...
Come on...what time was it. The hall lights are dim, all the lights in his room where off...
His hand reached for the wand, but brushed the phone instead. He punched in the number known by heart and sobbed when a voice came on telling he had to dial one for long distance calls. Carefully he dialed again and it rang. He wiped his eyes and nose, knowing that Jim would see that he was crying.
The mechanical voice of the answering machine toned and he nearly lost it again, but maybe Jim would pick up.
"Um...it's me. Can you pick up? I ah...what time is it anyway? You're probably in bed, right?" his voice cracked a little and he cleared his throat. "I'll call you..."
BEEP
Right.
He guessed he rambled a little too long. Shifting slightly he put the phone back on the table, feeling the wand press into his side. He picked it up, waiting a few seconds, knowing that he probably wouldn't hear the noise even if he did press the button.
He squinted at the machine in the dark, daring it to work. His hand shook as he pressed the button and heard the noise.
Oh god...
He pressed again and again, afraid that he wouldn't hear it.
He had to tell Jim to reset the answering machine...it should be...longer...
Eyes drooping he could feel his breath evening...did he take his whites from the dry...
*~*~*
Part Five
"Mr. Sandburg?" A persistent tapping on his arm brought him back from a drug-induced sleep.
Blair carefully opened his eyes, squinting up at the person hovering over him. A woman dressed in a bright scrub top continued to rub and tap at his arm. It took a few seconds for his brain to engage and finally he was able to open his mouth to answer her, even if a slight moan was the only thing that came out.
"Hey there," she smiled. "I had a hard time waking you. How are you feeling?"
He just looked at her, hearing her talk and seeing her mouth move, but he wasn't too sure what she was asking.
It took her a few minutes to record whatever she was writing in his chart and then she made sure the call button and remote were close enough for him to reach. With a final pat to his arm, she was gone.
He looked around, wondering what time it was. The clock on the far wall was still in shadows, so either it was early morning or early evening. He had lost all track of time, usually sleeping most the day and night. The nurses and doctors came on and off, usually waking him for a few minutes to poke around and then letting him go back to sleep.
The one thing that didn't really seem to change was the ever-present pain. Sure, it would dull from time to time allowing him to rest, but it always came back and it seemed that with each new awakening it would be worse.
Dr. Ward had already upped his dose of pain meds two times, but still he would go for a period between doses when he was just miserable.
Shifting carefully to his side, he watched as people walked the halls, trying to judge the time of day by the activity on the other side of his door. The halls were still dim, but people seemed to be moving regularly up and down. He could hear some people talking around the alcove just outside his door. Every once in a while he heard a name, thinking that they must be talking about the patients on his ward.
Soon his door opened and a group of people came in. "Hi, Mr. Sandburg," the only man he recognized said.
Dr. Ward stood off to the side of his bed, a group of men and women around him. The doctor checked the chart and addressed the other doctors in his room. Blair drifted in and out, not really following the conversation going on around him. The doctor seemed to be asking questions about his case and then a young woman stepped up and placed her stethoscope on his chest.
It was odd, because she didn't really look at him.
He closed his eyes again. The shuffling of feet told him that the group had left.
"You okay?" This time when he opened his eyes, Jake was standing at the bottom of his bed. The nurse bent to check a drainage bag hanging off to the side then he moved closer, checking Blair's I.V. tubing and monitors. "You look a little flushed, how's your pain?"
A warm hand rested on Blair's forehead and he shivered. "I'm feeling okay."
"Seems like the night nurse pumped the last of your dose in a few hours ago. The meds should be working pretty good about now." Jake went back to doing whatever he was doing, moving around Blair's room, making little noise, but it was hard for Blair to keep his eyes open.
The shrill of the phone made him jump. He groped the table until he found it and brought the receiver to his ear. "'ello."
"Blair." Jim's voice blasted from the other side and Blair had to pull the receiver back a little.
"Jim, you okay?" He asked.
"Yeah, Chief. I just had been trying to get a hold of you for a few days. Every time I call you're sleeping."
Blair moved a little on the bed, trying to see the clock again. 10:30. Must be day, because he could see the light coming in through the blinds. "I'm sorry."
"Don't be, Chief. I've been talking with your doctor. I guess I...well it's just nice to hear your voice. You had me a little worried after your last call."
What was Jim talking about? "Last call?"
"Yeah, the other night you left a message; sounded a little upset."
"Oh..." Blair moved his hips slightly, sticking to the sheets.
"Well, I'll let you get some more rest. I'll try calling this evening, okay?"
Blair nodded, forgetting that Jim couldn't see him and hung up the phone.
*~*~*
"Excuse me. Can you tell me what room Blair Sandburg is in?" Jim stood just inside the lobby of the hospital. People lingered around some of the tables and chairs that were placed between the gift shop and deli.
The young woman behind the dark wooden kiosk typed his partners name into her computer. "Mr. Sandburg is in room 619." She looked up at him and motioned to a hall that was adjacent to her work area. "You take the green elevators to the six floor."
"Thank you." He headed for the elevators before changing course and entering the gift shop. Jim nodded politely to the elder man behind the counter before moving to the magazine rack on the far wall. He picked out a few for he and Blair and then decided to see if there were any novels Blair might be interested in.
Purchases made he walked to the elevator, waiting as a few people boarded before him. A young doctor punched in his floor and then looked expectantly toward Jim. "Six please."
Once exiting, he read the plague on the wall. The burn unit was to the right, but other room numbers were posted to the left and Jim walked up to the double door, waiting as they parted automatically.
Down the hall a few feet was a nurse's alcove and he found Blair's room to be just across from it. He smiled at the lone nurse that manned the counter. At the door, he waited a brief minute. Listening to the sounds coming from the other side, he found that the TV was turned on, but the volume was low.
When he pushed open the door, the room was fairly dark. A light over the sink was on and some more spilled from behind the partially closed curtain that concealed the other bed. Jim passed the first bed, glad to see that it was empty. He ducked around the curtain and stopped, taking in the figure curled on the bed.
It seemed Blair was sleeping, but not from a natural sleep. He noted the tubes and wires snaking from under the blankets and the one that was up his friends nose. An oxygen mask was over his friend's face, but Blair's breathing still seemed a little shallow.
Finding a chair in the corner he sat, placing his bag on the air conditioning unit under the window.
A little while later a man entered, pulling the curtain open as he came. "Oh, hello."
"Hi," Jim stood waiting for the new comer.
"I'm Jake, the nurse on duty today."
"Jim. Jim Ellison." Jim took the offered hand.
"I'm glad you made it to see him." The nurse checked on his roommate, recording Blair's blood pressure and temperature, checking the IV lines. "He had a bit of a rough night."
Jim sat, waiting for the nurse to finish up. "I could tell. I talked to him last night and he seemed a bit...out of it."
"Yeah," Jake untangled a few of the leads and tucked the blanket more snuggly around Blair's shoulders. "The doctors are trying to help him get better pain management. They're going to re-evaluate him this evening."
Jim nodded, but kept silent until the nurse was done.
"I'll be here until eight tonight. If you need anything just buzz me."
Again he nodded, watching as the man made his way to the door, closing it quietly behind him.
Alone again, Jim scooted closer, carefully taking Blair's hand in his. "I'm here buddy...you just get some more rest."
*~*~*
Blair started awake and pain blossomed through his gut. With eyes half opened he rubbed at his eyes, hand bumping into the oxygen mask. He searched the bed near his side for his hand pump, wanting to medicate himself and go back to sleep. It seemed that sleeping was all he did most days and it was a reprieve of sorts.
"Here you go, buddy." The wand was placed firmly in his hand and Blair slowly turned his head to see who was talking. Jim sat close, his knees almost touching the bed.
"Jim?" Relief washed over him, a flood of tears followed.
"Shhh. It's okay." His friend gently wiped his face with a tissue. "It's going to be okay."
"How did you get here?" Blair tried to shift, if even a little. His back was killing him, but he didn't want to dope himself up if Jim was here.
"Well," Jim said. "I got on a plane."
Jim smiled at him, helping Blair move onto his side. "I got done with the court case and flew out as soon as it wrapped."
"What time is it?" Blair tried to see the clock, but the numbers were fuzzy, his glasses were on the bedside table.
"It's almost six in the evening. Tuesday."
"Oh..."
"I ah...I got some magazines and a few books. You feel like reading?" Jim picked up the bag and dug out the scifi book he picked up for Blair.
"I don't think so, but thanks." Blair picked up the clicker and turned up the TV. "Maybe something good will be on."
After surfing the channels twice, he settled on some documentary. The TV droned on, but he really wasn't paying too much attention. It was hard for him to concentrate, he was covered in sweat, his sheets were soaked and he knew that he must smell.
"You need anything?" Jim's voice startled him.
"No, I'm good." His friend studied him for a minute or two and then went back to his book.
Time passed, Blair finally gave in and pressed the pump a few times and was just sort of drifting when the doctor came in. "Mr. Sandburg?"
Another person followed the doctor, both shaking Jim's hand before turning back to him. "I was in a little earlier to check in on you."
Blair had no recollection of the doctor's visit.
"I see that you are still having pain and because of that, we need to try a different approach."
The doctor pulled back his blanket and gently pressed into his belly. "You still have a little swelling. We're going to try a local. It should take care of the pain and allow your body to recover some more so we can schedule your surgery."
The woman standing next to the doctor moved around the room, opening cabinets and pulling out things. "I'm going to leave you in Dr. Archers hands. She's going to set up your local and I'll check on you again in the morning."
The doctor left, leaving him with his blanket peeled down and shivering. Jim pulled up the covers and patted his shoulder. "It's going to feel better in a few minutes."
"Okay, Mr. Sandburg. I'm going to insert a small catheter into your back. It's the same kind of local we use for laboring women." The doctor arranged the needed item on the side table, and then ducked out of the room for a minute.
Jake came back with her and helped to pull Blair into a sitting position. The rolling table was pulled over and some paper work was place in front of him.
"I just need you to sign here." The doctor then explained what she was going to do and asked if he wanted his friend to stay.
He looked to Jim, nodding.
Jake moved to stand in front of him, pulling Blair so that he was resting his head on the nurse's shoulder.
Blair shivered when his gown was parted, exposing his back and naked rear.
He was glad that Jim still sat in the chair, watching from the corner of the room.
"Okay, just try to relax." Something cool dragged across his back and then he could tell her hand was resting against his spine. "I'm going to numb you now."
The needle pierced his skin, burning as it went in.
"Just a little more."
He couldn't feel anything that time, but he couldn't stop shaking against the nurse. Warm arms held him and he didn't know why, but the tears started all over again.
Jim moved to stand by Jake, taking one of his lax hands. "It's okay, Chief. Just relax."
He nodded against the nurse's shoulder, tensing when the doctor announced that she was putting in the catheter.
He listened to the movement from behind and then felt a weird sort of pressure on his spine.
"All done." He was quickly laid flat and his blankets were pulled up to his chest. "Let me know when you feel anything." His legs were tingly and he told her so. "That's normal. Soon your whole lower body will be numb."
She stayed for a while, noting any changes. After a few minutes he couldn't feel his legs, a weird weight settled into his gut and moved right down to his toes. Jim stood close by, still holding his sweaty hand.
After a while his frame was racked with chills, but he felt hot...really hot.
"It's just a side effect." The doctor told them. "It will pass."
An hour later the doctor left them and Jake returned. "I'm going off duty in a few minutes." The nurse told them. "In the morning if you feel up to it, we'll get you cleaned up."
A little later Jim came out of the bathroom with a washcloth. "How about I wash up your face."
The cloth moved over his face and neck and Jim even ran the cloth under his arms. He felt a lot better after his impromptu bath and closed his eyes, finally falling into a natural sleep.
*~*~*
Part Six
A few days later, Jim was still occupying the same chair.
He spent most of his day with Blair, only going back to the hotel by the airport in the evenings to eat and rest.
He had called Simon with regular updates, pleased when he entered Blair's room the day before to find a large plant from the guys at the station. Simon and Megan had called a few times too, which really seemed to lift his friend's mood.
Ever since they had gotten Blair's pain under control, it seemed that his friend was getting back to normal.
Well, as normal as Sandburg can be.
Blair would sleep well at nights and stay awake comfortably during the days, reading or watching TV. He had to stay in bed because of the epidural, but he could at least sit up, sometimes playing cards with Jim or Chess purchased from the local Wal-Mart.
The doctor had been in that morning already and had told them that the surgery was scheduled for later in the day. Blair seemed okay with the news, but Jim could tell he was a little tense.
"You want to watch some TV?" Jim asked, scooting his chair a little closer to reach the TV remote.
"I guess." Blair raised the head of the bed a little, settling a stray pillow under his right arm.
During the day nurses would come in and move him, because he was unable to move his lower body on his own, the down side was that because he couldn't feel anything, he was at a greater risk for bed sores.
"That's good."
Jim stopped on the morning show, watching his friend watch the banter between the two TV hosts.
Jim decided to read some more of his book. Several chapters later his stomach rumbled.
"Hey, man. Why don't you head down to get some lunch?" Blair flicked off the TV and lowered the bed. "I think I'm going to take a nap."
Jim stowed his book in the bedside table drawer before standing and stretching. "You want me to help you onto your side?"
"Nah, I'm good."
He pulled the blanket a little higher, smiling when Blair swatted his hand away. "Be back in thirty." He said, moving to the door.
"I'll be here," his friend tossed back as Jim quietly closed the door.
*~*~*
Later in the morning a nurse came in and shot something into Blair's I.V. line. "Someone will be in soon to move you to the operating room."
Twenty minutes passed and he started to worry that Jim wasn't going to get there before they took him into the O.R. He occupied himself with the TV, flipping the limited channels, but nothing held his interest.
He had to admit he was a little nervous.
"Hey, you ready for a ride?" Jake stood in the doorway.
He looked beyond the nurse, hoping that Jim would be in the hallway.
Jake moved into the room, followed by another man in scrubs. They pushed a gurney and aligned it with his bed. Both men worked to lift and transfer Blair.
On the way down the hall, he could feel his heartbeat pick up, but he took a few deep breaths, trying to calm himself.
"You okay, Chief?"
Blair craned his neck on the pillow to see his friend walking behind him. "Yeah. I thought you weren't here."
"I was talking with your doctor." Jim moved to his side as they waited for the elevator. "I'm sorry."
"It's okay, man. I'm just a little nervous." The door parted and several people exited the compartment. He was pushed forward into the small space, relieved that Jim had joined them.
The bell dinged each time they passed a floor and once the doors opened they were moving swiftly again. The halls were deserted, not too many doors lined the sides. At some point Jim had grabbed his hand and Blair wasn't quite ready to let go yet.
The orderly used a key card to open a wide set of double doors and Blair found himself parked in a hallway.
"There's a waiting room at the end of this corridor." The orderly indicated the room and left them alone.
"Well," his friend said. "I guess I'll see you in a little while."
Blair nodded, watching Jim until he disappeared around the corner.
It seemed like a long time until someone came up to him and checked the band on his arm. "Okay, Mr. Sandburg." The woman unlocked the brakes on the gurney and pushed him down another hall.
The doors at the end opened and he passed through a few small rooms. People moved about, talking. He was parked again, but soon a person in a surgical mask checked his band again and rolled him into a large room. Bright lights hung from the ceiling and an ominous looking table took up the middle of the room.
He was helped onto the table, large sheets were quickly draped over him and his gown was pulled from his body. Someone pulled the arm with the I.V. out from his body and it was strapped down to the extended armrest. His other arm was left alone for the moment as people bustled around him.
The stereo was turned on and he was asked what he liked to listen to. "Anything is fine."
The stations flipped, finally settling on an easy listening channel. The sheet covering him was pulled up and clamped to the poles on either side of him, cutting off his view of his lower body. Cool air rushed over him as the other end was hiked up, leaving his lower regions and legs bare. Seconds later another sheet covered his hips and legs, but he could still feel the cool air of the room caress his belly.
More people came in and his other arm was strapped down, a funny cap was put onto his head, his hair briskly tucked in. A face hovered over him and someone patted his shoulder. "I'm going to be moderating your vitals. If you feel anything, you need to let me know."
He nodded, not recognizing the voice.
Another person leaned around the drape that blocked his view. "I'm Dr. Morgan,
Mr. Sandburg. I'm going to be doing your procedure."
She had a soothing voice and bright blue eyes, but the mask she wore obscured the rest of her face. "The epidural will keep you from feeling any pain. You can expect some pressure, pulls and tugs, but no pain, okay?"
He nodded again, closing his eyes. He was sleepy, but he knew he was going to be awake for this operation. Dr. Ward explained that it was going to be done with several small incisions and a special instrument that let the doctors see inside of him. He would be able to recover fasted and get home sooner.
"Okay, we're starting."
He spent the next few minutes looking at the ceiling, the pole that held his I.V., the far wall full of equipment, and down at the drape that covered him. Every once in a while he could feel a tug or some pressure, but it wasn't too bad. A few times he was sure he had nodded off, but even with his eyes closed he could hear the radio and the quiet chatter of the people in the room with him.
Before he knew what was happening, he was being lifted back onto a gurney. "We'll take you to recovery for a little bit and than you can go back to your room."
In the recovery room a nurse pulled the catheter from his back, slowly the feeling returned to his legs and he bent them, resting his feet on the mattress. His belly was sore, but not nearly as painful as it was.
The nurses checked in on him regularly and finally he was released to his own room. Jim joined him in the hall and rode up with him in the elevator. "How ya feeling, Chief?"
"Better."
Soon he was snug in his bed, resting comfortably on his side, a few pillows supported his back. Jim stayed close, only leaving his room to have lunch and make a few phone calls.
Later in the day Jake came in to tell him the doctor would be by soon to remove the tube up his nose and that he could have his catheter removed.
"Once the tube is out, he'll put you on a soft diet." Jake said, taking care of another uncomfortable tube. "I'll bring you a tray later tonight."
"When can I get up?" Blair asked, shifting a little.
"Probably this evening."
Jim came in as Jake left. "Good news, Chief?"
"Yeah. Dr. Ward will be by soon and I'm hoping he'll say when I can get out of here."
His friend took his usual seat and Blair went back to the magazine he was reading. It was almost dinnertime when Dr. Ward came in. "How are you doing?"
"Better." Blair watched as the doctor lifted the sheet and checked his belly. He had a few small band-aids around his stomach and gauze covering his belly button.
"Everything looks good. Let's get that tube out." Blair was handed a basin and the doctor opened a few packages of gauze. "I want you to take a deep breath and hold it. Don't be alarmed if your nose bleeds, that's pretty common."
The tube was quickly pulled free and Blair had the urge to vomit. After a few steady breaths his stomach was back under control.
"I want you to get up and walk around a little this evening and I'll have a food tray sent in. Do you have any questions?"
"When can I go home?" Blair asked.
"Maybe the day after tomorrow. We have to make sure you can hold down food and move your bowels." The doctor cleaned up the area before leaving.
Jake came in a little later with a food tray. Jim stood to help Blair, stuffing a few pillows behind his back as he raised the bed.
"You can get up and move around after you eat." Jake told him. "You can walk in the halls and use the bathroom, but no shower until tomorrow."
Blair sipped on a clear broth, watching a game show on TV. Even though his dinner was plain, it was still very tasty. He finished off his jello and juice before pushing the tray away from him.
"All done, Chief." Jim asked, moving the table away.
"Yeah. I think I want to try to get up." His friend helped him, wrapping another gown around him as a robe and steadying Blair when he stood.
"Okay?"
He took a minute then nodded, moving his feet slowly toward the door. He was a bit dizzy, but Jim's strong arm around his waist helped and soon he was making a circuit around the ward. They ended up in the waiting room and Blair stood near the large window over looking a pretty big city. "Hey, Jim?"
His friend stood next to him, staring out over the city lights. "Hmm."
"Where are we? What city?" Blair turned, catching his friend's smirk.
"Welcome to Detroit." Jim said, laughing as they made their way back to Blair's room.
*~*~*
The cabin was dim and Jim looked over his sleeping roommate. The airline that Blair had used, offered to fly them in first class for the price of coach, so his friend would have enough room to rest and not have to worry about being jostled by the other passengers in tighter quarters.
They had been in the air for almost three hours and Blair, although feeling much better, still slept a lot.
His partner mumbled something in his sleep and Jim pulled the light blanket up a bit, tucking the corners around Blair's shoulders. It had been ten days since Jim had gotten the call informing him that Blair was in a hospital in Michigan and another five before Jim could get to him.
A flight attendant came by and removed a dinner tray from in front of Jim. It was Blair's, but his friend only picked at the chicken and rice. Jim kept it for a while in hopes that he might eat some more. Blair's stomach was still a little tender, but he was keeping down his food and was able to use the bathroom with no problems. The doctors cut him loose earlier the evening before and Blair came back to Jim's hotel to spend the night.
In the morning, the afternoon flight was arranged and Blair was able to get in touch with his mother. From Blair's end of the conversation, it seemed that his mother was a bit upset, but Blair calmed her down pretty quickly.
"Jim?"
He shifted to his side, facing his friend. "You okay, Chief?"
"Yeah. Are we almost home?"
A small smile lit Jim's face. "Yeah buddy. Won't be long."
*~*~*
The loft door opened and Blair moved to the couch, gratefully sinking into the soft comfort.
He watched as Jim carried his luggage up to his bedroom then returned to help Blair remove his shoes. "I picked up your suitcase before I left," Jim told him. "And I put away your laundry, so if you want to lay down..."
"Maybe later." A small smile turned the corner of Blair's lips. "You put away my laundry?"
"Sure," his friend said. "I wanted to make sure everything was ready for when you got home."
Jim busied himself in the kitchen and Blair turned on the TV. A sandwich and bottle of water were placed in front of him. "Thanks, man."
"No problem." Jim ate his own sandwich while sorting through the mail.
It was getting late, but Blair didn't want to go to bed just yet. It was so nice to be back home.
He ate most his sandwich, debated on taking a shower, but decided to turn in instead. "I'm going to hit the sack," he told Jim.
His friend nodded, picking up both plates as Blair made his way to his bed. Everything was just as he left it, well except the basket he left on his bed was gone and his clothes were put away. The blanket on the bed was turned down and he realized that Jim must have done it over a week ago.
Suddenly tears flooded his eyes and he wiped at them as he crawled into his bed and covered up. It was silly, really...but at least these tears were for a very different reason from all the others he had shed over the last week.
He could hear Jim moving around in the living room, shutting off lights and checking locks and then a soft knock sounded on the doorframe.
"I'm heading up Chief. You need anything?"
"No, I'm good....thanks Jim." Blair snuggled deeper into the comfort of his own bed, closing his eyes.
"You're welcome."
Blair sensed his friend was still in his room. "You okay, Jim."
"Yeah, Blair." Jim moved backwards, pulled the door half way closed. "Welcome home, Chief."
And then Blair could hear feet on the steps and the springs from the mattress above as Jim lay down.
Home.
He was finally home.
*~*~*
The end