SHOT IN THE DARK Chapter 6

6



         Sarah woke in the late afternoon when a nurse entered her room.  “Hello.  You slept through lunch.  It’s almost dinnertime.  Are you hungry?  I can send down to the kitchen and have something sent up.”

         “Thank you.  Yes, please.”

         The nurse looked up at the monitors as she also took hold of her wrist.  “How are you feeling?”

         “All right I guess.”  Sarah waited until she was finished.  “Is everything all right?”

         “You’re doing as well as we can expect.”

         “Why is there a bandage around my head.”

         “A bullet grazed your skull.  It didn’t do much damage.”

         “I guess my guardian angel was working overtime.”

         “Someone sure was.  I know Dr. Quimby was in surgery with you for quite a while.  I’ll get you something to eat.  I’ll be right back.”  The nurse left the room and Sarah opened the Bible to where she had left off, and closed it again as the nurse returned with her lunch.

         She had just pushed her tray away when Dr. Quimby entered the room.  “Is that all you’re going to eat?”

         “I’m not as hungry as I thought.”

         “Do you always eat so little?  I noticed you didn’t eat very much for breakfast either.”

         “I eat when I’m hungry.”

         “You’re not afraid of your weight are you, because if you are you have no reason.”

         “No.  I’ve just never had a large appetite, even while I was living at home.  Mom despaired that I would never put weight on.  She’s as big as a house.”

         “Likes to sample her cooking?”

         “I guess so.  She sure makes enough, but then, the others made up for what I didn’t eat, though, I usually eat a large meal in the morning.”

         “What is your normal fare?”

         “It varies, but I try to have fruit, usually a banana, when I can.”

         “I think I’m going to monitor what you eat while you’re here.”

         “Why?  I’m okay with what I eat.”

         “Most people are.”

         “I’m happy.”

         “Are you?”

         Sarah looked out the window before she looked back at him.  “Yes, I am happy.  Or I will be once you let me out of here so I can get home and back to work as soon as possible.”

         “All right, but I am going to watch what you eat.”

         “At work I don’t have a lot of time for breaks, so I eat a large breakfast and eat again when I get home.”

         “From the conversation I had with your employer, and everything you’ve told me, you should find yourself a new job.”

         “That’s easy for you to say.  You’re not the one who will have to come up with the money to pay you once I go home.”

         “Don’t worry about that now.  Concentrate on getting well.  Now how do you feel?”

         “How soon can I go home, and back to work?”

         “It won’t be for a while yet.  I have to make sure you’re out of the woods before I can let you go home.”

         “What did you tell work?”

         “I told them you would be out at least a month.  I have to let them know if it will be longer.”

         “So I will be back to work in a month.  That’s good.”

         “It’s completely up to you.  You need to relax, no more panic attacks, and you should be out of ICU by the end of the week.”

         “You’re sure I’ll be out of ICU in a week?”

         “No.  Nothing’s certain.  It’s all up to you.  Just do as I said, and you will be.  I have no doubt.”

         “I’ll do my best.”

         “I know you will.  Now just take it easy; don’t worry about anything except getting well.”

         “Thanks Doc.”

         “I’ll see you later.  I have other patients to see to also.”

         “The gang members who were in the fight?”

         “Now how do you know about them?”

         “I can hear what’s being said outside my door.”

         “I can’t talk about the other patients.  What I can tell you is the police have charged the gang with assault with a deadly weapon, intent to do bodily harm, and manslaughter.  Besides, you’re not out of the woods yet.  You’ve had one panic attack that led to an arrest, two arrests on the table, and one arrest in the ambulance.  I’m doing everything I can to keep you alive, now it’s up to you.”

         “I’m not dead yet.”

         “And that’s the way I intend to keep it.”

         “So do I.  When I get out of here, I’m never coming back.”

         “I’m going to see to it that you stick to that.”

         Sarah watched him leave and turned to her Bible study determined that she would never find herself in a hospital bed again.  She remembered her bank account and pressed the call button for the nurse.

         “Can I help you?”  A voice came through the speaker.

         “I need to call my bank.  I need a phone book.”

         “I’ll be right in with one.”  A nurse entered her room moments later with a phone book in her hands.  “What bank do you use?”

         “First National.”

         “I’ll get them on the line for you.”  The nurse looked up the number and handed her the phone.  She soon had her old account deleted and a new account set up.  They assured her they wouldn’t honor any of the checks written and placed safeguards on her account so she wouldn’t be charged any unnecessary fees.

         She handed the phone back to the nurse.  “Thank you.  Isn’t it warm in here?  Can you take off one of these blankets?”

         The nurse looked up at the monitors to see them begin to fluctuate.  She quickly called the nurses’ station.  “Get Dr. Quimby in here right away.”

         Dr. Quimby entered her room a look of concern on his face.  “What’s the matter?”

         “I’m so warm.  Can you please take some of these covers off?”  As soon as she said that she closed her eyes.

         Sarah opened her eyes and looked around the darkened room.  She heard footsteps as soon as she turned her head and looked up to see Nurse Waters.

         A very haggard Dr. Quimby entered her room a smile on his face.  “Welcome back.  How do you feel?”

         She looked up at them a blank look on her face.  “Welcome back?”

         “We’ve been fighting for you for the past week,” he said.

         “Past week?”

         “I started to suspect there was something more going on when you flat-lined this last time.  I started looking at the medication I gave you, and ran a series of tests.  With no record of allergies to medication it looked like the best place to start.  What we found produced more questions than answers, hence your coma for the past week.”

         “Coma?”

         “Yes.  You had me very worried as I looked for answers under every rock, or in this case in every tube and Petrie dish.  We found a couple different things.  One, you were allergic to the pain medication, and I had to find medication you weren’t allergic to, and second, your blood held sulfur residue from bullets we took from you.  Tell me, how are you at fireworks?”

         “I like fireworks, but not up close, they choke me.  Why?”

         “The sulfur found in gunpowder and in fireworks charges is what you are allergic to.  We had to filter your blood, run your blood through a machine until it was free of every trace of the residue.”

         “And the medication I was allergic to?”

         “Had sulfur as a base ingredient.  Normally sulfur is an essential ingredient we all need.  You, however, are allergic to sulfur.  I bet you had a hard time with chemistry in school.”

         “I didn’t take chemistry.”

         “It was a good thing you didn’t; you would have been in the doctor’s office or hospital long before now if you had.”

         “That must be why I don’t like the smell of used matches.”

         “I would say it would be a very good reason.”

         “So, now that you know what caused all the trouble, I can go home sooner?”

         “I think we can work to that end, yes.”

         “Can I have something to eat?”

         “I’ll order something for you right away.”

         She watched him leave the room a smile on his face and Josiah walked in, a smile on his face.  “It must be contagious.”

         “What?”

         “Both you and Dr. Quimby are smiling.”

         “Doc just told me the good news.  I’ve stopped by everyday to see how you were and let you know how Sophie is.”

         She wondered why he bothered with her.  “How is she?”

         He grabbed a chair and sat beside her bed.  “Good.  We got along just fine once she let me in.  I took care of your mail, watered your plants, gave your fish some more food, and gave Sophie a little more food and water.  I told her I would be back today.”

         “I’m grateful for what you’ve done.  I don’t know how long I’m going to be in here, but I’m hoping it won’t be much longer.”

         “Think positively.  I know Doc Quimby was pretty worried about you for the past week.”

         “That’s what I understand.  He said I’m allergic to sulfur.”

         “Sulfur eh?  I know they’ve been doing some big time tests on you, and Doc has been working nearly round the clock to find the answers.  He was pretty worried he wouldn’t find the answers in time.”

         “So what about you, why all the interest, and how do I know I can really trust you?”

         “Sophie trusts me.  She’s starting to look like she’s happy to see me when I go over to your place every day.”

         “If I remember correctly you’re a journalist aren’t you?  What do you do?”

         “I write for a magazine that brings awareness of the gang violence that has gripped the suburbs.”

         “So you tell people what is happening with the kids today.”

         “I try.  I’ve been able to help a lot of boys break away from the gangs.  On the other hand boys like to feel like they are part of something positive.”

         “Even though they know they’re not?”

         “The leader of the gang makes the gang seem so good they don’t want to leave, and enforce penalties if they break the brotherhood.”

         “What kind of penalties?”

         “Maybe some other time I’ll tell you about the rituals they go through.  It’s pretty gruesome.”

         “Then maybe I don’t need to know.  Thanks anyway.”

         “You look tired.  I’ll let you rest.  I know how much you want to go home.  Sophie misses you.”

         “Thanks for taking care of her for me.  I do appreciate it.”

         “It is no problem whatsoever.”  He stood to his feet and put the chair back in the corner before he left.  “I’ll see you later.”

         “I’m sure you have more to do than coming to see me.”

         He turned to her at that.  “I’m quite sure you want to know how things are with Sophie.”

         “Yes of course.”

         “I’ll come back tonight.”

         She watched him leave and thought he was a very nice and yes, handsome man.

         She progressed quickly after that.  Dr. Quimby entered her room a smile on his face.  “Are you ready to go home?”

         Sarah looked up at him hopefully.  “You mean it?  I can really go home?”

         “You’re doing very well.  Though you’ll still need to rest a lot and get your strength back.”

         “I’ll be ready to leave in five minutes.”  She grabbed the crutches she had learned to work with, in the past couple weeks and hobbled over to the closet where her clothes were.  Josiah had brought some clothes from home the previous week when she had started on the road to recovery.  She had only told him where to find them.  The fact that he had gone through her intimate apparel made her blush, but there had been no other way around it.  The clothes she had come in had bullet holes and bloodstains.

         “How are you getting home?” Dr. Quimby said.

         “I’ll call the desk and find out when the bus comes by here next.”

         “That is not a good idea.  You would be exhausted before you got on the bus.  I had a feeling that would be your answer.  I talked to Josiah and asked if he would stop by this morning and give you a lift home since he’s been taking care of your dog and things at home for you while you’ve been in here.”

         She turned to him in some surprise.  “That really wasn’t necessary.”

         “It was.  He’s waiting outside.  Just push the button when you’re ready and he’ll come in along with the nurse to give you your instructions.”

         “What about going back to work?”

         “I called Willard Architects this morning before I came in to see you.  I told them you were being released today and would still be on restriction for the next two weeks.”

         “What kind of restrictions?”

         “Rest.  I don’t want you lifting anything for at least two weeks.  Your shoulder muscles are still tender.”

         “I know that, though I feel like I’ve had enough rest to last a long time.”

         “We’ll see.  I’m quite certain you’ll be tired by the time you get home.”

         “I’m sure Mr. Christopherson has better things to do than chauffer me home.  I can call a cab.”

         “He’s agreed to take you home.  It’s either that or I keep you here until I give you the okay to go back to work.”

         “I have no choice?”

         “None.”

         “Then I’d better hurry and get ready.”

         Dr. Quimby left her alone.  It took longer than she thought.  As soon as she was ready, she buzzed the nurses’ desk.

         Josiah came into the room with a flourish, and bent low before her.  “Your chariot awaits, Miss Whitaker.”

         She laughed at his comical entrance, and settled in the chair.  “But you can’t just take me home.”

         He took her crutches from her.  “Why not, I’ve been taking care of Sophie and your home while you’ve been in here, why shouldn’t I take you home also?”

         “I don’t know you.  I don’t know what kind of person you are.  I don’t even know if I can trust you.”

         “You know you’re very argumentative.  I said I would take you home, and I will take you home.  Besides, Sophie’s waiting; I told her you would be home today when I went by this morning after Dr. Quimby called to ask me if I would take you home.”

         “But.”

         “No buts.”

         She could see she had no say in the matter.

         “I have here your instructions for complete recovery,” Nurse Waters said.

         “Bed rest, Dr. Quimby already told me.  That’s why Mr. Christopherson is taking me home instead of my taking the bus or a cab.

         “No heavy lifting.  You had a bullet in the shoulder and upper chest, remember?”

         “How could I forget?  My leg is still sore as well.”

         Nurse Waters handed her the prescription.  “It will be until the muscle is completely healed.  I have a prescription for some painkillers for you.  Take only as needed.”

         She took it and looked at it.  “Can I go now?”

         “Yes, you can go.”

         Josiah wheeled her out of the room and Nurse Waters followed along.  Sarah didn’t have much to take with her after her month in the hospital.  Josiah had gotten her a funny bear, which she held in her hands as they got in the elevator for the trip down to the lobby, and soon settled in the front seat of his car.

         “We’re going to need to stop by the pharmacy and get the prescription filled before I get you home.”

         She looked down at it in her hands.  “It can wait.  I really don’t want to take it unless I absolutely have to.”

         “Dr. Quimby said you would say that.  He told me to get the prescription filled despite your protests.”

         She looked at him in amazement.  “He knows me that well?”

         “He said you argued about every phase of your healing from the moment you woke out of your coma.”

         “I did not!”

         He looked over at her a smile on his face.  “Doctors are around to help make you well.  He told me on a number of occasions you were strongly against the medication you were on until you couldn’t handle the pain any longer.  You don’t have to go through pain, not when there’s something to take care of it and help you on the road to complete health.”

         She looked out the window.  She didn’t have a word to say.  “I’ve never been so much as sick before now.  I’ve never had to take painkillers or antibiotics for anything.  This is so foreign to me.”

         He pulled into the parking lot of the pharmacy, and helped her out.  “Come on.  You’ll get better faster if you do what Dr. Quimby asks you.”

         She took her crutches from him as he led her into the building.  A short while later she was on her way home.  She wondered again, why he would take such pains with her.  “Why are you doing this for me?”

         “Dr. Quimby asked me.”

         “I know that, but you could have just told him you were busy.  I’m sure you have a full schedule today.”

         “I cleared my schedule for today.  If there is an emergency, someone will get hold of me.  Besides I’m not the only journalist.”

         She looked at him in surprise.  “You cleared your schedule for the whole day?”

         He looked at her.  “You needed to get home.  You need to be taken care of still.  It’s not going to be easy for you to get around your home, and with Sophie you may find yourself in a predicament that even you can’t get out of.”

         “Such as?”

         “From past experience with dogs I know they can be over exuberant when their owners get home.  They can jump, and show them how happy they are that they’re back.  Sophie looks like she has just that potential, though she’s never shown it with me, but then I’m not her owner.”

         “I can handle her.  I’ll be just as happy to see her as well.  It’s been a long time.  It almost feels like a year.”

         “You’re on crutches for a while yet.  She could easily topple you right over.”

         “I’ll just have to make sure she doesn’t then.”

         He pulled into the driveway and helped her out of the car.  She took the crutches from him as he helped her up the stairs and opened the door for her.  Sophie met her, tail wagging, as she spun in circles to see her.

         “How have you been girl?  Has Josiah been good to you while I’ve been gone?”

         She gave her an answering bark and a lick in the face, as she jumped up on her, and nearly toppled her.  If it hadn’t been for Josiah, she would have been on her backside.  “Down girl, be good.  Mommy is on crutches.”  Sophie put her feet on the floor, and looked around at Josiah who followed her into the house and greeted him as well, though not as enthusiastically.

         “Let’s get you to bed.”

         “I’ve been in bed for four weeks.  Surely I don’t have to go straight back to bed as soon as I get home?”

         “You look tired.  I strongly recommend it.”

         “I’ll rest on the couch.  Watch some television.”

         “How are you fixed for groceries?”

         “I’m sure everything in the refrigerator is spoiled by now.  I’ll need to go to the store as soon as possible.”

         “I’ll take care of that.  I don’t want you over exerting yourself just yet.  Just relax and get fully recovered.”

         “But you don’t have to go get my groceries.  Besides I have no money at the moment to pay for them.”

         “Do you have someone else to get them for you?”

         Sarah felt defeated as she sat in the nearest chair at her kitchen table.  “No.”

         “Write up a list, and I’ll go get them for you.”

         “But.”

         “Don’t argue with me.  I’ll take care of everything.  It’s either that or I take you right back to the hospital.”

         “Why don’t you just get whatever you think I need?”

         “I would, but chances are you wouldn’t eat it, now the list.”

         He began to clean out her refrigerator while she made the list.  They were both finished at the same time.  She handed it to him and watched as he left.

         She went over to her phone to check on phone messages.  She found one from work that demanded she get in touch with them as soon as possible, and there was another from her mother about a get together she had forgotten about.  “Oh great another black mark.”  Then there was one from church.  They missed her.  Please call.

         She called her friend from church, and explained what happened, and that she hoped to be back in church soon, but it would be up to her doctor.

         Then she called her mother, and apologized that she had not gotten the message until that moment, and tried to explain about the accident she had been in, but soon gave up.

         Lastly, she called work.  HR wanted to see her about the insurance forms she had filled out and sent in.  She asked if it could wait until the doctor gave her permission to return to work.  She explained she had just then gotten out of the hospital.

         With that taken care of, she went to the living room, turned on her television, and lay on the couch.

         That’s where Josiah found her when he returned with her groceries.  He noticed it was a Christian program, as he returned to the kitchen to put everything away.

         With that completed, he went into the living room to check on her before he left.  She opened her eyes and looked up at him, her gaze full of sleepy confusion.  “I just put your groceries away.  Will you be all right here alone?”

         Sarah looked around her, and sat up as her memory cleared.  “You’re leaving?  I guess I was more tired than I realized.  Yes.  I’ll be all right.  Thanks for the groceries.”

         “I’ll come by and check on you.  Get something to eat.  Everything is put away.”

         “Thank you.”

         “Dr. Quimby wants to see you in his clinic in one week.  Here’s the address.”  He handed her a slip of paper.

         “That’s close to here.”

         “Yes.  Close to the park also.  He runs a free clinic next to his home.  Most of his patients are low income and gang members.”

         “The neighborhood gang doctor?”

         “Something like that, yes.”

         “Thank you.”

         “Get some rest.  I’ll let myself out.  I’ll drop by tomorrow to see how you’re doing.”

         “That won’t be necessary.”

         “I’ll give you a call then.”

         “It’s not necessary, really.”

         “You need to stop arguing about everything.  I’ll call, and that’s a promise.”

         As he left, he thought about the difference between her and the other female gang members or girlfriends of gang members he had hung around with, so far, the only thing that concerned her was her job, and her dog.

         He entered his apartment and Dickens met him, tail wagging, paws on his chest.  “Hey Dickens, well she’s home.  I won’t need to go over there so much anymore.”

         He sat on the couch while Dickens jumped up beside him for a tummy rub and a scratch behind the ears.  “What do you say to a walk?”

         Dickens jumped from the couch and danced around him while he got his leash, and headed out the door.