“Problems?”
“No...not really,” Tanner answered.
Milano folded her arms across her chest. “Then why are you in the ER?”
“Told Chris I’d come get checked out.”
“Come this way, Mr. Tanner. Judy, is room three still available?”
“Yes, Doctor,” the nurse answered.
“Mr. Jackson if you’ll stay here and finish his chart. Mr. Tanner, come this way.”
“Ah, hell,” Tanner muttered as he followed the doctor towards the examination room. Once inside the room the doctor handed him a blue gown and smiled at him. “You know the routine, everything off and I’ll be back in a couple of minutes.”
Vin sat on the edge of the bed and swore at the weakness creeping through his body. His left hand gripped the gown as he heard a knock at the door. “Yeah!” he snapped.
The door opened and Nathan peered inside. “Need some help?”
“To escape?”
“Not likely,” Jackson said as he entered the room. He helped ease the tracker out of his clothing and pull the blue hospital gown over his shoulders. “Want to lie down?”
“Not really,” the tracker hissed. “I just want to get out of here. Shouldn’t have agreed to come down.”
“Why?” Jackson asked. “You think they’re gonna admit you?”
Tanner’s head snapped up and he hissed as pain lanced through his skull. He slipped off the edge of the bed and swayed dangerously. “Gimme my clothes!” he ordered as the room spun rapidly around him.
“Why? So you can fall flat on your face fully dressed?” Jackson asked as he eased his friend back on the bed. He grabbed the basin as the tracker turned white as a ghost and held it as the younger man’s stomach emptied once more.
Vin didn’t hear the door open or the doctor and nurse enter. By the time the nausea subsided he was sure his head would explode if he moved. A soft moan escaped as he felt the doctor’s hand on his left shoulder and he opened his eyes to look at her.
“How long has this been going on?” Milano asked.
“Couple of days,” Tanner answered as the nurse began taking his vitals.
“Try five or six,” Jackson answered.
“Have you been able to hold anything down?”
“Not much,” the tracker answered honestly as he raised his left hand over his eyes.
“Liquids?”
“Sometimes,” the patient answered.
“All right, Mr. Tanner. I want to run some blood work and send you for a CT scan. It could be just the concussion, but I want to be sure. Once we get the results of the tests we’ll know more about what we’re dealing with.”
“As long as I get out of here tonight.” Tanner hissed.
“I can’t promise you that, Mr. Tanner,” Milano told him.
Vin tried to sit up, but all he managed was to send shockwaves through his head. He groaned as he felt strong hands hold him down.
“Judy, I want you to start an IV...”
“No!...No IVs...”
“Vin...”
“No way, Nathan! I need...”
“You need to lie back and let us make sure there are no residual problems from the concussion. I can tell just by looking at you that you’re slightly dehydrated and the IV will make you feel a little better. Maybe get rid of that feeling that you’re gonna pass out all the time,” the doctor informed him. “Just let me finish the tests and make sure there’s nothing else going on.”
“How long will it take?” the tracker asked.
“A couple of hours.”
“All right.”
“I’ll also have Judy give you something for that headache once the CT scan is done and we know more,” Milano told her patient.
“O...okay.”
“Judy, start the IV and I’ll notify CT.”
“Yes, Doctor.”
“Nathan.”
“Yeah, Vin?”
“Go stay with Chris. I’m not going anywhere.”
“You sure?”
“Yeah. Just worried about him ya know?”
“I know,” Jackson said as he met the worried blue eyes. “I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
“No. Stay with Chris. Gonna be a while before they know anything anyway. Chris’ll be worried.”
“Yeah, he will be. We all will. Just hang tough, Vin, and you and Chris will get through all this,” the medic said as he left the room.
Nathan walked towards the main doors and went outside. In spite of the late hour the heat of the day was still present as he used his cell phone to call the hotel. It didn’t take long for the call to be directed to Josiah’ room and the rich, baritone voice answered.
“Sanchez!”
“Josiah, it’s Nathan.”
“Nathan, what’s wrong?”
“Maybe nothing, Josiah, but Vin’s being checked out by Dr, Milano.”
“I take it he’s still throwing up?”
“Yeah. Took Chris to make the stubborn SOB come down to the ER.”
“Is he going to be okay?”
“I won’t know anything until they get the results of their tests. It could be that he’s just run down and a little dehydrated as a result of the lingering concussion, but I’ll feel better once we know for sure.”
“What are they doing for him?”
“The usual, blood tests, IV, and CT scan. That’s why I’m calling. Can one of you guys, not including Buck, come down here with Chris until we find out what’s happening with Vin.”
“Buck’s sleeping. Ezra and JD are watching a movie. I’ll let them know what’s going on and I’ll be right over.”
“Okay, Josiah, thanks. Vin will probably be at CT by then so come up to Chris’ room.”
“I will, and Nathan?”
“Yeah.”
“Try not to worry too much. Vin’s tough and probably just overdid things.”
“I hope you’re right, Josiah. See you shortly.”
“I’m on my way.”
Nathan hung up the phone and went back inside to check on the sharpshooter. He opened the door of the examination room and was pleased to see his friend’s relaxed features. The IV was running into his left hand and Nathan could tell he was sleeping. He eased the door closed once more and walked to the elevators.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chris hadn’t slept once the other men left the room. He heard someone at the door, but whoever it was didn’t open it. He shifted in the bed, trying to find a comfortable spot, but it wasn’t to be. No matter how carefully he moved, his stiffened body protested, and he winced as the effort pulled on his arm, hip, and ribs.
“Shit!” he swore as his left arm refused to hold him up and he fell back on the pillow. His eyes drifted closed and he felt the draw of sleep, but didn’t want to give in until he had word on Vin Tanner.
‘Some thing’s never change, Mr. Larabee. You always put others ahead of your own health!’
Chris’ head snapped towards the corner by the window. A smile formed on his face as he saw the shadowy figure outlined against the darkened window. He knew he was seeing Ezra’s ancestor and not his own man, because there was no reflection in the glass. “You telling me you didn’t?”
‘I always endeavored...’
“Those five dollar words are probably worth twenty dollars now, Ez.”
‘Monitory value is no longer a priority for me, Mr. Larabee.’
“It’s not as important to your descendant either,” Larabee said.
‘I have to go, but Mr. Tanner will be fine.’
“Thanks, Ez...”
“Mr. Larabee, is something wrong?”
Chris opened his eyes and immediately turned his head towards the corner, shocked that there was no sign of the specter he’d seen there. He turned his head back to the nurse standing beside the bed and couldn’t understand how she’d gotten there without him hearing her.
“Huh? How’d you gef here?” he muttered, his tongue thick in his mouth.
“You were sleeping when I came in and I didn’t want to wake you, but you were calling for someone named Ez. Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Yef. Fink so, Mouf still hurfs.”
“Would you like to try some more ice chips? Dr. Barrett doesn’t want you taking anything else by mouth until he has the results of the tests.”
“Pleath,” Larabee said and accepted the offering. He looked towards the door as it opened and Nathan Jackson entered. “How’s Vin?” he asked as the nurse changed the IV bag.
“Dr. Milano ordered some tests.”
“Does she have any idea wha’s wrong wif him?”
“He’s a little dehydrated, but that’s all she knows right now.”
“Wha’ kinda tefs are they doing?”
“Blood tests and CT scan.”
“Don’f worry, he’s gonna be fine, Nathan!”
The force of Larabee’s words made the medic feel a little better and he waited for the nurse to leave. When they were alone Jackson looked back at his friend. “How do you know?”
“Had a visitor,” Larabee said with a grin.
“Who?...You mean?...”
“Yeah, maybe was a dream, buf I know Vin’ll be jus’ fine,” Larabee said and yawned tiredly.
“So will you if you get some rest.” Jackson said as the door opened and Barrett came into the room, a chart in his hands.
“Hello, Nathan, Chris.”
“Doc,” Larabee said.
“Hello, Doc. Have you got the test results back yet?” Jackson asked.
“That’s why I’m here,” Barrett answered. “Chris, how are you feeling?”
“Beffer,” Larabee answered.
“It sounds like your mouth is still pretty sore,” the doctor observed.
“Is,” the blond mumbled. “Wha’ did tefs show?”
“We were able to get the salad off your tray before the cafeteria threw it out. The dressing was not ranch, but French...”
“No...had ranch...”
Barrett frowned as he opened the chart. “You’re sure?”
“I know... difference!” Larabee snapped.
“Yeah, I guess you do. There’s something else that’s strange about all this. The salad on your tray wasn’t touched.”
“Afe some...Buck was here,” Larabee insisted.
“I know you did, Chris. Mary told me you ate about half the salad and she also verified there was ranch dressing on it. The only thing I can think of is someone must’ve changed the salads after they picked up the tray.”
“Why?” Jackson asked.
“Could be any number of reasons. Maybe a tray spilled and they picked up the salad off that one and placed it on your tray, but whatever the reason we won’t know if there was anything in the salad.”
“What about the blood tests and swab?” Jackson asked.
“There were traces of a toxin, probably from a plant, but not enough to give exact readings. The blood tests were inconclusive as well. How’s your stomach feeling?”
“Nof as bad as if was.”
“The NG tube seems to be keeping the nausea down,” Barrett told the two men. “I’d like you to stay NPO for the rest of the night and we’ll see if you can tolerate fluids tomorrow. If you can we’ll take the NG tube out...”
“Again,” Larabee said.
“Again,” the doctor repeated. “Stick with the ice chips for now and I’ll check on you in the morning. Okay?” he asked as he closed up the chart.
“Okay,” Larabee agreed as he pressed the button under his left hand. The pain had finally gotten to the point where he had no choice anymore.
Barrett and Jackson both saw the hand movement and knew the patient had overextended himself again. The two men shook their heads as Barrett got up to leave.
Chris lay back against his pillow and waited for the medication to ease the discomfort throughout his body. He didn’t hear Barrett leave, or hear Jackson and Sanchez talking. By the time the ex-preacher sat next to the bed the injured man was sleeping once more.
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