Chapter 8 The English Patient
Gloria shoved her slightly swollen feet into her shoes before rushing downstairs. Those hours of standing next to Helena's bed had taken their toll on her. She knew the more Helena came to, the more protesting would take place. Gloria had dealt with a lot of ill people in her years as a nurse, but she had never come across a patient as difficult as the one on the couch downstairs. For a truly bright woman - and of that, Gloria had no doubt; she simply refused to do the smart thing when it came to her own health.
"Now whatever is all the fuss about, Helena?" Gloria asked as she came into the room. Myka was looking weary as the time spent on the floor did not afford her any comfortable rest. Claudia was standing there with her 'don't look at me' expression and Pete, God love him, was looking every ounce of guilty that he was.
"Look at what he did!" HG said as if she were tattling on a sibling. She threw her injured arm up in the air with some amount of discomfort. The nurse looked down but could not make out what the marking was on the white surface of the cast.
"I asked if I could sign it and she said yes," Pete said in his own defense.
"Sign it indicates signature, Mr. Lattimer," Helena said with great intolerance. She may have known the history of the cast, but signing it was a novelty to the Brit.
"Well, the only pen I could find was green," Pete said furthering his case.
Gloria searched her pockets for her reading glasses and finally found them. She put them on and looked closer at HG's arm. There in bright green along with a poorly drawn shamrock was the expression; "Kiss me I'm Irish".
"You said I could sign it," Pete repeated.
"Wash it off," HG said to the nurse who was trying very hard not to laugh. But laughing came easily to Gloria and when it didn't come out of her mouth, it bubbled in her eyes and made them gleam.
"I'll see what I can do," she said calmly to HG. It appeased the patient for the moment. "How do you feel, Helena?"
"Well, I was doing better before Mr. Lattimer made me his graffiti backdrop," HG said annoyed. "Of all the things to write," she muttered.
"Let's take your temperature, ok?" Gloria asked because it was a good time for HG's mouth to be occupied with something other than words.
The nurse pulled out the thermometer and placed it under HG's tongue. "Ah, ah, ah…." She warned her when she tried to talk. "Just a couple of minutes."
Pete took the opportunity to escape into the kitchen. Helena did remain quiet for the duration of the temperature taking.
"It's up a little but nothing to worry about. I'll get the meds Dr. Calder prescribed," Gloria said and joined Pete and Leena in the kitchen. Leena prepared Helena some tea and toast so the meds would not be taken on an empty stomach. Pete kept circling the kitchen island like the family dog hoping for scraps. More than once, Leena had to tell him dinner would not be ready for a while. He would rather wait, enjoying the aromas than face the angry patient again.
Gloria finally decided that a reclining position worked more comfortably for Helena who refused to lie down anymore. She still had use of her right hand but the cast was cumbersome and she kept banging it on the food tray. This resulted in pain and Gloria could see the frustration mounting.
"I want to take a bath," HG finally declared because she knew she just needed to relax. Myka immediately remembered the list the doctor gave her and 'baths' were on the 'do not do' list.
"Hel, you can't take a bath yet because of your side," Myka said softly. "But you can shower," she added trying to sound cheerful.
"Fine, then I can at least get this scrawl off my arm," HG said but noticed the look on Gloria's face.
"Now what?" she asked.
"Darlin', I asked about your cast and I guess cause they had to put it on so quickly, they didn't use the waterproof kind," Gloria informed HG.
"So what does that mean exactly?" the patient asked irritated.
"It means you can't get it wet. We'll have to wrap it in plastic and you'll have to do your best to keep it out of the water," the nurse said.
"Have you come up with an alternative to this blasted thing?" HG asked Gloria as if this is what should have consumed her time. Myka stared at HG and then looked at Gloria.
"Not just yet, sweetie," Gloria said as if there had been nothing else on her mind since HG suggested it.
The process of getting Helena up and into the shower proved to be more burdensome because Helena complained about it. Gloria insisted that a stool be placed in the shower so HG could sit since she did not want her to fall. She wrapped her cast in a plastic bag and taped it to her arm. "I'll get you the cast covers tomorrow and then you can take a bath," Gloria said hoping to comfort HG.
"Don't trouble yourself. By tomorrow we will have come up with an alternative for this thing," HG promised. "It's truly archaic." Gloria felt Helena stiffen when the bathroom mirror reflected back the disturbing image of the current state of her body. HG cast her eyes away quickly, not ready to take it in.
Helena tolerated Gloria's help and assured her she was quite ambidextrous and could take care of things behind the shower curtain. Gloria conceded but insisted she stand right outside the plastic divide. Helena felt the warm water hitting her scalp and moved her head back to allow it to soak her. She pushed the bottle of shampoo outside the curtain and Gloria took it and squeezed some in her open hand. "Thank you," HG said as she rubbed the soap in her hair. She took the facecloth and did the same thing and Gloria drizzled liquid soap on it. She listened carefully for any sound of discomfort but HG didn't make any. But Gloria could tell from her breathing that it was painful when she bent over or moved too quickly.
Helena looked down at her injuries. That son of a bitch had twisted her hand and shoved the tesla into her ribs. She had never felt such fury like that against her body. She had experienced other's desire for her, some to the point of wanting to consume her- they wanted her so badly – but never in rage. Thoughts encroached in on her in that stall and prevented her from getting any benefit of the warm soothing water.
Michael would blame himself for this, HG thought. And Myka would also struggle with this. Not that anyone could have done anything but she knew Myka well enough to know if there was a droplet of doubt, Myka would find it.
"You have to take care of Myka," HG finally said from behind the curtain and Gloria could hear the concern in her voice.
"What do you think Myka will need?" Gloria asked.
"She has to know she could not have done anything to prevent this. She will doubt that. Go talk to her," HG said as she thought it out.
"Can I wait until I help you out of the shower?" Gloria asked.
"If you must," HG said and shut the water off and scowled with the pain.
"Helena, I could have done that. Why do you have trouble remembering that you're the patient?" Gloria asked putting the towel around HG's shoulders before helping her up. Gloria knew Helena was preoccupied because she didn't fight her when she dried her off. She patted the water off her and could see that the waterproof bandage on the burns had done its job. From her experience with burn victims, Gloria knew that in spite of it not being life threatening, Helena's injury was very painful.
"Michael will probably come here. You'll have to talk to him as well. But first, I want you to go to Myka," HG said as if reading off the agenda she had made up.
"Don't you think Michael will want to talk to you? He doesn't even know me," Gloria pointed out.
"Maybe. I don't know. But go to Myka now, Gloria," HG said even more urgently and Gloria knew the Brit was acting on instinct.
"If you promise to lie on this bed without getting up, I will go," Gloria said concerned about leaving HG alone.
"I will," the patient said lying prone on her bed.
Gloria shot her one warning look before leaving but HG's response was to move her casted arm out to indicate 'hurry'.
Gloria knocked on Myka's door and then she heard it -the soft sobbing that she knew HG could not hear but somehow sensed. "Just a minute," Myka said and Gloria knew she was trying to wipe away tears before she opened the door. "Is HG ok?"
"Oh she's fine and resting now. May I come in?" Gloria asked and Myka opened the door wider. Gloria walked in and then turned back to the agent who had done a good job of wiping the tear soaked mascara off her face. Then Gloria Brown did what Helena knew she would be able to do better than anyone else – she simply opened her arms wide and invited Myka in for the hug that would help release the emotions fighting to get out.
"Oh Gloria," is what Myka said unable to hold back from so warm an invitation. She put her head down on her shoulder and cried, holding on to the round woman tightly. Myka wanted to say how she didn't do anything to prevent this, that she saw a car but didn't act on it, that she should have gone with HG even though she had to stay at the Warehouse. But none of it would come out yet.
Gloria held onto Myka and rubbed her back lightly. "Come here, Myka," she said pulling Myka to sit on the bed. She sat next to her and took Myka's hand. "Myka, I went over the details of the report last night. I spoke to Artie and Pete. There was nothing that anyone could do. You all had no idea who this woman was. There was no way to know what she had done or what she had planned," Gloria tried but could see it made no dent in Myka's doubt.
"I saw a black car – twice – maybe more. I didn't do anything. She was in there taking pictures of Helena the whole time," Myka said and put her head down in her hands. Gloria put her arm around Myka and gently stroked her arm.
"How is this guilt going to help you, Myka?" the nurse asked softly. "You and I both know that Helena isn't as tough as she pretends to be and that she lets very few people see that. In fact, I'm pretty sure you are the only one. Now if she's worried that you're feeling guilty, she won't put anything else on you. You won't be able to help her. Myka, listen to me, there was nothing anyone …nothing you …. could have done. That crazy woman had every advantage on her side. She took months to hatch this plan according to Pete."
"But she's my partner," Myka said and Gloria knew the true definition of that term for Myka.
"Yes and she needs you now - but she will sense if you do not forgive yourself," Gloria said reminding Myka of HG's uncanny ability to feel things about her. It was the reason she was in the room at that very moment.
"I need her to forgive me," Myka said turning to the nurse and the tears flowed all over again. Gloria held onto to Myka until she had cried as much as she could. "I don't think we need to worry about that, darlin'" the nurse said confidently. "Helena would forgive you the world."
Myka knew herself well enough to know that what she needed to get past this could only be gained from talking to Helena. But that would have to wait until HG was better. Myka would never dream of putting her own stuff first, not when HG needed her.
Myka thanked Gloria for her impromptu visit – but Gloria told her it was HG who had sensed she was needed. Myka thought about that and smiled as she sunk into the tub of warm water that Gloria had insisted fixing for her before she returned to Helena's room.
"This comes off tomorrow!" HG said as soon as Gloria returned. She didn't ask how Myka was or what happened. She already knew that Gloria had taken care of Myka and that was all she needed.
Pete dragged the recliner into the dining room so Helena could sit back while she ate. She didn't partake in everything that Leena made; no one could - except Pete. But she did enjoy the homemade chicken soup with noodles and homemade bread that was soft and hot. She managed well enough with her left hand, determined to prove her dexterity. Leena was pleased that she could provide so enjoyable a meal to the patient and everyone else.
Gloria complained that she had gained weight already and she was only there one day.
"More of you to go around," Pete said and meant no disrespect. There wasn't a person in that house that didn't want more of Gloria. Her sheer presence made them feel like everything would be alright and not just about Helena.
Pete would be at her door later than night telling her he thought his appendix was about to explode when in fact, she would tell him delicately, it was from overeating. Claudia would stop her in the hall that night and ask her if HG was really okay. When she confirmed that she was, Claudia hugged her tightly. Gloria's mannerisms and demeanor made them all melt into their inner child – and for the brief time she was there – it was the best thing for all of them.
People need themselves some emotional refueling - is what Gloria called it and it was what motivated her to be so available to each of the members of this household that she so terribly fond of. She had seen the human touch do as much if not more than traditional medicine in some cases.
By Sunday night, Helena had accepted that she would not be back at the Warehouse until Tuesday, a timeline than no one else confirmed. Gloria knew exactly what would make Helena be on her best behavior.
"If you make a fuss at all, I will tell Agent Bering not to come home for lunch tomorrow," was all the nurse had to say and HG stopped complaining. "And Helena – by lunch – I mean sitting with you here and eating a sandwich," she further clarified because she did not want HG conjuring up anything that would tax her no matter how much fun she thought it might be. "No 'afternoon delight' for you just yet," the nurse said and Helena was speechless at just how boldly this woman spoke to her. She wouldn't admit it, but it was exactly what she had been conjuring up.
Helena decided she would set the woman straight - tomorrow –but only after Myka had come for lunch …and perhaps, dessert.
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