Chapter Two – Wrongdoings

"There you are Annie," Kate said softly as she walked up to the younger nurse. "I just wanted you to know that the clinic will be on the first thing tomorrow."

Annie frowned. "I thought we'd leave after lunch?" she asked in confusion.

Kate smiled. "Sam and David are on their way back from Wesley Station. It took longer than expected to pick up our supplies. The patient transfer is still waiting and has to be today. Mrs. Jones is scheduled for an operation later this afternoon and if they leave directly they'll be just in time. However, the Nomad won't be back here until nightfall," she explained.

"You want me to go with Mrs. Jones?" Annie asked.

Kate shook her head. "It's enough that David goes, there is no need for a nurse," she said.

OOOOOO

Emma walked through the door to the Royal Flying Doctor Service's base in a splendid mood, whistling.

"Someone is in a cheerful mood today," DJ noted jovially.

Tom walked out from the office that he and Geoff shared for the moment to see what was going on.

"Just our own grease monkey," DJ explained with a shrug of his shoulders, like it was no big deal.

Emma gave him a look of mock indignation as she placed her hands on her hips.

"I remember a time when she used to be the 'Queen of the Outback'," Tom said with a twinkle in his eyes. "Anything we can do for you Emma? You're not hurt, are you?"

"I was looking for my husband," she said sarcastically with a smirk. "You know blonde hair, about this tall. If it helps any he's dressed like a glorified bus driver."

DJ laughed out loud. "Yeah, now that you mention it, we do have one that fits your description here," he teased.

Tom shook his head at the easygoing banter between the two friends.

Emma turned to DJ hopefully.

"I'm sorry, he's out," the radio operator returned regretfully.

Emma sighed in frustration as she glanced up in the ceiling. "I'm going to clip those wings of his," she muttered and then added in a whiny voice; "Where is he anyway? He promised me lunch."

"I'm sorry, Emma," Tom said sympathetically. "I'm afraid it's our fault. He will be busy running errands until late night."

Emma groaned.

Tom looked at her and saw the sadness and disappointment in the mechanic's eyes. The doctor frowned. When he'd left Cooper's Crossing a couple of years ago Emma had been a different person, more naïve and self-confident, a woman who didn't need anyone by her side. A woman who actually didn't want anyone by her side. She had been a strong, kind and caring woman who'd taken care of her own business. Emma still possessed strength and kindness but something in her manners told him she'd been through a lot during the years while he'd been away. She'd matured and turned into someone who was no longer afraid of commitment.

He shook his head and broke out of his recollection. "I don't know, would a doctor make do as a substitute?" he offered kindly.

Emma gave him a mischievous half-smile. "It was his share," she said.

Tom laughed. "Okay, I'll buy you dinner," he said as he motioned for her to exit the base.

Emma shielded her eyes from the sun as they walked out and across the road toward the Majestic Hotel. "I'm glad you decided to stay," she said seriously.

"Me too," he admitted truthfully.

OOOOOO

Geoff watched Chris through the large window and saw her lean over the young patient. He sadly pursed his lips into a thin line of displeasure and walked over to pop his head into the cubicle.

Chris looked up as he nodded at her to come and gave the semi-aware patient a faint yet assuring smile before she left him to meet up with her colleague outside.

"Take a break, Chris," Geoff said kindly. "There's not much you can do anyway."

She sighed. "There's got to be something-"

"Are you sure you want this case? Is it such a good idea?" he asked carefully.

"If you're asking if I can handle a cancer patient so close to overcoming my own the answer is yes," she said darkly.

"Surely Tom or David can take it," he offered kindly.

"He's my patient. He's been in my care for several years. I can't abandon him now just because it might be an uncomfortable reminder," she reasoned stubbornly.

"You do know that there's nothing you could have done to prevent this from happening?" he said and fixed her with a look of concern.

"If I had just-"

"No," Geoff interrupted. "He never told you the symptoms, never asked for our help until it was too late. "I know it sounds harsh but you can't just call upon every patient you have in the district and ask them if they might have some incurable disease."

"I'm not giving up on him just yet," she said mutedly. "I'm waiting for the experts in Sydney to reply to my request."

Geoff looked away for a moment, contemplating his choice of words. "Being stubborn is a great asset, Chris, but sometimes you have to realize when to quit," he said seriously. "Please, take a break and come back later."

"Okay," she nodded and gave him the faintest of smiles which he returned.

"Good, and then I suggest you head straight back to the base. I have a feeling Tom could use a hand with the radio school's education clinic," he said amusedly.

Chris chuckled. "I thought David was scheduled for it?" she said.

"He took my patient transfer. Seems a bit too desperate for me but some people would do anything to avoid trying to sort out twenty children and their volley of questions over radio," he reasoned.

OOOOOO

Slumped over the desk in the duty room Emma came awake with a jerk and blinked her tired eyes open in confusion as light suddenly flooded the base.

"There you are," Sam said relieved as he walked over to give her a quick peck on the cheek while David walked through to the office that he and Chris shared.

Emma tiredly glanced up at the wall-mouthed clock; it read eight pm. "Where have you been?" she complained lightly as she reached up with her hand to rub her forehead and pinch the bridge of her nose.

"I'm so sorry, honey," he let on meekly. "Come on now, let's fly home."

"You look tired," she said softly with slight concern in her voice. "Are you sure you're up to that?"

"I want to sleep in my own bed," he said resolutely with a wry smile. "Besides, old Willy should still be back at our place and feed the animals. I don't think he'd mind staying an extra hour and light the flairs for us."

Satisfied with the answer Emma got out of the chair, gently sneaked an arm around his middle and leaned against him.

Sam gently steered her toward the doctor's office.

"Do you lock the place when you leave, doc?" the pilot asked.

"Yeah," David mused absentmindedly as he studied a folder on the desk.

"Good night, David," Emma said.

The young doctor looked up at them and cracked a faint smile. "Good night," he replied.

OOOOOO

"Shall we go home?" Kate asked with a playful smile as her husband came walking toward her.

Geoff nodded tiredly and yawned. "That's a good idea. I could use a few hours of sleep. Who knows what's going to happen during the night," he said.

Kate frowned. "You're not on call," she said suspiciously.

"Actually, I switched with David. Thought he could use a good night's sleep after working for so long," he reasoned.

The nurse sighed. "I asked him to take the transfer so that we could spend some time together," she admitted. "I wanted to surprise you with a candle lit dinner."

"I'm sorry," he said regretfully and broke into a wry grin. "And I told Chris that David took the transfer just to get rid of the radio school hour."

Kate laughed and sneaked an arm around his middle. "Poor David," she mused.

OOOOOO

Jack was not a happy man as he got into the car and began his long drive back to Cooper's Crossing. The matter hadn't been as straight forward as he'd first thought. He'd suspected Winters as he knew the man was not afraid to take the law into his own hands at times but this time he wasn't so sure. In fact the man looked ill and worn. He was not a man you'd suspect as a culprit when it came to cattle thieving which was rather physically demanding. Then again, it might just be Baxter's way of trying to get an extra income while trying to get rid of yet another neighbor with a promising land.

If Jack could prove the broken fences was malicious damage and that Baxter had lost cattle because of it the man could make an insurance claim. The police officer huffed. No one seemed to brand their animals properly nowadays anyway. 'How was he to know which heard that belonged to whom?' he mused bitterly.

OOOOOO

DJ came awake with a jerk as a high-pitched sound penetrated the dream of his childhood in Greece. He groaned at the noise and reached out with his hand to terminate the alarm. He threw on a night gown and padded through the room till he found the light switch. The room was flooded in light and he narrowed his sensitive eyes for a moment before heading out into the adjoining radio room at the Flying Doctor's base.

"Hold your horses," he muttered as he sauntered over, sat down behind the machine and flicked a switch. "This is Victor Charlie Charlie receiving your distress call, please acknowledge," he said in a clear voice, suddenly wide awake.

"DJ, thank heavens," a shaken female voice said. "It's Betty Logan, Bert just came home from the outer pastures. He practically fell through the door and collapsed in a heap. I don't know what's happened. I can't get any sense out of him. I don't know what to do DJ."

"Just keep calm," DJ said seriously as he pushed another button to page the on call physician. "Doctor Standish is on standby. I'm paging him now, he should be here shortly."

The minutes seemed to drag by as DJ continuously glanced surreptitiously at the wall-mouthed watch in front of him. His finger was hovering over the button that would immediately notify Sam of an upcoming emergency. It wasn't really his call to make, not before Geoff had given him the all clear to do so and DJ knew that Sam had been flying the whole day so he didn't want to call ahead and disturb the pilot's much needed sleep unless it was absolutely necessary.

The next minute a bleary eyed doctor rushed through the door connecting the base and the hospital.

DJ frowned. "I thought you walked Kate home from the pub a few hours ago?" he said.

"We had a patient coding an hour ago so I was called in," he quickly explained. "I was just about to leave."

The radio operator nodded in understanding and filled the doctor in on the latest development over the radio before pushing the button to transmit. "Victor Charlie Charlie calling Echo Bravo Bravo-"

"Here DJ," came the immediate response.

"It's Geoff Standish here Mrs. Logan. Could you run us through what's happened?" he asked.

"My husband just collapsed, his breathing is shallow and he's sweating profusely. His eyes are glassy, I've never seen him like this," she reported worriedly. "You've got to help me."

DJ looked at Geoff. "Should I call Sam?" he wondered aloud.

The doctor nodded seriously. "Immediately, DJ," he replied without hesitation.

"Stand by Echo Bravo Bravo," DJ ordered and quickly changed the frequency to give Sam and Emma a call.

"Victor Charlie Charlie calling Patterson Station, are you receiving? Over," he asked.

"It's Sam here DJ, go ahead," came the reply loud and clear.

Geoff leaned over the radio and spoke into the microphone. "Sam. It's Geoff here. There's been an emergency, mate, at the Logan's place. If my suspicions are correct we have to act fast on this one."

"Understood. I can be at the airfield in about twenty minutes and have everything ready to log when I get there. The Nomad is fueled and ready for take-off," he informed.

"See you in twenty, Sam," Geoff returned. "Victor Charlie Charlie out."

"Victor Charlie Charlie calling Echo Bravo Bravo, come in Mrs. Logan," DJ said.

"You think he's been bitten by something?" she asked worriedly.

"It is a possible scenario," Geoff admitted. "I need you to look for puncture wounds on his arms and lower legs. Could you do that for me?"

"I…hang on a minute," she told them.

Geoff quickly dialed the short number for the hospital reception and waited for the nurse on the nightshift to pick up. "Come on," he mumbled and let out a relieved breath as he got an answer.

"It's Doctor Standish. I need you to bring me the anti-snake venom immediately. Bring me all types over at the base," he said sternly and killed the connection.

"I can't find anything," Betty Logan replied as she got back on the air.

"Don't rush, take your time and look again. We're leaving now and will be at your place in about-" he trailed off and glanced at DJ for the timetable.

"One and a half hour, give or take, depending on the winds. You'll have to ask Sam for a better answer," he said.

"-about one and a half hour," Geoff said into the microphone.

"It's going to be the longest one and a half hour in my life," she complained halfheartedly. "Echo Bravo Bravo out."

The door suddenly opened and the nurse rushed in with the anti-venom.

"Thanks," Geoff said appreciatively before turning on his heels to run off.

OOOOOO

To be continued

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