Ambushed
Chapter 2 – Anxiety
By: Pink Brain
At the Joe hospital,Lifeline walked back and forth between Wild Bill and Cover Girl's rooms, checking on their progress. Both remained in comas, and Cover Girl's brain was still swollen. Just as Lifeline exited Wild Bill's room and started towards Cover Girl's, Doc walked by. "Any change?" Doc asked.
Lifeline shook his head. "None," the quiet medic answered, rubbing his temples and trying to repress a yawn.
"Maybe you ought to go get some sleep, Ed. If something happens, I'm going to need you at full steam," Doc suggested, patting the medic on the shoulder.
Lifeline nodded. "Okay, just let me check on Courtney once more, then I'll go lie down."
"Sounds good. I'll wake you if there is any change," Doc reassured him before walking down to Shipwreck's room.
Lifeline approached Cover Girl's door and hesitated. Each time he entered, he was overcome with grief. He knew that the chances of her surviving were not great, but he remained hopeful. Pushing the door open, his ears rang as they heard the beeps of all the machines hooked up to the tank jockey. He checked her vitals and changed her intravenous bag, not allowing his eyes to look at her.
Finally done with his routine, he took his glasses off and laid them on the nightstand by the bed. Pulling up a chair, his eyes were drawn to the still form in front of him. He gently swiped his hand across her black and blue face, retrieving a few stray strands of long, auburn hair and securing them behind her ears to keep them away from her injuries. Her head was wrapped with white bandages, and he noticed that some of the bandages needed to be changed as they were starting to seep through with blood. Her complexion was pale as her body labored at healing all the internal injuries. Most of the beautiful former model's skin was covered with either bandages or bruises, cuts, and abrasions.
Lifeline heard the machine click and knew another dose of pain medication and antibiotics were being administered. He studied the numerous machines that were connected by tubes and wires to Cover Girl. He looked for anything new, any sign of life, but was disappointed, knowing that if it wasn't for the machines, she would be in the mortuary beside Steeler's body bag.
The medic glanced back at her and hoped that if he waited long enough she would wake up and smile at him or even tease him. How he wished that he could just hear her voice. His eyes traveled over her left hand. The engagement ring that normally graced her finger or rested by her dogtags was not there. His hand went to his pocket, and he retrieved the beautiful diamond ring that Dusty had given Cover Girl months ago. He stared at it, diverting his attention from its owner, before he put it back away for safekeeping. He refocused on the woman, whom his best friend was to marry in a month. "God, I'm so sorry Court. I'm so sorry Ron," he whispered, remorse evident in his voice.
"It's not your fault, Ed," a voice from the hallway quietly spoke.
Lifeline looked up and saw Jinx standing there. "I know, but I feel like I lied to them. I promised each one of them that their wedding would be peaceful and beautiful. Now look at them. Their world just got ripped apart and may never be repaired, and there is not a thing I can do about it but pray." The steady beeping of the monitors echoed in the room, seeming to punctuate his last statement. It was out of his hands.
"Hey, hey, stop blaming yourself. She's still alive, and you and Doc are responsible for that. She has a chance now. You did nothing to cause the ambush," Jinx said, closing the door and walking towards him. "You didn't lie to them. They both knew that as long as they were here, fighting Cobra, something could happen." She placed a comforting hand on the medic's shoulder. "Conrad radioed and said that he and Ron are a few hours from here. He didn't say much, but I picked up that Ron is a mess. Why don't you go rest so that you can be here for Ron when he arrives? I'll sit with her."
"I promised Doc that I would get some sleep, but I can't bring myself to leave. I'm their best man. I somehow feel responsible for this. Ralph's dead, Bill may be paralyzed, and Courtney may not make it. If anything happens to her before Ron gets here…" Lifeline mumbled the last words and then surprisingly, before Jinx could scold him for his thinking, he stood up and grabbed his glasses. Looking down at the tiny ninja, he said, "If anything happens, please beep me. And please let me know when Ron gets here."
"I will, Ed. Go get some rest, " Jinx said, giving the medic a hug and watching him leave. Once the room was empty, she walked closer to Cover Girl's bed. A lump in her throat grew, and a few tears trickled from the corners of her eyes. Taking her friend's hand, Jinx squeezed it gently and whispered a Japanese prayer to Shinto that she had been taught as a young girl by her parents. The prayer always seemed to comfort her in times of sorrow, need, and hopelessness.
Humbly, I approach the kami in prayer.
I pray to the kami of Tsubaki Grand Shrine; speaking with reverant (sic) heart,
I present offerings and prayers.
I come in humility and with great respect.
Kakema kumo kahikoki
Tsubaki O Kami yashiro No omae o orogami matsurite
Kashikomi kashikomi mo maosaku
I beseech all the kami to accept these offerings that are brought with
Gratitude for the blessings and the noble teachings
That have been bestowed upon me
O kamitachi no hiroki atsuki mi megumi o katajikenami matsuri
Takaki totoki misohie no mani mani
Grant good health to my family; give them strength in spirit, mind, and body.
Grant that I may benefit and serve all mankind.
With awe and reverence, I humbly speak these words.
Ie kado takaku mi sukoyaka ni
Yo no tame hito no tame ni tsuku sashime to
Kashikomi kashikomi mo maosu
Wiping away her tears, Jinx released Cover Girl's hand and sat down. She looked around the clean, white room. The blinds were pulled to cut down on the outside glare, which made the room appear to be dark and gloomy, matching her and everyone else's feelings. She remembered spending many days in the hospital with her parents when they both passed away years ago.
As Jinx thought about her parents, a nurse stepped in to replace the bandages around Cover Girl's head. Jinx moved out of the way, giving the nurse and Cover Girl some privacy. She walked over to the window and peered between two slates, looking at the day. Jinx could hear the nurse softly talking to Cover Girl as she quickly but carefully removed the soiled bandages and wrapped clean ones over the various head wounds. Finishing, the nurse softly said, "Just press the call button if you need anything, Miss."
Jinx turned around and simply nodded, not trusting her voice to speak. She watched the nurse exit before she walked back over and smoothed her hand tenderly over the bandages. "Okay Courtney, you can open those pretty, brown eyes anytime now. We are all anxious to see you awake. Ron is on his way, and Shana is beside herself with guilt. Hector is awake now, demanding to see his Doll Face, but Bill is still sleeping. Ed feels like he betrayed you and Ron, but I set him straight." The teasing smile from her last comment faded as she paused for a moment. Growing serious, she continued, "I know you can beat this. You have your wedding to look forward to. How many nights did we stay up planning and shopping? We would piss Beach off discussing colors and flowers during PT instead of giving our undivided attention to his course. You can't let that all be for naught. I'm your maid of honor remember, and you will be mine next year when Vince and I marry. Everybody is sending their get well wishes. Al wants to be here so badly, but she is unable right now. They want to get their mission finalized so that they can all be home for the wedding next month. Come on, open those beautiful eyes, Court."
"Is it working?" A voice softly asked from the doorway.
Jinx shook her head before making eye contact with Doc. "No change, Doc." She took a few steps back, allowing him plenty of room to check over her friend.
Doc nodded sympathetically. "Give it some time, Jinx. I know we all want to see some improvement, but it all takes time." He noted Cover Girl's vitals and the time of the dressings being changed. "The bleeding is lessening, and her pulse is a little stronger than earlier," he commented, mumbling to himself, "although I wish it was stronger."
"She's a tough lady, Doc. It will improve. I know it will. How's Bill?" Jinx asked, changing the subject.
Doc looked over at the female ninja and smiled. "Bill woke up a little while ago. He is asleep again from the pain medications, but he was talking."
"That's excellent. Now, we just need our sleeping beauty to wake up. She can't die, Doc. She can't. I can't even accept that Ralph is dead. I can't lose my best friend too," Jinx softly said, fighting to hold back her tears.
Doc laid down his clipboard and wrapped his arms around Jinx. "Sshhh, child. Don't be thinking like that."
"But Ed said…" Jinx started.
"I know, and he is right. It is a very real possibility. Just like Bill in the other room may not walk again, Courtney, if she wakes up, may not be the same either. We all just need to pray for the best. Keep the faith," Doc reassured her.
Nodding, Jinx pulled back and wiped her eyes. "I will." She walked back over to the bed and repeated her prayer from earlier.
Picking up his clipboard, Doc forced a smile and left the room. In the hall, he took his glasses off and rubbed his eyes, wiping away the wetness from the beginnings of tears.
Ending Notes: The prayer spoken by Jinx is: Sacred Prayer by SHIN PAISHI and not reproduced in its entirety nor with the author's permission. Thanks to those of you who reviewed my first chapter. I'm glad you enjoyed it, at least to the point of wanting more. I also realized I had the "do not accept anonymous reviews" box inadvertently checked. I have remedied that problem. I have kind of built some of the friendships between the limited number of Joes in this chapter from some of the other stories authored by my fellow Joe fanfic writers. Also, please remember that the team is acting rather emotional because they are a tight-knit team, the best of the best, and one of their teammates is dead, one may die, and one may be paralyzed. I worked with medics and doctors, and they do have that compassionate, bedside manner.
The next chapter will have many more Joes in it, including our favorite trooper finally being reunited with his gal. It's not all wine and roses. Love never is.
