Chapter 8 - Emergency appendectomy

Veronica’s snowmobile zoomed out from her house to the helicopter pad. She saw the robot snow plow, and the heating coils had cleared it off well. She had a mounted tablet that monitored Rick and his vitals/condition remotely as she heard the sounds of the helicopter approaching in the distance.

The red and gold helicopter came over head and circled. While Veronica lite up the pad and blinked the pads lights twice to signal that it was clear to land. She put her goggles on to shield her from the snow the

helicopter was going to throw up as it descending and landed.

She watched it descend whipping snow around her as it landed gently on the pad. The pilot did not kill the engine but a crew member opened the passenger area and a red arctic coated person was helped down followed by a suit case placed beside her.

Veronica walked up and took the suite case and turned her back as the pilot gave a thumbs up and lifted off again the snow flying around till it died down as the helicopter faded into the distance.

Veronica turned as the red arctic coated person pulled down there hood. “Sis it’s so freaking cold why do you live out here in this frozen wilderness” she yelled “can we please jump on that silly thing, and get someplace warm please?”

Veronica smirked her middle sister had never been very outdoorsy nodded towards the snowmobile, and lifted her rather heavy suite case onto the luggage rack on the back securing it with ties.

“Hop on Amanda” she turned the snowmobile over and waited for her to climb on once she did she floored it and they skimmed down the small hill toward her house. Veronica turned towards the cleverly concealed garage at the side and clicking a button opened the doors.

They drove in and Veronica closed the doors cutting the icy winds as the doors boomed shut. “Come on Amanda grab that brick of a suite case, and follow me into the house.

They waked to a thermal door and opened It to reveal a walk in coat closet area. Veronica waited before closing it so they could take off their winter gear before going into the main house.

“Awe that is better about time little sis” Amanda said her voice trembling from the cold. She began to take off her winter gear pulling out hair a slightly lighter brown to Veronica’s and lighter brown, she was also slightly taller and less curvy than Veronica and was smaller in the breast and butt department.

They took off all there winter gear and Veronica lead her into the library where she had first talked to Rick. “Warm your cold skinny self by the fire Amanda, and I will bring you some coffee to warm you up.”

Amanda huddled near the fire while Veronica went got her a coffee, and she figured cookies. Amanda always had a bit of a sweet tooth and it would cheer her up for the cold. Once they were sitting warmly by the fire and Veronica had the TV showing Rick’s video feed and medical data the pair sipped their coffee’s and Amanda nibbled a cookie.

“Ok Veronica I’m here let’s talk. Just so you know Mom already knows about this guy and so does Victoria!”

“Fuck how?”

“Sis for someone who is so smart you’re very dense at times, you used are hacker friend Richard to get the background information on Rick.”

“Shit Mom told him to give her a copy of what I asked for and I’m sure Victoria that sneaky bitch paid him for a copy after!

“Haha yes so they both know all about him and that you’re interested in him, and Victoria is going to be very queries about him since you like him.”

“I’m not letting that surgical torturer anywhere near my darling Rick, Amanda! she is way to hard core or obsessive especially in her weird line of work.”

“Well then you need mom on your side or else it will be tough to keep her away indefinitely Veronica so figured it out. I’m just warning you now since you’re my sister and I love you.”

“Ya ok thank you Amanda, Veronica said quietly as she sipped her coffee thinking how she would explain his to there mother.”

“Ok I did the hard sibling truth speech but now let’s get to why you actually asked me out here and the help you need with Rick.”

“It’s simple Ricks appendix is going to burst he told me about a snowmobile crash he had in the woods involving a moose that lead to are union and currently…” she said looking critically at Rick who was sedated in the hospital bed in the Seguflex 12-point restraint system before she continue. “Right now he is getting dangerously close to a appendiceal rupture if I don’t operate on him immediately.”

“Ohh that is not good can you show me the CT scans?”

“Ya here” Veronica said pulling an IPad out and passing it to Amanda. She quickly opened it and began quickly looking at and zooming in on the appendix scans.

“Hmmm ok I see ya that is not good you’re lucky you caught it now it is very slightly even he would not be aware of it or really feel much till to was happening”

Veronica: “I know so basically it’s two things I need help on the surgery can you be my anesthesiologist & surgical assistant on the surgery. Second I need you to talk to Rick and try and convince him I’m trying to help him so I can do the surgery.”

Amanda: “Haha sis I will help you no question but based on what you told me he won’t listen thinks your crazy and will fight you like a rabid porcupine before letting you operate on him again.”

Veronica: “I know all that but we have to move fast I already have things set and Rick is on major antibiotics and fluids in prep.”

“I figure I have about 2 hours maybe before we need to move him for surgery!”

Amanda: “Veronica that is not enough time you know I took psychology I don’t have all

your degrees but I can’t get a guy I am just about to meet for that little time to trust me.”

Veronica: “Well please try you saw the scan I can’t wait and he already is going to have after surgery infection risks so I rather not have him fight me the whole time just talk with him please, you can be honest your my sister and maybe he will chill out.”

Amanda: “Ok I will try but no promises how long will he be out for?”

Veronica checked her watch “about another hour or so. Which means we have time to prep and you can change! You brought surgical scrubs to fit your skinny butt right sis?”

Amanda: “Hahaha yes I did but it’s not skinny i just don’t have your assets and curvy body Veronica and guys never complain haha. But ya I brought a pair in case all yours don’t fit my lean sexy body.”

Both sisters giggled as they finished their coffee and then walked out talking about the surgical prep still required.

(Rick Awakens Again)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Rick sleepily opened his eyes as he looked up a white lights as his vision cleared he saw he was still In a hospital bed in the Seguflex 12-point restraint system. The room looked like a typical hospital room just a little more high tech. All this monitors were plugged to a unit and the vital data was displayed on row of large screens TV on the wall in front of him.

He saw an IV line running to his arm from a pole attached to the bed that had two bags hanging from it, one was dripping stuff into him. One said Saline and the other said a bunch of words he didn’t understand but decided it was not good but it was not connected to him yet which was a small mercy.

He screamed in rage and frustration his vitals beeping more erratically as he did. How could Veronica do this to him again he couldn’t trusted her. He began to cry a little at the situation and just closed his eyes wanting to forget it all. Hoping this nightmare would just end and he could go home.

He than heard the door open and slowly

opened his eyes in despair but looked startled as it was not Veronica. The woman who walked in was taller close to 6 feet he would guess more slim and skinny with a less curvy figure, and had lighter brown hair and lighter brown eyes. She was dressed in light blue surgical scrubs with a lab coat.

“Hi Rick my name is Amanda I’m Veronica’s sister”. Rick watched her still startled at actually seeing another person beside Veronica. Amanda mean while had walked over to study his vital data before she went to the wall grabbing a pair of blue nitrile gloves and snapping them on as she pulled a stethoscope from her lab coat pocket, and walked over and sat in a chair by his bed.

“Rick I can see you’re still shocked to see another person haha. Yes I am real and yes I am actually Veronica’s sister she sent me in first to try and talk to you.”

Rick eyed her suspiciously as she put the stethoscope in her ears and bent down to listen to his heart beat. Rick just sat there adjusting to this new turn of events. After a few minutes she stopped listening and sat back on the chair watching him with a critical eyes.

Rick took a breath “ok Amanda well I’m Rick medical hostage and prisoner” he laughter bitterly as this not really noticing that Amanda was observing him and his reactions critically. “Haha that seems a little much don’t you think Rick” she said getting up and going to a mobile medical cart and opening a drawer and getting out a strange device that had a large screen mounted to it.

“How so Amanda if your actually her sister, you know the situation. I crash my snowmobile in the woods found his house and have been kidnapped had medical and dental surgery performed on my again my will. I can’t trust her or you or anyone in this insane house. Just unite me and I will walked through the snow to find help or die as I’m done.”

Amanda watched him as he said his noting how close to the edge he was. Veronica had been correct he was nearing the breaking point mentally.

“Rick if I let you go you wouldn’t get far and not because of my sister or the weather but because you’re hurt, and will die if you don’t let Veronica and I help you.”

Rick eyed the smiling Amanda’s with suspicion. “Ohh really and how excactly am I injured?”

Amanda held up the odd scanner with screen and smiled. “I can show you cutie but I need to touch you and pull up your hospital gown ok?”

Rick sighed and nodded his head. She smiled and quickly sat “Hmmm goody thanks darling Veronica did say you were pretty quick ok, but please don’t try anything ok.”

Rick laughter hysterically for a moment. “Amanda you see how I am restrained I can’t move enough to do anything to harm a hair on your head.”

“Haha I have seen some psy patients say the same thing before they surprised me and the orderlies.”

Rick grimaced and closed his eyes for a moment. Amanda mean while sat and watched him. He honestly was interesting she couldn’t put her finger on how but the way he acted and behaved was not typical there was more to him than what the file said about him.

Rick then opened his eyes “Amanda I promise I will not attack you if you promise to not hurt me or drug me ok!”

Amanda beamed “deal cutie now be calm I’m going to need to get you a little more naked.” She bent down and unsnapped the side of his gown and pulled it up exposed his left side and leg and the corner of his dick that was hooked up with a catheter.

Amanda held the scanner and began scanning near his appendix slowly. She went over it three times before nodding and then she set it on top of his chest. “I need to feel” here she said tapping Rick’s side at the appendix location “it may hurt but I need you to be calm for me ok Rick.”

He nodded and watched as she began to tapped and massage his side in smooth rhythmic circles massaging and then tapping slowly in small circles ending in a giant one. “Rick grimaces as she hit one area, and as he did she stopped and sat back looking troubled but content.

“Hmmm so it is true my sister is pretty sharp” she mused as she slowly spun the chair around in circles lost in deep thought for a moment.

“What is it? what is wrong?” Rick said starting to forget his suspicions for a moment. “Amanda stopped spinning the chair and bent forward picked up the scnanner and showed him the screen with a computer scan of his lower body and organs. “This” she said pointing to one spot “is your appendix Rick”

“You follow so far” he nodded as best he could as Amanda switched to a close up of his appendix. “See how the computer has highlighted it in red at these points?”

He again nodded but with a sinking suspicion of what was coming. “Basically I’m not going to bore you with medical words you have a appendiceal rupture about to happen. In layman’s terms your appendix is about to burst, and you will die if it’s not treated.”

“Wait what? how why?”

Rick pulled at the restraints trying to move his hands so he could see his side concern evident on his face. “Shhh Rick be calm ok” Amanda said getting up and gently touching his face. As she watched the monitors not liking how some vitals were trending.

Amanda Internal; sis was right to be concerned we are running out of time we don’t have much time left.

Rick tired to be calm noticing that Amanda was watching the monitors on his vitals and readings with deep concern. All the readouts were meaningless to him. But clearly she saw things she didn’t like in them.

She turned back to Rick a concerned expression on her face. “It not good is it” he said quietly.” Amanda took a breath “no Rick it’s not your vitals are dropping and your colour is slightly off.”

“How did it happen?…..wait it was that dam moose and the snowmobile crash probably right?”

“That is what Veronica thinks if I’m honest she the surgeon not me so I agree with her assessment and findings. The scans, your wince as I touched you, and your dropping vitals show she was right.”

Rick took a breath feeling his chest getting tight as panic began to set in as he closed his eyes. He then felt a hand shake him and opened his eyes to see Amanda looked more worried. “Rick you need to let Veronica and I operate on you and remove your appendix’s ok. I know it’s scary but it’s going to rupture and you will die.”

Rick felt himself getting scared and felt like he was going to cry. It was all too much honestly the kidnapping and forced surgeries, and now the prospect of possible death. He realized he was crying and Amanda was sitting and watching him looking concerned.

He took a breath “ok Amanda tell Veronica I agree you and her can operate on me.” He took another breath and “cut me open and take my appendix out.”

Amanda looked relieved as he said this. “thank you Rick” she got up shooting another concerned glance at monitors and vital readings. “Ok Rick I will go tell Veronica and be right back.”

Amanda walked out of the room fast and not 2 minutes later Veronica walked in she was wearing green surgical scrubs and a surgical cap already. “Rick thank you for trusting me I wish I could wait longer but we need to go now.”

She pulled a mobile set of monitors over to the bed, and quickly began unplugging and replugging all his wire connections into the mobile monitors. Next she took the second IV bag line that was hanging and connected it to his IV, and started the drip on it.

“Sorry Rick I truly wish I could talk more to you but we need to move now.” She then connected the monitor stand to the back of the bed and clicked a switch and Rick felt the bed start to move. As Veronica started to move the bed towards the door Amanda rushed in still pulling on her surgical cap and tying it as she joined Veronica.

They move the bed rapidly out of the room and down a hall. It truly felt like he was in hospital. He had not been awake much to see Veronica medical area in her house but it was impressive. They passed a door and one set of automatic doors before turning and coming to a more serious looking set of automatic doors that were stainless steel and said O.R. In large red letters on the front.

The doors opened as they neared them and they arrived at a surgical operating room pre op area. He saw a large sink for washing and a side area for the patient bed. They parked him there and Veronica adjusted the one drip to the max. “It’s going to be ok darling” Veronica said touching his face before she walked quickly over to the sink and began scrubbing with orange soap like Amanda was already doing.

He didn’t hear what they said but they were talking animatedly as they washed their hands and upper arms. They each grabbed a green towel and dried their hands Veronica then snapped on a pair of white latex gloves and picked up a heavy duty green surgical gown. She held it out and Amanda in what he saw was a vary practiced motion put her arms through and Veronica circled her pulling the cord and than securing the back so it was snug to her.

She than held out some white surgical gloves and Amanda quickly plunged her hands together in one smooth motion. She flexed her hands once then nodded. Veronica mean while had grabbed a green surgical face mask and quickly tied it under her sisters chin and than pulled the second set over her face. Amanda was now a surgeon and green.

Rick began to feel light headed and hazy a dream like quality was coming as he watched the sisters dress in their surgical clothing. He closed his eyes for a minute to rest but time must have gone by as he felt movement and drowsily opened his eyes to see a surgical masked face above him and realized he was looking at Veronica eyes and she was now fully dressing in surgical PPE.

“Rick my darling can you hear me?” “Hmmm ya Veroniccaaaa I see youuu your annyoninnmmg butttt cutie.” “Haha your sweet Rick I see the pre op drugs are hitting hard that’s good we are going into the operating room now ok.”

He felt movement as they went through another set of doors and he than looking up at two massive surgical light in an operating room.

———————————————————————

(Appendix Surgery)

Everything felt bright as they pulled him into the operating room. The sterile hum of equipment filled the air. Veronica and Amanda than appeared on either end of the hospital bed and pulled down the railing on one side and he saw the large T shape operating table hazily beside him.

“Rick…..Rick he hazily lifted his head as Veronica spoke. “I know it’s hard but we are going to shift you into the table please try and move as we do ok my darling.”

He felt movement and did his best to shift with them and he was pulled onto the operating table.

As soon as he was on it Amanda unplugged all the sensors and pulled the hospital bed back and out the door to the pre op area. While Veronica pulled the sheet her was under off, and than quickly unsnapped his gown and pulled it off him leaving him naked. He surprisingly was not the concerned about it probably the drugs and watch as She began plugging his the sensors plugs into a bank of monitors near the table.

The monitors began beeping softly in the background, tracking Rick’s vital signs.

Veronica then began gently coaxing him to lay back and was carefully positioning him with his arms extended outwards and secured gently to the sides, his legs slightly apart and secured to provide better access to his lower abdomen. The two sisters then carefully swaddled him in a sterile draping, leaving only his abdomen exposed for the surgical procedure.

The table itself was tilted slightly to optimize access to the appendix, which lay in the right lower quadrant of Rick’s abdomen.

Dr. Veronica, than fully stood at the head of the table, preparing for the procedure. Beside her, Amanda, the anesthesiologist, was setting up the medications to induce anesthesia. Both women had clearly worked together countless times, and their coordinated movements spoke of years of experience.

Amanda checked the monitor one more time, verifying that Rick's vitals were stable. “We’re ready to begin sis,” she said softly, looking up at Veronica. Then, turning her attention to Rick, she reassured him in her calm, practiced voice. “Rick, I’m going to give you something to help you sleep now. You’ll start to feel very drowsy, but I need you to keep breathing deeply. You’re in good hands I promise.” As she said this the large surgical lights powered in bathing them

In warm white light.

She administered plugged in a large syringe of propofol a fast-acting intravenous anesthetic that would induce deep sedation. As she pushed the plunger down, Rick’s eyelids began to fluttered, his body relaxing more as the drug began to take effect almost immediately.

Amanda swiftly followed with fentanyl, a potent opioid to ensure he wouldn’t feel any pain during the surgery. The combination of drugs caused Rick to lose consciousness within moments, and his breathing slowed, steady and deep, as the oxygen mask was placed over his nose and mouth.

Amanda then inserted an endotracheal tube (ETT) through Rick’s mouth and into his trachea, carefully securing it. The intubation was smooth and precise ensuring that Rick’s airway remained open throughout the procedure. The sound of the ventilator hummed as it provided controlled breaths for him, pushing air into his lungs with perfect rhythm. Amanda double-checked the placement of the tube and the oxygen saturation levels on the monitor, confirming that Rick was stable and well-ventilated.

Meanwhile, Veronica prepared the surgical site, carefully cleaning Rick’s abdomen with antiseptic solution, and marking the incision site with a sterile marker. She was methodical, ensuring everything was perfectly in place before beginning. The operating table was adjusted once more, bringing Rick's abdomen into optimal view.

Veronica snapped on long green surgical gloves and took a breath picked up a scalpel and then took another small calming breath looked at Amanda as she sat by Rick’s head a moment longer before she hooded “he is sedated and stable sis” she than move to side of the table snapping on green surgical gloves to assist Veronica.

“Ok sis Let’s begin,” Veronica said, and Amanda gave her a quick nod before focusing entirely on her role.

Veronica made the first incision just below Rick's right ribcage, near the location of the appendix, using a scalpel with a precise, controlled motion. The skin parted easily, revealing the underlying tissue. She moved carefully through the subcutaneous layers, making sure to avoid any blood vessels. As she deepened the incision, the sterile field remained clear, and Veronica focused on exposing the peritoneum the thin, transparent membrane that lined the abdominal cavity.

“Stay with me, Rick my darling,” Veronica murmured, even though she knew he couldn’t hear her. Her focus never wavered as she carefully cut through the peritoneum, creating a clear path to the inflamed appendix.

Once the peritoneum was open, Veronica could see the appendix, swollen and dangerously close to rupturing. “You called in sis” Amanda said as she prepared the bio hazard bin for the organ.

Veronica’s sharp eyes immediately caught the subtle signs of peritonitis the tissue around the appendix was reddened and inflamed, with traces of pus leaking from the base. “Ya I hate being right sometimes but look at it, his appendix was on the verge of bursting.”

With careful precision, Veronica used a surgical clamp to grasp the base of the appendix and gently pull it away from the surrounding tissue. As she worked, she maintained constant communication with Amanda, who kept a close eye on Rick's vitals. The Monopolar cautery was used to coagulate any bleeding vessels, ensuring the field remained clean and clear.

“Amanda, I’m going to need a bit more suction,” Veronica said, her voice calm but urgent as Amanda bent forward using the surgical suction tool to clear away any excess fluid around the appendix, making the area easier to work in. Amanda quickly finished and nodded, and Veronica continued her delicate work.

The appendix itself was swollen, and as Veronica moved to remove it, she could feel the tension in the tissue. A small scalpel was used to carefully cut the appendix free from its attachment to the cecum, the beginning of the large intestine. Once detached, she immediately placed it in a sterile specimen bin for later analysis, her movements practiced and efficient.

With the appendix successfully removed, Veronica examined the surgical site closely, ensuring there were no remaining signs of infection or leakage. She irrigated the area with saline to cleanse the cavity, making sure the abdominal space was as sterile as possible. The final step was to close the peritoneum, and Veronica used a surgical suture to carefully stitch the membrane back together, layer by layer.

Finally, she sutured the layers of skin, carefully making a neat, low-profile stitch that would leave minimal scarring. As she finished, Amanda stepped forward, monitoring Rick’s vitals closely. The anesthetic drugs were slowly reduced, allowing Rick’s body to begin waking up from the procedure. The ventilator was gradually turned down, and his breathing began to normalize on its own.

The surgery had been a success Rick’s appendix was gone, and though there was some minor infection possible, the largest risk was gone. Veronica removed her gloves and turned to Amanda, nodding in appreciation.

“Great work, sis,” Veronica said with a small smile. “Let’s get him to recovery and make sure we keep a close eye on this vitals.”

Rick’s chest rose and fell slowly, the steady sound of the ventilator now silent, as he rested under the effects of the anesthesia, unaware of the critical operation he had just gone through.

Veronica and Amanda than made sure he was stabilized and after applying a temp dressing to the new incision site before he was moved to the recover suite. As they began to wheel his bed out Veronica looked at Rick as he slept and was hopefully she could finally work on making sure Rick would love her and be happy to stay with her forever.

As she did Amanda watched her sisters eyes and realized she had never seen her sister look at a guy like this before. She determined in that moment that she would help her sister in any way she could. While Rick slept on not knowing the feelings and desires swirling around him as he was wheeled out of the OR by the two sisters.

End Chapter 8