Sideways

Chapter 7 Lichtenberg Figures

The faint and garbled beeping of the heart rate monitor is the first thing Eddie hears as he starts to come to. Then it's the smell of antiseptic, and Eddie knows for sure he is in the hospital... again. That is quickly followed by the pain he feels in his entire body, his left arm feeling like it is on fire. He has a second to think that it feels like he fell off the ladder truck when his eyes snap open as the night's memories come flooding in.

"Buck." At least, that's what he is trying to say. It comes out garbled, his mouth too dry. He slowly sits up and takes in his surroundings.

"Easy, Eddie," Chim says, sitting at his bedside but sounding much further away. He grabs Eddie a cup of water and hands it to him. "Slow sips Eddie. You're going to be dehydrated for a while." Eddie slowly drinks half the cup of water and hands it back to Chim.

"Buck? Where is Buck Chim?" Eddie says more confidently now. Chim says something, and Eddie can't hear him. "Can you say that again, Chim?"

Chim walks to the other side of the bed. "Eddie, there is some damage to your left ear. I will let the doctors fill you in on everything else. I'll stay on your right side so you can hear me."

"Chim, I don't care about me right now. Where is Buck? What do we know?"

"We don't know anything yet, Eddie. We stabilized him before handing him off. All they would tell us was that he was stable and that someone would be out to talk to us when they knew more. We need Maddie here before they will really tell us anything more."

"No, not Maddie. Me, they will talk to me." Eddie tries to sit up further and is held back by all the leads placed on his chest.

"Eddie, Maddie, his emergency contact and medical proxy, they won't tell us anything without her here." Chim says as he tries to push Eddie back down to the bed.

Eddie starts to argue back, as the curtain pulls back to reveal a tall older blond man with light skin. The name on his lab coat says, Dr. Stark. "Ah, Mr. Diaz, it's nice of you to join us."

"It's Eddie. Where is Buck?"

"I am sorry, who or what is a Buck?" Dr. Stark asks.

"The other firefighter who was brought in tonight. Evan Bu..." Chim is cut off by Eddie again.

"What can you tell me about his condition?" Eddie continues.

"We should worry about you right now, Eddie. Let's chat about you for a few minutes, and then I will see what I can find out about your co-worker."

"Fine."

"Well, Eddie, you are a fortunate man. From what we can tell, you were struck by lightning tonight and thrown from the top of a fire truck. As you can see by the leads all over your chest, we have you connected to the heart rate monitor to ensure there is no damage to your heart. The left side of your body seems to have taken the brunt of the damage. Your left eardrum is perforated. You will need surgery to repair the damage. The burns on your left shoulder and upper arm are from the strike. We need to do some neurological testing to ensure there is no lasting nerve damage. From what we have been told, you performed CPR on your co-worker. So, I am reasonably confident that there is no lasting damage. But we need to be sure. Do you know what Lichtenberg Figures are, Eddie?

Eddie looks at the Doctor and shakes his head no. Thinking to himself that Buck would know.

"Lichtenberg Figures appear on the body after someone is struck by lightning. It's the result of damage to the blood vessels. They are displayed in an almost fern-like pattern that spreads like a lightning strike. When you have a chance to look at yourself in the mirror, you will see what I mean. You have them down your left arm and upper body. They aren't permanent marks. I just wanted to warn you. We have you set for additional diagnostic testing in the morning."