Chapter 6

Kevin walked into Brian's hospital room around ten the next morning. Brian was drowsy but awake and staring at the TV on the wall.

"Hey cuz, watcha watching?" Kevin asked as he pulled a chair up next to the bed.

"There's nothing on." Brian sighed, putting the remote down. "By the way, what's up with the hospital scrubs? You're not planning a sudden career move, are you now?" Brian teased.

"It's for your safety Bri." Kevin laughed. "How are you feeling?"

"Well, my chest is throbbing, this pain killer is making me sick to my stomach, my wrists are bruised from these stupid IV's and I bit my tongue." he complained.

"You bit your tongue?" Kevin asked, trying not to smile.

"Laugh it up, laugh it up." Brian sneered.

"At least you're acting like yourself again." Kevin said with a grin. There was a knock at the door and Dr. Lake entered.

"Morning. How are you doing, Mr. Littrell?" he asked.

"I think I could run a marathon." Brian teased.

"Sure you do." Dr. Lake laughed. He picked up Brian's chart and read over the EKG. "There are some extra heartbeats in your cardiac rhythm. It's probably just a reaction to the medications but I'd like to make sure." he said.

Brian moaned softly through clenched teeth while Kevin helped him sit up and unbutton the top of his hospital gown. It slid off of his shoulders to expose his wrapped chest. Jessie appeared in the corner of the room just in time to watch what was happening. Dr. Lake noticed some bright red and yellow spots on the bandages.

"Is it blood?" Kevin asked.

"Uh-oh." Brian sighed.

"It's wet blood. That means you've been bleeding out all night,” the doctor explained. "I need to examine the incision."

Brian nodded and closed his eyes as Dr. Lake removed all of the bandages. The cut down the center of Brian's chest was red and swollen.

"You've definitely got an infection,” he said. "I'm going to need to start you on some stronger antibiotics to fight it off."

"Will that work?" Kevin asked.

"It will if we caught it in time." Dr. Lake explained. "I'll have a nurse come in and clean it with some disinfectant, too." he said. Then he put on his stethoscope and placed the bell on Brian's chest. Brian sucked in air through his teeth and exhaled slowly.

"Sorry, I know it's tender." The doctor apologized. He listened intently to different places and then did the same from Brian's back. "It seems the extra heartbeats are superficial. You don't need to worry about them,” he said. "I'll be back in to check on you later. Get some rest."

"Thanks, Doc." Brian said to him as he left. Kevin helped him to lie back down, leaving his gown open since a nurse would need to clean and bandage the cut again anyway.

"You going to be okay?" Kevin asked. Brian sighed and forced a smile for his cousin.

"Yeah."

"Well, I've got some errands to run but if you want me to stay-"

"Kev, I'll be okay without you. Go ahead." Brian assured him.

"I won't be long." Kevin said. He gave Brian's hand a squeeze and then walked out of the room.

A nurse came in moments later with a small tray of equipment and disinfectants. She pulled a chair up next to Brian's bed and pulled a pair of rubber gloves on.

"I'm going to change your IV bag first and then we'll clean the incision,” she said to him. It only took a moment to swap the medications for the IV and then the real chore began.

"I know this isn't the greatest thing in the world,” she said. "I promise to be gentle."

"I appreciate that." Brian said, and he did, genuinely.

"So did your cousin tell you about all of the teenage girls we're having to deal with at the hospital entrance this morning?" the nurse said as she prepared a small syringe.

"No, actually he didn't mention that." Brian replied.

"Well, he had to come in the back way because of the crowd. You must really have some devoted fans,” she said sweetly. "They all have signs and giant get-well cards for you. I just wish there was some way we could let them know what's going on. Unless of course, you don't-"

"I'll have one of the guys in the group make a statement." Brian added. "They deserve to know how I am. They're my world."

"That's sweet of you. I'm starting to see why they would stand out there all morning when they know they aren't going to see you. You're quite the guy." she replied as she held the small syringe up. "This is only local anesthetic to numb the area before I clean it. You might feel some burning."

Brian nodded and turned his head away while she made the injection in the center of his chest. She was right. It did burn. His eyes watered but that was it. She filled a needle free syringe with water and draped a cloth that had a square cut in the center over the incision in his chest. She carefully began to irrigate the cut, cleaning it with the water and a saline solution. She was being as gentle as possible but anytime the liquid touched Brian's chest it burned immensely. Clenching his jaw shut was all he could do to keep from crying out. The nurse knew it was painful and felt his breathing become more heavy and shallow so she worked quickly to get it over with. After what had seemed like an hour but really had only taken ten minutes she was finally done.

"I'm sorry that was so painful,” she said sincerely. "There's no possible way to fight an infection without cleaning the area rigorously."

"No, really, I understand." Brian sighed. "You were wonderful."

She smiled at him and cleaned up the tray of disinfectants.

"I know you're probably sick of feeling wrapped like a mummy from the waist up. What do you say we try a smaller bandage?" she asked.

"That would be great." Brian replied. She pulled some sterile gauze from a cupboard along with some medical tape. After gently placing the gauze over his cut she trimmed a square piece of bandage big enough to cover his wound and taped it over the gauze.

"That should do it." she said when she was done.

"It's much better, thank you." Brian said.

"I wish you the best of luck." She said with a smile. "A kid your age should be out and about, or on stage in this case." she said.

Brian gave her his killer smile but it faded immediately when the door shut and he was left alone. Jessie decided that now was the time to reveal her presence. She slowly made herself visible and called his name. Brian turned his head toward the window and saw what seemed to be a young woman standing by the wall. He blinked a few times and squinted but the image remained.

"It's okay. I'm here to help you,” she said softly.

"Whoa, who let you in?" he asked, panicking.

"No one had to let me in, Brian,” she said.

"How...how do you know my name? Are you a fan?"

"I'm not just a fan. I'm an angel sent to help you cope with this illness."

Brian shook his head in disbelief.

"It's okay Bri, you're just drugged up." he said to himself. "Nobody's here. You're hallucinating."

Jessie walked to his bedside and touched his hand. He jumped when he felt it and looked up at her in confusion and frustration.

"God, someone tell me what's going on!" he sighed.

"Brian, listen to me. I can't help you unless you believe me." Jessie begged. "I've been here since the ambulance brought you in yesterday. I watched part of the operation. I've seen all four of your group members here supporting you."

The look in Brian's eyes softened and his panic was replaced by curiosity.

"Then I'm dreaming." he replied.

"You're not dreaming." she sighed. "I'm as real as the burning that infection in your chest is causing this very moment."

Brian let his head fall back onto the pillow and remained silent. He glanced back over at her and studied her closely.

"You're really an angel?" he said at last.

"I'm not just any angel." she replied. "I'm your angel."

Chapter 5 | Chapter 7