“That’s up to the psychiatrist. I’m sure he’ll stay there
until he comes around.”
“Can we see him?”
The doctor thought about the hospital’s policy of only 2
visitors in the ER. After a few seconds, he decided it would be beneficial. “Of
course; right this way.” He led Alicia, Chris, Troy and Jordan into the cubicle
that held the catatonic Ethan. Dorothy bowed out, having an upcoming
appointment.
It was difficult to see the normally happy-go-lucky active
Ethan reduced to basically a shell of his normal self. "If I ever find
that cocksucker Patrick, he's a dead man!" Jordan grit out through
clenched teeth. Little did he realize that he would have to stand in line for
that privilege.
Alicia approached the head of the bed. She bent down and
whispered in his ear, "Ethan, it's me Alicia. I'm here for you. So is
Chris, Troy and Jordan." She gripped his hand. "Please, come back to
us. We love you and we miss you terribly." Tears flowed down her cheek as
she spoke to him. It really broke her heart when she didn't get a response.
The three men each took turns talking to Ethan, each
achieving the same result...no response from him. Reluctantly they decided to
let it go for now, laying all their hopes for his recovery on the shoulders of
the mental health professionals. Before leaving the hospital they pulled each
other into a group hug. "What do you guys want to do now?" Jordan
asked.
Chris responded,
"I dunno, what do you want to do?"
Troy, always the voice of reason in any situation spoke up,
"we should get something to eat."
"Eat? EAT?
How can you even think about food when our baby brother is lying in a hospital
bed practically catatonic?" Alicia was livid.
Troy took both of her hands in his. "Alicia. Please
listen to me. I totally understand how you feel. We all feel the same way, but
consider this. Ethan's going to need us. We need to eat to keep strong for when
he comes around. I don't want to leave him here either. We go to the cafeteria
and get food. I'll ask them to either call us or page us if anything and we can
drop everything and be back in the ER is a few minutes."
She sighed and conceded. "Okay. I guess I am a little
hungry. It doesn't see right somehow." Tears started flowing slowly down
her cheeks. Chris pulled her into a hug as Troy went to talk to the nurse about
paging them if there was any change in Ethan's condition.
Walking back into the waiting room he saw Troy comforting
Alicia. They always had a special rapport, being twins. He gently put his hand
on her shoulder and spoke in a soft voice, "let's go eat. They'll page us
if there's any change."
Troy separated from Alicia and, keeping his arm around her,
led her out of the waiting room. "Coming Jordan?" Chris asked.
He slowly shook his head. "No. You need this time as a
family. I'll go get something to eat when you guys come back."
Chris pulled him into a hug. "You are every bit a part
of our family. We want you with us. You helped Ethan so much, especially when
he was being bullied in high school. You were always there for him. He needs
you to be there for him now. Besides, if I know Alicia, and I think I do, if I
join them without you, she'll come drag your ass down there, kicking and
screaming if necessary."
Jordan chuckled at the image of Alicia, who he towered over,
since he was a little over six feet tall and she was five-foot nothing.
"Okay. I'm not really hungry though."
"At least get a sandwich or a salad or something.
They'll let us know if anything changes." Wrapping his arm around Jordan's
waist, he led him out of the waiting room and down to the cafeteria, not caring
what anyone thought of him with his arm around another man's waist.
~~~~~
"Ethan, I'm Doctor Benzik. I'd like to talk with you
for a few minutes. Do you feel like talking?" No response. "Son, I'm
here to help. I want to help you, but I can't if you don't talk to me. Can you
tell me what you're feeling?" Again, no response. "Okay, Ethan. When
you feel like talking, please have
the nurse page me." He left the room and went in search of the attending
physician.
"I couldn't get any kind of response from him. Judging
from what you told me, I don't think its a case of he can't respond, he doesn't
want to respond."
"Should we admit him to the psychiatric ward?"
"No. That would do more harm than good. He needs his
family around. I would suggest that they be able to visit him anytime and not
have to comply with visiting hours. They're our best hope to bringing him
around."
"I agree." He turned to the nurse. "Carolyn,
are any of Ethan Evans' family members here?"
"Yes. They're in the cafeteria getting something to
eat."
"Okay. Let's get Mr. Evans admitted to a regular room
and then call his family to let them know. Don't page them. They may think
something's wrong and we don't want to worry them any more than they already
are."
"Yes Doctor," Carolyn replied as she set about
getting him admitted.
"Wait a minute." Doctor Benzik interrupted.
"I suggest he be put in a private room. I think it would be better for him in
the long run and having his family there at all hours of the day will disturb
the other patient in the room."
"Good idea. Make it happen, Carolyn."
Phone calls were made and ready within an hour's time frame.
"Mr. Evans," the nurse said. No response. "Mr. Evans," He spoke a little more
forcefully. Still no response. The
nurse sighed.
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