Of Gallantry, Guilt and Grace
Chapter 4
Terry pulled up short when she saw the green MG parked by the hospital entrance. It figured. It was Casino after all. "I think you guys drive this thing more than I do," she grumbled.
"Hey, gotta grab the chance to drive it when we can get it," replied Casino, holding the passenger door open for her to get in.
After fighting to stay awake and aware of Actor's condition, even with the tiny cat naps she took holding his hand, Terry felt what little energy she had drain from her. Now, all she wanted was to climb into her bed and get a couple hours of sleep before returning. She slumped silently in the seat and gazed forward, eyes focused on nothing. She was aware of Casino's sideways glances at her but had no energy or desire to respond.
He waited until they were on the main road before he spoke. "Guess you and Actor are closer than you said."
She did not want to have this conversation with the safecracker but knew if she didn't he would not let it go, worrying it like a dog with a bone. "I guess we are," she replied.
"You sleeping with him?"
"What business is that of yours?" she asked. "Of course we are. Every night. Can't you hear the headboard hitting the wall in his room?"
"Guess you're not," he conceded. There was a long pause. "Any chance for me?" he asked seriously.
Terry's head turned to stare at him. "Chance for what?" she demanded.
"You and me bein' together?"
"Charlie, I am not in the market for a husband and I don't sleep around like you do. So whatever way your mind is going, no."
Casino's fingers stretched on the steering wheel. "I guess I deserved that."
"Maybe, maybe not," said the girl. "This is not a good time to have this discussion. I'm tired and I can't think straight anymore."
"Yeah," he agreed.
Terry didn't know how to handle this thing with Casino. "Listen," she attempted. "When this war is over, you'll go back to your family, I'll go back to the ranch, and Actor will go wherever it is Actor goes."
"That's if we survive this war. Actor's usin' up his nine lives."
"Him, Craig, you. There isn't one of us who hasn't been shot. And it doesn't look like this is going to be ending any time soon," said Terry wearily. She leaned her head back against the seat. "Sorry I took a swing at you."
"No problem, Babe," said Casino. "I told the Warden you would."
Terry's head turned. "He put you up to this?"
"He said I should take you back with me." Casino darted a glance at her as he skirted a pothole. "You can't keep on without any sleep. You look worse than Actor does. At least he has a little more tan and his skin color."
"Guess it's Dad's side of the family. Scots-Irish-English. Only shows up on me when I need an oil change."
"I think you need a tune up too, Babe."
When there was no response, Casino glanced at her again. She was still facing him, but her eyes were closed and her head rested against the seat back. Well, it was another fifteen minutes to home. Funny how the Mansion was becoming home to them. Haven, their own personal safe house. Except it wasn't as safe as they thought. It had been breached and the woman beside him had been badly injured. He knew he had feelings for her and that had cinched it, but she didn't have the same feelings for him.
The driveway to the Mansion came up on the left and he turned onto the gravel lane. The Mediterranean style building came into view. Now all he had to do was get her inside. He backed up and parked close to the granite steps and shut the motor off.
"Terry?" There was no response. Casino brushed the hair on her forehead to the side with a forefinger tip. "Terry, Honey, wake up. We're here," he said a little louder.
The girl's eyes opened with a frown. She glanced out the window at the Mansion. "Okay."
Casino got out with the intention of opening her door and carrying her up the steps. She anticipated that and was out the door and to the bottom of the steps before he could reach her.
"Let me take you up," he said quietly.
She shook her head. "I can make it just fine."
Apparently the only one she'd let carry her was Actor. Figured. Casino pushed the passenger door shut and followed her. For someone in the shape she was in, she could still move fast. That was until she got inside. Not even looking at the two men sitting in the common room, she started up the stairs, pulling herself along the bannister.
"Hey, Love, are you going to make dinner tonight?" asked Goniff hopefully. He didn't get an answer.
Goniff and Chief exchanged a look with Casino. The safecracker shook his head. They waited until they heard the girl's bedroom door shut before talking.
"She looks bad," said Chief.
"Yeah, an' wot about Actor?" asked Goniff.
"Man," said Casino, taking a seat at the table, one arm over the wooden back of the chair. "I've never seen anybody with so many tubes and wires attached before."
"He awake?" Chief asked.
Casino nodded. "Awake, talks and makes sense. Still has some control over Terry. She swung at me and he made her go with me."
Goniff eyed his friend. "She must 'ave missed. Your jaw isn't broke."
Casino gave a snort. "I don't think she had the strength tuh do any damage if she had connected."
He picked up a deck of cards and began to shuffle. Laying out a game of solitaire, he absently began to play, not bothering to cheat this time. After a few minutes, he pushed back his chair and headed for the stairs. Terry's door was closed. He tapped lightly. There was no response. Cautiously, Casino eased the door open. The girl was sprawled facedown across the bed, clothes and boots still on. The safecracker shook his head and walked in, shutting the door silently behind him. He took hold of an ankle and gave a tug.
"Come on, Babe, wake up a minute."
She groaned and twitched. Casino took a chance and grasp her upper arms, turning her over and pulling her around. One blackened eye opened.
"Leave me alone," she begged.
"No. Yuh ain't gonna rest that way."
H picked up a dusty black leather clad foot and worked the boot off, tossing it by the desk. The other boot went with it. Casino took hold of her arm and pulled her limply up to a sitting position. Both of Terry's eyes were open now and focused on his hands beginning to unbutton her blouse, or rather Kit's blouse. She swatted lethargically at him hands.
"I can do it."
"I'm doin' it. I can do it faster. Besides you don't have anything I haven't seen already."
Terry's chin dropped to her chest. Figures, thought Casino, she wasn't wearing a bra, but the one she had been wearing was probably ruined with Actor's blood. Her gown was peeking out from under the pillow and he pulled it free. She held her arms up but swayed in a circle as he slipped it over her head and pulled her arms through the holes for them. Moving in close, Casino slipped an arm around Terry's waist and pulled her to her feet. She rested heavily against his shoulder as he flung the bedcovers back. Next, he eased her down on the bed and swung her feet up. It was hard to say if the girl was still awake or not. He unbuttoned the waist band of her pants and pulled the zipper down.
"Lift your hips up," Casino said.
Terry bent her knees up and lifted her backside. "Leave the underwear on," she said firmly. "You haven't seen that yet and you aren't going to."
"Don't imagine yours is any different from any other dame's," said Casino.
He did leave the panties on. Her eyes were closed but her right arm bent droopily up at the elbow with her middle finger extended before flopping back down. Casino chuckled. He pulled the covers over her and headed for the door.
"Thank you, Charlie," said Terry groggily.
"Anytime, Baby," he replied. He smiled when he saw she was back asleep.
It was dark in the room when Terry awakened. She rolled over and looked at the luminous hands and numbers on her alarm clock. Four-thirty. Why was it so dark? Somebody must have closed the blackout drapes to help her sleep. By the time she got showered and dressed and back over to the base hospital, it would be time for supper and Craig could come home and eat here or stay there to eat. She tossed the covers back and sat up on the edge of the bed, yawning. She could have used another twelve hours of sleep, but she didn't like leaving Actor that long, even if her brother was there.
Terry got up and dragged herself into the bathroom. It was sure quiet in the house. How nice. The guys were being considerate. Passing by a window on her way to get clothes out of the armoire, Terry pulled the curtains back. It was black outside and she had the desk light on. She quickly pulled the curtains shut. Another look at the clock confirmed it was ten minutes later than when she had first looked. It wasn't four-thirty in the afternoon, it was four-thirty in the morning. Why hadn't somebody gotten her up? They knew she would want to get back to the hospital.
Dressing quickly, Terry ran lightly down the stairs, grabbed her purse and car keys and was out the door to her car in less than five minutes. Chief was the only one to hear the car motor turn over and the car pull away. He listened intently and heard the engine roar when the car turned onto the road.
Craig looked up in surprise to see Terry back. Well, she had been gone quite a while. He watched her approach Actor carefully from the other side of the bed. Eyes took in color and breathing. The tubes going to the suction bottle and catheter bag were checked. She carefully slipped a middle fingertip under the man's wrist and counted a pulse. When she looked up at him, he motioned with his head for them to step into the hallway. Terry nodded and followed him. They kept the door to the room open just enough to see if Actor awakened or moved.
"I uh think he's learning our tricks," whispered Craig.
"Is he asleep or did he go under?" asked Terry, not surprised.
"Right now, he's sleeping," replied Garrison. "I'd swear he went into that hiding place in his mind after you left."
Terry nodded. "I think he did it earlier. Doc Kaiser came in and talked to him. Nothing. I spoke to him in Italian and told him he needed to wake up. He did. So, if he's doing it, he hasn't gotten to the point of not letting people wake him."
"I wonder how he learned," voiced the young officer.
Terry shrugged. "He's asked enough questions about it. You do it, I do it, Chief does it. Heck, he picks up everything else, why not this too?"
"I never thought of it as being something you could learn."
"Look at us," Terry peeked into the room. "We're Heinz 57, Chief is Apache, Monty is Lakota. We all must have learned somehow."
Actor twitched a shoulder and the pain caused him to awaken.
"I've got him," said Terry. "I should be good for another twenty-four hours. Stay or go, it's up to you."
Garrison looked at the confidence man watching them. "I'd better go. I don't trust those three alone for too long."
He entered the room before his sister and walked up to the bed. "She's back. I'm going. I'll be back this afternoon."
"Thank you, Warden," said Actor. "I'm sorry to be a bother to you two."
"No bother, Actor," smiled Garrison crookedly. "How many times do you do it for us?"
A small smile graced the con man's face. "It is too many for all of us."
Craig had to agree with that. In a rare gesture to the alert man, he patted Actor's knee. "Later. Get some rest while the let you."
Actor would have chuckled, but he didn't want to do anything to jiggle that blasted chest tube, so he just nodded. After Garrison had left the room, the Italian turned his attention to the girl. She looked slightly more rested, and the dark circles under her eyes were slightly less distinct than before. There was a scant creamy color to her face.
"Make up?" he asked.
Terry smiled. He would notice that. "I have to look good for my only patient." She frowned, "maybe I'm not up to good yet."
"Just how much did you give me?" asked the man in concern.
"Probably close to half," replied the girl with a voice of unconcern.
"Teresa!"
"Hey, you lost almost all you had. I quit as soon as they could hook Craig up. Kelly sent two pints." She sat down in the chair her brother had vacated. "You better hang on to what you have. You're running out of Garrisons. Chris is plain old everyday type O."
Actor withdrew into himself. The thought that all three of them had given their blood for him was humbling. Only a year ago, they had not known him. He had been basically a stranger to them in the beginning. Somehow, they had become almost friends. Garrison was still his commanding officer and that would not change, but he was also a friend and brother now. Not that Actor would admit that aloud. And Teresa. On more than one occasion she had said he was important to her. Important enough to risk her own life and health by giving him so much of her blood. He still had enough medical learning to know what she had done was dangerous. The dream came back to him.
Frowning, he looked at the girl. "Did you pull a knife on Major Kaiser?"
That came out of left field for the girl. "You were unconscious. How did you know?" she asked in disbelief.
Actor shook his head. "I thought it was a dream."
Terry avoided his eyes. Her voice was quiet. "You needed blood and I was the only available one at the time. Don't get your shorts in a knot, caro. It's done and it's over. We're both going to be fine."
Actor noticed her embarrassment and tried to circumvent it. "I don't believe I'm wearing any shorts."
Terry turned her head to stare at him. He smiled that crooked grin, but his eyelids were heavy.
"You're not," she said with a matching smile. "Actor, it's six-thirty. You should be able to get another hour of sleep."
"That's all I seem to do," he lamented.
"That's all you should be doing right now," said Terry soothingly. "We'll see what Doc says when he makes rounds. You know it's going to be a long slow process."
"And you will stay with me the whole way."
"Unless you don't want me to," she said.
In response, Actor slid his hand over hers and held it in a weak squeeze. He closed his eyes. Terry kept her hand under his.
It was an hour later when Major Kaiser made his rounds. He nodded when he was through examining Actor. "He'll breathe a little easier with his head elevated a little more. You can go up to forty-five degrees," he instructed Terry.
"Solid food?" she asked.
"Something light. Toast to start out with. See how he does. We'll get another CBC to see how his blood count is holding."
"Thank you, for what you have done for me," said Actor.
"You are an amazingly strong man, Mr. Borghese," said Kaiser. "You should have died on the flight here."
"The Lieutenant and Teresa would not allow that," said the Italian with a small smile at the girl.
"I can understand that," said the Major with a shake of his head.
"Sorry, Doc," apologized Terry, knowing he was referring to the knife.
"No, you're not," countered Kaiser, but a smile belied the gruffness of the delivery. "Carry on, Nurse," he said as he left the room.
Terry went to the foot of the bed and pulled the handle out. Slowly she cranked the head of the bed up a little before stopping to see his reaction. When he nodded encouragement, she cranked it up more. When she reached the forty-five degrees semi-Fowler's level, she stopped.
The change in position helped his back, thought Actor, and it did seem to make breathing a tiny bit easier. He watched the girl settle back on the chair. Fifteen minutes later, the day nurse, Janet, walked in pushing an overbed table with a food tray atop it. It was positioned on an angle in front of Terry and across Actor's thighs. Janet lifted the lid off the plate of food. Terry and Actor both stared at the eggs, bacon, and toast on the plate. A cup of coffee was next to it.
"This is what all the patients got this morning," said the nurse. "Mr. Borghese can only have toast, but I figured you won't mind eating the rest," she said to Terry.
"Thank you," said Terry gratefully.
Janet smiled and left the two to their breakfast.
Actor eyed the plate and looked at Terry. "You may have the whole thing. I'm not hungry."
Terry gave him a stern look. "Doc said toast. Three bites, Mr. Borghese, three bites and then you can quit if you want." This was like raising Kelly when he was a kid. Did they never grow up?
"What are you, Teresa? My mother?" said the disgruntled Italian.
"Looks like it. Eat. Three bites."
Actor gave her a dirty look and picked up a half slice of toast. Very deliberately he took a bite and chewed it. Actually, it tasted good even though it did not have butter or jam on it. A sidewise glance showed him the girl was eating the scrambled powdered eggs with relish. He took another deliberate bite of toast, chewed and swallowed. His stomach did not object, so he took the third bite. About that time, Terry picked up the institution China cup and took a sip of coffee.
"Coffee, please."
Terry looked at him from the top of her eyes. "You want coffee."
"I asked for it, did I not? I am allowed clear liquids. You did not put cream in it, so it is a clear liquid. Any sugar?"
Terry searched the tray the plate was on and only came up with a little bottle. "Nope, Saccharin."
"Straight then. I don't know how Goniff eats that stuff."
Terry chuckled. "He only 'eats' it if I'm out of sugar."
Actor held a hand out. Teresa let him take the cup and watched him take a sip. A smile of contentment crossed his face. He took another sip. Terry took the cup away from him without much of an objection.
"Don't you dare get sick on me."
"I am . . . 'fine'," Actor said mimicking the Warden.
It was the first time since he had been shot that he saw a big grin on her face. To make her happy, he finished the toast. As a reward, he was given another sip of coffee. He swore sometimes Teresa acted like a mother.
That was confirmed later in the morning when one of the nurses came in to give him a bed bath. Instead of going out, Teresa assisted. Actor had to admit it made the moving and bathing go faster. Changing the linens on the bed was as painful as turning had been earlier but getting off his back was almost a delight.
Later in the afternoon, Garrison quietly entered the room and the other three cons squeezed in just as quietly. Actor was tilted onto his uninjured side, supported by pillows, sound asleep. Terry was twisted with her head on the bed beside him, also asleep. His hand rested on her head and her hand was on his knee.
Craig stepped closer and gave his sister's shoulder a light shake. As before, her head shot up, dislodging Actor's hand and awakening him. Craig grimaced. He had been hoping to wake the girl up without waking his second in command.
"Sorry," apologized Craig.
"It's okay," said Actor. "Ah, you all came this time." He tried to keep the pleasure out of his voice.
Terry turned her head toward him. "You want to go on you back and sit up a little?"
"Yes, that would be good," replied the Italian.
Terry shooed the other men out into the hall with a flicking of her hands. "Craig . . ."
"I know the routine," he said, moving to the side of the bed. "Watch the tubes." Garrison was happy to see the lower tube was gone. Apparently, Actor was improving.
They got Actor onto his back, but his feet were hanging off the end of the bed.
"Swap sides," Terry told her brother. She beckoned Casino and Chief to come in as she and her brother danced around each other at the foot of the bed.
She instructed her brother to take the draw sheet that was somehow still under Actor's hips and for the other two men to each take a leg. She positioned Actor's hand so he was holding the chest tube to his chest and took the sheet on her side. Counting to three, the four of them pulled the big man up to the head of the bed. After a quick check of the chest tube and dressing, Terry squeezed around Casino and cranked the head of the bed up slowly.
Straightening, Terry moved back to the side of the bed with all the tubes and wires, motioning Goniff it was okay to come in.
"He looks better than he did," observed the cracksman.
"That ain't sayin' much," said Chief wryly.
"I am right here, Gentlemen," said Actor sourly. "You needn't talk about me as though I am a piece of furniture."
"Sounds better too," added Goniff with his funny grin.
They all noticed the voice was still weaker than normal, but they did not remark on it.
"How much longer before you can get outta here?" broached Chief.
Actor shook his head with a tiny shrug of his shoulder on the good side.
Terry answered the question as best she could. "He has to get the chest tube out, be able to breath without oxygen, and get all these tubes and things off, eat regular food, and be able to walk at least far enough to get to the bathroom in his room."
"You don't have one in this room," noted Casino.
"No, it is down the hall," said Actor wearily. He did not like being unable to get up and take care of himself, but he was almost getting used to Teresa helping him with those things.
Garrison knew how weak the man was and did not want the men overtiring him, so he shooed them out and motioned for Terry to come into the hall.
Casino hung back and stepped closer to Actor's uninjured side. He was quiet and would not meet the Italian's eyes. His voice when he did speak was quieter than Actor's.
"Maybe I should have said no to the Warden about running that roadblock," he offered, eyes now darting to the tubes.
"No, Casino," replied the confidence man. "It was the only choice we had. There was no way to run a con, neither myself nor the Warden. We had to run it. They would have shot all of us." Actor watched the safecracker. "You had to do what you did, as I had to protect Teresa from being shot. She's a woman. And she's been shot too many times as it is."
"Once is too many," said Casino.
Actor nodded in agreement. "I'm glad you got her to go to the Mansion, even for a little rest."
"You need anything?" Casino asked.
"To have my head examined?" asked Actor. "I could have stayed in Switzerland."
"Naw, too boring."
Actor grinned and gave a chuckle that ended sharply as his elbow tucked into his side near the chest tube at the sudden pain.
"Sorry."
"Casino!" Garrison's voice broke the comradery.
"Comin'," grumbled the safecracker. Now he looked Actor in the eye. "See yuh later,"
The con man nodded with a small smile. He watched the men disappear down the hall and Teresa enter the room. She took her seat beside his bed.
"And what did the Lieutenant have to say that he couldn't say in front of me?" asked Actor.
Terry shook her head. The man was getting grumpy. "I was asleep when they came in. Craig wanted to know if I wanted him or of the others to stay with you so I could go home and rest."
"Obviously, you said no."
"Here, I'm resting," said Terry with an amused expression. "If I went back to the Mansion, I would be doing the cooking and cleaning. Not what I call rest."
"Upright is not resting well. You need to be horizontal. If you could squeeze in alongside me," he tentatively broached.
Terry grinned. "I suggested that to Craig. He thought it was funny. Offered to guard the door."
That brought a raised eyebrow. "Obviously you did not do it."
"Obviously." She shot a glance out the door to see if anyone was close and leaned nearer to Actor. In a low voice she said, "If I'm going to sleep with you, caro, I'd rather do it when you can enjoy it."
"That would be appreciated," admitted the Italian. "I was merely suggesting sleep for you."
"Not with all that stuff still attached to you," said Terry. "Besides, I'd get thrown out of here."
"Yes, more's the pity."
The tone of his voice brought an amused smile to the girl's face. "Do you want to go back flat?"
"No, this is fine for now," said Actor, closing his eyes.
He heard her get up and felt her closeness as she leaned over and pressed a kiss to his forehead. The downward curves of the corners of his mouth twitched up.