The Flying Doctors – When Past and Present Collide

'There comes a day when you reach a crossing and you must choose which way to go.'

OOOOOO

Chapter One – Routine

Gerry broke into a grin as he brought the aircraft in for landing at Cooper's Crossing Airfield. "Well, it looks like we have a welcoming committee. Someone is popular," he said cheerfully and glanced at the half-sleeping doctor next to him.

Geoffrey Standish tiredly blinked heavy eyelids open. He'd been away overnight together with Annie to deliver a baby. The birth had taken it's time and turned complicated but in the end it went well and the mother and child didn't need to be taken back to the hospital. The oldest daughter in the house was home from practicing at the nursing school in Broken Hill and had promised to keep an eye on her mother and her little sister.

Geoff yawned and stretched in the chair.

"You are strapped in aren't you?" the pilot asked cautiously.

The doctor quickly checked the seatbelt and clicked it into place. "Sorry," he mumbled.

"You know, your patient is the new talk of the town," Gerry informed him as he firmly put down the aircraft and let it roll down the strip.

Geoff made a face. "I'm not surprised," he drawled tiredly as the aircraft came to a stop at the hangar. "Considering she's forty five years old and her oldest daughter is twenty."

Kate winked at them from where she stood next to Mobile Two while Tom opened the trunk to retrieve some gear for the upcoming clinic.

Annie swiftly jumped out of the plane and turned around just in time to catch the car keys that Tom threw at her. "Thanks," she said and greeted Kate with a nod as the older nurse got into the aircraft.

"Well, hello handsome," Kate teased as Geoff came her way from the cockpit.

The doctor and nurse joined in a warm embrace before finishing up with a kiss.

"I missed you tonight," she whispered seductively.

He eyed her slyly. "We'll make it up tonight," he answered enigmatically.

Tom got into the plane carrying his medical bag and a supply bag. "Are you two lovebirds finished?" he teased.

"He was just leaving," Kate said dismissively yet with a playful undertone.

"I was just leaving," the clinical department head echoed. "See you tonight."

Tom chuckled and moved up front to sit next to the pilot. "Ready for another round, Gerry?" he asked.

The pilot made a note in a log and nodded absentmindedly. "I have to refuel first," he said.

Tom groaned and let his head come to rest on the seat.

"Don't be like that," Gerry whined. "At least you had breakfast this morning. That's more than I can say for some."

"Gerry!" Kate hollered from behind as she moved up to them with a sandwich.

The pilot lit up in a bright grin. "You're a lifesaver, Kate," he said jovially.

"Thank Nancy when we come back," the nurse replied with a grin. "The way she talks it sounds like she's adopted you."

Tom snorted.

OOOOOO

Clare glanced over her shoulder from the radio room as the door opened to reveal Annie and Geoff. "There you are," she said cheerfully. "How did it go with the baby?"

"Splendid," Annie assured her smugly and nodded at the doctor who was on his way toward the office. "Geoff was a natural. He'll be a great dad!" she hollered amusedly at him.

Geoff halted in mid-step to frown and give her an indignant glare before disappearing into the office.

Clare made a face and then chuckled, Annie wasn't late to join in.

"By the way, before I forget. Nick was here earlier, looking for you," the old radio operator informed slyly.

Annie slapped Clare playfully on the shoulder and snorted amusedly. "Cut it out. It's nothing like that," she assured her.

"Why not?" Clare asked innocently as she turned her full focus on the young nurse. "He's not a bad catch is he?"

Annie frowned in disbelief. "No, I guess not but-" she trailed off and sighed. "He's only interested in machinery and small gadgets. He's a great friend and all but as a partner-"

"It doesn't click, does it?" Clare asked in understanding.

"No, not really," Annie said truthfully.

Clare shrugged. "Well, he wanted to see you regardless," she offered.

"Thanks, I'll swing by the garage later and have a word with him," she said with a bright smile and began to walk towards the door that led to the hospital.

OOOOOO

The Nomad came to a stop at the end of the short and sandy runway at the Maple Hodges Station.

"So," Gerry said as he kept the engines running. "What time would you like to be picked up?"

Tom glanced at him in amusement. "There's been a change of plan, flyboy," he said. "We don't estimate the clinic to take more than four or five hours, there is no use for you to fly back and forth."

Gerry sighed and leaned backwards in his seat.

"So you can power down the engines and help us with the gear and set up the clinic," Tom said with a smirk and patted the pilot on the shoulder as he moved back in the plane.

OOOOOO

Geoff yawned and sighed as he turned around in his office chair to stare out the window. His eyes finally settling on a few strolling patients at backyard of the hospital building.

"Admiring the view?" David asked suddenly and amusedly watched his colleague jump at the sound of his voice. "I did knock but-"

Geoff waved lazily at him to enter. "That baby took its toll on me," he said sheepishly. "I have tons of paperwork but I can't seem to concentrate at the moment."

David chuckled and turned to see Clare walk in to the room with a freshly brewed cup of coffee.

"There," she said kindly as she placed it in front of Geoff. "Extra strong," she added and turned to leave.

"She's spoiling me," he mumbled thankfully and nodded at David. "What's on your mind?"

"Not much really," he admitted as he stuck his hands in his pockets and began to rock on his heels. "You know, your newly delivered baby it the talk of the town."

Geoff frowned in mock surprise. "Really?" he quipped.

"Yeah," David let on cheerfully and then turned serious. "Actually I came to ask you of a few days off."

"Well-"

"I know we have a pretty busy schedule at the moment and that perhaps it's not the best of times," he added hastily at his colleague's hesitation. "I overheard about a rock climbing event not far from here and I figured I could use it to clear my mind."

Geoff shrugged. "I don't see why not. I think Tom and I can handle it for a few days."

His younger colleague broke into a grin.

"But," Geoff said solemnly as he stabbed a finger at him. "On one condition."

"Just name it," David returned confidently.

"You don't go falling down and break any bones," Geoff said sternly.

"Believe me I have no intention of doing that," he let on earnestly. "It starts at the weekend and its Monday today, I'll need two days of travelling time which means I'll leave on Wednesday unless there's a catastrophe coming our way."

"You're not hiring an aircraft?" Geoff enquired curiously.

David shook his head. "It's easier to borrow one of the base's utility vehicles."

"I see," Geoff mused as he narrowed his eyes at him. "You're not just asking for leave you're borrowing equipment from the service," he deduced cunningly.

"Would you mind?" David asked innocently.

Geoff chuckled. "Go and climb your rock, David," he said.

OOOOOO

Kate smiled as she walked up to Gerry who was sitting in a chair on the porch waving lazily with a paper before his face.

"You have admirers," she whispered teasingly as she sat down next to him.

He chuckled sarcastically as he followed her gaze to a few teenage girls. "Yes, they wanted to take a swim in the creek," he let on.

"Why not?" Kate suggested wryly with a half grin and then innocently added. "It's a good day for it. It hasn't been this hot for weeks."

"Get out of here," he whined miserably.

The nurse laughed and was about to reply as the old station hand walked up to them.

"Is he giving you trouble, Katie," Jeremy Rodgers asked amusedly. "Those flyboys are not firmly grounded you know."

Gerry shook his head.

Kate chuckled. "Right now he's firmly planted in the chair," she offered lightly and then turned to her colleague. "Gerry O'Neill this old chap is Jeremy Rodgers he's been here for as long as I can remember."

Rodgers nodded in delight. "I've been a station hand at this place before you was born Katie," he said with twinkle in his eyes and shook hands with the pilot.

"Have you come to see the doctor?" Kate asked kindly.

"No, no," he assured her with a lazy wave. "There is nothing wrong with me. I came to talk with this young fellow."

Kate shook her head at the stubborn old man. "Well, I'll leave you to it then," she said and nodded at Gerry.

OOOOOO

To be continued