Date: Wed, 22 Mar 2006 19:14:25 -0500
From: Scribe 1971 <scribe1971@hotmail.com>
Subject: Substitute Dad Chapter 8

Substitute Dad
By Scribe 1971

Author's Note:

I hope everyone forgives me for the cliff hanger ending of chapter 7!  I
knew it would be cruel to make you wait for chapter 8 so here it is.  So
far, I have written this story using the "first person" perspective.  The
story has been told from Tommy's point of view.  For this chapter, I have
shifted to the "Third Person" perspective mainly because Tommy is unaware of
many of the events portrayed.  Chapter 9 will switch back to First Person.
I usually prefer to write in the third person, but I felt that this story
had a more personal edge to it when told by one of the characters himself.

This is a very emotional chapter.  The highlights of my MP3 playlist
included:

"Stop Crying Your Heart Out" by Oasis
"Run" by Snow Patrol

I challenge anyone to read the later part of this chapter while listening to
"Stop Crying Your Eyes Out" and not get moist eyes over it!

As usual, please don't repost, re-use or do anything with this story (other
than read it!) without my express written permission.  This chapter, as are
all the others, is copyright to me, 2006.


Chapter 8 -- This Isn't the End, Josh

"911 Emergency Response.  What's your emergency?" said the impersonal and
business-like voice on the phone.

"I NEED AN AMBUALNCE FOR MY DAD HE'S REALLY SICK!" Josh virtually screamed
into the phone.

"Ok son, calm down I'm going to dispatch an ambulance.  I show you calling
from 621 Browns Line, is that correct?"

"YES, PLEASE HURRY, HE'S NOT DOING SO WELL!"  Josh hollered.

"Son, what's your name?"  The operator asked trying to clam the boy down.

"Joshua Michael Chambers," Josh said.  He didn't realize it but he was
subconsciously reverting to his full, formal name.

"Joshua, I need you to calm down and be a brave boy for me.  What's wrong
with your dad?"

Josh wondered how the operator could be so calm at a time like this.  Tommy
looked like he was dying and this woman sounded like she was taking a pizza
order.  Never the less, he got himself under control.  "We were watching a
movie when suddenly he got a really bad headache.  He gets migraines all the
time, but never so suddenly.  He tried to stand up but he got dizzy and he
was unsteady on his feet.  He threw up all over the place and then a couple
of seconds later he passed out."

"Ok Joshua, an ambulance is on the way.  They're coming with the lights and
sirens going so they should be there very soon.  Is it just you and your dad
at home right now?"

"Yes, my mom's out with some friends."

"That's ok Joshua, you're doing fine.  How old is your dad?"

"He's almost 20, he's a university student.  He isn't my real father; he's
my dad, though."

"I understand, Joshua."

Suddenly Tommy made retching sounds and vomited again.  The vomit blocked
his throat and he began to make gagging and choking sounds.

"HE JUST PUKED AGAIN AND HE CAN'T BREATH.  HE'S CHOKING!" Josh yelled at the
operator.

"Joshua, I need you to listen to me very carefully and do exactly what I
tell you.  Do you understand me?"

"YES!  I UNDERSTAND YOU, TELL ME WHAT TO DO." Josh said urgently as he heard
Tommy struggling for breath behind him.

"You need to roll him over onto his side and you need to clear his throat.
To clear his throat, you need to stick a couple of fingers in his mouth and
sweep out any vomit that's blocking it.  Can you do that?"

"Yes, I'll do it.  Hold on," Josh said as he ran to Tommy's side and set
down the phone.

Josh quickly and tenderly rolled Tommy onto his side.  His lips were turning
blue and his face was pale.  He quickly inserted the index and middle
fingers of his right hand right into Tommy's mouth and back into his throat
and tried to brush out the vomit that was choking him to death.  It looked
about as clear as it was going to get but he still wasn't breathing.

"I DID IT BUT HE'S STILL NOT BREATHING," Josh yelled urgently.

"Joshua, I need to know if he has a pulse.  Do you know how to do that?"

Josh didn't respond.  He dropped the phone and gently placed his finders on
Tommy's neck.  He could feel a very rapid pulse.

"Yes, he has a pulse but it's very fast.  Should I try mouth-to-mouth?" Josh
asked in a surprisingly calm voice.

"Yes, if you know how.  DO NOT hang up on me, though."

Josh set the phone down and knelt beside Tommy.  He rolled him onto his back
and performed a proper jaw thrust just as he'd been shown by Tommy himself.
He leaned down and ignoring the traces of vomit around Tommy's mouth, he
made a seal with his own mouth, gently pinched his dad's nose and began to
administer mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

After 7 or 8 breaths, Tommy coughed and began to breathe on his own.  Josh
was relieved but he knew his beloved Tommy wasn't out of the woods yet.  He
could hear the sirens in the distance as he picked the phone back up.

"I did it and he's breathing again,"

"Well done, Joshua."  The operator responded with a relieved voice.

"I can hear the sirens," Josh told the operator.

"Is the front door unlocked?"

"I don't know," Josh said in a stricken tone.

"Joshua, I want you to leave your dad for a moment and go and unlock the
door."

"What if he stops breathing again?" Josh cried.

"The ambulance is almost there, son.  The quicker they can get to him, the
better."

Josh raced up the stairs, keeping the cordless phone with him and unlocked
the door.  Just as he did so, the ambulance screeched to a halt outside.

"They're here!" he told the operator.

"Ok Joshua, you did well son.  You did everything you could, leave it to the
pros now."

"Thanks," Josh said distantly and hung up.

"He's downstairs!  Please hurry," Josh told the paramedics as they raced
through the door carrying a stretcher between them.

Josh followed them down to Tommy's apartment and stood helplessly in the
corner as they went to work.  He was virtually trembling as they tore
Tommy's shirt off, attached all sorts of electrodes to him and flashed
lights in his eyes.

One of the paramedics, a large man with short cropped dark hair and a
moustache approached Josh.  "What's your name?"

"Josh.  Please help Tommy, he's my dad and I love him," he pleaded.

"We will Josh, can you tell me what happened?"

Josh related the story as completely as he could.  The big paramedic
listened intently and when Josh was finished he grabbed his radio and
reported their findings.  Josh didn't understand much of what he said, but
he heard the phrase "possible burst aneurysm."  He didn't know what that
was, but he was pretty sure it was a really bad thing to have.

"Alright Josh, Tommy may be very seriously ill.  We need to get him to the
hospital right away," the paramedic told him.  "Is there anyone you can
call?  Your mother or someone?"

"She's out with friends.  I'll find Tommy's phone book and see if I can call
his mother or brothers," Josh said.  "I'm going with him the hospital."

"We can't do that son, we"

"I'M GOING.  I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO DO OR NOT SUPPOSED TO DO!"
Josh yelled cutting him off.

"Josh, if we take you in the ambulance you might be in the way and that
might prevent us from treating Tommy.  You have to let him go."

"I'll take him." A voice said from the stairwell.

Josh turned around as a police officer entered the apartment.  "You're
taking him to Queensway?" The officer asked

"Yeah, we need to get him there NOW.  He's showing possible signs of a burst
cerebral aneurysm," the paramedic whispered hoping that Josh didn't hear
him.

"Let's get a move-on.  I'll provide an escort.  It's quiet out there tonight
and we'll do a code-3 red light run."

"Josh, you can ride with this officer," the paramedic told him.

Josh looked gratefully at the cop as the paramedics hefted the stretcher
carrying Tommy up the stairs.  The cop was a big man with gray hair and a
serious looking face.  He looked rough to Josh, but he also looked kind.

"I'm Constable Higgins.  From what I heard from the dispatcher, you did an
amazing job here tonight.  You just might have saved your dad's life," the
policeman said in a kindly tone.

Josh smiled faintly as he grabbed Tommy's wallet and address book and then
followed the officer up the stairs.  He made a quick stop to throw on a pair
of shoes and grab a coat and then he ran out the door and into the police
cruiser.

The paramedics signaled that they were ready to leave and Constable Higgins
hit the lights and sirens and took off like a shot.  At any other time Josh
would have been delighted to be riding in the front seat of a police car
with the lights and sirens blaring, but tonight, all he could think of was
Tommy.  The person he loved most in the world was, for all he knew, dying in
the ambulance behind them and he was helpless to do anything about it.  He
couldn't even be there to hold his hand.  His tears started.

Constable Higgins gunned the engine and ran interference for the ambulance
at every intersection.  Boxing Day traffic had long ago abated and the
streets were largely empty.  The drive to Queensway General Hospital would
normally take about 15 minutes.  They made it in about 8.

Constable Higgins brought the police car to a screeching halt at the
Emergency entrance and the ambulance was right behind.  Josh bolted from the
car as soon as it stopped.  He ran back to the ambulance in time to see a
team of orderlies and nurses race from the hospital and join the 2
paramedics as they unloaded Tommy and rushed him into the Emergency ward.

Josh followed them in but wasn't allowed beyond the waiting room.  He sat in
a chair with his head in his hands and cried.  He had never felt so scared
before in his young life.  He was totally oblivious to everything that was
going on around him.  All he could think of was Tommy.  His heart broke at
the very thought of losing him.  As his despair threatened to overwhelm him,
a large and friendly hand came to rest on his shoulder.  It was Constable
Higgins.

"Josh," he said evenly.  "He's in good hands now.  Thanks to you, he has a
fighting chance."

Josh looked up at the burly cop through tear-streaked eyes, "I'm so scared.
I don't know what I'd do without Tommy."

The large cop knelt down and placed his arm tenderly around Josh's
shoulders.  "Josh, I'm not a doctor, but I know that the doctors who work
here are among the best.  They're doing everything they can to help your
dad.  You have to have faith in them.  I'm sure your dad loves you as much
as you love him.  He'll be fighting like hell right now to get well."

Joshed looked up and studied the man's eyes.  He could see that the officer
was genuinely concerned.  "Do you have any quarters?" he asked.  "I have to
try to reach my mom and I have to call Tommy's mom and brothers."

Constable Darren Higgins was amazed.  Here was a boy of about 12 who not
only helped to save his dad's life, but he also had the wherewithal to start
trying to contact the necessary people.  "I sure do," he said reaching into
his pocket and producing a large handful of change.  "Take it all, you can
use the rest to grab yourself a Coke or something.  It's probably going to
be a long night for you."

"Thanks," Josh said gratefully.  "Can you do something else for me?"  He
asked hopefully.

"Name it."

"My mom is over at the Frigate and Firkin bar with some friends and I don't
know the number.  Could you go there and tell her what happened and send her
here?"

"Of course Josh, I know where that is.  Are you sure she's there?"

"Yeah, that's the same place she always goes to."

"You got it, kiddo." Constable Higgins said as he ruffled Josh's hair and
stood up.  Josh hated it when anyone but Tommy ruffled his hair, but he
would make an exception for this man.

As Constable Higgins left the emergency room, Josh found a payphone and
began making calls to Tommy's family.  He contacted Dianne first.  He tried
as best he could to explain what had happened without upsetting Tommy's mom.

"Oh my God," was all she could say.  "I'm on my way.  I'll be there as quick
as I can.  Jimmy and Anne just left for a vacation this morning and I have
the twins.  I'll have to get someone to watch them and I'll call Andrew.  He
should be able to get us there shortly."

"Alright, please hurry, I'm here alone and I'm scared."

"Stay calm, Josh and we'll be there soon."

With his mission accomplished, Josh sat back down.  He tried to read a
magazine but he couldn't focus.  He went and used some of the change that
Officer Higgins had given him to buy a can of Coke.  He took a few sips but
he could hardly taste it.  The one and only thing that mattered right now
was Tommy.

The boy finally gave up on the Coke and gave up on trying to sit down.  He
stood up and began pacing the length of the waiting room.  Since it was
Boxing Day, the ER was relatively quite.  The usual crowds of sick and
injured were home recovering from Christmas.  The few poor souls waiting
patiently to have their injuries tended to or to learn the fate of their
loved ones were a subdued bunch.

Josh was lost in his thoughts as he virtually wore a path in the carpet.  As
he passed the reception desk, one of the nurses who had helped to move Tommy
from the ambulance to the hospital came out and spoke to the receptionist.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the receptionist point to him.

"Josh?" The nurse asked.

"Y-yeah, that's me.  How's Tommy?"  Josh stammered, his heart pounding in
his chest.

"We don't know yet, but his is stable and he is awake and talking to us.  He
asked for you," The nurse, whose nametag read `Jane Mitchell, RN' replied
kindly.

"Can I see him?" Josh asked hopefully.

"Not just yet.  We're taking him to radiology.  The doctor wants a CT scan
done right away."

"What's a CT scan?" Josh asked.  The concern was evident in his voice.

"It's nothing to worry about, Josh.  It's just a big machine which takes
pictures of the inside of his head.  It'll help the doctor figure out what's
causing the pain."

"Can I see him after?"

"That's up to the doctor, Josh.  Are you here alone?"

"Yeah.  Tommy's mom and brother are on their way and the policeman that
brought me in has gone to find my mother."

"That's good.  You just sit tight, Josh and try not to worry.  Tommy's in
good hands.  Doctor Andrews is our head of neurology and she's one of the
finest surgeons on the country."

"Surgeon?  You're going to cut him open?" Josh asked fearfully.

"We don't know yet, son," Nurse Mitchell replied wishing she hadn't
mentioned that a surgeon was looking after Tommy.

"Here, you might need this," Josh said as he handed her Tommy's wallet and
phone book.  "His healthcard's in his wallet and his doctor's phone number
is in the book."

"Thanks Josh.  We will need that stuff.  Did you think to grab that stuff on
your own?"

Josh blushed slightly.  "Yeah, I figured it was important."

"You're right, it is important.  You're a smart little guy.  No wonder Tommy
cares so much about you.  He asked me to tell you that he loves you and not
to worry."

Josh smiled.  "Thanks.  Tell him I love him too."

Nurse Mitchell patted Josh on the shoulder and then returned to the
treatment area.   Josh watched her go and caught a brief glimpse of Tommy as
his bed was wheeled down the corridor.

Josh felt a little better.  If Tommy was awake, that had to be a good sign.
He was just resuming his pacing when he saw a man and women enter the
waiting room and head for the desk.  The woman had graying blonde hair and
looked to be in her 50s.  Josh recognized the man right away.  He had seen
him around camp and he looked just like Tommy would if he were a few years
older and had a moustache.  He ran to them.

"Andy!" he shouted as he wrapped his arms around the man.  Andy wasn't
Tommy, but he would do for time being.  He began to sob against Andy's
chest.

"Josh.  Long time no see, partner." Andy said with a slight smile.  Had he
not been so worried about his brother, he'd have been a lot happier to see
Josh.

"I'm Dianne, Tom's mother," the woman said as she offered Josh her hand.
Josh ignored her hand and hugged her.  She smiled and returned his embrace.

"Have you heard anything?" she asked.

Dianne and Andrew sat down and listened intently as Josh told them what had
happened and what the nurse had just told him moments before.  Just as he
finished the story, Susan walked into the room.

"Mom!" he said as he ran to her.

"Josh, I'm so proud of you," Susan said as she held her son.  "Officer
Higgins told me what happened and he told me what you did.  You're such a
smart and brave boy."

Josh held onto his mother for a moment before making introductions.
Everyone spent the next hour sitting quietly while Josh resumed his pacing.
He looked like an expectant father marking the time before the birth of his
first child.  Far from a giddy new father, Josh was a scared little boy.
All he could think about was the possibility of losing Tommy.   Losing the
only man who had ever treated him with kindness.  Losing the person that he
loved most in the entire world.

At about 10:30, a red haired woman wearing a lab coat and a stethoscope
entered the waiting room from the treatment area.  "Are you people Tom
Davis's family?"  She asked.

"I'm his mother," Dianne answered.  "How is he?"  She asked in a stressed
voice.

"I'm Doctor Andrews; I'm the neurologist treating Tom.  Could you please
come with me so that we can talk in private?"

Josh's heart resumed the jack-hammer pounding in his chest as the four of
them stood up and followed Dr. Andrews through the door.  They turned into a
small conference room just inside the treatment area and the doctor directed
them all to sit down.

"Before I begin, I want to assure you that, at least for the moment, Tom is
stable and while he is conscious, he is in a considerable amount of pain."
Dr Andrews paused before continuing.  "When Tom was brought in, my initial
fear was that he was suffering from a burst cerebral aneurysm.  I'm sure
that I don't have to tell you just how serious that condition is.  We ran a
series of tests including a CT scan of his head.  Fortunately, we have been
able to rule out the possibility of an aneurysm."

Everyone present let out a collective sign of relief as they waited for the
doctor to continue.

"Having said that, he is far from being out of the woods.  The CT scan
revealed an old head injury.  At some point, probably within the past 2
years, Tom has suffered a depressed skull fracture.  It would have been
caused by a blow to the back of the head."

"He was in the militia and was in a serious accident involving an armoured
vehicle just about 2 years ago.  His leg was smashed up badly, but nobody
noticed any head injuries," Andrew said.

"The timing sounds about right.  My bet would be that the injury was
received in that accident.  That type of skull fracture can sometimes
present relatively few symptoms.  If the doctors involved weren't thorough
enough in their examination they could have easily missed it especially if
other more visible injuries were present.  I'd have some serious questions
for the doctors involved," the doctor replied.  "After consulting with the
radiologist, I ordered a myelogram.  The results of the CT scan and the
myelogram have revealed what I believe to be the source of Tom's problems."

Everyone was on the edge of their seats waiting for the verdict.

"The fracture caused a small tear in the tissue surrounding Tom's brain.
This tear caused a slow but persistent leak of cerebral spinal fluid which
has been putting pressure on his brain.  As he recovered from his other
injuries and became more active, the pressure was increased further.  It was
only a matter of time before this happened.  This pressure explains the
increased frequency and severity of his migraine headaches."

Josh felt as if he had been kicked in the gut.  He didn't fully understand
everything the doctor had said, but he knew she was saying that Tom had a
brain injury.  He knew that brain injuries were serious; they had covered
that in school when they talked about the necessity of wearing bike helmets.
  He felt light headed as he looked around the room and saw that everyone
else was as pale and sick looking as he felt.

Until that moment, aside from the doctor, only Josh had any idea as to how
serious this was.  Only Josh had seen how much pain Tommy was in and how
pale he looked as he lay there.  His fears began to build again.

"What do we do now?  Can you fix it?"  Dianne asked in a shaky voice.

"Yes.  We can fix it and we need to fix it right away.  He needs immediate
surgery to correct both the skull fracture and the meningial tear."  The
doctor paused and looked around the room before proceeding.  "I don't want
to sugar coat this for you.  All surgery is serious and brain surgery is
more serious than most.  This operation is absolutely necessary but it does
carry some risk to the patient."

"What kind of risk?"  Josh asked in a small, terrified voice.

"Well, brain surgery can entail risks which can include post-operative
seizures and in the case of complications, hemorrhaging or even paralysis
are possible.  It's even possible, however unlikely, that fatal
complications could arise.  I don't want to scare you, but I don't want to
give anyone the illusion that there are no risks to this procedure.  I can
tell you that I have performed similar procedures many times before and that
I have rarely encountered serous complications.  There is no such thing as
routine brain surgery, however, this procedure is a lot less complex than
most.  I also need to remind you that without this procedure, Tom's
condition will continue to get worse and he will eventually die from it."

Josh had tears in his eyes and so did just about everyone else.

"I have spoken to Tom and he understands the risks.  He has authorized me to
perform the procedure.  He's a young man.  He's strong and he's in good
physical condition.  I don't anticipate any problems with this procedure and
I am fully confident that he will be able to resume a normal life
afterwards."

"Can we see him before he goes into surgery?"  Andrew asked.

"Yes, you may but only for a few minutes.  I suggest that you go in one or
two at a time.  Stay positive to keep his spirits up.  I have to go and get
ready to operate.  I'll send someone in to take you to Tom.  You can stay
with him until it's time to take him upstairs."

Everyone stood up and shook hands with Dr. Andrews and she left the room.  A
moment later, Nurse Mitchell returned and led Dianne and Andrew in to see
Tommy.  Josh sat quietly next to Susan as she wrapped her arm around his
shoulders.  He leaned forward onto the table, rested his head on his folded
arms and cried softly.

"Josh," Dianne said softly as she came back into the room after a few short
minutes.  "Tommy wants to see you now."

"You go ahead honey," Susan said kissing Josh on the cheek.  "You need to be
alone with him for a few minutes."

"Thanks mom," Josh mumbled as he stood up on rubbery legs and followed Nurse
Mitchell down the hall.

"He's in there," the nurse said as she directed Josh to a room on the right
side of the corridor.

Josh took a deep breath and entered the room.  The room was brightly lit and
full of machines.  Tommy lay on a bed close to the window.  Josh approached
the bed and fought back the urge to start bawling as he saw how small and
frail Tommy appeared amongst all the equipment, wires and tubes.  Some of
his colour had come back, but he was still pale.

Josh could hardly believe that this was the same Tommy who had once carried
him off a mountain.  The same man who had nearly beaten his uncle to a pulp
for attacking him.  The same guy who had spent the day hiking around High
Park with him.  Josh reached out and grasped Tommy's hand.

"Hi son," Tommy said is a weak voice.  "I hear I owe you a big thank-you.
They tell me that you saved my life.  I also owe you an apology.  I should
have listened to you and gone to the doctor sooner."

"No Tommy, you don't owe me anything and you have nothing to be sorry for.
I did what I did because I love you.  I want you to get better, I need you,
Tommy," Josh rasped out as his tears started in earnest.

"I know kiddo, I love you and I need you too.  The doctor says she can fix
me up and I'll be good as new," Tommy said with wan smile.

Josh squeezed his hand tighter.  "She said there are risks.  She said you
could die."

"Joshy, life is full of risks.  If I don't have the operation, I will die,"
Tommy said soothingly.  "You know me, buddy.  You know I'm a fighter.  I've
always been and always will be a fighter.  I'm not giving up tonight.  I'll
be fighting not only for myself, but for you as well."

Josh leaned over and hugged Tommy as best he could without disturbing the IV
lines or the various wires coming from Tommy's chest.  He continued to sob
as Tommy felt the boy's tears fall onto his face and mix with his own.

"I can't lose you, Tommy," Josh sobbed.

"You won't kiddo.  You won't lose me no matter what happens in that
operating room," Tommy said as he hugged Josh tightly.  "Joshy, I want you
to listen to me very carefully for a couple of moments, ok?"

Josh nodded his head and continued to hold Tommy for dear life.

"I've told you before that I'm not a religious man, but I do believe in God.
  I believe that we have a purpose in this life.  I believe that whatever
happens does so for a reason.  We may not always discover the reason until
sometime later and we may never discover the reason at all.  We just have to
have faith that some higher power is in control and knows what he's doing."

Josh turned his head and looked deeply into Tommy's brown eyes.

"Josh, my accident happened for a reason.  It brought us together.  This has
also happened for a reason.  We don't know what that is and we may never
know, but we have to believe that.  We also have to have faith that we were
not brought together just to enjoy a few months before being split apart
again.  I have faith that we are meant to be dad and son forever, Josh."

Josh hugged Tommy tighter, "I think so too, dad."

"Josh I believe that I will come out of this just fine.  I also believe that
if I don't there will be a purpose in that as well.  You will have to find
that purpose for yourself. Never forget that I love you and I will always
love you.  I believe in God Josh, I also believe that there is a heaven.  If
I don't pull through, I can promise you that I will be holding a place for
you in heaven and that I will be watching over you ever minute of every day
of your life.  Our bond and our love is eternal.  This isn't the end, Josh.
No matter what," Tommy choked out as he began to cry just as hard as Josh
was.

They stayed that way for several minutes not saying anything.  Josh firmly
gripping Tommy's hand with one hand while hugging him and resting his smooth
cheek against Tommy's rough one.  Tommy lightly rubbed Josh's back as they
lay there waiting for the orderliness and nurses to come.

"Tom," nurse Mitchell said quietly from the hallway.  "It's time to go.
Doctor Andrews and her team are ready for you."

Nurse Mitchell and 2 orderlies entered the room and began preparing the bed
and various machines to be moved.

"I love you Josh.  No matter what happens, always remember that."  Tommy
said as Josh gave him one last firm hug and climbed off.  Josh kept his
death grip on Tommy's hand as the orderlies began to wheel the bed towards
the door.  Josh stayed with them all the way to the elevator, never letting
go of his stricken dad's hand.  All too quickly, the elevator door slid open
and the orderlies carefully pushed Tommy's bed inside.

"This is as far as you can go," Nurse Mitchell said kindly to Josh.

Josh and Tommy looked each other in the eyes and gave each other's hand a
firm squeeze before reluctantly letting go.  Josh stepped back into the
corridor and Tommy had one last look back at him before the door shut.  What
he saw broke his heart.

The boy was standing facing the elevator door.  His head was down and his
arms were wrapped tightly around his chest.  His face was red, his eyes were
puffy and he wore a mask of utter despair.  His shoulders were heaving and
his body was trembling as his sobs wracked him.  His tears were falling like
rain and wetting the floor at his feet.  His heart was aching and he had
never felt so sad, helpless or scared before in his young life.  To Tommy,
the pain in his head was no longer as significant as the pain in his heart.

Susan walked quietly up behind Josh and placed an arm on his shoulder.  Josh
turned and buried his face in her chest.  He stayed that way as she gently
led him out of the treatment area and towards the elevator which would take
them upstairs to await the outcome of Tommy's operation.

Josh, Dianne, Andrew and Susan waited in a small, private waiting room.
Just down the hall, Dr, Andrews was working to save Tommy's life and to
restore his health.  Dianne and Andrew sat together chatting quietly.  Susan
was dozing lightly and Josh was pacing as he had done in the ER.

The operation had been going on for about 2 hours and there had been no
word.  Josh was restless so he decided to take a walk.  He paused before a
Coke machine and briefly considered purchasing a drink.  He decided against
it.  He felt as though he was supposed to be somewhere or do something but
he didn't know what.  He felt helpless and scared and he sought comfort.

He wandered own the hallway.  The only people he saw were doctors, nurses
and orderlies.  There were no other visitors around at this time of night.
He reached the end of the corridor and noticed that there was a door marked
"Chapel"

He was pleasantly surprised when he turned the handle and the door opened.
He hadn't expected it to be open.  He entered the small room and made his
way between the rows of narrow pews.

Josh, like Tommy, was not a religious person.  He had never really attended
church and had never gone to Sunday school.  He didn't really know why he
was there but it felt right.  He was thinking about what Tommy had told him
just before he was taken to the OR.

The boy took a seat on the front pew and collected his thoughts.  There was
nobody else in the dimly lit room.  The front wall was adorned with a
variety of religious symbols and Josh guessed that this was a multi-faith
chapel of some sort.  He hoped that it was also a place for people like him
who didn't really practice any religion.  He didn't know how to pray but he
had seen enough people do it on TV to know that it didn't look difficult.

He folded his hands together, placed his elbows on his knees and leaned
forward.  He sat there for a moment and then began to speak out loud.

"God, I don't know if you can hear me, I don't even know if I'm doing this
right.  I've never prayed before and I've never asked you for anything.
Tonight I have to ask you for something important.  I have to ask you to
save my dad.  I love Tommy with all my heart.  He has had a rough life.
He's been through a lot.  He's a kind, loving man and he doesn't do anyone
any harm. He helps people.  He has helped me more than he will probably ever
know.  I love him with all my heart and I would give anything or do anything
to help him pull through.  He has to live.  I know you might need him with
you in heaven, but I need him here with me even more.  He deserves to live.
He deserves to grow old.  He doesn't deserve to die just a couple of months
before his 20th birthday.  If Tommy dies, a bit of me will die with him.  I
don't think I could ever be happy again if I lost him.  Please make him
well, God, please.  Amen."

Tommy was crying again as he opened his eyes.  He didn't know if God had
heard him or would even listen to him, but he had to have faith.  As he
stood up and walked out of the chapel, he felt a little different.  He
couldn't quite place the feeling, but he felt a sense of peace wash over
him.  It almost reminded him of the feeling he got when Tommy held him in
his arms.  He slowly made his way back to the waiting room.

Josh opened the door and froze immediately.  He felt his blood run cold.
Doctor Andrews was there, still dressed in her surgical scrubs.  She was
kneeling in front of Dianne and holding her hand.  Dianne, Susan and even
Andrew had tears in their eyes.

"How's Tommy?" Josh demanded urgently as his heart pounded between his ribs.

Doctor Andrews stood up and turned around.  She placed her arm tenderly on
Josh's shoulder and looked into his eyes.  "Tommy's going to be fine, Josh.
The operation was a complete success."