Ambushed
Chapter 7 - Frustration
By: Pink Brain
The frustrated desert trooper sat beside the tank jockey's bed. It had been fifteen days since Doc had convinced him to put Cover Girl back into a drug-induced coma. Five days ago, Doc had substantially reduced the dosage of the drug being administered, which kept her in the coma. Dusty expected his fiancée to awaken like she had the last time; but thus far, he had been met with nothing but disappointment. Even a few days later, when Doc ceased giving her the drug, she still had not begun to respond to his touch, his voice, or even the nurses' movements when they changed her bedding and attended to her cleanliness, healing injuries, and bedsores. Aggravated by the lack of change in Cover Girl's condition, Dusty got up from his chair and walked over to the window to stare at the world as it began its new day.
Lifeline was on his morning rounds when he stopped by to check on Cover Girl and Dusty. The medic prayed that he and Doc had not made the wrong decision by rendering Cover Girl comatose after she had rallied a few weeks ago. He kept reassuring himself that it was the right decision but admittedly was concerned that Cover Girl had not made any signs of coming out of the coma. Her injuries had healed, except for a few of the more serious ones. Those were improving daily, and Doc was happy with their progress. The swelling around her brain was completely gone, her temperature was normal, and her lungs were clear from any fluid. Doc had removed the breathing tube the day before and had been pleased that her body had remained stable and had not reacted badly to the added stress of breathing on its own.
Walking into the room, Lifeline looked at the empty chair before his eyes found the young soldier standing by the window. "How's Courtney this morning?" He asked cautiously, knowing that Dusty was stressed and worried.
Dusty looked over at Lifeline and then returned to stare outside, contemplating his revenge on Cobra. Finally, he flatly said, "There's no change, Ed."
Lifeline cringed at the sound of Dusty's voice. He needed to talk to his friend; but first, he needed to check on Cover Girl. Walking over to the bed, the medic checked the monitors and charted her vitals. As he worked, he softly spoke to her. "Good morning, Courtney. It is another beautiful day." As he listened to her lungs, he was pleased that her breathing was still clear and her heartbeat was strong. Finishing his work, he laid his clipboard on the nightstand and picked up her hand. Intravenous lines were still attached to her, feeding and hydrating her along with a line to monitor her heartbeat. As he continued to talk to her, he wished that she would squeeze his hand like she had done two weeks ago.
Dusty listened to Lifeline, and his bitterness and anger continued to build. Unable to listen to the one-sided conversation any longer, he blurted out, "She doesn't answer. She doesn't react and never moves. You and Doc promised me that she would wake up again after you put her back into that coma and look at her." The trooper stalked back to the bed, his nostrils flaring with anger. "You lied to me. Why hasn't she come out of the coma? Her injuries have healed. You said so yourself. So why is she still sleeping?"
"Ron!" Lifeline immediately defended himself shocked at Dusty's sudden outburst but expecting it. "Lower your voice. This is a hospital," he ordered. "Neither Doc nor myself lied to you. She is healing, and if I knew why she hasn't come out of the induced coma, I would tell you," he refuted, trying to calm down and keeping his voice low.
"You overdosed her, didn't you?" Dusty accused loudly.
"We did not," Lifeline argued. Standing up, he released Cover Girl's limp hand and strode over to the trooper. He was well aware that in Dusty's state of mind, he could get decked, but his fears didn't stop him. Grabbing Dusty by the arm, he quietly but firmly said, "Come on, we need to talk about this. You do not need to be shouting in this room."
Upon hearing the loud voice in the room, a nurse ran in and looked at both men worriedly. "Is everything okay, Sgt. Steen?"
"Yes, Capt. Winters. We just need to have a chat," Lifeline informed the nurse before glaring over the top of his glasses at Dusty. "Come on, Ronald. We will discuss this outside of this room."
Dusty was taken aback at the sternness in Lifeline's voice. Rarely had he or anybody seen the medic get upset. Trying to wrench his arm free from his friend's strong grip, he continued to seethe with anger and growled, "Unhand me!"
"Only if you stop acting like a caged lion ready to strike out at anyone who innocently walks by. Do you think that Doc and I are pleased with this turn of events? If you think that than you are wrong," Lifeline replied, watching the trooper's face for signs of retaliation. Not seeing any, he released his hold on Dusty's arm. "Ron, let's go talk. Please. This arguing is not helping Courtney. She can hear us, and her body can pick up on the angry vibes."
"Well maybe that will make her wake up," Dusty fumed and immediately regretted his words. Casting his eyes downward, he shook his head. "Oh God, what did I just say? I didn't mean that," he solemnly stated.
Lifeline nodded. "I know you didn't. Let's go," the medic said, leading Dusty out of the hospital room and leaving Cover Girl alone for the first time since the ambush. He knew that the day they put Cover Girl back into a coma, Dusty had gone up to the roof. He also knew that Dusty frequented the roof since then. It was a good place to vent, and it would not disturb anyone. He steered Dusty to the elevator and punched the button for the roof.
Dusty followed along with a heavy heart. He had this horrible fear that he had just condemned the woman he loved and said things to Lifeline that he didn't mean, but pride refused to allow him to apologize to his friend. When the elevator doors opened, he stepped off and shoved the outside door open like he had so many times since the first day he came up here. "I'm going to kill every last one of those Cobra snakes starting with Major Bludd," he vowed in anger, walking away from Lifeline.
Concerned, Lifeline followed. "Ron, your anger is eating you up. You have to let this vengeance go. It is not helping you or Courtney. I know you…."
"You do not know how I feel or what I'm going through," Dusty spat out as he quickly whirled around and glared at his friend. "Bludd did this and killed Ralph. He also nearly killed Bill and Courtney. Bill healed, but she hasn't. She is lying down there not…" He abruptly stopped his tirade and slumped to the floor of the roof, pulling his knees to his chest and burying his head.
Lifeline slowly approached the sobbing soldier. He placed a comforting hand on Dusty's shoulder. "Ron, what is your fear?"
Keeping his face buried, he mumbled, "That she will not wake up, or when she does, she will hate me for putting her back into that damn coma." Looking up into Lifeline's face, he said, "She could be discharged, you know. That will break her heart and mine. I've read the information sheets and know that a thousand things could happen. She had a head injury for God's sakes, and that changes people. She was awake for two days, but she couldn't speak because of that damn breathing tube. She…"
Lifeline quickly squatted down beside him and interrupted, "Or she could be fine. All of our tests show that there are no lingering side effects to her head trauma, but we will not know until she wakes up." Lifeline paused, thinking about Dusty's words. Being bold and readying himself for Dusty's reaction, Lifeline stiffened slightly and asked, "You are right, Ron, this could change her. If she has changed, will this make you love her less?"
Without hesitation, Dusty shook his head. "No. I can't believe you asked me that, but the answer is no." Looking to the horizon, the desert trooper continued, "I know that at any given time, our number could be up. We put our lives on the line, but that doesn't mean that we don't worry about each other. I want her back just the way she was, but if that isn't possible, I…I just want her back…awake."
"As do all of us," Lifeline agreed. "Okay then, do you want Courtney to retire? Would you force her to quit?"
"I love working with her, and she loves what she does. I would never force her to do anything that she doesn't want to do."
Lifeline realized that Dusty never answered his question regarding retirement, but he decided not to ask again. There were many unknowns at the moment. There was a chance that Cover Girl could be medically discharged, but nothing could be decided until she woke up and could be evaluated.
Dusty looked up when he never heard Lifeline reply. "I don't know what I want, Ed. All I want is for her to wake up." He watched the medic nod before he continued, "Do you realize that today we were to be married? In eight hours, I was supposed to marry the woman I love. Instead, I'm here, watching the woman I love sleep and unable to do a damn thing about it."
"I know, Ron. Yes, I do remember that date, and I'm sorry that you are here instead of getting ready for your wedding," Lifeline quietly said, patting his friend's shoulder.
Dusty stood up. "I need to get back down there. I promised Court I would never leave her alone, which I just did." He started to walk towards the elevator but stopped and turned around. "Thank you, Ed, for listening. I'm sorry I yelled at you and accused you and Doc of not knowing what you are doing. I have complete faith and confidence in you both. Sometimes, though, it gets too hard to deal with this rationally."
Lifeline walked up and smiled. "I understand, Ron. I don't blame you one bit." The two men walked back to the elevator in silence.
Once Dusty was back inside the hospital, he walked quickly to Cover Girl's room. He entered the room, feeling guilty that he had left her alone. He went over to the side of her bed and gently stroked her cheek before he kissed her forehead. Whispering softly, he said, "I'm sorry I yelled, Court. I didn't mean it. I love you. Please wake up today."
