Rating-PG

Character-Chris Larabee

Disclaimers--- Nope, I still don't own a claim to them.

Comments--No bad guys, no bullets, no broken bones, but we still have

 a suffering Chris who needs some TLC. Feedback greatly appreciated.

Chris stood in the spacious waiting room, his throat screaming loudly as he tried to answer the nurse’s questions. He’d finally given in to Nathan’s and Stacey Midland’s cajoling and agreed to see Dr. Carolyn Murphy.

“Mr. Larabee, you just need to fill out these questions about your insurance and medical history.”

“I hope there’s a lot of space for medical history.”

Larabee turned on the younger man who’d volunteered to make sure Chris kept his appointment with the Ear, Nose, and Throat specialist. “Shut up, Vin,” his voice sounded raspy and low as he swallowed painfully.

“Hey, Cowboy, it’s not my fault you don’t do as the doctors tell you,” Tanner grinned as Larabee turned a glare on him.

“D...don’t make me s...shoot you, Vin,’ he whispered and turned away as a bout of harsh coughing took over.

“Damn, Larabee, ya wanna stop hackin’ all over the place.”

“Mr. Larabee, Dr. Murphy will see you now,” the secretary took the completed chart from the blond and opened a door that lead into an examination room. “Mr. Tanner, you can wait here.

Chris walked into the examination room and sat on the edge of the bed. He hated being sick, but even worse he hated the resultant trips to the hospital or doctor’s offices. The medicinal smell of the tiny room made his stomach churn. He swallowed painfully and grabbed for the tissue box. “Shit,” he hissed and groaned as the barely audible word caused his raw throat to protest.

“That doesn’t sound good, Mr. Larabee.”

Chris looked up into the face of the newcomer. She was no older than he was with jet black hair and the darkest eyes he’d ever seen. “S...sorry,” he apologized.

“How long have you had the sore throat?”

“About two weeks,” he whispered.

“Why haven’t you seen a doctor before now?”

“I have.”

“What did they say?” she asked, sitting in the chair by the bed and studying his chart.

“Gave me some antibiotics.”

“Did you take them?”

“Yes,” he answered without meeting her eyes.

“All of them?” she asked, knowing instinctively this man was a stubborn patient.

“W...well,” he answered.

“I thought so. Ok, let’s take a look at you,” she suggested as she stood up and faced the pale man. “Open up,” she ordered and used a tongue depressor to check his throat. “I’m going to take a swab, Mr. Larabee.”

“How’s it look?” his scratchy voice asked.

“Well, your tonsils are swollen and there’s evidence of an infection, possibly strep throat,” she told him as she took a swab of the back of his throat.

“Oh great,” he snapped. “Sorry,” he apologized immediately.

“Apology accepted,” she smiled at him as she took out the prescription pad. “I’m going to write you a prescription for antibiotics and this time I want you to make sure you take them all.”

“Sure, Doc,” he told her, grimacing as his throat felt as if it was on fire.

“Mr. Larabee, I want to see you in one week,” she told him as soon as she’d finished examining the coughing man.

Larabee accepted the prescription and walked out of the tiny room.

“Make sure you arrange for the appointment.”

“I will,” he mumbled painfully.

“What’d she say, Chris?” Tanner asked as Larabee exited the room.

“I have a sore throat,” Larabee snapped.

“Really? I thought your voice was getting scratchy from old age and overuse. You’ve been doing an awful lot of shouting at the office lately,” Tanner grinned as Larabee glared at him once more.

“Let’s go,” the blond hissed.

“Mr. Larabee, did Dr. Murphy want you to make another appointment?”

The blond let his hand drop from the handle of the door and knew his companion would not let him leave until he was sure Chris wasn’t supposed to return. He turned back to the desk ignoring the wide grin on Vin Tanner’s face. “She said she wants to see me in a week,” he answered.

The secretary smiled as she gave him an appointment for the same time one week later.

“Thanks,” Larabee whispered, the pain at the back of his throat quickly gaining momentum.

“Thought you could get out of another visit did you, Cowboy?” Tanner asked. A patented Larabee glare was the only answer the younger man received as they left the office.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Three weeks later, and another prescription of antibiotics found Chris sitting in Dr. Murphy’s office. "Antibiotics, what're those?" Larabee asked, resting his pounding head in his hands.

"The damn things the doctor gave you, Chris. Why the hell haven't you been taking them?" Jackson asked angrily.

 "Forgot them," Larabee answered sheepishly.

"Well now you'll just have to put up with it ‘cause the docs are gonna take the damn tonsils out. Start practicing that glare ‘cause that's about all you'll be doing for a few days."

 "Hell, Nate, is there any good news here?"

"Yeah, we won't have to listen to you bitch and complain about how sore your throat feels ‘cause you probably won't feel up to talking."

“Nathan, anyone ever tell you, you have lousy bedside manners?”

“I’m not a doctor, Chris, so I don’t need good bedside manners.”

“Dr. Murphy will see you now, Mr. Larabee,” the secretary smiled at the two men in the waiting room.

“Thanks,” his voice was barely above a whisper as he walked towards the examination room. This time he sat in the chair instead of on the bed as he waited for the specialist to enter the room. Truth was his throat felt worse and he was having trouble swallowing again and that was one of the reasons he hadn’t been taking the antibiotics. They felt like they scratched the hell out of his abused throat. He Looked up and smiled thinly as the female specialist entered the room. “Hi, Doc,” he rasped.

“You still sound lousy, Mr. Larabee,” Carolyn Murphy observed.

“I...I...”

“Don’t try to talk. Open up at let me take a look,” she ordered. “Well, there’s no doubt in my mind, Mr. Larabee, those babies have to come out,” she said as she removed the tongue depressor and disposed of it.

“Can’t you just give me some more antibiotics?” Larabee groaned.

“They’re not working. If anything the tonsils are bigger than they were on your first visit. I’ll let my secretary know and she’ll arrange the time and date before you leave today.”

“Hell, Doc, I don’t have time for this,” Larabee hissed.

“Mr. Larabee, there really is no choice. If we don’t take them out they’ll just get worse and you’ll keep feeling as lousy as you do right now. I’m sorry, they really do need to come out.”

Larabee swallowed painfully and glared at the smiling doctor. “Are you sure there’s no other way?” he asked hopefully.

“I’m afraid not. Come with me and I’ll tell Shelly what we need,” Murphy opened the door and led the unwilling man back to the outer office. “Have a seat, Chris, Shelly will call you when she has everything set up.”

Larabee sat in the seat next to Nathan Jackson. He leaned his head back against the cushion and closed his eyes.

“Well?”

“Well what, Nathan?” Larabee’s pained voice asked.

“What did she say?”

“Her exact words were, ‘Mr. Larabee, those babies have got to come out,’” Larabee said softly.

“I told you,” Jackson scolded.

“Nathan, my damned head’s about to explode. Can you save the I told you so’s for later?”

“You brought this all on yourself and I got no sympathy for you,” Jackson warned.

“You’re all heart,” Larabee hissed.

“When is this supposed to happen,” Jackson asked.

“I don’t know,” the blond answered. “The secretary is supposed to make the arrangements.”

“Mr. Larabee.”

Chris opened his eyes, stood up and walked to the secretary’s desk.

“I’ve got the time and date for you right here. You’re lucky we had a cancellation about an hour ago so you won’t have long to wait.”

Larabee looked at the paper, a scowl quickly forming on his face. “The twentieth! That’s a week from today. I don’t have time for this right now. I’ve got too many things to do.”

“Chris,” Jackson took the papers from the older man. “The faster this is done the better. I’ll arrange to have the physical done tomorrow.”

“Dammit, Nathan. I got too many things...”

“Chris! Your health should be the only thing on your mind right now. I’ll make sure he’s there,” Jackson told the doctor, who stood by watching the two men.

“All right and make sure he doesn’t eat or drink anything after midnight the day before surgery,” the doctor told him.

“I don’t need a keeper,” Larabee glared from Jackson to Murphy.

“Somehow I don’t believe you, Mr. Larabee,” Murphy smiled as she walked back into her office.

“Come on, Chris, we’ve got a lot to get done between now and next Tuesday.”

“Hell, Nathan, I don’t seem to have a choice so I’ll just leave it all up to you since you’re so keen on the job,” Larabee hissed sarcastically.

“Well now, Chris, that’s a great idea. That way we’re sure you’ll do what you’re supposed to,” the medic grinned at the glaring man as they walked out of the office.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chris laughed as he spotted the razor Buck brought into the office. The thing was a foot long, powder blue, and wrapped by a big red bow. The Firm’s leader eyed him quizzically until Buck shrugged and told him it was for shaving him.

“He’s having his tonsils out, Mr. Wilmington, not a vasectomy,” Standish informed them.

“Well, don’t they shave ya for everything now a days?” the ladies man teased.

“Buck!” Larabee couldn’t suppress the smile as the mustached man handed him the large disposable razor. “Where the hell do you find this shit?”

“I can’t reveal trade secrets, Chris. Lets just say this one was easier than some of the others I’ve found. By the way I bought you a supply of ice cream,” the ladies man smirked.

“Where from this time?” Larabee asked.

“Knowing Buck it’ll be someplace like...” Dunne started.

“Never mind, JD, I’d rather not think about it,” Larabee laughed. He knew his friends were trying to lighten his mood. Just as he knew the surgery he was having was minor but it still made him nervous. Just the thought of being in a hospital gave him the chills. He smiled at Wilmington and the others in the office. “Hey, it’s only tonsils, right?”

“Right,” Jackson agreed.

“After everything else we’ve been through this should be a walk in the park,” Larabee told them.

“A walk in the park,” Tanner drawled, his eyes searching the green orbs of his best friend. ‘I’ll be there, Cowboy,’ he silently sent.

‘I know,’ Larabee sent back as the men left to go on with their jobs.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“So, Stud, are you nervous?” Wilmington asked the following Monday morning.

“Shut up, Buck,” Larabee snapped. He’d come into the office to finish off some last minute paperwork and make sure everything was up to date. Dr. Murphy informed him he’d be off work for at least two weeks and he’d smiled at her. He was already thinking about where she’d find him the day after he was released from the hospital. ‘It’s only tonsils,’ he thought with a grin, scowling as his raw throat made itself known once more.

“I do hope Dr. Murphy’s surgery can help you find your sunny disposition again.”

“Buck, just shut up!”

Wilmington loved to irritate his friend, but he knew when to stop and this was the time. Larabee had been shot, beaten, knifed, and just about everything else you could name. It seemed that this simple childhood procedure made him more nervous than all the others combined. “Anything I can do for you, Chris?” the ladies man asked.

Larabee shook his head and turned back to the papers on his desk. “Thanks, Buck, but as soon as I get this paperwork finished I’m heading home,” he said.

“Do you need a ride,” Wilmington asked, a worried frown on his face.

“No thanks, I brought the truck.”

“Alright, Chris. Who’s driving you to the hospital in the morning?”

“Vin,” Larabee answered. “And Nathan, seems he doesn’t trust me.”

“Nathan doesn’t trust any of us to do what we’re supposed to when it comes to the hospital,” the ladies man grinned.

Larabee returned the smile and opened a file on his desk.

“Well, I guess I’ll let you finish up so you can get out of here,” Wilmington told him.

“Thanks, Buck,” Larabee said and turned back to the paperwork without seeing what he was working on. The words blurred at the thought of going into the hospital the next morning. ‘Hell, Larabee, kids do it all the time,’ he thought as he tried to focus. An hour later he was still on the same page of the same file, ‘Shit, might as well give it up and go home,’ he thought angrily.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Chris opened his eyes as the shrill screech of the alarm went off next to his head. He slammed his fist down on the clock in hopes of making the irritating sound disappear. He knew it was after four when he’d finally fallen asleep. He sat up on the edge of the bed and noted that it was five thirty. Vin and Nathan would be there to pick him up in less than two hours. He rubbed his eyes and made his way towards the shower. He stretched his arms high above his head in order to relieve some of the tension in his muscles. He turned on the shower and eased his nude body under the hot water. The massaging stream hit his shoulders and ran slowly down his back as he leaned heavily against the wall.

Chris totally lathered his body and hair before rinsing off and exiting the shower. He wanted a coffee so badly but knew it was out of the question this morning. He was due at the hospital in an hour and a half. His surgery was scheduled for ten am and he had to be there two hours before to check in. The only good thing about the surgery was that he’d be in and out on the same day. That meant he could come home, rest for the day and go into the office the next morning. He smiled as he thought of the doctor telling him he’d be off for two weeks. “No way in hell I’ll be off two days let alone two weeks,” he said aloud, groaning as his sore throat cracked in the quiet of the house.

He dressed in his black jeans and pulled on a black turtleneck, shivering and rubbing his arms in an effort to warm up. He pulled on a pair of black socks and shoes to match the mood he was in. Somehow he knew this was not going to be as easy as he thought. For him it never was easy. He looked longingly at the coffeepot and hurried towards it. ‘What harm can one cup do?’ he thought as he set it up and switched it on.

He sat in a chair by the center island, enjoying the rich aroma floating around the kitchen. The strong flavored coffee made his stomach grumble in anticipation and he waited for the gurgling to stop. He poured the aromatic brew into the cup and sat looking into the dark depths. “Hell,” he said as he slid the cup away from him. He moved out of the kitchen and into the living room.

The blond sank down into his favorite chair and let his head lean back against the soft cushions. He breathed deeply as he felt the lack of sleep seep into his body. He closed his eyes and let his mind wonder back over the past week. He smiled as he thought of the teasing he’d endured because of his upcoming surgery. Knowing how much he hated hospitals his friends tried to ease the tension by making jokes. He didn’t realize he’d fallen asleep until the sound of the doorbell startled him.

He hurried to the door and opened it, smiling as the sharpshooter and medic stepped into the house. “Morning,” he greeted the two newcomers.

“Morning, Cowboy. Are you ready?” Tanner asked.

Jackson sniffed the air and looked towards the blond. “Is that coffee?” he asked.

“Yeah, Nathan, it is.”

“Chris, you know you’re not supposed to...”

Larabee held up his hand in an effort to stave off the anger he could see on the man’s face. “Nathan, I made it. Shit, I even poured it up but I didn’t drink it.”

“You didn’t?” Jackson’s voice sounded relieved as he looked at the older man.

“I didn’t,” Larabee assured him.

“Good thing. Dr. Murphy would’ve piled into you even worse than I would have. Are you ready to go?”

“I think so. It’s only one day, right?”

“One day in the hospital as long as there’re no complications,” Jackson told him.

“Nathan?”

“Chris, we’re all hoping it’s only one day, but then you’re gonna need to rest up at home.”

“I will,” Larabee lied smoothly. His eyes met those of his best friend and he knew Tanner was reading him like an open book. He smiled at the younger man as he reached for his black jacket. “Well, lets get this over with,” he said, opening the door and holding it for Nathan Jackson.

“You’re not fooling me at all, Larabee,” Tanner whispered as he walked past the Firm’s leader.

“Never could, Tanner,” the blond smiled at the retreating form. He locked the door and followed the other two men to the jeep.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chris checked in at day surgery, smiling at the brunette who took his paperwork.

“Just have a seat and your nurse will be out for you shortly.” Jane Watson couldn’t help but admire the handsome man standing before her. The green eyes were devastating in their intensity. She fought to keep the blush off her face as he turned away and her eyes strayed to the form fitting jeans. ‘There should be a law against such perfection,’ she thought. Her mind turned to the man she’d been married to for eighteen years. ‘Why can’t David still look like that?’ She sighed and finished the paperwork.

Chris walked to the chairs and sat down heavily. He could feel Jackson and Tanner watching him. He smiled as he thought of what their reaction would be if he bolted. He breathed deeply and fought the urge. He hated hospitals, hated having surgery, and hated the idea of being under anesthetic again.

“Chris Larabee.”

He turned to see a middle aged, slightly overweight nurse walking towards them. He stood up and looked at her. “That’d be me,” he answered.

“Follow me please. I’m Daisy and I’m one of the Day Surgery Nurses. I’ll be looking after you while you’re here, Mr. Larabee.”

“Call me Chris,” Larabee requested and followed the nurse through doors marked Day Surgery. He knew Jackson and Tanner were following him.

“Go into this room and put these on. You can leave on your underwear and socks,” Daisy ordered as she passed him two gowns. “Tie one at the back and one at the front. When your done just come around to the desk.”

Larabee nodded and moved into the tiny cubicle. He slowly undressed leaving on the items she’d told him. He finished dressing and walked out of the room, glaring at Tanner when he opened his mouth to speak.

“What?” Tanner asked.

“Not a word!”

“I was just gonna tell ya to pull the gown down at the back, your skivvies are

showing.”

Larabee reached behind, hiding his embarrassment and then grinned as he realized Tanner was trying to lighten his mood. “I oughta shoot you,” he laughed as he walked towards the desk.

Jackson and Tanner’s eyes met and they smiled. Both men knew how much their friend hated hospitals and surgery. They knew it made him feel like he was losing control, especially once they put him to sleep. They all felt the same way.

The next fifteen minutes were spent taking his vitals, weighing him, and filling out more permission papers. Daisy commented that his blood pressure was a little high, but told him it was normal under the circumstances. She showed him to a cubical with a stretcher in it and told him they’d come for him as soon as the doctor was ready.

“You all right, Chris?” Jackson asked, noting the blond glancing at the clock. Time was moving fast and it was a few minutes before ten.

“I’m fine, Nathan. You guys should’ve left long ago.”

“You telling me you didn’t enjoy our company?” Tanner asked.

“I wouldn’t say that, Vin, it just seems selfish to make you guys stay.”

“We stayed because you’re a friend, Chris,” Jackson explained. “We know how much you love being in the hospital.”

The three men laughed as Daisy came around the corner. “They’re ready for you, Chris.”

Tanner’s blue eyes met Larabee’s green ones and a silent signal passed between them. A slight nod of the blond head told the sharpshooter that he really was all right with this.

“See you in a little while, Cowboy,” Tanner assured his friend.

Larabee nodded and followed the nurse along the corridor and through a door marked authorized personnel only. Another nurse took over from there and he followed her to a door. He was led inside a cold, sterile room. A narrow bed was in the center with a large overhead spotlight. An IV pole was already set up beside it and he followed the nurse to the bed. He sat on the edge and was soon lying flat on his back. He listened as the nurse described what she was doing as she attached the normal leads to his body. His left arm was pulled out to his side and the anesthetist explained he was starting an IV and once Dr. Murphy showed up they’d be putting him to sleep. The blond smiled thinly, knowing he shouldn’t have been so familiar with the drill.

Dr Murphy entered the room and came over to speak with him. “How are you doing, Mr. Larabee?”

“I’m fine,” he answered.

“Any last minute questions?”

“One,” he said with a cocky grin.

“What is it,” Murphy frowned.

“Where’s the back door outta here?”

Murphy laughed at the look on her patient’s face, unsure whether he was being truthful or not. “Dr. Jacobs, I think you’d better put him to sleep before he bolts.”

“I’m adding the anesthetic now,” Jacobs informed her.

“Hmm,” Larabee mumbled as the drugs took immediate affect.

~~~~~~~~~~~

“Mr. Larabee, it’s time to wake up.”

He tried to force his lids to obey, but they seemed to weigh a ton. He could hear worried voices and knew he should recognize them. He tried to speak but the pain at the back of his throat was too much and he moaned softly.

“Mr. Larabee, we need you to open your eyes now.”

‘I’m trying,’ he swore, but nothing escaped his raw throat. He could hear them talking but the words didn’t make much sense. Someone said something about his running a temperature. Someone else mentioned his throat was swollen and he thought he laughed. Again no sound escaped his throat as he said. ‘I just had my tonsils out, people, it’s supposed to be swollen.’ He felt something placed over his head and a cool mist entered his lungs.

“I want him admitted,” Murphy said as she checked Larabee’s vitals.

“I’ll call and see if they have a bed available,” the recovery room nurse assured her.

“I’m going to talk to his friends and let them know what’s happening.”

Chris tried to rally. He didn’t want to stay in the hospital. ‘Day surgery. Supposed to go home right after. Go to work tomorrow,’ he thought as he sank back to sleep.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Mr. Jackson, Mr. Tanner.”

Both men stood up as the female surgeon walked towards them.

“How is he, Doc?” Jackson asked.

“Is he awake?” Tanner asked.

“Sit down, Gentlemen,” Murphy told them.

“What’s wrong,” Tanner’s voice was instantly suspicious as he stood his ground.

“We’ve run into a couple of problems.”

“You told us surgery went well,” Jackson observed.

“It did. Mr. Larabee is running a fever and there’s a lot of swelling at the back of his throat. We’ve been trying to wake him, but he’s just not responding the way he should.”

“Why isn’t he responding?” the sharpshooter asked.

“I think he’s just under really deep. We’ve put him on oxygen to bring his levels up. What I’m worried about is the elevated temperature and the swelling.”

“What’re you gonna do?” the younger man asked.

“I’ve admitted, Mr. Larabee, at least until the swelling and temperature goes down.”

“For how long?”

Murphy studied the longhaired man sitting across from her. “I can’t answer that until he’s more responsive. Now if you gentlemen will wait here the nurses will let you know when they’ve assigned Mr. Larabee to a room. It may be some time. There’s been a major car accident on the outskirts and beds are in short supply.”

“We’ll be here, Doc, thanks.”

Murphy nodded and left the two men to their thoughts.

“Chris ain’t gonna like this,” Tanner muttered.

“I never should’ve said the word,” Jackson whispered.

“What word?”

“Complications.”

“Shit, Nathan, ya think maybe you jinxed him,” Tanner tried to sound light-hearted, but the worry showed through his eyes.

“I sure as hell hope not,” Jackson hissed as he noted it was a little after two pm. “I’m gonna call the office and update them.”

Tanner nodded as the medic walked to the bank of pay phones along the back wall. Each man had his cell phone, but knew it was imperative they turn them off in the hospital. He settled into the uncomfortable chair and watched the entrance to day surgery. He listened to the one sided conversation as Jackson explained to Sanchez what was happening. He knew his friend would be all right and a small smile touched his lips. ‘Leave it to you to make a simple operation complicated, Cowboy,’ he thought.

Jackson hung up the phone and sauntered back to his companion. “They’ll be here shortly. I told them we’d call as soon as we knew anything, but they insisted on being here.”

“Figured as much. Reckon we’re all a little worried,” Tanner told him. The two men settled in to wait for news of their friend.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Two hours later, and countless trips to the nursing station to ask about Chris, found six men sitting in the day surgery waiting room.

Vin held a paper in his hands, but didn’t remember a word of what he read. Buck and JD were watching the small overhead TV. Josiah held a small dog-eared bible in his hands. Nathan watched Standish shuffle a deck of cards.

Vin’s head snapped up as the double doors opened and a stretcher came through it. He knew instinctively who was on it and hurried to the door. His eyes raked over the sleeping form and he grimaced as he took in the collar around his neck. “How is he?” he asked the nurse, grateful for the strength he felt as the other five joined him.

“He’s doing ok,” a silver haired nurse answered in a soft voice. “We need to get him to his room. I’d like you gentlemen to give us an hour to get him settled before you come up to see him.”

“We will, Ma’am. What floor is he gonna be on?” Jackson asked.

“He’ll be on the third floor. Room three forty four.”

“Third floor?” Jackson’s voice sounded incredulous.

“It’s the only bed we have available right now. We have to go. Make sure you give us an hour.”

“Yes, Ma’am,” the medic assured her.

“Nathan, what’s wrong?” Wilmington asked.

“Huh? Oh, nothing, Buck.”

“Don’t give me that, Nathan. What’s going on? Did you see something else wrong with Chris? Besides the collar they’ve got wrapped around his neck? What the hell is that thing for anyway?”

“Buck, hold up a minute. One question at a time.” Jackson rubbed his temples before explaining. “The collar around his neck is probably an ice pack to help keep the swelling in his throat from getting any worse.”

“Reckon,” Tanner observed. “Why did you look so surprised when she said they were taking him to the third floor?”

Jackson eyed each man as he answered. “Third floor is Pediatrics.”

“What?” Wilmington couldn’t help but laugh. “You mean when Chris wakes up he’ll be on the kiddie floor?”

“Exactly.”

“Mr. Larabee will be outraged at having to stay in the hospital, but I want to see his face when he finds out he’s on a floor reserved for children,” Standish smiled, his gold tooth gleaming in the bright light.

“I’m not sure you’d live through the experience, Ez,” Wilmington returned the smile.

“Well, at least with the insurance he won’t have to share a room,” Sanchez told them.

“Thank God,” Jackson muttered, dropping heavily into a chair.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Jeremy watched as a bed was pushed into the room. He sat on the edge of his bed and craned his neck to see who his new roommate would be. His large dark brown eyes grew round as saucers when he saw the man on the bed. ‘He’s a bit old,’ he thought as the curtain was drawn. He pulled his earphones back over his head and listened to the music as he waited for the nurses to finish up.

~~~~~~~~~~

“Mr. Larabee.”

Chris struggled to open his eyes, confused by the cold feeling around his neck. His eyes finally focused and he looked tiredly at the silver haired nurse standing beside him. He tried to speak, but the strain on his throat caused him to gag and his stomach lurched. A basin was placed in front of him and his head lifted despite the collar around his neck. His stomach emptied, his throat constricted and he fought back the urge to cough.

“Take it easy, Mr. Larabee. Your throat probably feels pretty lousy especially after what just happened. Do you think you can shift over onto the bed for me? It’ll be a lot more comfortable than this stretcher.”

Larabee glared at the older woman as an orderly moved to the opposite side of the bed. “N...no!” he groaned.

“That’s ok. You just lie still and Jimmy and I will do all the work. Are you ready, Jimmy?”

“Yes, Ma’am,” the young orderly answered as he reached across and took hold of the blanket under the patient.

“N...no. I can do it!” the blonds voice was low, yet held that tone that made his enemies run for the hills.

“Alright then,” the nurse motioned Jimmy to move away. “Scoot on over,” she told him.

“No!” green eyes flashed dangerously as Larabee sat up.

“What do you mean no? Surely you’d rather sleep on a bed than this hard thing.” She indicated the stretcher he was on.

“I’ll sleep at home,” he told her adamantly.

“Mr. Larabee, right now you’ll scoot your bottom over in the bed and stop giving me any more grief.”

His throat felt as if it was on fire, but he refused to give in. He fought to find his voice and struggled to force the words out. “D...day s...surgery! Dr. M...Murphy said I’d go home s...same day.”

“Well it looks as if she’s changed her mind. Now stop acting like a kid and move over.”

“Not a...acting like a kid,” Larabee hissed at the older woman’s audacity. “T...tell her I w...want to see her.”

“She’ll be up to check on you shortly. Jimmy, help me move him over.”

“I’ll do it,” he snapped softly, groaning as he slid his tired body onto the softer mattress.

“That wasn’t so bad now was it? My name is Martha and I guess I’m gonna be stuck with you during your stay. Since this is the children’s ward you’d best set a good example. Jeremy over there is a perfect example of how a patient should behave. Right, Jeremy?” Martha asked as Jimmy moved the stretcher out of the room.

Chris felt the lingering effects of the anesthetic and shook his head. He could’ve sworn she said Children’s ward and he prayed that he was hearing things. He felt Martha check the IV in his arm and he glanced at her once more. “C...children’s ward?”

She smiled at her new patient, “Only bed available I’m afraid,” she explained as she took his blood pressure and temperature.

“Bed at home,” he told her.

“I’m sure there is, but with a temperature of one hundred and three point two you won’t be going there today. How’s your throat?”

“Feels like bee’s built a hive in there,” he answered honestly.

“It’s time for your medications. I’ll be right back with the antibiotics and something to ease the pain.” Martha patted his shoulder and hurried from the room.

Chris rested his head against the pillow and closed his eyes. His hand touched the collar around his throat and he knew it was an ice pack. He felt cold and pulled the blanket up over himself. A sound from behind the closed curtains grated on his raw nerves.

“Uh, uh,

uh huh

Uh what

Hey yo, you can hit the dance floor now, you ain’t gotta wait

We can take this outside, you ain’t gotta hate.

This here’s a family affair, the family is here.

Everybody put your hands in the air.”

“Shit,” Larabee groaned and covered his aching head. As suddenly as the words started they ended and Chris heard the door open.

“I have your medications, Mr. Larabee,” Martha said. She placed a small bag of antibiotics over his head before injecting morphine into his IV. “Dr. Murphy is at the desk and said to tell you she’ll be in to see you in a few minutes.”

“Good, tell her to s...sign my discharge papers.”

“You can tell her that yourself,” she informed him. “Your oxygen intake is a little low so I’m gonna put these on you.”

“Shit,” the blond snapped as nasal canulas were placed over his head.

“Mr. Larabee, kindly remember your room mate is only fourteen. Please refrain from any profanity.”

, Mr. Larabee,” Carolyn Murphy greeted as she came into the room.

“Doc. What h...happened?”

“Well, there were complications.”

“Complications?” he rasped painfully.

“I’m afraid so. There’s a lingering infection that’s causing your elevated temperature and the back of your throat has swollen more than it should have.”

“Supposed to go home today.”

Murphy smiled at the handsome man. “You won’t be leaving until the swelling in your throat and your temperature goes down.”

“Doc!”

“We need to find out what’s causing the infection, Mr. Larabee. That means we need to run some tests and that means we need you here. If it goes down on its own in the next few days then I’ll sign the discharge papers.”

Larabee yawned as he glared at the doctor. Unable to resist the call of sleep his eyelids dropped and a slight sigh passed his lips.

“Keep an eye on his temperature. If it gets any higher call my office. Make sure you keep the ice pack around his neck. For now, sleep is the best thing for him. When his friends get here tell them to keep it short and don’t wake him.”

“I will, Dr. Murphy,” Martha watched the doctor leave, adjusted the flow of oxygen and the IV solution. She parted the curtain and looked at her second patient. Jeremy Talbot was a fourteen year old angel as far as she was concerned. His sunny disposition melted the heart of the iciest nurse. He’d been brought in with a ruptured appendix and would be going home in a few days. He never gave her or any of the other nurses any problems. The sandy blond hair hung low over his eyes and she could hear him singing along with a slow Garth Brooks song. “How are you doing, Jeremy?” she asked, touching his hand to gain his attention.

“I’m fine, Mrs Cantrell. What’s wrong with Mr. Larabee,” he asked, having heard the name she’d used.

“He had his tonsils out. He needs to sleep right now so please be on your best behavior.”

“I will. He doesn’t look too good with that thing around his neck.”

“He’s pretty sick right now, Jeremy. You just let him rest and he’ll be fine. Buzz me if you need anything.”

“I will,” he watched her leave, a twinkle of mischief shining in his eyes. To his family he was an angel, to the nurses on the floor he was the perfect patient, and to his roommate he would be neither.

“S...sorry,” he glared at her.

“Hello