Chapter 36

 

By Julie

 

Two hours later, Dr. Collins returned to the waiting room.  “Well, we finished the surgery and took Brian back to the ICU,” he said, his expression grave.  “You may go see him now, two at a time.”

 

Jackie and Harold stood.   No one protested, just watched as the couple solemnly followed Dr. Collins down the hall to the ICU room where their son lay.

 

Jackie gasped when she entered the room and saw her youngest son lying there, still and pale, attached to many machine and monitors, just like Nick, who lay in the bed next to him.

 

“How could you let this happen?” asked Harold, eyeing Dr. Collins.  “Why would you let a med student work on our son?!”

 

“Harold,” Jackie said, tears brimming in her eyes.  She was angry and upset also, but she knew that what had happened was an accident.

 

“I’m very sorry, Mr. Littrell,” Dr. Collins said sincerely.

 

“Sorry isn’t good enough.  Because of some stupid, inexperienced med student, our son is in a coma!  I want to press charges!” Harold yelled.

 

“Harold!” Jackie cried, grabbing her husband’s arm.  “Calm down.  We will deal with this later. For now, we need to worry about Brian.”  She began to cry harder when she uttered the name of her precious baby son.  Harold’s expression softened, and he turned away from the doctor and put his arm around his sobbing wife.

 

***

 

Awhile later, after most everyone had been in to see Brian and Nick, it was Howie and AJ’s turn.   They went in together, heading to Brian’s bed first.  It shocked them to see Brian lying so lifelessly.  They had gotten used to seeing Nick that way, but had never expected they would have to see another of their bandmates like that. 

 

“Hey B-Rok,” AJ said, his voice catching.  He took a seat next to Brian’s bed.  Howie sat down o the other side.  Without warning, Howie began to cry softly. 

 

“I can’t believe this is happening,” he moaned through his tears.  “First Nicky, now Brian too.”

 

“I know, D,” AJ said, sniffing back his own tears. 

 

They stayed by Brian’s side for a few more minutes, before moving over to the other side of the room to be with Nick. 

 

“Come on, Nicky, man, you gotta wake up soon,” AJ said to Nick’s lifeless form.  “Now Rok’s in bad shape too.  We can’t have you both dying on us.  Please wake up.” 

 

“Yeah, Kaos, we need you here with us.  Please, you have to pull through.  Brian needs you,” Howie urged. 

 

Suddenly, Nick’s face, which once held a blank expression, twisted into a grimace of pain.  Howie and AJ’s eyes widened, and they looked at each other in shock. 

 

“Do you think he could be waking up?” Howie asked.

 

“He looks like he’s in pain,” AJ said. 

 

“I’m going to call a nurse,” Howie said, pressing the call button. 

 

A few minutes later, Becky appeared in the doorway.  “Do you need something guys?” she asked.

 

“It’s Nick,” AJ said.  “He just got this look on his face, like he was in pain or something.”

 

Becky looked confused for a moment.  “Well, let me go see about giving him some more morphine,” she said.  “I’ll be right back.”  She left the room.

 

AJ and Howie turned back to Nick.  His face had relaxed again.   But suddenly, he moaned.

 

“Nicky?” AJ asked, hopefully. 

 

“Come on, Kaos, wake up,” Howie urged.  “Open your eyes for us.”  His eyes grew wide with excitement as Nick’s eyelids began to flutter.  Suddenly, they opened, exposing the baby blue eyes that Howie and AJ had not seen for days.  “Nick!” Howie cried, his eyes filling with happy tears. 

 

Nick looked up at him, looking confused and scared.  He opened his mouth as if to speak, but the respirator he was on prevented it. 

 

“Don’t try to talk, Kaos,” AJ said gently. 

 

Nick didn’t seem to relax at all.  He looked wildly around the room, until his eyes rested on the bed next to him, where his best friend lay motionless.  His eyes widened and filled with tears.  Howie and AJ exchanged glances.  They didn’t know what to tell Nick.  Nick looked up at them, questioningly.  

 

AJ took a deep breath.  “Nick, Brian is in a coma right now.  He just had some surgery on his broken leg this morning, and there were some complications with the anesthesia.  Do you understand?”  Nick was very weak and tired, but he managed to nod his head slightly.  “You are in the hospital now,” AJ continued, deciding to explain more to Nick, who probably had no clue what was going on.  “You have a bad case of pneumonia and have been in a coma for a few days now.”  Nick’s eyes widened.  “Don’t worry, buddy.  I think you’re going to be okay now,” AJ assured him.  “Hey, do you want me to go get your parents?  They will be so happy to see you awake.”  Nick nodded.

 

“Okay, Nick,” Howie said.  “AJ and I will go get your parents now.  We’ll be back later.”  He and AJ smiled at Nick and left the room.   From there, they raced down the hall to find Jane and Bob and tell them the joyful news.

 

***

 

 

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