International Rescue: The Next Phase


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Re: The Call Goes Out [message #616 is a reply to message #615] Mon, 23 July 2012 22:23 Go to previous messageGo to previous message
Tikatu is currently offline  Tikatu
Messages: 813
Registered: April 2012
Location: South Carolina
Karma:
Field Commander
Ubiquitous one
Sunday, February 26, 2068, 4 p.m., Mt. Sinai hospital, New York City

Dianne stirred from the cot where she had been napping. Jeff's bed had disappeared again; the nurses and doctors had wheeled him down to the imaging labs to check on the brain swelling. There had been little or no change over the past few hours and the surgeon was talking brain surgery next to relieve the pressure. Dianne was worried; she knew how dangerous that would be for Jeff in his current condition.

She sighed, and got up from the uncomfortable bed, rubbing her aching back. She looked at her watch. It's Monday morning back at home. The kids will be leaving soon to come and see Jeff. It will be so hard for them to see him like this. Looking into the mirror over the sink, she took a minute to brush her hair and splash water on her face. Don't want Jeff to wake up to a rat's nest of hair and a filthy face, she thought with a pang, pushing thoughts of his not waking to the back of her mind. A light knocking drew her attention to the doorway. Elise Collins was there, sitting in a wheelchair.

"Dr. Tracy?" she asked hesitantly. Dianne smiled and walked over to her.

"Hello there, Elise. How are you feelin'?" Dianne responded.

"Like I've been kicked by a horse," Elise said frankly. She looked over at the spot were the bed had been. "How's Mr. Tracy?"

Dianne let out a breath. "He's holding his own. We're worried mostly about the brain swellin' right now."

"Dr. Tracy, I'm so sorry that all this happened. I feel so responsible." Elise looked down at her hands. Dianne crouched so she could look Elise in the eye.

"We all know it was an accident, Elise. Please don't beat yourself up about it."

"Yeah, I know. Scott reminded me about that," Elise said wryly. "By the way, have you seen Scott? He asked me a question and I promised him an answer."

"He's gone back to our home to pick up his brothers and sister and bring them out here to see Jeff," Dianne explained.

"Oh." Elise looked keenly at Dianne. "Is it true that you live on an island in the south Pacific?"

Dianne chuckled. "Yes, it's true. Why?"

"Scott suggested that I come out and stay with you for a while. So that the reporters can't hunt me down."

"An excellent idea. Will you come?"

"That's what I wanted to tell Scott. That I will come, if you'll have me."

Dianne smiled, her first real smile in hours. "Of course. We'll make all of the arrangements." She cocked her head at Elise. "Now, would you please tell me what in blazes you and mah husband were doing in New Hampshire?"

"I told Scott. He didn't tell you?" Elise asked.

"No, he didn't."

"Then I won't either. Except to say it was a surprise. A surprise for you."

Tears pricked at Dianne's eyes. "A surprise... for me?" Elise nodded.

"Well, Ah guess Ah'll just have to wait for him to wake up and remember, won't I?" Dianne said, trying to keep her voice from wavering. Suddenly, Jeff's bed appeared behind Elise. Dianne quickly moved the pilot out of the way, so that her husband could be rolled back into his room. Elise was shocked at Jeff's injuries, but still, he looked better to her than he had in the helijet. The doctor on duty followed. He looked at Dianne, and gave her a small smile.

"Good news, Dr. Tracy. The swelling is beginning to do down."

Dianne gasped. "Oh, thank God!" She looked down at Elise, who smiled slightly.

The doctor and nurses plugged Jeff back into his monitors and left, with the doctor giving Dianne an encouraging smile. Dianne immediately took up her position at Jeff's bedside. Elise grabbed onto a nurse's sleeve and the nurse stopped.

"Can you ask Scott to stop by when he gets back?" she asked. Dianne nodded and smiled.

"Don't you worry. We'll make all the arrangements," she repeated.

Elise nodded and the nurse wheeled her out and back to her room.

Dianne stood by the side of the bed for a long while, stroking back Jeff's hair and talking to him in low tones. When she tired of standing, she sat, holding his right hand, being careful not to disturb his IVs. The broken left arm still hadn't been set but Dianne noticed with a pang that the wedding ring had been cut off to accommodate the swollen fingers.

"Ah'll buy you a new ring, love. Ah promise. Just as soon as you're better," she whispered. Her eyes widened and she stood up suddenly as Jeff's head began to move and his eyelids began to twitch. He moaned softly; he had been taken off the ventilator a few hours before when the doctors determined that he could breathe on his own. Finally, the eyelids parted fractionally. Dianne could see his eyes moving around slowly, trying to make sense of where he was, and then they finally focused on her face.

"Hello, love," she said softly, smiling. "Welcome back t' th' land of th' livin'."

Post by Tikatu on 04/07/2004

Jeff heartbeat Dianne plain My IR:TNP OTP!

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