I was so relieved when Wam had come out into the hall from Surgical Suite 4. I had been so scared something had happened to him. Well it did, his eye had been cut open and he was held at gunpoint. We would be discussing this tonight or in the morning. We would see how this surgery went first. I sat back in the chair I had vacated when I saw Wam, and took a couple of deep calming breaths.
When I opened my eyes, Pastor Dickson was standing in front of me. She smiled when I jumped and exclaimed, "you scared me Pastor!"
She laughed but said, "I'm sorry Kynlee. I was just checking back to make sure you're okay. I found out the threat has been contained and removed, and everyone will be okay."
I nodded and explained, "I saw Wam briefly and he assured me he and Kedron were okay. He has returned to do the surgery. So Kedron isn't out of danger yet."
Pastor Dickson sat next to me, laid her hand on my forearm, and squeezed gently. "Kynlee, your brother is a fighter. If anyone can survive this, it's him. Can I pray with you?" Again I nodded in return.
Pastor Dickson held her hands out with palms facing upward, waited for me to place my hands in hers, and we closed our eyes before she prayed, "almighty God, we come to you tonight to thank you for keeping Kedron and our staff safe from the violence. Please be with Kedron and give him strength. Help to guide the hands of the surgeon to do the best job possible to help Kedron. Please also give strength and comfort to Kynlee as she waits for surgery to be completed. We place these burdens in your hands and ask that you please hear our requests Lord. In your name we pray, Amen."
"Amen," I said in response to Pastor Dickson's beautiful prayer. "Thank you Pastor. Our parents always taught us that God was more likely to answer, the more people that say the prayer. There are many praying for Kedron, so I hope our parents were right," I admit in a quiet voice.
"Is it okay if I hug you Kynlee?" Pastor Dickson asked. As soon as I nodded, she wrapped her loving arms around me and squeezed me. "Okay child, I need to go visit a few other people, but I want you to know I'm here until noon tomorrow. Do you still have the number for the clergy?"
"Umm yeah, it's in my cell phone."
"Okay then," she said with a smile and another pat on my forearm, "I expect a call if you need something okay?"
I nod again and say, "God bless you Pastor, and thank you."
"It was my pleasure," Pastor Maggie Dickson said with a smile, and walked away.
Again, I was left alone with my own overactive brain to run through all the worst case scenarios as I wait. No! I wasn't going to allow myself to sit and stew over what could be. I needed to find a distraction. I turned on the television on the wall in the corner of the waiting room and I was channel surfing. Sadly there is not much to watch late at night on a Friday, almost Saturday morning. I decided on an rerun episode of "Shark Week," and watched as they discussed the most likely species of sharks to attack humans are bull sharks and tiger sharks. They then went on to prove that some sharks had taken to eating more birds, as evidenced by stomach contents. The hypothesis is that there is less food in the ocean, so these predators have learned to eat birds from the air and even some land animals if the opportunity arises.
As I'm sitting there, in walks Dr. Hanson. "Oh, Shark week? I love those shows! Sharks are amazing creatures. Did you know, sharks will even eat other sharks if the opportunity presents itself? They are like the ultimate predator in water."
I simply look at him and listen as he sits in a chair near me, glued to the television but eating as he sits there. I watch him eat and wonder how he can eat and not look at his food. I'd be covered in food if I tried that. He must feel my eyes on him, because Dr. Hanson turns my way, "what?" He wipes his mouth with the back of his hand. "Do I have food on my face or something?"
"No," I laugh. "No, your good. I was just thinking I wouldn't be if I was eating like you are."
He turns back to watch the television and says, "I was afraid I had soiled my face or clothing or worse, did or said something to embarrass myself."
I shook my head, "no Doctor Hanson, you're good."
"Whew," he says between bites. "Well, gotta get back to the floor. Have a good night Ms. Knutson."
"You too Doctor," I say as he walks away from me. How can one person have so much energy and seem so smart but so…awkward? I'm not sure what the right word would be, but he is very different from most doctors.
I continued to watch Shark Week episodes and play games on my cell phone to pass the time. I found a free book online that sparked my interest, and it was just getting good when Wam came walking into the waiting room and sat next to me. I looked up and met his tired eyes. His lids appeared to be drooping, and there were black circles under his eyes. Wam sighed and I finally asked, "well?"
"Well, I've done my part Kynlee. The rest is up to Kedron." Wam placed his hand on my knee before continuing with intermittent eye contact, "we removed all the bone fragments and used man made materials to duplicate what the cervical spinal column shook look like. Instead of having motion, the pieces act as if we had fused his vertebrae. This should give him more control of his head, more stability, and I'm hopeful it'll prevent further injuries to the spinal cord."
I nod and respond, "thank you Wam." I place my hand on top of his hand that still rests on my knee. "I'm so lucky you were willing to operate on him. I can never thank you enough."
I lean to the side and rest my head on his shoulder as he sits next to me. I feel Wam kiss the top of my head and take a sniff of my hair. "Did you just smell me?" I asked.
"Umm hmmm. You smell good enough to eat," Wam jokes.
"You are so funny," I laugh, but when I look into Wam's eyes, he looks the furthest thing from joking. My mouth falls open slightly as I witness what appears to be a mixture of love and lust as Wam looks into my eyes.
Wam traces one lone finger from my lips to my ear, then down to my collarbone. "Stay with me tonight Lee, please?" He pleads quietly.
I nod before I remember, "where are we going to stay?"
"They have a hotel adjacent to the hospital. I can see if I can snag us a room, if that's okay with you?" Wam offers.
I think I'd agree to almost anything right now, as long as I can be close to this man. "How soon are we ready to leave?" Is it awful that just being this close and being touched by Wam is turning me on? My brother just came out of surgery, and all I can think about is getting Wam naked. I guess in my head, like he said, 'it's up to Kedron'. There is nothing I can do to change the outcome except love my brother. I can love him, be here for him, but he has to fight to wake up.
"Kedron shouldn't be in recovery long. Then they'll move him back to the ICU again. Shall we head to the ICU to wait?" Wam offers.
"Yes please," I agree.
We stand and walk to the elevator. I push the button and we wait for the door to open and let us in. Once inside, before I can push any buttons for our destination, Wam kisses me with a passion I cannot even explain. It's all lips and tongues and pulling each other to try to get closer. Man this man can kiss. Finally he lets me up for air and he pushes the correct button.
My cheeks feel hot from kissing in an elevator where we know for sure there is a camera in the corner. Oh well. A little affection won't hurt anyone. At least we kept our clothes on.
I wait in the ICU waiting room with Wam at my side, making a hotel reservation. Luckily they had two rooms available yet. I fired off a text to Jane to update her. Finally Kedron is situated in his ICU room and I'm allowed to see him.
Kedron is still intubated and remains unconscious with the ventilator breathing for him. There are IV lines, EKG leads, oximeter wires, etc.. jutting out every which way from the bed. He now has bandages on his head and neck from the surgery. I've no doubt Wam did his best, so now I just needed Kedron to fight. Unsure what else to do, I pulled up a chair at his bedside and held his hand while I gave him a pep talk. "Kedron, Wam did surgery on you. He removed the bone fragments that were causing damage to your spine, and gave your spinal cord protection similar to your natural spinal column. It's man made material, but it should provide you with stability and protect your cervical spine from further damage."
I looked over at the nurse in the corner by the computer, cleared my throat, and continued speaking to Kedron, " I'm sure it's been frustrating for you. I need you to wake up K, because I have so much to tell you. I'm not sure your going to believe it."
Wam entered the room and did an assessment on Kedron before speaking briefly with the nurse. "So far so good Kedron," Wam said as he returned to the bedside. "You stay stable tonight bud, and tomorrow we will shut off the sedation and hope you wake up. I'm going to take your sister to get some sleep. We will both see you in the morning."
I stood and joined Wam on his side of the bed to give my twin brother a goodnight kiss. "Sweet dreams K, I love you."
We left the ICU, hand in hand, to take the skyway to the hotel. Sleep and cuddling with Wam sounded like heaven right about now.