Vices and Maces

Chapter 91: I Keep Going for the Legs...

CW: hospital, amputation, mention of frostbite

Patton walked back and forth as he watched the news on his phone. He was waiting for Logan to come out of surgery, but while he did, he distracted that one fear with another. Several people were being arrested, more people were pulled into ambulances. The hospitals were going to be full for a while...

No faces or names were shared of those dead or arrested. He wasn't sure if Roman or Virgil were okay. He didn't know who was there or who would be able to come out of this. Did Remus ever arrive? Who else came to the fight?

The news reported more and more people being declared dead as the hours went by. Eventually Patton couldn't stand the nauseating anxiety and turned off his phone. Unfortunately, it did not help.

What was happening to Logan that was taking the surgery so long? Are they having trouble removing the bullet? Of course they would, it's an ice bullet. It's an ice bullet! There was ice in his leg... they can't remove it without melting the ice. And that could burn Logan and cause permanent damage.

As Patton paced a hole in the ground, thinking about what could be happening, a doctor entered the waiting area.

"Patton Barkleigh?"

His head snapped over and he quickly walked closer. "Yes?"

"Your friend is out of surgery, please follow me," they said, turning around and opening the door. They started to make their way down the hall, Patton following quietly until the silence became unbearable.

"Is he okay?"

"He is in stable condition, yes."

"Were there any complications?"

"As much as I want to tell you, I cannot give you that information since you are not family."

Patton frowned. "With all due respect, he is my fiancé. Our wedding is planned for a few months from now!"

"I still cannot disclose that information, I am sorry."

"And... he's not awake to let me hear anything about this, is he?"

"He is, though I haven't been given any permission. And until the medicine wears off enough so he can form coherent thoughts, I still cannot give you permission."

"So what's the point of me being here?!" Patton stopped in the middle of the hallway, tears in his eyes. "What's the point of me following you?"

"Mr. Barkleigh, please take a deep breath and keep your voice down, there are other patients resting."

Patton did just that. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to yell. I'm just worried about my fiancé. Please... you have to be able to tell me something?"

The doctor sighed, looking conflicted. "Alright... I'm bringing you to him because he keeps asking for you. However before you go in... There were complications with the surgery. I am sorry. The ice crystal was in his legs for too long and there was permanent damage. His leg had to be amputated below the knee."

The words barely registered in Patton's mind. "What?" His legs felt weak, and it seemed like the air stood still.

"Truly, I wish we could have done more. Over time as he heals, he can learn to walk again with a prosthetic. But it will take time."

The doctor's voice sounded so far away as Patton's ears started to ring. "His-his leg..." What was he going to do now? First, Logan learns Patton works with a gang, then he loses his leg because of him. If Logan wanted to leave him... how could he blame him?

The rest of the walk to the room, hauntingly short, was quiet. Far too quiet and nerve wrecking. What was he going to do? What was Logan going to do?