Chapter 24

They got to the hospital and was met by Sophie as Nate was wheeled into the ER leaving them to sit and wait for word on his condition.

"Eliot?" Sophie said looking at the Hitter her eyes pleading.

"I don't know Sophie his breathing was not good and there could be…well there are lots of things that could have got damaged. Eliot said taking a seat at her side. "Sophie I…"

"I know Eliot." Sophie said interrupting him and putting her hand on his shoulder.

It took an hour before the doctor emerged to speak to them. They had had to intubate Nate as his breathing was very erratic and he had been taken to the ICU unit. They would keep him there for the next 36 hours and that there was nothing more they could do except to wait and see what happened. The CT scan and MRI they had done had not revealed any serious damage to Nate's neck however there had been some damage to the muscles and some damage to the vocal cords but minimal as far as we can see the damage was minimal.

"Thank you doctor can I see him."

"Yes but only for a short while." The doctor said, the nurse will show you.

The doctor left and the nurse came to fetch them and take them to the ICU. Sophie was told she could go in but only for a few minutes, she nodded and thanked the nurse before entering the unit. She walked up to Nate's bed and looked down on him. He had a bandage wrapped around his throat and had a tube in his mouth feeding him oxygen. The heart monitor beeped a slow and steady beat and mixed in the cacophony of other sounds which filled the room.

She reached out and put her hand on his. She did not say anything just stood with him and watched the rise and fall of his chest to the rhythm of the ventilator. Then the nurse told her she would have to leave. Sophie nodded and leaned into Nate placing a gentle kiss on his forehead before leaving and joining the others outside.

"Did you get hold of Sterling?" Sophie asked as she took her son from Parker.

"Yeah, he said he would get a team out there and take Bronovich into custody." Eliot replied. "He is going to need the Morero boy to testify though. He is out of the country now but will be back to take charge."

"Well I am sure he will." Sophie said then took a seat in the chairs lined against the wall. She sighed heavily as she rocked her sleeping son.

"He's going to be fine." Parker said looking at Sophie.

"Yes Parker he is going to be fine." Sophie said hoping she was not lying to the woman.

Two days passed and Nate made good progress and he was extubated on the second day, however he had still not regained consciousness. After the ventilator was removed, he was moved into his own room and Hardison made sure it was a suite so that they would all be comfortable while sitting with Nate. At the end of the third day Nate woke to find his wife and the others standing around his bed.

"Well hello there." Sophie smiled at him as he opened his eyes.

"So…Sophie." Nate croaked out, his throat felt like sandpaper and he swallowed hard.

"Don't talk Nate." Sophie said as she leaned in and gave him a kiss. "The doctor will be here soon and have a look."

Nate smiled at her and nodded. Taking her hand and putting the other one on his son's head as she leaned over him. Five minutes later the doctor arrived and ushered them all out as he examined Nate.

"Well Mr Ford, no permanent damage I don't think but speaking is going to be difficult for a while. I will prescribe something for the pain and to numb the throat. Try not to strain your voice in any way for at least the next week or so. Now I can discharge you tomorrow."

Nate smiled and nodded at the doctor croaking out a thank you to him. The doctor smiled back then made some notations on Nate's chart before leaving the room.

"Doctor?" Sophie said as he stepped out to be met by Nate's anxious family.

"He is fine Mrs Ford, doing very well. Now he must rest his vocal cords so as little talking as possible over the next while and I have given him something to numb the throat and ease the pain. He will have to come back for a scan in a week or so just to make sure there is no further damage that we could not see due to the swelling but otherwise I am happy to discharge him tomorrow." The doctor told her. Sophie smiled at him and shook his hand thanking him before walking back into the room to join her husband.

"So Mr Ford you have to be quiet for at least a week." She said giving him a kiss.

"Well that will make a change." Eliot said as he stood smiling at the man from the foot of his bed.

"Oh yeah…Nate quiet man that is going to be something." Hardison said also smiling at him.

Nate looked at both of them then shook his head and looked back at his wife his eyes saying everything she needed to hear.