Home » The Archives » Chapter 9 » Regrouping and Recouperation
| Re: Regrouping and Recouperation [message #219 is a reply to message #218] |
Mon, 23 July 2012 15:20   |
artisticrainey
Messages: 1228
Registered: July 2012
Location: Northern Ireland
Karma:
|
Field Commander
Switzerland |
|
|
Sunday, August 12, 9:30 AM; Tracy Island (3:30 PM Saturday in Denver)
Scott finished up his coffee, wiped his mouth and looked around. Everyone had finished and left, except his father and grandmother. "Thanks for the loan of some clothes, Dad. I really appreciate it. As soon as Gordon and Alan have removed the spaghetti, I'll change into my own things and have Kyrano clean yours."
"My pleasure, Scott. No hurry."
Scott smiled. "Well, I'm going to call the hospital where Lena is, and see if I can talk to her," he told them. "John was able to find out where they took the survivors of the crash, and let me know. He even got their phone number."
"Okay, son. Good idea," Jeff replied. "I'll join you as soon as I've checked on Dianne."
Emily added, "Give her my love and best wishes for a speedy recovery. I'll go check on your brothers' progress."
"I'll do that, Grandma. And thanks." He stood up and headed out of the room. He decided to use the vidphone at Jeff's desk and once there, he dialed the hospital, and learned that she was able to accept calls; they put him through. He heard three rings, then the phone at the other end was picked up.
"Hello?"
"Lena? It's Scott."
"Scott! Hold on; I'm going to switch de video on, too." He heard faint sounds in the background as she continued. "First time I've seen vidphones in a hospital. And dey're not too hard to operate, eiter."
As the picture came on, Scott's breath caught in his throat. I've seen both Dad and Mom with injuries this year, but I still can't get used to it when someone I personally know is hurt. He had to swallow hard before he could continue. "The picture is coming in just fine, Lena. Can you see me okay?"
Yes, I can. Don't look so worried. I'm doing fine. It looks worse dan it feels."
He shook his head, chuckling slightly. "Don't try to fool me, Lena. Remember, I've seen injuries, and been injured. I bet you are hurting right this minute."
"Only a little. Dey give me something for de pain every six hours, and I had my dose just a little while ago. So it's fading. How is everyone doing dere? I heard dat some of you had a rough time recently. Are you okay?"
"Pretty much," he replied, while thinking, John was right. She is amazing, thinking of us even while she's in pain and alone. "What about your family? Have you talked to them?"
"More dan talked," she replied, smiling. "Mattew, Joy, Naomi and Kevin showed up here dis morning. It's good to see dem, aldough de circumstances could have been better. Can you believe it? Dey came here before dey even found a hotel to stay in!"
"Of course they did! You come first with them; they love you. Wouldn't you have done the same thing if one of them had been in an accident?"
"You're right, of course," she said, her smile growing slightly bigger. "But dey were so tired; I don't tink any of dem got a wink of sleep last night. I hope dey are resting now. I expect to see dem again later on."
"That's good. I hope you've been treated well, both at the crash site and in the hospital."
"Yes, I have, Scott. In fact, you just reminded me of someting. One of de men who came to rescue us impressed me a great deal. He was caring, efficient, humorous when it was needed, and not afraid to speak up when he felt dere was a better way. Plus he had a dog who appeared to be trained in rescue scenarios. I wish dere was a way I could contact International Rescue and let dem know; he'd be a great addition to deir organization."
"Hmm. Maybe I could find a way; you know, a friend of a friend of a friend type of thing." He grinned at her. "I'll see what I can do. Do you know his name?"
"Luke Morel."
"That name sounds familiar. I think he put in an application for a post with Tracy Industries; I seem to remember seeing his name in that context."
She smiled at him. "Well, I tink he'd be an asset to eiter organization. He certainly impressed me."
Scott smiled back, then glanced to one side. "Dad's here. He wants to speak to you, too. Hold on." Lena watched as he stood up, then Jeff took his place, with his son behind him, but in view.
"Lena, I'm so sorry this happened to you. Don't take this wrong, but do you feel as bad as you look?"
She grinned. "Actually no. A concussion and broken collarbone are de worst injuries, and what's keeping me in de hospital for a few more days. As I told Scott, four members of my family are here, and we'll leave togetter." She paused to take a sip of water. "Oh, I heard about Dianne's accident in California. How is she?"
"She's doing much better. She was discharged from the hospital yesterday, and is resting at the moment. She sends you her best wishes for a speedy recovery. And her thanks for the brownies. Says they were delicious."
"Grandma sends her best wishes, too," Scott added.
"Tell Dianne I said de same, when you talk to her again, and tank your grandmother for me," Lena replied. She paused, and both men recognized the mischievous twinkle that appeared in her eyes. They braced themselves for what she might say next. "You know, since meeting you and your family, working for Tracy Industries has become a very adventurous career choice, in more ways dan one."
A startled laugh exploded out of Jeff. He hadn't quite expected that comment. Then he looked ruefully at her. "We never intended any of your adventures to happen; you know that, don't you?"
"Of course I do, Jeff. But I had to say dat." She chuckled, then looked puzzled. "Do you two get your close at de same place?"
Jeff was surprised at the question. "Why do you ask?"
"I feel sure I saw you wearing de same shirt Scott has on now, de last time I visited."
Jeff chuckled as Scott's face became a study in mixed reactions. "He is wearing my shirt, Lena. It seems things are getting back to normal, courtesy of Gordon and Alan." He related the latest practical joke, played on his eldest son, and was pleased to hear Lena chuckle.
A thought occurred to Scott. "Lena, do you know what hotel your family is staying at?"
"No, Scott. Dey didn't tell me. I tink it's one near de hospital, dough. Why?"
He grinned. "You'll find out later."
Jeff said soberly, "Lena, I'm sorry this happened. Maybe we should make sure a private jet is at your disposal when you take these trips."
"Now Jeff, don't you tink like dat. De chances of something like dat happening to me again are pretty slim. It was a lucky ting the jet wasn't full. I heard dat most of de passengers and crew survived."
"I can't believe your pilot flew into a storm like that. What was he thinking?"
"It wasn't his fault. I take it you haven't heard de news reports on de aftermat."
"No, I haven't. Why? What happened?"
"It seems dat de captain had been dating de sister of de air traffic controller who directed de jet into de storm's pat. De controller wasn't happy about de relationship. He deliberately set us on a course dat would ensure we ran into de storm."
"My God, Lena! Is he insane?"
"I don't know. From what I heard, he raised his sister after deir parents were killed. It sounded like he may be obsessed wit her."
"And everyone on that flight became victims of that obsession, including you. That's terrible!"
"Yes, it is." She smiled again. "But if I read de sister correctly, he'll be hearing from her, and probably tink dat whatever de law does to him, will be easier to endure."
"Good for her, then. I hope the pilot wasn't killed."
"No, but his injuries are such dat he won't be able to fly again." She paused, remembering the last news broadcasts. "But I tink he'll be okay; most of de news clips that had her in dem, she was wit him. And she looked like she really cared about him. I just hope he doesn't try to push her away. If not, dey'll be fine." She sighed.
"Lena, we've kept you on long enough. I think you need some more rest. But the next time we talk, I expect to hear that you're doing much better and either being discharged, or already out of the hospital and home, recuperating."
They grinned as they saw her almost say, "F-A-B", but she changed it immediately to, "Okay, Boss. I hear and obey." They both chuckled as the connection was terminated.
Jeff stood up and looked at his son. "I have some things to do elsewhere. I believe I know what you are planning to do, and I approve. You can go ahead and do it from here." He turned and left, as Scott took his place at the desk.
"What a lady," Scott said to himself as he began checking out the hotels in the area, to locate the one Lena's family was staying at. When he did, he told them that all their expenses would be paid for by Tracy Industries, and to make sure they received every courtesy. Then he placed a few other calls. When he left the lounge, he wore a smile of satisfaction.
Post by Hobbeth On 1/11/2007
  
|
|
|
|
Current Time: Fri May 17 03:18:12 EDT 2024
Total time taken to generate the page: 0.01422 seconds
|
International Rescue: The Next Phase
Search
Help
Members
Login
Home
