The Home Run

Chapter 2

Suddenly a knock came from the door and I pulled away and whipped my tears as Dr. Walker walked in. "Dr. Clark i think its best you take the day off. Before you argue with me, i think you should be here for him as a friend not as his doctor." he told me "ok" i replied and he looked shocked at my response but he nodded. "Can i disclose patient information while shes in here?" he asked alex smiling and alex nodded. "you have two fractured ribs which resulted in your pneumothorax. Were going to give you some medicine for pain and to hydrate you and we're going to keep you for observation" Dr. Walker announced "ok, thank you" alex replied "if you need anything don't hesitate to ask a nurse. Dr. Clark i suggest you go get changed so people know you're not working." Dr. Walker told us as he walked out. "i guess i should go do that. Ill be back" i told him and he nodded.

I walked to the locker room and changed into my T-shirt and pants and then made my way back towards alexs room. When i got there he was gone. "excuse me tracy whered room 3 go?" i asked the nurse at the desk "he is being transported to room 613" she told me "thank you" i replied and headed towards the elevator. When i got to the 6th floor i walked into his room and saw him in pain as he wasbbeing moved onto the bed. "move, back away" i told the nurse I've never seen before "move!" i told him again as i stepped in his way and grabbed alex's arm. "sorry ma'am you can't do that" the nurse said "and why the hell not?" i asked as alex sat down and placed his feet on the bed. "it's against hospital rules. The nurses have to help get patients in and out of bed" he said "well i outrank you, so i suggest that you get another nurse to switch with you" i told him "im sorry what?" he asked "i want another nurse. Can't you see he was in pain? Or were you too focused on getting him in the bed so you can get back to your word search?" i asked "I'm sorry sir" he told alex "can you just leave and tell Jessica i would like to change nurses?" i said annoyed and turned towards alex. "that was hot" he said smirking once the nurse left "shut up" i laughed and sat down "you really used the 'i outrank you' sentence" he laughed but then grabbed his side. "Anastasia please stop scaring away all of my nurses" Jessica said from the door. I turned around and saw her walking in with the nurse behind her. "sorry jess" i laughed and stood up and hugged her. "and sorry dude, but he was in pain." i said to the nurse. "hi im Jessica the nursing manager" she told alex "hello" he replied "Fredrick this is Dr. Clark, Dr. Clark this is Fredrick" Jessica introduced us. "how about instead of changing nurses, ill be your nurse for the day and Fredrick can watch and help out?" Jessica offered "perfect" i replied.

Once we got everything settled away i sat down next to alex again. "i really got hurt this time didnt i?" he asked "well the pneumothorax should heal within one to two weeks but the ribs are going to take the longest recovery time." i told him "how long?" he asked "it depends. It could take up to six weeks" i replied and he threw his head against the pillow. "i should've never hit him. As soon as i did the other team surrounded me. It was a pretty stupid thing to do" he said. "i woke up alright but as the day went on things got worse. During the game words were thrown around and i guess it got to me" he told me. "well i almost broke patient confidentiality today. So i guess both of us need to try to calm down" i told him "how is your mom?" he asked "shes fine. She moved here last year, after things got hectic" i told him "what happened?" he asked and i looked at him. I took a deep breath and opened my mouth to talk but before I could my phone rang. I pulled it out and noticed it was Diana. "hey" i answered it "hey where are you? Ive been texting you but you haven't responded." she said "oh something came up, whats going on?" i asked "lunch. Im down here all alone. Where are you?" she asked "oh gosh i totally forgot. Ill be there in a minute." i told her and hung up. "where are you headed?" Alex asked "i eat lunch with my friend diana every day and I forgot" i told him "why dont you guys eat up here with me? I think my lunch is on the way" he said "ill ask her but i cant promise anything" i smiled as i stood up and walked out.

I made my way to the cafeteria and quickly found diana. "hey, sorry. Do you mind if we eat with someone else today?" i asked as i jumped in the lunch line "sure. Who is it?" she asked "alex" i responded as i grabbed a fruit bowl and a sandwich "wait, the alex?" she asked "yea. Ill explain later" i told her as i walked towards the cashier. After we paid we went back to Alex's room. "oh you brought your friend i see" he smiled as we walked in "i did" i replied and sat in my original seat. "so alex, why are you here?" she asked and i glared at her "pneumothorax" he told her as he took a bite of his food. "oh you mean why am i here?" he asked and glanced back and forth between us "she told you?" he asked "she's seen a lot of my bad days." i told him "baseball. That's why I'm here" he told her. "well this got really awkward" i said.

After lunch diana went back to work and i stayed with alex until they told me visiting hours were over. I drove home and took a shower and tried to go to bed but sleep didnt come easy. In fact it didnt come at all. I had so many thoughts and only one person who might be able to help the big hole in my heart. So i grabbed a jacket and my car keys and went back to the hospital.