Masquerade
Part 6
Continued...
As the LaFiamma clan celebrated
their Italian stubbornness, Levon Lundy kept a silent vigil over his sleeping
partner. As far as he was concerned the
only good thing about Joey sleeping so much was that he couldn’t argue. The doctors had said that he was progressing
so well that they would be greatly reducing the pain medication in the morning,
and Lundy knew that the forced
confinement, increased pain levels, and boredom would have LaFiamma in
rare form until he was released.
Preparing himself for the mental
battle and verbal sparring ahead, he sat in the soft chair the nurse had
provided many days ago and got some much needed shut eye, once again free of
troublesome dreams.
He awoke to..... “Bout time you got
these tubes outta me. I’ve been telling
ya for days that I was ready ta go home, and then there is the food in this
place, why.........”
“I know Mr. LaFiamma,” Doctor
Mahadavai stated, shaking his head and smiling softly. It was beginning and he was sure his nurses
were going to be in for a few bumpy days, until he was ready to release his
patient.
“But you don’t know. I bet they don’t make you eat this food,
even Levon orders out. I have a good mind t......”
“If you don’t mind, I’ll keep you on
the prescribed diet a few days longer.”
“I do mind. Doesn’t a patient have the right to demand a
release from a hospital in Texas. In
Chicago, where I come from..have I told you about Chicago? The greatest city in the states, we have the
Bears and.....well ask me about that later, right now were talking getting me
released. I want out tomorrow
morning. Can you do that or do I need
to get a second opinion? Lundy? LUNDY!
Yeah you, sleepy. Tell the doc
to let me outta here.”
“No can do, LaFiamma. No one argues with Dr. Mahadavai, well,...
except an Italian, I guess,” he added, tossing the doctor a~NOW YOU”VE DONE IT
PLEASE SEDATE HIM AGAIN~~look.
“Listen to your partner, my friend,”
Doctor Mahadavai stated while calmly exiting the room. How those two men worked together was a
mystery that he didn’t even want to dwell on.
The nurses could have them, he’d be back for late rounds, and hopefully
his patient would be asleep. Sighing
again, he looked at the next name on his chart. Mrs. Lloyd. That should
go easily.
“So Lundy, what do you wanna do
now?” Joey questioned.
“Sleep,” Levon muttered pulling the
covers back over his head. The day
could prove to be a long one.
“Nope. Doesn’t work for me. I’ve
slept too much. What’s the news at the
station?”
Muttering, Levon threw back the
covers and sighed dramatically. “I have
no idea really. I was only back
yesterday and all I did was stand around and answer questions about how you
were doing.”
A twinkle coming to Joey’s eyes, he
asked, “Did Legs ask about me?”
“Wouldn’t you like to know,” Levon
shot back. Joey seemed happier than he
thought he would, which was good.
“Are you going to answer or not?” he
re-asked, then added, “Have you talked to Uncle Mikey?”
Nodding yes, Levon thought, this
is the real question. “I have. He calls about every eight hours to check on
your progress. I don’t think he liked
having to leave, but he said it was urgent.”
It would be. Business was business in the LaFiamma
household. “Just curious,” Joey stated
calmly, but his eyes said he was clearly thrilled by the confirmation that the
family was still checking on him. “I’m
gonna miss him,” he added quietly.
“I know,” Levon said. “Wanna know somethin’ else? I think I’m gonna miss him too.”
Smiling, Joey said, “He grows on
ya. Poker, Lundy?”
“Three days ago I would have said
yes, but your punishment for saying that you were better’n me is watching me
play solitaire,” Levon quipped, taking the deck easily from Joey’s fingers and
dealing out the first row.
“No fair. I’m wounded here!”
“Go to sleep then. I’ve learned to appreciate a sleeping
Italian,” Lundy said as he continued the deal then began play. “Right now you’re at my mercy, and I intend
to have the last word.”
“Lundy!” LaFiamma said plaintively,
“Come on, play a hand or two with me.”
“No.” he replied, allowing a smile
to grace his face as he watched a frustrated Italian try to calm his temper
while sliding back down under the covers.
From beneath the covers Joey tried
one last ploy. “Can ya at least bring
me sumthin’ from Chicken’s for lunch?”
“No.” Levon replied again. Finally he had his partner exactly where he
wanted him.
The day continued in much the same
way, and by two p.m. Levon was questioning why he decided he should take this
last day off to be with his partner when they decreased the meds. After a very troublesome hour watching
LaFiamma give the nurses grief over a sponge bath and lack of proper clothing,
he stood and said, “LaFiamma, I’m goin’ back to work. Try and be nice.” So saying he turned and left the room, as
Joey’s mouth dropped in shock.
“Who needs you,” Joey hurled at the
closed door, then slumped down in the covers.
He hurt. Everything hurt. He really didn’t want to be alone and it
would be days before the doctor would let him go. Pauly wasn’t coming to visit for about a month, and the rest of
the family would be around more often, but the future was a long time
away. Flicking the switch on the
television, he tuned into the local news out of sheer boredom. At least he could stay abreast of the local
happenings, which of course meant he was supposed to care if the high school
team made all city or not. Thoroughly
frustrated, he decided that the doctor could have one more day, then he was
leaving, with or without permission.
That determined, he settled back and let his thoughts drift and finally
fell into a light sleep just prior to Doctor Mahadavai’s late rounds.
Nodding happily at his patients
progress and his good fortune at finding him asleep, Doctor Mahadavai made the
required notations and left. Three more
days, perhaps two and Mr. LaFiamma would be gone. It had been a long upward battle from the beginning, but the
young man had come through despite the odds against him. It was a good feeling. More than likely it was his stubbornness
that pulled him through, he mused, as well of the constant support of his
partner, family and friends, he amended.
Levon called the following morning
from work, and said he would be in later after the shift had ended, and Joey
spent most of the morning doing as many exercises as possible, without causing
himself too much pain, then tried to stand every time the door shut after yet
another doctor or nurse came to monitor his vital signs, draw blood, or administer
medication for something or other. By
noon he was exhausted, but could stand and make it all the way across the small
room and back.
It was on one of these short trips
that Doctor Mahadavai made an unscheduled stop in his patients room.
At the opening of the door, Joey
tried to whirl and landed in a heap near the bedside tray, while trying to
stifle a moan.
His hands on his hips, Dr.
Mahadavai, looking stern asked, “Just what do you think you are doing?”
Struggling to get up, Joey replied,
“Walking! Well at least I was until you came in here
unexpectedly. Do you think you could
lend a hand?”
Taking hold of LaFiamma’s hand, the
doctor assisted him to his feet and promptly helped him back to bed saying,
“I’ll have no more of this foolishness.
You keep this up and I’ll not let you go home until you have a clean
bill of health, understand?”
“Yes, Doctor,” Joey answered
meekly. An extended stay didn’t sound
appealing. “I’m doing better. The walking is getting easier, you just
startled me, was all.”
“I don’t think I startled you, but
rather caught you in a compromising position.
One you knew would not be tolerated.”
Watching the hint of a smile appear
on the handsome face, Doctor Mahadavai knew he was right, and waited
expectantly for LaFiamma to try and extract himself from this one. LaFiamma’s
antics were becoming the highlights of the doctors lounge.
He wasn’t prepared for Joey’s
subdued answer. “I thought everyone
would be so glad to get rid of me, that I was trying to help. I’m not the best patient, or haven’t you
noticed?” The quiet candor caught him
off guard.
Looking closely at the man in bed
before him, he said, “Interesting angle.
You almost had me. I bet you get
away with that a lot.”
“I do actually, but don’t tell, okay?”
Joey said conspiratorially, flashing the doctor the famous LaFiamma grin,
followed by a full view of the riveting yet currently twinkling blue eyes. “Care for a game of cards? It’s about all they let me do.”
Smiling back at the good humor he
found, Doctor Mahadavai said, “No cards this visit. I actually stopped by with
news.”
“Oh?”
“It seems you have a visitor from
Chicago, and he seems about as volatile as you. We thought it was best to see if you were awake and up to a
visitor.”
“Of course. Who is it?
Is it Uncle Mikey? Aunt
Teresa? Pauly? Did he come back early? Maybe it’s cousin.........”
“Wrong on all counts,” a strong deep
voice, very similar to the one in the
bed’s answered from the doorway.
“Uncle Giorgio!” Joey called happily
from the bed, “Come on in. They’re
awful here. Won’t let me do anything,
why just a minute ago I was trying to walk and the good doctor here told me
that it’s not allowed. Can you believe
it, trying to keep a LaFiamma in bed?
Well in a hospital bed at any rate, a ladies bed is another story,” he
finished with a sly, knowing look at his uncle.
“Don’t understand it at all, why in
Chicago they’d be trying to keep you from escaping, not just confined to
bed. Don’t think there are any LaFiamma
men that take well to enforced hospital stays.
Remember when Tonio was shot? It
took us two days to get him home where he belonged. Remember the doctors saying that he needed to stay there, but
Mike got a nurse at Tonio’s home, a real looker if memory serves,” he said
nudging Joey lightly, “and he got well in days, not weeks like they
predicted. Have you told the doctor
that?”
“I’ve been trying to, but for some
reason they only come in when I’m asleep.” Joey stated, the grin back to
stay. “What brings you here? Now at least I can get a good game of cards
in. How long ya stayin”?”
“Only a few hours this trip, but I
wanted to see ya and I have a delivery from the family and one from Mike. Said that you needed to have them personally
delivered, so of course I took the opportunity to see this foreign country, and
my nephew.”
“Hey Georgio, if you get lucky you
can meet my partner Lundy. He should be
here after work sometime.”
“Sounds good kid. Let me get ya these things, then we can play
cards and talk about how they’re treating ya in here, and when I can get back
down. I hear they actually wear boots,
but I thought that was only in the movies.” he grinned.
“They wear boots. Make them in little sizes too, if ya can
believe that. Lundy never takes his
off. At least I doubt he does.” Joey
laughed. Having family around was
wonderful. It had been too long, and
while Texas was now his life, Chicago would always be home, and being banished
was not worth contemplating. Uncle
Mikey was living up to his promise to get family down more often, already.
“Okay kid, we got this box here for
ya that I think ya ought ta open. The
entire family feels real bad about the mistake. Please realize that it shoulda never happened in the first place,
but well we can’t take back what happened, only try to make it right and go on from here,” Georgio
stated, while looking down at the rumpled covers of the hospital bed.
He noted Joey trying to hide his
slightly trembling hand as he took the box out of his uncles outstretched fingers
and slowly lifted the lid on the little black box. Seeing the familiar diamond pinky ring, nestled inside, he picked
it up gingerly and looked inside, hoped against hope that he would find his
initials carved inside. Anyone could
replace the ring, and for many reasons, guilt over the accident being one of
them. Joey did not want to be a
charity case.
There they were staring back at him,
just like he remembered. J. A. L. The L having the bottom almost worn smooth
by constant wear. Looking at Georgio
for final confirmation, he said, his voice stunned “this is
actually mine. Where’d you get it?”
“Actually your cousin David found it
in the bottom of Chuck’s closet. It was
the strangest thing, but Mike suggested we start looking in Chuck’s room and
there it was. We all expected it to be
Guisseppe’s but the initials were yours.
I have no idea what game Chuck was playing, but I’m sure we will have
the answers soon.”
Nodding slightly, Joey slipped the ring
back on his finger in it’s rightful place and tried valiantly to stop the tears
that threatened to flow. He wondered
how long it would take Levon to notice it was back.
Watching as the diamonds reflected the light, he just picked up on the end
of Giorgio’s last statement, and raising his head from the ring, he said,
“Uh....I missed that Uncle Girogio, could ya repeat it?”
“I said,” Georgio began, as a laugh
escaped his mouth, “That Mike sent down an envelope to you too, but he said it
was Confidential and For Your Eyes Only.
Do ya want it now? I can step
outside while you look it over.”
“No. If you only have a few hours I’d rather talk ta ya. I’ll just take it and look at it later.”
“Right, here ya go, Joey, but I’m
curious.”
“Ya mean he really didn’t let you
know what’s in it?” Joey asked,
stunned.
“No. I really don’t. You know
how Mike is, he says somethin and you don’t wanna cross him.”
Looking at the padded envelope in
his hands, Joey spent a few minutes allowing his thoughts to wander over Uncle
Mikey’s visit, in case he had said something while he was here that he couldn’t
remember that might have been a key, then coming up blank turned his attention
back to Giorgio and spent the next hour playing cards, and getting caught up on
each of the family members doings.
Time passed quickly and Giorgio
looked up, surprised at the interruption when Joey’s door was opened. He had paid handsomely to have this time
alone with his nephew, and had no idea who would be interrupting them.
“Lundy!” Joey said jubilantly, “Come
in and say hi to my Uncle Giorgio. He’s
here for another 40 minutes or so.”
“Another uncle, LaFiamma? Just how big is this family? I know you said ya were Catholic, but this
seems like birth control gone wrong.” Levon said, jokingly as he entered and
reached out to shake another LaFiamma’s hand. “Nice to meet ya.”
“Lundy right? Nice ta meet ya too.” Giorgio confirmed, as he took careful
measure of the man that was his nephews partner.
Lundy noticed it too, and remarked,
“Gee LaFiaaaamma, your family never see a Texan before? I know we’re amazing, and Texas state is by
far the most diverse and the largest state in the continental US, but still I
don’t think I’ve been sized up this much in my entire lifetime.”
At that moment, Giorgio put into
words what Levon knew but just hadn’t had spoken so directly before. “Since you’re Joey’s partner his life is in
your hands in a matter of speaking. We
need to make sure your hands are competent.”
“Do I pass?” Levon questioned,
smirking as Joey blushed over the concern evident in his uncles tone.
“Joey passed you months ago. Mike agrees fully, thanks to the checks he
ran, and after meeting you his assessment was confirmed. You just
passed my test too.”
Hanging his head slightly as a slow
blush crept up his face, Levon muttered, “I reckon that’s a good thing.”
“Sure is, Lundy, otherwise you’d
probably be pulling duty in another department by now,” Joey joked back.
“Yeah right,” Levon shot back. “Let me in on this card game. I figure I can do with some extra LaFiamma
cash right about now.”
Trading glances with his uncle, Joey
picked up the worn cards and dealt the next round. Three kings and a pair of sixes. Yep, he was sticking.
Seemed every time he played Lundy he got great hands. His uncles luck was his main
concern. Uncle Giorgio had been winning
most of the hands, and Joey wanted to win this one. There were some presents he needed to buy.
Miraculously he won that hand, and
the next, cleaning his uncle out of $50.00, and Lundy out of $12.00. All in all, a good day.
Way to soon for both Joey’s and
Giorgio’s comfort, it was time to say goodbye.
Giorgio stood, hugged Lundy briefly, then leaned over and kissed his
nephew lightly on both cheeks. “Take
care of yourself Joseph,
understand. The families
countin’ on it.”
“Sure thing Uncle Giorgio,” Joey
agreed, as exhaustion warred with his desire to spend every last second with
his uncle. “Come again soon,” he added.
“Sure thing. Oh, and Levon, I hope next time I’ll be able
to see a little bit more of you too.” Giorgio
said.
“Reckon ya will,” Levon replied as
Giorgio shut the door. “Reckon ya
will.”
“So partner, how ya doing?” Levon
questioned. LaFiamma looked tired to him,
and he didn’t want to have to tell the lieutenant about any medical setbacks.
“Fine, Lundy. Just tired is all. Sorry ta do this to ya, but I’m gonna get some rest,” LaFiamma
stated flatly, as he allowed his tired body to sink into the hospital bed, for
what he hoped was one of the last times ever.
Well how do you like that for
gratitude? Just wins some money then goes to sleep on me. Guess I’ll
stop by Chicken’s and eat. Might
even bring back some ribs for him.
Doubt he’ll thank me for it though.
Would probably prefer Chinese or Thai.
Pulling the door closed behind
himself, Lundy took one last look at the sleeping man, and offered a silent
prayer that he would have his partner back on the force soon. They made a good team, and he felt safer
with the Italian’s backup.
While Lundy was eating and talking
to his many friends, Joey was waking up slowly. The bed felt warm, and the covers soft. He was momentarily free from pain, so he was not in any hurry to
actually open his eyes. Rather he allowed
himself to luxuriate in a half sleep as awareness crept slowly back to his
mind. Nothing really intriguing him, he
kept himself in the blissful half state as he slowly turned onto his left side,
however as soon as his body hit the padded envelope Uncle Giorgio had given
him, he jerked instantly awake. The
envelope. Somehow he had forgotten it.
Sitting up, he reached for the
envelope and wondered at it’s contents.
Uncle Giorgio said he had no idea what it contained. Guess now is as
good a time as any.
Turning the envelope this way and
that, Joey spent a few minutes looking for a clue on the outside as to what the
inside contained. Uncle Mikey was of
course as careful and thorough as ever.
It was nothing more than a plain brown padded envelope.
Deciding to just get the suspense
over with, Joey ripped open the end lengthwise and allowed the contents to
spill out onto the top of the spread. A
folded piece of paper and another sealed envelope met his eyes. Assuming correctly that the paper was a note
he opted to open it first. As he
unfolded it, he was greeted by the sight of Uncle Mikey’s handwriting. This gave him pause. Uncle Mikey never took the time to handwrite
anything. Notes came typed via Chuck or
his secretary. A personal note was unnerving. The news must be monumental.
His eyes quickly scanning the page,
he went back and re-read it again more closely, his emotions swinging between
trepidation, and anticipation.
Dear Joseph,
Despite the circumstances I am
grateful for my visit. There are things
that will become apparent to you in a few minutes, that you are currently
blissfully unaware of. Before you open
the envelope I going to say one thing and I want you to listen to it. Seems you haven’t paid attention
before. Joseph Anthony LaFiamma, family
always comes first.
Always,
Mike
Very cryptic. Must be talking about my not telling him
about the ring. Levon shouldn’t have
mentioned it either, but I am thrilled
it’s back, Joey
thought as he looked at the ring now firmly back in it’s proper place on his
pinky finger. Now for the
envelope. God I wonder what’s in here.
Opening the envelope he was
surprised to see the words, Joseph, keep this side forward and view in order.
Following the directions to the letter,
Joey opened and removed what looked like five black and white snap shots. Perplexed he looked at the top one, taking
in every aspect of the scene of a barren desert. Could be anywhere.
Sliding the first picture behind the
stack just like he was sorting a hand of cards, the second photo showed a large
limo in the middle of the desert’s surroundings. Not recognizing the car, or the plates, he again moved the photo
to the back of the stack.
It was the next picture that held
his attention riveted, as his hands began to shake. Dom, Uncle Mikey, and Chuck were standing in front of the limo
from the last photo. Dom kills
people for Uncle Mikey.
His pulse racing he quickly went to
the next picture and stopped, his fingers losing their grip and sending
the snapshots sliding to the bedspread
in disarray as his jaw dropped. Unable
to believe what his mind said he saw, he groped for the pictures and looked
again. He dared his brain to be
wrong. NOOOOOO! Somehow the black and white photograph with
it’s textures of gray made the image of his uncle’s hand on the knife imbedded
in Chuck’s torso so real. The muscles
on his hand appeared chiseled in stone.
The furious look in his Uncle’s eyes was expertly captured, and for a
fleeting moment he almost felt sorry for Chuck. Almost.
In shock he looked to the last
picture for some sort of trick, and saw Chuck in a long shallow grave,
somewhere in the middle of a barren desert, Dom shoveling sand to cover him
from prying eyes.
CHUCK WAS DEAD!
He could feel the blood drain from
his face. Small beads of perspiration
formed on his upper lip, and he looked frantically around the room. All of a sudden he had the feeling that he
wanted to hide. That same feeling he
had when he came home as a boy to see Chuck occupying a seat at the dining
table. He spied the bathroom door and
on shaky legs staggered forward. He
pulled the door shut, pushing the lock down in the same motion.
SAFE.
But no sooner had the thought registered
then the muscles of his thigh began to quiver.
In an effort to stop them, he fell to his knees, then wondered as the
feeling moved slowly upwards. Oh
God, it’s just like when I was a kid.
However this time the nausea would not be ignored. It would not stay inside. Placing one arm along the back of the toilet
bowl, he let his head drop and spewed out all the revulsion, guilt and
fear. Almost an entire lifetimes worth. When it stopped, he rested a minute, his
eyes tightly shut. After a few tentative
breaths he realized it was over. He
reached up with his free hand and felt for the cool metal handle of the flush
and pulled, opening his eyes just a crack to make sure the last of it
disappeared.
It was over. No, it was almost over. With the slow movements of a condemned man
just set free from ankle restraints, he began tearing each photo into tiny
pieces and casting them into the bowl.
They floated on the surface of the
water and started to form a sort of obscene mosaic. He watched for some sort of pattern to emerge, but there was
nothing. A great
wonderful......nothing. With each rip,
he felt himself freed, just as he was freeing his Uncle from certain imprisonment. The photos would incriminate him forever if
found, and as he had set Joey free, Joey gave him back his life.
Flushing for a final time, he tried
to stand and quickly realized he was going nowhere. Dragging a towel from bar on the shower door, he bunched it up
and weakly allowed his head to drop into it’s waiting embrace. Within moments he was fast asleep.
Waking thirty minutes later,
according to the luminous dial on his watch, he marveled at how relaxed he
felt. His arms and legs were like
weights. His head to heavy to pick up. If something were really wrong this was a
wonderful way to experience it, he determined.
Slowly, as reality returned he gingerly moved his head and felt his
muscle strength returning to his body.
He had experienced total relaxation for the first time in as long as he
could remember. No fear. For once he had been taken care of . Deciding he’d been weak far too long, he sent up a quick volley of
prayers to God to forgive his Uncle Mikey, and to ask for absolution over
feeling so relieved that Chuck was finally dead.
Standing, he rinsed his mouth with
water, then spying the toothbrush Lundy had left him, decided that a thorough
brushing would make him feel even better.
Next he’d take a shower, he decided as he rinsed away the last of the
toothpaste. Life was waiting, and he
hated hospitals.
Stripping he stepped into the shower
and adjusted the spray to the right
speed and temperature. Hot and fast. Just how he liked it. As
the water beat down on his bruised body his mind seemed to detach itself from
the sensations and wander, thoughts randomly assailing him. Religious guilt, moral questions, would they
ever stop, he wondered as the water continued to pelt his back, kneading now
loosened muscles. Would God forgive his relief at Chuck’s death? Would his occasional suicidal tendencies be
overlooked? Was it okay to be a cop and
look the other way at a known killer?
Did it matter? Did anything
matter except that he was loved?
That was it. He was loved. Uncle Mikey had picked and he had won, dispelling his darkest
fear that he didn’t matter to anyone.
As the water cooled he automatically shut off the shower and grabbed the
one remaining towel he could find.
Briskly drying his healing body, he winced when the towel hit his
hip. Positioning himself in front of
the small bathroom mirror, Joey grimaced as he took in the yellow and purple
bruises on his abdomen, the reddened scars where the chest tubes were inserted
and then there was his hip. It didn’t
look a lot better than his chest, and hadn’t someone said something about his
brain swelling? It all seemed so unreal
somehow, kinda like the remnants of a nightmare that you fleetingly remember
when you are semi conscious, but fly away as you open your eyes.
Running both hands through his thick
black hair, he allowed his fingers to probe for a sore spot on the right side
of his head. As he found the spot of
the burr hole, he glance sideways at the mirror
and fleetingly caught a glimpse of a
man, his well muscled arms upraised, and his chest bare, and realized that
while the old threats were gone the feelings would never fully be laid to rest
as long as the appraising looks from
others continued. As he watched his cowlick
slowly forced a lock of hair to droop over his forehead again. He smiled slightly. The looks from others would always be there,
but this time he could live with them.
Uncle Mikey cared.
Digging through the chest of
drawers, looking for some clothes to put on rather than the hospital gown he
had worn for days, he found some of what had to be Levon’s clothes. Only a
pair of jeans and a t-shirt.
What he wouldn’t give for a nice tank top or a silk shirt, and some
civilized pants.
“Oh well,” he muttered, “Make do
with what you have,” he added as he started trying to fit his legs into Lundy’s
jeans. Sucking in air as they reached
his hip, he decided he’d have to for-go the pants and settle for just the
t-shirt. Perhaps Levon could be
persuaded to bring a pair of his in when he came later that night.
As he slowly got his arms into the
shirt he noted that his mind was not focusing well again, as more questions
came unbidden, and this time they needed immediate answers. Deep in
thought, contemplating how Uncle Mikey
had found out his darkest secret, who else knew, and whom each of them had
told, he failed to hear the door open, until he heard, “Mr. LaFiamma, what are
you doing out of your bed and in street clothes?”
“Dressing then leaving. What’s it look like?” he snapped, as he
turned to glare at the intruder. His
face immediately softened as he saw the look of concern in the nurses
face. It was nurse Farrell, and Lundy
had talked warmly about her. He
remembered her checking in on Lundy frequently although she was not one of his
nurses. “I’m sorry, didn’t mean to snap
at you. Seems to be a character
flaw....” he stammered as he flashed her his dazzling smile, hoping that would
take care of matters.
“No problem, we’re gettin’ used to
ya,” she teased, then as she watched him blush slightly she added, “I’m looking
for Levon. Figured he would be here
with you.”
“Haven’t seen him today.”
“Well let him know I was looking for
him.”
“Sure thing, nurse Farrell. Oh, by the way is there anything I should
know, or do you just have a thing for blonde cowboys?” Joey asked.
“Just want him to know someone is
concerned about him.”
“Everyone is always concerned about
Levon,” he said, a touch of derision creeping into his voice. At the nurses puzzled look, he lifted his
eyebrows slightly in a what am I saying look, and said, “I really don’t make a
good patient, do I?”
As she grinned, he relaxed. The focus was off of his emotions, now he
just needed to redirect them to Lundy.
He had not had much time to consider his partners mental health lately,
and had just assumed that he was doing better since Lundy said Joanne hadn’t
sent him to the shrink.
“Um......nurse Farrell, should I be
concerned about my partner?” he asked softly.
“I guess that is really up to you to
decide. Partners seem to know best what
each other needs. I know. My son is an officer. When you were first brought in, Lundy didn’t
sleep, eat, or move from your bedside.
I was very concerned, since I had seen my son do much the same thing
when his partner was badly wounded.
Then when you did come around, he still moped, and I began to watch for
him, hoping that just a word or two would let him know someone cared. Maybe you’re not aware, but most people show
great concern for the wounded person, and seem to forget that others are
suffering as well. He seems better now,
but there seems to be a sadness underlying many of his solitary moments. You judge.” she finished, starting to shut
the door.
“Thanks for telling me,” she heard
LaFiamma say quietly, as she pulled the door firmly shut, a satisfied smile on
her face. Her plan had worked. Partners took care of partners, and her
blonde cowboy needed looking after.
“Damn,” Joey swore softly. Levon!
How could he have forgotten him.
Being unconscious didn’t seem like enough of a reason. He’d have to figure out the lay of the land
soon. Good thing he was expecting Levon
shortly. What the hell. Picking up the phone, he tapped his fingers
impatiently against the bed railing, as he silently willed Lundy to pick
up.
On the fifth ring he was rewarded
with, “Lundy.”
“Hey Lundy, do me a favor? Stop by my apartment on your way here and
get me a decent change of clothes.”
“How ya doing yourself,” Levon spat
at his partners assured voice.
“Fine. Did I miss something?” Joey responded.
Shaking his head, Levon answered,
“No. Just getting tired of running to
the hospital for an ungrateful partner.”
“Hey Lundy, I said thank you for the
ribs. What’s eating at you? Oh, and if you want to quit making these
trips here, get me the clothes and I’ll check out. Right now I look kinda
ridiculous sitting here in your shirt, and no pants. Seems you are quite a bit smaller than I am,
or you subscribe fully to the ridiculous Texan custom that states.....unless
the pants are too tight the women don’t know what they’re buying. Now are you coming or not?”
God that man riled him up. Time to call Mother Minnie for another dose
of calm, before he went by his partners apartment to fulfill his request. “Yeah, I’ll be there. Anything to get ya out of my clothes. God LaFiamma, I just finished my laundry.”
“Sorry! I’ll have this smelly t-shirt dry cleaned for you then,” LaFiamma
snapped as he slammed down the phone.
God that man riled him up.
Taking a few deep centering breaths, he willed his body to relax. He intended to leave the hospital today, and
he needed to look calm, and pain free.
Tensing and arguing with the most pig headed man in Texas would not help
his cause. In a mood like this he was
liable to rip Lundy’s head off.
He knew that he wasn’t mad at Lundy,
but rather he was mad at himself, for not taking the time to notice his
partners moods. Lundy hadn’t been doing
to good before the accident, and nothing much had changed for him. Just because he was being looked after by
his partner, as well as his family, didn’t mean that he should not have been
aware of his partner. Thoroughly
disgusted with himself, he settled back to patiently await either the doctor or
Levon, whichever arrived first. Within
minutes, he recalled that patience was not a virtue of his, and was swinging
his legs over the side of the bed, began
pacing, when the door opened, and Dr. Mahadavai entered a large
clipboard in his hands.
“Afternoon Dr. Aren’t you a little early today?”
“I’m playing a round of golf later,
if you must know, so I thought I’d clear my schedule. Any problem with that Mr. LaFiamma?” Dr. Mahadavai asked with a smile.
“None at all, doctor, as long as you
intend to sign my release papers today before you leave.”
Slowly placing the clipboard on the
bed, Dr. Mahadavai moved around to where he was standing directly in front of
Joey. “So you are ready to leave, are
you?”
“Yes doc. I am.”
“I was thinking tomorrow morning
would be a good time for an evaluation, but......” he held up his hand to
forestall the words forming on LaFiamma’s lips, “I will do it now. If you clear me I’ll release you.”
“Fair enough doc. What do I need to do?”
“First we will take a thorough look
at you,” he answered, reaching over to push the call button for the nurse on
duty. “Please bring Mr. LaFiamma’s full
chart to his room immediately, nurse.”
The mechanical sounding voice
answered, “Yes Doctor, right away,” over the bedside intercom.
“While I’m waiting for the nurse,
I’ll just begin by looking at your head,” Dr. Mahadavai said, as he moved to
the head of the bed and delicately probed the incision site. As he was asking, “Does this hurt when I press on it?” he heard the nurse
enter.
“No doc,” Joey replied. “No pain at all.”
“Good. Nurse, we are evaluating Mr. LaFiamma to see if he is ready for
release. Please make notations of all his responses on the chart for me.”
“Yes Doctor,” the nurse responded.
“Any headaches? Nausea? Dizziness?”
“None doc,” Joey answered, deciding
against explaining how he spent the better part of the morning laying in the
bathroom, to dizzy to get up.
“Okay, lets get this t-shirt off of
you,” The doctor instructed as Levon entered the room.
While Joey was removing his shirt,
the nurse said, “Afternoon Levon. While the doctor added, “I’m afraid I’m going
to have to ask you to leave until the examination is over. It shouldn’t take over fifteen minutes,
unless he gets hotheaded. You can just
wait outside.”
“Fine by me,” Levon snapped, tossing
LaFiamma’s clothes on the bed. “Call me
if ya need me, doctor” he added as he hastily exited.
“Wonder what’s eating him?” Joey
said softly, then added, “Lets get on with it Doc.”
“Okay, I’m going to take a good look
at your chest and abdomen. I will be
looking for any signs of heat in any incision site as well as excessive
tenderness. Mr. LaFiamma, if you notice
or feel any pain that does not seem normal, I fully expect you to be honest
with me. You will not be able to help
your partner if you have a relapse, and they are not uncommon, when people try
to do too much to soon.”
“I’ll be honest, doc,” Joey
answered, his face sincere as he crossed his fingers behind his back. He was leaving come hell or high water.
The probing was painful, yet not
severe, and while the bruised areas were tender, Joey found that he didn’t need
to lie at all. There was pain, but
nothing that he could not tolerate.
Nothing that would keep him from doing paperwork, and knowing his
partner, there would be scads of paperwork.
“Noted doctor,” the nurse replied.
“Fine, now I’m going to check the
hip, although I do not anticipate any problems in that regard. Then you will walk for me.”
“Okay doc,” Joey replied as he shifted
to his left side to allow the doctor a good examination angle for his hip. That done, he rose and swung his legs over
the side of the bed, preparing to walk for the doctor, when he noticed the
nurses eyes, staring directly at his lower extremities. “Uh...I’ll just slip my pants on before the
walk, if that’s okay?” he questioned.
“I’d rather watch your hip muscles,
Mr. LaFiamma,” Dr. Mahadavai stated then watched as his patient slowly inclined
his head toward the staring nurse, and added, “But for you, I’ll make an
exception.”
“Thanks doc,” Joey responded looking
through the bag of clothes Levon had brought him. Selecting a pair of black pants, he struggled into them as
quickly as possible, since they presented a barrier to the nurses eyes.
As he watched Joey walk, pace
rather, around the room, like a controlled panther ready to pounce, Dr.
Mahadavi was glad that he noticed his patients head movement and allowed him
the dignity of clothes, even thought they made the exam harder. The nurse was still watching his every
move. Come to think of it, all the
nurses were available this week for duty, shifts were being fought over, and he
had heard words like, gorgeous, sex slave, and exactly what I want warming my
bed so many times he was almost immune to them. Every one was about the man still pacing the room, desperate to
leave. As understanding dawned, he
realized that the man probably had received dozens of phone numbers, innuendos,
and propositions since regaining consciousness. Feeling sorry for the man in front of him, he said, “That will
do. You may relax. Nurse, please leave the chart then you can
resume your other duties.”
“Certainly doctor,” she replied
placing the chart in his hands. “Mr.
LaFiamma, I’ll be back to bathe you and help you dress if the doctor gives you
permission to leave.”
“That’s not necessary, but thanks,”
Joey stated firmly. “I think that from
here on out I can take care of myself.”
“I don’t mind,” She answered
sweetly. “Helping you is always a
pleasure.”
“I said, No!” Joey again asserted,
then turned back to the doctor and asked, “Well?” a hint of desperation in his
eyes.
As the nurse pulled the door shut
behind her, Dr. Mahadavai said, “I can see no reason to keep you, except for
rest. If you can promise me you will
take it easy for the next week, I’ll sign the discharge papers, and have your
medicines brought around.”
“I promise doc. Anything to get out of here. I’ll even put up with my partners foul
mood,” he added grinning.
“I’m trusting you, Mr. LaFiamma,”
Dr. Mahadavai stated, signing the release papers he held in his hand. “May I ask you one other question before you
go?”
“Anything doc. You’ve been very patient.”
“Does this happen often?”
“Does what happen often?” Joey questioned,
not wanting to discuss anything personal at all.
“Do women make this type of fuss?”
“Honestly doc,” Joey began as
weariness descended to replaced his recent happier outlook at the news he would
be leaving, “It happens all the time.
Women, men makes no difference.
They’re all the same. It’s
tiring but you learn to live with it.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be, it can be helpful
too. Can you send Lundy in on your way
out?”
“Sure thing, Mr. LaFiamma. A nurse will be up with your meds and instructions,
then you can leave. No driving for a
week. Understood?”
“No problem, doubt I have anything
left to drive.” He would make some
calls about that as soon as he had a chance.
He would need a car, and he knew just the one he wanted.
Smiling, Dr. Mahadavai left,
thinking about how the staff room would be very flat with out the antics of Mr.
Joseph Anthony LaFiamma to discuss.
Looking for Lundy in the hallway, he was rewarded to see him standing
just a few doors away from his partners room.
Placing an arm around his shoulders he steered the man toward his
patients room saying, “He needs careful monitoring for a few days. Don’t let him drive, work to hard, and make
sure he rests and eats well. All are
crucial for a quick full recovery. Also he needs to take his medications. I’m not entirely confident that he will
follow through. Many patients
conveniently forget medication as soon as they can, which is usually as soon as
they pass through the hospital doors.”
“I’ll make sure he doesn’t overdo it
doc. Thanks for everything,” Levon
said, then added, “You did an excellent job taking care of him. Thank you.
I didn’t want to lose him.”
“Good luck Mr. Lundy, I fear you
have your hands full,” Dr. Mahadavai said, smiling then moved off to his next
patient leaving Levon standing right outside LaFiamma’s door.
Back to fic page – Part 1 – Part 2 – Part 3 – Part 4 – Part 5 – Part 6 – Part 7 – Part 8