Chapter 71

A few blocks from the hospital, two Denver patrol cars screamed past them to block a busy intersection ahead. The officers quickly got out of their cars to direct the Matthews on through the red light, while holding traffic back from the other directions.

"But how do they know?" Diana asked as she waved a thank you at the cop on her side.

"Probably the same reason that trooper that was sitting on the side of the interstate didn't come after us. I suspect that Goodman or the sheriff told them we were coming."

"But my gosh, this is Denver," Diana continued.

"Probably by now every on-duty cop in the state knows that a deputy has been seriously injured. They would have put it on the NCIC computer with attention to all departments in a designated area. I suspect that Goodman has long since realized that our call gave him a head start toward helping Joyce..."

Jeff's voice trailed off as they neared another big intersection where two more Denver units had already blocked cross traffic and were waiting. As Jeff eased carefully through against the light with the cops waving him on, a young man tried to sneak a right turn behind the cop. Jeff swerved and went on. One of the cops, a hefty woman, yelled at the teenager and went stalking over to him.

"Oh, crap. I hope she doesn't give him a ticket," Jeff quietly said as he cleared the intersection and accelerated hard.

Diana, who continued to look to the rear, said, "Looks like she just chewed him out and sent him on his way."

After a moment's pause, "What are we going to tell these people when they start asking how we knew that Joyce was in trouble?" Diana said, looking worriedly at her husband.

"I expect that the sheriff and his investigators are going to hit us with that question in the near future," Jeff sighed.

"How did you know?" Caitlin broke in. "I asked you how you found out, but you never did give me an answer."

Jeff and Diana glanced at each other. At Jeff's slight nod, Diana said, "Jeff woke up screaming. He was covered in sweat and holding his chest. He told us that Joyce had been shot."

"Oh, crap. You're asking me to believe that Jeff's a psychic?" Caitlin said, incredulously.

"I'm not asking you to believe anything," Diana snapped, the stress getting to her. She wasn't in the mood for Caitlin's disbelief.

"Di," Jeff said quietly. "She doesn't know anything about our situation. Hell, it's a hard lump for me to swallow right now." Glancing in the mirror at Caitlin, Jeff continued, "Let's just leave it for now. If anyone asks you, please just try to avoid the question, or say something about not being sure. The only ones we have to answer to are the sheriff and his people. We'll work through the problem later. Right now, we just need to concentrate on getting me in to see Joyce with a little privacy."

Soon, they were approaching the hospital. There seemed to be patrol cars parked everywhere. Two TV vans were parked close to the hospital, but the crews were apparently inside the building. As Jeff started to turn in, a Denver cop motioned for Jeff to roll down his window.

"Sir, just pull straight up to the door where you see the sergeant standing," the cop said, pointing, "and leave your keys in the vehicle. We'll park it and bring your keys to you."

"We're going to leave our weapons under the seats..." Jeff started.

"I'll make sure your vehicle is secure and keep watch on it. If there's no one to relieve me when I have to go, I'll make sure that hospital security knows it's your vehicle. Nothing will happen to it or your weapons. Latest thing I heard is that your wife is in the CATH lab for tests."

"Thanks," Jeff answered as he headed the Escalade toward the sergeant. I wonder how that got started? I'm not going to lie about it if asked straight out, but I'm not going to correct anyone, either. It just might help me get to her.

Just before Jeff was completely stopped, Caitlin pushed her door open, jumped out and sprinted for the door.

As Jeff and Diana hastily got out leaving the motor running, a black sergeant, his muscular arms straining the shirt sleeves of his immaculate uniform, glanced toward the retreating Caitlin.

"She's a nurse here in CICU, (Cardiac Intensive Care Unit) and Joyce's sister," Jeff said, pushing the point a little.

"Yessir. This way, Sir. I've just been told that your wife was asking for you, and I suppose, her sister. Anyway, they said she woke up for a few minutes and was asking for Jeff and Caitlin, if I said the name right."

As the sergeant, Jeff and Diana went through the metal detector, it screeched out its warning, but the sergeant didn't slow and the security guard waved them on.

"Sir and Ma'am," Sergeant Patterson continued as they stopped in front of an elevator, "the hospital has opened a private waiting room. I don't know whether they're just being nice, or are afraid that so many of us will disturb the normal visitors, but it's a nice area, anyway."

In the elevator, he continued, "We know several of the nurses here and they're going to keep us posted. My girlfriend is one of the trauma nurses. One of the other guys is dating a neuro nurse, and Mac's wife works on six west. They said that your wife was really asking for you, so as soon as she gets back from whatever tests they're doing, we'll get you in to see her, at least for a minute or two."

As Diana noted the size of the sergeant, she doubted that few people would tell him no if he were really determined to do something.

As Patterson ushered them into the waiting room, several cops jumped to their feet and insisted that Jeff and Diana take their seats. The waiting room receptionist soon provided them coffee. Patterson asked if he could get them something to eat, saying that there was any number of cops who would be more than pleased to go anywhere in Denver to get them food.

"Thanks, but we're fine," Diana said as Jeff again looked toward the door to see who was coming in.

A couple of seconds later, Goodman walked in wearing bloody jeans and a white tee-shirt covered in blood. His hat bore a bloody handprint where he had taken it off to get the plastic liner inside it. Even his gun belt had blood on it.

Jeff's insides felt as if they would tear their way out of his body when he realized that the blood was Joyce's, and how much she would have had to lose for it to saturate Goodman's shirt.

Sheriff Tate was with Goodman, trailed a moment later by the shift lieutenant.

"Mr. and Mrs. Matthews, I hate that we have to meet again, under these circumstances," Tate said putting out his hand.

"Do you know anything?" Jeff asked, hardly giving Tate time to finish his sentence, unconsciously gripping Tate's hand hard enough to make him wince.

"Not a lot," Tate said, but..."

"Caitlin," Goodman supplied the name for the sheriff.

"Uh, Caitlin is with her. She seems like a real take-charge young lady. She told us she was off duty, plus hospital rules prevented her from taking active part in Deputy Cramer's care, (She couldn't be involved in the treatment of a family member) but she would remain with her and would keep us posted. We know that they have been running tests on her heart and brain. They told us she had bruising to her heart, a concussion and of course the blood loss, in addition to the shock her body has undergone. Well, actually the doctors haven't told us anything; that came from Caitlin and one of the nurses."

Time dragged on. Twice a nurse came in to tell them where deputy Cramer was at the moment and what was happening. Looking to Jeff, the nurse said, "Your wife woke up for just a little bit again. And once more asked for you and Caitlin. When Caitlin took her hand, she smiled at her, then drifted back off. The charge nurse in the cardiac unit told me to tell you that she would let you see your wife for a few minutes when they had her in the unit and had assessed her."

Jeff thanked her and then surprised the nurse by hugging her.

Many miles away on the mountain, Arlene had awakened everyone not already up as soon as her dad, mother and Caitlin had left so hurriedly. Arlene had received phone calls from Diana telling them what was going on and updating them on what little they knew about Joyce's condition.

Someone had turned the yard lights on. Arlene stood in the living room staring blankly out the glass wall at the light snowfall, but noticing little of it. The others sat about the room in little groups in various stages of dress. Jennie, Melissa, Linda and Kathy had warmed sweet rolls, bringing them, coffee and orange juice to the others. Some ate absently, while others had touched nothing. Worry was the only thing they all had in common.

Turning from the window, Arlene looked about the room for a moment, then extended her right hand to Laura. As Laura took it, Arlene led her to Ann who quickly latched on. Helen, who was sitting nearby stood as Ann extended her hand. By then, all eyes tracked them. Ann put her free hand to Melissa and she quickly extended her other hand to Jennie. Continuing, Arlene led the chain around the area. Frank and Margaret latched on, then the Hinson's with Linda. Madison and Kathy quickly stood. Jeb and Annie finished the chain.

Arlene led them all back to a large area that she had cleared before the window. Reaching over to grasp Annie's free hand, the circle was complete. No one had said a word. Arlene spent a moment as she caught everyone's eye.

Clearing her throat, her voice hesitant at first, then growing strong, Arlene began. "I'm certain that each of us has prayed tonight — or rather — this morning, but there is still something that we can do as a group."

With that, she slowly knelt, followed quickly by the others, everyone still holding hands. "I'm certainly no authority, but I seem to remember that He said — and I'm paraphrasing — that if even two or three of us were gathered together in His name, that he would be there, also."

Looking about her again, she continued, "When your time comes in the circle, you may pray aloud, silently, or none at all, as you choose. When you are finished, or if you wish to pass, just squeeze the hand of the next person."

Bowing her head, she quietly said as if she were discussing something with someone in the room, "Father, we feel helpless as our sister fights for her life. We don't know much about what's going on, but we do know that if Joyce needed a helicopter and a trauma unit, then it has to be bad. We've only known her for a little while, but we love her as our own. We know that you are the Great Physician and that all things are possible through you. We know what Dad's intentions must be, and we ask you to help him accomplish his mission this morning. We ask that you touch our sister, and bring her back to us. For this and all our blessings, we will be careful to give you the praise..."

After a moment, Arlene squeezed Laura's hand. As she started, Jeb and Annie both thought about how they had been healed, suspecting that Arlene's reference to Jeff's mission carried a hidden meaning.

Some stumbled, others acted as if they had done this all their lives, but all took their turn, amazing Arlene. When everyone was done, Arlene finished the circle prayer, her tears streaming down her cheeks — and she wasn't alone in that.

Later, Caitlin came into the waiting room at the hospital. As everyone gathered around her, she spoke to Jeff. "I told the doctors that it would be okay to talk to the news media about her condition, if it were all right with you, Jeff."

"Uh, yeah, sure," he answered.

A nurse that had accompanied Caitlin left to tell the doctor.

"How is she?" Jeff nervously asked, wondering why Caitlin was waiting for his permission for anything, but realizing that her action had just cemented everyone's belief that he was Joyce's husband. Suddenly his mind caught up. She made the doctor wait for permission from Joyce's "husband" so that she could get me in to see Joyce sooner. Thank you, my darling Caitlin.

By now, all the cops gathered around. Diana slipped her arm around Jeff's waist.

Caitlin looked up at Jeff as she stood before him. "From what the doctors have told me and what I can see for myself from the test and observing Joyce, she is in an extremely serious condition. They ran a catheter up from her thigh into her heart, and although they didn't find any tearing of the blood vessels, her heart has obviously been traumatized, perhaps severely."

Caitlin took a deep breath as she fought back tears. "Her heart," she choked out, "is swelling. Her whole chest on that side is swelling. The doctors say that her heart muscles were 'stunned' by the blow. Just as if you received a hard blow to your bicep, your arm would not work properly for a while. But this was far worse than just a blow to stun your bicep muscle. The heart has to keep beating regardless of its trauma.

"Although there aren't any ribs broken, there are hairline fractures to ribs and sternum ... and there may be something equally as bad as the trauma to her heart." Obviously trying to keep from breaking down, Caitlin paused for a moment. "There is a small spot on her brain, and she has a fractured skull."

"Small spot? What caused the spot? What does a spot mean?" Jeff interrupted.

Caitlin reached over and grasped his arm. "It probably means that a small vessel in her brain was torn when she hit her head so hard. The spot is blood. The CAT scan shows it as a white area near the skull. She hit the back of her head, but the spot is actually on the front." Before Jeff could ask, she continued, "Many times when there is a blow to the head, the brain bounces off the primary impact surface then impacts the opposite side of the skull. It's called coup-contrecoup. Sometimes the injury to the brain can actually be worse from the second impact against the skull."

Jeff, almost frantic, said, "Does that mean that they're going to operate on her brain? What do they do? Will the spot just go away?"

"It might," Caitlin sighed. "It's too soon to tell. The spot isn't big. The vessel probably sealed. If it doesn't start leaking again ... Oh, it's too soon to tell. I don't have any gripes with the doctors. They're doing what they're supposed to do. They're doing everything they can. They're also monitoring the pressure in Joyce's brain. She's on the way to CICU. (Cardiac Intensive Care Unit) They didn't have any beds in Neuro. Not that it makes any difference since she has heart problems as well. The tests are done for now. Now we wait and see."

Caitlin hesitated a moment, then picking up her thread of thought, "Both the cardiologist and the neurosurgeon have agreed that she should be kept under basal living conditions."

"What the crap is that?" Jeff said, obviously having little patience left.

"Easy Jeff," Diana whispered into his ear.

Jeff tried to calm himself as Caitlin continued, "It simply means that her room — her intensive care room — will have very low light, no disturbances of any kind, no one trying to wake her or ask how she is feeling. No talking to her, no movement, nothing. In other words very low brain stimulus. It allows the trauma to subside and gives the brain a better chance to heal. It also allows the heart to rest as much as possible. Even the nurse will not enter her unit any more than is absolutely necessary."

Seeing that Jeff was going to ask, she quickly continued, "Oh, she's thoroughly monitored both in the room and at the desk. In an intensive care unit, the nurse only has to glance at her monitors at the desk to see everything that is going on in the room.

"Look, Jeff, the intensive care unit is laid out like a big rectangle with rounded corners. The rooms are on the outside of the rectangle and the two nursing stations are located on the inside. There are eighteen 'rooms' in the unit. They all have glass fronts with curtains that can be pulled across for privacy. Joyce's room is right next to one of the nursing stations. The nurse can see Joyce from twenty feet away without leaving the station. Of course with the basal conditions, the curtain will be pulled and the lights will be off. The nurse will still be in and out, but she will limit it as much as possible.