By the time Ian was returned to his room, he was in serious need of that Percodan drip. He was surprised at the ease in which he was brought back. He had to admit he was half disappointed he wasn’t handcuffed or at least grilled by the cops under a swinging naked light bulb.
He was simply wheeled back to his room, and hooked back up to the machines. They did take his pants though. As the Percodan began to take effect he wondered if people snuck out of the hospital a lot.
“You should have seen him, Miss Tippy…” Ripley gushed from his post.
“Oh honey, we did! They broke into regular programming on most stations. It was big news…”
“Slow news day…” Ian mumbled.
“Baby Doll, they way they put things before it started…if I didn’t know you were on your way, I would have been bawling my eyes out. They made it seem like they were waiting to announce that you had passed…”
“Probably how Kent got everyone to pay attention so quickly…” Ripley growled.
“You could even hear most of the hospital cheering as soon as we could see you walking up to the podium…ooh it just sent chills up and down my spine!”
“The look on Kent’s face was unmistakable when he saw you standing there!” Jesse laughed. “Bet they’ll never get the stains out of his shorts!”
“I’m glad you think this incident was funny!” The doctor had arrived and he was taking no prisoners.
“That’s my cue for coffee…” Jesse slipped out.
“Chicken!” Tippy yelled after him.
“Young man, I should have you and your cohorts arrested for the mockery you made of this hospital. You’re lack of respect is most unforgivable.”
“Mmmm…sorry…dock…” Ian was trying hard not to enjoy the Percidan drip while being chastised, but it was just too good.
“You may have just set your recovery back quite some time!” The doctor demanded. “Are they’re anymore musketeers unaccounted for?”
“Just…” Ian started to add.
“Shut up.” Tippy interrupted. She looked at the doctor. “There was one other, but she didn’t make it…” she bit her lip and hung her head.
The doctor cleared his throat. Tippy, Jesse and Ripley all started speaking and explaining at once. Ian just started humming “You Light Up My Life.”
“Okay! Okay! Enough!” The doctor threw up his hands. “Fortunately for you, I saw the conference, too. I’m not sure what was going on or why but Mr. Justyn you did a very brave, however stupid, thing. I trust the antics are all over with?”
Everyone nodded, except for Ian who wanted to know what ever happened to Debby Boone.
“Everyone will be following hospital policies at all times?”
Everyone nodded except for Ian, who wanted to know if he was wearing undergarments. Tippy patted him on the good thigh and said, “No honey, but that’s the way we like it…Doctor we promise to be good, we don’t I guarantee him!” She pointed at Ian.
“He’s a troublemaker all right!” The doctor grinned. “Doctor Evans, the physical therapist will be in later today to start set up a little physical therapy for him.”
“Good.” Tippy smiled looking at Ian who was checking to see if he had on underwear.
“Doctor I think that drip may be a teensy bit too high…” Tippy added.
“I’ll have a nurse double check in a moment.” The doctor swept his eyes around everyone in the room. “Shenanigans are over, and I expect company to be limited to three per bed. Understand?”
“Company? I love that show!” Ian replied and launched into “Being Alive”.
“Honey…” Tippy looked down at Ian.
“Somebody sweeten my coffee…” Ian sang.
“Baby Doll!” she slapped his bruised thigh. “Concerts over…quiet time.”
“Oh, thank you.” Ian whispered.
Reese and Billy entered the room. “I see the Dalton gang has reformed.”
“Shhhh! Quiet time!” Ian scolded.
Billy chuckled.
Ian peeked down his hospital gown. “I’m not wearing underwear, wanna see?”
“Uh…” Billy looked little frightened. “I’ll just stay right here, thanks though…” he sat on the bed.
“I better have a look at that drip.” The doctor stepped back to the bag and looked closely at the label and the clip. “Oh shit…”
Tippy grew concerned. “Is there a problem…?”
“No, Ms. Shores. I’ve got it under control now.” The doctor disconnected the bag from the spout going into Ian’s arm and pressed the buzzer on the wall. “Nurse get in here. Now!”
“Doctor, you are scaring me…” Tippy put her hand to her throat.
“I assure you, everything is under control. Unfortunately the little nozzle here…” He pointed to the bag and carefully tried to explain in terms she would understand. “Seems to be malfunctioning. It’s giving twice the normal dose, hence our little singer….”
The nurse entered. “Take this and….” He launched into some heavily technical stuff very calmly which was the only thing keeping Tippy from ripping his balls off. The doctor turned back to Tippy as he held up a bottle, sticking it with a needle and pulling back the plunger drawing some fluid into it.
“I’m just going to give some of this to Mr. Justyn, it will counter act the build up. He’s going to be uncomfortable for awhile, just until we can make sure that any possible overdose has been flushed from his system.”
The doctor attached the needle to the plug stuck in Ian’s hand and evenly pushed the plunger forward. “He should be more coherent and back to normal very quickly.”
The doctor explained what might have happened and when Tippy inquired if it was something that they could have done he assured her that it was a manufacturer’s error and that the nurse would be checking the entire stock and alerting other hospitals to the possibility.
By the time everyone was soothed, Ian hung his head and moaned, "I am so embarrassed.”
“Don’t be silly, Baby Doll. You aren’t the one wearing baggy faded boxer shorts.” Tippy said.
“Apparently, you’re not wearing any under shorts at all…” Billy added with a smile.
“If I wasn’t all tied up here I’d hide under the covers.”
“Don’t worry about it.” Billy chuckled.
“Well, I will see you in the morning.” The doctor bid adieu and took Tippy’s hand. “We’ll be keeping a close eye on Mr. Justyn, just to make sure there is no further reaction.”
“Thanks. You have a good night.”
Before leaving the room he turned to the small group. “Don’t let him talk you into anything.”
Tippy walked over to a drawer and opened it, taking out a pair of blue flannel pants. She walked over to Reese handed them to him. “Here, honey, Colton brought these for Ian see if you can get these on him. That thigh is still swollen but he’ll be a little more comfortable if we can slip them on him.”
“Thank you, Tippy. I appreciate it.” Ian said as Reese and Jesse tried to maneuver him enough to get pants on him.
The conversations came and went. Although very uncomfortable, Ian enjoyed his family and friends. At various times through the rest of the afternoon and the early evening it seemed like everyone Ian had met came in to say hello, all gushing about the news conference and commenting on the constant barrage of network coverage. Jeremy had a get well card that the boys had made him, and Ian had it put on a cabinet at the foot of his bed where he could see it constantly.
Finally a nurse came in and ran everyone out. Ian smiled and joked, but it was easy to see that he was overwhelmed by the parade that had come and gone. It had begun to rain. While his disposition was cheerful, Ian felt as cold and streaked as the rain.
At least when Dr. Evans came by he told them all that he needed Ian to be a little more mobile. That he could start going to the bathroom by himself, as long as someone helped him walk there and back.
That perked Ian up somewhat. He hated the bedpan, but less than the catheter. He felt dirty and grimy, and realized that other than some quick sponging by people who spoke no English he hadn’t had a real bath since Saturday morning. It was now Wednesday night. He wondered if the whole world could smell him.
Now he finally had a minute to himself. It still all seemed like a dream. He had so little growing up; it seemed that everything was in his head. Now that things were different, it just couldn’t fathom that it was all real. One thing for sure, it was all so fragile.
So much had changed, and still so little. He finally had a home, one that was all his. He had a great job, one that paid him big bucks to be creative and encourage creativity in others. He even had friends and family. Even his little boy was finally truly his little boy.
One thing still hadn’t changed. He looked out the window. The sun was gone and the moon signified the end of the old day. That new day had come and gone, and Ian was still alone.
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