The Wounds Within My Heart By James
Disclaimer
This is a story which deals with sexual/romantic situations between consenting teenaged boys. This story may also at times deal with issues concerning Racism, Ableism, child abuse, rape, Anti-LGBT Bigotry and Suicide. If you're not of the legal age to read this type of story, or if such material offends you then please find something else to read.
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I wanted to take a moment to thank my editor K. Your editing really helps my story be the best, and I always appreciate your edits when you find mistakes that need correcting. Thank you.
Finally, if you like this story and haven't done this already, take my E-mail address jamesheady1985@gmail.com to a dentist appointment, but make sure it's at an office where they practice dentistry from 100 years ago with little anesthesia.
The Wounds Within My Heart
Chapter 13
The trauma room was complete chaos. Doctors shouted orders, monitors beeped, instruments were arranged then put into use. Three times Triston's heart went into a deadly arrythmia for which they needed to shock him. Finally, the fourth time, his heart stopped completely.
"We need to open his chest now!" Dr. Hedges the Chief of Thoracic Surgery shouted, grabbing a scalpel.
As the first cut was made, blood flew up, hitting the surgical lights. More blood flowed, and when Dr. Hedges called for suction, he could see what the problem was. The bullet hat made a tear in the pulmonary artery, and tore through the lungs. It hadn't exited yet, and Dr. Hedges hoped that he could find it in time.
"We need to get him into surgery now," Hedges said looking at the nurse across the table from him. "We don't have much time, and if we don't act now, then we'll lose him. We probably might still lose him no matter what I do."
As the nurses and other doctors rushed Triston off to the OR, Dr. Hedges went to find David. David was in one of the consultation rooms, and Nohea was in a hospital room sedated. Nohea had regained consciousness as David neared the parking lot of the hospital, and he became hysterical as they entered the hospital. A nurse gave him an injection before they placed him in an adjacent.
Once Hedges entered the room David was in, he closed the door, and sat down across from where David was.
"There's not a lot of time," Hedges said. "We're taking Triston into surgery now. From what I can see, the bullet tore through Triston's right lung, but not before it cut his pulmonary artery. That's the area from where he's losing the majority of his blood. From what I could see, the bullet is still inside him, and even with what I can do, I can't promise that I'll be able to save him. He's lost a lot of blood, and I've ordered more. Finally, in light of the findings, you may want to call in a priest if that's in accordance with your beliefs."
"A priest!" David said feeling his heart speed up. "What are his chances. Please, no Bullshit."
"Triston will be extremely lucky if he makes it through the night, let alone the next 48 hours," Hedges replied. "Also, there are some cops who are outside the hospital who have announced to my staff several times that they're demanding to talk with you. One of them let us know that your other son Nohea, assaulted the officer who fired the shot into Triston. They want to charge Nohea with assault on an Officer. Also, I heard that the cop who shot Triston didn't have on his body cam, so it's going to be Nohea's word against the officer's."
"Those pigs aren't coming anywhere near Nohea if I have anything to say about it," David said, his voice growing dark with rage. "I don't care what you have to do, but you keep those Mother Fuckers away from both my kids. I mean it, you don't let those God-Damn thugs into my son's room, not one time!"
"I'll do what I can," Hedges responded before letting him know that he had to get into surgery to help Triston.
Walking out of the consultation room, David went to the room where Nohea was sedated. Two officers were on either side of the door, and David walked right up to them.
"Mr. Swanson," the first officer announced. "I'm Officer Garnet. I understand your son Nohea is sedated in this room right now. This is my partner, Officer Smith."
"I have nothing to say to either one of you," David said, staring hatefully at both men. "I don't know what you think you know, but Triston didn't do a fucking thing wrong, nor did he deserve to be shot by Mark Harris. Also, Dr. Hedges tells me that you guys want to file charges against Nohea for defending himself against Harris when he tried to grab my son."
"Nohea did assault a police officer," Smith said.
"We're not saying a fucking thing to either of you until I get an attorney involved," David answered.
"That's your right," Garnet replied. "That being said though, when Nohea wakes up and is lucid again, we're arresting him and he's going down to county lock-up."
David stepped up to Garnet and this effectively had the man up against the wall. Smith stepped forward, but David gave him a purely hateful look.
"Get another car with two more officers here right now then," David said his face just barely an inch from Garnet's. "Because you'll need back-up since you'll have to take me with you. Now get the fuck away from my family! This is your last fucking warning! You've not charged either of my boys with anything, and until you do then you have no fucking business here! Get out of here now! Also, you need to believe me when I tell you that I'm not someone you want to mess with. I know people, very important people who can take care of you guys without blinking an eye. They'll fix it, and fix you, King Tubby here next to you and that sack of shit Harris so the three of you won't ever harass anyone ever again."
"Is that a threat Mr. Swanson," Garnet asked as David backed a way a couple of inches.
"You take it how ever you want to smart boy," David answered stepping back a little more.
"Fine, we're leaving," Garnet said. "But we'll be back, and when we do return, Nohea will be taken to lock-up. As for Triston, once he's out of surgery and well enough, he'll be arrested as well."
"For what!" David said face darkening with rage.
"For resisting a police officer's commands," Smith answered.
Suddenly the door at the beginning of that section of the hall closed hard blocking off any sounds from the other rooms, then foot steps were coming up behind David.
"No one will be going anywhere," a new and severe-sounding voice announced.
It was a man's voice, and it was formal, but cultured at the same time. David recognized it as Garry Miller, Sangger's District Attorney.
David turned to face the man, and Garnet along with Smith stepped forward.
"Sorry Mr. Miller," Garnet began. "But."
"But nothing," Miller announced voice rising in that way it did when he was delivering his opening and closing arguments in the court room. "Obviously no one could see it when everything went down the way it did earlier, but there was a traffic camera near-by that captured the area in which Nohea, Triston and Harris were standing."
Garnet and Smith's faces turned white as paper, and they both began sweating profusely.
"I just came from reviewing the footage," Miller went on. "I reviewed every second of it. It tells the whole story of what happened, and it clearly shows that Harris acted negligently to the point of criminality. The candy bar was clearly visible in Triston's hand, and when I called the shop from which the two boys bought their candy, they said that both of them paid for it. I also was given a copy of the receipt. Now what were you saying about taking Nohea and Triston to jail?"
"We won't be taking them anywhere," Garnet mumbled as he walked quickly out of the hall with Smith following behind him. David watched them go, and he then turned back to Miller.
"Thank you," David said close to tears. "Do you think they'll back down though? I mean, can't they still arrest my boys?"
"With us having a recording of what happened, as well as the receipt and my refusal to have them charged, there's nothing they can do."
"Okay," David said feeling a little relief. "Again, thank you. I don't know what I'd do if they took my boys. Hell, no one knows if Triston will even make it through the next few hours nor even the next 48 hours."
"I really am sorry, and if there's anything else I can do, please reach out any time," Miller said then left, leaving David to enter Nohea's room.
0000
Nohea
I awoke slowly as if coming up through layers of concrete. My head felt extremely heavy, and my mouth was so dry. I could hear my dad talking to me, and as I slowly opened my eyes, I could feel myself growing more awake now. Then it all came back to me, and I sat up quickly in bed. The sudden movement caused my head to swim, and immediately my dad was holding me so I wouldn't fall back.
"It's alright, I got you Nohea," he said.
The room came back into focus, and after a moment I was able to drink some water. After a couple of more moments, I was able to speak.
"I can't believe this dad," I said as he held me. "I really am sorry for everything. I shouldn't have had Triston out."
"No, don't do this," David said holding me as I began crying hard. "I won't have you blaming yourself."
"But!" I sobbed.
"No, the only one who is responsible for what happened is that Bastard Mark Harris! Believe me when I tell you, he's going to get what's coming to him. I can promise you that. He's the only one who's guilty here, not you. You've been the best brother to Triston, as well as a really wonderful best friend to him. I know he wouldn't blame you, and I don't either. I never could. Do you understand what I'm saying to you Nohea?"
"Yeah, I understand," I said as I continued crying, my dad continued holding me.
He stayed with me like that for what seemed like hours, and somehow at some point my tears were gone, and I just rested in his arms for a couple more minutes before I spoke again.
"What have the doctors said?" I asked. "What are Triston's chances?"
"He's in surgery now," Dad answered. "The bullet ripped into Triston's pulmonary artery, as well as tore through his right lung. It's still in his body, and they're trying to find out where it is exactly. Unfortunately though, Triston's lost a large amount of blood, so his chances aren't good. We'll be lucky if he makes it through the next few hours if not the next two days."
"Oh my god," I said crying again. "I can't believe any of this is happening!"
"I know, neither can I," Dad said holding me tightly and crying himself now. "The doctor said we should call in a priest, but I don't really know of any. I'll have to call and check to see who could come buy."
"I hope you can find a good one soon," I answered, drying my eyes and moving around to step off the bed to go into the restroom.
Once I washed my hands and my face, I let my dad know that I needed to get something to drink. He let me know where the pop machine was, and I went through the cafeteria to the back where they were located. As I stepped up to the machine, I heard someone behind me finishing up a call as they came closer. I thought I recognized the voice, but then it came back to me when the voice spoke.
"They're out of Pepsi," they said. "The light by the button is on."
Suddenly I recognized the voice. It was Greg Henderson from the town where I lived when I had still been with Barb and Ray Wilson.
"Greg!" I almost shouted as I spun around truly not believing what I was hearing! "Is that really you?"
"Nohea!" he exclaimed just as surprised and glad to see me!
We shared a long hug, then separated. We then moved over to the Coke Machine where they had the titular drink in stock. I got one, paid for one for Greg, then we went to a table near the pop machines.
"What are you doing here Nohea?" he asked. "I'm here because of a couple of people who are sick and need my support. I just started working here in Sangger back at the beginning of last month."
"That's really amazing," I replied. "I'm sorry I haven't kept in contact. When I left to move down here, the note taker I had crashed before I could save your and other people's numbers. I couldn't remember your number, and I was also working on getting things set up here with my dad, and so hadn't had a chance to look you up. Oh yeah, and I'm probably getting ahead of myself."
I told him what had happened, and he was shocked.
"That's really horrible about what you went through," Greg said, gently squeezing my shoulder. "I'm really sorry you went through all that. It's horrible too, about how Barb and Ray didn't accept you for who you are. That's something I'll never understand."
"Thank you," I answered. "Your support really means a lot, and you've always been a wonderful spiritual counselor and friend to me. I've always treasured your friendship and advice."
"I've always treasured you too," he replied.
I then told him about losing Pietro, then finding him again, then got around to the situation we were facing at the moment.
"I heard about Triston a few minutes ago," Greg said. "I heard a couple of the nurses in one of the trauma rooms saying he might need a priest because of him possibly not making it."
"Yeah, Dad said that to me a few minutes ago," I responded. "Would you be able to pray for us and my brother?"
"I'll absolutely do that," Greg said as we stood, throwing away our cans.
Returning to my room, I introduced dad to Greg. They shook hands, and Greg prayed with us for Triston. As he finished with saying Amen, Dr. Hedges was back.
"Triston is out of surgery," Hedges said. "The laceration to Triston's pulmonary artery has been closed, and it's not leaking. We also found the bullet, and it was in the back of Triston's torso lodged between his first two ribs. His heart is steady and beating normally, but now comes the waiting. If he can make it through the night then he might have a chance. If the next 48 hours go by without any further problems, then I think he'll be alright in the end."
Hedges went on to say that Triston would be in the ICU for the next couple of days, and that although we could visit, it had to be visitors one at a time. Once he finished reporting to us, Pietro and Jack were the first to show up. I introduced them to Greg, and it seemed that Jack was in control of his emotions, but I didn't know how long that would last. Once Greg prayed with us again, I sat in my room with Jack on my left and Pietro on my right. We were all sitting on the edge of my bed, and Dad was giving us a few minutes alone. I told Jack and Pietro everything that had happened, and Jack hugged me tightly. He then typed after drying his eyes.
"I'm glad you were with him," he said. "I hope you don't think it was your fault, because it wasn't. Harris is the only one to blame."
"He's right," Pietro added.
"Thanks," I answered hugging both of them. "Our dad said the same thing earlier. I just can't believe any of this is happening. Everything had been going so well, and now this."
"We're both here for you, and so is your dad and our other friends," Pietro responded. "I really believe that Triston will come through this and will be alright."
"I believe that too," Jack added.
Triston made it through that night. I eventually slept somehow. I stayed that night in my room at the hospital, and Pietro slept in a bed beside me that they had wheeled in for him. Jack went back home with his mom as I got ready for bed, then Pietro and I both fell asleep shortly after getting under the covers.
The next day, we got reports throughout the morning and through the afternoon. Triston was stable, and as afternoon turned into evening, he awoke. At that point, Dr. Hedges came to our room and let us know. Dad and I went to the ICU, and after Dad let Triston know we were here, I went in. His breathing tube had been removed about an hour ago, and he coughed a couple of times as I sat down gently taking his hand.
"Hey, welcome back," I said softly kissing the back of his hand.
He made a small sound that sounded happy, but extremely tired at the same time.
"We're all here for you, and we're not going anywhere," I said. "You're going to be alright now."
After a couple more minutes, I let him know that Jack was there to see him. Exiting the room after kissing Triston's hand again, I let Jack know he could come in.
Triston slept for the rest of the evening, and all through the night at that point, and as the second day came around, we all took turns visiting with Triston. Finally, by that evening, Dr. Hedges gave Triston another exam, and said that he was doing really well, much better than he figured he would be. He also said that he was truly surprised at how quickly Triston seemed to be recovering. I was surprised as well, but I deeply believed that God heard our prayers. Finally, after three more days, Triston was up walking around, but slowly. As the medical staff continued monitoring him, he was cleared to go home the next day. I was over joyed, and so was everyone else!
Our dad and I stayed at the hospital the Friday evening Triston had been shot, then through Saturday and Sunday. We returned home on Monday, but for the next couple of days before Triston was released, we were at the hospital during those final days watching Triston's amazing recovery! I thought about all that Wednesday we took Triston home, and as we all entered the house, I felt like things were going to be alright again going forward!
Author's Notes
I wanted to thank the people who wrote to me since the last chapter. I know everyone was hoping that I wouldn't let Triston die, and I certainly wasn't going to disappoint. I hope all of you like how everything has turned out for Triston and his family thus far.
As for Mark Harris, you'll see what happens to him in the next chapter. I know from what people have written me a couple of days ago, you're all hoping for Harris to get what he deserves. I hope you like what happens next.
All that being said, I hope you're all doing well, and having a good weekend so far. I'll see everyone in Chapter 14.