Chapter 22
A few minutes later the sirens from the approaching ambulance can be heard. Sarah calls Chico over to her and orders him to sit down. The dog does so and sits with perked ears and a slightly angled head, looking really cute. Just as the ambulance arrives, Mike has to let go of Laurie as a sudden, near excruciating pain flares up his side. He falls backwards into the sand, presses both hands over his aching side and tries his best to not cry out loud, as he doesn't wish to frighten the kids further. Sarah comes over to him and asks him what is wrong. She manages to pry his hands away and takes a look. Seeing what looks to be a contact wound, she grabs the vinegar bottle and just upends it over his side.
Only this time he can't suppress his cry of pain, even tears start to prickle his eyes. As Sarah sees this, she knows how intense the pain must be, to bring tears to such a strong man's eyes. She feels sorry for him. Again he is hurt because he safed someone elses life. She stays with him till the ambulance men arrive. Mike manages to tell them that he suspects that an Irukandji jellyfish stung him, then he loses consciousness. Zac and Laurie huddle close together and they ask in unison "Will he die?" Sarah shakes her head and says "I'm sure he will make it through. He is strong." Turning to one of the men, she aks him "Is it possible to ride along with you? Laurie was stung too, but by a bigger marine stinger then the Irukandji."
The paramedic nods and after they have put Mike on a stretcher and loaded him into the ambulance, they help Laurie in too. Sarah is about to follow with Zac, when she remembers Chico. A dog isn't allowed in an ambulance. So reluctantly she says goodbye to Zac and Laurie and hurries back to her car to follow them to the hospital. With sirens blaring and lights blinking, the ambulance takes off. Sarah stays behind them, but she has to stop occassionaly at a red light. But she knows to which hospital they are driving. It's the Barry General Hopsital, the biggest hospital in Cairns and the one where even the Navy takes their injured sailors to.
When she arrives in the casualty ward, she asks at the nurse station after a Mike Flynn and a Laurie Summers. The nurse wants to know if she is a relative of either one, but Sarah tells her that she is good friend. A bit reluctantly the nurse says that both patients are already settled into a room, where they are only seperated via a curtain. She also tells the room number. Sarah thanks her and hurries over to the room which number she was just given. She knocks on the door and goes in, closing it behind her. As she sees that Laurie is asleep, seemingly uneffected by all the machines she is attached to, she turns her attention to the other patient in the room, to Mike.
He is just like Laurie attached to a heart monitor, a blood pressure cuff and two IV-lines go into the back of his right hand. But unlike Laurie, he is wide awake and grimaces in pain. Sarah walks up to him and sits down beside the bed, taking his hand in hers and squeezing it. Mike turns his head in her direction and smiles weakly. "Hi", is all he can get out, before another bout of pain flares through his entire body. Even though he is given morphine over the IV-line, it's still not enough to numb the pain completely. It's way too strong for that. Mike remembers Jaffa's words about the pain clearly. He said that it feels like he is putting his hand into burning oil. In reality it feels even worse then that.
As another very strong pain goes through him, Mike closes his eyes and just tries to breath in deeply. Only his set jaw is a sign of his distress. Sarah isn't sure how she can help him, so she does the only thing that comes to her mind. She gently strokes his cheek, while her other hand still holds onto his, squeezing it from time to time. And she whispers words of comfort into his ear, hoping against hope, to distract him a little from all the pain he is currently going through. After what seemed like endless minutes, Mike reopens his eyes and looks directly at Sarah. She smiles at him "How you are feeling Mike?"
Not wishing to lie, he answers "Honestly? I feel like someone who is being poked with hot irons. That's no fun, I tell you. Damn irukandji!" Sarah asks "What makes you so sure it was this irukandji?" Mike looks up to her "Easy Sarah. I never felt the sting and the pain started about twenty minutes later. That is typical for the smallest of all jellyfishs. And I've seen people being stung by that little bugger before. So I know what I'm talking about." Just as Sarah wants to say something in return, a doctor followed by a nurse, walks into the room. He introduces himself as Dr. Lie Wong. Mike immediately asks him "Dr. Wong, when can I get out of here? I have a performance tonight at a local pub."
Dr. Wong takes a look at Mike's medical chart. Reading the latest numbers and being satisfied with them, he answers "Well all your numbers are going up. So I'd say between early and late afternoon, I will allow you to go home. But don't overdo it and if you feel nauseous, or you're having a bout of vertigo, please come right back again, alright Mr. Flynn?" Mike nods and says "Please call me Mike. I'm not so hooked up on formalities. But if you insist on using my last name then it's Commander Flynn for you Dr. Wong and not Mister." A bit astonished Dr. Wong takes another look on the chart and sees the additional information at the top. Looking to Mike, he apologizes "My apologies Commander Flynn. As a doctor I was more interested in your vitals, then anything else."
Now Mike smiles at the doctor "It's okay doc. You were just focused on your job. I could never blame anyone for that." Reliefed the doctor smiles in return "That is good to hear. And seeing that you have the worst behind you now, I'd suggest you try and rest." Sarah sees this as her clue to leave. She stands up and gives Mike a light peck on his cheek, that is already adorned with a slight stubble.
"I leave you to your rest now Mike. Get well soon and thanks again for saving Laurie." Mike shakes his head "No need to thank me Sarah. I was glad that I was there to help." Thinking a moment, he goes on "Why don't you come to the pub tonight too? You can bring Zac with you too. And Chico of course."
Contemplating this offer, Sarah replies "That sounds great. Which pub do I have to go to and at what time?" He answers her "It's the "Sailor's Hideout" at 21:00 hrs. But you can come earlier if you want to. Say about 20:30 hrs?" With a bright smile, Sarah grabs his hand a final time. "I'll be there Mike and I'll look forward to it." Squeezing his hand, she leans down to him and whispers "So rest now. You need your strength Mike for whatever you have planned for tonight." Thanking Sarah with a kiss on her cheek and the brightest smile he can muster, Mike finally closes his eyes. Mere moments later he is fast asleep. Sarah watches how his chest rises slowly up and down, indicating that he is indeed in deep slumber. With a last look at him and then to little Laurie, Sarah exits the room and closes the door behind her.