Chapter 7 - CT Scan Trouble

Rick groaned as he opened his eyes drowsily. He sadly was getting use to how he felt coming out of drugged sleep. He was lying down again and as he groggily tried to sit up, and his eyes adjusted he saw he was in a hospital bed and was once again restrained to the bed by white leather straps. Around his chest were thick white restraints that wrapped around his chest, with two thin straps going past his head to anchor behind him to the bed so he could not lift his head up.

The chest part lead to another set running around his crotch that connected to the bed sides. On his arms two restraints wrapped around each wrist connecting a white leather strap below him on the bed so he could not lift or move his arms an inch.

He tried to stay clam but the level of restraint holding him was intense, around his thighs two more white restraints wrapped around them clipping to a strip below his legs. The last pair of restrains wrapped around each ankle with another strap over top of his legs so that he could not lift them up or move in any way.

All the restraints seemed to connect to white connection points running on top of the beds mattress he was lying on. He also saw that they were not locks securing it but odd round blue pegs that almost looked like magnets.

He tried to be calm as he looked around the room it was a sterile medical green room and behind him he could see a massive machine humming it was a circular, open structure with a smooth, opening at its center. Rick had been in one before it was a CT scanner so he felt less concerned about that. “But why did she have to drug me for a CT scan” he said out loud.

In front of him was the control panel with multiple LD screens mounted in front of the station with another pair of automatic hospital style doors behind that. As he tried to unsuccessfully move the doors opened and in walked Veronica. She was dressed, in blue surgical scrubs and her hair was already wrapped with a matching blue surgical cap, complete with white lab coat and stethoscope.

She looked concerned as she walked in ending a call on her phone “….yes thank you Amanda I will update you after I’m done”

“Ohh Rick I see your awake good we can do the CT scan than. She walked over to him checking the restraints making sure he was secured. “Haha I see you glaring at me Rick I’m surprised you did not yell at me but I think you remember what happened the last time you did that.”

As she finished checking everything she made sure Rick’s bed was positioned correctly before she waked over to the control panel taking a seat. “I am sorry I had to do it this way Rick but I knew you would not do this voluntarily so soon after your last surgery. I truly wanted to have more time to enjoy each other after that wonderful bath, as I had a very romantic evening planned for us.”

“For now please just relax I’m sorry about the Seguflex 12-point restraint system but I need you completed still and I know you won’t be I see the panic, angry, mistrust and flight instinct in your eyes.” She then looked upset and tipped back on her chair and spun slowly around on it lost in thought he saw. “I never told you but I’m also a psychologists Rick, so I can see the mental strain and emotional break in your eyes, and the toll all this is has taken on you but I need to examine your abdomen so sadly it has to be done by force.”

At these words she stopped spinning and typed a few keys and the CT scanners humming increased in tempo, and the bed began to move slowly toward the center of the CT scanner.

The bed shifted in small increments, the sound of the machine’s mechanical whirring intensifying as he was guided deeper into the circular opening. He felt a brief moment of claustrophobia, but Veronica’s calm voice broke through the noise via a speaker.

“Just focus on your breathing, Rick. I know you don’t trust me but will get through this quickly ok.” As he was drawn further into the machine, Rick felt a slight vibration beneath him, the buzz of the scanner working to capture images of his abdomen. The restraints kept him firmly in place, while Veronica sat watching him on the monitor as the CT scanner began scanning.

Rick wanted to scream in rage and confusion at why she was doing his to him but he couldn’t move so why scream, the Seguflex 12-point restraints ensured that any attempt to move was impossible. He didn’t know but Veronica had already injected a contrast dye into his bloodstream, allowing the scanner to get clear, detailed images of his internal organs.

Inside the machine, the X-ray tubes rotated around Rick’s body, taking hundreds of cross-sectional images of his abdominal cavity. With each pass, the machine emitted a faint clicking sound, capturing slices of data from different angles. These images were reconstructed by the computer into a detailed, 3D model of Rick's internal organs. As the bed moved in and out of the scanner. Veronica watched on multiple screens as images began to appear on them.

She methodically, scanned each layer of the 3D reconstruction for signs of inflammation, abnormalities, or anything that might suggest the source of Rick’s pain but she had a sinking feeling she already know what it was. At first, she saw what she expected normal, healthy tissue, clear outlines of his intestines and other structures. Even could spot the points where the biopsies had been done.

But as the images progressed, she noted a subtle but troubling change in the area surrounding Rick’s appendix.

There, in the lower right quadrant of his abdomen, was a faint shadowing that suggested a possible fluid buildup around the appendix. The appendix itself also appeared slightly enlarged, and there was an indication of free air in the surrounding spaces, a hallmark sign of perforation. Veronica’s brow furrowed. She zoomed in on the images, tracing the outline of the appendix with her eyes and fingers.

“God Damn it I was right,” she murmured to herself.

Her mind quickly connected the dots Rick’s snowmobile accident with the moose and the crash. The fall had sounded minor, but now, seeing this it was obvious that the accident had caused damaged to his appendix.

She clicked through the images, confirming her concern. The CT scan indicated that the appendiceal rupture was going to happen. There were signs of localized peritonitis the inflammation of the peritoneum which would explain the pain Rick had experiencing when she had pressed on him in the bath tub.

Veronica knew immediate surgical intervention was necessary. “Fuck I’m going to really have to work on him after his he will lose his mind when I tell him what I need to do.” She allowed the machine to do another scan set so she could call her sister Amanda as she would need some extra help on his surgery.

She took out her phone and dialed Amanda. (Phone Ringing) “Hey sis so what is the story?”

Veronica grimaced “It’s not great Amanda his appendix shows signs of inflammation and peritoneum. I’m going to need to perform an Emergency appendectomy surgery!”

“Oh ok not the best news did you tell him yet? I know you said he was showing major psychological strain from your training and medical procedures.”

Veronica breathed out trying to be calm but she knew her sister was right. “Yes he is and honestly he will probably break down when I tell him I need to operate on him again.

I’m going to call in a major favour can you chopper out to me and assit on the surgery it’s going to have to happen right away, but I need help so there are no risks.”

“Wow sis you are actually very serious about his guy huh you have never shown any interest in a guy like this before! But this one stumbles into your remote house in the woods during a snowstorm, and you decide you’re going to keep him.”

“Yes Amanda I do he is just different I can’t explain why but it feels right, and we are just compatible. He is really sweet and the sex was amazing honestly, so will you please come and help me?”

Amanda took a moment to gather her thoughts she was shocked and intrigued her younger sister had never show this much interest in a man before so this guy must be something truly special. She pulled up her computer to check how soon the chopper could be ready while she talked.

“Ok sis I got you I would never turn you down and Tim is saying I can be air born in 3 hours, and arrive to you by early next morning”

Veroncia breathed a sigh of relief at these words. “Thank you, sis, I honestly really appreciate it. I’m going to ask another favour if you can be the one to tell Rick when you come what we need to do. I’m going to sedate him now and get a good night’s sleep so I can meet you when you land. I will make sure the robot snowplows clear the pad and will meet you with my snowmobile. It’s cold so dress very warmly ok.”

“Haha ok I was always going to ask to meet him so sure, I can break the news to him that we need to cut him open I am a doctor after all.

“It’s a deal see you tomorrow sis….Ohh and Veronica you better call mom she is going to want to talk about the whole kidnapping a guy for love and sex thing or you’re going to be in big trouble! She may even send our big sister Victoria out to have a talk with you, and I don’t think you want to let her anywhere near your new guy.”

Veronica grimaced at the mention of there oldest sister. “Ok I hear you I will call her as soon as Rick is fine and I’m working on my next phase with him ok I promise!”

“All right I’m trusting you see you tomorrow sweet dreams sis” Veroncia ended the call happy she would have help on the surgery as she ended the CT scan, and got up to sedate Rick.

Rick saw Veronica walk over but she was smiling happily and he hoped that meant good news. But as she leaned down she quickly pushed his neck to the side and injected him with a syringe filled with a strong sedative. “Ahhhhhh again fucking again bitch just stop. Rick tired to thrash on the bed but the Seguflex 12-point restraint system held him tight so he didn’t move an inch.

“You….I….I….cannttttt truussstttt….yyoou” Rick screamed as he felt everything immediately starting to get dark as the powerful sedatives began hitting him. Veronica sat on the edge of the bed watching him go insert looking concerned and deeply sad.

“I know you’re very angry with me Rick, I’m sorry but I promise everything will be explained to you when you wake up for now it’s best you get some rest my love.”

Rick watched Veronica as his vision faded he felt so full of anger and rage. He didn’t understand “why did she keep doing this to him why?” were his last thoughts as he closed his eyes and fell into a dark oblivion.

End: Chapter 7