Date: Mon, 26 Nov 2001 19:21:49 -0500
From: Sequoyah <sequoyah@charter.net>
Subject: The Concord Five--Chapter Four

		    ASP--The Concord Five--Chapter Four

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Thanks to Scott for his continued devotion to the story and his editing to
make it better.

My ISP went belly up, so I have a new e-mail address sequoyah@charter.net.
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ASP--The Concord Five--Chapter Four--Danny

When I came on duty Sunday afternoon, I ran into Michael and the gang who
told me about Christopher Cicellis. As soon as I had time, I went up to his
room to check on him. He sure didn't look good. In fact, he looked as if
each breath would be his last. His grandfather Demetri was sitting beside
the young man's bed. He looked exhausted. I told him to take a break and I
would stay with Christopher. Mr. Cicellis reluctantly agreed to take a
break for a bite to eat and the restroom (I learned later Christopher had
his grandfather's last name because his mother had no idea who his father
was).

I was surprised that Christopher wasn't in intensive care and, when
Dr. Walker came in, I asked about that. "Really no need," he said, "because
it's essentially just a waiting game. Of course the fact that there's not a
bed there is also a factor. His grandfather, Demetri, has been right by his
bedside since he learned Christopher had been hurt. You might check on the
grandfather to make sure he's not starving himself."

"I just got him to take a break a few minutes before you came in. He was
reluctant, but finally agreed to get some food and take a restroom
break. So it's a waiting game, is it?"

"Yes, afraid so. We have done all we can do trying to knock out any
infection he might have picked up in a manure bath. Also, he definitely has
a concussion. I have him on phenobarb to keep the brain swelling down and
that's about all that can be done. He doesn't seem to have any fight in him
and he has not been taking care of himself, so his body has a definite
uphill battle."

I could see that Christopher hadn't been taking care of himself. He was a
bit over six feet I'd guess and didn't weight over 120-140 pounds. Dark,
with black, curly hair, Christopher was a good-looking kid on the whole,
but the fact that he was positively skinny didn't make him attractive as he
could have been, and the bruises and cuts sure didn't help his
looks. However, when Dr. Walker uncovered him to examine cuts that had been
stitched, I could see he was not lacking in all departments!

When he finished examining Christopher, Dr. Walker said, "Well, at least he
seems to be holding his own. I talked with the duty nurse, Danny, and if
Demetri will go home and get some rest, you can keep watch on
Christopher. I don't think you need to stay glued to his bedside like
Demetri has been, but do keep a careful eye on him. I'm stopping the
phenobarb in a day or so and I don't know what his reaction will be
then--or in the meantime, for that matter--so just keep watch over him."
Dr. Walker had been working over Christopher as he talked. When he
finished, he covered him, turned to me and asked, "How's school going,
Danny? Still working toward an LPN certificate?"

"School's going ok and, yea, I'm still working toward my LPN
certificate. Should finish by the end of this semester. I'm looking forward
to that and a break. With my school work, work at the hospice and here, I
have little time for anything, even sleep. But I'm not complaining. Anytime
I think about tossing in the towel, I remember Jake and also how far I have
come since I was rescued from McBride."

"Good, that's about the only use the past has, keeping us living in the
present and moving toward a brighter future," Dr. Walker said. "I'll see if
I can catch Demetri and talk him into going home for a while. Good to see
you, Danny, and to know you're doing ok."

Demetri came up shortly after Dr. Walker left and, after he was sure I
would take care of Christopher, went home when I promised I'd call him if
there was any change.

The next few days, I took my school work to the hospital and did it in
Christopher's room. Friday, I had fallen asleep when I heard a groan, which
yanked me awake. When I looked at Christopher, he was tossing around a bit
and groaning. I took a cloth, wet it in cool water and started bathing his
face. Suddenly he opened his eyes and was obviously startled. "Who are you?
Where am I? What happened?" Questions were pouring out of him.

"Christopher, I'm Danny, Danny Elrod. You're in the hospital. You have been
unconscious for several days as a result of a beating, but it looks as if
you are coming around," I told him as I buzzed for the nurse.

The nurse came quickly and, when she saw Christopher was awake, said,
"Thank goodness you're awake. I'll page Dr. Walker. I think he's still in
the hospital."

"Christopher, I'm going to call your grandfather. The only way he would
leave to get any rest was if I promised I would call him if there was any
change."

Christopher groaned again then, in a very weak voice, said, "Demetri was
here?".

"He refused to leave your bedside until Dr. Walker convinced him I would
take good care of you."

"Oh. Where's Michael?" Christopher asked. "I need to talk to Michael."

"I'll call him as soon as I can," I told him as he then slid back into
sleep.

When Dr. Walker arrived, he roused Christopher and did a quick
examination. "Everything looks good Christopher. Maybe you are out of the
woods."

When Demetri came, Dr. Walker told him Christopher had regained
consciousness and was sleeping. He convinced Demetri he should go home and
get some rest. "Demetri, I know you have spent every free minute you have
here, and you are still keeping your place open and getting no real sleep
or rest. If you don't get some, you'll be in here as well, and unable to do
Christopher any good when he gets home. Now that he's on the mend, go
home." Demetri gave a weak protest, but finally agreed to go.

"I'll be by in the morning before I have to open the cafe," he said as he
left the room with Dr. Walker.

I left as well, and went to the hospice for my shift. Little did I know, as
I walked out of the room, that a sudden change was in store for
Christopher.

When I got to the hospice, I called Michael to tell him Christopher had
said he needed to talk to him. He wasn't home, so I left a message saying
it was important that he call me.

There were only two people in the hospice, the smallest number we had had
in some time. I quickly completed the tasks left for me, and had settled
down to do some studying when the phone rang. It was Dr. Walker asking that
I come to the hospital at once. I told the nurse on duty what was up and
she told me to go. "You're needed there and I can handle anything that
comes up here."

When I reached the hospital, Dr. Walker was in Christopher's room
supervising two orderlies who were preparing an ice bath for
Christopher. "What happened?" I asked.

Dr. Walker explained that Christopher seemed to be doing ok and then
suddenly had a raging infection with a fever to match. He had just finished
explaining what was going on, when I was told there was a Michael Andrews
on the phone asking for me.


ASP--The Concord Five--Michael

I tried to call Danny at his place, then at the hospice. The person who
answered the call at the hospice said Danny has just left in a rush for the
hospital. When I reached him there, he told me Christopher had regained
consciousness for a short time, but suddenly his fever had shot
sky-high. It seems the dreaded infection had suddenly kicked in just when
Dr. Walker thought Danny was out of the woods. "I called because, when he
regained consciousness briefly a while ago, Christopher said he needed to
talk to you. He asked where you were and said 'I need to talk to Michael,'
just before he went to sleep again."

"Danny, I'll be right there," I said, hung up the phone, yelled to tell Mom
where I was headed, and was out the door.

When I reached the hospital, I rushed straight to Christopher's room with
the charge nurse running right behind me, telling me I couldn't see
Christopher. When I reached Christopher's room, Dr. Walker was there along
with Danny. I didn't see Demetri. "Dr. Walker, I told this young man he
couldn't come here, but he just ignored me."

"Sorry he upset you, and I should have told you, but I asked that he
come. Michael, we have a real problem here. Frankly, I have done all I can
do. Danny said Christopher had asked for you when he regained consciousness
for a short time, and I thought you might know something that would
help. I'm afraid, after thinking we had this licked, we are going to lose
Christopher."

"Does Demetri know? I'm surprised he's not here."

"I didn't call him," Danny said. "I thought I'd wait to see if there's any
hope. He is not in very good shape, keeping his place operating and
spending the rest of his time here. When it looked as if Christopher was
pulling through, he agreed to go home and get some rest. I don't want to
call him until I have to."

I turned to Dr. Walker and asked, "What's the problem, Dr. Walker?".

"Christopher has developed a raging infection. I thought that was all under
control since we started IV antibiotics almost as soon as he got
here. There didn't seem to be any infection, then wham! He has a raging
one. We did cultures and determined the organisms we had to contend with
and..."

"But you didn't actually try antibiotics on the cultures, did you?"

"No, I saw no need once we identified the organism. It's a common
one--easily controlled. Or so I thought. I have never known it to be as
difficult to kill and as virulent as this case."

"Don't know about raising cattle and keeping a dairy herd, do you, Doctor?"

"Afraid not, Michael." Dr. Walker smiled weakly and said, "About as close
as I get to either is a well-aged steak and real cream in my coffee."

"We don't do it, and are a part of the group trying to get it stopped, but
most cattle and dairy farmers take advantage of a little-understood
property of antibiotics. By feeding antibiotics to cattle you get more
pounds of beef out of them and more milk out of dairy cows with less
feed. That means a higher profit. It's a widespread practice in the US. So,
while the organism causing Christopher's infection is common, and easily
controlled in most cases, he picked his up in a manure bath which is
well-laced with antibiotics--the very ones you have been giving him, I
suspect. You killed off the weak bugs while the strong ones multiplied as
though the antibiotics were ice-cream. You need to try antibiotics against
a culture from Christopher's bugs--if there's time." I added that when I
saw that Christopher was almost completely packed in ice, in an attempt to
get his fever down.

Dr. Walker motioned to the charge nurse, who was still standing at the
door, and she raced away, returning shortly with materials to get a culture
going. As she left, I said, "Dr. Walker, I know you didn't ask me to come
here to give a lecture on cow shit and antibiotics. In fact, I'm surprised
that I remembered that, but the thought had occurred to me when Dad said he
was found in the manure pond."

"You're right, of course," Dr. Walker said as he handed the dishes for the
culture to the nurse, who left with them immediately. "When Danny mentioned
that Christopher said he needed to talk with you, for some reason I
remembered your being here and in as bad shape as Christopher. I know it
was Luke and Matt that pulled off whatever they pulled off that saved your
hide, but I understand you are now a fully qualified medicine man..."

"Hardly. But I see what you are getting at. Don't know whether I know
enough to do any good or not, but I'll sure try. I have wanted to beat the
living shit out of Christopher more times than I like to think about, but
no-one deserves what happened to him. Besides, he was my project and I'll
be damned if I flunk Project Christopher. Danny, I want you here, and I'll
need Mary Kathryn and..." Suddenly I remembered things I needed, such as
sage and sweet grass, rattles... "I'll have to go home or call Greywolf and
see if he has what I need." I looked at Christopher and wondered if he
would last long enough for me to get what I needed, and whether I could do
anything anyway.

"Michael, I'm here to do whatever you want," Danny said.

"I'll stay with Christopher while you get what you need," Dr. Walker
said. "But be as quick as you can. We are running out of time.

"I'll be back as quickly as I can."

I raced down the hall, ignored the elevator, and started down the stairs
two-at-a-time. When I reached the lobby, I was surprised to see Mary
Kathryn walking through the door, carrying a large box.

"What are you doing here, Mary Kathryn?" I asked as I came to a sudden
stop.

"I hoped you would know," she answered, then said, "Take this box. It's
kinda heavy."

I took the box from her and asked again, "Well, why are you here?".

"The UPS man brought this box to our place about half an hour ago. It is
addressed to both of us, but with our house number. The outside envelope
was marked, 'Open envelope at once'. Here's what was inside."

She handed me a small card. Written on it was, "Take to Michael at
once. He'll need this and you. He also needs Golden Eagle's garments."

"Mary Kathryn, this is weird. Have you opened the box?"

"No, I wasn't sure I should."

I was anxious to see what was inside and I needed to be on my way, so I
ripped the box open in the middle of the lobby. As soon as it was opened,
the fragrance of sweet grass, sage and cedar seemed to flow over me. Inside
was a note, "Red Hawk left these for you. They were to be sent when he gave
a sign. He appeared in a dream last night and handed his pipe to a golden
eagle, so I am sending this to you, Golden Eagle." The card was signed with
a drawing of a singing bird and the letters SS.

When I handed the note to Mary Kathryn, she smiled and said, "Singing
Sparrow". I nodded, then grabbed Mary Kathryn's hand and practically
dragged her up the stairs and into Christopher's room.

When Mary Kathryn saw him, she placed a hand on Christopher's brow, then
said to Dr. Walker, "Christopher needs to be taken out of the ice, dried
carefully and placed on a clean bed. Can you see that is done while Michael
gets ready?" She was polite enough, but Mary Kathryn was giving orders and
everyone knew it. Danny and the nurse hopped to the task of getting
Christopher ready for I didn't know what.

When the nurse started to put a hospital gown on Christopher, Mary Kathryn
stopped her. "Leave him as he is," she said. The nurse started to protest,
but stopped when Mary Kathy gave her the eye.

I found sweet grass braids, sage and cedar chips in the box, along with a
rattle made from turtle shells, a fan made from a bird's wing and a feather
which had to be an eagle feather. Attached to it was a note which read,
"This is a strange chicken feather, Golden Chicken, since you can't possess
an eagle feather". I smiled to myself as I showed the note to Mary Kathryn,
who almost laughed out loud.

When I had everything I needed, Mary Kathryn handed me a bundle she had
been carrying. I opened it and found my leggings, breech cloth, arm bands,
medicine bags--all my Lakota clothing. Without hesitation, I got undressed
as quickly as possible and then dressed in my Lakota clothing. I felt a
strange sensation when I placed the medicine bag around my neck. "Ok,
Danny, you can stay with me and Mary Kathryn. Dr. Walker, you can stay if
you like. Otherwise, no-one stays and no-one enters the room until I give
permission." The nurse looked at Dr. Walker for his orders and he simply
nodded. As he did, he moved into the corner of the room.

"Danny, you're going to have to be honest here. There is definitely going
to be some danger involved, looking at what happened to Matt and Luke when
I was knifed. If you don't want to stay, feel free to go. Also, if you have
any resentment against Christopher, you probably need to go."

"I've been here and I intend to stay," Danny said.

"What about our resentment against Christopher?" Mary Kathryn asked me.

"I sure wish we could do a sweat because of that, but we'll just have to
fight it. I don't know what else to do." It was finally time to act. I lit
two braids of sweet grass and gave them to Mary Kathryn and Danny. I took a
small bowl from the box, placed cedar chips and sage in it and started it
burning. I felt I was in a strange world as the smoke began to fill the
room. I didn't know what I was doing. It wasn't something Red Hawk had
taught me--well, it kinda was and it wasn't. It was strange.

I took the bird's wing fan and fanned the smoke from the burning sage and
cedar over Danny, Mary Kathryn and myself. Suddenly I had a vision of a
sweat lodge. I started sweating profusely and could feel the intense heat
of the sweat lodge. I was praying for purification for the four of us and,
in my vision, saw Danny, Christopher, Mary Kathryn and myself sitting in a
sweat lodge. I felt resentment flowing out of myself and could see it
flowing out of Mary Kathryn, but not Christopher. A pure light surrounded
Danny. He felt no resentment toward any of us. Rather, he had a look of
tenderness and love, which made resentment impossible.

The ice and water in which Christopher had been lying was still in the room
in two large containers. Mary Kathryn took a pitcher from Christopher's
bedside table, dipped water from the containers and poured it over all
three of us, then over Christopher.

That done, I started a chant for healing that Red Hawk had taught me. I
danced very slowly around Christopher's bed, waving the fan, sweeping the
smoke over his body. I was moving through a thick haze of smoke, but it was
not the smoke from the cedar and sage. It was a haze of evil, which seemed
to be fighting for control of Christopher's body. I found it difficult to
see Mary Kathryn, and I needed to talk with her but couldn't. I saw her
moving slowly, like a slow-motion movie, approaching the box. She took
something from it, handed it to Dr. Walker and returned to her place at
Christopher's head. She nodded to Danny and he grasped Christopher's
feet. As they held his head and feet, I leaned over Christopher, took the
eagle feather and drew a cross on his forehead--I was puzzled because I
drew it backward and, somewhere in the deep recesses of my mind, I knew
that--and then drew the sign for water over him. Having done that, I leaned
over, placed my mouth to his and drew in a deep breath, turned to one side
and exhaled fully. I then inhaled deeply, drawing the fragrance and smoke
from the cedar and sage into my lungs. I turned back to Christopher, placed
my mouth against his again and exhaled forcefully, filling his lungs. As I
did, I collapsed.


ASP--The Concord Five--Danny

I was surprised when Michael knew exactly what had happened to Christopher
and explained it to Dr. Walker. From that point on, things got weird. All I
really remember is feeling like I was in a sweat bath and then having some
strange, I guess, hallucinations before passing out.

When I came to, I was in a hospital bed and burning up with fever. When I
looked around, I saw Michael in a bed, across the room, tossing and
turning. Dr. Walker came in and, before he was all the way in the room,
Michael asked, "How's Mary Kathryn?".

"She's better than you two, that's for sure," Dr. Walker said. "Michael,
I'm not sure about your treatment methods. First of all, the doctor gets
sick and instead of one patient, I now have four. But, I'll have to admit,
Christopher is a lot better than he was. From my experience with you, I
assume you three have been bitten by the same bug as Christopher, though
heaven only knows how that happens. Anyway, I got in touch with an
infectious disease expert at the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta. As
soon as I started describing what had happened he said, 'Another cow-shit
case. When will farmers ever learn?' He then told me what he suspected we
would find with the cultures and he was sure enough to recommend treatment,
which I have started on all four of you. Right now I'm giving you something
to control the fever, want you to drink all the fluids you can, and I'll
see that you get something for sleep shortly. Now drink!"

I didn't need to be told, as I thought I never would get enough water. When
I asked Michael what had happened, he told me what he thought had taken
place. When I mentioned I felt like I was in a steam bath part of the time,
he said he thought we had gone through a symbolic sweat to get rid of
resentment of Christopher. "You didn't have any. I saw that," he said. The
rest of the ceremony, I guess that's what it was, was to drive out evil
spirits who were in control of Christopher. "I think," he said, "a part of
it--since it happened to Matt and Luke--is that someone or someones have to
be willing to offer themselves on behalf of the sick person. I think the
symbolic sweat, my training, and there being three of us, meant we are not
as sick as Matt and Luke were. Frankly, Danny, I don't understand it any
better than you do. I just do what I have learned and what my spirit leads
me to do."

We talked more about what had happened earlier, about his trip to the Black
Hills and about his own experience of being near and desiring death. I was
awed by the way Michael told me and by what I knew had happened, but it was
still weird. I didn't think it would be something covered in my nursing
course!

The nurse came in with juice and a handful of pills, one of which was to
put me to sleep . It did its job quickly.


ASP--The Concord Five--Uncle Michael

Margaret called me Saturday morning and told me all about what had happened
with Christopher, Danny and the kids. She said Dr. Walker thought they
could all go home Sunday afternoon, but would be at home for a couple
days. "Could you stay with Michael while David and I are at work?" she
asked.

"Of course. No problem. In fact, I'd love to. I haven't had a chance to
really talk with him in ages."

"I suspect the Larsens would like to have Mary Kathryn at our place as
well, if you will be there. She was also involved, and is not as sick as
Michael, but a couple days out of school won't hurt," Margaret said.

"That's fine too," I responded.

Went I got home, I told John what had happened, and that I would be staying
with the two kids for a couple days. "Of course, I'll be here when you get
home since I'll only be there while Margaret is at work. She's only working
six hours these days."

"Good. It'll get you out of the house for a change."

That had become a bit of a problem for the two of us lately. I know it's
just getting used to living with someone, but little things are usually
what eat away at a relationship, not big things. Well some big things do,
as John had discovered in his first serious relationship.

Since the gallery was in the house, the only time I really got out was when
I went on buying trips. All the sales I managed from the house, even those
which involved works I had bought on a trip but had stored elsewhere. I
would go for weeks without being out of the house, other than when I did
errands around town.

John, on the other hand, was at school all day, as he said, dealing with
adolescents and their hormones. When he got home, all he wanted to do was
just relax. Especially on the weekends when he didn't have to go to school,
I wanted to get out and do things, go places, and John still wanted to stay
home. He was always urging me to go ahead and go and, occasionally, I
did--but I'd come back, I'll admit, resenting the fact that I had been
alone. I was alone all the time it seemed. So there was a note of
bitterness in John's voice when he said staying with the kids would get me
out of the house.

I enjoyed my time with Michael and Mary Kathryn. They were both in fair
shape, so they were up most of the day. Both took a nap after lunch and
Michael was still asleep when Margaret got home. She checked Mary Kathryn
and found her vital signs were normal. "Definitely school for you Tuesday,
but I think you need to stay here tonight, just in case."

Michael, it turned out, was not in quite as good shape. He was still
running a slight fever. Margaret also got on him for not drinking enough
fluids. "But I think you'll be ready for school Tuesday also."

I had a cup of coffee with Margaret and we talked about a whole lot of
things. Finally she asked, "Michael, what's wrong? And don't tell me
'nothing'. You're just not your usual self, and every time John's name is
mentioned, you change the subject. Trouble in paradise?"

"Well, maybe not trouble and it's definitely not paradise or, again, maybe
you are right." I then told her about the problem John and I were having
over going out. "I know it sounds trivial, and I keep telling myself it is,
but it is still a burr under my saddle."

We talked for a while about that. Margaret was a good listener and said
little as I talked my way through the problem. I guess it was the first
time I had really looked at it as a real problem--because I kept talking
and, otherwise, I would have said there was nothing to tell.

When I finished, Margaret asked, "Michael, have you talked to John the way
you have been talking to me? I mean have you really talked to him?"

I realized I hadn't, and admitted it. "Why not? she asked. "How's anything
going to be better so long as you don't talk? There has to be a reason
you're not talking."

I thought about that and finally said, "I would like to tell you I don't
know the reason, but I do. I don't know about you and David, but I am very
conscious of the difference between John's age and my own. On the one hand,
it doesn't seem like a lot and on the other it does. I don't know whether
you know it or not, but gay men are generally pretty age-conscious. When
you reach my age, you think there is no hope of finding someone to
love. The usual places for meeting other men just don't work any more. I
guess it's because the so-called "gay scene" just seems, well, immature and
all the posturing is kind of difficult for someone my age. So you just give
up and resign yourself to a lonely life for the rest of your years. Then if
you are lucky, damn lucky, someone like John comes along. When that
happens, you really can't believe it and you walk on eggs for fear you will
chase him away."

"John feels fairly free to criticize me and the things I do. Often they are
very small things to my mind but, when I try to tell him that, he gets
upset. When I try to tell him the things he does which annoy me, he starts
defending himself and gets upset. So I just walk easy."

"You're afraid of losing John and are working hard at making that happen,
right?" Margaret looked at me unflinchingly. "Right?"

I hung my head, knowing that what she said was right and, at the same time,
not wanting to admit it. I had too much to lose and knew that I would run
out of chances if something was not done. "Yes, I guess you're right,
Margaret. I guess you are."

"Well, do something about it." I promised her I would, and told her I'd be
available Tuesday if she needed me to stay with Michael.

"Don't think I will, but thanks--and I will call on you if I do."

I was with Michael and Mary Kathryn on Monday and Tuesday. Wednesday I left
on a long-planned buying trip and didn't get back to Concord until Friday
afternoon. When I got home it was still an hour or so before John came
home. I was determined to work on our relationship and thought a romantic
dinner would be a good start. We had gotten into a pretty dull routine
because John didn't want to go out and I didn't want to be at home, so we
had pretty much settled into a non-confrontational sort of mutual misery.

John was usually home by 5:30 at the latest, and he was that late only when
he had a faculty meeting or a meeting with parents after school. When 6:00
came and he was not home, I began to worry. If he was much later, the very
romantic dinner I had planned would be beyond eating, much less
romantic. When 6:30 came and John still hadn't gotten home, I called the
school but got no answer other than the recorded messages about school
events.

At 7:00 I heard John's car and was ready to light into him about being late
and not calling, when I saw his face as he came in the door. I didn't know
what was wrong, but it was definitely major. "John, Babe, what's wrong,
what's the matter?"

John took one look at me and tears started streaming down his face. He ran
to me, hugged me to himself and the dam really burst. As I held him close
and gently rocked him in my arms, I was in agony, knowing how much pain he
must be in to be so out of control.