Saturday, October 19th Pt. 7
(Demetri’s POV)
It’s worrisome yet a relief that he allows the mask to the nebulizer to touch his face so easily. I wasn’t certain, considering his previous reactions, how well he would accept it. The top half of his body shakes against me as Evelyn continues her testing.
“Cassius, were you able to find any towels? He’s really cold.” I ask causally.
I thank him with a silent nod as he grabs a large towel and places it around Cole’s shoulders.
“Make her stop.” I barely hear him whine through the mask.
I look down as his unmistakable discomfort increases to find that her sensory testing has continued further up his leg.
“I thought this was going to end once you established where his sense of touch started?” I ask.
I can hear the edge in my voice but I’m trying to maintain a calm respect despite the disrespect I feel this is towards Cole. I take a deep breath, willing myself to stay calm as she remains silent.
“Please stop. It hurts.” He whines again.
“Evelyn, I need you to stop. What you’re doing is painful.”
I try again fearing that she hasn’t heard him through the mask. She stops her tapping and looks briefly at me. She remains silent as she looks at Cassius. She sighs hard giving me the impression that she doesn’t want to continue but she does.
“Evelyn, I know you’re following Cassius’s directions through the link but he is not a doctor and he’s not Cole’s alpha. I am both and I need you to trust me when I tell you this needs to stop.”
I’m confused and concerned yet I feel helpless to protect Cole from the continuation of what is becoming a very painful situation.
“Cassius. Deven. Please. You need to stop this test not encourage it. The increasing pain is going to throw him into another panic attack and his asthma can’t handle another one.”
Just as I finish pleading with them she taps on a spot just above his knee. It’s obvious to me that she’s barely touching him with the end of the marker at this point but that doesn’t make a difference. He yelps and screams from the pain her touch creates. I wrap my arms around his chest, dropping the mask in the process. I’m steaming mad which increases Cole’s panic even more.
“No one says anything.” Cassius finally speaks.
His voice is stern but I really don’t care for either of them as it’s a little late for stepping in.
“Evelyn. This test is over. I need you to go into the bedroom, shut the bathroom door behind you. I need you to prepare the gurney with the absorbent pads and get the blanket heated up. I know how Demetri wants to react but his lashing isn’t yours to bear, it’s mine.”
Silently she stands and leaves. Her hurried pace makes me feel as if she is just as upset with Cole’s reaction as I am. Despite my anger all I can manage is to stare daggers at Cassius as he approaches the side of the tub. Somehow I maintain some resemblance of respect for the man who just forced Cole to endure a pain that only he knows the intensity of.
“I’m sorry Cole. I know you’re not able to understand the reason why but it was an important test to do.”
His voice is calm as he picks up the mask and places it gently upon Cole’s face.
“If you’re capable, I believe Cole would fare much better if you could calm yourself without the cuss-out I’m deserving of. I’m sorry but I can’t explain the importance of the test that was just done but I assure you it was necessary.”
I sigh as I relent, closing my eyes and ducking my head down into Cole’s hair. I use his scent to help me calm my anger. Cassius is right, cursing the people who just caused him pain will create more of an issue than letting it go. At least until he’s safely in the hospital wing.
“I’m going to bring Evelyn and Sadie back in. Evelyn is very upset with me for pushing this test.”
“She didn’t know?” I find my voice and strain to keep it controlled.
“It wasn’t planned. She wanted to stop when she found that he can’t feel anything below his knees. I didn’t explain why I needed her to keep going when she wanted to stop outside of needing it done. I’d like to bring her back in and get that IV done so Cole can get the relief he deserves.” He changes the subject quickly.
As much as I want to lash out I simply sigh. I hate submitting when I feel so very wronged.
“I’m sorry, Cole.” I whisper into his hair.
His hand is wrapped tightly around my wrist.
“Am I hurting you?” His voice is strained from the cold and shock his body is experiencing.
“No.” I lie.
The discomfort that he’s creating is nothing compared to what he’s experiencing.
“I’m going to step out so the two of you can relax a little easier. I’ll come back when he’s ready to be moved.” I nod my head.
His voice makes it obvious that he feels bad for what’s happened leaving me confused as he stands and walks away. He admits that he pushed Evelyn to continue despite the pain he was experiencing and yet feels bad about it. I take a deep breath, willing myself to just let it go as Evelyn returns to the side of the tub. She places her hand gently on the mask taking over where Cassius left off. His wheezing has gotten worse but the lack of air hasn’t diminished his desire to fight. He reaches quickly for the mask but I manage to intervene before he pulls her off.
“I know it’s difficult. You had a very hard time while you were with me accepting nebulizer treatments while you were in a panic but you need to leave it. It’s okay.”
I reassure him the best I can as I massage his fingers from around the plastic. Evelyn moves slowly in an effort not to startle him as she moves the band to the back of his head. He relaxes slightly after she releases the tension on the band making me wonder if she was holding the mask too tightly against his face. She pets the side of his head gently, encouraging him to lay against my shoulder.
“I am sorry. I wanted to stop. Cass didn’t explain why he needed me to keep going but I don’t believe he knew the pain it would cause.”
Her voice is gentle as she speaks to Cole.
“I’d like to move forward with doing the blood draw and establishing an IV line for you. I’ve started warming a bag of saline. You’ve been wet way too long. I’ve set up a special pad for you. It will help wick the water off of you and warm you at the same time.”
I can feel him nod lightly as she steps away from the side of the tub and heads to the end. Sadie steps forward, removing the soaked towel placed over him earlier, she replaces it with an absorbent pad I haven’t seen before. It has pockets on the side opposite of the one she lays across his back. He whimpers subtly but soon finds comfort in the heat that it provides. Without a warning or even a flinch from Cole, the only thing that tells me the IV was successful is the steady exchange of glass tubes clanging against the metal pan.
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