The Lioness (9 page)

Ty picked up Rose’s satellite phone and dialed to
reach his Mom. He needed to hear her voice. What would she suggest?

“Hello...”

“Mom, this is Ty, Everything is okay, well I’m okay.
It’s Rose.”

“What’s the matter son? What’s happened?”

She’s sick and we’re up in the northern part of
Afghanistan, with troops, Afghanis. We think she has dysentery.”

“Does she have a fever, any blood in her stool?”

“I don’t know about blood but no fever.”

“Well if she has no control….”

“No, she doesn’t and she’s having a fit, but she’s so
weak. She’s also throwing up.”

“She’s not pregnant, is she?”

“No. She hasn’t had a boyfriend for almost a year now….”

“Till you?”

“Mm, till me. Mom....”

“Talk to me, Ty.”

   “I’m worried about her. It scares me, she’s so tiny
as it is and she’s losing everything, though she’s sleeping now, maybe twenty
minutes by my watch.”

“Are you there at her side?”

“I couldn’t be anywhere else. I stayed by her side
after she was wounded. Now this. I wish I could get her out of here, bring her
back to where it’s safe.”

“Would she want that?”

“I don’t know. It’s what I want.”

Have you talked about it? Or are you at that stage
yet?”

“I’d like us to be. I think we can be, given a little
more time. She’s so sweet, she means everything to me already. I’d do anything
for her.”

“Listen, when she gets better you two need to talk. In
the meantime, I assume you can’t get lab tests done on her?”

“No, we don’t have anything really but bandages, no “No,
we don’t have anything really but bandages, no doctors are around. If the sand
would lay low long enough the men would fly us out. You should see these guys. They’re
soldiers of the late General Masood. They put a hole through the wall from an
extra room to the one and only bathroom so she would have privacy. Then they
cleaned it and moved her things in. One of the men has a young wife here who is
keeping broth going for her. Her two children died of the same thing.” He felt
his chest get tight after saying those last words.

“Ty don’t think like that. It will be okay, she’s
strong. Those babies probably never stood a chance because they were so poorly nourished
in the first place. I’m going to email you info so you’ll have it on hand. The
longer she can keep something in her the better, anything after fifteen minutes
she’s absorbed the most of it. So have that be your goal.”

“Thank you, Mom. As soon as she gets better we’re
coming back to the states so we can relax and have some normal time together.”

“Where will you settle?”

“It doesn’t matter at this point as long as we are
together.”

“Okay son. I’ll email you. Please keep me posted and
call me if you want to talk.”

“I will Mom. Mom?”

“Yes, Ty?”

“I love you Mom. Thanks for being there.”

Ty watched as Rose sat and sipped her tea. It had been
a quiet night. He had slept in the chair next to her and she had only got up
twice. Now she sat sipping the tea like a little bird. They both sat there so
still, hoping she could keep what little bit she took in, actually in.

Rose sat back and closed her eyes. She had slept the
night but she felt like she could sleep a couple more before she ever felt
rested. “I feel so tired Ty. I feel like I could go right back to sleep and
sleep another whole night.”

“Well then you sleep. My Mom said that’s what would
help you since we couldn’t keep you on an IV. If you sleep you’re still.” He
watched her movements, she seemed slow. He knew he wouldn’t sleep till they got
her out of Afghanistan. She needed to get back home. He knew their time in
Afghanistan was over, at least for now. He loved working here, loved the people,
but he loved Rose more and he wanted her safe and healthy.

Samid had come in and said so far it didn’t look good
for today either to lift her out so they stayed. He’d give anything for a clear
day. He closed his eyes but all of a sudden the air was rent by Rose coughing.
His head shot up. Where in the world had that come from? It didn’t sound good
either. Their eyes met.

“Have you felt a cold coming on?” He got up and felt
her forehead and found it was getting hot. Looking in her eyes he knew that she
had known but hadn’t said anything.

“Do you have anything for this?”

Rose felt so tired, so weak. She saw the fear in Ty’s
eyes and she felt it too. They were stuck here. He was stuck here with her. He
should be out doing his job and instead he was playing nursemaid, he wasn’t
here for this. He would end up resenting her and she didn’t want that. They had
become so close till now. Now he probably would be so glad to get rid of her.

“You can check my bag. I tried to think of things like
this but obviously I didn’t take into account the dysentery.”

“Well my Mom said if you had blood with fever then it
was more than likely amoebic dysentery. What we have to worry about is an
abscess. Now with this cough we have to worry about the abscess.” He went into
her big pack and started going through her personal things. Looking back at
Rose, “I’m sorry, I hate having to go through your things.”

Rose tried to sit up but a knife pain hit her. She
knew she had a matter of seconds. She got up and slid her legs off the bed.
Then a cough overtook her. She managed to get up but Ty was right there. “It’s
okay, I’m here, will always be here for you.”

He could hear her start to sob. “I’m so sorry it’s
like this Ty, you having to take care of me…. You know....” She bent, the pain
was back. She bolted and got in, slamming the door to the bathroom.

Ty stood there and could hear her sobs. He had to tell
her how he felt. She probably thought he was going to hate her. On the contrary,
he was seeing a side of their relationship that many didn’t see for years to
come. He being a caregiver. She didn’t like it, though. She probably felt he
resented her for it. Some men might have, but he had been brought up right and
his feelings had been strong for her before this, now it only magnified how he
felt.

Rose came out and Ty glanced over to her. He was over
to her side in a step. Scooping her up, he kissed her face. “Get the thoughts
out of your head, Rose. You’re sick and need help. What better person to give
it than a friend, someone who really cares.”

Rose let her head go to his chest as he carried her
back to the bed. “It’s just so humiliating to have you see me sick like this...
and you can’t be out doing what you’re here for.”

Ty put her down and tucked her in. “So what am I here
for? You know life’s not all mountaintops. It’s gonna be valleys too, sickness.
Look at Samid and his wife. He’s young compared to most husbands. Their match
was an unusual one in that she didn’t get a much older man. He’s only ten years
older and he loves her. Don’t you think he’d like an easy life with her? I see
the pain he carries for the death of their children and the pain he sees his
wife in. They both wonder, is it worth it to try for another child and risk losing
that one, too? He told me that. He told me he loves his wife so much he’d go
without any more children. He said he was blessed with a good wife. She’s quiet
and obedient but happy. She does little things every day to try and make his
life easier. She could nag but she doesn’t. She could wallow in the misery but
she doesn’t. She loves him back and told him just the other day she wants
another baby, even if it means the child might die. They would have it for a
season to love.”

He took Rose’s hand and gave it a squeeze. “I guess
what I’m trying to say is, don’t worry about being sick. It shows the both of
us another side of our relationship. You see if I’m real and I see a woman I
want to take care of and protect. I would do anything for you, anything. So would
the men here, but their feelings don’t run deep like mine.” He picked up her
hand and kissed it. “So don’t worry we’ll get you out of here and our lives
will be richer for what we’ve shared.”

“But you’ve taken care of me twice since we’ve been
here in Afghanistan...”

“So, I’m not keeping track, I never will. You mean far
too much to me for that.”

He got up, “I’m going to get you some more tea and see
how the morning broth is coming. You lay still and rest. If you fall asleep,
well that’s okay. I’ll look for cough medicine when I come back.”

Rose tried to smile, she knew it came out lopsided,
but it made Ty laugh. “That’s it, get those muscles working again. That smile is
worth a million bucks to me. And remember this is just a season, a small season
in our life. It will get better, I promise.”

**********

Ty woke with a start. He looked over at Rose. She was
sound asleep, all tucked in like he had left her. He laid next to her last night,
holding her, the first time in nights. He had sung her to sleep, enjoying her
warmth. She had been a bit cooler but that was just because it was nighttime.
By noon each day her fever spiked and she was very uncomfortable.

What had woken him? He sat there and then he realized
it was the quiet, no sound, no wind howling. Maybe it was clear. He got up took
a look to make sure Rose was covered and walked out into the hallway. He heard
a commotion in the common room. Walking down the hall he was met by Noori and
Samid on his heels. Noori looked excited and Samid started shouting, like he
couldn’t hear.

“The sky is clear, we can get Rose out of here today,
no sand storm.” Ty looked at Noori. “Can you get a call into your Aunt?”

Noori nodded his head. “I’ll call her right away.”

“Good, explain what’s happened, tell her to get to the
market and get the items I write down. We will see her at the airport.”

“Samid, can you have your wife come to help dress and
wash Rose up? She will have a fit if she has to travel looking the way she is,
even though....”

“I understand. Jamil said he could have you up and out
of here in thirty minutes, he’s getting everything ready.”

“Tell him to make sure everything is okay on the
copter. I don’t want Rose up, if there is the slightest risk of a problem.”

“He’s the best for miles around. He’s been keeping
those birds flying since the ‘80s. There’s not a better pilot in these parts.
He fought with the General against the Russians. You all are in good hands.”

Ty turned and started walking back to Rose’s room. She
was awake and Samid’s wife was already there helping her to get up. Rose’s eyes
were big. “It’s okay baby, the sky is clear. Noori is going to contact his Aunt.
We’ll be up within the hour and on our way to Kabul. I’m going to pack up my
things.”

“Ty?”

Ty turned and looked at Rose and saw her eyes. They
were filled with tears. “It’s okay honey, we’re going to get you out of here
and then when you’re strong enough we’re going back to the states.”

“Ty, you don’t have to go, that is... you have work to
do still.”

Ty was over to her side. Samid’s wife moved away and
started packing up Rose’s clothes, leaving out her jeans and coat and head
scarf. “I have nothing that is as important as you right at the moment. We’re a
team. I’m not working solo, remember?”

Rose put her head down. She was so filled with emotions,
so many crowding in, but the one that kept getting to the top was a growing
love for Ty. She had to prove that she could carry her weight in this
relationship and their work. Twice already he had taken care of her. She was
going to get better and show him he wouldn’t have to care for her all the time.

“Thank you, Ty. I would have been okay going back by
myself but I’m so much happier knowing you’ll be with me.”

“I couldn’t leave you, let you go on your own. Besides
the holidays are coming up. You have to get better so we can spend time just
relaxing.”

Rose reached up and touched his face, then remembering
they had company she pulled her hand away. Ty smiled and that warmed her by
several degrees. God, she must be feeling better. His smile was doing it again
to her. Her stomach was doing flip flops and it wasn’t due to her sickness.

“Thank you.”

**********

Ty sat with his arm protectively around Rose. Noori
was in front of them. Two of the men had decided to come with them. They were
going to go with them to Kabul, pick up some supplies. Samid was staying. He
leaned into the copter and shook Ty’s hand. “Watch over our Little Sister.” Then
he turned to Rose. Taking her hand in his, he clasped it with a squeeze.
Looking into her eyes Ty could see tears, tears in both their eyes. “If you
ever need anything, ever, you only have to call. I have connections and
relatives all over. People who can help. If I have to I’ll come and help. Anytime.
You will remember that won’t you Rose?”

Rose looked at Samid. “Yes, I’ll remember that.” He
moved out of the copter and giving a last wave, then with a salute he closed
the door. Then he and his wife and the men all moved back as the pilot started
the copter up. As the dust started to swirl, the men covered their faces,
stayed still but waving their guns. Samid’s wife was the lone woman in the
group. She lifted her veil and waved, smiling. Then she dropped it ran for the
building.

Rose turned and buried her face in Ty’s shoulder and
let the storm overtake her. She would feel better. She was going to miss this
place, but mostly it was the people and how they had taken her in so
completely. She had felt like part of their family. Most of them related by some
degree or another. She let the torrent go, let the tears flow and felt Ty’s arm
go around her tighter.

**********

Ty stood looking out at the sunset while Rose was in
the shower. It had been a long day up on Bokor but a good one. No time to dwell
on his leaving in a few days. He stood there watching as the sun dipped lower
and lower. He realized Rose was taking a long time. Usually they watched the
sunset together. He turned and walked to the bathroom door. He was about to
knock when he heard her sob. It was low but it was there. Her sob was a choking
sound. She was trying to cover it by the shower. She didn’t count on him
hearing her. He heard her cry more and harder along with saying something. He
knew she’d be upset he had heard her but he couldn’t leave her alone. She would
be alone soon enough. Now he understood when other correspondents talked about
how hard it was for family members to watch as they got ready to go. Rose was
staying back and he was going back into the fray. If she was going too she
wouldn’t be like this, but the fear of the unknown was taking over. When you’re
getting ready to go on an assignment you don’t have time to dwell on the
dangers. You just get ready and go. This was all different for Rose this time.