Twice Lucky

by Mardi Alexander

  Taking a seat, Sarah rubbed weary eyes, stilling her movements as she heard Mac’s heart rate pick up. She raised her head to see that Mac was growing restless. Sarah gently caressed Mac’s forehead, smoothing out her frown. Mac’s eyes fluttered weakly open.

  “Hey, sweetheart, how’re you doing?”

  Mac grimaced and tried to pull off her oxygen mask.

  Sarah gently took her hand, placing it back onto the bed. “Hey, hey, it’s okay. You’ve got some stitches in your side, which is why it hurts to breathe. Hang on and I’ll get something for the pain.” Sarah leaned over and adjusted the rate in the morphine pump. “You just missed Martha. You’re right, she’s a lovely lady. You need to hurry up and get out of here so we can get together for that dinner.”

  Mac tried to smile and nodded.

  “John, the chief, and the boys were all here from your unit. They send their love and said they’ll see you tomorrow too. And I had a phone message from Maree and Terri. They’ll be in in the morning after they’ve finished up.”

  Sarah could see the morphine starting to work as Mac’s eyelids started to grow heavy. Mac said something into the mask that Sarah didn’t understand. She leaned in closer and gently lifted the mask and gave Mac a kiss. Mac licked her lips and tried again, managing to rasp out, “Bed’s too big.”

  Sarah got her meaning and shook her head. “Bed’s too tiny, babe, and I would only hurt you.”

  Mac shook her head and tapped the bedcover with her bandaged hand. Sarah could read her lips moving in the mask. “Need you.”

  Sarah shook her head. “Mac, it’s not a good idea, honey.”

  Mac pegged her with pained blue eyes and mouthed, “Please.”

  Sarah couldn’t deny those eyes, even if she’d wanted to. Carefully, she climbed up and lay next to Mac, with her head on Mac’s shoulder, being careful not to touch the stitches in her side.

  Sarah listened as Mac’s heart rate slowed and settled to a steady rhythm. Her own nervous tension, that had been building up inside of her since the fire had started, was beginning to ease now that she had Mac in her arms. Sarah closed her eyes and started to doze, lulled by the rhythmic music of Mac’s heart.

  *

  Mac woke in the early hours of the morning. Sarah was still asleep next to her. Her throat was dry and raw. At arm’s length on the bedside table was a cup of water. Mac looked at Sarah and back at the cup, trying to work out distance and reach in a drug-befuddled brain. Her throat and head hurt. She slowly reached out, grimacing at the pain in her side, but she desperately wanted the water, so she determinedly kept reaching. Her fingers brushed the edges of the cup. She reached again. Fine beads of sweat formed on her brow. So tantalizing close, fingers tickling the edges of the rim, she hooked it and dragged it over with a bandaged finger, closer to the edge. With her hands bandaged she couldn’t wrap her hand around the cup to pick it up, so she tried again to hook it with her finger, and lift, gently, a bit more—

  Crash.

  The cup slid off the edge and fell, clattering to the floor, spilling its contents everywhere. Mac’s head fell to the pillow in frustration. The cup woke Sarah up. She opened sleepy eyes. She saw Mac’s face and the cup on the floor. “Hey, honey, you want some water?”

  Mac nodded.

  Sarah got off the bed and filled another cup of water and put a straw in it. She lifted the oxygen mask off Mac’s face and brought the cup over. “Just small sips, love.” Mac lifted her head and took a few sips before falling back to the pillow again. Sarah put the mask back down. “Better?”

  Mac nodded.

  Sarah looked at Mac’s monitor and walked over and glanced at her notes. “How ’bout we get rid of that mask?”

  Mac nodded.

  Sarah buzzed for a nurse, who appeared very promptly, and requested some nasal prongs and ice chips for the water. Within minutes the nurse returned and the mask was gone, replaced by the more comfortable nasal tube. Sarah sat on the bed and stroked Mac’s forehead. Mac’s eyes closed.

  “Want some more water?”

  Mac nodded.

  The icy cold water was heaven on her sore throat. Mac knew it was best not to talk, not that she was tempted, as she was sure someone had put razor blades in her throat while she slept.

  “More?”

  Another nod, followed by sipping.

  Sarah buzzed the nurse again and asked for an antiemetic and another bag of IV fluids. The nurse returned, handing Sarah a loaded syringe while she hung the fresh bag of saline up. Sarah pushed the drug through the line. Mac watched her, raising her eyebrows at Sarah in question.

  “It’s to help settle your tummy, love.”

  Mac mouthed, “Thank you.”

  The nurse left as quietly as she came. Sarah sat on the edge of the bed, gently cradling Mac’s bandaged hand in hers. The outlines of Mac’s hands blurred as the tears rose to well in her eyes. She looked up and saw Mac watching her. She wanted to say so much but was struggling to get past the lump in her throat. “I am so proud of you. You were amazing. You saved both of their lives—I couldn’t believe the way you ran in there. The smoke and the flames, and when it exploded…” Sarah was shaking her head and had her eyes tightly closed as the images flashed before her. Her throat closed and all she could do was whisper, “I have never been more terrified in my life. I thought I had lost you”—Sarah started to sob—“just when I’d found you. I thought I had lost you. And then you came out…”

  Mac pulled Sarah into her arms, holding her close as she sobbed into her chest. As Sarah’s tears began to subside, Mac tilted Sarah’s chin until their eyes locked. Mac licked her lips and rasped out, “I will always come out. You’re my lifeline. I love you.”

  Fresh tears came to Sarah’s eyes. “Oh, Mac. I love you too.” Sarah gently leaned in and kissed her.

  *

  Mac dozed on and off for the next few hours. She woke briefly to find that Sarah had gone to find something to eat and Martha was sitting in the chair, reading. Mac turned her head as Martha put her book down.

  “Hey, sleeping beauty, you decided to join the party?”

  “Hey, Martha,” she croaked.

  “Would you like some water?”

  “Please.”

  Mac took a few sips before laying her head back down.

  Martha explained where Sarah was. Mac nodded. She turned to Martha. “You’ve met her then?”

  Martha smiled. “I have indeed. She seems like a very nice person. We’ve had a couple of good chats, she and I.”

  “Should I be worried?”

  “Not yet. I haven’t told her how truly terrible you are. I was saving that for later. I don’t get out much, so I like to spin the fun out.”

  Mac giggled, grabbed at her ribs, and hissed in pain.

  Martha waited until she had settled, fixing her with a serious gaze. “You need to keep an eye on her, Mac. You and I both know what you do for a living and how things sometimes unfold. Yesterday, Sarah had that thrown at her in a very big and personal way. It’s going to take her a while to process what happened. And it’s going to take a while for those images to get out of her head. She’s going to see those images the next few times your pager goes off.”

  Mac half fidgeted with the bed sheets. “I know.”

  Martha patted her arm. “What about you?”

  “What about me?”

  “What do you see when you close your eyes?”

  Mac was quiet a long time. Martha waited. “I keep seeing Sarah’s worried face.”

  Martha nodded her head. “Good.”

  Mac looked puzzled. “Why is that good?”

  Maratha smiled. “Because that’s your rope, your anchor. That’s the thing, when things get tough, that’s what guides you home, child. Before, it was all about you and the decisions were easier. When you love someone, there’s suddenly a whole lot more to consider, to risk, to fight for.”

  Martha stood up and kissed Mac on the cheek. “On that note, some of us have to g
et to work. I will see you later.”

  Mac kissed Martha and thanked her for coming. She lay back on the pillows and thought about what Martha had said. She was right. Before Sarah, Mac had sized up a situation, thought about the options, picked one, and got on with it. Mac knew she would still need to do that, but now she also needed to consider Sarah and their relationship. Mac was still thinking about it when Sarah walked through the doorway. She had obviously had a shower and put clean scrubs on.

  Sarah walked straight up to Mac and kissed her warmly. “Nice to see you awake.”

  Mac smiled. “Nice to be awake.”

  “How’s your throat? You still sound a bit husky.”

  “Mm, a bit scratchy, but better than before.”

  “That’s good. It’ll need a couple of days, if you don’t strain it too much. Mind you”—Sarah wriggled her eyebrows suggestively—“it sounds very sexy, but you might have to cancel those concerts you had planned for the weekend.”

  Mac chuckled and grabbed at her ribs.

  Sarah grimaced. “Sorry.”

  Mac was still smiling at the thought of her giving a concert. She couldn’t carry a tune if she wrapped it up and stuck it in a backpack.

  “I met Martha last night.”

  Mac put her head on the side. “Hmm?”

  “You’re right. She’s lovely.”

  Chapter Twenty-one

  By lunchtime, Mac was well enough to come off the oxygen. Maree and Terri had called in to see her and to tell her not to even think about coming into the refuge for at least a week. Maree promised to continue training Nell until she could get back to it. Terri had been busy making soups that would be kind to a sore throat, offering to drop them off when Mac got out. Before heading off, Terri collected Mac’s ute keys, to drive her truck home.

  Sarah popped in and out during the day as best she could during her shift. Mac still hurt, but it was manageable. She had a nap after lunch, but never one to sit still or idle for long, by midafternoon Mac was restless and bored.

  Sarah finished up for the day just after five, and walked into Mac’s room with a huge grin on her face. “Hey, cutie, wanna blow this joint and go home?”

  Mac had been aimlessly staring out the window before Sarah came in. “Serious?”

  “Uh-huh. All the reports say you’re doing fine, so there’s no reason for you to stay if you don’t want to.”

  “Um, slight problem.”

  Sarah frowned. “What?”

  “I have no clothes to wear. Your team cut them up. I don’t think it would be too good for your reputation if I walked out of here naked.”

  Sarah threw her head back and laughed. “Actually, my love, I think it would be great for my reputation. However, it is a bit chilly outside, so I took the liberty of getting you some warm clothes to wear from home. Is that okay?”

  Mac smiled. “Very okay.”

  As per hospital protocol Mac was wheelchaired right to the door. Sarah had brought the car around and Mac was safely tucked inside and on her way home in no time at all. Sarah drove straight to Mac’s house. “I thought you might be more comfortable in your own bed for your first night home.”

  Mac turned her head to Sarah. “Will you be staying?”

  “If you want me to.”

  “I’d like that, very much.”

  Sarah smiled. “Well then, good thing I packed a bag then, hey?”

  Smiling, Mac rested her head back on the seat and closed her eyes. “Good thing indeed.”

  As soon as they got home Sarah settled Mac onto the couch with a blanket over her legs. They shared a pot of soup and cuddled on the couch afterwards. Sarah wriggled in behind her so Mac could rest back against her chest, and Sarah stroked Mac’s hair. “Do you want to have a shower before going to bed?”

  “Can we do that? I’d love to wash my hair. I’m a bit over the singed Mouse smell.”

  “Jean did hairdressing a thousand years ago. Would you like me to call her and see if she can come out and give your hair a trim? I’m afraid the fire-frizzled look is a bit lopsided here on one side at the back.”

  “That sounds lovely. If you think she wouldn’t mind.”

  “I’m sure she’d be happy to. I’ll give her a ring in the morning.”

  Sarah taped bags around Mac’s hands and legs to keep the dressings dry while she was in the shower. She ended up going in with her as Mac’s legs were still a bit shaky. It was a quick shower as Mac was starting to tire. She sat on the toilet catching her breath while Sarah dried herself off. Turning her head back and forth, Mac caught sight of her hair in the bathroom mirror. Sarah was right, it needed a trim. She had probably lost a few inches off the ends from the fire, and although she didn’t remember it happening, there was no denying the ragged evidence.

  Mac couldn’t help but notice the dark circles under Sarah’s eyes and hoped that she could be coaxed into getting into bed with her. They could both do with the rest. After a few moments of careful body adjustments to make sure Mac was comfortable, Sarah turned out the light and snuggled into Mac’s side. As the welcome of being home enveloped them and held them safe, Mac listened as Sarah’s deep, even breathing harmonized smoothly with her own, carrying them into the small hours.

  *

  Mac had a restless night. She couldn’t access the pain medication by the bed because it was in a blister pack, and her hands were still wrapped up like mittens. Lying there, she resolved to tough it out for the night for as long as she could, rather than wake Sarah. She had looked so wiped the previous night that Mac didn’t have the heart to disturb her. Mac managed to last until five a.m. before her fidgeting roused Sarah into wakefulness.

  Sarah rose up to her elbows. She leaned over and gently felt Mac’s cheeks and forehead to see if she was running a temperature. “Hey, honey. You okay?”

  Mac shook her head. “Can you get me some of those tablets, please?”

  “Sure.” Leaning across her, Sarah quickly popped some free of the blister pack, then helped Mac to sit up and take them with some water. Mac lay back down and closed her eyes, trying to will the pain away. Sarah stroked her forehead in comfort. “Why didn’t you take some earlier, love?”

  Mac shook her head.

  “There’s no point being tough—they’re there to make your life easier.”

  Mac held up one of her bandaged hands. “Couldn’t open it.”

  “Why didn’t you wake me? I would have gotten them for you.”

  Mac shook her head again. “You needed sleep too…thought I could wait until breakfast.”

  “That’s very noble of you, sweetheart, but I would rather you’d woken me than spend half the night awake yourself. Tell you what, I’ll take a look at your hands later and see if we can rewrap them to make things a bit easier, if you promise to wake me if you need help in the night. Deal?”

  Mac nodded. “Deal.”

  Sarah kept stroking Mac’s forehead until the medication kicked in and she finally dozed off. Sarah got up a couple of hours later as quietly as she could, so as not to disturb her.

  As Sarah made herself some breakfast, she thought over how much had happened in the last few days. She would never, in her wildest dreams, have thought anything like this would happen to her. She rang Jean and updated her.

  “You’re kidding me? She did what?”

  “I know. I couldn’t believe it myself when she ran into the burning building. It was incredible. I think we all held our breath in fear, for what seemed like ages. And then it exploded, and she still managed to crawl out, dragging this man behind her.”

  “Is she okay? She must be okay because she’s home, right?”

  “Yes, she’s okay. She got a bit burned in places and she picked up some shrapnel in her side from the explosion, but she’s going to be fine.”

  “Oh my God! I don’t believe it.”

  Sarah ran her fingers through her hair. “I know. I don’t quite believe it myself. And then last night, she stayed awake in pain rather than w
ake me to help her get some pain meds.”

  “Why’d she do that?”

  “She didn’t want to wake me because I had been so tired the night before. She wanted me to sleep.”

  “Sare, are you for real?”

  “Uh-huh.”

  “Bloody hell. You don’t know where I can find me one of them, do you?”

  Sarah chuckled. “I don’t know how I got to be so lucky. I just know that I did and I’m going to hang on tight.”

  “Well, good for you. Okay, how about I drop Thomas off to school and come on over. Is that too early?”

  “That would be great, thanks, Jean. See you soon.”

  “Okay, see you then.”

  Mac appeared in the doorway rumpled and sleepy eyed. Sarah noted she had dark circles and bags under her eyes still, which was not surprising. Perhaps she could coax Mac into a nap later in the day. “Hey, there.”

  “Hey.”

  “Feel like some breakfast?”

  “Yes, please.”

  “Okay, you sit down and I’ll just be a minute.”

  Sarah made scrambled eggs served on toast, accompanied by a steaming mug of coffee. She thought the eggs would be easiest for Mac to eat with a spoon, and she cut up Mac’s toast into pieces that she could scoop up. The coffee was a bit more of a challenge, as Mac couldn’t hold the mug in her hands, but Sarah had found some straws in one of the drawers earlier, which ended up solving the dilemma nicely. “I spoke with Jean—she said she’ll be around this morning to cut your hair.”

  “As long as it’s no trouble.”

  “She said she’d be very happy to do it.”

  “What time do you have to be at work?”

  Sarah shook her head. “I’m not going in for a few days. Thought I’d hang around and keep you company, if that’s okay?”

  “That’s very nice of you. Thank you. But you don’t have to stay. You can go back to work.”

  Sarah was a bit puzzled. “I’m happy to stay.”

  Focusing on pushing her eggs around, Mac shrugged. “I’m just saying, you don’t have to feel obliged. It’s okay.”