This story is a challenge set by coachsone. Always up for a challenge, after all I keep setting them for my English students!
What might have happened if Joy had lived!
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Matthew stood on the doorstep, wishing he wasn't. He had no idea what had happened at the Council offices, but he was sure Lucien had something to do with it, one way or another.
'Lucien, you're needed at the Council Offices,' he informed the doctor, 'there's been an accident...'
'Joy,' Lucien gasped, 'what...'
'She's alive, but hurt, badly.' Matthew started the car and pulled out of the driveway, 'she insisted we call you.'
'What happened?' Lucien knew it was his fault, he had basically told her to go snooping, to see if she could find out what had happened to Graeme Trevorrow.
'Seems like she got into a fight, took a tumble down the stairs.'
'God, Matthew, this is all my fault,' Lucien urged his friend to get him there quickly.
'How?'
'I suggested she go and talk to Carl Laidly,' Lucien admitted, 'I might have well pushed her myself.'
'Lucien, she's awake and talking,' Matthew tried to soothe his friend.
They rounded to corner to the bottom of the stairs where so recently he had examined the body of Graeme Trevorrow. Joy was lying in almost the same spot.
'We've not moved her, doc,' Charlie said, he'd laid his uniform jacket over her to keep her warm.
'Lucien,' Joy whispered, trying to muster a smile.
Lucien knelt over her and touched her cheek with the back of his hand, she looked so pale. He gave, what he hoped was, a reassuring smile.
'Let's have a look at you, shall we?' He said. Gently he put his hands to the back of her head, and began to ask questions, 'Where was the pain? Could she move her arms, legs? Any pins and needles?'
There was blood at the back of her head, she complained of pain in her back and pins and needles in her legs, but she could move her limbs, although Lucien wouldn't let her move too much. He was aware she could have damage to her spine and he mustn't let her move.
'Ambo's on its way.' Charlie came out of one of the offices where he made the call.
'When they get here she needs to be moved carefully onto the stretcher. On no account must her back be bent or jarred.' Lucien instructed. 'I'll take her head and neck, Matthew you and Charlie take her mid-section and the ambo lads can take her legs. Got it?'
'Right,' they both nodded, positioning themselves ready.
'Joy, let us do all the work, please.' Lucien looked over into her face and she smiled weakly.
Lucien rode in the ambulance with Joy, reassuring her that she would be alright.
They rushed her into the hospital with Lucien barking orders for full length x-rays of her spine, her head and then her legs, although he was sure that most of the damage was done to her spine, he had to check everything else too.
Lucien studied the x-rays some of her thoracic vertebrae were fractured as were her sacral ones.
'That figures,' thought Lucien, 'with the natural curve of the spine these would have made contact with the stairs, she must have arched her back as she fell, otherwise there would be more damage.'
He called in Nicholson to discuss the case. He knew they couldn't just leave Joy to heal naturally. She would have to be immobile for about six weeks and that could lead to all sorts of problems such as pneumonia, pressure sores and thrombosis. She needed to be operated on. He didn't trust himself to put in rods or wires, it was not his area, and Nicholson was also hesitant. Putting their heads together they came up with a plan, Lucien would contact Melbourne, there was a spinal specialist there and he hoped he could get him to come to Ballarat and fix Joy's spine. Now to tell Joy.
He went into the room they had settled Joy in. She looked so fragile in the bed, a drip administered pain relief and fluids and she had been given a mild sedative. She was still, however, alert enough to take in what Lucien told her.
'So, Joy,' Lucien squeezed her hand, 'That's the best option I can come up with. The surgeon from Melbourne is the best in his field in Australia. You would be able to move after the operation and you would heal quicker, than if we let nature take its course.'
Joy smiled, 'If you think it's best, Lucien, I'll leave it to you.'
'Get some rest,' he murmured, 'I'm going to stay with you until the surgeon arrives.'
'Will you be in there?' She asked, 'in the theatre.'
'I'd like to observe but he'll have his team with him.' Lucien replied, 'I don't have the knowledge or experience to assist and I've done enough damage for one day.'
Tears welled up in his eyes, she was so vivacious, so bright and enquiring; to see her like this broke his heart.
'No, Lucien,' she squeezed his hand back, 'I made the choice, please don't blame yourself.'
Lucien bent down and kissed her forehead, noting it was the first time he had kissed her, but hoped it would not be the last.
Lucien spent the night in the chair next to her bed, holding her hand, nodding off every now and then.
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The surgeon arrived early in the morning. Nicholson greeted him, knowing Blake was sitting with the patient. He showed him the x-rays and explained what had happened. He told him that Joy had movement in all limbs, pain down her spine and pins and needles in her legs.
'Right,' the surgeon, Mr Sharkey, said, 'If we put wires in these three vertebrae here,' he indicated the top of Joy's spine, 'and here in the sacral that should keep the cord safe and enable her to heal and have a long and happy life. She may suffer from backache occasionally , and some stiffness, but she will walk and dance, live life normally.'
Nicholson shook his hand as Lucien came into the office. He introduced the surgeon and together they discussed what they were to do. Lucien was pleased that Mr Sharkey was able to give such a promising prognosis for Joy.
The three went into Joy and told her what was proposed. Again she let Lucien guide her and smiled when they said they would start as soon as a theatre became available, so she should be being operated on within the next two hours.
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Lucien sat next to her bed. the operation had gone well, Mr Sharkey was pleased with the result and was confident Joy would recover quickly.
A knock on the room door; Jean appeared.
She had been concerned that she hadn't seen Lucien for two days and a night. Charlie had related the whole story, and , much as she found Mrs MacDonald a bit too forward and flirty, she did not wish the woman ill.
'Lucien,' she whispered, 'how is she?'
'Mmm? Oh, still sleeping, but the operation went well, she should make a good recovery.' He yawned.
'Why don't you go home and get some proper sleep?' She moved over to him, 'I'll sit with her, if you like.'
Lucien was surprised. He knew Joy and Jean were struggling to get on together. He knew Joy was a bit 'modern' a bit forward. She always called Jean by her Christian name without being asked to, and Jean always called her 'Mrs MacDonald', which she was. He was touched by her generosity.
'Well...' he started to object.
'You haven't had a proper meal, a proper sleep or a shower in two days,' Jean pointed out, 'there is a stew in the oven and clean clothes in your room.' She stood with her hands on her hips, daring him to argue.
She was right, he realised, he must be 'less than fresh.'
'Thank you, Jean,' and as he passed he touched her arm in gratitude.
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End of chapter one. I know where I want to take this, but there will be at least a couple of chapters before the end.