Logs:A Hospital Visit

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A Hospital Visit

Whatever will one find in the ICU?

Dramatis Personae

Bjorn. GM: Lo'ihi

20 May, 2010


Bjorn goes to the hospital to check in on his students

Location

Kuakini Medical Center, Honolulu

Plot(s)

Plot:Trouble in the Classroom


The joy of college life is that: we're all adults damned! Bjorn clearly does not of the years to become jaded towards art education and therefore one's students. Being of great empathy in fellow man, and having a keen sense of hearing helps too.

Three students that are regularly attend class are not. They give off the distinct impression of some dramatic art-house love triangle: Guy likes girl, girl likes guy, other girl likes other girl. Maybe, it's more of a line? Odd woman out?

After a week of missing classes with no messages from the students, administration informs Bjorn that one of the students are missing, and the two girls are in the hospital due to injuries sustained during a hike in the mountains and it is unlikely the students would be returning, if at all. The students whisper about 'Do not resuscitate', comas, and disfigurement.

Upon checking with administration, Bjorn was informed that the next of kin had been notified, it would seem no one at the university was willing to open that particular can of worms by not calling the guardians of the students. Naturally, the police were involved, particularly the sheriff's office, as the incident and continuing search fell to the county rather than the city of Honolulu.

Mark Devins are still missing. Lisa Chambers has been moved from Emergency to the CCU and now the ICU. Rebecca Douglas had multiple surgeries and was still in recovery. Lisa's mother had arrived on the first available flight to be with her daughter, while Rebecca's was nowhere to be found.

Nervous. Bjorn has fought all sorts of weird creatures, and dealt with crazy powerful people doing Very Bad Things(tm). But nothing really has prepared him for what he's intended to do today. It helps that he's there just as much because they were students in his class. He's wearing a suit, not characteristic for him, but he's got a damn good one from Eve he might as well put it to use. Also, cards signed by their classmates. He passed them around for those who wished to sign a few days previously.

Armed with such things he went looking for Lisa's mother. Rebecca was in recovery so talking to her was right out, and so if Lisa was conscious, or if not at least maybe seeing her Mother would work. He wasn't sure how rules on visitors was, but hopefully at least the mother would speak with him if he couldn't see Lisa. Least that's what he'll ask whomever at the Nurses station in regards to seeing her.


The nurse at the station nodded to Bjorn, giving the room number, but mentioned the break room as well. Lisa followed her mother in the looks department, an older version of his student with a few more smile lines around her eyes. The woman was not smiling now, but had that 100 yard stare about her. Wrinkles had set into her white blouse and charcoal gray suit skirt as she stared at the coke machine, her thumb strokes the credit card in hand.


"Ms. Chambers?" The big man clears his throat some, taking a moment to swallow before continuing. "Sorry to bother you. I'm Bjorn Andersen, one of Lisa's professors at the college. Sorry to bother you I just... Well..." He shifts a bit nervously and then adds, "I just wanted to see how they were doing. And her classmates are thinking of them as well." He holds one of the two cards up, the one with Lisa's name on it.


Ms. Chambers slipped the credit card through the reader, pressing the diet coke button. She blinked as the can rattled its way to bottom. She twitched at the mention of her name as if she was expecting terrible news, turning to Bjorn. It took a moment to process the words, finally offering a ghost of a smile. "Mr. Andersen, thank you for coming to check on Lisa, not something that would expect from a college professor, but I'm grateful all the stop." She hesitating a moment as if debating, then settled on taking the coke. "Lisa's awake right now, she's still a bit out of it, but that's to be expected with the medication." She took a deep breath, forcing her smile back in place, "They're keeping her here for observation--" A pained laugh escaped her and she shook her head, "And Lisa, of course, just wants to leave that room. Trying to see her friend, or just escaping."


"Well, if she wants to get out that's... a good sign I guess? I'm sorry there has been many rumors, perhaps because of that I'm afraid I don't know exactly what happened." A slightly bashful look at that and he adds, "If you think it would help I could see her, though if you feel it would be too much though I understand, I could leave the card with you then?"


Ms. Chambers gave the smallest nod to Bjorn to the idea that it was a good sign, the curve of her lips lessening somewhat. "The kids were hiking... I know the mountain or ridge has a very Hawaiian name--" She sighed heavily, "They were hiking, and apparently there was a bear, or a pack of dogs. Dogs would make sense, and they got attacked and separated. Lisa, thank heavens, it was scratches and bruises mostly, and the sprained wrist from falling..." Her frown deepened, "Rebecca... That poor girl. I may not approve of some of the stories, but they are adults." Her jaw tightened as she swallowed. "But I wouldn't wish anyone lose an eye... And a hand? Lisa snuck in to visit her, and they had induced a coma, but the girl popped up, screaming about her skin burning, ripping off a part of the bed and attacking Lisa... Like an animal." Ms. Chambers' hand went over her heart, "That poor, poor girl..." She blinked her eyes to hold back tears, "What's--" She lowered her voice, "Her family isn't here. At all."


There's a blink from the man as she describes what happened to her, and her reactions since being at the hospital. "I... How...terrible." He pulls a silk kerchief from his suit coat for her to dab her eyes if she needs. "Did Lisa give you an idea as to... why she was that way?" Probably not, especially if it was self incriminating. But couldn't hurt to ask. He'll have to file such questions away more for Lisa proper. "Also I hear they never found...the gentleman that was with them?"


Ms. Chambers grimaced, the expression showing the exhaustion that had taken hold of her. "Well... I was there when the sheriff questioned her. I knew Lisa was stressed from the whole ordeal, but she insisted on answering questions, because she understood that her boyfriend was missing... Still missing. It was mostly incoherent. Rebecca was there, then she wasn't... By the time the game warden arrived, Rebecca was--." The woman paused and shook her head, "You expect to hear things like this from the African savanna or some jungle in South America. But Oahu?" The woman sniffed, reaching into her pocket for a tissue to dot her welling eyes. "And the doctors said that shock was common in these situations."


Bjorn moves to put his kerchief away if she fishes for her own instead. "There are things in many places that... Don't seem like they fit where they occur I've found." He gives a pained sigh at that, having had his fare share of very bad things occur on the island around him. Still he takes in a breath and asks, "Could I.. Speak with Lisa, Ms. Chambers? I know I'm not the police, but maybe a familiar friendly face might help her remember something important. And.. if not at least She'll know she has people at the school thinking about her."


Ms. Chambers glanced at her tissue, then to Bjorn's being returned to his pocket. "Sorry... I'm beside myself." The woman sighed heavily as she considered, "I don't think it's necessary, or a good idea to get into the particulars, Mr. Andersen. The sheriff felt like they got all the information they needed to narrow the search." The woman paused again, rubbing the back of her neck. "But seeing a familiar face may do her good." The woman frowned, tapping on the can in her hand more times than necessary.


Bjorn shakes his head, in understanding. "Oh, no worries. Completely understandable. It'll be here if you need it." He listens to her as she talks about the sheriffs and nods some. "If you feel that is best, then so be it. We want her getting better after all not worse. I just have explored a lot of Oahu since I moved here and.. Well I guess wishful thinking. But the main thing is just letting her know she's thought of." He moves to lightly touch her hand as she taps the can, just a moment to help steady it. "Careful, if you shake it up you won't be able to drink it."


Tremble ran through her hand as it was touched, but at least, it stopped. Ms. Chambers took a deep breath, "She was awake when I left the room, if you'd like to speak to her." She frowned, giving the slightest nod to herself. "It will do her good to just know." The woman sounded more like she was trying to convince herself. It was clear her exhaustion was more than physical, draining her emotionally and spiritually as well. If the sense of relief that comes with knowing your loved one is recovering just down the hall. There is this nagging sense of helplessness and lack of parenting sense, running into the wall of dealing with one's child that is now an adult. Her lips pressed into a forced and thin smile.


Bjorn gives a nod as she mentions she's awake. He smiles, somewhat sadly though, like he feels for her and gives Ms. Chambers a supportive squeeze of her shoulder. "I'll go speak with her then. Lisa is very lucky to have you here, I'm sure she'll be better in no time with people who love her around her. Take faith in that." With that he'll go to see Lisa then, whether she comes with or not he'll leave up to the mother.


Ms. Chambers managed a faint smile as her shoulder was squeezed. "Thank you again... For stopping by. I'm going to try and eat something." The woman patted his head, her attention shifting down the hallway towards the patient room that held her daughter. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath. "Comon, Rachel..." She said under her breath, and she forced herself to walk down the hallway. She knocked gently on the door before she opened it. "Lisa, sweetie? You have a visitor, Mr. Andersen from school."

Lisa was dressed in a hospital gown, white with a pink and purple flower pattern. The woman seemed to be in good health, in spite of the setting. She had an IV taped to the back of her hand, and there were a couple of bandages and taped gauze on various spots on her exposed skin. The woman's hardened jaw even relaxed for a moment at the prospect of a visitor, but lessened a touch as to the identity as if she were expecting someone else. The student gently cleared her throat. "Come on in, prof! Modesty is secure." She eyed her mother as she continued into the room ahead of Bjorn.


As modesty is called out to be secure, Bjorn heads into the room, He smiles as Lisa seems not in too rough a shape. "It's been awhile, so I figured I'd stop in and see how you were." He pulls one of the envelopes, the one with her name on it, and moves to hand it over to her. "Something from the other students." He glances over at Lisa's mother, then asks Lisa, "How're you doing?"


Ms. Chambers closed her eyes again, and took a deep breath to steel herself. "Yes, I am leaving the room again, and this time I am going to eat. In the cafeteria, or some local p--" The woman cut herself off, and walked straight up to her daughter, pausing long enough for her child to recognize what she was doing. The mother kissed her child's head and headed to the door, pausing for a second. "I'll be right back."

Lisa barely contained her full bitch, almost vibrating until her mother left. Lisa's blue eyes moved to the envelop and she took it. "Thank you... For stopping it by." There was a deliberate pause until the door closed, and the girl's frame relaxed the tiniest amount. "I'm basically trapped in here, because my mother swears up and down, I'm not alright..." She blinked, looking up at Bjorn. "It's only been like a week, right?"


Bjorn watches as the mother departs, then back to Lisa, raising a brow at the exchange. As Lisa mentions what's going on with her mother he says, "A week yeah. Not so long you can't get back to classes I think. Though long enough it might be rough. I'm sure the dean will work with you though about that." He glances back to the door then back to Lisa and adds, "I promised I wouldn't ask questions about what happened, but if you want to talk, I can listen."


Lisa forced a smile and pointed to the patient ID band on her wrist. "If this doesn't buy my way back into the good graces of the university, the dean can go fuck himself... Herself?" She paused, only to shrug her shoulders. She sighed, setting a jet of air upward, causing the strands of blonde to dance. "Was it the sheriff or my mother? Because she can't go ten minutes without asking what happened, or judging me for -- wait for it -- wandering in the woods so far from the city. Pick a direction, and just walk." The teen shifted in the bed, opening the letter and reading it, a smile playing on her lips. "That is sweet of them..." Her eyes flickered to the second envelop, her smile fading. "If that's for Rebecca, I'd wait."


Bjorn frowns a touch, but nods as Lisa explains, and mentions the letter. "I..heard. As for the woods, I go exploring the island all the time. Nothing wrong with that. Except, for the times bad things happen. But they can happen anywhere, I've dealt with bad things all over, woods is only a location." He moves to have a seat on the edge of the end of the bed, the solid part on most medical beds, so that he's not towering over Lisa as they talk. "Your mother thought it best not to...relive things." He holds up a hand slightly if there's the look of her upset over that comment and adds quickly regardless, "And she's just being a mother, I'm a grown ass man but when I go home Mamma and Pappa still treat me like the runt they raised." He moves to put the other envelope in an inner pocket of his coat and says, "Lots of rumors about, but I try not to pay attention to rumor."


Lisa's eyes followed the envelop to the jacket, then gaze fell to her feet under the blanket. She scratched her head. "Yeah... Big things happen, but..." She swallowed hard. "It's not the woods that I'm worried about. It's this place. It's like the walls are closing in around me, and my skin is crawling. And Rebecca..." Lisa grimaced, "If she just--" She stopped herself, "She straight out attacked me. I mean I don't know what kind of drugs, she's on, but..." Lisa shook her head, her jaw tightening as the tears started to well up. "Why did she fight?" Sniffing, she reached up to rub her eyes with the heel of her hand, hissing when the IV caught. "Fuck! I am so sick of this!" She started picking at the tape holding the IV in place to remove it.


"Hey now, none of that.." Bjorn moves a hand over to grab the hand with the IV and hopefully keep her from picking at it. "Nurses are terrible when it comes to dealing with patients taking things out by themselves." He sighs and adds, "If you don't want to dwell on it I won't press. If you need to vent I'm right here. If you want to talk about something else, can do that too. Please though, just... just focus on me if that helps."


Lisa's hand stilled under Bjorn's, and she sighed heavily. "I'm alright, prof. I just can't be here, and my mother keeps pushing for more tests, because she's just... Paranoia? Worried? All of it, and all I want to do is go home and sleep without some nurse knocking on the door. And... I just can't be consuming, you know? I mean Rebecca... Is in pieces..." Lisa's eyes closed tightly, and she shivered. "I just want to get out of here."


Bjorn nods at that. He lets go of her hand when she seems like she's calmed down enough she's not going to be tearing off the IV. "Just home? Or did you want to go look for who's still missing?" He watches her reaction at that, and looks like he wants to say more, but catches himself. Finally he says, "I don't know why your mother is extra worried. After all I said I wouldn't ask questions. Convince me though, if you convince me I'll at least try to put in a good word with your mother."


Lisa sat there for a moment, bowing her head, allowing her hair to fall in front of her face, obscuring some of her features. "Then he's still missing..." Her fingers clinched a fold of blanket into her hands. "I don't feel safe here. Rebecca..." The name lingered on her lips, "I've known her for two years. Her and I are friends... Were friends." The girl tensed at the thought. "It was like she didn't recognize me..." A pained laugh escaped her, "And I don't think I recognize her... And I don't mean the bandages." Her head turned just enough for her to watch the door. "My mother can't protect me. No one else needs to get hurt."


Bjorn reaches over to lightly rest a hand on her shoulder, the gentle touch would seem odd from the big man if no one ever saw him crafting his art. "Lisa... I've dealt with.. well to be..how you say, frank? To be frank I've dealt with a lot of weird shit since coming to the island. If something happened that caused..." He looks at the door pointedly so he doesn't have to say to whom he's referring to. "Things to have led to where they are at that you feel can't be explained, you can talk to me. Our secret. I don't know everything, but even if not I might be able to find out."


Lisa grimaced, risking a glance up to Bjorn before looking at her lap once more as she sniffled. "W-We missed a switchback and ended up lost and late." There was a hesitation, "It was the three of us, and-d... He slipped and went down the hill, Rebecca and I panicked. We kept calling his name, and we heard him. So we tried to find a way down... Something ran past us. It was huge, and I had the wind knocked out of me. The weight..." She swallowed hard. "Rebecca was screaming, then not... It sounded so... Wrong? It's like every time I try to think about the details just slip away... Like none of it is important anymore..." A whimper escaped her and she drew her knees to her chest, wrapping her hands around her shins. "Oh god... And Rebecca was snarling, like she had rabies... Saying things like her skin was burning... I know she's right out there... Down the hall."


Bjorn frowns as Lisa speaks and describes what happens, not so much a frown of disbelief, more a general upset. He squeezes her shoulder again and says, "I'm not sure what it was, but I can ask around and see what I can find. She might be... I'm not sure what. But hopefully I can find some answers that will help her. You mentioned your skin is crawling... not like that though yes? Just feeling unease because of what Rebecca's going through?"


Lisa shook her head slowly, "Uhh... It's air, I think, the smell of pain and disinfectant here. I never liked hospitals since my dad passed away. And I know all that is feeding into how my mother is acting, but she has to just STOP. It's making me crazy, and it's like I'm..." She sniffled again, looking up to Bjorn with her wet and bloodshot eyes. "I think they threw away my pants... Is there anyway you could go to my dorm room and get me a set of clothes?" She swallowed hard, "I don't want to be here, and my mother keeps --" She gestured helplessly at the door. "I'm going to end up in a straight jacket at this rate."


A blink is given as she asks to help her bust out. He clears his throat at that. "Well, tell ya what. I'll go get you some clothes if you need, pants?" He furrows his brow at that but then says, "But not helping you sneak out. I will put in a word with your mom about getting you out of here. Especially if the doctors don't seem to have a problem with it, but that way you'll have pants and be ready to go when they say yes. Assuming I can get said pants..."


Lisa seemed to relax considerably, letting out a sigh of relief. "Thank you... I'm not asking you to make a rope out of bed sheets or anything like that. Just an outfit and shoes, like anything you can grab out of my drawers and get back here, and..." She paused again, blinking. "And I think there may be a bong next to my bed. I don't care if you kick it under my bed, or put it behind the dresser, but if my mother see it, I will totally be put into rehab." She paused, "Seriously... I love her, but I can hear helicopter blades whenever she's around." A nervous laugh escaped her, "Yes, I said pants because apparently the hospital staff thinks a backwards button-up is all patients need." She pulled at the collar of her hospital gown, just enough to point out the lack of bra strap on her shoulder.


Bjorn clears his throat, reaching to give a light tug back to her outfit so it's back up. Hawaiian weather fortunately has given enough colour to the man so the slight blush might not be fully noticeable. "Yes well, Hopefully... Do you have a roommate? I would hope they'd have hid it already." He thinks a moment then adds after a moment, "If you like, I can go looking for him as well. If you have an idea of where you got lost to start. No guarantees but I've been around the woods a fair bit."


Lisa blinked at Bjorn, "My roommate is currently down the hallway. Like I get th--" Cutting herself off, she rested her head on her knees. "I don't know how to explain it, but I know he's alright. I don't why I think that, but know..." A pained groan escaped her, "Maybe I need to believe that to feel insane. I don't know... But uh... Olomana. but it's one of the other peaks... I confuse them. The 'A' one, not the other one, but it was dark, and I guess we could have been that lost. Just not the big one."


Bjorn ohs, "I knew you were friends not...gotcha." He thinks a moment and adds, "Have a key?" He looks about for if there's a closet her other stuff is presently in. "I mean I might know someone who can pick a lock, but professor arrested for breaking into attack victim's place isn't the kind of news headline I want to be in the middle of." He pauses a moment then adds, "I think I can find what trail you're talking about."


Lisa gestured vaguely, "Was with my pack, and I have no clue. Just ask the RA to open the door, it's basically Alani's job description, and like, she's cool. Plus you have a faculty ID. Who is going to complain about--"

There was a gentle knock on the door, and it opened revealing Ms. Chamber, the exhaustion still readily apparent on her face. Swallowing hard, "I just checked by Rebecca's room. I mean... There's only so much they can say, but she's sleeping..."

Lisa tensed the moment the door opened, her arm and body moving just enough to betray a fight or flight response, the blanket kicking out enough to betray the lack of clothes save the hospital gown. Breathing heavily, she was slow to return to her previous position as she cast a look to Bjorn and gave the tiniest shake of her head.


"Well, thank you for trying to see if she was awake at least Ms. Chambers." He moves to stand up at that. "I suppose I should be going." Looking back he offers a hand to Lisa. "I'm glad you're on the mend. Hopefully you'll be discharged soon." Glancing back at Lisa's mom he adds, "I'll come back again to see Rebecca, hopefully she'll be awake then."


Lisa blinked and gently reached her hand out to shake Bjorn. "Uhh... Thanks for stopping by, Prof, and thanks for the note from class." The young woman paused and put on a faint smile to her mother. "If she's sleeping, she's not in pain, right? That's good news." She swallowed hard knot, regathering the blankets as she slowly laid back onto the bed. Yet as much as she may have looked like she was trying to relax, it gave the impression of a compressing spring.

Ms. Chambers settled somewhat as she looked between Bjorn and Lisa, "She should probably be getting rest. Thank you again, for stopping by." To which Lisa rolled her eyes, pressing back into the pillow.


A glance back Lisa's way at her mother's comment, then he nods to the mother. "Of course. Well, I'll come back another time and see how she's doing when I do so to check on Rebecca. Take care." He offers a wave to her and Lisa and moves to make his way out.