AN – for those of you who think I'm moving at a snail's pace, you're right on the money. Most of this book wasn't supposed to happen. I've never written the parents point of view so this is a foray into unexplored territory. I keep imagining myself at my son's bedside when he's in the ICU with an asthma attack and suddenly it doesn't seem that hard to write Helen, Peter, Grace and Matt's feelings. As a bonus, I'll be adding a fifth book to the series called Resolutions, where we get Jim and Trixie perspective on the events and finally an end to the entire saga. So it's a win-win situation – and to think, initially I thought this would be over in three books!
Brian paced. It took seven steps to reach the end of the waiting room then turn and take the seven steps back to his original position. Nothing, I've been waiting hours, and what for, nothing, he simmered internally.
He'd been privy to the conversation with the Intensivest looking after his sister. Then the Neonatologist came to talk to his parents. She'd ignored him and his questions completely. When the nurse finally called them through to see Trixie, she stated only two visitors at a time. So, once again Brian Belden felt left out.
It happening again, he fumed. When Jim and Trixie first went missing, the four remaining Bob Whites all stayed in Sleepyside. They had each other for comfort and support. What did I have but a "Brian its better you stay in New York and finish your studies". Cold comfort that turned out to be. Didn't any of them realise all I ever wanted was to be back at Crabapple Farm with my family. I felt alone and abandoned. I had to cope with the innuendo and gossip by myself. Then Mart and Honey got together, Di found a partner and Dan, well he's always allowed most things to wash off his back with his background. Now my sister, my only sister is fighting for her life and I'm out here in the waiting room not even allowed to see her.
Deciding he's had enough of playing by the rules, Brian went up to the visitor's window. Affecting a sad grimace, he stated, 'my names Brian Belden…'
'Please come right through,' the clerk pointed to the glass doors on her right. Buzzing him through, Brian swallowed hard. Wanting to see Trixie and being allowed to do so created a maelstrom of emotions. Once through she greeted him with, 'I'm sorry, I didn't realise you'd been waiting all this time.'
'I beg your pardon?' responded the astounded man.
'Your sister came in as a Jane Doe,' explained the woman, leading Brain down a corridor into the ICU, 'and the doctors, once they knew her true identity wanted it kept that way. What your family must have been through in the last few years. I understand the media's been very intrusive. I guess it'll only get worse if they discover she's a patient here.'
Brian had to hide his mirth. Little did this woman know, but his brother intended to lead the media campaign designed to disseminate the news she valiantly tried to keep quiet. Ushering him into the private side room, Brain gasped. Three years of pre-med came back to haunt him. Surrounded by equipment he'd seen in textbooks, the seriousness of Trixie's condition assaulted him.
'Moms,' Brian glanced at his mother. The distress clearly displayed on her features. His father hadn't weathered the initial meeting with is lost daughter any better. Deciding he needed to be strong for his parents, Brian took in a deep, fortifying breath.
'Oh, Brian,' Helen ran to her son. She understood how much he'd suffered, even if he'd keep most of his emotion locked away. They'd tried to make life as normal as possible for the only Bob White still following his dreams. Helen realised the day he's come home and announced a new career they'd failed. 'I'm so sorry, she tried to apologise. 'We meant to come and get you but…'
'Even though we were warned,' Peter finished for his wife, 'we didn't expect this and we couldn't leave her.'
'I know dad,' Brian withdrew from his mother to approach Trixie's bed. Pale and gaunt, his medical training kicked in. Taking her left hand in his, for the first time since deciding to change majors, he knew, deep in his heart and soul, he'd made the right decision. 'Hey, Trix,' Brian spoke to his sister in a warm, even tone, 'it's been a while. I guess Moms and Dad have told you a lot about what's happening in Sleepyside.'
Not allowing the sorrow or threatening tears, Brain continued to talk to his sister as though they carried on a normal conversation. When he mentioned her little boy, wondering what they called him, Trixie seemed to respond with the merest hint of pressure on their entwined fingers. Subtle, the eldest Belden child continued to guess at his nephew's name and test his theory.
'Don't tell my Jim decided on James Frayne III.' This time the spasm in her digits seemed deliberate. 'When's her next sedative due?' Brian turned on the nurse and demanded.
Checking the older woman pursed her lips, obviously unhappy. 'I'll get the Resource Nurse to make it up for me,' she commented.
'Don't bother,' Brian gave the woman a hard look, 'she's light enough to be coming around as we speak. It's alright Trix,' he soothed, turning his complete attention back to the patient, 'Moms, Dad and I'm here. Jim's safe but in the hospital to build him back up. Mr and Mrs Wheeler are with him and your son.'
Something resembling 'Jamie' issued from Trixie's vocal cords.
'Your son?' Brian questioned. 'Squeeze my hand if you want to know about your son, Trix.' Feeling the light pressure, he continued, 'Mr Wheeler sent us a picture. He looks like a mini copy of Jim. Jamie's doing better than both his parents at the moment. The doctors have kept him sedated to decrease the culture shock.'
'Jamie,' once again Trixie tried to communicate her distress.
'He's safe,' Helen stated softly but with sincerity. 'Matthew's arranged everything. All you have to do is sleep and get better. I promise you'll be back with your family soon. We all want you to get well and take you home.'
Struggling to open her eye's an expression of pain lanced across Trixie's face.
'Don't move,' Brian placed a consoling hand on her forehead. 'You've had an emergency c-section. You have a daughter, Trix. She's got Jim's red hair already and the fighting spirit of her mother. She's in the nursery and going really well even if she is a little early. As soon as we can move you to a ward, you'll be able to have her with you.'
'We'll take care of her,' Helen promised, 'until you get better.'
'Sleep, Trix,' Peter added. 'When you wake up, we'll all still be here.'
'Katie,' Trixie slurred. She'd given up trying to open her eyes as her eyelids felt like lead, instead communicating by deliberately crushing Brian's fingers.
'I get it,' a genuine smile covered his face for the first time in three and a half years. 'Jim got to pick the boy's names. I guess you're trying to tell us your daughter's called Katie Frayne.'
This time the pressure lessened. Overwhelmed by the love and support she felt from those surrounding her, Trixie allowed the sleep to overcome her. Sighing, Brian looked across the slumbering form of his sister to reassure his parents.
'She's going to get through this,' Brian stated.
'Here,' Helen found her phone and handed it to Brain. 'You tell Matthew and Grace about the names of their grandchildren. I don't think I could hold that thing, let alone type out a message.'
'Before you give him that,' Grace pleaded with the nurse, 'can you ask Dr Casey if it's really necessary?'
'I'll go and get him,' the young man nodded in agreement, dropping the syringe back into the kidney dish. A veteran of three tours of duty, he'd seen worse injuries treated with less medication.
A few moments later, the doctor entered the room. 'I understand,' a faint smiled covered his lips, 'you'd like us to stop the sedative.'
'Yes,' Grace looked to her husband for agreement. 'You said you're keeping Jim asleep as a precaution. He'd hate the thought. If determination will make my son well, he'll do whatever you want to get back to his family.'
'It's not a matter of waking Jim and transferring both of them to Washington,' Daniel warned, 'with an arrhythmia, the first forty eight hours are critical.'
'Why not,' Matthew finally entered the conversation. 'I've spoken to a cardiologist in Washington who's happy to arrange the medivac plane with a doctor on-board for the hour flight. An ambulance will be waiting for us at the airport. The hospital in Washington said they could house Jim and his family in a single room so they can all be together.'
'Have you considered the ramifications to the child?' Daniel asked softly.
'We're only requesting you wake our son,' Matthew's green eyes narrowed to the man. 'I've consulted the paediatrician who's currently attending to our granddaughter. By the way, Trixie woke up enough to tell Helen and Peter the children's names.'
'This,' Grace reached out a hand to stroke the red locks of the toddler in Matthew's arms, 'is Jamie and his sister will be called Katie.'
'Dr Western recommends keeping Jamie sedated until the trip is over,' Matthew returned the conversation to its former topic.
'I see,' Dr Casey knew he'd been out manoeuvred. 'When have you arranged this transfer?'
'Dr Weston and Dr Wang are awaiting your call to say Jim is conscious,' Matthew answered easily.
Grace couldn't stop the tears rolling down her cheeks as her expression pleaded with the doctor to understand. 'I want to find out about the first years of our grandson's life. I want to see how all of this has affected my son emotionally. He's been through so much before we adopted him, this has to have affected Jim as much, if not more. Most of all, I want to tell my son, no matter what's happened, he's the most important issue in our lives right now.'
'It'll be better for everyone,' Matthew added, 'if Jim can see his wife, to know his son is with them both. I believe they'll heal better as a family unit and be able to cope with the loss of their third child. Trixie still doesn't know Katie's twin died at birth.'
Taking the phone numbers, Daniel walked out of the room. Closing the door behind him, he called for James Frayne's medical chart. Ceasing the order for further sedation, he sighed heavily. I'm not convinced, he mussed internally, you're making the right decision Senator Wheeler, even if I understand why you fell it's necessary.
'Di,' Missy looked at her watch, face screwed up in an expression of resentment. Graeme's article in the Times caused a flurry of calls to the box office. Officially they'd sold out for the next three weeks. As the producer and director of the play, she had little choice in attending the nightly show.
'I know,' the dark haired woman responded dejectedly, 'you have to go. I want you here with me but I understand.'
'With a positive review from Graeme West,' Missy offered, 'we've sold out online leaving some very angry customers who called for tickets. Mart knew what he was doing, getting his friend and mentor to write the piece the way he did. It's not only sparked interest in the real identity of Peter Jones, but reignited awareness in the abduction. Once people know Trix and Jim have been found it's going to go crazy.'
'Mart wanted to make it a hit,' Dan chimed in sardonically from his position on the couch. None of them dared to leave the building in the six hours since the Belden's and Wheeler's departed. Mart kept them in constant contact via text messages. They'd received photos of Jim and Trixie's children along with their names. 'I think he should be the one to go into politics, the way he's manipulated this situation. With Honey at his side, she'd make the perfect Senators wife.'
Snorting, Missy offered, 'don't you think Mr Wheeler has already considered that? They two of them are more alike than they care to admit. That's why Honey loves Mart so much. She looked for someone just like her father.'
'I've been so blind,' Di covered her mouth with a hand. 'Honey started to fall for Mart when his real personality began to show. Before Trix was taken, he acted like a clown, the middle child, hiding his real personality. When they started to do the talk show rounds, Mart grew up fast and demonstrated his real strength and character.'
'I noticed the change too,' Dan chipped in. 'I think Mr Wheeler did as well and didn't mind the relationship with his daughter. It generated a lot of public sympathy for Trix and Jim.'
'It's certainly helped his political career,' Missy added thoughtfully, 'not to mention Mart's journalistic endeavours. I'd say it's a perfect match.'
'I bet,' Di found a slight smile, 'Mart's working on part two of your play as we speak. I shudder to think of the implications to those responsible for Jim and Trixie's abduction. He'd going to want to hang them out to dry. It's those poor children I feel sorry for. The media interest is going to be so intrusive.'
'There's no way I'd let those responsible get a way,' Dan agreed. 'This plan of Mart's, to publicly humiliate them and take away the wealth and power they think they've gained is genus.'
'Rotting in jail,' Missy concurred, 'is too good for them. I'd like to see them spend a year living in the conditions they forced Jim and Trixie to suffer. Come see me out, Di, you know how Dan gets off seeing the two of us together.'
That brought a smile to Di's face, as Missy intended. 'I'm sorry, I can't get back until tomorrow,' she apologised, 'but you can cuddle up with Dan. He's about the only one I trust with you.'
Dan watched the two women walk towards the entry hall. Although in a monogamous, committed relationship, they kept their displays of affection private. Shaking his head, Dan turned on the six O'clock news. Just as Di re-entered the Wheelers living room, the article they been waiting for started.
'This should be good,' Di fell into the seat beside Dan. He placed his arm around her shoulders. They'd always been comfortable with each other. It had taken Miss Lynch coming out for Dan to realise why. Right now they both felt the need for a friend who'd understand.
'Mart at his journalistic best,' Dan nodded.
'The factory fire,' Louise Remora, the nightly anchor, hesitated, placing one finger to her ear. 'We have a breaking story,' she informed her audience with a shocked expression.
Behind her on the screen a picture of two very well-known young people suddenly appeared as the camera zoomed in on her mobile face. 'Abducted teenagers Beatrix Belden and James Frayne have been located. Repeating that breaking story, the son of Senator Matthew Wheeler has been located with his punitive wife Trixie Belden-Frayne. We cross to Graham West on location at Fort Eustis. Graham, what can you tell us?'
'Good evening, Louise,' Graham looked at the electronic device in his hand then back to the camera, 'this story begins last night with the opening of a play called Abducted written by political journalist, Peter Jones. It revealed the true identity behind the young writer to be none other than Martin Belden, brother to the missing Trixie. Just before midday, I received a call from him at Senator Wheeler's apartment in New York. The family had been contacted by General Brooks, currently in charge of the military games being conducted around the town of Warm Springs in Virginia. A five man squad heard terrified cry from a natural cave system called the Hell Hole.'
At this point, Duane Higgenbottom, the cameraman fed stock footage of The Hell Hole to the audience, giving them the idea of the conditions suffered by the missing pair. Obviously the footage came from the movie based on Tim Winston's book of the same name. It showed the water and supply caves, as well as a shot from the bottom looking up at the cliff walls making the area an effective prison.
Graham continued with a voice over. 'Investigating the noise revealed Trixie and James Frayne. They've been trapped by sheer walls, unable to get out since being confined three and a half years ago.' Returning to the journalist, the viewer's now had the mental image he wanted. 'It's a testament to their survival skills they managed to stay alive all this time. However James Frayne suffered a cardiac event. It's believed the shock of finally being rescued, along with malnutrition caused his heart into an arrhythmia. He's in a stable condition at the base hospital, his family at his bedside. Trixie Frayne has been transferred to a hospital in Washington. She's said to be in a critical condition. We'll know more at the night progresses.'
'Any word on how they became trapped?' Louise asked the carefully scripted words appearing on her monitor back at the anchor desk.
'Anyone seeing last night's play can't help draw parallels,' Graham's face contorted. 'James's stepfather, jailed for the abduction and attempted ransom has been used by a South American drug cartel. His accomplice, Miguel Harvia has direct links to the now defunct Kayos Cartel. Interesting Trixie lead a group of friends to discover a crèche of stolen US military weapons destine for this carted about five years ago. I've managed to track the stolen weapons back to Fort Eustis.'
'That's seems like an interesting coincidence,' Louise offered. 'Do we have a statement from the military or the family?'
'Martin Belden,' stepping into the camera's field, Graham placed the microphone between them, 'has joined me. Can you give us an update on your sister and her husband, James Frayne?'
Pale, Mart swallowed visibly. Reading from an i-pad, he looked miserably into the lens. 'This morning my sister gave birth to a baby girl. Due to the conditions of their captivity both are fighting for their life. Jim's heart has been damaged by near starvation. His doctors expect him to make a full recovery but it will take time.'
'What can you tell us about the child recovered with Jim?' Graham eased into the conversation.
'Jamie Frayne is approximately sixteen months old,' Mart commented, 'and in perfect health. He will be cared for by Matthew and Grace Wheeler until Jim recovers enough to take care of his son. At this time, the families of Trixie and Jim Frayne have requested privacy to begin putting their shattered lives back together.'
'As more information comes to light,' Graham's cameraman cut Mart from the picture, 'we'll keep you updated throughout the night.'
'Thank you, Graham,' Louise commented. 'As yet there has been no comment from General Brooks or a military spokesperson. We will continue to bring you details as they arise.'
Turning off the television, Dan laid the remote in his lap. 'What do you think?'
'I'd say Mart's put the cat among the pidgins,' Di frowned. 'I just hope everyone is as horrified by the injustice and leaves Trixie and Jim alone to cope with their family.'
'Well,' Dan commented snidely, 'by now they'll all be at the same hospital. Mart and Honey stayed behind to give the impression Jim's still at Fort Eustis.'
'It won't take long,' Di shook her head, 'to realise they've been duped.'
AN - I little longer than my average but I guess you can see where the next chapter will start. Any ideas - I'm willing to incorporate them.
