Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ A Shared Heart ❯ Chapter 2 ( Chapter 2 )

Title: A Shared Heart (revised)

Author: Vega-Lume

Beta: Krista

Disclaimer: I don't own the boys; I just like to play with them. (hee hee) and I do promise to put them back when I am done. (has fingers crossed behind her back)

Warning: Angst (duh), A/U, and my sorry attempts at humor.

Pairings: 2x1, 3x4x3, and 5xSally

 

Please read the notes at the end.

 

Hugs to Krista for the wonderful beta job!

 

 

For Naomi, who even though she retired from the fandom, will always be considered my friend.

 

 

A Shared Heart Chapter 2

By Vel

 

Deep blue eyes slithered open just as Dorothy placed the phone back on the table after talking with Duo for the second time. Sighing, Dorothy turned her gaze toward her stepmother who seemed to be sleeping rather fitfully. She rose to comfort the woman only to stop when a chilled hand came to rest on her arm.

 

“Heero…” she breathed. The boy looked up at her with a weary expression. “Are you okay? Do you need something?” His lips moved but no sound came forth. Leaning down so her ear was nearly touching the oxygen mask, she strained to hear him.

 

“My chest hurts.” He managed to rasp out again, his voice sounding nearly breathless.

 

“I'll get a nurse,” she said turning towards the door just in time to see her father walk in holding a tray of insulated foam cups.

 

“Dad!” She nearly shouted. “He's awake, he says his chest hurts.” Odin nodded and hurried off to find a nurse.

 

Linda, roused by Dorothy's exclamation had all but flown from the chair to her son's bedside.

 

“Hi, sweetie.” She said softly, running a tender hand through his messy hair. He was still very pale and his lips had a faint blue tint. Before anymore could be said Dr Perkins and a nurse appeared checking over Heero's vitals and administering a painkiller for the pain in his chest. The damage caused by the resuscitation had caused deep bruising of the muscles across his ribs making it painful to breathe.

 

Dorothy stood towards the back of the room while the hospital staff and her parents fussed over her brother. Heero seemed too weak to care what they did to him and looked more then ready to go back to sleep when the painkillers began to kick in.

 

Though she feared that he might never wake up if he went back to sleep, Linda helped her son settle in by tugging the afghan up to the boys' chin and watching as he drifted into a light slumber.

 

Heero seemed to drift in and out of consciousness over the next few hours. The three took turns watching over him so that someone was always there whenever he opened his eyes.

 

At around noon Odin gave Dorothy ten dollars and sent her off to get something to eat at the café that was across the street from the Hospital.

 

When the young blond woman returned she was shocked to see Heero's room teeming with activity. There were doctors everywhere, and her Dad was standing over by the nurse's station talking with Heero's regular doctor, while Linda stayed in the room with Heero.

 

The doctors seemed to getting ready to move him.

 

Dorothy ran towards the nurse's station and panted, “What's going on?”

 

 

Odin beamed at her. “Heero got a heart;” He crowed lifting her up and spinning her once before setting her back down, “ The doctors are getting him ready for surgery.” He seemed to deflate after he was done speaking and Dorothy could see the myriad of expressions fly across his face; relief, hope, anxiety, and above all fear. She could understand why. Though a heart had been found he might not survive the operation.

 

The doctor cleared his throat, and both Odin and Dorothy gave him their undivided attention.

 

“The operation should go well. Though Heero is very weak now, his regaining consciousness is very good sign of how strong he is. The heart I am told is only forty-five minutes away and should be just about the right size. We're taking him to pre-op now and we'll be administering the immunosuppressants [1], you'll be able to see him for a moment before he's taken in for the actual surgery,”

 

Taking her father's hand, Dorothy followed him to Heero's room. He had been changed into a hospital gown and moved to a gurney rather then wheeling his comfortable bed to the operating room.

 

“Hello, my boy. How are you holding up?” Doctor Perkins asked placing a gentle hand on Heero's shoulder. Heero flashed a tired smile at the man and gave him the thumbs up.

 

“You heard the man!” Doctor Perkins beamed “Let's go.” Linda leaned down placing several kisses on her son's face, as the gurney was wheeled past, both Odin and Dorothy gave him kisses and reassuring touches as well.

 

After Heero was taken away by the doctors and nurses, Odin stepped across the room and pulled his wife into a tender embrace. “He'll be fine,” He whispered into her ear “He'll be fine…”

 

+++

 

“Ma'am?” Caroline Solovan raised tear-filled eyes up from the battered and bandaged form of her son. “My name is Doctor Amelia Rosewood.”

 

Mrs. Solovan accepted the doctors offered hand shaking it gently.

 

“I'm sorry; we have done every test I could think off. There's nothing we can do.”

 

“Wh…What do you mean?” She whispered

 

“I'm afraid that he's not going to pull through.” The doctor said her face bearing that almost neutral expression that doctor's rely on when they have to give bad news.

 

“Oh God no!” She sobbed clinging to the doctors' white lab coat. After several long moments the doctor spoke again.

 

“I know that this is very hard for you, but have you ever given a thought to organ donation? There are many people, children included that would benefit greatly from this decision.”

 

 

Wiping her eyes with a tissue Caroline nodded. “Do it, I know that that is what he would have wanted.”

Smiling kindly Dr. Rosewood placed a gentle hand on the grieving woman's shoulder.

 

“I'll give you a few moments. A nurse will come and take him to the OR. After the operation he will be closed up and thoroughly cleaned. You can then have whomever you have made arrangements with come by to collect him. If you need more time we can keep him here for a few days.” The doctor said gently, her hand resting softly on the devastated mother's shoulder.

 

Caroline nodded clutching her son's coat to her chest. A male nurse had brought Solo's personal effects to her while Dr. Rosewood was explaining what would happen after the operation.

 

“If you need help finding a reputable funeral home, the head nurse will be able to give you a list.”

Caroline nodded. Dr Rosewood then turned to the nurse that had brought in Solo's things and spoke to him in a hushed tone. The man nodded and stepped over to Caroline.

 

“I'll wait right out side, take a few moments. When you are done I will take you through to a waiting room and grab that list for you. There's a phone in the room feel free to use it as long as you need to.”

 

With a gentle touch to the woman's shoulder he turned back to Dr. Rosewood and the pair left the room, closing the door softly behind them.

 

Still clutching the jacket, Caroline approached her son. Closing her eyes in effort to remember the way he was, she placed a hand over his strongly beating heart and said her final good-byes…

 

+++

 

 

“He's ready. The heart is still in transit so you have about ten minutes. The pre-op drugs have already been administered so he's going to be very groggy.”

 

Linda thanked the doctor tears steaming down her cheeks.

 

Dr. Perkins smiled at her patting her shoulder reassuringly. “He's a strong boy. One of the strongest boys', that I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. He has an excellent chance of making a full recovery.”

 

“Doctor?” Dr. Perkins turned to a young nurse that was leaning out of the pre-op door.

 

“Yes, Melissa?”

 

“The heart just arrived.” She said with a smile.

 

“Right,” Dr Perkins said firmly.” Okay he is just through there. Take a moment to visit, and when the heart's ready a nurse will show you to the waiting room.”

 

Linda raised a beckoning hand so that Odin and Dorothy knew to come over. The pair rose from where they were seated and joined Linda and Dr. Perkins.

 

“I'm going to scrub up. When the operation is done I'll come and find you, alright?”

 

“Yes, Doctor. Thank you for all that you have done for us.” Odin said shaking the other man's hand.

 

“My pleasure. Now if you'll excuse me…” Dorothy threw her arms around the doctors' shoulders whispering her thanks as well. Smiling Dr. Perkins patted the young woman's back. He had known Dorothy for several years now, and had seen her grow from a gangly skinny child into the beautiful young woman she was today.

 

“Now, now dear, go be with you dad and step-mom. You can hug me all you want when I see you again.”

Smiling she let go and joined her parents, who had already gone into the pre-op room.

 

Heero lay on the gurney, his hair covered in a cloth cap. A tube that was placed beneath his nose had replaced his oxygen mask.

 

His eyes were barely open but it was clear that he was awake. His hand was patting his mother's gently as Linda rested her cheek against his.

 

“We'll all be right here when you wake up.” Linda said softly.

 

Heero closed his eyes, a faint smile gracing his lips. Not much more was said after that as Melissa stepped in.

 

“It's time,” was all she said, and began unlocking the wheels on the gurney.

 

After placing a few more kisses on Heero's face the family watched, as its youngest member was rolled into the operating room.

 

Once Heero was gone, another nurse named Beth came to take them to the waiting room. Smiling gently she left the family alone.

 

“Linda, Dorothy, come here please?” The two women nodded at Odin and joined him where he sat on a long sofa. Grasping the women's hands he closed his eyes.

 

“Our Father, thou art in Heaven. Hallowed be thy name…”

 

+++

 

“Hello?”

 

“Midge?”

 

“Yes, who is this?”

 

“It's Caroline, Edward's mother.”

 

“Edward…”

 

“His friends call him Solo.”

 

“Oh yes, Caroline. I remember you; we met at the community picnic last year, right?”

 

“Yes, that's right.”

 

“What can I do for you?”

 

“There was an accident. Duane and Edward were hurt.” It took a moment for Midge to place faces with the names. It clicked that she had meant `Duo and Solo'

 

“My son died…”

 

“Oh God Caroline, I'm so sorry.”

 

“D… Dorothy needs to be told. And I don't have the numbers for their other friends could you please…”

 

“Of course I could call them or get them for you. Where are you, which hospital?”

 

“Both Helen and I are at the University hospital. Midge?”

 

“Yes?”

 

“I need a ride, do you think, I mean could you…”

 

“I'll come as soon as I can.” After saying good-bye Midge hung up and dialed another number.

 

The phone rang several times before an answering machine picked up.

 

“Hello, you have reached the Lowe residence…” Linda's sweet voice stated, “…we're not home right now so please leave your name, number and a time to call back and we'll call you just as soon as we can. Bye!”

 

There was a faint click just before a long beep.

 

“Dorothy, it's mom I need you to call me right away.” Midge hung up, sighing. She had no idea when they would get home and she needed to speak with her daughter now.

 

Grabbing her address book she flipped a few pages until she found the one she was looking for.

 

`Heero: Primary Children's Hospital room C-4' the full address and phone number were listed beneath Heero's name.

 

Lifting the receiver, Midge dialed the number.

 

“Primary Children's this is Rosy speaking. How may I direct your call?”

 

“Yes, I need Heero Yuy's room, C-4.”

 

“One moment please…” Midge could hear the sound of typing drift over the phone line. “I'm sorry ma'am but that patient's room is unavailable at this time. If you would like you can leave a message with me and I'll see that his family gets it.”

 

“Yes, thank you. My name is Midge Catalonia. My daughter Dorothy is Heero's stepsister. She's there visiting. The message is `Call mom as soon as possible.' ”

 

There was a pause on the line as Rosy wrote down the message. “Alright, Ms. Catalonia, I'll see to it that Dorothy gets the message.”

 

“Thank you Miss.” Midge replied.

 

“Is there any thing else I can do for you?” Rosy asked.

 

“No. Thank you. Good-bye.” Midge answered. Sighing, she rubbed at her temples, trying to fend off the migraine that was creeping around her eyes.

 

How on Earth was she to tell her daughter that one of her closest friends was dead?

 

+++

 

“How are you holding up kiddo?” Dr. Perkins asked from behind his sanitary mask.

 

“Alright…” Heero's soft voice said drowsily.

 

Dr Perkins nodded to the anesthesiologist, who leaned forward placing a mask over the youths' nose and mouth.

 

“Okay, breathe in deeply then count back from ten.”

 

Heero did what he was asked and inhaled deeply. “Ten, nine, eight, s…seven, si…x…”

 

“He's out doctor.” Melissa said.

 

Nodding, Dr Perkins moved to the side of the table and lifted the thin blanket away with a gloved hand, revealing Heero's bare chest.

 

After swabbing the entire surface of the boy's scared chest [2] with a strong antiseptic he turned to Melissa.

 

“Scalpel…”

 

T.B.C.

 

Mawahahaha!

 

Vel's Note:

 

[1] To prevent rejection, patients receive immunosuppressants, drugs that suppress the immune system so that the new organ(s) is not damaged. Because rejection can occur anytime after a transplant, immunosuppressive drugs are given to patients the day of or before their transplant and thereafter for the rest of their lives.

 

[2] Heero's chest is scared because with his condition he would have had corrective surgery at least once in his life. From my research it would have been more like four or five times before he had even reached the age of six. At this time I am not sure how much I will elaborate on Heero's past so this note is just a heads up for the curious.

 

Okay I know squat about operations and such, just what I've seen on the TV so I kinda went with the stereotypical view of how operations appear on shows like ER. Open heart surgery is pretty nasty stuff with 10 inch long incisions and rib spreaders *shudders* so I didn't elaborate.

 

Beta's note

I watch the Discovery Channel and operations on the Learning Channel, so I've seen open heart surgery. The part that gets me is when they crack the ribs with the spreader. It's a wet sound indeed.