Chapter 31

Both men had been taken in, Doyle who already had been given morphine by the doctor, to be X-rayed first, and Bodie to CT-scan, very professional-looking teams had been waiting for them as the doctor had contacted the hospital in good time before they landed. The old Scot was pacing around the room, thankful for some true development in these modern times, like the helicopters, yet still anxious. The men had been in for what felt like an eternity, and the Controller tried to convince himself that it was only a sign of thorough examinations. It was already evening and for once he wondered for how long he still could take this. All this. How long he could stay unattached. Uninvolved. How long he would be counting his losses instead of blessings.

He knew he should sit down and rest, as his body started to feel the toll of the long night and the long day. But he feared that the rest would only invite the true weariness lurking inside of him, and he couldn't afford that. Not yet.

A nurse popped in to ask if he would like to have a cup of tea, but the mere thought made him feel sick. No more tea or coffee today. Instead he asked where he could find fresh water, as he strongly suspected malt would be out of question. The latter part of the question made the nurse first frown, then smile, and soon he got to swallow fresh cool water.

And he waited.

Finally a doctor came in and greeted him curtly. One of those who had been waiting for them... Hammond?

"All right, mr Cowley. Both men have now been examined what comes to their major injuries and I am not sure whether they have had enormously bad or enormously good luck. I can't for the life of me understand how Mr Bodie has in his own condition been able to move Mr Doyle and still keep him relatively stable and immobile. But the fact remains that both men need specialist treatment. Now, we have given Mr Doyle dexamethasone as injections to his spine as well as pain-medication, and as we have another patient waiting to be moved to London also this evening, I suggest Mr Doyle will be transferred simultaneously. He has a fractured lumbar vertebrae which has caused two discs to dislocate. Thanks to your man's quick thinking, the dexamethasone had already started to have some effect in subduing the swelling, and as it seems, there really is some feeling and even function left in his legs. The other patient will be transferred in... ah, one hour, from here to the airport, and there is room for another one and they are willing to take Mr Doyle in that plane also, and if we have your, and m Doyle's permission, he'll be moved to the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery in London and they are ready to operate on him already tonight. They have better facilities there for spinal operations than we have at the moment. As for mr Bodie, I want him on the operating table as soon as possible, my colleagues hunch on the haemorrhage was correct and the sooner we get to reduce the pressure, the better. But he wants to have a word with you before that."

Mr Cowley frowned. "Can't he be moved to London also?"

The neurosurgeon shook his head vigorously. "Absolutely no flying for him, higher altitudes and changes in pressure might prove disastrous. We'll operate him here, and I assure you my team is excellent. But maybe it's best that you come to talk with them now so that we get things rolling on. They should both be in the same room at the moment, follow me..."

The doctor showed him in and said he'd join them in a couple of minutes. The two had IV's attached to them, Doyle was still wearing the support around his neck and a part of Bodie's hair had already been clipped . "Well lads, Dr Hammond has updated me. Doyle, he wants you to get transferred to London, he says they have a better facility there and they have a chance to fly you there shortly. I have nothing against it but they need your own consent. Your back would be operated there during the night, the slipped discs that you have."

Bodie turned his head. "And bloody hell you go there, mate. If that's a better place for your treatment then you go there."

Doyle tried to look at him. "Yeah but..."

Bodie grunted. "No buts. You go. End of discussion. I come to meet you there then."

Doyle's eyes turned to his chief again. "Did he say anything about... you know, prospects?" His eyes were pleading.

"I'm sorry lad, he didn't say anything about it. But looks like Bodie had managed to treat you perfectly considering the circumstances, and the doctor confirmed that you do have some sort of function left in your legs, and didn't look hopeless at all. But is it clear now that you'll be flown to London?"

Ray hesitated and tried again to look at Bodie who gave him as stern a glance as his medication allowed.

"Guess so, then. All right."

The neurosurgeon stepped in.

"Ach, Dr Hammond, Doyle agrees to the transfer."

Hammond looked at Ray who confirmed. "Good!" He peeked out from the door. "Nurse Shannon! Start preparations for mr Doyle's transfer, he has to be ready at the doors in 45 minutes." A quiet voice replied Aye and Hammond said he'd go immediately to phone the hospital and he vanished again.

"Will you escort Ray to the hospital, sir?"

Doyle snorted. "Good lord Bodie, I don't need an escort there." He seemed remarkably calm, to be Doyle. "There will be people in that plane as it is and they probably plan to knock me out pretty soon after I get there, and maybe don't plan to wake me up for quite a few hours anyway. And most probably I won't be in the mood in seeing anyone for a couple of days after that." He looked at his chief. "Could you just make sure my things are safe? I don't need them with me there anyway."

Mr Cowley nodded. "Aye, will do, lad. You seem to take all of this in your stride."

Doyle shut his eyes for a moment. "Nah I think they doped me up to my eyeballs after those fucking injections... at least it's so hard to think straight and everything is kind of floating. But no use fretting, right? I think I did enough of that last night already. Just one thing, sir... I'd like to know how... how Bodie does. After they have operated him."

The Scot agreed. "Aye, that will be arranged. Are there any others the two of you want to keep informed about your condition?"

There was silence.

Silence which pained the old Scot.

"All right then... Bodie, the doctor said you wanted to have a word."

Bodie looked like he would pass out any minute but he struggled to focus. "Yeah... I'd also like to know how Ray does. And... the Capri. It's being fixed... Dunno how long they keep me here... And our ammo... We left it to Jax... and yeah, Georgie."

There was a knock on the door and the head of the young PC peeked in. "Am I disturbing you, sir? They said that the agents are here."

Bodie's head turned immediately. "Come in, Duncan. Georgie?"

The PC stepped in. "At the vets, they started to give him fluids and put him in a cozy little cage to have a rest until tomorrow. They'll have a better look on his leg in the morning but at the moment he's doing ok. Even if he screamed at me three quarters of an hour in the car, and bit me every time I put my finger in the box. Feisty little chap. I told him I'll put him under arrest but he has no respect for police. Anyways, the vet said they'll take good care of him. Seemed to be a good place, they even have X-ray there, and I phone them in the morning so you'll get to know what's going on. I told them kitty was injured during a police-operation, maybe they give discount. Or then, they double the price." Duncan winked an eye and managed to get the lads smile. "Right, I think that covers the essential, I leave from disturbing you. Ray, Bodie, great to see you're being well looked after now. I'm keeping my fingers crossed everything goes fine from now on. Sir, I will ask if they hand me mr Doyle's luggage, I could take it into the car already as there's too much of it for the hospital. I wait for you in the corridor after that for further instructions. Is that all right with you, sir?" The Controller nodded and the constable said goodbye to the two agents, shaking their hands.

Bodie looked after him. "Nice lad." He opened his mouth to say something, but then mumbled "I forgot... my head aches."

Mr Cowley and Ray exchanged a worried look. "Time they knock you out, Bodie. We talk later." Mr Cowley walked to the door and called a nurse, and only a couple of minutes later Dr Hammond was giving orders of sedation.

"See you later, mate."

Bodie tried to grin. "See you, Ray. Take care and leave a nurse or two for me, hey?"

A group of nurses came to prepare Ray for his move too and the Controller thought it would be best if he would get out from their way. "Now, lads, I leave you to be taken care of. Don't worry about anything, just let these people do their jobs and everything will turn out just fine. Doyle, I will phone your hospital tomorrow and will keep you posted about Bodie and the kitten. Be good lads now, both of you." He patted shoulders of both and Bodie let his eyes shut.

"Doctor?" Dr Hammond came closer. "How long do you expect the operation take?"

The doctor shrugged. "Hard to tell, it depends on what we find there. A few hours. You can leave a number we can call, or then call in the morning." The Controller nodded and left the room.

Duncan was nowhere to be seen, so the Scot sat down on a chair and watched both of his men being in their turns pushed along the corridor. He felt empty, knowing that there was absolutely nothing he could do for the two of them, nothing... only to trust the doctors.

And to hope and pray.

He was deep in his thoughts when PC Lennox returned. "Hello, sir. Are they being treated now?"

The Controller sighed. "Doyle is being transported to London, he will be operated there tonight. A fractured vertebra and two slipped discs... at least. And Bodie has the haemorrhage, they took him to the theatre now. He started to get worse, I guess."

Duncan sat down. "Och for heaven's sake..." He stole a peek at the older man who was rubbing his eyes, stood up again and went to talk something with a nurse, and left to a direction the nurse pointed to him. Duncan returned in a few minutes and sat on the edge of his chair. "I called the station, don't need to bring the car there tonight. What about a bottle of beer and a wee bit of supper? My place is 10 minutes drive from here and there's a Chinese takeaway-place across the street. Nobody's died of food-poisoning for years, they tell me. At least you would have full stomach waiting. And there's a good sofa at my place if you want to have a nap before coming back here. I gave them my number, in case they need to reach you before you're back."

The Controller looked at him. "That's very kind of you, lad. But you don't need to bother really, you can go now. It's all right, you have done even more than your share, and done well."

Duncan stood up. "Nah, Sir, do come on. You're not supposed really to hear anything for at least two first hours anyway. I know what it is to wait like this. And you get back here quickly enough."

Some momentary flicker in the lad's eyes told the older Scot that he really did know what it was to wait. He thought for a moment. "All right then. This day has been sweet and sour anyway. I guess some rice and noodles fit in." His smile was bleak but it was a smile anyway and he stood up. "What made you think I would want to stay waiting?"

Duncan shrugged. "Well it just felt obvious. First turn to the right and we get out quicker..."

It was almost midnight when Dr Hammond finally walked towards Mr Cowley who straightened in his chair. "So far so good. We managed to stop the bleeding which was not heavy in itself but had been constant, and we managed to remove the clot, and when mr Bodie wakes up, we'll be wiser about his general neurological status. He'll be moved to intensive care, and will be monitored closely through the night. But everything went well as far as we can tell at the moment, and if there are no complications, he has every chance for a full recovery what comes to this trauma. His shoulder is another matter and the orthopedics will have a look at it later."

Mr Cowley sighed of relief. "When can I see him?"

The neurosurgeon shrugged. "Morning should be ok, if everything goes fine. How perky he is then, that remains to be seen. It's best if you phone before coming, so the nurse can tell you when it's best time to visit to get a chance to talk with a doctor. But now you can go and have some sleep in all peace and quiet, mr Bodie is stable and well looked after." The doctor shook Controller's hand and left.

The Scot heard a sound and turned. Duncan stretched and yawned. That lad really had Bodie's talent in sleeping. "Sorry I fell asleep sir. Was that voice the doctor?" Constable pulled himself straight in the chair and started to look more awake.

"Aye. Everything had gone well, he said."

Duncan smiled. "Why that is good news! Now, do you wish I drive you to your hotel, and maybe fetch you tomorrow if you want to see the kitten and mr Bodie, or will you drop me at my place and drive yourself? Me Gramp is in here too, they operated his hip today." He was already on his feet and stretching his back.

The Controller couldn't help quipping. "Has anyone ever told you that you are annoyingly energetic, constable?"

The young man grinned. "No, they usually leave it to that annoying. The ones that are civilized, I mean. For the rest I'm a pain in the ... err... "

That made the older man laugh. "All right, take me to the hotel", he said finally. "And then you go to bed too, lad, and without a bottle!"

Duncan shuddered. "No nay never no more, sir!"

The older man chuckled. "Good. But off we go now..." and so they did.