Without You I Have Nothing (34 page)

_{Peter just lay there,
comatose and secure in his darkness.}

_{‘This woman certainly
can talk. She seems to know everything about that ‘he’. ‘}

_{“It was as if he gave
up, knowing no-one cared.”}

_{“I care.”}

_{That soft almost
hoarse voice - Peter knew it well. But where had he heard it?}

_{“Funny thing, the
young woman he rescued was not called Jennifer and was already dead when he
pulled her clear of the explosion.”  The words carried a ring of authority.}

_{A very pungent smell
of antiseptic assailed Peter’s nose as a cold hand felt his forehead.}

_{“Such a pity and so
young too. Extreme shock can cause this traumatic reaction. All we can do is
pray that he recovers or that the end will be quick and painless as we wait.”}

_{Suddenly Peter
realized that the woman was talking about him. He was the person she was
discussing. His mind rebelled, wanting her to go away leaving him alone. He
knew he was safe in that black mist with no more fighting, no more worries, no
more struggles. The pungent smell faded and he relaxed into the silence.}

_{As he drifted once
more into darkness, the sweetest perfume possible invaded his senses. Soft
wisps of hair lightly brushed across Peter’s forehead and his eyelids could
feel warm breath. Then two drops of water splashed onto his cheek. Strange! 
How could it be raining in his safe dark tunnel?  Lips lightly brushed his and
Peter sensed he could taste Jennifer.}

_{Moving to sit on a
chair at the side of his bed, Jennifer buried her head in his hand. No one
disturbed them and, emotionally exhausted, she drifted off to sleep.}

_{Waking early the next
morning she was unable to lift her head.}

_{“Nurse!  Nurse!  Come
quickly.”  Jennifer sounded distraught. “He moved.”}

_{Peter groaned as he
slept.}

_{“Open those
fingers.”  Someone, ordering Peter about, was trying to force his fingers open.}

_{“Open your fingers, I
can’t move.”  A hoarse voice he recognized broke through his darkness.}

_{Peter moaned. His
eyes gradually flickered open and he looked down at his hand. Jennifer’s head
was on the edge of the bed and his fingers tightly gripped her hair. Relaxing
his fingers, he waited.}

_{Slowly, she lifted
her head and those beautiful green eyes came close to study him. Then gently,
as if she didn’t dare touch him, she moved her hand to his face where it lay
cradling his cheek.}

_{“Hello,” she
whispered. “I waited for you.”}

_{Peter tried to sit up
but his body screamed its agony at the effort. Jennifer held his shoulders
down.}

_{“Lie still!”}

_{“Where am I?”  Peter
was confused.}

_{“You’re in Royal
North Shore Hospital - Intensive Care Unit.”  Jennifer’s answer was deliberate.}

_{“What the hell
happened?”}

_{“Well,” Jennifer
paused, uncertain whether to tell the full story.}

_{“There was a car
smash. When you arrived at the scene, you fought people who were trying to keep
you from the burning wreckage. They said you went berserk screaming ‘Jennifer’
and that you tore the door off the car using just your hands. You carried the
woman’s body clear just as the car exploded.”}

_{Gently, Jennifer
kissed Peter’s cheek.}

_{“Believing you were
saving me, you almost died, Peter. Moreover, all the time I was being so damn
silly. Can you ever forgive me?”}

_{“Forgive you for
what?”  Peter whispered.}

_{“For doubting you
with Susie.”  Jennifer smiled at his look of shock. “Yes, Susie and I have
talked. It was Susie who got me to understand how much you needed me here and
we’ve talked about everything. As you said earlier, she is a very good friend
to both of us.”}

_{“How long have I been
here?”  Desperately Peter tried to change the topic of conversation.}

_{“Well, I arrived yesterday
afternoon, and you held my hair all night as you slept. Today is your eighth
day here.”}

_{“Eight days.”  Peter
was almost shouting. “I’ve been lying here eight days?”  Forgetting his
injuries, he tried to push himself upright. The sudden heat of the pain in his
chest and the blackness threatening to overcome him defeated him as reluctantly
he faced the extent of his injuries.}

_{“Lie still, Peter,
lie still.”  Jennifer took both his hands in hers. “Please lie still for me. You’ve
been injured but you will recover.”}

_{“You behave, Mr.
O’Brien.”  The nurse’s smile softened her comment as she arrived with the
doctor. After examining Peter, the doctor signed the release papers from
Intensive Care.}

_{The nurse busied
herself removing all the drips and monitors in spite of Peter’s complaints.}

_{“You’ve caused enough
trouble as it is. Lie still or I’ll call the doctor back.}

_{“We need this bed for
a sick person, so off you go. Now you’re conscious I’m to take you to Ward C. This
lady has woven her magic and you won’t be there long either.”}

_{The nurse and an
orderly pushed his bed down the long corridor into Ward C.}

_{“Here’s Mr. Trouble
himself,” called the nurse to the Ward Sister as she locked his bed into place.
“If he’s not in here with gunshot wounds after an attempted hijack, he’s in
here after trying to rescue a young woman from a burning car. I was thinking he
had an inbuilt death wish, but now I see him with his young lady I’ve had to
change my mind.”}

_{“Take care of
yourself and listen to Jennifer. She’s boss.”  Laughing, she returned to the
Intensive Care Unit.}

_{The stern face of the
Ward Sister cracked into a smile. Grinning, she asked, “What would you like to
eat?”}

_{In reply, Peter
slowly brought Jennifer’s hands to his lips. Staring into Jennifer’s eyes, he
stated clearly, “Her!”}

_{The Sister giggled
and Jennifer, no more the embarrassed, insecure woman, looked pleased.}

_{“Good heavens, you’ve
been in a coma for over a week and the first thing you want to do when you come
around is attack this young lady. Behave yourself and I’ll ask the doctor if
Miss Blake’s on the menu. Now if you promise to behave, I’ll let you shave. You
look like a pirate with that growth.”}

_{With no warning, she
ripped the plaster from Peter’s cheek. Ignoring his agonized bellow, she
examined the wound.}

_{“That’s healing well.
You’re lucky that’s the only reminder you’ll have of your adventure once your
ribs are healed.”}

_{As she left, the
Sister called back to him.}

_{“I’ll send in the
policeman. He’s been waiting to interview you for some time.”}

_{Jennifer sat at the
end of Peter’s bed listening carefully as the story of no sleep, pep pills and
Peter’s version of the accident unfolded.}

_{“No-one could
understand why you threw yourself into that fire.”  The heavily built officer
was still not satisfied.}

_{Peter beckoned
Jennifer until she stood close enough for him to reach. Wrapping his arm around
her waist, he explained.}

_{“I thought the green
Mini was Jennifer’s and that she was the driver.”}

_{Jennifer bent and
lightly kissed his scarred cheek.}

_{“I see.”  Grinning broadly,
the sergeant picked up his cap. He patted Jennifer on the shoulder and kindly
added, “I’d have done the same.”}

_{He coughed and became
serious once more.}

_{“However, get this
straight. You’re to have no more nights without sleep, and no more pills. You
were an accident waiting to happen, on those damn things. Your mind had gone. The
car wasn’t green and it wasn’t a Mini. No more working day and night for you. Don’t
go without sleep, and no more pills.”}

_{“I’ll make certain of
that.”  Jennifer was very confident.}

_{The officer started
to leave the ward when suddenly he stopped, turned and strode back to the bed. Ignoring
Jennifer, he resumed his questioning.}

_{“I don’t suppose
you’d care to explain the scars on your back. You seem to have been brutally
flogged - scars upon scars.”}

_{Oblivious of the look
in Peter’s eyes and the grim way he held himself, the officer continued. “You
really are a mystery. We contacted Interpol about you and the scars on your
back and received messages from Malaysia and Singapore virtually warning us to
mind our own business. Seems you’re actually a hero in both countries, but I
sure would like to know the story. Even our own security essentially told us to
mind our own business. Strange!”}

_{Peter’s grim look and
the tightness of his lips told the officer he would get no information from
him.}

_{As he left, still
perplexed and shaking his head, the officer passed the doctor striding into the
ward.}

_{“Is there anything
else constable?”  The doctor asked as they passed.}

_{“No, thanks. All
finished. Look after him, Miss Blake. He’s a menace to himself.”  His laughter
followed him as he left.}

_{The doctor removed
Peter’s charts from the end of the bed and studied them carefully before giving
Peter a thorough physical examination. He prodded, pressed and finally scanned
Peter’s eyes. He straightened up with a satisfied sigh.}

_{“We had a dying man
in this bed. There was not a thing medical science could do to stop the
inevitable, and then this young lady arrived and God arrived with her.”}

_{Jennifer introduced
herself.}

_{“It isn’t often we
can say a miracle occurs in a hospital ward and I’m so pleased I have witnessed
this one. To say I’m astounded at your recovery is an understatement. All week
we had a dying man on life support. This young lady arrives and we have a man
with two broken ribs and a scar. But those ribs will soon mend.”}

_{The doctor was both
perplexed and pleased.}

_{“When can I leave?” 
Peter looked up at Jennifer while he squeezed her hand. “Hospital is for sick
people.”}

_{Shaking herself free
of Peter’s grip, Jennifer walked with the doctor to the doorway where they
whispered together for a few minutes. The doctor shook his head but Jennifer
was insistent. Her body had stiffened and Peter knew her eyes were flashing.}

_{“Well, I suppose
you’re right. There’s not a thing we can do except observe. Are you sure?”  The
doctor’s voice grew louder.}

_{Jennifer nodded her
head vigorously.}

_{All smiles, the
doctor returned to the bedside.}

_{“If you can prove in
the morning that you can walk unassisted I’ll discharge you into Miss Blake’s
care. You’re not to return to work for at least a month. You’re to have plenty
of rest, good food and ample sleep at the correct hours. Miss Blake tells me
she will be in charge of you. You are to listen to her and follow her orders. If
you feel dizzy, return here straight away.”}

_{He meandered on with
some more instructions.}

_{Still shaking his
head in disbelief, he concluded, “I suppose as Miss Blake brought about this
change in you, she can’t go wrong. We could do nothing but she became Florence
Nightingale.”}

_{Still unable to
believe the dramatic change in his patient, the doctor left.}

_{A commotion in the
corridor gained their attention and the doors swung open. Susie had arrived. She
rushed to Jennifer and gave her a huge hug.}

_{“I tried to stay away
but I was like a caged lion at the office. Bill drove me back here to see what
has been happening.”}

_{She looked across at
Peter, her face wreathed in smiles.}

_{“I knew it. I just
knew it!  You would make him want to live. That great bear loves you so much he
won’t let you go, ever.”  Susie’s effervescent good humor made them both smile.}

_{Jennifer grinned, “I
do believe you’re right. Now, are you going to tell him or shall I?”}

_{Susie looked
perplexed.}

_{Laughing, Jennifer
didn’t wait for Susie’s answer.}

_{“Peter, did you know
that you’re responsible for Susie’s pregnancy. Susie is going to have a baby,
thanks to you.”}

_{Peter didn’t flinch
as he assumed the face of the inscrutable East. “Well, it’s an immaculate
conception, because in no way am I responsible. Susie, tell the truth. How am I
responsible?”}