Original: To His Grave: Chapter 5
Jul. 18th, 2009 11:32 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
elvenavariTitle: To His Grave
Author:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
avari_maethor
Summary: This is not a story about romance. This is a story of friendship and how far that friendship goes.
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Some m/m situations mentioned however it is not a main piece of the story.
To His Grave
Chapter 5
“…Tommy needs a heart transplant.”
Those words kept repeating in the minds of the four that had heard it over and over again. At first the only reaction was the four of them paling and then slowly the news started to sink in bit by bit. Robyn started to cry, Daniel put his arm around his wife to comfort her but also himself, Eli could only stare at the doctor until pressure on his hand made him look down and realize that Tommy was squeezing his hand. Eli quickly returned the squeeze assuring him that he was there.
“It’ll be okay, Toms. This is one of the best hospitals there is. They will get you a heart and you’ll be good as new,” Eli told him before looking back at Dr. Tarvin. “Right? You’ll be able to cure him?”
Dr. Tarvin looked down at the floor, gathering his thoughts, before replying. “It won’t be that simple, I’m afraid. Tommy has been placed on the list for a heart transplant but…”
“The list is hundreds of names long,” Robyn said softly having brushed her tears away. “There are many people who are far worse condition than Tommy is. Should a heart become available what are his chances of getting it and surviving?”
“Should a heart become available in this area within the next year, given that Tommy doesn’t have anymore strong attacks, and it is the right size and healthy then his chances of getting it are fairly good. After the surgery Tommy would be placed in recovery and given medicines to try and help his body accept the new heart. I know this is a lot to take in all at once so take some time and discuss it. If you have any questions, you can call the hospital and make an appointment to see me. I encourage you not to wait too long… It is a very real possibility that Tommy could die while on the waiting list,” Dr. Tarvin explained. “For now you are free to leave, the nurses have a pager for you to pick up before you leave the grounds in case a heart becomes available. Avoid anything that could bring on an asthma attack. The fewer you have the better.” With that said, Dr. Tarvin excused himself.
After a few minutes of silence Daniel cleared his throat. “I’ll go get the pager from the nurses and take care of signing you out.”
“I’ll get Tommy ready to go home,” Robyn said with a nod. “Eli would you step out a moment so Tommy can get dressed?”
Eli nodded and gave Tommy’s hand another squeeze before stepping out into the hallway. His mind was in turmoil over the news that the doctor had given them. Tommy had given no reaction other than paling and squeezing his hand but that didn’t say much of what was actually going through his mind.
A heart transplant… That had to be one of the most dangerous surgeries there was. Dr. Tarvin had said that Tommy could easily die while on the waiting list. Eli’s own heart froze for a second at the thought of losing his best friend. He swallowed hard and blinked away the tears that threatened to come. The door to the room that had been Tommy’s since that horrible attack had happened opened and Robyn and Tommy stepped out. Eli gave Tommy what he hoped was a comforting smile as he wrapped an arm around the thinner shoulders.
Daniel gave Tommy the pager he would have to wear until the hospital received a heart as they approached the nurses’ station. Tommy stared at the small black object before hooking it to his front belt loop. The nurse behind the desk cleared her throat drawing their attention to her. She gave Tommy a smile and handed him a folder explaining that it contained everything he needed to know about what to do until the pager went off, when it went off and the details of a heart transplant. Tommy nodded his thanks and then looked at his parents pleadingly, wanting to leave the hospital as quickly as possible.
After making sure they had everything, Tommy’s parents led him and Eli towards the doors. “Tommy…” Daniel started. “Your mother and I have discussed this, you don’t have to return to school if you don’t want to. We can hire a tutor to come to the house and home school you. Homeschooling may cut down on your chances of having another asthma attack.”
Eli’s hand, which was still on his shoulder and his arm wrapped around Tommy’s back, tightened on the shoulder. He wouldn’t say so, but he hated that idea. If something happened to Tommy during the day… well at least he would be there. If Tommy were homeschooled he wouldn’t be there during the day. Tommy glanced at him and then looked back at his father.
“Thanks dad, but I don’t want to be homeschooled. I’ll take it easy, I promise. I’ll talk to the principal tomorrow morning; I’ll take this folder and explain the situation to him. The principal is very nice, I’m sure he’ll understand.” Daniel sighed but nodded.
“Eli, do you need a ride home?” Robyn questioned. Eli blinked in confusion for a moment and then remembered that a friend had given him a ride to the hospital that afternoon, his baby was in the shop getting the tires rotated.
“Yes, please,” he answered. Robyn nodded and they all walked to the car. The car ride from the hospital was fairly silent. Not even the radio could cut through the heavy thoughts that weighed on the occupants’ minds. Eli took to staring that the passing street lamps on the other side of the window. Each lamp zipped by in the blink of an eye…just like a life could… Some pressure on his hand stopped that thought before it could proceed further.
Eli turned his head and looked down at his hand. Tommy’s hand covered his, holding on tightly. Eli looked up to meet Tommy’s eyes but Tommy was looking out his own window. Looking back down at their hands Eli turned his hand so that both their hands were palm to palm and he squeezed back. He thought he saw a little upwards tug at the corner of Tommy’s mouth, but his face was turned too far to be sure.
Daniel stopped outside of Eli’s house and before he or Robyn could turn and see their intertwined fingers Eli let go of Tommy’s hand. Now Tommy turned to look at him as he got out of the car. If they had been anywhere else Eli would have leaned back in and kissed him… anything to take away the scared look in Tommy’s eyes.
“Thanks for the ride. I’ll see you in the morning, Tommy,” Eli told him. Tommy nodded.
“Bright an’ early,” Tommy agreed.
Eli smiled and closed the door. He watched the car pulled away to the driveway beyond the house that separated his and Tommy’s before heading inside. His mother had left a snack and a note out for him saying she had gone to bed early with a headache but she wanted to know all about Tommy and to leave her a note in the morning. Eli wrote a note while he ate his snack and then went upstairs to his room. Glancing over at Tommy’s window the lights weren’t on yet so he skimmed his English reading until the glow from the window drew his attention. He closed his English book and changed into his sleeping shorts and then waited for Tommy’s light to go off before picking up his flashlight. Eli pointed it and flashed the light twice to catch Tommy’s attention. Tommy appeared at the window a moment later.
“A-R-E-Y-O-U-O-K-A-Y” he flashed. He watched as Tommy gave him a soft smile and his head lowered before he picked up his own flashlight.
“N-O-B-U-T-I-W-I-L-L-B-E” Tommy gave Eli a more genuine smile as he put this flashlight down and disappeared from the window. Eli sighed putting down his own flashlight. Tomorrow would be better… it had to be.
Need to catch up on past chapters? Here you go!: Prologue | Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4
Author:
avari_maethorSummary: This is not a story about romance. This is a story of friendship and how far that friendship goes.
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Some m/m situations mentioned however it is not a main piece of the story.
Chapter 5
“…Tommy needs a heart transplant.”
Those words kept repeating in the minds of the four that had heard it over and over again. At first the only reaction was the four of them paling and then slowly the news started to sink in bit by bit. Robyn started to cry, Daniel put his arm around his wife to comfort her but also himself, Eli could only stare at the doctor until pressure on his hand made him look down and realize that Tommy was squeezing his hand. Eli quickly returned the squeeze assuring him that he was there.
“It’ll be okay, Toms. This is one of the best hospitals there is. They will get you a heart and you’ll be good as new,” Eli told him before looking back at Dr. Tarvin. “Right? You’ll be able to cure him?”
Dr. Tarvin looked down at the floor, gathering his thoughts, before replying. “It won’t be that simple, I’m afraid. Tommy has been placed on the list for a heart transplant but…”
“The list is hundreds of names long,” Robyn said softly having brushed her tears away. “There are many people who are far worse condition than Tommy is. Should a heart become available what are his chances of getting it and surviving?”
“Should a heart become available in this area within the next year, given that Tommy doesn’t have anymore strong attacks, and it is the right size and healthy then his chances of getting it are fairly good. After the surgery Tommy would be placed in recovery and given medicines to try and help his body accept the new heart. I know this is a lot to take in all at once so take some time and discuss it. If you have any questions, you can call the hospital and make an appointment to see me. I encourage you not to wait too long… It is a very real possibility that Tommy could die while on the waiting list,” Dr. Tarvin explained. “For now you are free to leave, the nurses have a pager for you to pick up before you leave the grounds in case a heart becomes available. Avoid anything that could bring on an asthma attack. The fewer you have the better.” With that said, Dr. Tarvin excused himself.
After a few minutes of silence Daniel cleared his throat. “I’ll go get the pager from the nurses and take care of signing you out.”
“I’ll get Tommy ready to go home,” Robyn said with a nod. “Eli would you step out a moment so Tommy can get dressed?”
Eli nodded and gave Tommy’s hand another squeeze before stepping out into the hallway. His mind was in turmoil over the news that the doctor had given them. Tommy had given no reaction other than paling and squeezing his hand but that didn’t say much of what was actually going through his mind.
A heart transplant… That had to be one of the most dangerous surgeries there was. Dr. Tarvin had said that Tommy could easily die while on the waiting list. Eli’s own heart froze for a second at the thought of losing his best friend. He swallowed hard and blinked away the tears that threatened to come. The door to the room that had been Tommy’s since that horrible attack had happened opened and Robyn and Tommy stepped out. Eli gave Tommy what he hoped was a comforting smile as he wrapped an arm around the thinner shoulders.
Daniel gave Tommy the pager he would have to wear until the hospital received a heart as they approached the nurses’ station. Tommy stared at the small black object before hooking it to his front belt loop. The nurse behind the desk cleared her throat drawing their attention to her. She gave Tommy a smile and handed him a folder explaining that it contained everything he needed to know about what to do until the pager went off, when it went off and the details of a heart transplant. Tommy nodded his thanks and then looked at his parents pleadingly, wanting to leave the hospital as quickly as possible.
After making sure they had everything, Tommy’s parents led him and Eli towards the doors. “Tommy…” Daniel started. “Your mother and I have discussed this, you don’t have to return to school if you don’t want to. We can hire a tutor to come to the house and home school you. Homeschooling may cut down on your chances of having another asthma attack.”
Eli’s hand, which was still on his shoulder and his arm wrapped around Tommy’s back, tightened on the shoulder. He wouldn’t say so, but he hated that idea. If something happened to Tommy during the day… well at least he would be there. If Tommy were homeschooled he wouldn’t be there during the day. Tommy glanced at him and then looked back at his father.
“Thanks dad, but I don’t want to be homeschooled. I’ll take it easy, I promise. I’ll talk to the principal tomorrow morning; I’ll take this folder and explain the situation to him. The principal is very nice, I’m sure he’ll understand.” Daniel sighed but nodded.
“Eli, do you need a ride home?” Robyn questioned. Eli blinked in confusion for a moment and then remembered that a friend had given him a ride to the hospital that afternoon, his baby was in the shop getting the tires rotated.
“Yes, please,” he answered. Robyn nodded and they all walked to the car. The car ride from the hospital was fairly silent. Not even the radio could cut through the heavy thoughts that weighed on the occupants’ minds. Eli took to staring that the passing street lamps on the other side of the window. Each lamp zipped by in the blink of an eye…just like a life could… Some pressure on his hand stopped that thought before it could proceed further.
Eli turned his head and looked down at his hand. Tommy’s hand covered his, holding on tightly. Eli looked up to meet Tommy’s eyes but Tommy was looking out his own window. Looking back down at their hands Eli turned his hand so that both their hands were palm to palm and he squeezed back. He thought he saw a little upwards tug at the corner of Tommy’s mouth, but his face was turned too far to be sure.
Daniel stopped outside of Eli’s house and before he or Robyn could turn and see their intertwined fingers Eli let go of Tommy’s hand. Now Tommy turned to look at him as he got out of the car. If they had been anywhere else Eli would have leaned back in and kissed him… anything to take away the scared look in Tommy’s eyes.
“Thanks for the ride. I’ll see you in the morning, Tommy,” Eli told him. Tommy nodded.
“Bright an’ early,” Tommy agreed.
Eli smiled and closed the door. He watched the car pulled away to the driveway beyond the house that separated his and Tommy’s before heading inside. His mother had left a snack and a note out for him saying she had gone to bed early with a headache but she wanted to know all about Tommy and to leave her a note in the morning. Eli wrote a note while he ate his snack and then went upstairs to his room. Glancing over at Tommy’s window the lights weren’t on yet so he skimmed his English reading until the glow from the window drew his attention. He closed his English book and changed into his sleeping shorts and then waited for Tommy’s light to go off before picking up his flashlight. Eli pointed it and flashed the light twice to catch Tommy’s attention. Tommy appeared at the window a moment later.
“A-R-E-Y-O-U-O-K-A-Y” he flashed. He watched as Tommy gave him a soft smile and his head lowered before he picked up his own flashlight.
“N-O-B-U-T-I-W-I-L-L-B-E” Tommy gave Eli a more genuine smile as he put this flashlight down and disappeared from the window. Eli sighed putting down his own flashlight. Tomorrow would be better… it had to be.
Need to catch up on past chapters? Here you go!: Prologue | Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4
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Date: 2009-07-19 06:40 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-07-19 02:56 pm (UTC)I will do my best not to disappoint.