Till Death Us Do Part…???
By Beej
Part 2:
“How is he?” Tom called as he rushed down the corridor towards Angie.
“He’s still in surgery. How did you get here so fast?”
“RHIP, luv. I commandeered a fast flight. Now…how are you?”
“Oh, Tom, I’m totally numb. It was like watching a horror film in slow motion. When I got to him, he was like a broken, bloody rag doll.”
“He’s in good hands, Angie. They’ll do everything in their power to fix him up.”
“I’m worried about Drew,” Angie replied. “He’s blaming himself for not helping Jake.”
I’ll go speak to him. Let him know he did the right thing not trying to be a hero.”
“Tom, he and Marie were tied up and locked in the bathroom. He couldn’t have done anything anyway.”
Tom hugged her tightly and then went over to where Drew was sitting, head in hands, close by.
“Drew, mate. It wasn’t your fault. Just what do you think you could do from the bathroom?”
“I could have tried to get free, Tom. Kicked down the door, anything.”
“Mate, if you’d done that, most likely both Mitch and Angie would have been killed before you could get the second kick to the door.”
“It doesn’t stop me feeling guilty, though. It happened in my office. I should have seen it coming.”
“Drew, stop banging your head against the wall. Angie needs you right now. Go to her…she doesn’t blame you, and neither will Mitch when he’s out of surgery.”
They both walked back to Angie and sat either side of her, each holding one of her hands.
“Where’s Emily and Sam?” Tom asked.
“They called. The airport is closed until tomorrow, something to do with emergency work on the runway. Sam is driving down rather than wait 24 hours for the next flight. They should be here later this evening,” Angie sobbed.
Six hours later, Emily and Sam joined them, along with Will, Sam’s partner. They joined the others in silent vigil until, finally, a tall man in scrubs walked slowly towards them.
“Hello, I’m Dr. Oliver, Aaron’s surgeon. Would you like to come into my office for a chat?”
The group rose silently and followed the doctor down to his office. Angie, Emily and Sam sat on the sofa, with Tom, Will and Drew standing behind them. Dr. Oliver pulled up a chair and sat in front of them. They introduced themselves before he started.
“The surgery took longer than expected for two reasons. I wanted a second opinion from a spinal consultant. I wasn’t too sure about what more damage could be caused by trying to remove the bullet lodged in his spine. After reviewing the x-rays, it was decided that it would be safer to leave it there and just close up the wound.”
He stopped talking for a moment to hand Angie a box of tissues to catch the silent tears that were flowing down her cheeks.
“The arm wound turned out the be superficial, but the hard work was the chest wound. The bullet hit the sternum and bounced around inside a while, like a pinball machine. Both lungs were compromised, ribs were broken, and most seriously, the heart was nicked.”
Drew and Will swore in unison.
“Forgive them, Dr. Oliver,” Emily said. “They are both doctors, as am I.”
Dr. Oliver nodded and continued. He crashed halfway through the surgery, and we had to give open heart massage to get him back.”
“How long?” whispered Drew.
“Ten minutes,” Oliver replied. “His vitals were looking pretty good, in the circumstances, when he was taken into recovery. He even came round for a few seconds, but…”
“But what, Doctor?”
“He crashed again. This time it took considerably longer to get him back…almost 30 minutes. I’m afraid he’s now on full life support in the ICU. All we can do is wait.”
“Can we see him?” Angie sobbed.
“Of course. I’ll take you down there now. I have to fly back to Brisbane in the morning, heart transplant. My registrar will be on hand for any help you need, and she has instructions to call me back if there’s any significant change.”
He stood up and led them all to the ICU. Jake was in a section cordoned off by floor to ceiling glass doors and walls. There were tubes and wires everywhere, and monitors were beeping incessantly. Jake looked terrible. His skin was grey, dark shadows under his eyes. His chest was covered in surgical dressings, and the drains were filling rapidly. His chest rose and fell in rhythm with the hissing of the ventilator.
Angie went over to the bedside and kissed his forehead, then turned to Emily, breaking down in her arms. Each member of the group kissed Jake before they had to leave. Only one would be allowed to stay by his side, and they all decided they needed to get Emily, Sam and Will settled and fed before drawing up a rota. Angie, of course, was determined to take the first watch, but Drew told her that she needed rest first. After the others ganged up on her, she finally agreed to try to get some sleep. Drew slipped a sleeping pill in her coffee and she was soon yawning, and headed up to bed.
24 hours later she woke again. The apartment was silent, but didn’t feel empty to her. She threw on a pair of jogging pants and a t-shirt, and went downstairs. Sam and Will were sitting on the balcony drinking coffee. Mike and Jenny were on the sofa. Emily and Tom were nowhere in sight.
“G’Day, precious,” Sam called when he saw Angie walk down the stairs. “Sit down and I’ll get you a cuppa. Want any tucker?”
“Morning, Sam. I think just a cup of green tea will do,” Angie replied, kissing her uncle-in-law as she passed him on her way to join Jenny and Mike on the sofa.
“Where’s Emily?”
“She’s at the hospital, love,” Mike replied. Drew is going to relieve her, and Tom’s going to bring her home.”
“How long have I been asleep?”
“Getting on for 24 hours,” Jenny replied. “While you were sleeping we made up a rota. You're up after Drew, and we’ll let you go only if you promise to eat something.”
“I can see why Jake always calls you ’mum’, Jen,” Angie grinned. “Sam, would it be too much to ask for some toast with my tea?”
Sam was already on his way back from the kitchen with a steaming pot of green tea and a plate of toasted English muffins. They sat watching Angie tuck in as if her life depended on it. She blushed when she realised she’d eaten the entire pile.
“I didn’t realise I was that hungry,” she grinned at the smiling faces.
Just then the front door opened and Emily came in with Tom. They both looked worn out, and Emily was very pale.”
“Are you okay, Emily?” Angie asked.
“I’m fine, dear. Just a little tired is all.”
“How is he? Any change?”
“No, dear. I’m afraid not. I don’t think we’ll see any change in the next few days, either.”
Angie sighed and kissed Emily on the cheek before offering to get her and Tom something to eat. Sam beat her to the kitchen, telling her to sit back down again.
Three days had passed and Angie finally got to meet Dr. Silver. Unfortunately, it didn’t go too well. Angie was sitting holding Jake’s hand and reading to him when Dr. Silver walked in.
“Good morning, my name is Dr. Silver. I’m Dr. Oliver’s registrar. You are?”
“I’m Angeline Mitchell, Jake’s wife.”
“Jake? I thought this was Aaron Mitchell.”
“Jake to his friends,” Angie replied.
“Whatever,” the doctor muttered. “Why are you reading to him?”
“They say the hearing is the first sense to come back, and he loves this story.”
“Well, luv, I think you’re wasting your time. Didn’t Dr. Silver tell you about the patient crashing twice? 30 minutes is quite a long time to expect a good outcome.”
“What are you trying to tell me, Doctor?”
“Well, the outlook is very grave. He may not wake up at all, but if he does, he’ll most likely be a vegetable.”
Angie was beside herself. She could feel the rage growing inside her and had just started her tirade at the doctor when the door opened.
“What’s going on in here?” a familiar voice asked quietly.
Angie and Dr. Silver turned in unison to stare at the newcomer. He was tall and handsome. He wore a doctor’s white coat and carried a chart in his hands Angie let out a sigh when she saw him, then ran towards his outstretched arms.
“Dad,” she whispered. “This idiot of a doctor has just told me that if Jake doesn’t die, he’ll be a vegetable for the rest of his life.”
“Is that right, doctor?” the newcomer enquired.
“Yes, it is. The prognosis is very poor.”
“Your communication skills are a little rusty. If you speak to the patient’s family so bluntly, I’d hate to witness your bedside manner.”
“And just who do you think you are to come in here speaking to me like that?”
“I’m Benjamin Mitchell.”
“Doctor Benjamin Mitchell…THE Benjamin Mitchell?”
“The very same. Now, if you’ll permit me, I’d like to take a look at my son, and speak to my daughter-in-law. You can wait in Dr. Oliver’s office. I’ll be there shortly to have a word with you,”
Ben and Angie both watched silently as Dr. Silver walked out before speaking. Ben turned and hugged Angie again, kissing her on he forehead.
“It takes this to happen for you to finally call me dad?” he asked with a sad smile.
“Oh, Ben, I’m sorry. You know how hard it is for me. I love you to bits, too much to call you dad. You know what mine is like.”
“Okay, I understand, but Angie, it was a lovely feeling.”
Angie reached up and kissed him on the cheek. “Then dad it will be from now on. When did you get here?”
“I got in from Brissie about 45 minutes ago. I thought it would be a good idea to speak to Jim Oliver before I came on down. It looks like I’ll be speaking with him again real soon.”
“Who knows, dad. She may be a good doctor, but she shouldn’t have blurted that out the way she did. Good job I’m a nurse and have a good idea of Jake’s prognosis.”
“And a bad job for her. Don’t worry, I’ll get something sorted out. She won’t be his medic for too much longer.”
They stayed, talking to Jake, for another hour before leaving to allow the duty nurse to run Jake’s obs. Later in the day, Angie was still by the bedside when Dr. Oliver walked in. This time she was more polite, obviously Ben had spoken with her.
As she was checking the monitors, a slight movement from the bed caught her attention. She looked at Jake and was shocked to see his eyes open. Angie had also noticed and squeezed his hand to try and get a response.
“Mr. Mitchell,” the doctor said. “Can you hear me, Mr. Mitchell?”
Jake’s eyes slowly turned towards the sound of her voice. He seemed to look right through her, but he opened his mouth as if to speak. What came out was unintelligible, and Dr. Silver looked across at Angie with triumph on her face.
“You see? I told you that if he woke up this might happen. He’s talking rubbish, obviously some brain damage.”
Angie looked at her in disgust. “How long have you been a doctor, lady? You’re talking out of your arse!”
“Look, I know you’re upset. This is your husband, after all, but you have to admit, the man is babbling.”
“The man is NOT babbling! Have you read his medical notes? Check his background. Check his ethnicity. He’s making perfect sense…if you speak Maori.”
“What?” Dr. Oliver sputtered.
“Jake has a Maori mother, and his father is half Maori. In moments of stress, he reverts to his first language. How dare you say he has brain damage? I suggest you get away from him right now!”
Angie stood up and walked towards the doctor to make her point. Dr. Oliver backed up towards the door, and got hit in the back by it as Ben walked through, with Tom on his heels.
“Right, it’s all arranged. Jake is being transferred to the military hospital. They’re sending a medivac chopper to get him. We don’t want to give him a bumpy ambo ride now, do we.”
“You can’t move him. It’s too dangerous.”
“Well, Doctor, I think it’s more dangerous leaving him in your…care. The army takes care of its own,” Tom countered.
“Army? He’s a soldier?”
“A highly decorated one as well. Oh, and don’t worry, we’re bringing our own equipment, so we won’t be taking yours.”
The chopper arrived within fifteen minutes and two nurses emerged with a gurney and portable respirator. Before long, Jake was strapped safely onboard, and Tom joined him with Angie for the short flight to the military hospital.
Jake was settled into his room quickly. No glass walls this time, but there was a monitor at the nurse’s station, and half-hourly obs. He seemed comfortable, but it was a long 5 weeks before he opened his eyes once again.
The door opened and a tall, imposing man walked into Jake’s room.
“G’Day, Angie.”
“Morning, Kevin,” Angie replied.
Kevin Tanui was a strapping 6’ 4” tall, well-built in a natural way, no body building for him. He had the most expressive eyes Angie had ever seen, apart from Jake’s, but Kevin’s eyes were deep dark chocolate brown, and his skin had a golden glow. Kevin was a physical therapist at the military hospital. He was also Maori. Tom Fisher had flown him over from NZ. Kevin was with Jake every day, massaging his limbs to keep the circulation flowing, and Tom hoped that if Emily, Ben or Sam weren’t around when Jake woke up, Kevin would be there to talk to him, should he still be talking his mother tongue.
“How’s the Major this morning?”
“He’s had a quiet night. The orderly should be in soon to start the morning routine.”
“No worries, I can do that. I’ll get some hot water and start his makeover,” Kevin grinned as he walked into the small bathroom.
He was gently washing Jake’s face, talking to his still form as he worked. When he turned back from taking the towel Angie held out for him, he got a shock. A pair of startling green/blue eyes were staring at him, and they seemed to be focused.
“Whoa, that’s a bit of a shock.”
“What’s wrong?” Angie asked nervously, her view of Jake being blocked by Kevin.
“I wasn’t expecting green eyes,” he replied, smiling back at her. Turning back to Jake he continued in Maori. “G’Day, Major. How ya going?”
Jake couldn’t talk with the breathing tube in his throat. He coughed and pointed to it, a question in his eyes.
“I’ll get the doctor to get that out. You’ll be more comfortable.”
He picked up the phone by the bed and called for some help. Within minutes, major Evans, the duty doctor, came in and smiled when he saw Jake awake. He soon had the breathing tube out and Jake took a tentative breath under his own steam for the first time in weeks.
“AJ?” Angie whispered.
Jake frowned and blinked, then turned his head towards the voice. Angie came into focus and Jake’s mouth twitched into a small smile. His fingers moved towards the side of the bed and Angie grabbed hold of them.
“Grace?” Jake’s voice was rasping after the tube. “Where am I?”
“You’re in the military hospital, darling. The family are all at the apartment. Once the doctor gives his approval, I’ll get them all over.”
Jake smiled, closed his eyes, and was asleep in seconds.
Once Jake was breathing on his own, he improved in leaps and bounds. Apart from a small infection in his arm, his wounds were healing with no problems at all. There was a black cloud looming on the horizon, however.
Kevin was administering the daily massage to Jake’s legs when he saw a twitch on his face.
“Is that painful, Jake?”
“Just a twinge, mate,” Jake frowned.
Kevin stopped what he was doing and sat on the edge of the bed. “What’s up, mate?”
Jake took a deep breath, letting it out slowly before he answered. “I can feel my legs, Kev…but I can’t move them.”
Kevin stood and looked at Jake’s legs. “Hang on, mate. I’ll go get the doc.”
Hours of tests and x-rays later the news wasn’t good. The bullet in his back seemed to be lodged against the nerves running to his legs. It was still deemed too dangerous to go in and try to remove it, but there was hope that, given time, it could shift away from the spinal cord.
Jake spiraled down into a pit of depression, refusing to see anyone apart from Kevin and Angie, although he spent most of the time telling her she should leave him and find a ‘real’ man.
Three months of physical and emotional therapy later, Angie pushed Jake out into the Sydney sunshine with Kevin, who was now a constant companion, by her side. When they got to the car, Kevin reached down and effortlessly lifted Jake out of his chair and settled him into the front passenger seat, then folded up the chair and stowed it in the back, climbing in behind Jake.
Stopping at the wharf to gather up some things, they then headed north for Clouds Creek and the farm. Jake never looked back as they left city. His life in Sydney was over.