"What's happening?" Liam demanded, his voice tight with worry, as he stood beside Selena's bed.
Dr. Patel's gaze flicked to Liam, his expression annoyed. "She's developing a cardiac tamponade," he explained, his voice steady. "Fluid is accumulating in the sac surrounding her heart, compressing it and preventing it from functioning properly."
Liam's eyes widened in alarm as he felt a cold dread creeping up his spine. He rised from his seat and stepped away, he knew that this could mean he needed to leave. He felt rooted to his spot in fear. That if he left this time she would disappear.
Dr. Patel's expression turned grave. "I need to perform an emergency pericardiocentesis. But I need you to leave the room, Liam. This is going to be a delicate procedure. Go. Now."
Liam hesitated, his eyes locked on Selena's face. But Dr. Patel's firm tone brooked no argument. Liam nodded, his heart heavy with worry, and stepped out of the room.
Dr. Patel quickly called Nurse Veronica and Nurse Jessica, who rushed into the room with a crash cart. "We need to move, now!" Dr. Patel exclaimed, his voice low and urgent.
Nurse Veronica quickly prepped the ultrasound machine while Nurse Jessica assisted Dr. Patel in sterilizing the area around Selena's chest.
"Okay, let's do this," Dr. Patel said, his voice steady. "Veronica, can you get the ultrasound image up?"
Nurse Veronica nodded, her eyes fixed on the screen. "Got it, Doctor."
Dr. Patel nodded, his eyes locked on the image. "Okay, I see the fluid accumulation. Jessica, can you hand me the needle?"
Nurse Jessica nodded, her hands moving swiftly as she handed Dr. Patel the needle.
Dr. Patel inserted the needle into Selena's chest, his eyes fixed on the ultrasound image. "I'm in," he said, his voice low. "Veronica, can you monitor the pressure?"
Nurse Veronica nodded, her eyes fixed on the monitor. "Pressure's dropping, Doctor."
Dr. Patel nodded, his eyes never leaving the ultrasound image. "Good. Keep monitoring. Jessica, can you suction out the fluid?"
Nurse Jessica nodded, her hands moving swiftly as she suctioned out the fluid.
As the fluid was drained, Selena's vital signs began to stabilize. The pressure on her heart eased, and her heart rate slowed.
Dr. Patel let out a slow breath, his eyes locked on Selena's face. "We did it," he said, his voice low. "She's going to make it."
Nurse Veronica and Nurse Jessica exchanged a relieved glance, their faces etched with exhaustion.
Liam stood outside of the small room, the privacy curtain swayed, his eyes locked on Selena's face through a crack in the parted hanging curtains. "How is she?" he asked, his voice tight with worry.
Dr. Patel turned to him, a small smile on his face. "She's going to be okay, kid. We were able to drain the fluid and relieve the pressure on her heart. I need you to stay out, though."
Liam's eyes watered, his body sagging in relief. "I am so relieved, you scared me," he whispered, his voice shaking with emotion as he gazed at the bed.
As he opened his eyes, he looked at Selena as the nurses cleaned up the waste materials and biological waste, including Selena's blood.
"Selena," he whispered, his voice barely audible. He felt determined to fight for their relationship, if there was something that could still be fought for. He'd insist on the engagement now. It was negotiated 15 years before they were born by the Kinsman's.
Liam felt an unbearable wave of exhaustion overcome him as the adrenaline from the emergency wore off. He tiredly rubbed his eyes and decided to go crash in the back of the Small RV that Jonah had ordered in the parking lot outside.
Jessica looked at him on the way out with concern. He was swaying. "Umm, sir, you have not left for about a day. You haven't eaten in at least 23 hours; you should take care of yourself," she said. The man had only left the room to use the small washroom two doors down in her almost 24-hour-long shift. They even stopped to eat.
"Got it." Liam nodded and headed out to the vending machines. He passed Selena's mother on the way.
Eun Ho Lowrie hurriedly walked through the many doors in the hospital, her heels clicking against the tile. She passed through the door of the ICU, her heart racing with every step. She had been waiting for what felt like an eternity to see her daughter, Selena.
As she approached the nursing station, she caught the eye of Nurse Veronica, who gave her a warm smile. "Mrs. Lowrie, Selena is stable for now. Dr. Patel is with her."
"Thank you for your call. Here." Eun Ho said. Her guard handed the nurse an envelope with a few bills in it. Money well spent by her to ensure they called her whenever anything happened. Eun Ho courteously nodded to the nurse, her head turned. Her eyes scanned the room like a hawk. They landed on Dr. Patel, who was standing beside Selena's bed. She felt a wave of worry wash over her as she took in her daughter's fragile form, surrounded by beeping machines and wires.
Dr. Patel turned to her, his expression serious. "Mrs. Lowrie, I'm glad you're here. Selena's condition is critical, but we're doing everything we can to stabilize her."
Eun Ho's eyes locked onto Dr. Patel's, searching for any sign of hope. "What happened to her?" she asked, her voice laced with worry.
Dr. Patel nodded. "Selena developed a cardiac tamponade, which is a life-threatening condition where fluid accumulates in the sac surrounding the heart, compressing it and preventing it from functioning properly."
Eun Ho's eyes widened in alarm. "How did this happen? Are you not watching her carefully?" she demanded, her voice shaking with emotion. "I am sorry, doctor." Eun Ho said, realizing how she sounded, tears threatened her eyes.
Dr. Patel's expression turned sympathetic. "We're not entirely sure, it could be from any number of things related to the trauma she experienced. We're running tests to determine the underlying cause."
Eun Ho felt a wave of fear wash over her. She had always been protective of her daughter, but this was beyond her control. She felt helpless, standing by while her daughter fought for her life. They did not know how much pressure she felt, what her daughter's life meant to the world. They would probably think she was insane if she told them, as they were outsiders.
Dr. Patel's voice cut through her thoughts. "We've performed an emergency pericardiocentesis to drain the fluid and relieve the pressure on her heart. We're monitoring her closely, but she's still in critical condition, regardless. Many patients like her go on to recover. Who could predict what problems she might encounter, so we will be ready for all of them? My staff is on top of it," he said.
"If only Amelia's flight could get here earlier," she thought. The hurricane had complicated her travel. Jonathan was too overcome to function, and Jonah's skill had not recovered completely. Her daughter was working on the very spinal therapy to restore his ability to walk and feel. Eun Ho nodded, her eyes locked on Selena's face. "What are her chances of recovery?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Dr. Patel's expression turned cautious. "It's too early to say for certain, but Selena's youth and overall health are in her favor. However, we need to monitor her closely for any signs of complications, such as arrhythmias or decreased cardiac output."
Eun Ho nodded, her eyes filled with tears. "I want to stay with her," she said, her voice shaking. "Can I?"
Dr. Patel nodded. "Of course, Mrs. Lowrie. You can stay with her as long as you like. You might need to clear out if she has another emergency. We'll keep you updated on her condition."
Eun Ho smiled, her eyes filled with gratitude. "Thank you, Dr. Patel. I appreciate everything you're doing for my daughter."
As Dr. Patel nodded and turned to leave, Eun Ho reached out and took Selena's hand, her eyes locked on her daughter's face. She felt a wave of emotion wash over her. She would stay by her daughter's side, no matter what. She would fight for Selena's life, just as Selena was fighting for her own.
Liam walked out of the security door of the ICU. The automatic doors clicked, the motor whirring as the door opened with more urgency than the standard accessible door. He walked like a zombie, his muscles stiff, his eyes sore from the bright lights in the hallway. The people around him seemed like they almost belonged to a different world than him. They were energetic.
Liam felt so isolated and alone. He could not talk to his brother or friends about what had happened between the two of them. Jonah might send Claire after him if she knew what transpired between them over the past couple of years.
At the moment, he needed to take care of his more pressing needs. He was too emotionally broken to even unpack his emotions about the shooting. Witnessing all that carnage, with someone you love in the thick of it, messed you up. He understood Jakob's feelings more now that he witnessed it himself. He had only been a victim himself. He needed to eat now. He could sleep and shower out in the RV the Lowries had parked in the parking lot adjacent to the hospital or Jonah's room. He preferred the RV.
The hospital hallway was a hive of activity, the air thick with the hum of conversation and the beeping of machines. It was a lot to deal with. It was 6 pm, and the hospital was filled with visitors, all eager to see their loved ones. The fluorescent lights overhead cast a sterile glow, illuminating the rows of doors that lined the hallway.
Liam walked slowly, his feet heavy with exhaustion. Everything seemed infinitely harder. He had been by Selena's side for days, barely leaving her hospital room as she fought for her life. The emotional toll was starting to show, his eyes sunken and his face pale. He saw it in the reflections of the various surfaces he passed. He passed Jonah and Claire quietly. He was not in the mood to talk.
As he walked, the sounds of the hospital surrounded him and blended into a soft cacophony of indistinct noises. Nurses bustled past, their scrubs a blur of color as they rushed to attend to their patients. Doctors stood in small groups, discussing cases in hushed tones. Visitors sat in the waiting areas, their faces etched with worry and concern. He noticed more and more as he seemed to move quickly and at a snail's pace at the same time. It was very disorientating.