Rating: PG-13
Disclaimers: Who would claim it?
Summary: Webb remains at the hospital in Uruguay, but his condition changes.
Author�s Note: How, oh how, do I write myself into these situations?
Citation: I shamelessly copied information from the Brain injury trading cards written by Anna Peekstock. They were intended for middle school students at a University of Washington School of Medicine open house.
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Magnetic Resonance Imaging Chamber (MRI)
3rd Floor of MUSA Medical Center
Port City of Montevideo, Uruguay
Carlotta shut down the imaging system once their work was complete. Giving Martin and Etienne the thumbs-up sign, she followed up with a verbal confirmation to the technicians, �Okay, we�re good to go. Let�s unhook Mr. Williams and get some lunch. I�ll page the second floor to let them know we�re done.�
Clay was just coming out of the MRI chamber when the convulsions began. Carlotta immediately paged Dr. Morayati while Martin and Etienne gently held down Mr. Williams� violently shaking body.
Morayati arrived within moments, calmly directing the technicians to unstrap Clay from the imaging table and securing the drainage tube. Quickly checking the dilation of his pupils, Dr. Morayati listened as Carlotta described what had happened. Before she had finished her pithy run-down, the seizure ended.
They both looked down at Mr. Williams as Morayati checked his vitals. Clay�s breathing was accelerated and his eyes were open. The doctor called out his name as he attempted to assess his patient�s status. �Mr. Williams! Mr. Williams! I�m Dr. Morayati. Do you understand me?�
Dr. Morayti repeated this twice before noting that Clay was unresponsive to verbal stimuli. Raising the headboard to allow Mr. Williams a better pulse/ox, he noticed that Clay�s eyes followed his actions. While he accompanied the gurney back to the second floor Dr. Morayati thought over the initial report the radiologist had just given him.
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Common Waiting Room
ICU of MUSA Medical Center
Port City of Montevideo, Uruguay
Like most relatives and visitors, every time the elevator doors dinged open, the group in the waiting room glanced up then resumed their discussion. It was an unconscious action that paid off a moment later. Expecting another group of interns to exit the busy elevator cars, Mac was the first to notice Clay�s gurney emerging with Dr. Morayati in the lead. Then she noticed Clay�s elevated position on the bed.
�He�s awake,� she breathed.
Gunny echoed Mac�s observation, �Look! It�s Mr. Webb---he�s awake.�
They all stood as one and began to approach the gurney. The doctor kindly but firmly held them off. Sliding his badge through the sensor bracket, Morayati activated the ICU doors and made a brief plea, �A moment, please. We must get him settled. The wife, the wife comes with us.�
Porter hastily pushed a stunned Mac through the doors before they closed, praying for patience. Returning to the waiting room, there was no talking now. All of them held their own counsel until Mac could return with the latest news.
Inside Number 5, there was controlled pandemonium. Monitors were swiftly reattached while vitals were taken and a neurologist rushed towards Clay. Mac felt herself pushed to the corner while she observed it all.
Not wanting to interrupt, she merely gazed into Clay�s beautiful hazel eyes. Clay�s beautiful *open* hazel eyes.Lost in her own rising excitement, she missed the first call from the young neurologist. �Mrs. Williams? Over here, Mrs. Williams!�
Hastily focusing on the doctor, she joined him at Clay�s bedside. �What name would he normally answer to Mrs. Williams?�
�Uh, Clay. He�ll answer to Clay.�
�Clay? Clay! Blink if you can hear me Clay!� The doctor was shining a small light in both of Clay�s eyes. Snapping his fingers in front of Clay�s face, the neurologist looked over at Dr. Morayati and called out,
�Active pupil response but no reflex to stimuli.� Dr. Morayati nodded his head in agreement.
Looking from Clay to the doctors, Mac was getting frustrated. �Is he awake or not? What�s going on? What happened?�
Dr. Morayati placed a hand at the base of her back and guided her back out to the waiting room. �It is better to tell your family at one time, hmm?� he asked of Mac.
Nodding her acquiescence, she looked around for them. The doctor walked her over to a seat adjacent to Porter and pulled up a chair to address the group.
�I will tell you what we know at this point.� Seeing their eyes focus on him, the doctor began his explanation, �At the conclusion of his MRI, Clay had what we refer to as an episode---a brief seizure, if you will.�
Morayati looked around at his group of rapt listeners and prayed he could explain this clearly to the dismayed group. �It is part of the re-awakening process. The brain, you see, is like gelatin floating in liquid inside your skull---,� the doctor cupped his hands in explanation. �---your skull has bony ridges inside. When your head moves quickly and then stops suddenly---,� Morayati moved his cupped hands back-and-forth, �---the brain can slosh against the inside of your skull. Connections between nerve cells can tear or bruise, disrupting the signals.�
Noticing their nods of understanding, he continued. �The brain may be damaged by starting and stopping too quickly inside the skull. Luckily, this is not the situation with Clay. The initial results of his MRI show no bruising or tears.�
Dr. Morayati was interrupted by a relieved Porter Webb, �Then he�s awake? He�s responding?�
Dr. Morayati took a deep breath as he tried to answer her questions. �In Clay�s case, his body shut down to repair itself---went into to the coma-like state right after his last surgery.� Throwing his hands in the air, he pointed to the silent TV in the corner of the waiting room.�Movies and television often show a person in a coma lying very still and quiet as if sleeping, and then suddenly waking up and becoming alert. This is not accurate. The coma may be very deep, where nothing will cause the person to respond. In other cases, however, someone in a coma may move, groan, or react to sounds, touch, or pain. The process of recovering from a coma does not occur all at once � instead the person gradually regains consciousness.�
�And, Clay?� came the strong voice of the admiral.
�Based on the MRI findings and his muscular-neural reflexes, we believe that he is quickly regaining consciousness,� revealed the doctor.
A collective sigh of relief was felt by the group as they listened to the helpful doctor. Mac, however, was confused on several points. �But his eyes are open! Can he see us? Is he aware of what�s going on around him? How long before he gains full consciousness?�
�Many questions---I only wish I could answer them all to your satisfaction. Yes, his eyes are open. At first, he was unresponsive to stimuli, but then his pupils dilated and tracked. He is gradually becoming aware of his senses.� As he noticed the nods of happiness and approval around the group, the doctor felt the need to warn them of what was in store for the young man.
�There is a toll that the body will pay for such an awakening, however.� Preferring not to skirt the issue, the doctor was quite frank, �This man was tortured mercilessly. So far, his senses have insulated themselves against the agony of that experience. That is the gift of the coma. To awaken from the coma, he must fight to reactivate his senses. It will be a pain that closely mirrors the torture he endured. We have drugs that will mask the pain, but we must use these sparingly. We must exercise the muscles and tissues before atrophy takes over. We must get him on his feet to fight infection and lung fatigue. We must re-introduce food and drink to his body. We must make him breathe deeply to massage his organs and shape his reconstructed ribs. We must graft skin to his wrists and ankles to prevent further tissue damage. We must also accept that he will feel pain and accurately judge his tolerance.�
Porter swallowed the lump in her throat before asking the three questions paramount in her mind. �When do we start, doctor?�
Dr. Morayati�s eyes opened wide in surprise, �Now, of course.�
Porter, plunged forward, �How long will this take before he�s himself again?�
The doctor thought this over and attempted an answer, �It takes however long it takes, yes? Who he was before---I do not know this man. Who he will become? It is anyone�s guess. Judging from experience, he---like everyone---will change in some way from this ordeal. The essence will remain, what you love and nurture with be intact. Other than that, who can predict? I want him on his feet by the end of the week, if not sooner. I believe this is probable. This is where we must begin.�
Porter�s final question was couched in an apology, �What about home? When can he come home to Virginia?�
Dr. Morayati looked around at the faces awaiting his response and made a calculated guess. �Of course, I understand your eagerness to return home. As soon as he regains his feet and balance, hmm? Also, you must consider his eardrum if you plan to travel by air.� At her nod, he thought further and pronounced, �Let us give him the next forty-eight hours to fully awaken. We will then make arrangements for transport, agreed?�
Porter nodded in agreement and thanked the knowledgeable man for his patience and understanding. Dr. Morayati shrugged off her thanks, but accepted her hand. Bowing in a courtly manner to the women and waving to the men, he excused himself and entered the ICU. Processing the information they had just received, no one moved from the waiting room for several moments.
Striving for a decisive stance, Porter suddenly stood, grasped Mac�s hand, and headed for Clay�s room. Ever the Marine, Mac had mentally regrouped, ready for whatever was about to happen. The wink from Gunny and the encouraging smiles from Harm and Meredith gave her an unexpected boost as she passed them. It was, however, the admiral�s barely audible �Hoo-Yah!� that fully restored her confidence. She returned Porter�s reassuring squeeze as they were buzzed into the ward.
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Number 5
ICU of MUSA Medical Center
Port City of Montevideo, Uruguay
Back in Room 5, events were escalating at a rapid pace. Clay�s sensory response rates were setting off beeps and buzzers throughout the room. Porter and Mac arrived just as the nurses were removing the drainage tube from his ear. Chest heaving, eyes darting around the room, Clay was disoriented and grabbing at the IV needle in his left arm.
Dr. Morayati forestalled the IV�s removal, but could not prevent the heel of Clay�s right hand from connecting with his own nose. Stepping away from the bed, the doctor held a protective hand to his face and quickly gestured the women over. �Call to him. Gain his attention!�
Immediately, Mac and Porter went to work. Mac stood to his side, gently restraining his arms while Porter talked.
�Stop that right now, Clayton! Clayton, calm down. You�re fine. You�re safe. I know it hurts, but you�re okay, son. Clayton! I said to stand down! Stand down at once, Clayton! Listen to me: you�re safe! The mission is over! You are in a hospital! Safely in a hospital!�
Clay�s thrashing gradually ceased as he cocked his head to the side and appeared to focus on his mother�s voice.
�That�s right, dear. You�re fine, we�re all friendlies,� Porter smiled as tears ran copiously down her cheeks. Clay gave a slight painful grunt and locked his eyes on his mother�s face. Intelligence glittered from their depths and Porter smile turned triumphant.
�It�s Mother, dear. Mother is here. You�re safe. We�re at the hospital in Montevideo, Uruguay. You�re in Uruguay. That�s right, Ur-u-guay.� Clay was slowly nodding as he took in the information.
�The doctors are trying to help you. Let them help you, dear. Please let them help you,� his mother pleaded.
A panicked look crossed his features and Porter instinctively leaned forward, never breaking eye contact with her son, �You need help, dear. I swear you need their help.�
Clay�s throated worked jerkily as he parted his lips. Frustrated at his inability to speak, he gazed steadily at his mother. Faintly licking dry lips and narrowing his eyes in concentration, he tried to form a word: �Team?�
Porter threw a questioning look up at Mac, then refocused on her son. Clay, however, had been tracking his mother�s actions, and saw Mac standing to his side. At once, he became agitated, so Mac soothed his hair back while Porter tried to regain his attention.
Clay rapidly blinked his eyes and raised his left hand to stop Mac�s soothing caress. Looking hard into her eyes, he tried once again to make himself understood, �Team, S�rah?�
�The team? Oh, Clay, we�re all fine. Honestly---all of us. Gunny and Harm are out in the waiting room right now,� she explained. Trying to predict his next question, Mac added, �and the mission was successful. We did it. It�s over. Harm got the bumblebees, okay? Totally destroyed �em.� Mac grinned down at Clay as she saw his features momentarily relax.
After a moment, he tensed up again, looking back and forth from his mother to Mac. �What�s wrong, Clay? Is the pain too intense? Do you need---?� Porter�s questions only elicited a negative shake from Clay. Frustrated, he grabbed Mac�s arm again.
Drawing on his rapidly waning energy, he attempted to speak again: �Har!�
�Harm? You want to see Harm?� Mac was puzzled, but willing to comply.
Clay closed his eyes and squeezed the arm he still held. Looking back into her eyes and willing her to understand him, he carefully chose each word before attempting to speak again. �Har-dee. Leak!� he croaked out.
The effort had cost him, but he felt triumph at the look of comprehension on Sarah�s lovely face. �Clay, don�t worry about that. I�ll let Harm and Gunny know about it. The admiral�s here, too, so you can trust them to take care of it. �Kay?�
Loving the way she was stroking his brow, he blinked his eyes in agreement and settled into his pillow. One of the nurses added a new solution to the IV drip, and Clay quickly drifted off into less painful world.
Porter had stood back as watching the two interact. She still didn�t understand the exact nature of their relationship, but was willing to let it develop. Clay trusted the young woman and that was good enough for her. In the meantime, she mentally calculated the process necessary to get Clay back into the United States.
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Common Waiting Room
ICU of MUSA Medical Center
Port City of Montevideo, Uruguay
The shouts from Number 5 had not gone unnoticed by the group in the waiting room. The order to �stand down� followed by Dr. Morayati exiting the ICU with a bloody nose brought snorts from the men and an admonishing glare from Meredith.
�Well, hell, Meredith! He�s terrorizing his own damn medical team while coming out of a coma. Even Rabb waited until he was fully conscious before trying anything like that,� AJ claimed.
Victor broke out with a full laugh and even Harm had to acknowledge the truth of the admiral�s statement. �That�s right, Meredith. They didn�t want to throw *me* out until they�d gotten to know me better first. Sounds like Clay�s putting up quite a defense in there.� There was an underlying laugh in Harm�s voice that belied his innocent look.
�Think we should go in and help,� Victor suggested.
�Nah, Mac and his Mother oughta be able to handle him. What d�you think, Harm?� There was a twinkle in the admiral�s eye.
�Oh, I fully agree with you, sir! One gung-ho Marine and a no-nonsense Mother should be able to control the situation. On the other hand, Webb is one sneaky bas---,�
�Harm!� shouted Meredith, but the men were beyond redemption as their relieved laughter filled the small room.
Porter and Mac found all three trying to control their laughter a few moments later. �You heard?� asked Mac.
�And saw!� added Harm.
�Well, Clayton always did tend to wake up a bit grumpy,� sighed Porter. She welcomed the laughter after so many hours of worry. �It is a shame about the doctor�s nose, though. Such a nice man.�
The men looked at Mrs. Webb in wonder and began laughing all over again. This time Meredith and Mac joined them.
As their levity died down, Mac followed through on her promise. �Harm, Gunny? Clay told us he thinks Edward Hardy is the leak.�
�Yeah, I met that slimy spook when I arrived in Ciudad Del Estes a few days ago,� said a thoughtful Harm. �Gunny, what�s your experience with him?�
�I steered clear, sir. Scuttlebutt says he�s a hard-ass who rides coattails,� added Gunny.
�Well, he tried to talk us out of extracting Gunny that night,� a shadow passed over Mac�s face before she hastily shook free from it. �Gave Clay a hard time throughout the entire op---acted like we owed him something. Definitely not a team player, Harm.�
�Okay, I�ll pass it on to Kershaw. Anything else?� Everyone could tell Harm was eager to eradicate the suspected traitor.
�Just that he�s relieved we�re all okay,� smiled Mac.
�An understatement, my dear. Something tells me the bond between the three of you and my son is stronger than I could have ever anticipated. I just wonder if you know how rare that is,� Porter wondered out loud.
Harm answered for them all, �Oh, I believe we do, ma�am. It�s the old birds of a feather clich�,� he grinned.
Porter stared at Harm for a moment, then cautiously agreed. �Perhaps, Harmon. I�d like to hear about how you all met someday---maybe that would make it more clear to me. Of course, I know why he�s so drawn to you, AJ.�
They were just entering the elevator when Porter made her odd little pronouncement. �Oh really? I hardly think I�m one of Clay�s role models,� laughed the admiral. The elevator quickly shot down to the first floor before Porter was able to answer.
Once they were heading into the afternoon sunlight, Porter finally offered, �Maybe not a role model,� she conceded, �but just for *who* you are.�
�Who I am?� questioned AJ.
�Of course. Not only are you a man of integrity and compassion, you are a knowledgeable leader and warrior. Clayton was raised to admire these qualities, AJ.� Porter had reached the sidewalk in front of the hotel and turned around to observe the admiral as he assisted Meredith along the crosswalk.
�That�s very flattering, Porter. I�m not sure I live up to those qualities all the time, but thank you.� AJ was a bit gruff as Harm, Mac, and Gunny grinned in agreement. Meredith�s, �An accurate portrayal of you, hon,� garnered a small laugh from Porter.
�Oh, yes, don�t be modest AJ. One other factor that attracts Clayton�s interest is also fairly obvious.� They were in the lobby of the hotel by now and everyone was looking at Porter.
�He�s rarely met people who knew his father outside of the Company. Neville was rather entrenched in the intelligence community, you know. Friends weren�t really friends and those who were had to maintain deniability. Clayton has met many brick walls when it came to discussing his father,� Porter sighed at her own memories. �I guess that�s what makes you unique, AJ. You were one of his father�s best friends and he didn�t have to pretend around you.�
AJ stopped in his tracks and became aware of the stunned expressions traveling between himself and Porter Webb. *Damn!*