Strike Up the Band (Sequel to Blind Faith)

Nine

Two hours after arriving at the nearest hospital–which was Alamance Regional Medical Center about ten miles away in Burlington–Richie found himself calling home with his first update. A thorough exam'd determined that the older brunette was better off being treated at Duke University Hospital down in Durham, 'cuz they were better prepared to handle his kinda injury. He wasn't too sure if that was true, or if it was just that the surgeon here at this hospital just didn't wanna have to actually work. All he knew was what he'd been told, and that they were packaging him up to be taken to the second hospital mentioned.

        "Hey there, hon," he said once he'd found a payphone to use and their shared wife answered.

        "How's he doing?" Lyric asked without missing a beat.

        "He's stable," the younger brunette answered. "They're packing him up to haul him down to Duke, though."

        "Thank the fuckin' Gods!" she practically screamed, making him wince as he pulled the receiver away from his head slightly. "I'd rather he be taken there!"

        "Any particular reason why?" Richie asked, sounding as confused as he did curious.

        "'Cuz ARMC's a bad habit of overdosing people when trying to treat severe pain," the young woman answered matter-of-factly. "In fact, I've heard a few too many stories of that happening, and the patient not surviving."

        "Fuck... Okay, yeah–I'm glad he's being transferred, too, if that's the case," he admitted.

        "Besides, Duke's better with spinal and other neurological surgeries," Lyric continued. "They were the ones who replaced the discs in my pappaw's neck, not to mention my mammaw's back surgery to correct her spina bifida."

        "So, you've a pretty good idea already of how well he'll be treated there," the younger brunette said, having a bit of a Light bulb moment.

        "Bingo. I hate Duke when it comesta their sports teams–particularly basketball–but their medical side's pretty much top-notch for North Carolina," she told him. "Only other place that might come anywhere near close's UNC, but I think even they're slightly below Duke."

        "I'm guessing ya know how to get there since I know damn good and well you're not staying home now?" Richie asked.

        "Well enough," the young woman chuckled. "Ya forget, I grew up in this area, so I know back roadsta get there that'd leave you on the shoulder scratching your head for hours."

        "Yeah, that sounds about right," he laughed. "Hell, I'ma have to follow the damn ambulance just to figure out where the hell I'm going, as it is."

        "Johnny and Nathan still with ya?" Lyric asked.

        When the younger brunette told her that the pair of teenagers were still with him, she said that if they went with him to Duke, too, listen to them. They may not know that area quite as well as she did, but they'd no doubt be able to find their way around better than he'd be able to, if he lost the ambulance. After all, he was about to cross damn near two and a-half countiesta get from ARMC down to Duke, and there were a metric fuck-ton of alternate routes between the two hospitals.

        Once he'd let her go so she could pack up the kids since he knew she was gonna, Richie headed off to find the teenagers who'd accompanied him. He ran his fingers through his hair, which he'd long since taken outta its braid since that combined with the stress of everything going on was starting to give him a headache. Part of him hoped they'd be on the move soon, but another part was kinda dreading having to head to Durham, too.