Doctors Need Mending Too

Chapter 1

The familiar white walls and the sting of the extra clean air of the hospital did nothing to ease my worries. The phone call came at around 10pm last night and I took the earliest flight I could get back to Ohio. The caller didn't say much as to why my dad was rushed to the hospital and basing from his history; I believe I have every right to be worried sick.

I walked further into the main lobby and looked ahead to where a blond lady in a dark blue pinstripped uniform was standing by a small counter labelled 'Information'. I walked to her, impatiently waiting as she attended to another person on the phone. I tapped my fingers on the counter top and cleared my throat a couple of times to get her attention and she'd glance up apologetically to let me know that she's trying to finish up as quickly as she can. She tapped on her computer for a while apprently looking for a patient's name, told the caller what seemed to be a room number and finally hang up. She closed her computer window and turned to look at me.

"Good afternoon, sir. I'm sorry to keep you waiting. How can I help you?"

She sounded so polite I ended up rolling my eyes. Forgive me; I was having a bad day.

"I'm Kurt Hummel. I received a call from here regarding my father, Burt Hummel. He's in the Coronary Care Unit I believe? He was admitted last night." She nodded politely before turning her body slightly to face her computer screen.

"I will just need an ID for confirmation, Mr. Hummel. Your father was indeed admitted last night."

I took my wallet from my back pocket and handed her my license which she studied for a bit then handed back.

"The CCU's on the 2nd floor. You can take the elevator down the hall and it will open right to the entrance of the unit. I will leave it to the nurses and doctors upstairs to give you an insight as to what happened."

I nodded absentmindedly to say thanks and went on my way. They said my dad had a 'minor' heart attack and it scared the shit out of me. He's been very compliant with all the medications and the diet while I was around, but since I've moved to New York, seven years ago, I guess I've lost track and I've been mentally kicking myself in the head for my neglect. I knew he was stubborn and I knew he feels too invincible sometimes but I never really found the time to bother - until now.

The second floor was where all the ICU's were and the atmosphere was heavier than any other place in the hospital. The halls were lined by relatives anticipating news from the staff about their respective patients as they weren't really allowed inside. They were in small huddles, some were whispering, crying, and a small group of older ladies were mouthing prayers. But for the most part, all were just sad; hopeful, but sad. I made my way around a corner to find the Coronary Care Unit and pushed the door. Inside, the bleeping cardiac monitors did nothing to lighten the mood and glassed doors after glassed doors of private cubicles meant to house one sick, dying person after the other just made my stomach turn in fright. The last time my father was here, he was in a coma and for a few long hours I've almost believed I was going to lose him. What makes this time any different?

I was approaching the nurse station at the very middle of the room when I heard his voice and that was all I needed to make af least some of the worries go away.

"You called my son?! I have a wife, right at home, and you call my son who lives in New York?" I couldn't help but smile at his tone. Carole was a wreck. I called her right after I heard from the hospital and she was in no way emotionally fit to get through this by herself. It wasn't that hard to understand as I was in a similar state the first time my father had a heart attack. Finn would have managed to keep her together but he's been in Los Angeles for the last couple of years teaching in a private high school whilst managing his own rock band.

I walked the few last feet to the furthest cubicle labelled CCU 1 and saw my father truly enraged. I tapped on the sliding glass door before coming in. The nurse appeared obviously relieved by my arrival as she was obviously failing at making my father calm down. She gave me an apologetic nod before moving further into the room to check on his IV and then excused herself stating on her way out that the medical residents would be making their rounds soon in case I had questions. I nodded courteously at her just before she stepped out of the sliding door leaving my father and I to ourselves.

"Before you start your lecture, yes I've been very compliant with my meds, I only eat fast food once or twice a month and I do pay my Cardiologist a visit as scheduled." I laughed out loud clearly amused by how he knew the answers to the questions I haven't asked yet. I love my father to bits and there is no one in his world that could replace him.

"It was a minor chest pain buddy. It's just that judging by my history, let's just say, the doctors want to be completely sure. They want me to have this angiogram thing and for all I care that wouldn't be a problem, yeah?"

"Yes, dad sure is fine with me."

I took a seat on the visitor's couch taking advantage of the last couple of hours when relatives are allowed inside. From outside I could hear several people in some sort of discussion. It was another couple of minutes before they came into view. One of the doctors stood near our opened glass door and was speaking to someone else who was standing against a wall, away from my view.

"Endorsing Mr. Hummel, 64 year old male, Caucasian, admitted last night for an Acute Coronary Syndrome, scheduled -"

"Did you just say Mr. Hummel?"

The other doctor interrupted quickly before appearing from behind the wall he was leaning on.

And there he was. Now I know how it feels to have your heart leap to your throat.

Of course he looks older, with a bit of dark scruff under his chin and on his cheeks. He had the same (fine, maybe similar) pair of dark rimmed, glasses hanging on his nose, his hair still gelled securely to his head and a stethoscope around his neck making him look extremely sexy.

It was Blaine Anderson.

My ex boyfriend turned best friend whom I've lost touch with after he chose to go to college in Michigan. The person I've probably never thought I'd see in a place like this. The man, whom as of now, I've decided, I have not really worked on forgetting. He's grown, just like I've had, to become even more handsome than I've ever thought possible. He was looking absolutely gorgeous in his scrubs clearly accentuating his arms and well what can I say – his perfect ass.

He turned to look my way and, as I was caught by surprise, and didn't get the chance to turn away. He gave me a small nod and quickly turned his gaze towards his partner. They chatted for a bit longer about some medical things I couldn't make out before stepping inside.

"Mr. Burt Hummel? Good morning. I'm not sure if you remember, I have attended to you last night at the ER. I'm Dr. Williams and this is Dr. Anderson. We are both medical residents under Dr. Harrison. He will be taking over for me now. In case you need anything, you can ask the nurses to page him for you."

Blaine gave us, mostly me, his uncomfortable smile. Turning to look at my father, I almost choked at how big his eyes were in disbelief on what's happening. A heavy silence filled the room for a full minute before Blaine had the courage to speak.

"We'd be keeping you in intensive care until we are sure you are stable enough to be transferred to a regular room Mr. Hummel. You are also scheduled for a coronary angiography tomorrow. If everything goes well, you may be a good candidate for an angioplasty, sir."

I guess all the tension has been pretty obvious as Dr. Williams turned to look at me and then Blaine a couple of times with a questioning look on his face.

"Hello, Kurt. It's been a while hasn't it?"

He was talking to me wasn't he? He called my name.

"Not my fault. I wasn't the one who disappeared." I responded defensively. He just smiled to show me his perfect white teeth.

"Back in Ohio, I see?" I asked

"Well, there's nothing better than going back to serve your hometown."

He then turned to his colleague to explain how we went to high school together, leaving out the fact that we actually used to be together. I felt my heart skip a bit in worry that Blaine might have crawled back into the closet or something. But a teasing smile from the other doctor proved me otherwise.

"So, just friends huh?"

Blaine gave him an icy glare before turning back to me.

"I'll go pay you a proper visit after we finish our rounds. Then maybe, coffee?"

"I'd love that. I'm buying." I said unable to stop the smile the escaped my lips.

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