Tombstone Estate

[Doc Holliday]

Location: Canaria Hospital, Planet Gran Canaria, Omega 49 System

The anesthesia was starting to wear. Slowly, John opened his eyes. The I.V. drip was in his right arm, he could hear the E.K.G. behind him and soft sound of his own breath. Despite the discomfort he was still in, he felt relief in that finally he would put days of pneumonia and the damage done by tuberculosis totally behind him. To him, the discomfort was worth it.

As his eyes focused, he found his beloved wife at his side. Leaning on the side of his bed, his hand in hers, she smiled.
"Konnichiwa, John," she said barely above a whisper, "are you in pain?"
"No," he whispered, "it's discomforting but I feel no pain."
With him awake, she pushed the call button as the surgeon wanted to check him.

Within a few minutes, he arrived and took a seat next to him.
"How do you feel, John, considering what you just went through?" Dr. Andrews asked of his patient.
"I feel no pain," John said softly, "but my chest feels ten feed wide."
Dr. Andrews smiled at the comment, "John, for a few days it will. While transplants are relatively easy now, we still have to open chest cavities which is still work."

Dr. Andrews exposed the skin of his chest. Strangely, the scarring was almost non-existent, as if nothing happened.
"No scar?" asked Midori.
"No scar," smiled Dr. Andrews, "laser cutting tools have all but eliminated them. We can use scalpels and stuff and often do but patients appreciate not wearing the marks."
He then turned to Doc, "John, if you can, take a deep breath."

John did his best, taking a semi-deep breath before discomfort wouldn't let him take more. Listening through his stethoscope, Dr. Andrews listened. After several breaths, the doctor brought the blanket back over his patient.

"Everything sounds good, John," he commented, "very good in fact. I'll be checking on you several times daily. If in a few days things progress to my liking and you feel up to it, I'll send you home to recover there."
Dr. Andrews then stood up and bowed his head to Midori, "Mrs. Holliday, keep watch over him."
"Hai," she answered with a smile as the doctor then turned and left the room.

She then looked at John who had turned his head to look at her.
"I did this for you, Dahlin'," he softly said, "I did this so that we can live healthy, so that we can start the family we want."
A tear fell down her smiling face as she gripped his hand tighter, "I know, John Henry, I know."
With his head still turned to her, his eyes closed as he went back to sleep under the watchful eye of his wife.

*more to come*

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[MFE]Med Force One | Tales of Recovery|Med Force Enterprises