Page 12 of Charlotte
I glare at him, trying to decide if he is telling me the truth or just trying to get me to behave. I puff out a deep breath and lay back on the stretcher. Putting my mask back on, I let them poke and prod me, shoot x-rays, and dress my wounds. If it will speed up getting to see Hawk, see for myself that he is ok, I will be the best patient ever. After what seems like an eternity, Hawk comes to my room and sits beside me. He has a bandage on his shoulder, but otherwise appears to be ok.
“I hear you been giving the Hell, love.” Hawk chuckles. “You need to behave yourself before they throw you in the brig.” My eye widen. Surely, they wouldn’t do that would they? He laughs harder at my reaction. I’m glaring at him while he laughs even more when we get company. The other members of both Hawk’s team and the SEAL team have also come in to see how we are doing. The doctor follows them into the room and frowns at us.
“Gentlemen, I need to speak with Ms. Williams about her condition and I am sure you are aware I can’t do that with all of you in here.” The doctor admonishes.
“You can if I say it ok.” I interject. “I know all about HIPPA. I give you permission to discuss my medical treatment in front of these men. I would not be here if not for them.” The doctor looks taken aback but proceeds to lay it out for me.
“Let me introduce myself. I am Dr. Jacobson. Ms. Williams, you have a several broken ribs on both sides. You also have a partial collapse of the right lung which will require a chest tube to inflate the lung. We need to get that put in as soon as possible. That is why you are unable to maintain your O2 levels without oxygen. You also have a small subacute subdural hematoma. It appears to be resolving, but we need to keep an eye on it. You will need to remain here for the next several days. Do you have any questions?”
“No, let’s get this over with. I know it going to hurt like a bitch, so I hope you are generous with the good drugs.” I try to smile, but it’s most likely a grimace. Hawk squeezes my hand gently. The doctor looks around the room and smiles.
“You have quite the entourage Ms. Williams. I’m afraid however that I can’t work with this many people in here. I will have to insist they leave while we get the chest tube in.” The doctor motions for the men to leave the room. One by one they come to my bedside and whisper encouraging words before they depart. At last, Hawk is the only one left. I try to put on a brave face for him. I’m scared because I know this is going to suck big time, but I don’t really want him to see me wimp out either.
“I’m not leaving Wildcat. I know this is going to hurt and I need to be here for you.” Hawk states matter of fact. He moves to the left side of the bed and takes my hand. I want him to be with me more than anything right now. Somehow, I am not as afraid with him here. The doctor looks at us questioningly, once they have everything ready to begin.
“Please, I want him to stay.” I tell the doctor. “I promise I will be a much better patient if he is in here than if you make him leave.”
“If you insist Ms. Williams. I will warn your boyfriend this is not a pretty procedure.” His eyes meet Hawk’s. “If you pass out, we won’t be taking care of you until we are done with her.” Dr Jacobson turns to me and says, “I will make sure you are comfortable. We will give you some pain medication before we start, and I will numb the site.”
Dr. Jacobson was true to his word. The nurse brought in a nice little shot of Morphine. Which helped to make me a little loopy, but once he popped the tube through my chest wall, I was wide awake. It was a searing pain in my side. However, it was amazing how quickly my breathing eased off after the tube was in. I hadn’t realized how hard it had been to get a good breath. Once they are done and I am taped up nine ways to Sunday I finally relax enough to drift off to sleep.
Chapter 10
Hawk
A few hourslater once Charlotte is settled into an ICU room. Commander Hurt, leader of Wolf’s SEAL team comes by her room.
“Ms. Williams, I realize you have been through a lot in the last couple of months. I hate to spring this on you right now, but it has to be dealt with sooner rather than later.” Commander Hurt says. “I have a couple of favors to ask. Our missions are top secret for the most part. We would like to keep your rescue out the news for the time being. At least until we can finish what we had started there. Also, once this is over, please don’t mention the names of the men that helped to bring you home.”
“I understand, but what about my family? I need to let my kids know that I am alive. I know they have to be worried.” Charlotte replies Commander Hurt.
“We have already sent some soldiers from Fort Campbell to notify your children. We are flying them out here as soon as possible. We have asked them to sign confidentiality agreements to not disclose your return.” Commander Hurt informs her. “I would like for you to remain under our care and protection while we complete our mission. Once that is settled, we will make a press release.”
“Thank you so much.” She answers him. He gives her a long look before continuing.
“The other favor is my SEAL team would like to come by and visit you while you are here. If you are comfortable with that. They would like to be able to tell their wives about you and allow them to visit as well. Wolf tells me he thinks you actually met some of them at a bar here in Riverton, before you left the country on your ill-fated trip.” Commander Hurt relays.
“I would be honored for them to visit. I would like to thank them for the sacrifice they make when their husbands are deployed on missions.” Charlotte is always thinking of others before herself. Commander Hurt turns his gaze on me. I have been parked in a chair at her bedside all day.
“Hawk your commanding officer will be by later. He asked that I let you know you are on sick leave for the next month while your shoulder wound heals.” Commander Hurt says and winks at us. Charlotte looks at me questioningly. “What was that all about?”
“Nothing for you to worry your pretty little head about. You better try to get some sleep. Once those women find out you are here. You will be swarmed with company and sleep will be hard to come by.” I stand up and fluff her pillow and tuck her into bed. “Now close your eyes and sleep, woman. I’ll be right here.” I settle into the chair next to her bed.
“You sure are bossy. You need to lay down and sleep, too.” She grumbles at me. “I’ll be alright. This is a military hospital for Heaven’s sake. It’s not like someone will carry me off in here.”
“I’m not leaving so stop arguing and sleep.” I demand.
“No. You are dead on your feet. If you won’t leave for your own quarters, then you will lay down here with me. You were shot for God’s sake and lost a lot of blood. You need to rest. I’m worried about you.” She whines in an attempt to get me to comply. Not wanting to disappoint her and knowing it’s the only way to get her to sleep, I get up and climb in next to her.
“Move over woman. If it’s the only way to get you to sleep, then I will lay down.” I snuggle her to my chest being careful not to dislodge any of her lines from her body. I know the nurse will have a fit when she comes in, but for the moment I don’t care. I am in Heaven as I listen to the rhythmic beating of her heart and realize how close I came to never be able to hear it again.
I am awoken sometime later by the nurse coming in to check on Charlotte’s tubing’s, dressings, and vital signs. I keep my eyes closed. My head is on her pillow and my right arm is wrapped around her shoulders. Charlotte’s head is resting on my chest and her arm is across my waist. Charlotte whispers to the nurse to please let me stay. She promises we won’t disturb any of the monitoring or lifesaving equipment. The nurse whispers back, “I have already heard about you. If I want any cooperation from you, I need to let him stay. I guess as long as it gets you to behave yourself, I can let it slide.” Charlotte lays head back down on my chest. Soon she is sleeping again.
The next morning the room is in chaos. It is full of Marines, SEALs, and their wives. The men each come near the bed and introduce their wives to Charlotte and I. Wolf comes in first and we meet his wife Caroline. She is warm and sweet. She hugs Charlotte and fawns all over her.
“Charlotte, do you remember meeting me in Riverton a few months ago?” Charlotte nods in agreement. “I’m happy to see you again, but I’m so sorry you were taken and treated so terribly.” She has tears in her eyes as she talks with Charlotte. Next is Mozart and Summer come near the bed.
“It’s good to see you again, Charlotte.” Summer begins. “I’m just so sorry it was like this.” Charlotte agrees and returns Summer’s hug.
