"The Damage Report"

(set up by Satchie)

Impatient for the results of Johnny's x-rays and lab work, Roy diverted his attention from his partner's (1)______ form on the examination table and stared at the door as though he could (2)______ summon the doctors back into the treatment room.  It had been at least half an hour since anyone had been in to (3)______ on Johnny, and Roy was going crazy with worry.  His (4)______-prone partner's injuries didn't appear to be (5)______, but knowing Johnny's propensity to develop (6)______ complications, anything was possible.

Johnny sighed as he draped his (7)______ over his eyes to shield them from the (8)______ glare of the overhead (9)______.  "(10)______!  I don't remember the last time I hurt this much.  My (11)______ is killing me."

Roy smiled (12)______.  "I'm not surprised, considering how the explosion completely picked you off your (13)______ and tossed you around like a (14)______ before you landed on the ground."

"I don't really remember that," Johnny admitted.  "One minute I heard Cap over the HT telling us to evacuate the (15)______ before it became totally engulfed in flames, and the next thing you know, I was being unloaded from the back of a (16)______.  Oh, and I vaguely remember puking all over your (17)______ at some point.  Sorry about that."

"It's okay.  I'm just glad you're still in one piece, even though you did take about ten years off my (18)______."

Their conversation was interrupted when the door opened and the emergency room physicians (19)______ back into the room.  Dr. Brackett's expression was (20)______ as he (21)______ over to the examination table.

Johnny (22)______ rubbed the tape that secured the IV to his (23)______.  "Uh oh.  Is it that serious?"

Dr. Brackett crossed his arms across his chest as he prepared to deliver his (24)______ report.  "The x-rays show that you have a Grade-II concussion, a complete fracture of both (25)______, a hairline fracture of the (26)______ and a badly dislocated (27)______.  It turns out that your (28)______ was just sprained.  You won't need a cast, but you'll still need to stay off of it as much as possible for about six weeks.  Curiously, your lab work detected a significant amount of (29)______ in your (30)______, but not enough to cause any long-term (31)______.  Of course, our biggest concern right now is the large piece of (32)______ embedded in your (33)______."

Dr. Early (34)______ rubbed his (35)______ as he tried to reconcile the unusual penetrating injury with the senior paramedic's account of events.  "Roy, I'm still not exactly clear on how this happened.  Did Johnny fall on this piece of debris, or did it become an airborne (36)______ due to the force of the blast?"

"He fell on it," Roy explained.  "Cap had just ordered us to (37)______ our way out of the burning structure when it (38)______ exploded.  The blast knocked Johnny off a pallet of (39)______ and slammed him against a (40)______ before he hit the ground like a ton of (41)______."

"I guess that would explain the (42)______ (43)______," Dr. Morton mused as he inspected the injured anatomy.

"How are you going to get it out?" Johnny asked.  "Surgery?"

The corner of Brackett's mouth twitched (44)______.  "I'm afraid so, Johnny.  I've already called the OR, and they're setting up a (45)______ for you as we speak.  But first, we need to get you caught up on your fluid volume.  Between a mild-to-moderate case of (46)______ and the vomiting, you're (47)______ dehydrated."

Dr. Early's eyes (48)______ drifted toward the half-empty bag of (49)______ hanging from the IV pole.  "Your blood pressure has stabilized nicely since we've been (50)______ this solution directly into your (51)______, so we should be able to take you upstairs in a few minutes to (52)______ your (53)______."

Johnny swallowed almost (54)______ as a (55)______ orderly (56)______ pushed a (57)______ into the room to transport him to the OR.  "Uh, sure.  Okay."

Roy (58)______ squeezed Johnny's (59)______ in a familiar gesture of reassurance.  "That's my cue to (60)______.  Do you need for me to stop by your apartment and bring you anything?  (61)______?  (62)______?  (63)______?"

"Nah, I'll be fine.  But thanks."

"All right.  Hang in there, Johnny."

A crooked grin (64)______ crept across the injured paramedic's face.  "I will," Johnny promised.  "With both (65)______."

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