Kevin and Nick watched, wide-eyed, as nurses wheeled in a type of pump for the transfusion. Brian looked up at Jessie and thought he saw two of her. He shook his head to clear his vision and then looked at her again. Dr. Lake must have noticed the blank expression on his face because he laid a hand on Brian’s shoulder.
“I’ll talk you through this,
if you like.” He said.
“Okay.” Brian mumbled as he
tried to ignore the nurses who were sliding needles for the blood tubes into
each of his arms.
“We’re going t use a combination of O Negative and the blood your cousin gave.” Dr. Lake said. Brian was trying to listen to what he was being told but everything he heard sounded muffled. The doctor’s words seemed to be running together. Jessie stood at his bedside, wishing that Brian would open up and let her help him. He had been so scared and confused and unable to accept the fact that God would allow this to happen to him again and then send an angel to help him through it. She knew she couldn’t force him to succeed. She was beginning to see that making Brian believe was half of the task.
Nick watched hesitantly as the pump was started. Blood from the pump slowly began to flow into the tube connected to Brian’s right arm and inside his vein. Nick felt disgusted when he saw how much blood was actually in the pump. He felt his stomach lurch when Brian’s blood began to drain into the opposite tube. Nick got up suddenly and ran for the door with his hand over his mouth. Kevin watched with concern but decided not to follow.
Maybe the medication was making Brian delusional, or perhaps seeing his best friend run out in disgust at the procedure made him desperate but something inside of him changed. The change was evident when Jessie looked into his eyes. He dropped the invisible barrier that had been causing the emotional tension and she heard him think:
“I’m too weak to make it alone. I need your help, Jessie. My life is in your hands now.”
The connection had finally been made and it was time for her to do her part.
AJ had been walking down the hallway, adjusting the waistband on his scrub pants. He was nearing Brian’s room when Nick made a mad dash for the restroom. AJ turned and followed him down the hall. He found Nick leaning over the toilet. AJ stood inside the door patiently. Finally, Nick walked to the sink and splashed his face with cold water. He looked up and saw AJ’s reflection in the mirror.
“Sorry about that.” He said softly, water dripping from his face.
“Hey, don’t worry about it, Nicky.” AJ said. He put his hand on Nick’s shoulder. “So, it’s really that bad in there? What’s goin on?”
“Blood transfusion.” Nick replied. “It just got to be too much for me.” He said as he opened the door to leave.
“Maybe you should wait a little before going back in.” AJ said, following close behind. “Let’s go to the cafeteria and get you some juice. I’ll stay with you.”
“Thanks, Bone. I appreciate it.” Nick said as they headed to the elevator.
Jessie’s hand rested on Brian’s hot forehead as she sent soothing colors and images to his mind. The doctor and Kevin watched curiously and Brian lay, eyes shut, but not asleep with his heart rate and blood pressure dropping to normal ranges.
“You still with us, Bri?” Kevin asked.
“Yeah, Kev. But I don’t wanna be.” Brian said slowly.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Kevin wondered. Jessie understood that Brian was asking for a break, a temporary escape from the life-threatening situation he had been thrown into.
“Do you want to sleep for a while?” she asked him.
“Please.” He begged with his mind. She leaned over and kissed his cheek softly.
“Sweet dreams.” Moments later she had helped him slip until he was completely unconscious.
Kevin stood up and walked to his bedside, taking his hand tightly.
“Bri?” he asked. “Brian, can you hear me?”
When there was no response he looked to Dr. Lake to see why.
“He must have passed out.” The doctor said calmly.
“And…this is normal?” Kevin asked quickly.
“Sure.” Dr. Lake replied. “It’s a natural response. His body is dealing with a lot and he’s simply reacting to it. It’s probably easier on him this way after all.”
“How much longer?” Kevin asked.
“Not too long now.” The doctor said.
Nick and AJ slowly opened the door and filed in. AJ walked over to the bedside next to Kevin and sighed heavily.
“He doesn’t look too good.” He whispered.
“He just fainted.” Kevin said.
“Will he be okay?” Nick asked from the back of the room.
“I guess we’ll have to wait and see.” Kevin said. “How long do you think he’ll be out?”
“Maybe the rest of the night.” Dr. Lake said as he placed a pulse monitor on Brian’s index finger and then left.
“Nick, how are you doing?” Kevin asked. Nick shrugged numbly.
“Do you think we should just come back in the morning?” AJ asked Kevin.
“We can’t just leave him.” Nick interrupted. “He’s probably scared to death.”
“He’s not scared right now.” Kevin said slowly. AJ raised his eyebrows in curiosity.
“What do you mean?” he asked.
“He’s in a zone.” Kevin said. “Even before he fainted, he wasn’t with us.”
Nick was standing with them now, confused.
“You’re scaring me.” He said.
“Look at him, Nicky. So peaceful.” Kevin said as he put a hand on Nick’s shoulder. “Something’s come over him, something bigger than all of us.
“No.” Nick said softly as he
ran his fingers through his blonde tresses.
“C’mon Nick. Let’s get out of
here.” AJ urged him.
“I’ll come back and check on
him tonight.” Kevin said. They pulled Nick into the hall and began taking the
scrubs off from over their clothes. They left them at the nurse’s station for
the next day and then left the hospital, escaping out the back doors.
“We’re really starting to
live up to our name, fellas.” AJ said as they snuck to their vehicles. “Always
creepin’ down the back streets.”