Emily
They say the first 24 hours of someone being in a coma are the worst. Well, let me tell you, they aren't. The first day, I spent most of the time sitting or lying next to the hospital bed Naomi was sleeping on. She continued to breathe in and out steadily, and if you didn't know better, you would think she was really just asleep. Effy came in and out, hooking Naomi up to a drip and checking her vital signs. Each time she would smile at me encouragingly, but by the time every one else went to bed, I could see the strain in her face trying to keep the charade going. She checked the wound for signs of swelling or blood, but nothing showed. She checked Naomi's eyes for any change, but nothing there either. Temperature and pulse were fine, she said. We just need to be patient. The body is probably healing itself, she also said, but I saw the lie behind her big blue eyes on that one immediately. She was as worried as I was.
I woke up later with my head resting on the bed, still sitting on the chair. I was busting for a pee, and after checking that Naomi was still out cold and breathing normally, I dashed to the toilets to relieve myself and splash some water on my face and hands. When I got back, Effy was by the bed, a small frown on her face. I entered the room silently, and could hear her muttering under her breath.
"You need to wake up now Naoms" she said sadly "This is getting really serious . I can't operate on you, I don't have the skills. I only did one year at med school, remember? Before I took the Ketamine Road and single-handedly wiped out a months supply of mind altering drugs?"
She sighed and took Naomi's hand in hers, kissing it gently. I felt the tears start to form in my eyes again, If Effy was getting really worried, I was on the verge of desperate. I hardly knew this girl really, but in the short time we had been 'together' I had started to believe that it was more than just lust that bound us. It wasn't fair that she would suffer like this, when none of us had a clue how to help her.
I choked back a sob, and Effy started, dropping Naomi's hand back on the bed guiltily.
"It's not a problem, you caring about her Eff" I said sadly "I know you're worried too. Just be honest with me...what are her chances...really?"
She looked at me for a long moment and sighed again.
"Getting slimmer, Emily" she said finally "She should really have woken up by now. If there is a bleed on the brain, even a little one, it puts pressure on the skull and more dangerously, the brain tissue underneath. Gradually she will get weaker, and if it affects something vital, she could go into shock and die. It's that serious"
"C..can't we do something...I mean anything at all Effy?" I said brokenly "I know you don't know how to operate on her or anything, but just sitting here and watching her die by inches isn't an option surely. She is so important to me...to us"
Effy looked at me levelly and said in a low voice.
"The only thing I can try is really, really risky. I have no experience at all of this kind of injury. For fucks sake I was only allowed to stand next to the Consultant most of the time and watch when he did his rounds. As an F1, you are the lowest of the low. Fucking cannon fodder they called us. What if I do it, and she dies anyway? You would hate me for it, and I would hate myself"
"What else is there Eff?" I said "We have to try something. I would never hate you for trying to save her life. Without it, what the actual fuck? We'll just be sitting here until she takes her last breath, and I don't think I could stand that" I sobbed then, no more pretence about being strong. I think that was the first time I let myself accept I might be falling in love with the blonde girl lying on that starched bed.
"Please?" I said, choking back bitter tears.
Again Effy looked at me and then back at Naomi. She shrugged her shoulders and almost whispered the next words.
"OK Emily. But first we need to speak to Cook and the others. We are so vulnerable here, just the 5 of us, and they may not agree to risking Naomi's life in my hands whilst she still looks so normal, lying there. They may want us to wait"
"Get them" I said sharply "Get them here, Effy. We're running out of time, aren't we?"
She nodded, and immediately left the room. In five minutes we were all there, surrounding her bed like mourners. I hated the way they all looked at her, then... at me, as if they were mentally saying goodbye to her.
"Don't fucking look at her like that" I said fiercely "She's going to live. She's going to live and kick some serious arse when she finds out how we were thinking about giving up on her"
"No ones saying goodbye Emily" Katie said quietly "If Effy thinks there is a chance to save her life, then let's go for it"
I smiled at my twin, silently thanking her for the support. Cook, Harry and Effy looked pale but nodded their approval.
"Right" Effy said, suddenly coming over all efficient and Greys Anatomy on us "Emily, lets get her into the operating room. Cook, get those overhead theatre lights on. Katie, I need some instruments sterilised. Boil lots of water and drop these things in it for at least three minutes, then line them up next to the op table OK?" She indicated a theatre pack of wicked looking shiny metal tools.
From being all passive and accepting, the atmosphere had changed to action. Although the knot in my stomach was tightening at the prospect of seeing Effy operate on Naomi, I felt marginally better than I had ten minutes ago. If we lost her on the table, I would never feel the same again, but if we let her just slip away without trying, I would feel worse, hard as it was to imagine how that could be.
Fifteen minutes later, Naomi was under a green sheet, with her head turned to one side, exposing the small depression in her head. Effy had prepared a shot of local anaesthetic, and given it to her. Although she was unconscious, and probably wouldn't feel anything during the procedure, Effy didn't want her coming round and thrashing about mid operation.
She began by using a scalpel to cut gently and carefully in a horseshoe shape around the penny sized dip. Blood immediately began to flow, and she asked me to mop it up with the batch of sterile wipes she had given me. I did so, telling myself that although I didn't like the sight of blood, I had to fucking hold it together for Naomi. I heard Katie gag behind me, but steeled myself to be brave. We needed to be strong for her, like she had been for us time after time.
Pulling back the fleshy flap, she revealed the depression in the skull. It was tiny, no more than half the size it looked when the skin covered it, and no more than a millimetre or two deep,. I watched Effy's eyes move to my face over her surgical mask and they crinkled in a smile. This was good, I thought. Its less severe than she thought. She took a small instrument, a bit like a tiny bathroom suction pump, with a rubber end and gently placed it over the small dent. Taking a deep breath, she then clicked a lever to the side of the instruments handle, and I was reminded of the windscreen suction pad on my satnav. Not that anyone had any use for satnavs any more... One twist of the handle and I heard a small plop. She reversed her movement, and pulled the instrument free. The tiny dip in the skull was gone. The piece of bone had returned to its position. Effy let out a deep breath, and I realised, as I struggled for breath too, that we had all been holding our breath at the same time. There were still no signs of Naomi regaining consciousness, but she looked no worse, and that had to mean something, didn't it?
Effy stitched up the small head wound neatly and covered the side of Naomi's head with a clean dressing. She told us that someone would need to be with Naomi all the time from now until, or if she woke up (We all ignored the if bit). We couldn't risk her coming round and disturbing the wound. I volunteered immediately, but Effy said no. I was tired and hadn't eaten in 24 hours. Someone else would have to do it until I had at least had 6 hours sleep and a good meal inside me. Katie then surprised the hell out of me, by volunteering to take the first shift. She and Naomi hadn't exactly been close, but I guess that was another way of her showing me that she had my back, even if she didn't approve of my 'lezzer choices'.
So I reluctantly went back to my room and, after a short but very welcome hot shower, fell onto my bed and slept instantly. When I woke, my clock said it was after 6 in the evening, so I jumped up, instantly guilty that I had slept way over my 6 hours. I splashed water on my face and ran quickly down to the sick bay. Katie was gone, but Cook was there with her. I stifled my instant reaction of rage, seeing him holding her hand, remembering how those hands must have felt a lot more of her body recently, but seeing his face blew away those jealous thoughts. He looked so sad, just staring at her sleeping face. I realised that it wasn't just me who would miss her if anything happened. He might be a cold killer out there, but in here, now, he was someone who was hoping against hope that his best friend survived. He looked up quickly when I walked to the bed and smiled.
"You look much better, little Red" he said "Sleep and food?"
I shook my head "Sleep yes, but I kinda forgot the food bit" My stomach rumbled right on cue and he laughed quietly, which for him must have been a real effort.
"OK kid" he grinned "One of Cookies special burgers coming right up?"
I grinned back, despite my mind screaming at me about thinking of food when she was just lying there.
"That sounds great Cook. Thanks for sitting with her. Any change?"
His face clouded and he shook his head
"Not so far kid" he sighed "But Effy says her colour is better and every other vital sign is in the green. We just have to be with her and hope"
"Right" I said "My shift then...you said something about a burger...or two?"
He laughed again, a bit louder, a bit more Cook this time.
"Chef's onto it Red...all the trimmings?" I nodded.
He left still chuckling and I sat in his place, gripping Naomi's hand in mine. Her skin was cool, but her breathing was regular and Effy was right, she did look slightly better, more sleeping than unconscious, if that makes sense.
Effy came in after Cook had delivered his two enormous beef burgers, complete with onions, sliced tomatoes and floppy cheese squares. I ate them voraciously, one after the other. I don't think any food I have ever had since has tasted so good. Effy laughed quietly as she watched me dabbing grease from my lip and chewing the last morsel.
"I take it you've got your appetite back, Fitch" she grinned
"I'll have you know I have a healthy fascination with food for a girl my age" I paraphrased my pervy little brother, then remembered he was a rotting corpse, along with my parents and everyone I had ever known before this. I swallowed the last small piece more slowly. Suddenly I was less cheerful about life.
Effy checked Naomi over thoroughly again, and stood afterwards, regarding her sleeping patient.
"No sign of a bleed. Her eyes are reacting normally and her pulse, blood pressure and respiration are fine. She seems to be as well as I could have hoped for, considering my half arsed horse doctoring.
"Eff" I said, looking up at her "I want you to know that I am really grateful for al you've done. Putting yourself on the line like that. Whatever happens to Naoms, we all know you've given her a fighting chance. Thank you"
She rested her hand on my shoulder and I put my hand over hers. Her fingers were cold and smooth and I hoped she was looking after herself. No point rescuing Naomi, only to fall ill too. She gripped my shoulder and dipped her head until she could whisper in my ear.
"Talk to her Emily. Just talk to her. She may not be able to hear you, but there's a chance she might recognise your voice"
"About what?" I said stupidly.
"Anything at all. It's just the sound of your voice. Tell her that you love her, that your world won't be any good without her"
I stared up at Effy, who was regarding me with those spooky ninja eyes.
"L...love her?" I said
"Yeah...love her. Because you do, don't you, despite the punishment detail you have had her on these past few days?"
I swallowed and blinked under the scrutiny of those uber perceptive eyes.
"I...I think I might" I said finally. At last admitting what I suppose had been obvious to everyone else for ages.
"Then tell her" she said simply and left us.
XXX
It had been over 4 hours and I was just about exhausting my solo filibuster. I had told her about my upbringing, my constant battles with my mum and sister. The fact that I had had to block the bathroom keyhole with toilet paper to stop my little brother spying on Katie and I in the shower and occasionally wanking into our stolen knickers. I told her about Bristol middle school and my lame attempts to fit in by agreeing to several double dates with my sister. I made myself laugh by recounting the time Katie had persuaded me to go out with a kid from Roundview College when she fancied his mate. The trip to the park and my horror at turning round from the front seat of the car they were taking us home in to find her swallowing his hard on in the back seat. I giggled when I told Naomi that I had no idea Katie even played an instrument, let alone a pink trombone...
I told her about my coming out to my parents. The first kiss I shared with Linda Rigby in year 13, my pathetic crush on my (straight) art teacher, my first proper lover Rachel, when I was 15, and my several aborted trials at being part of a stable couple. I got sad when I remembered Emma and Sophie and Sarah. Love affairs which never really went anywhere. Either they were bi, and eventually went back to cock, or played games with me, tearing my poor heart in two when they left me. I had never really been lucky in love, and now look at me. 'In love' with a Special Forces soldier with serious commitment issues and a predilection for getting herself badly hurt. Life's a fucker, isn't it?
My mouth was dry, and I ducked out of the room briefly to get a can from the fridge in the mess. The icy cola bit into my throat and refreshed me quickly.
"OK then Naoms" I said brightly, when I got back "One last story, and then I have to sleep. Don't worry, I have a bed right over there, next to the door. When you wake up, just call my name and I'll be right here"
"Right" I began "The sexual exploration of Emily Fitch" I looked at her hard, making sure she wasn't coming round. I was only brave enough to say this once, and I didn't want her to actually remember anything when she did wake up.
"I'll skip over the few times I gave in to peer pressure and tossed off schoolboys in the backs of cars and behind sheds. That was Katie's forte, not mine. I just went along with it for a quiet life. I found that giving them a quick hand pump was easier than fighting off their octopus arms half the night. If I had a penny for every pair of ruined trousers... Anyway, it was disgusting and pointless. I never liked boys and I liked dick even less. Nasty throbbing, spitting things...Yuk"
I looked at her again, but her eyes were still closed and she was breathing evenly.
"So...there was this girl Rachel..." My mind started to wander and I looked up at the ceiling...
November, School dance at Bristol Academy for Girls.
The night was shit and getting shittier. Katie had disappeared with a 6th former ages ago, and I didn't want to think what position she was in currently. Obviously horizontal, although Katie was well versed in the against the wall shag position. God knows I had had to endure more than one mental image over the years...
The music was techno pap mixed with Kanye West and Tinie Tempah. Not my style at all. I was more of a Foo Fighters and Linkin Park girl, even then. I stared around the hall, watching the successful pullers pairing off with their victims steadily. The line of hopefuls and never been kissed girls over here was getting thinner. Fucks sake, it was like being last picked for basketball teams. I usually got left to the end then too, but then being 5'2" was at least an excuse. Not like now. I turned my head when a skinny kid from my year eyed me hopefully. He had acne which made him look like a meat feast pizza, and I wasn't about to have that slobbering over me. No way.
I was about to give up and walk home when a voice spoke softly in my ear. I froze in shock. It couldn't be. It was. Rachel Jenkins.
She was tall, slim but with spectacular tits. Not that I had noticed every day and twice Thursdays of course. She was in the year above me, and very popular. She spoke with a lovely Welsh lilt and had big blue eyes and long wavy brown hair. Tonight I had seen her fight off the attentions of at least a dozen potential suitors, but she blew them all out. I had never actually seen her with a guy, come to think of it, but being as popular as she was, she never seemed to get any stick about it. Unlike me with my fucking sister adding to the lezzer jibes whenever she could.
"Hi...it;s Emily, isn't it?" she said, and I caught an intoxicating scent of Vera Wang perfume. Jesus, I thought, I could just inhale that all night...
"Err...yeah. Rachel, right?" I stammered, making myself look an even bigger tit than I already felt.
"Not much talent here tonight" she said, fixing me with those big blues "Fancy getting out of here?"
Fancy it? my fucking knickers were wet just from smelling her. The thought of actually spending any face time with her was mind blowing.
"Sure" I said, more confidently than I felt "Where?"
"My parents are away for the weekend, and I'm pretty sure I know where my dad has hidden the key to the drinks cabinet" She arched her eyebrow and I think I fell in love. Fuck me, she was gorgeous.
XXX
Cut to a nice three bed semi detached house about half a mile from mine. A quick call to my mum to say I was staying over at a girl friends house was enough to keep my parents happy and there we were, sitting in our party dresses on the lounge carpet, backs to the couch, making serious inroads on daddies vodka. I didn't really drink in those days, so a couple of over-large doubles was enough to reduce me to hot flushes and inappropriate giggles. To be honest, if the evening had ended with just funny stories and a night on her couch I would have been happy. She was amazing company, funny, flirtatious and warm.
We sat together with our arms and legs touching. At first I was nervous about being so close to her. She was popular and a year above me, like I said. This was not how things were supposed to be in the rigid social protocols of school. I should be at home with my physics book, while she should be necking some jock now, shouldn't she?
When she kissed me, I almost passed out in shock. We had been laughing about one of the teachers, who had thin wispy hair which he brushed over his head in a vain attempt at pretending he was hirsute. She laughed prettily as I mocked him, and then I noticed her face was very very close to mine all of a sudden. I could smell the Vera Wang again, this time mixed with alcohol and my world spun for a second. One instant she was looking at me strangely, the next her soft lips were on mine. Her hand came up and cupped my cheek and I was lost. I had only kissed one girl before, but this was nothing like that juvenile attempt. This was a proper kiss. Soft, demanding and long. So long, when we parted I actually gasped for breath.
"Are you OK Emily?" she whispered, staring at me as I panted slowly.
"Oh yeah" I said, desperate for her not to stop "I'm really, really OK"
She smiled then, and then her lips covered mine again. This time I remembered to breathe through my nose and the kiss went on for minutes. I accepted her probing tongue and moaned quietly when she gripped my shoulders with her hands. I remember thinking I could do this all night. My brain was singing with sensations I had never known existed.
She stopped then and I remember her breath was coming in shuddering gasps too. It wasn't just me getting overexcited then, I thought.
"Emily..." she said, suddenly serious "Have you ever...?"
I froze for a moment. Did she mean...that?
"No, I've never...but I want to...if you do Rachel"
"Oh yeah" she sighed "I really really want to" mimicking my earlier comment.
I had no idea how to react to that. After all this time, when my sexual experiences had been restricted to a whole lot of self abuse and a couple of less than memorable heterosexual fumbles, this attractive, sexy girl wanted me. My limbs seemed to vibrate as she pulled me to my feet and led me to her bedroom.
I watched her with eyes heavy with lust as she slowly stripped for me. Watching her take off that pretty white cotton and lace bra and knickers was the single most erotic moment of my life. She laid on the bed expectantly, and suddenly I wasn't so sure any more. I was a year younger than her. My tits were like bee stings and I had very little...you know... hair down there. I wasn't sure I was up to public stripping yet. She seemed to understand and averted her eyes as I took off my clothes. She held up the quilt as I slipped under it and we faced each other across the double bed...
I'd like to say that I was assured and expert in my loving, but that wouldn't be true. It was clumsy, hesitant and wonderful all at once. I suppose if this was a porn story, it would be full of extravagant 69's and strap ons, but neither of us were that far advanced. We kissed, we moaned into each others mouths and we explored each others bodies all night. And I mean all night. After she had fingered me into an orgasm, I returned the favour. I had no idea what worked best, but as she writhed under my probing fingers and I felt her hot slickness and her need, I learned fast. I kissed her mouth as she climaxed and felt an overwhelming sense of pride that I had made this beautiful girl come so hard. She went down on me after we got our breath back, and I laid there, my face showing total disbelief that anyone would do that. I hadn't yet explored the wonders of the internet and oral sex as far as I was concerned then was talking about it...
Of course, once her tongue had done its work and I felt the incredible sensations that sucking lips on my clit and two straight fingers inside me could produce, I had to try it. She tasted amazing. Like the sea, different and exotic. I revelled in her moans and scrabbling hands in my hair. I licked her through one orgasm and straight up to the next. I used my tongue in every way I could think of. In and out, flat and lapping, curling and circling, probing. You name it, I tried it. I knew at that moment, when she screamed out my name and thrust her hips up to meet my mouth that this was something I could do well. Fuck A level History . Emily Fitch was born to give women pleasure with her tongue...a star was born, you could say.
By the time dawn broke over the city, we were dozing happily, wrapped round each other and lazily running fingers up and down arms and bodies. I felt so relaxed, so different to the way I normally woke up, fighting Katie for the bathroom and trying to avoid letting James see me shaving my legs with my dads Gillette Fusion...
Life intruded of course. Eventually after one last frantic fuck we parted on the stairs. I went back to Fitch Towers to face the inevitable third degree from Katie and Mama Fitch. Rachel went back to being Rachel. We met up a few times after, but soon she went away to college, and I got my heart broken as usual. Situation normal.
XXX
"And so there you are Naoms" I said tiredly. Remembering all that had brought home the fact that all those friends and lovers were now dead "Good job you're not awake. I think you could charge a fee for the therapeutic consultation" I laughed, but not with much humour..
I gripped her hand and made to stand up. I needed another drink after all that talking.
As my fingers started to pull free from hers I thought I was imagining things. Her fingers tugged at mine. I froze and stared at her silently. Was she...
Her eyes fluttered and eventually opened. She stared up at the ceiling for a long moment, then croaked "D...drink?"
I grabbed my warm cola and tipped a small amount into her mouth. She swallowed once, then her hand came up and grabbed at the can. I had to wrestle it out of her hand.
"Naoms" I said, still struggling to get the can free "Not this...we have water...wait"
She struggled to sit upright and I nearly fell trying to keep her lying down.
"No Naomi" I said firmly "You've been out of it for days. You need to keep still. Your head"
She reached up with trembling fingers and gently felt the dressing on her head.
"Oh" she said simply and let me lay her back down. I gave her a few sips of cold water and she smiled weakly at me.
"You're going to be fine" I said hopefully "The worst is over Naoms. I have to go get Effy. She saved your life"
She blinked at me again and spoke in a voice slightly steadier than before.
"OK" she said "Oh, and Emily...?"
I turned from the door and looked back
"This Rachel sounds like a bit of a goer...when can I meet her?"
I ran before I could slap her around the head and undo the good work Effy had done...Bitch !
XXX