Chapter 18
CHAPTER 18
F ran had long ago finished his dinner, now he was settled back in his chair, holding Jacob’s hand, and reading Robbie’s Kindle. He was reading softly aloud, hoping somehow Jacob would hear his voice and have pleasant dreams. He paused in his reading. “Don’t you think that’s weird? I mean a couple of wolves have just ripped the bad guy to pieces and apart from saying, “Oh gross,” no one bats an eyelid. Well, it’s not weird for us, but you would think humans would have more of a reaction, like maybe the sight of a shredded body made them throw up, or something equally disgusting, but nope, they just turn away.”
“Humans are weird,” Jacob said softly. His fingers squeezing Fran’s.
Fran put the e-reader on the bed and leant forward to look at Jacob. “Did I wake you? Sorry.”
Jacob opened his eyes. “You didn’t wake me. I was just waking up.”
Fran looked at the time and frowned. “You shouldn’t be awake for about another hour.”
“Sorry. But I’ve really got to use the bathroom,” Jacob said, just as his bedroom door opened and the brothers, Emory and Finn, walked in.
“You’re awake,” Robbie said, with a slight frown.
“Need the bathroom,” Jacob replied.
“I can give you a bottle to use,” Robbie said, walking to a cupboard and pulling out a weird shaped bottle.
Jacob scrunched his nose up. “Or I could use the bathroom which I’m sure is through one of those doors,” he replied, pointing at said doors.
Robbie sighed. “Okay, but we take it slow and gently. I’ll bring the drip stand, Fran can help you walk.”
Jacob sighed in relief as Fran pulled the bed covers back and then helped Jacob sit up and move to the side of the bed. Jacob pulled in a breath and held onto his stomach.
“The bottle is still an option,” Fran said gently.
“I can shoo everyone out, pass you the bottle and turn my back,” Robbie told him.
Jacob sighed again. “Yeah, let’s go with that option.”
“Good. Everyone out, you too, Fran.”
Fran went to protest, but a shake of Ezzy’s head stopped him. “We’ll be back when you’re done.”
“Thanks,” Jacob said, giving him a shy smile.
Once the others left the room, Robbie unscrewed the lid and handed Jacob the weird shaped bottle, putting the lid next to Jacob. “Can you manage?”
“I hope so,” Jacob replied, taking the bottle.
“I’ll be over by the window looking out at the grounds, let me know when you’re done or need help.”
“Thanks, Doc.” He waited for Robbie to move to the window and moving slowly managed to pee in the bottle, sighing in relief. He screwed the lid on and one-handed sorted himself out. “All sorted, Doc.”
Robbie smiled and came over. “Let me take that from you, back in a moment,” he said, walking off into the bathroom.
Jacob heard the toilet flush and the taps come on before Robert walked back out with a wet face cloth and dry towel.
He handed Jacob the wet cloth. “I put soap on it for you.”
“Thanks,” Jacob said, cleaning his hands and then drying them.
“While everyone is outside, I’ll check your stomach to make sure it’s all healing well. Let me help you lay back.”
Robbie helped Jacob settle, then, putting gloves on, he opened the bandages, and Jacob got his first look at his stomach. There was a large stitched up cut that practically ran the length of his stomach. The area looked red and angry, with some kind of liquid coming out of it.
“Is it supposed to be that red and weepy?” Jacob asked.
Robbie shook his head. “No, it should be healing like normal, this looks like you’re getting an infection.”
“Would the antibiotics not fix that?”
“They should do, yes. I’m going to take some blood and swab this so I can run some tests and see what’s going on. Whatever it is, we’ll monitor and sort it.”
“Maybe you should check your uncle, in case one of his injuries is doing the same,” Jacob suggested.
“I’ll do that, good thinking. Let me take some blood and do the swab and then I’ll let the others in,” he paused. “I also owe you an apology.”
Jacob looked at him in confusion and shock. “Why?”
“Because when I came and saw you at the lodge, I didn’t take the time to talk to you. I talked at you and got angry.”
“You wanted to protect your cousin, I understood that. Plus, I’m used to anger, so don’t worry about it.”
Robbie shook his head. “Still, I’m sorry. If you do ever want to talk, I can offer a sympathetic ear.”
Jacob nodded. “Thanks, Doc.”
“Call me Robbie. Now, let me do my thing before Franny and the others kick the door down.”
“It doesn’t take this long to have a pee,” Fran grumbled as he paced back and forth in the corridor in front of the hospital room.
“Maybe he wanted to do a number two,” Ezzy said, grinning.
“Eww,” Finn said.
“Seriously, I’m worried, what could be taking so long?”
“Maybe Robbie is checking the stitches and doing other checks,” Emory said, just as his phone rang. He pulled it out and looked at the caller ID. “It’s the hospital. Fitzwilliams ... I’ll come in now .. yes I’ll check with Fran .. see you in a bit.”
“What’s up?” Fran asked as he hung up.
“Coach accident, they need another doctor. They also wondered if you could come and help. They’ll understand if you can’t,” Emory told him.
Fran stood thinking for a moment. He knew the hospital wouldn’t ask for him unless they were desperate. As much as he wanted to stay and look after Jacob, others needed his help. “I can come. Will you guys let Jacob know I’ll be back as soon as I can?” Fran asked.
“We will,” Finn assured him.
Ezzy kissed Emory bye and watched as they both rushed off.
A moment later Robbie opened the door. “Come on in.”
Finn and Ezzy walked in.
“What happened to Fran and Emory?” Robbie asked, noticing they weren’t there.
“The hospital phoned, there’s been a coach accident, they called Emory and asked him to come in, they asked for Fran as well,” Finn told him. He walked to Jacob's bed. “Fran said to tell you he’d be back as soon as he could.”
Disappointment flashed in Jacob’s eyes for a moment before it was gone. “I understand. He’s a nurse, of course he would want to help the injured.”
“Why do you look so pale? Have the pain meds worn off? Robbie, shouldn’t Jacob be nearly better?” Finn asked in concern.
Robbie looked at Jacob.
“I saw that look, something’s wrong isn’t it?” Finn asked, laying a hand on Jacob’s arm.
Before anyone could reply, the door opened and Berni walked in. He paused halfway to the bed. “What’s wrong?”
“Emory and Fran got called into the hospital as there was an accident and something’s wrong with Jacob, but neither he nor Robbie will tell us what it is,” Ezzy told him.
“Maybe Jacob doesn’t want you to know, have you considered that?” Berni asked them, walking to the bedside.
“Sorry, Jacob,” Finn and Ezzy said at the same time.
“It’s okay,” Jacob said. “My wound has an infection in it that the antibiotics aren't healing.”
“Jacob suggested I check Uncle Frank to make sure he’s okay,” Robbie said.
“Yes, do that. Robbie, is there anything else you can do for Jacob?” his father asked.
“I’ve taken some blood, I’ll have it looked at to see what, if anything, can be found in the bloodwork. I’ll take some from Uncle Frank as well. Has he mentioned problems with any of his injuries?”
Berni shook his head. “No, shifting helped heal him. I’ll leave you to it, and see what’s happening at the hospital. We did pilfer some of their equipment after all. Jacob if you need anything, just ask.” And with that, Berni left the room, closing the door behind him.