Echo-Foxtrot (5 page)

Staci sighed. “Not that desperate for new clothes, but fine.”

6

Once the counseling was done, Jim, Staci, and Ailsa, with the ever-present Sergeant Peterson, went to find Nichola. Jim tapped on the door of the ICU.

Nichola smiled and came to the door. “Nice haircut, Jim.”

He ran his fingers through it. “Thank you. It's so nice not having it brushing my shoulders anymore. Staci doesn't like it, but it was this or a complete grade four, which would really have been one extreme to the other.”

She nodded. “That would be too different even for you. How did the counseling go?”

Jim shrugged. “It went. How's Lou?”

“No change. Coming for some lunch? I need to talk to you all.”

“Sure. After lunch Mum and Dad are taking us into town. The sergeant is coming too.”

Nichola looked at Sergeant Peterson.

He smiled. “I have been instructed not to let them out of my sight. They will be quite safe.”

Staci piped up. “Don't worry, Nichola. After yesterday we won't do anything stupid.”

Nichola looked at her. “Oh?”

Staci explained. “General Merrick read us the riot act. We've been bound over to keep the peace. But you know, Dad was right, talking can be a good thing. All that talking has made me hungrier than ever.” She headed off towards the door.

Jim shook his head. Nothing changed. Well, some things did.

One life was irrevocably changed because of a choice they made. Choices, consequences, and repercussions. Something he and Lou would live with for the rest of their lives.

They walked to the mess hall and collected their lunches. Sitting down at a table, they noticed that Peterson didn't sit with them this time.

Nichola looked at them across the table.

Jim sucked in a deep breath. “Before you say anything, I'm, that is, we're sorry. I know we hurt you and caused you to worry. What we did was wrong. It seemed the right, no, make that the only choice at the time, but it was anything but. It almost cost Lou her life. I guess it still might and I don't expect you to forgive me for that.”

“I don't blame you, Jim. I should have been more considerate of your feelings instead of acting like nothing had happened. But the important thing is you're all here and safe, and so are your parents. For the time being, we'll all be living together at Jack's place.”

Staci looked at her. “Mum and Dad as well?”

“Until they go back to England, yes.” She looked at Ailsa. “And you can stay with us as long as you want.”

“Thank you.”

“How big is Jack's place?” Staci asked. “Is there going to be enough room for all of use? That's like eight of us.”

“There are several bedrooms, plus a den, lounge, and a separate dining room. He'll fit everyone in, don't you worry about that.”

“What about when we go back to England?” Jim said. “Mum and Dad sold our house before they left on the last trip. And your flat isn't big enough for all of us.”

“I sold the flat a while ago. Your parents inherited Aunt Edith's house when she died in October, so you'll be living there.” She broke off as Jack came into the mess with his flight team. He waved at her and she waved back. “So,” she said. “I hear you lot are hitting the town this afternoon?”

Ailsa smiled. “Yeah. Clothes shopping and Jim needs to go to the bank.”

Dad and Mum came in. “You guys ready to go?”

Jim smiled at them. He didn't want the ‘novelty' of seeing his parents to ever wear off. “Yeah.”

Nichola looked at him. “Did you keep a diary at all?”

“Yeah, we did. We wrote in the logbook several times a day. We all wrote in it.” He paused. “It's not easy reading, especially some of the entries.”

“May I read it? I need to know what happened to Lou.”

“Sure. It's in the infirmary, I think. In a big waterproof bag, along with everything we managed to save from
Avon
. Not an awful lot, really. I'll go and get it.” He stood up. “I won't be long.” He stood, Sergeant Peterson rising to follow him.

Nichola got to her feet. “I'm going to sit with Lou, so I'll come with you.”

In the infirmary, Nichola stopped by Dr. Andrews's office to speak with her. Jim opened the bag by his bed and removed the logbook. The folder looked battered and worn in the cold light of day and he hesitated showing it to anyone.

Sergeant Peterson took one look at it and fetched an arch-lever folder from a stationery cupboard. “Use this.”

“Thank you.”

He helped Jim transfer the logbook to the new folder.

Jim put the charts and official papers into the original folder, which he put back in the bag. He took out Lou's sewing. The frame was empty. He looked at it, wondering what she'd done with the piece that was on there, and then put it back. In the bottom of the bag, he found the piece he wanted. The completed, rolled-up piece labeled
For Mum
. “OK,” he said. “I just want to see Lou for a minute.”

Jim went into the intensive-care unit, while Sergeant Peterson watched through the window. The machines beeped and the ventilator hissed and hummed. “I'm sorry, Lou. Don't leave us. We have come too far together.”

He sat next to her and held her hand. “You're cold. You missed out yesterday. We got yelled at for running away. Well, not yelled at exactly, because she didn't raise her voice once, but she made her point all right. It wasn't your mum or my parents either. We got hauled in to see General Merrick. You haven't met her yet, but she's the boss around here. I don't know if they've told you, but they couldn't save your leg. I think we both knew that was likely deep down though.”

The figure on the bed didn't move.

He gripped her hand. “You have to fight this thing, Lou. Don't let it win. The people here are great. They have done all they can. They brought you back from the abyss. It's up to you now. It's not time for you to go. Not yet.” There was a tap on the window. Jim turned and Sergeant Peterson beckoned him. Jim nodded. “I got to go. Mum, Dad, and our escort are taking us out for a bit. See you later.” He left the logbook on the chair for Nichola and returned to the mess hall where the others were waiting impatiently.

“There you are. Thought you'd got lost,” Staci said. She still had tight hold of her mother's hand.

“No chance of that.” Jim grinned. He glanced up at his father as he dropped a hand on his shoulder. “I thought we could get this framed as well.” He held out the fabric with its label. “Lou was adamant Nichola should have this piece when it was finished.”

Dad smiled. “Good idea. Nicky would like that.”

“Ready to go?” Sergeant Peterson asked.

“Sure.”

****

Lou lay still, unable to move as pain filled the darkness surrounding her. She could hear voices again. They came and went, mostly ones she didn't recognize. Jack had been there a couple of times, and she thought she heard Jim at one point but wasn't sure.

There was someone crying. But it wasn't Staci. It sounded like her mother, but it couldn't be. She was thousands of miles away. Lou wanted to open her eyes and look, but they refused to cooperate and she remained a prisoner of the darkness.

There were more voices, then one that pierced the darkness with some clarity. Jack…

“Nicky, are you OK?” Sobs answered him before his voice came again. “Nicky, it's OK, honey. I'm here.”

There was a pause before her mother's voice answered. “I was reading their logbook and Jim's account of the shark attack. It's awful. They went through so much. I am so mad at her for running away, but so pleased she is back. I don't know whether to yell at her, ground her, or just hug her to bits. But then I'm terrified I'm going to lose her after all. There is so much I want to say to her…”

Something beeped, and then she was floating above the bed. That was weird. She could see Mum and Jack sitting by the bed and herself lying there—but she didn't look right. It seemed a piece of her was missing.

The scene unfolded below her, just like watching a movie, only she was the star without doing anything. Lou watched from the ceiling, not sure what was going on. She wished she could give Mum a hug, stop her from crying.

“Her blood pressure's dropped.” As Jack rose out of his chair, the monitors flatlined and alarms began to blare. “Doc,” he yelled. He put a hand on Lou's neck, then thumped on her chest and started CPR. “Told you the other day, kid, don't you die on me. Nicky, go and get the doc. Now.”

Mum didn't move. “Help, someone,” she screamed.

Dr. Andrews rushed across the room. She took the situation in at a glance and grabbed the crash trolley. “Colonel?” she asked.

“BP dropped, then she crashed.” He stood back, letting the medics take over the CPR. He pulled Mum to one side, holding her gently.

Dr. Andrews took the scene in in a practiced glance, her eyes resting on a drop of blood on the floor. She pulled back the sheets. The bottom one was heavily bloodstained.

Lou frowned. Where'd her leg go?

“I need her back in the OR, stat. Let's move, people.”

Mum wrapped her arms tightly around her stomach. She was as white as a sheet. She got in the way as they moved Lou's bed. “What's wrong? Where are you taking her?”

Jack pulled her to one side. “She needs to go back to the OR. She's bleeding.”

“I'm going to lose her, Jack.”

“Not if we have anything to do with it. Let me make a phone call to see if I can take off the rest of the day. I'll be right back. Then you and I are going to go to the chapel to sit and pray while she's in surgery.”

Everything floated, and Lou let the darkness take her.

****

Jim, Staci, and Ailsa stood on the street corner, Mum and Dad beside them, and Sergeant Peterson just behind. Traffic whizzed past them.

“It's so busy,” Jim said.

“I'd forgotten what traffic was like. Haven't missed it though,” Ailsa said. The lights changed and they crossed the road.

Sergeant Peterson took them to a craft store that had a framer.

Jim showed them Lou's picture and Staci and Ailsa chose a frame and mount for it.

“Two hours OK?” the girl asked.

“Sure. Do I pay now?”

“When you pick it up.”

Dad looked at him. “I'll pay for it, James,” he said. “And don't argue.”

Jim nodded. “Sure, Dad. Thank you.” He wasn't going to admit it, but it was nice not having to worry about little things like money anymore.

Next, they went clothes shopping and then ended up in a fast-food place. Jim savored every mouthful, whereas Staci, hungry as ever, scarfed hers down and wanted more.

Dad laughed. “That's the Staci I remember.” He got up and took Staci to get another burger.

Jim looked at Ailsa. “I hate being escorted everywhere.”

“You'd do the same in their place, Jim. You have to earn their trust again.”

“I know.” Jim reached across the table and took her hand. “Ailsa, I...” He broke off as Staci came back.

Ailsa smiled at him. “Later,” she said.

“Later what?” Staci asked, her mouth full of burger.

“Don't talk with your mouth full,” Mum chastised.

Staci rolled her eyes and chewed as quickly as she could, then swallowed. “Later what?” she repeated.

“She reckons she's going to beat me at Phase 10 tonight,” Jim said.

“She's probably right. You're rubbish at it.”

“Sounds like a challenge to me,” Sergeant Peterson said. “Personally, I've never heard of it.”

“It's a card game. We'll have to teach you,” Jim said. “Sounds like I shall need all the allies I can get.”

****

Jim, Staci, and Ailsa arrived back on the base much later than they had planned. It was dark. Nichola stood in the door to the infirmary. She looked awful.

“Hi, Nichola. Can we see Lou?” Jim asked.

Nichola shook her head. “Dr. Andrews wants her left alone tonight. She didn't have a very good day.”

Staci frowned. “Lou or the doctor?”

Jim shoved aside his disappointment. “Don't start, Stace. We can give her the picture tomorrow. It's not going anywhere.”

Staci sulked anyway. “I want to see her.”

“We all do,” Jim said.

“You can see her in the morning,” Dad said. “Now you guys go ahead with Ed and Mum. I want a few words with Nicky, then I'll catch you up.”

7

After the lights were dimmed that night, Jim lay awake. He looked at the clock on the wall—almost eleven. Perfect. He sat up and looked at the others. Both Staci and Ailsa were fast asleep. He slid off the bed and padded quietly over to the intensive-care ward. It was empty.

Worry shot through him like a red-hot knife through butter. Where was Lou? Where had they put her? He heard voices and hid behind the door as they came closer. “We'll transfer Lou back from recovery in the morning. If there's any change, bleep me immediately. I'm staying in my quarters on base tonight.” The voices passed and Jim stood up. Where was recovery? He couldn't exactly ask and if he wandered around too much, he'd get caught.

A medic came out of a room at the far end and as the door closed, Jim got a glimpse of a bed and equipment. He waited until the coast was clear and then quickly moved across to it. He pushed the door open and went into a dimly lit room containing six beds and equipment. At the far corner, only one was occupied. A medic sat at the end of the bed.

Jim quietly sneaked down the ward, not really knowing what he'd do when he got there. He was almost there when the Tannoy sprang to life, making him jump. “Airman Willis, report to the main infirmary.”

Jim dropped to the floor and hid just in time as the medic on duty got up and left the room. Jim darted across to Lou's bed. He looked sadly at the motionless figure and what was left of her leg. Then he sat next to the bed.