“Not worried, we are both quick with a syringe.” Eric smiled. “Tim?”
“Could you get the IV and bloods? I’ll set up for the arterial line,” Tim said.
“Let the fun begin.” Troy chuckled. “Jule must have a field day with you dating Pattycake.” He tried to distract himself.
Eric inserted a thermometer into Troy’s mouth. “Trish is terrific, and so are the kids. Ben finally gave her the divorce.” The thermometer buzzed. “99.2”
“I’m happy for you.” Troy smiled.
Eric laughed. “We’re on the plane flying back from Iowa, and he turns to me nonchalantly and says, ‘Seton, you hurt her, you will disappear.’”
“Pure Jule.” Troy laughed.
Eric wrapped a BP cuff around Troy’s upper arm and pumped it up, listening in the crook of his arm via stethoscope. “136/84.” Next, he took his pulse and counted his respirations. He listened to his chest and abdomen. “Any particular side for the IV?”
Troy raised his right hand. He was left-handed. He had been stuck so many times, he didn’t flinch.
Eric was good at his job. As he worked, he spoke, “Did I tell you about the day Julian joined Trish and me in the office? He made the mistake of telling her she could say anything she wanted, so Trish deadpanned—'Jule, I’m pregnant.’ I wanted to jump out the window.”
“Did you change your drawers?” Troy laughed. He looked down, and Eric was done. “Thanks, man.”
“I want to get these to the lab. I’ll be back in a few.”
“Ready for step two?” Tim asked. “I’m going to insert an arterial line. I know you’re left-handed, but these aren’t positional so you shouldn’t have an issue.”
Troy leaned back and turned on the TV. As he flicked through the channels, the door opened and closed behind Eric. Tim scrubbed Troy’s left wrist. “Do you have a favorite TV show?”
“Mostly a movie guy. You?” Troy flinched.
“Sorry, a little lidocaine. I watch anything that’s funny.” As Tim spoke, he inserted the catheter, stitched it in place and covered it with a bandage. He tore off his gloves and turned on the monitor. “Okay?”
“Okay.”
“Mac will come see you any minute. The plan is for anesthesia to insert an epidural. You’ll be numb from the chest down, relaxed but awake. He’ll insert a catheter and get a good look at your veins and arteries. He’ll take out any clogs. And he’ll also get a sample of that testicle. Then we’ll knock you out,” Tim spoke.
“After Mac leaves, I’m told your family wants to see you. After that, we’ll prep your bowel. Say the word, and I’ll give you a mild sedative. People about to undergo a lesser procedure get very anxious. No judgments here.”
The door opened. “How we doing?” Mac Novak joined them.
“Mac, which hat are you wearing?” Troy chewed his lip.
Mac’s eyes scanned the monitor. “Since your heartrate is in the hundreds, the non-surgical hat.”
“I’m anxious. I don’t want to die. In the beginning, I wished for that so many times. And now, I can’t imagine not waking up.” Troy took a deep breath.
“All normal.” Mac talked Troy through some exercises until his heart rate dropped. “Keep doing them. I know you’re religious. Talk to your god. Rid your mind of any tension. Tim, I’m sleeping here tonight. You need me, I’m here.”
As he moved to open the door, in flew Fani Bremen and his sisters, Sofia and Evie.
“I’m sorry, I couldn’t stop her.” Dan Bishop from 3-Romeo frowned.
“We’re good. Dr. Mac Novak, this is my mother, Fani, and my sisters.”
Mac said hello and made his way out.
“Hi, Momma, Sof and Evie.” He checked to make sure he was covered and opened his arms. “Let me give you a hug.”
Fani ran into his arms, and Troy patted her back. “Momma, I’ll be fine.” He searched the visible piece of hall for Gwen.
