Warning! This story is sexually explicit, if you are not of legal age to read such or are offended by this type of erotic writing do not read any further. This part of the story will be about the Marine, Ronny's rehabilitation. Part II of the story may sound familiar to some readers as I wrote an earlier story about a care giver.
To contact the author cut and paste making appropriate corrections and E-mail: bn2rumpranger "at" yahoo "dot" com Subject line: Marine Home on Leave.
Marine Home on Leave By Randall Rumper
Part II Ronny's Caregiver
Chapter 52: Waiting
As the morning wore on the hospital waiting area continued to fill with family and friends awaiting news about Jason's condition. The Marine's caregiver had been transported to the Allenville Level I Trauma Center by way of life flight helicopter early in the day after being thrown off his motorcycle during a multi vehicle pileup on the Interstate.
When Jason arrived at the hospital he was alive, but in critical condition. Close family members had been told to expect the worst, but to pray for the best -- Jason had suffered a Traumatic Brain Injury.
The TBI Jason suffered was caused by the way he'd been thrown off his motorcycle and his body landed head first on the pavement. Even though Jason had been wearing a full face high impact helmet his brain slammed against the inside of the cranium when his head hit the road. The type of helmet Jason was wearing is considered one of the best; however, no helmet will protect a rider 100 percent, especially against the way Jason landed. The family had been told that Jason was lucky to be alive. Three things had strengthened his chance for survival; he had been wearing the helmet, transported expeditiously and arrived within the golden hour window. All family and friends could do was to wait, hope and pray.
Ronny spotted a stony face police officer talking with the social service worker they'd met earlier. The lady pointed towards where Jason's family had huddled awaiting further news.
The officer with a stoic expression began walking towards the group. After a while cops develop a sixth sense, knowing how to identify the grieving parents in a group of loved ones. The intuitive officer stopped in front of the group looking directly at the ghostly appearing women he asked, "Are you Mrs. Cox, Jason Cox's mother?"
The expressionless woman responded from where she was seated next to a comforting Mrs. Driver, "I'm Mrs. Hall Jason's mother."
"I'm Officer Donald Smack one of the officers assigned to investigate the motor vehicle accident out on the Interstate this morning."
"Just for clarification Jason carries my first husband's last name, Cox. He passed away when Jason was a baby. I remarried taking my second husband's name. Do you know what happened to my boy this morning?"
"From preliminary investigation it appears that a large truck lost control sending other vehicles spinning out of control. According to witness statements the motorcycle rider was riding safely within the speed limit, but he just didn't have time to react to the rapidly developing situation. His motorcycle hit one of the vehicles that spun directly in front of him; he hit the vehicle with his motorcycle, was launched from the bike, hurled a distance and landed head first on the pavement."
Suddenly, a somber looking doctor wearing scrubs emerged from the double swinging doors interrupting the police officer asking for Jason's mother. Once again Mrs. Driver started to help Jason's mom to her feet, but the doctor signaled for her to remain seated. Everyone including the police officer moved in as close as possible without being too intrusive, encircling the bespectacled doctor as he began explaining to Jason's mom the prognosis.
The doctor began explaining Jason's condition, "Mrs. Hall, currently, your son has just come from surgery. He suffered a Traumatic Brain injury; there is intracranial bleeding and swelling of the brain. We drilled some holes in the skull to relieve the pressure and now he is on his way for a CT scan. Once the scan is complete and reviewed I'll be more able to evaluate your son's TBI as well as other injuries and report back to you with a better projection for his future."
The blunt to the point doctor turned departing back through the doors from which he had emerged as quickly as he had appeared. The police officer stepped up saying to Jason's mom, "Mrs. Hall, it's my understanding that your son is something of a hero. If there is anything police of fire department can do to assist you during your time of need don't hesitate to call. You have to know his brave selfless actions a few hours before the accident prevented a robbery in progress and possible death of the clerk at Lee's Doughnut and Coffee Shop out off the Interstate."
No one had noticed the media that began gathering closer around the outer circle. Some of the more astute reporters were now putting together the connection between the crash victim and the brave young man from hours earlier in the day. As soon as the police officer finished his statement to Jason's mom he walked away. The media was on him for more information as soon as the police officer distanced himself from the group of family and friends to answer questions. After a few minutes Ronny joined the officer.
"Who are you and how are you related to the injured hero?" One of the television news personalities asked, pushing a microphone into his face.
"My name is Ronny Driver. At this time I'll give a brief statement how I play into Jason's life. Briefly, Jason Cox was my caregiver while I was recuperating from injuries received while deployed to Afghanistan. After I returned to the states to recuperate we became best of friends while Jason was assisting me. Jason had moved on to a new soldier in need of his expertise and help in recovering from his injuries. Jason had very recently been accepted to medical school and was looking forward to that. He is my friend and a great person. I hope you all will respect the family's privacy until such time as we have more information on his medical condition, and you all will keep him in your prayers."
Another personality shoved a microphone in Ronny's face asking, "What do you know about the injured rider being a hero, stopping a robbery in progress earlier today?"
"I must apologize I am truly in the dark about the earlier incident. His mother doesn't know anything either except what she just heard from the police a couple minutes ago. We were all asleep when all that took place. Maybe you should talk to the police about what happened at the doughnut shop earlier today," Ronny said ending the interviews and then walking back towards the cordoned off area containing family and close friends keeping vigil.
Although Ronny was hurting badly inside he kept a placid façade. He wanted to do something comfort Jason, but for the time being he, like the others had to wait. He wanted to go somewhere to cry, but that would all come later. The bewildered Marine needed to know more about what happened at the doughnut shop. His stomach was churning. Ronny looked up to see the social service worker and another lady with a clipboard walking towards the family gathering.
Ronny watched the social service lady and Mrs. Driver help Mrs. Hall up, leading her away to an office. Through the glass window Ronny could see the new person speaking to Mrs. Hall and then suddenly she collapsed into a chair. Ronny's mom and the social worker began comforting her. After a few minutes he saw Jason's mom begin to sign paperwork on the clipboard the other lady was holding. Ronny was curious about what the papers were for, but he knew he'd have to wait for an explanation. Finally, Mrs. Driver helped Jason's mom up and began walking her out of the small office.
As the two ladies left the office Ronny could see tears in Mrs. Hall's eyes. Once back with the group Mrs. Driver helped get Jason's mom seated. He watched her ask a question of Mrs. Hall and then Mrs. Driver began walking towards her son.
"What's up Mom?"
"That was the organ donor coordinator," Mrs. Driver said, "Jason was listed on his driver's license as an organ donor, but because he is not yet twenty-one his mother had to sign some papers to harvest the organs."
Ronny looked at his mother with a pained look on his face and tears beginning to well in his eyes asking, "Jason's gone?"
"No honey, but he's in critical condition and in the event the doctors should declare Jason brain dead at some point the hospital needed the forms signed so they could immediately harvest the organs," Mrs. Driver explained to her son as she hugged him close to her and held him.
Mrs. Driver knew all too well what Jason's mom was going through. She'd been through the waiting and unsure feeling months earlier worrying about her son.
"Oh mom, I don't know what I'm going to do if Jason dies."
"Come on son walk with me I need to get Helen some hot tea from the cafeteria."
Ronny with tears in his eyes walked with his mom, her arm around him comforting him, as they walked towards the cafeteria. Once they reached the hospital eatery Ronny grabbed a large coffee while his mom put some hot water in a medium throw away cup and then placed two teabags and two sugar cubes in the water before drawing herself a medium cup of coffee. The two then began walking over to a table where Mrs. Driver was swirling the teabags in the hot water.
Suddenly, one of the television personality's with her cameraman showed up asking, "Do you have a few minutes?" Directing the question to Mrs. Driver.
"Go ahead mom I'll take this back to Jason's mom and then rejoin you."
Ronny walked off with the hot tea in his hand. After delivering it to Jason's mom he returned to the cafeteria. His mom was chatting up the media person about what had happened during the early morning hours at Lee's doughnut shop.
As a stony-faced Ronny walked up the media person said, "Hello, I'm Joyce Janis with Fox News. You must be Ronny Driver. Would you mind answering a few questions about your friend and former caregiver?"
"I guess not."
I understand that you were recently discharged from the Marine Corps?" The reporter asked.
"Yes, actually medically discharged."
"So, you were injured pretty badly?"
"Yeah, but not as bad as Jason," Ronny said. "All I had was some broken bones. Those all mended with time."
"What do you think you're going to do now that you've had that military obligation lifted off your shoulders, Mr. Driver?"
"Mister? That's my dad I'm just Ron or Ronny as my close friends and family call me. My future -- I'm not sure at this point. Maybe attend some classes at the local college using my GI bill and help my dad out in the family business."
Joyce continued questioning Ronny and every once in while would turn back to question Mrs. Driver. Finally, the reporter said, "I need to get back and file this story for the evening news. We are going to combine the two stories to lead the five o'clock news on Fox tonight. We did an on scene shoot and report from the accident scene this morning just as the helicopter was lifting off with young Mr. Cox. Another reporter made it to the doughnut shop early this morning for a report, so we'll both be working on a bigger story for tonight. I'm sure we are going to want to do a follow-up, maybe more than one on this story would you all be available for more interviews and maybe help me get an interview with Mr. Cox's mother and other family?"
"Sure," Ronny responded.
With that the reporter got up from the table. She and her cameraman vanished. Ronny just sat there with a blank look holding his head in his hands for a few minutes letting things settle in. He had been in Jason's shoes months prior. He knew the feeling from loosing blood, slipping in and out of consciousness, going into shock and that cold medevac flight.
Ronny's thinking was jarred back to reality "Hello," Ronny's dad said to his wife and son.
"Hey dad," Ronny replied weakly.
"Hi hon," Mrs. Driver said looking up smiling at her husband.
Ronny's dad sat down and asked, "You gonna let that coffee get cold, son?"
"No," Ronny said pushing the cup of coffee in front of his dad, "I haven't touched it."
"How's Jason doing?"
"Last word was he's still hanging in there," Ronny said.
"The organ donor coordinator, Mrs. Walkaway, had Helen sign all the paperwork in the event Jason doesn't make it," Mrs. Driver said to her husband.
"Mom, don't say that. Jason is tough. He's going to make it. I know he's going to make it," Ronny replied.
The three finished in the cafeteria and moved back to the waiting area. When they got there the doctor was starting to explain more details to Jason's mom. He concluded his conversation with, "I believe you all need to go get something to eat and some rest. If anything changes I'll notify you Mrs. Hall, but please get some nourishment and rest before I have to admit you."
Once again the stoic doctor disappeared. A couple people offered to take Jason's mom home, but she looked at Ronny's family for assurance. Mrs. Driver stepped in and took Helen's arm guiding her towards her husband and Ronny saying, "Let's get out of here and go get you something to eat, Helen before you go down."
Jason's mom hated to leave, but she knew that the doctor had given her sage advice. There was nothing Jason's mom could do at that point except sit in the waiting room and cry. She wasn't even allowed to see her son yet or be next to him in a room. Mrs. Hall hadn't had anything to eat since dinner the previous day and was weak.
The sentinels maintained the vigil at the hospital, praying for Jason. In the meantime, the Drivers with Mrs. Hall in tow headed to a restaurant close to the hospital where they would eat and be close enough to return if any word came in on Jason's condition.