So�This Is Montana Ch. 7
Dr. Parrish stood by Joey�s bedside looking down at a young man who had made a complete 180-degree turn around from what he had been more than an hour ago when he and Dr. Granger had wheeled Joey back into the x-ray room. Joey�s features were now relaxed, no longer twisted in pain, much to the relief of both doctors. His brow was no longer beaded in sweat, but his hair was still slightly damp from the perspiration that had been generated by the severity of the pain that he had earlier endured.
Dr. Granger gingerly removed the cloth that had been placed on Joey�s forehead and replaced it with a cooler one. The movement caused Joey to stir slightly in his dazed state. He slowly opened his eyes and blinked several times, trying to focus in on the men standing over him.
�You sure had us worried for a while Joey,� said Dr. Parrish. He watched Dr. Granger as he checked Joey�s IV line and readjusted the flow of oxygen that Joey was receiving through a nasal canula. The oxygen was being administered along with the medications in the hopes that Joey would continue to remain free of nausea.
�I�m glad it was just muscles spasms,� whispered Joey to Dr. Parrish, his words slightly slurred by the muscle relaxants that he had been given.
�You aren�t the only one. Feeling any better?�
�Yeah�whatever you gave me has really helped.� Joey�s voice was just barely audible as he continued to struggle to focus his eyes on the doctors standing over him. Dr. Parrish grinned slightly at the effort that Joey was putting into staying alert. With a slight chuckle, Dr. Parrish patted Joey�s arm as he spoke. �Stop fighting the meds Joey. Close your eyes and get some rest.�
Joey gave the doctor a lop-sided grin and a slight nod before closing his eyes and giving in to the medication. Dr. Granger left Dr. Parrish at Joey�s bedside and walked across the room to check on the rest of the group.
Dr. Parrish remained a moment longer at Joey�s bedside watching him fall asleep. He felt better in knowing that he would not have to have Joey transferred to a facility in Billings. He could tell that the news would not have gone over too well with his friends�or Harvey Benson if the trip had become necessary. He had never seen a group more tightly knit than this one. With a shake of his head, the doctor carefully reached for Joey�s wrist and checked his pulse before smoothing the covers on the sleeping figure. Once finished, Dr. Parrish crossed the room to JC�s bedside to see that he had swung his legs over the side of his bed in order to sit in a nearby chair. Dr. Granger and paramedic Grady Simpson were standing on either side of JC, supporting him by his elbows, as he put his feet on the floor then slowly stood up.
�I�m glad you gave us these scrubs to wear. It�s a little drafty in here,� JC remarked as he tentatively took one step forward.�
�No problem,� answered Dr. Parrish.
�Any dizziness?� Dr. Granger asked as he looked at JC and noted the look of concentration written on his face.
�No sir. I want to go see Joey first, before I sit down,� JC said with a tone that was mixed with pleading and determination.
�Joey needs his rest JC. In a few hours when the meds have worn off a little, I let all of you have that chance if you want,� Dr. Parrish said with a tone that was equally determined but full of understanding also.
He watched a wave of disappointment momentarily cloud JC�s features, but it quickly disappeared as he nodded in agreement.
�Okay. How�s he doing?� JC�s voice held a great deal of concern in it.
�Well, let�s see you get to that chair first then I�ll let you know how he is,� said Dr. Parrish, pointing across the room to a chair situated by a large window.
The older doctor stepped back allowing Dr. Granger and paramedic Grady Simpson to do their work.
�There�s no rush. Take your time,� Dr. Granger urged as he and Grady began to guide JC to the chair.
JC nodded his head and remained focused on staying on his feet.
�Glad to see that you and Jerry were able to stay Grady,� commented Dr. Parrish as he watched the slow, but steady progress that JC was making in reaching the chair.
�You should have called earlier,� Grady said without looking at the doctor. He kept his eyes on JC�s face, looking for any signs of fatigue or faintness, but there were none.
The trio finally made it to the chair and, with the help of the doctor and paramedic, JC sank gratefully, albeit gingerly, onto the oversized, cushioned chair. Dr. Parrish grabbed a nearby blanket and laid it over JC�s legs. JC closed his eyes and leaned his head back against the chair before taking in a deep breath and letting it out slowly.
�I don�t think I have ever been so sore in my entire life,� he moaned. He lifted his head and looked at the doctor. �Is Joey going to be okay?�
Dr. Parrish put his hand on JC�s shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze. �Yes, he�s going to be just fine. He was having some intense muscle spasms, but we couldn�t be sure of that until we had taken him back to x-ray.�
JC looked past the doctor to see that Joey looked like he was resting now. It was such a relief to see that. He and the others had been pretty shaken up by the moans of pain that they had been hearing such a short time ago.
�I�m just glad that he�s going to be alright.� JC tried to shift in his chair to get more comfortable, but that was next to impossible. He gave a small groan of discomfort that was heard by an approaching figure.
�Hey C, stop your whining.� JC opened his eyes and looked up to see Justin being supported on either side by Grady and the other paramedic, Jerry Price. Justin was not moving any faster than he had. In fact, it looked like Justin was moving much slower�if that could be at all possible.
Justin was carefully lowered into a chair and JC grinned at the relieved expression written on his friend�s face. Justin looked over at JC and saw that he was trying not to laugh.
�Stop it C. Don�t laugh at me,� Justin playfully growled as a blanket was draped over his lap.
�Don�t worry,� JC moaned, �It hurts too much to laugh.�
Justin groaned as he tried to keep from laughing himself. Minutes later, the pair watched Chris making his way over to them with the help of the doctors.
�I feel like one massive bruise,� moaned Chris as he was assisted to the last empty chair.
�You are a massive bruise,� commented Dr. Granger as he arranged a blanket over Chris� lap and then left the group. That remark caused several groans of pain as the small group again tried not to laugh. The three were left with Dr. Parrish while the Grady and Jerry checked on Lance.
�How�s everybody doing?� asked Chris.
�Well, Joey is resting comfortably. There were no new rib factures. He was having muscle spasms and we have him on relaxants that should take care of the problem.�
�That�s good,� Justin said with a sigh of relief. �I was really scared for a while.�
The others nodded their heads in agreement.
�What about Lance?�
�He�s still resting comfortably. The swelling in his right hand is going down and he continues to have more periods of wakefulness. You�ll be able to visit with him sometime later tonight as well as Joey. They just need to continue getting their rest just like the three of you. I�m only going to let you stay here for a short time and then you need to get back to bed.�
�Yes sir,� JC answered for the group.
�Well, I need to call your manager again. I�ll check on you boys in a little while.� Dr. Parrish turned and left the room for his office so that he could make a phone call to Johnny Wright.
About a half hour later, Dr. Parrish rejoined Chris, JC and Joey to inform them of the phone conversation that he had just had with their manager.
�I spoke with Mr. Wright and we�ve decided to send you home on a plane tomorrow morning, early, instead of this evening.�
�Because of Joey?� asked Chris.
�Yes. Since Joey kept us rather busy we want to make sure that we don�t go through that again with him or any of the rest of you. We just want to make sure all of you are doing well enough to make the trip home without any surprises for your doctor.�
�What doctor did Johnny get in touch with?� asked JC, hoping that it was Kenneth Shannon. Dr. Shannon had treated each member of the group for the last 2 years for anything ranging from a simple cold to as serious as concussions, broken bones, and near drowning. As far as the group was concerned, Dr. Shannon was a member of the family.
�I believe it was a Kenneth Shannon,� answered Dr. Parrish. He watched in surprise as the three faces lit up before him.
�I take it that I just gave you some good news.�
�You sure did doc,� said Justin with a small smile.
�Getting tired Curly?� asked JC, who was beginning to grow weary himself.
�Yeah. I guess I am. I think I�m ready to head back to bed,� Justin answered.
�Well, you all look like you�re ready for that. My wife Maye should be here in another hour or so with supper, so let�s get you boys back to bed so that you can rest up before then.
The doctor received quiet nods as they each took turns rising to their feet with the help of Grady, Jerry and the doctors.
�Can we just stop by Joey and Lance�s beds before we go to our own?� asked JC.
�Please?� added Justin.
Dr. Parrish nodded his head and allowed stops to be made at the bedsides of Joey and Lance. Joey slept peacefully as his friends held his hands and smoothed back his hair. The medications along with the exhaustion caused by the pain kept him unaware of their presence, but the doctor noted that Joey�s features seemed to further relax leading him to believe that Joey somehow knew what was going on around him.
The doctor again watched as Justin, JC, and Chris treated Lance in much the same manner, but Lance was awake enough to know what was going on around him.
�Hi guys,� he said quietly as Justin, JC, and Chris were assisted to his bedside. After getting everyone situated around the bed, the doctors and paramedics stood back and gave the small group some privacy. Dr. Parrish and the others looked on at the display of the strong bond that the young men have for one another. It was good to see that there were still people out there who could care for each other so deeply as this group of young men seemed to.
�Hey Poofoo. You doing okay?� Justin asked as he stood on one side of the bed near Lance�s head, gently running his hand over his friend�s head.
�Pretty good I guess.� Lance looked down at Chris as he reached Lance�s left hand while carefully avoiding the IV port.
�I�m glad that you guys are up and walking around,� Lance whispered.
�Yeah. You and Joey will be up and running by tomorrow I bet,� said JC.
�Hey, can we sign your cast?�
�Yeah J. Dr. Granger left that marker out for that.� Lance pointed at a small bedside table. JC reached for it and began signing the cast. The marker was passed around and places were traded while they quietly visited. Lance was told about the plane trip and of Joey�s condition.
�I�m so sorry about this guys. If I had known, I would have come out here on my own,� Lance said as fought the tears forming in his eyes.
�Hey�Scoop�don�t worry,� JC reassured him.
�Yeah. We�re all going to be fine. Dr. Shannon is going to be here soon and we�ll be going home to rest up for our next trip out here.� Chris gave Lance a pat on the shoulder with his statement.
�Johnny is bound to give us some time off. After we feel up to it, we�ll be back out here to see that ranch of yours�real soon I bet.�
�Thanks J,� Lance whispered.
The group continued to quietly visit when a phone ringing in the background brought Dr. Parrish out of his thoughts. He trotted across the room and entered his small office.
�County Clinic. This is Dr. Ralph Parrish.�
�Dr. Parrish. Hello, my name is Kenneth Shannon. I�m the primary physician for a group of young men that I understand are there with you. How are my boys doing?� Dr. Parrish heard the concern in the man�s voice.
�They�re doing fine. If you have a few minutes, I�ll give you the run down on their conditions.�
�That would be great. Our flight leaves in about 2 hours and I need to know what I�m heading into.�
The doctors spent the next 20 minutes discussing the conditions of the boys and what the best way to transport them comfortably would be. They finally ended their conversation when Dr. Shannon said that his staff was just about ready to start loading up a vehicle to take him to the airport.
�I should be there at your clinic at about midnight. I�ll be renting a vehicle�� Dr. Shannon was not allowed to finish his sentence.
�No. I�m having one of our local sheriffs pick you up. Renting an unfamiliar vehicle and driving on unfamiliar roads is what caused the beds in my county clinic to fill up in one night.� Dr. Parrish tried to keep his voice light, but Dr. Shannon could hear the strain.
�I�d appreciate that. I�ll be seeing you in a while.�
�No problem.�
�And, Dr. Parrish�I really appreciate you taking care of the boys for me. They�re pretty special to me.�
�I understand. See you later doctor.� Dr. Shannon said good-bye and hung up the phone. He took a deep breath before leaving for the waiting car outside the hospital. This was going to be a long night.
Dr. Parrish walked back into the large treatment room and found that JC, Justin, and Chris were still speaking with Lance, who was showing signs of fatigue.
�Looks like the four of you need to get some rest,� he said as he stood at the foot of Lance�s bed.
�Yeah. I think we�re ready,� JC replied. His legs were starting to wobble slightly and he wasn�t too sure how much longer he would be able to continue standing.
Dr. Parrish noted the shaking legs and he quickly made his way to JC�s side and grabbed an elbow to support him.
�Jerry, push that wheelchair over here for JC.� Dr. Parrish continued to hold JC up until Jerry had pushed the chair behind JC. The two men carefully lowered JC into the chair as the others watched.
�Got two more of those?� Chris asked weakly.
�Already on it,� answered Grady lightly as he pushed two more chairs over to Lance�s bed.
Soon, everyone was back in their beds, resting. Supper would be there soon as would Dr. Shannon. Dr. Parrish looked around the room. This had been an exciting 2 days and he was going to be glad to see Dr. Shannon arrive�very glad.