Only in Your Dreams Chapter 7
The doctor could see indecision flash across the young man�s face. There was something going on that the young man seemed at odds with himself in speaking of. Dr. Shannon did not want to pressure the young man but there was something definitely bothering him and as a physician, he need to know what it was before he would climb any more steps. The doctor decided to proceed with caution with his next words.
�I recognize your face from some of the posters that I have seen in the music store at the mall, so I realize why you want to keep my visit private, but I do have the distinct feeling that there is something more going on here.� This was all said in a non-threatening manner that let Chris know that he was going to have to trust this man.
�You�re right. There is more to it than I told you on the phone,� the young man admitted to the doctor. �I guess I can�t really keep you in the dark, huh?� Chris added with resignation as he lowered himself to sit on the step above where he stood.
�It would be nice to know so that I can make sure I have the necessary medications with me if any are needed and I want to know what is physically going on as well as emotionally,� the doctor replied. �The dark circles under your eyes, the weariness in your voice and the slumped shoulders are telling me that what ever is going on around here is troublesome enough that you haven�t slept very well lately.�
Chris gave him a surprised look.
�Chris, I can feel tension right now that is thick enough to cut with a knife and it has nothing to do with anger. It has to do more with fear. You can almost smell the fear in the air,� Dr. Shannon said, gesturing with one hand.
Chris did not know how to respond to what the doctor just said. He had not expected the man to say any of those words. The doctor watched the expression on Chris� face before he said anything further.
�Now, why don�t you tell me what to expect when I walk into one of the rooms up there,� the doctor said as he nodded his head toward the top of the stairs before sitting down himself a few steps below Chris.
The doctor watched as Chris looked down at his hands, seeming to be gathering his thoughts together. He finally brought his gaze up from his hands to look at the doctor�s face before he began explaining the whole situation to him in detail from beginning to end. Dr. Shannon listened carefully, nodding in understanding every once in a while and throwing in a few questions when necessary during the 20 minutes or more it took Chris tell of the whole ordeal.
�Well, that�s the whole story Dr. Shannon,� Chris said when he had finally finished. He felt even more emotionally and physically drained after the experience, if that were at all possible. He rubbed his hands across his face, then, after putting his elbows on his knees, he rested his chin in one hand.
�That�s some story,� the doctor said, disbelief evident in his voice.
�What? You mean to tell me that you don�t believe me?� Chris straightened up as he spoke.
�No�I believe you Chris,� the doctor said as he quickly laid a reassuring hand on Chris� shoulder. �I should have said that the story was incredible and that you boys handled the situation very well.�
�I sure hope we did,� Chris said with a sigh.
�I want to look in on Mr. Bass first while you go wake your friend�uh�Mr. Chasez? Did I say that right?�
�Yes sir,� Chris grinned as he stood up again to continue up the stairs. �Most people just butcher his name their first try at it.�
Both men laughed as they reached the top of the stairs. Once in front of Lance�s bedroom door, the doctor did not enter right away.
�What are you doing?� Chris asked when he noticed that the doctor was just standing in the doorway.
�It�s called observing Mr. Kirkpatrick.�
�Please just call me Chris.�
The doctor nodded as he continued watching Lance.
�I�m watching how well he is resting and his breathing,� the doctor added patiently.
�Oh.�
�You go on and wake up your friend and you can come back. I�ll answer any more questions then, okay?�
The doctor gave Chris a reassuring smile and pat on the back before entering the bedroom to sit on the side of Lance�s bed. He quietly put his medical box on the floor, opened it to remove a blood pressure cuff, thermometer, stethoscope and small pen light before gently closing it again. He pushed the box over to the side out of his way before attempting to awaken Lance.
�Mr. Bass? Mr. Bass?�
Lance startled awake upon hearing the unfamiliar, deep voice and then seeing the stranger sitting beside him sent him into a near panic as he sat up in bed.
�Who are you?� he asked groggily as he scooted to the opposite side of the bed away from the stranger, pulling his pillow in a protective hug as he moved.
�Please don�t be alarmed Mr. Bass. My name is Dr. Kenneth Shannon.� Dr. Shannon held his hands up to show that he indeed meant no harm to the young man who seemed especially nervous at the moment. With what Chris had explained had happened last night he really couldn�t blame him for his reaction.
�Your friend Chris called me this morning and asked me to make a house call.�
As if on cue, Justin and Chris made their way into the room and noted the fearful look on Lance�s face and how close he was coming to fall off the other side of the bed in his effort to be out of the doctor�s reach.
�Thanks for the warning Chris,� Lance said in a slightly irritated manner as he watched both Chris and Justin stop to stand at the foot of his bed.
�Sorry man, but the doctor needed to see you while you were sleeping and he sent me to get JC up,� Chris apologized as he took in Lance�s startled look and his pale features.
Lance ran a hand through his hair, still giving the doctor a wary look as Chris spoke to the doctor.
�Uh�Dr. Shannon? This is my friend Justin Timberlake.� Justin stepped forward and reached out his hand to the doctor whom immediately stood up and shook the hand offered to him.
�It�s nice to meet you Mr. Timberlake.�
�Please don�t call me Mr. Timberlake. That�s my dad. My name is Justin.�
�Yeah, please call us all by our first names,� added Chris.
�Alright, I�ll do that, Chris.�
Turning his attention back to Lance he asked, �And what do I need to call you Mr. Bass?�
�It�s Lance and,� he added in a sheepish voice, �I�m sorry about how I reacted doctor, but things are still a little fuzzy up here,� as he pointed to his head, �and you really gave me a scare when I saw you sitting there.�
�That�s quite alright. I didn�t mean to scare you,� he said as he sat back down.
�Let�s start with some questions. There are no life-lines�no 50/50, no phone a friend and especially no help from the peanut gallery.� He smiled as he made his last remark with a jerk of his thumb toward Chris and Justin who were standing behind him.
�You must mean just nuts doc,� Lance chortled as he gazed up at his friends who seemed equally amused as he.
Chris and Justin snickered at the rare joke that Lance was able to pull off. He was a terrible joke teller most of the time.
�Well, at least your sense of humor is intact Lance.�
The four laughed at the humor that Dr. Shannon used to put them at ease and before they realized it, they were beginning to put last night behind them.
�Back to the questions, okay?�
�Yes, sir.�
�Do you know what your full name is?�
�Yes sir. It�s James Lance Bass.�
�Do you know where you are Lance?�
�I�m in one of the extra bedroom�s in Justin�s house.�
�Do you know what day it is?�
�It�s Saturday, but I�m not sure about the exact date.� The doctor nodded his head in understanding.
�Why don�t you scoot back over here so that I can run a little exam?" Turning to face Chris again, he spoke to him.
�Would you please open the blinds? I want to start with natural light.�
Chris quickly crossed the room to the window and did as he had been asked. The doctor watched the blinds being opened before turning his attention back to Lance.
�Now, Lance, I want you to know that I will explain what I�m doing. I also want all of you to know that if you have any questions at any time about what is happening, I�ll do my best to answer them.�
Dr. Shannon looked at each young man to make sure what he had said was understood before he again turned to look at Lance. He offered his hands to Lance and told him to grip each one as tightly as possible, noting that the young man�s grip was strong and even. Then bending over Lance, he continued with his instructions.
�I want you look at my forehead Lance as I flash some light in your eyes to check how well your pupils react.�
Justin and Chris sat down on the opposite bed from Lance and watched as the doctor carried out his exam.
�That light is giving me a headache,� Lance complained as he tried to avoid the light shining brightly just inches from his face.
�I�m sorry Lance. You�re doing great. Just give me one more minute, okay?�
Within a few seconds, the doctor switched off his light and dropped it into his shirt pocket.
�Well, it looks like your right pupil is just a little sluggish, but that�s nothing to worry about,� he quickly added when he noted Lance�s raised eyebrows.
�What does that usually mean doc?� Justin questioned with a note of concern in his voice.
�Sometimes after a person has received a blow to the head, they develop what�s called a concussion which is like a brain bruise. It can sometimes be serious enough to put someone in the hospital overnight for observation, which is what I probably would have wanted for you Lance.�
�How long does it take to recover from one?�
�Just a few days, Chris,� the doctor answered before turning his attention back to Lance.
�Now Lance, I want you to follow my finger with just your eyes.� Dr. Shannon began tracing his finger in the air in front of Lance�s face. Lance attempted to move his head as he followed the doctor�s finger.
�No, Lance. Just your eyes need to move. Not your head,� the doctor said as he gently cupped Lance�s chin in his free hand, stopping the movement and continued moving an index finger before his eyes.
�That�s good.�
�Now, I�m going to take a better look at your bumps and bruises, okay?
�They�re pretty tender,� Lance said quietly as he looked up at the doctor.
�I can see that,� he replied as he gently probed the black and blue mark on Lance�s chin.
Lance gently winced but did not pull away from the doctor�s large hands.
�You must have iced it down fairly quickly because there doesn�t seem to be too much swelling here.�
�Well, actually, we put the ice behind his head and a wet rag on his forehead,� Chris answered.
�In any event, you did a good job of keeping the swelling down, Chris.�
Dr. Shannon stood up and pulled Lance up into a sitting position in order to exam the back of his head.
�Still pretty tender and swollen here. Do you know what happened?� he asked as he continued to gently probe the back of Lance�s head.
�I heard Joey yelling in the next room. He was having a bad dream. I went into the room and that�s really all I can remember.�
�That�s weird because you knew exactly what happened and everything last night,� said Justin as he looked questioningly at the doctor.
�He was only out cold for about 5 to 10 minutes, tops.�
�It really isn�t uncommon for someone to lose part of their memory hours later after a trauma to the head, Justin. Don�t worry,� he said, trying to reassure the group. �So far, you�re doing a great job Lance.�
Dr. Shannon helped Lance to lie back down before finishing the exam by checking the young man�s blood pressure, temperature, and heart/lung sounds. Upon finishing his exam, Dr. Shannon stood up and asked to see Joey.
�Are you going to tell us about Lance�s condition before you see Joey?� Justin asked as they watched the doctor placing his stethoscope and b/p cuff back into one of the black boxes.
�No. I want to tell everyone at the same time so that you all have a chance to get answers to any questions you might have.�
�Is he alright though?�
�Yes, Lance is just fine, Chris.� The doctor gave the young men a smile. He was genuinely surprised by their evident concern for each other�surprised and pleased at the same time.
�Don�t worry, I�ll tell you more after I have a chance to see Joey.�
Seconds later, the doctor looked back down at Lance. �I want you to try to eat something Lance. I have some pain medication for you to take that may upset your stomach otherwise.�
�I don�t think I could really eat anything right now.� Lance�s stomach had been rolling since he had awakened and the thought of food did not help the situation at all.
"How about some dry toast and maybe weak tea or soft drink?� the doctor suggested. He was serious about having the young man get something on his stomach.
�Okay. I�ll try to keep it down. I just feel a little nauseous right now,� Lance explained quietly.
�That�s an empty stomach and aching head talking to you Lance. Believe me when I say putting something on your stomach will save you several trips to the bathroom after you take the pain medication.�
With that explanation, Lance readily agreed to the breakfast and started to get up from bed to go to the kitchen.
�No, I want you to stay here in bed until I come back to talk to all of you,� Dr. Shannon said, gently placing a hand on Lance�s shoulder, preventing him from standing up.
�Let Justin go get the toast and drink and bring it back up to you.� The doctor nodded at Justin who stood up and walked toward the bedroom door.
�I�ll be back with your breakfast in a few minutes,� he called out before walking out of the room.
Lance watched Justin leave before speaking. �Wow, breakfast in bed. If I knew a whack on the noggin� would get me this kind of attention, I would have��
Chris would not let him finish. Last night had been a very frightening experience and he did not wish for any member of the group to go through what Lance had been through�not at all.
�I would have brought it to you for the last 5 years if that would have saved you from what happened last night,� Chris said in a voice strained with emotion.
Lance could not only hear the distress in Chris� voice but he could also see how badly he was taking the whole ordeal by the circles under his eyes.
�Hey Chris, bad joke on my part. You know I can�t ever get one right when I try to,� Lance quickly apologized, trying to make amends for his off hand remark.
�That�s okay, Lance,� Chris answered with a weary smile as he bent over Lance and patted him on the shoulder. I�m going to show the doc to Joe�s room, but I�ll be back in a little bit.�
The doctor watched the exchange between the two men. He knew that somehow they would be able to get through what ever was bothering them, but it might take some help of some sort. He just had not decided the kind of help yet.