Colt struggles to consciousness....
Disclaimer: The characters of Billy Collins, Michael Dorset, Casey Malick, Rick Martinez, HJ Higgins, Adele Ferrer, and Fay Carson are not mine and are the property of Chaos, Rat Productions, 20th Century Fox and CBS Television. This is speculative and fan fiction for the purposes of entertainment of Live Journal members only, and I am not receiving any compensation or consideration for this work. All plot situations and additional characters are mine and purely fictional; any resemblance to any real person, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
Word Count: 2003
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Billy faces the severity of Colt's injuries as she struggles to regian consciousness.
Two hours later, Millie gently roused Billy, “Dear? Are you awake?” Billy stretched and nodded, “Any word about Colt?” She shook her head, “Not yet. Dr. Gaston said several men are in the waiting room asking about you and Colt.” She handed him a cup of spiced tea as he sat up. He drank a couple of sips and freshened up. Taking his tea, he went to the waiting room and grinned when he saw Loki, Bear, Howler, Otter, Hawk, Cheetah, and Maverick there.
“How is she, Ninja?” Loki asked. Billy told them about her regaining consciousness and the pain she had been in. Loki grimly smiled, “That’s how torture works. The pain continues for a long time.” Billy nodded, “Yeah…I remember training, but it wasn’t nearly as bad as what they did to Colt.” Cheetah asked, “What about support afterwards, Ninja? Delphi is most helpful.” Billy nodded, “And we’ll be calling on him. He’s seen us both through some tough post-mission times.” Cheetah grinned, “Good.”
Billy sighed, “It’s going to be rough on her…Dr. Gaston can’t give her much for the pain until he’s sure she’s recovered from the concussion.” Howler grimaced, “Damn. Those bastards did a number on her. I’m glad she got her revenge and took them out.” There was moment of dead silence, then, Loki said, “Or defending herself. Remember what the Fox promised.” Howler nodded, “Yeah…uh…Ninja…” “No, they didn’t,” Billy said, “They didn’t live long enough to get the chance.”
Jack appeared at the door and signaled Billy. When Billy met him, Jack said quietly, “Colt’s awake, but she’s in a lot of pain. Dr. Gaston asked if you would be with her while they change bandages…that sort of thing.” Billy nodded and turned to the men, “I’ve got to go…Colt’s awake.” Loki said, “Tell her we’re here and hope she recovers easily.” “Thanks, Loki,” Billy said.
When he arrived, he could hear Colt’s moans and whimpers before entering ICU. He quickly donned his sterile garb and entered. In spite of Dr. Gaston’s soothing words and gentleness, Colt was clearly in agony. Billy stepped to her side and put his hand on her head, “Colt? Honey? I’m here…come on…do your breathing.” She rolled her eyes up at him and whimpered as she moaned, shaking from her efforts to fight the pain. Billy continued stroking her hair, speaking softly to her, and talking her through her breathing.
Billy could see Gaston was being as gentle as possible, and he fought back nausea when he saw the cuts, burns, and bruises on her torso as Gaston changed her rib bandages. Then, Dr. Gaston removed the bandages from her face. Billy concentrated on looking into her eyes; her face was horribly bruised, with a few cuts, and still swollen. When Dr. Gaston had fully removed the bandages, Billy saw her expression change to one of fear as she looked in Billy’s eyes. He lightly kissed her forehead, “Hey, beautiful, they’re almost finished. I know it hurts, sweetheart, but I’ll stay with you.” She groaned as Dr. Gaston examined her facial injuries. Billy continued comforting her while Gaston worked. When Gaston finished, Billy glanced at him and could tell that it had been pretty rough on Gaston, too.
Colt was trembling and shaking under his hand and moaning and whimpering quietly as Billy continued to talk to her and guide her breathing. Finally, she gained some control over the pain with her breathing and began to relax. Billy lightly kissed her again, and she closed her eyes, focusing on managing the pain. Billy glanced up at Gaston and saw anguish and empathy in his eyes, and when he glanced at Judy, she was wiping a tear from her eye as she carried out the trays of instruments.
Billy looked pleadingly at Gaston, nodding slightly toward the box delivering pain medication. Dr. Gaston avoided his gaze and left the room. Billy stayed with Colt, holding her hand gently and talking to her until she was calmer. “Honey, I’ll be right back. Just hang on, OK?” Billy said. Colt blinked her eyes in acknowledgement.
Billy strode over to Dr. Gaston at the nurse’s station, adding notes to Colt’s chart. Judy looked up in sympathy, and Billy waited for Gaston to finish his notes. When Gaston closed the chart and handed it to Judy, Billy said, “Thank you both for taking care of Colt…I know that was hard on you both. But John, is there any way to give her something for the pain? How much rest can she be getting to help her heal in this state?”
Gaston sighed, “Billy, we did an EEG this morning, and she’s not sufficiently recovered from the concussion. The most effective pain relief for her injuries is narcotics…morphine, for example. If we give her those now, there’s an unacceptable risk of coma. She needs another couple of days; then, we’ll do another EEG. Billy, I don’t like this either, and you’re correct…her recovery is slowed by not being able to get the rest she needs. I hate these cases, Billy; this is one of those times when I feel helpless as a healer.”
Billy nodded, “John, against that kind of pain, I don’t know how much I’m helping.” Judy said, “Billy, you’re helping more than you know. She tolerated this session a lot better with you there.” Billy sighed, “OK, Judy. Look, thanks again…I know it’s rough on you.” Billy returned to Colt’s side and continued to comfort her until she closed her eyes for a long time. Dr. Gaston entered and quickly checked her vitals while Billy continued to stroke her hair and hold her injured hand lightly in his.
Gaston nodded toward the door, and Billy followed him outside. “She’s lost consciousness…it’s not sleep. That’s one indication she’s not fully recovered from the concussion. If she has one of those episodes while on something like morphine, that’s when the risk of coma is high.” Billy nodded his understanding, “Any idea how long she’ll be out?” Dr. Gaston shook his head, “It varies. One indication she’s recovering from the concussion will be if she stays conscious for 24 hours. I’m hoping an EEG will tell us sooner than that; I don’t want her suffering that long if we can avoid it.”
Billy removed his sterile garb, dumped the items in a bin, and stood for a few moments watching Colt through the glass. Gaston stood beside him, “There is another option, Billy. A medically induced coma, but again, that carries its own risks.” “Like she might not come out of it with that concussion,” Billy said. Gaston nodded, “Yes. I want to give her every chance to pull through this; she’s so much stronger than most people.” Billy nodded, “I don’t think she’d want that option, John. She’s a fighter, and that’s what she wants, that chance to fight her way through this.”
“It’s the injuries from the torture that’s making this worse. What they did was designed to cause maximum pain for quite a bit of time after the initial infliction of pain,” Gaston said. Billy said, “I know, John. And not just physical pain…they wanted her to live with what they did for the rest of her life, the way they cut her.” Gaston sighed, “I know, Billy. But I’m going to see to it she doesn’t have to.” Jack appeared, “Everything all right?” Gaston smiled, “Rough session today for Colt. Billy helped her through it; she’s lost consciousness again. I’m afraid she’s not fully recovered yet from the concussion.”
“How long, John?” Jack asked. “I don’t know with certainty, Jack. She’s better…there are enough signs she’s recovering that I’m optimistic it will be a matter of days instead of weeks when she gets over the concussion, but there’s no way to tell at this point,” Gaston replied. Billy grabbed another sterile gown and mask and entered Colt’s room, sitting in a chair next to her bed. Gaston started to follow him, but Jack held him back, “Let him stay with her a while, John. It helped him when she stayed with him; maybe that’s what she needs.” Gaston nodded, “OK, Jack. You have a point, but I don’t want his health to suffer; she’s going to need him.”
Jack smiled, “Millie and I will watch him closely, John, and handle it. Focus on Colt. I read your report and the rescue team’s debriefing. We’ve all got a lot of work ahead of us.” Billy sat silently watching Colt and reaching out to her with his feelings and senses, willing her to heal. When Gaston returned from his rounds two hours later, Billy was still sitting by her side, intently focused on her. An hour later, Gaston saw Billy still in the chair, now pulled close to the side of her bed, holding her hand.
Gaston paused when he saw Colt stir slightly and Billy standing to lean over her and stroke her hair. Gaston stood in the doorway, listening as Billy spoke softly to her and observed her reaction. She did seem a bit more alert and was clearly focused on Billy. Gaston entered the room and stood on the other side of the bed.
“Colt?” he asked. Colt’s eyes turned toward him. Her eyes were clear and more alert, a good sign.
“Hurting?”
She nodded slightly.
“I’m sorry, Colt, but with that concussion, I can’t really give you much for the pain. Understand?”
Again, she nodded and hoarsely whispered, “Understand. Been hurt this bad before.” “Need anything, honey?” Billy asked. “Thirsty,” she responded. Billy glanced at Gaston, who was already pouring water for her. Billy gave her the water, and she drank down the entire cup. “Enough?” Billy asked. Colt painfully shook her head, and Gaston refilled the cup, which she drank. “Want more?” Billy asked. She again painfully shook her head.
Billy continued stroking her hair, and Gaston noticed that she was squeezing Billy’s hand more strongly with her thumb and forefinger, another good sign. Gaston smiled, “Colt, I’ll leave you alone with Billy for a while. Can I borrow him for a few seconds?” Colt nodded. Billy followed Gaston to a spot a few feet away from her door. “I’m seeing a huge improvement in her alertness, Billy. I want to see how long she stays conscious and awake,” Gaston said. “I’ll stay with her,” Billy said. “I’m going to alert Jack and Millie…if she stays awake for 24 hours, that’s a sign she’s recovering from the concussion. They can take shifts to stay with her,” Gaston said.
“OK, John,” Billy said. Billy returned to Colt’s side and continued talking with her. Periodically, Judy or Gaston would appear to check Colt’s vitals or observe them. At lunch time, Millie relieved Billy. When he returned, Colt was still alert, but clearly in more pain. He stood by her side, cradling her injured hand in his and stroking her hair, talking to her. She asked for water a few more times before dinner.
Jack took Billy to dinner while Millie sat with Colt. When he returned, Dr. Gaston had pulled in a couple more chairs and was sitting in one watching Colt while Millie talked with her. Gaston stood and met them outside. “I’ve talked with Colt, and she wants to try to stay alert for 24 hours. She’s made it for almost ten hours now. Billy, tell her good night and get some sleep. If she makes it more than 14 hours, I’ll do another EEG tomorrow,” Gaston said.
Billy donned a sterile gown, kissed Colt good night, and followed Jack to the room. “I’ll wake you in six hours, son. According to Millie, John’s really pleased with her progress today,” Jack said. Billy settled in bed, trying to calm his racing thoughts. It seemed like no time had passed at all when Jack woke him. “It’s a bit of a struggle, but she’s still awake, son, and asking for you,” Jack said. Billy freshened up and joined Jack in Colt’s room.