Chapter 158: Only Medicine
Rhys
I stood up as soon as Miller asked the question, clenching and unclenching my fists while waiting for him to respond.
My curiosity got the best of me as I moved closer to him and repeated the question. "How is he?"
Leo cleared his throat before he started speaking. "Well, according to the results we got after a fast test," he raised the tablet in his hand, his eyes scanning through it,
"It confirms that Kayden has a grade II splenic contusion with localized subcapsular hematoma formation, and currently, the neurological sequelae from the cranial trauma suggest a transient state of spinal shock, but the cortical oscillations are stabilizing under the administration of the GABA-ergic botanical stabilizers. We are observing a significant reduction in the inflammatory markers within the cerebrospinal fluid, which should mitigate the risk of post-traumatic seizure recurrence."
I blinked, my brain probably shutting off for a few seconds as I tried to process a single word he had just said.
Beside me, Miller looked like he was trying to solve a math problem in his head and failing miserably.
I took one of the water bottles from him, removed the cap quickly, and drank like I had been thirsty for days.
Leo’s annoying way of talking would make anyone go crazy, and that was exactly what it was doing to me.
"Son," Rhoda groaned, rubbing her temples as she let out a long, exaggerated sigh. "Can you please speak English? I know we are at the hospital, but you are talking like we are in a research symposium. Tell the poor boy if his partner is going to be okay without the medical dictionary."
Leo paused, his thumb hovering over the screen. He looked at his mother with a deadpan expression, completely unfazed by her jab. "I am speaking English, Mother. I am providing a precise physiological assessment of the patient’s status."
"No, you’re speaking ’Leo,’" Gabriella chimed in with a smirk, leaning against the wall with her arms crossed. "Simplify it for the humans, dear."
Leo let out a breath that sounded like a tire leaking air. He turned back to me, his gaze sharpening. "Fine. Kayden’s spleen is bruised, but not bleeding out. His head was hit hard, and that made his body shake involuntarily, but that has stopped. He will have a hell of a headache when he wakes up, and his back will feel like it was hit by a truck for the next seventy-two hours."
"There," Rhoda said, clapping her hands excitedly. "Was that so hard, Leo?"
"It was imprecise," Leo muttered under his breath, though he didn’t argue further.
"Would he be able to play in the Stanley finals?" I asked.
Leo looked back at his tablet. "It depends on how many days it will take before the finals start. Standard recovery would be six weeks, but Kayden wouldn’t need that if he follows the standard protocols. He should be up on his feet by tomorrow if he was—" he stopped himself before he could finish.
I already knew what he was about to say. Everyone did, except for Miller.
"But what?" Miller asked.
"He should be fine in five days max," Leo said instead, then turned around to leave. "I better check up on him again. Rhys, please do come with me to see him."
Rhoda stood up. "What about us?"
"You can see him once he is moved to a ward. Right now, only Rhys can see him."
"Alright," Rhoda agreed and sat back down.
My feet moved forward as I trailed behind Leo towards the ER.
The air in the ER and the lobby was different. In the ER, the air was thick with the smell of antiseptic and the sharp, rhythmic hiss of the ventilator.
I followed Leo through the maze of blue curtains until we reached the very last bay in the row.
Leo pulled the curtain back, and the sight of Kayden nearly brought me to my knees.
He looked so small under the harsh white lights. His chest was heavily bandaged, the white gauze wrapped tight around his torso to stabilize the broken rib.
A thick cervical collar braced his neck, and the heart monitor leads pulsed against his pale skin.
There was a dark bruise along his jawline, and his hair was still matted with dried blood.
Kayden’s brow was furrowed in a deep, pained grimace even in his sleep, and I reached out to take his IV hand, rubbing it gently.
"He’s fighting the sedation," Leo muttered, his eyes fixed on the monitor. "The physical trauma is high, but the psychological stress is what’s going to cause a relapse. If his heart rate stays this high, the splenic contusion won’t hold, and he will be in crazy pain, which is why I called you here—to release your soothing pheromones on him."
My eyes widened in shock, and I gave Leo a questioning look. "You do know what you are asking for, right? If I release my pheromones, he—"
"No one will find out he is an omega here, especially with the antiseptic scent, and..." he paused and reached out, yanking the heavy sound-dampening curtains shut, sealing us into a private, shadowed world.
"If you don’t release your pheromones, Kayden will be in a lot of pain once he wakes up," he told me, then pointed towards Kayden. "Do you want him to wake up in agony, Rhys? Or do you want him to heal?" Leo challenged. "The hospital staff won’t come in here without my permission. Now, release them. Do it now if you want to."
I didn’t need to be told twice. I closed my eyes and released my soothing pheromones.
Immediately, the scent of winter air and pine filled the space, and almost instantly, the frantic beep-beep-beep of the heart monitor slowed. Kayden’s ragged breathing deepened, and the tension in his jaw finally began to melt away.
"See?" Leo said, checking his tablet. "Biological synchronization. It’s the only medicine that works for him right now." He winked at me.
I frowned in return, then turned my attention back to Kayden’s face, my hand hovering just inches from his. "So, Leo, how did you pull this off? Last time I checked, you were the medical therapist for Northern Avalanche. So how the hell are you here?"
Leo offered a rare smile as he adjusted the IV line. "Connections, Rhys. I’ve worked in high-level sports medicine and research long before I joined the Northern Avalanche. Besides," he gestured vaguely toward the hospital hallway, "this entire facility is owned by Gabriella’s brother—my uncle. So getting me onto the floor was... easy."
"Makes sense. I am glad that you are here helping Kayden."
"Of course. Anything for my little brother."
A chuckle escaped my lips because I knew Kayden wouldn’t like to be called that.
Just then, my phone beeped in my pocket. I took my eyes off Kayden for a moment and pulled it out.
On the screen was the last person I expected to call me.
It was my grandfather.