Forever and a Day (41 page)

“HALO!” He reached under her gently and pulled her to him, “How? You, you were gone! No, this can’t be real! I—I must be dreaming…” He watched her slowly give him the tiniest of smiles. She struggled to take a breath and mouthed something to him.

“I’m here… silly.” She coughed and groaned with pain, “Hurts to breathe…” She cleared her throat, and furrowed her blonde eyebrows at him, “Blood in sand?”

Xander groaned then laughed. He thought that if he is indeed delusional he might as play along with it, “Uh, there is lots of coral out there in the surf. Stepped on some, wasn’t paying attention. I’m ok!”

“Clean it. Then fix me… like you said. Sleep…” She whispered and closed her eyes with a tiny smile on her luscious full pink lips.

He gently lay her down on the blanket and felt for a pulse at her neck, “Oh my God.” He muttered, “Thank you, thank you, thank you!” He whispered in utter joy.

He quickly set about and got the materials ready he needed for fire cupping. The Greek word Yiayia used for it was ‘Vendouzes’ or something. With shaking fingers, he unbuttoned her blouse and was relieved as he saw her bra. He removed the top completely and set it aside. He found her baby oil from her suitcase and began gently rubbing it on her upper chest. He grabbed a small fruit bowl that Halo had the foresight to bring. Grabbing a burning twig from the fire, he held it under the bowl for a moment and quickly placed it above her breast on her chest. He felt it suck up her skin and the cup was stable and unmoving on her chest. He did the same with the other little bowl on the opposite side.

Jumping up he ran down to the raft and pulled out the emergency blanket he had used as a sail then ran back and covered her up. He plopped down beside her, and watched the very rapid and shallow rise and fall of her chest, “How the hell are you alive, Halo Heaven Raines?” He watched her die… he had seen it many times. His father and mother then there were his patients and clients as well… who, how, why or what, it did not matter. He was thankful but he knew it was going to be a long haul for her to get better. If, she gets better…

He waited about ten minutes and using his finger, he pushed down on her soft pale skin by the little bowl and released the suction. He removed the cup and saw the red round spot, slowly gray and black shadows showed up in the red, “Thank you, Yiayia!” He muttered. The same thing had happened with Evie so long ago and Yiayia had told him that was the poisons coming out, he prayed it was true.

He gently turned her over on her tummy and making sure her breathing was not being hindered, and performed the fire cupping on her upper back.

He sat watching her as the cups were doing their job. She looked much more peaceful than the past few days. He watched her breathe for another five minutes then took off the bowls. He quickly went to her suitcase and found a dry pink T-shirt that read, Children’s Hospital, Los Angeles. On the front pocket it read,
Founder- Halo Raines
.

He was impressed at the word ‘Founder’. He was about to put it on her when he decided he should try and wipe the sweat and vomit smell from her as best he could. Grabbing the metal water pitcher, he poured half a water bottle in then from his toiletries kit he dropped in several drops of shampoo and mixed it up. Dampening a clean hand towel from the plane’s galley, he began wiping down her back and neck. He then gently turned her back over and began quickly wiping her face. He didn’t dare slow down and get caught up in what he was doing, and to whom. He hurriedly wiped her arms, chest and finally underarms.

When he was done, he swiftly got her T-shirt on. Covering her up, he got up and dumped the water by the palm tree. As he tried to stretch his back, he got a squawk from the funny looking bird from high on up by a bunch of coconuts. He did not know what kind it was but he called out happily, “Thanks bird!” With a relieved sigh, he set out to get a camp ready and to deal with his own cuts from the jagged coral.

In between two tall palm trees, Xander erected a tent like cover for their gear and Halo’s protection. He was sure to keep the tent area clear of any potential dropping coconuts, nothing like surviving a place crash and a week at sea, only to be killed by an errant falling coconut. He brought up all their baggage and supplies and was able to fit them safely under cover and leave enough room for Halo. He then dug a drainage ditch around the tent, so the inside would not flood if and when it rained.

He began checking Halo every ten minutes on the dot. Her breathing was still labored and the sounds from her lungs sounded like broken timber in the wind. He left a water bottle within reach for her and took a quick stroll into the dense trees behind the tent to see if any wildlife was apparent.

As he sailed towards the islands, he saw the coral reef surrounding nearly all the islands. It looked treacherous, and he was sure it would have torn their raft to pieces if he tried to make landfall. He had spied an opening to a large inlet to a lagoon, but again was fearful of ripping up the raft if he sailed it in.

The islands he noted were comprised of two decent sized ones, the largest was northwest and the one they were occupying was the southwest one. He decided to call this island, Halo’s Island.

The two main islands were full of dense foliage and trees. Several of the smaller islands formed a perimeter around a small bay or lagoon. Throughout the day he looked to the northwest island for any signs of smoke from a fire, none was visible. He thought that his own fire would garner inspection from someone, if anyone were there.

Keeping his gun at the ready in his waistband, he quickly scouted around, not daring to go too far so he could return and check on Halo. Not finding any footprints or animal tracks he headed back, gathering fallen branches and a few fallen coconuts on the way back to camp.

He dropped the detritus next to the tent and hurriedly went and checked on Halo, she was still out cold. He began working on a new fire pit closer to the tent.

When his task was completed, he returned to her, kneeled next to her then felt at her forehead. Thankfully, it did not feel as hot as earlier in the morning. He gently shook her shoulder, “Halo?” He did not get a response and shook her a little harder, “Halo?”

She slowly cracked her eyes open at him. He held up a bottle of Vitamin water so she could see it, “Halo, I need you to try and drink some, think you can? Please?”

She gave a slight nod and he uncapped the water and gently pulled her up into the crook of his arm, “Little sips, ok?” She began taking tiny sips from the bottle until a third of the water was gone, “Good job!” He recapped it and set it aside, “Halo I want to do some more fire cupping before I carry you up to the tent, ok?”

She looked up at him and gave him a nod. He gathered all of the items he needed and pulled the silver blanket down, “I am going to lift up your T-shirt, earlier I took the liberty to clean you up a little…” He saw a squint and a little smile form on her lips, “Ah… don’t worry I didn’t get frisky.”

He watched her shrug at him then whispered ever so quietly, “So silly…”

“How are you feeling?” He asked as he gently pulled up her shirt up and over her breasts.

“Like… shit.”

“I’m so sorry… uh, I think I need to pull this off or at least get your arms out of the shirt, ok?” He asked nervously.

Halo wrinkled her nose at him, “Stop asking… Mr. Silly.” She whispered.

“I’m sorry it’s just part of the process. I don’t want to surprise you or do something you find offensive.” He saw a slight shrug then worked at getting the t-shirt off, “I’m just going to talk you through this, more for my sake. Ok I used the cupping above, uh… uh on your upper chest. I am going to use two cups on your side where the muscles are less dense over your lungs. I am going to turn you on your side then rub you down with baby oil…” he held up the bottle to her, “sorry I had to go through your things.”

He watched her shake her head ever so gently at him then gave him a little nod. He got her on her side and piled up sand under the blanket to support her head. He squirted a small stream of baby oil on her side and began rubbing into her soft pale skin. He heard her moan softly then started coughing. He quickly patted her upper back until she was done.

“Felt good.” She whispered.

“Oh… ok.” He replied and quickly finished rubbing in the oil. He then prepared the small bowls, heated them with a flaming branch and attached them on her side, over the area of her lungs, “How’s that?”

She nodded as he held the bowls in place, a few minutes of silence went by. “Ok, removing them.” He took them off and was pleased to find gray splotches in the red ring, “Look’s good. Other side?”

He got a nod from her. He gently picked her up, settled her down on the opposite side, and repeated the process, “Ok to do your back?”

“Back hurts… low.” She whispered in short ragged breaths.

“Got it.” He replied and rolled her over and began gently rubbing in the baby oil, he felt vibrations emanating from her chest as she moaned. Had she not be ill, he thought, this would be something out of some fantasy or a dream. He pushed his thoughts back to where they needed to be, on helping her get better.

When the process was completed, he turned her over and got her T-shirt back on. She began coughing again and he pulled her up to him again and held her in the crook of his arm while she coughed up the gunk from her lungs.

“Spit?” She whispered with a mouth full of phlegm. He grabbed a bowl and held it for her. She spit it out and he eyed it as he set it behind him. No blood, he thought with relief. He gave Halo some more water and as he set the bottle down she looked up at him and gave him a little smile and whispered in a broken sentence, “Thank you… taking care of me.”

“No need to thank me Halo. I thought I lost you.”

“Don’t know… so fuzzy.”

“I have the tent all set up…”

“So tired… Xander.” Halo whispered.

“I’m going to carry you up to the tent now, you can rest there. Ok?” She gave him the slightest of nods and he gently picked her up and carried her to the tent. Having to crouch down he got her in, by the time he got her situated she was fast asleep once more.” He checked her pulse and covered her up with one of the red blankets.

Xander spent the rest of the afternoon organizing their supplies and securing the raft to a tree. Next came building a latrine. Using pieces of driftwood, he fashioned a triangular stand and a makeshift seat for Halo to sit on. While he was busy throughout the day, he would look to the northwest island and watch for signs of a fire or people.

The sun began to turn a beautiful orange as it began its journey behind the sea. He made haste to the tent. Going in, he kneeled next to her and gently shook her awake, “Halo? Wake up, ok?”

Her blue eyes slowly opened and she gave him a little smile.

“Halo, it will be dark soon… I have to ask you something, uh do you have to use the loo?”

Her eyes went wide and she hoarsely whispered out, “Oh my… how?” He saw a pink tinge brush across her cheeks.

“Got it covered, I made a loo for you.” He reassured her.

“Xander… can’t even… sit up.” She whispered with anxiety in her voice.

“No worries, I will whistle Dixie again. Need to go?”

“So embarrassing.” She panted trying to get her breath so she could continue talking, “I—I don’t… want you to see me like this.”

His heart hurt at seeing her full lower lip pout, she looked like she was ready to cry, “Halo, its ok!” He reassured her, “You can’t hold it forever, you might get a bladder infection. Then what?”

She sighed ever so slightly and nodded to him, “So much for being… lady like and mysterious.”

Xander chuckled as he gently picked her up off the blanket, “I’m glad to hear you are not one of those girls who hold it in...” he saw the confused look on her face and smiled, “You know! They are the ones who let it all out as drama!”

“Ha.” She remarked with a little smile.

They began the short trek to the loo. Once there he sat her down on the wooden seat he had fashioned for her. He had prepared in advance, and reached for a silver emergency blanket that was once part of the sail, opened it and wrapped it around her, “Ok, there you go!” Xander said.

She began to fumble in vain with her zipper, her shoulders hunched and she looked up with tears in her eyes, “Can’t.” She whispered, frustrated with tears coming down her cheeks, “I wanted you to see me… all clean and pretty, not like this.” She pouted with a sniff. “Can you?”

Xander’s eyes popped open wide. He did not count on that as being an issue, “Uh…” He stuttered.

“Just unzip.” Halo whispered with a breathless little sigh.

Xander picked her up off the improvised seat, he held her up with one arm as his hand sought her zipper.

“You’re shaking.” Halo whispered.

“No kidding. Uh… nervous. Sorry.” He managed to say and found the little zipper tab and worked it down.

“It’s fine. My pants and panties… down too.”

“Oh hell.” Xander muttered. He made sure the blanket was around her fully then leaning her against him, he reached under, found her waistband, and rocked her tight fitting pants down past her bum. He swallowed hard and did his best to ignore how soft her hips were against his hands. He heard a tiny snort come from Halo’s lips and into his ear.

“Still shaking.” She whispered.

“Can you blame me?” He chuckled nervously.

“In the scene… you would be doing this.” She reminded him.

“Oh…” He replied and tried to steady his hands as he pushed the lacy feeling panties down, “Uh, ready?”

“Not really. Can you sing instead?”

“Sorry, I don’t sing. I’ll whistle really loudly while I steady you.” He felt her nod and he got her situated back on the seat. He made sure the blanket was clear of the seat’s opening, and held onto her arm with one hand, turned away and began whistling as loud as he could.

Through his grip on her, he felt her body relax after a few bars into his whistling. Soon he felt her tense up and he quickly handed back to her an open package of moist towelettes. She took it and whispered thanks.

She whispered, “Done” twice due to his whistling.

“Ok, pants up time.”

“Take ‘em off…just panties, easier.” Halo suggested.

He looked her in the face and knew his cheeks were turning red, “Ok.” He replied. He quickly got her pants off all the way and set them next to the seat. He leaned her against himself, reached under with trembling hands and got her lacy panties up.

“What about....” She whispered worriedly.

“Already kicked sand into it, no worries.”

She managed a smile and was immediately grateful that she was not on her period, she rarely had them anyway due to her implant but it would have been horribly embarrassing if she were.
 

He made sure the blanket was securely around her then picked her up and slowly made the trip back enjoying the feeling of her head resting under his chin, “My lady, your chambers await.”

He kneeled down and got her laid out on the blankets. He saw her look around at all their baggage and supplies.

“Where you going to sleep?”

“Oh, I’ll be just outside. I’ll figure something out tomorrow.” He replied nodding.

She gave him a pout, “Xander? If you… don’t mind? Please stay in here tonight?”

“Uh… well.” He stammered.

“If you don’t want to be by me…”