Precipice of Doubt

by Mardi Alexander

  Cole released her hold and straightened. Sniffling as if she’d been crying, Cole ducked to kiss her on the lips, and when she was finished she brushed hair out of Jodi’s eyes, then frowned and slapped her on her upper right arm.

  “Ow!”

  Before Jodi could protest any more, Cole put her hands on Jodi’s cheeks and kissed her again. Jodi closed her eyes, disappearing in the refuge of Cole’s mouth. Just as she started to reciprocate, Cole pulled back. She slapped her again on the upper arm. “Wha?” Jodi sat back, stunned at the swing of Cole’s attentions. “What was that for?”

  “For scaring me half to death.”

  “Oh. Is that all?” Her glib comment earned her another light slap. “Hey-up. Steady on. I’m only joking.”

  “Well I’m not, Jodi Bowman. I’ve never been so terrified. When I couldn’t find any of you, I thought…” Cole’s voice was choked with emotion.

  Jodi took pity on her and held her arms out. Cole fell into them and nuzzled her shoulder.

  Jodi was unsure of who was getting the most comfort, Cole or her, for the pure physical satisfaction of having Cole close. She was tired, her nerves and emotions raw and close to the surface, and holding Cole helped soothe everything and gave her the space to just breathe.

  “I’m so sorry. So sorry. Everything was fine, and then boom, it went pear-shaped.”

  Cole put her forehead to Jodi’s and stroked down the side of her jawline. “It’s okay, love. You made it. You all did. That’s all that matters.”

  Jodi shook her head. “I shouldn’t have—”

  Cole put her finger over her lips. “Don’t you dare. Sometimes, sweetheart, crazy shit just happens. It’s thanks to you that you were all found and brought back safely. You stopped things from going horribly, horribly wrong. And I for one won’t let you forget it. Okay? So no more blame game, or so help me, I will slap you again.”

  The doctor glanced up after smoothing down the last strip of tape up her leg. “You know, I’d listen to her if I were you.”

  Jodi held her bandaged hands up in surrender.

  The doctor’s phone rang. He excused himself to answer it, coming back several minutes later. “Okay, the update on your friends—they’re both upstairs in ICU. The one who came in on the helicopter, the snakebite?”

  Jodi sat up straighter in the bed. “Charlie.”

  “Right, Charlie. She showed positive signs of envenomation and has been treated with the CSL brown snake antivenom. They’re going to keep her in ICU overnight and monitor her coagulation profiles and renal function. It’s a wait-and-see game for the minute, but considering the immediacy of treatment she received out in the field, and the length of time that has passed since envenomation, the doctors are feeling optimistic for a positive outcome.”

  Jodi and Cole exchanged relieved glances.

  Jodi gave Cole’s hand a gentle squeeze. “Good. Good. And Pip? She came in the other ambulance, same as me, so she’s doing okay too, huh?”

  Jodi didn’t like the subtle shift in the young resident’s face. She was a clinician too. She knew he was bracing himself, and them, for a less than happy update.

  “They’re struggling to stabilize her diabetes. When paramedics found her, she was in a hypoglycaemic coma. She was given several doses of glucagon and placed on a dextrose IV en route to the hospital.”

  “And it worked. I heard someone say earlier that she was conscious when they carried her back and loaded her in the ambulance.”

  “Yes, but she’s been vomiting ever since. They’re going to sedate her and put in a nasogastric tube to try and replenish her liver glycogen stores and stop her from going into secondary hypoglycaemia.”

  Cole squeezed her hand. Jodi sympathetically winced on behalf of Pip, knowing she’d be hating all of what was going on. “Can we see her? Can we see them both?”

  The resident shook his head. “Only family at this stage.”

  Jodi swung her legs over the bed and sat on the edge. “We are family.”

  The doctor folded his arms across his chest and frowned.

  Cole stood beside Jodi and flung an arm over her shoulders. “We’re sisters.”

  The doctor quirked a disbelieving eyebrow. “Oh, really?”

  Jodi slid off the bed and stood, her face straight, her voice droll. “Yeah. Our father got around. Now, are you going to tell us where they are, or do we just tear this place apart until we find them?”

  The doctor stared stony-faced at them for all of thirty seconds before bursting out laughing and shaking his head. “I figure, damned if I do and damned if I don’t give in to you two.” He picked up Jodi’s boot. “Sit.”

  Jodi stood defiantly.

  He sighed. “Please sit, Ms. Bowman.”

  “Jodi.”

  “Jodi. Can you please sit so I can fit your boot, then I will go off and see what I can manage?”

  Cole held her hand out for the boot. “I’m a nurse. I’ve fitted these before. How about you leave me to do this while you go off and work your magic so we can visit our sisters. And I promise to make her behave until you get back.”

  The doctor handed Cole the boot and raised his hands in supplication, effectively giving up and walking out, a playful smirk on his face.

  Cole expertly fitted the boot around Jodi’s foot and ankle, Velcroing the straps firmly into place. Her fingers were strong and quick, and she knew how to loop and tie off the lengthy straps. Jodi had to admit, having the extra protection and stabilization around her injured ankle and foot made her feel more comfortable and secure, all things considered.

  “Feel okay?”

  “Uh-huh. Thanks, sister.”

  Cole giggled. “I had to say something. It was the first thing that came to mind. And I’m not the one who intimated that our father was a tart.”

  Jodi grinned mischievously. With the relief of tension, a wave of weariness washed over her. She yawned and went to rub her face with her hands but pulled up short when the stark white bandages reminded her that this might not be a good, or comfortable, idea. She slumped. “Damn.”

  “Come here.” Cole wrapped her in her arms and she leaned unashamedly and completely against Cole.

  “I should be holding you. I at least got to doze in the ambulance on the way here. You’ve been up all night.”

  “When we get home, we can hold each other.”

  “I’d like that.”

  The curtain opened. The resident had returned with a wheelchair and a pair of crutches. “I can get you both five minutes, and no more.”

  Jodi and Cole exchanged conspiratorial grins. Cole helped Jodi stand and manoeuvre into the chair. “We’ll take it. Thank you.”

  The doctor took them around several corridors, up a lift, and down several more passageways with Cole following behind carrying Jodi’s crutches. Finally they stood outside a secured doorway. He pressed an intercom button and announced them. A buzzer sounded and the door clicked open, allowing them entrance.

  Numerous beds were lined up, and Jodi was wheeled to the end of the row, to the last two beds. Charlie was nearest the wall and Pip in the bed off to her left.

  The doctor pushed her up to Pip’s bedside, bent down, and whispered in her ear. “Five minutes.” Jodi nodded, only half listening.

  Pip lay on the bed, looking extremely pale. A tube came out of her nostril across to her cheek, where a strip of tape anchored it in place. It disappeared down her neck and shoulder and off the side of the bed to one of the many hanging bags. Several monitors ticked and beeped beside her. Jodi brushed her fingertips along Pip’s cheek briefly and then rested her hand on Pip’s shoulder. “We did a right royal number this time, hey, mate?”

  Jodi wiped a tear away. “Charlie’s here beside you. And Cole too. So you just rest up now and get your shit together, huh?” She sat silent for a few minutes.

  Cole quietly came up behind her. “Charlie’s asking for you, and the nurse over there is giving me the evil eye, so we better be quick.” Cole re
versed Jodi’s chair and wheeled her over to Charlie’s bedside.

  “Hey.” Charlie’s voice, although tired and weak, was like magic to her ears.

  “Hey yourself. I heard me a rumour you got a first class ride back here, while we had to bounce our way on the Pony-not-so-Express. What’s the name of your travel agent?”

  “I believe it’s Pseudonaja textalis.”

  Jodi laughed softly at Charlie’s reference to the scientific name for the eastern brown snake. “Right you are. Remind me to avoid her in future.”

  Charlie blinked slowly, obviously tired. “Consider it done. How’s Pip?”

  Jodi put her hand on Charlie’s arm. “She’s in the bed beside you. She’s sleeping at the minute.”

  “I can see that. Jodi, I need to know. How is she?”

  Jodi knew exactly what Charlie was asking. If she was in Charlie’s shoes, she’d want a straight answer too. “She was in a bad way, but help got to her in time, and she got the necessary injections and IVs to bring her around again. Unfortunately she’s been vomiting since then.”

  Charlie nodded and looked in Pip’s direction. “The glucagon injection made her sick last time too.”

  “Apparently they had to give her a couple when they first found her, and she’s been chucking up since. They’ve given her something to sleep and put in an NG tube to get some food into her while she’s sleeping.”

  “But she’s okay?”

  Jodi leaned forward so Charlie would hear her words clearly. “Until she wakes up and starts getting some food into herself, you know it’s a balancing game. But she’s here, so are you, and you’re both safe and in good hands. And, most importantly, if she’s asleep while that revolting looking juice goes into her, then she can’t bitch about how bad the food is.”

  Jodi was relieved to see Charlie smile.

  “Ain’t that the truth.”

  Cole gave Jodi the wind-up signal. “Now you rest up and feel better. Cole and I are gonna head on back to your place and feed all your monsters. We’ll call in and see you later.”

  “Jodi.” Charlie grasped Jodi’s wrist. “I can’t thank you enough.”

  Jodi patted Charlie’s hand with the back of her other bandaged hand.

  “Pip is everything to me. And you and Cole…we came close to losing all that. You saved us.”

  Jodi tried to wave her off.

  “No. I mean it. You saved us. I’ll never forget that, Jodi.”

  “Time, ladies.” A nurse stood diligently close.

  Jodi waved to the nurse in acknowledgement. “Yes. Yes. Of course. Thank you.” She turned and looked over at Pip before leaning over to kiss Charlie’s forehead. “Sleep well. We’ll see you both later.”

  Cole wheeled her out of the hospital to her car. After Cole returned the wheelchair, they headed off to Pip and Charlie’s.

  Cole’s hand rested over the back of Jodi’s. “Close your eyes, bub, and rest. I’ll wake you when we arrive.”

  Knowing Pip and Charlie were in the best hands and that she could do no more, and having Cole beside her, their fingers warmly entwined, Jodi finally felt safe enough and settled enough to let go and close her eyes, knowing that Cole had both her hand and her heart.

  Charlie was only able to doze lightly, attuned to her half hourly observations and Pip’s too. The nurse had just finished taking Pip’s blood sugar reading and was writing up her notes. “How is she doing?”

  “Good. Her numbers are coming up, and they’re starting to hold. If she keeps this up we should be able to lighten her sedation.”

  Charlie sighed with relief.

  The nurse straightened Charlie’s sheets. “And your results are looking positive too. Why don’t you try to close your eyes and get some sleep. If there are any changes, I’ll be sure to let you know.”

  “Promise?”

  “Cross my heart. Now close your eyes and rest—it’s the best medicine there is. For both of you.”

  Charlie didn’t remember falling asleep, but she must have because when she woke there was a new nursing shift on. A mature nurse with short hair, liberally flecked with steel grey, smiled in acknowledgement of Charlie’s open eyes.

  “Well, hey there, Sleeping Beauty. Nice to see the insides of your eyes. How are you feeling?”

  Charlie squinted and read Phyllis on the nurse’s ID badge clipped to her shirt pocket. “Okay, I guess. How’s Pip doing?” Charlie pointed to the bed next to hers.

  “Your friend’s vital signs are good, and she was weaned off her sedation at three this morning. She’s been dozing comfortably since.”

  “And her BSL?”

  “Is good. In fact, you two are doing so well the doctor is thinking of releasing you downstairs to a normal ward later this morning.”

  “Is the food any better?” Charlie shuddered in memory of the cold creamed rice pudding dessert she had been served. Two mouthfuls of the soggy dish had been one and a half too many.

  Phyllis laughed softly and patted the blanket at Charlie’s knee. “Shh. The food’s our strongest motivating factor to getting everyone well and back home in their own beds.”

  “Heh. It’s a solid ploy. What time do you think we’ll get moved?”

  “The talk is somewhere around ten. So after the doctor sees you both.”

  Charlie nodded. Downstairs was one step closer to them both getting home, and right now that was high on her list. “You hear that, babe? We’re getting a new room.”

  Pip grunted softly. “Hope it’s quieter than this one,” she mumbled into her pillow.

  Overjoyed at hearing Pip’s voice, Charlie waited until Phyllis had returned to her station and carefully slipped out of her bed. She leaned over as far as her IV and machine lines would allow and kissed the back of Pip’s extended hand, which was outstretched, reaching for her. Charlie couldn’t contain her smile.

  “Excuse me, we were told Pip Atkins was in room forty-three, but there’s nobody there.” Cole had tracked down a harried nurse at the nurses’ station on the medical ward after they failed to find Pip.

  The nurse consulted a folder on the counter. “Pip Atkins?”

  “Yes, room forty-three.”

  “Ah, yes.” The nurse rolled her eyes. “She is supposed to be there, but keeps ending up in room forty-seven.”

  Jodi, who had been leaning on her crutches, snickered behind Cole. “Don’t tell me. That’s Charlie’s room.”

  “We’ve been chasing her out of there most of the night. In the end, we simply gave up.”

  Jodi straightened and took a firmer hold on her crutches as she hobbled to turn. “Smart move.”

  “Thank you.” Cole waved briefly at the nurse who had already turned away to answer the phone. “There it is, on the right.” With her hand at the small of Jodi’s back, they walked tentatively into the room.

  They paused in the doorway. It might only have been a single bed, but Pip was curled up asleep against Charlie’s right side, her head on Charlie’s chest, tucked up under her chin. Charlie’s arm was around Pip, chin resting on the top of Pip’s head. Both appeared to be sleeping.

  “How cute is that?” Jodi murmured.

  Cole rested her fingers comfortably at Jodi’s waist. “I know. Maybe we should come back later.” Charlie cracked one of her eyes open and Cole waved her fingers at her. “Hi there,” she whispered.

  Charlie stretched like a cat, not once relinquishing her hold on Pip. “Hi, yourself, you two. Come over here and give me a hug.”

  Cole tiptoed over and lightly kissed Charlie on the cheek. “We didn’t want to wake you.”

  “It’s okay—it’s nearly lunchtime anyway. This sleeping business is very decadent.”

  Jodi pointed her chin at them. “How you both doing?”

  “We’re great. All our test results are solid and Pip’s eating and bitching about the food and the noise, so I’d say we’re getting back to normal. We might, if we’re lucky, get out tomorrow.”

  “Pip bitching. Yup, definit
ely sounds like things are looking up.” Jodi snickered.

  “I’m not bitching. I’m just not a morning person,” Pip mumbled into Charlie’s gown.

  “’Cept it’s not morning, Pipsqueak,” Jodi noted. “It’s nearly lunchtime.”

  “I’m not a lunchtime person either.”

  Cole covered her mouth to stifle her giggles. “You three are music to my ears.” A lump rose rapidly to lodge in her throat. “I don’t care if you all complain for a week. I’m just so damn happy to have you all here, safe…I…”

  An awkward emotionally loaded silence settled on the group.

  Pip sat up and rubbed her eyes. She pointed at Jodi and Cole and patted the bed.

  Cole helped Jodi to sit and took her crutches and rested them against the visitor’s chair. She stood to the side.

  Pip crooked her finger at her. “Nuh-uh. You too, Kiwi bird. Get up here.”

  Cole sat behind Jodi and rested a hand on her shoulder.

  Pip extended her hands and got them all to do the same. They interwove hands and arms in the middle, fingers and palms intertwined. “We’re here because each and every person contributed to a plan greater than themselves. We each had moments and doubts, and we all overcame them so that we can be here. All of us. Together. We make a hell of a team.”

  Charlie kissed the back of Pip’s head. “Hell, yeah.”

  They squeezed each other’s hands in love and recognition of the enormity of what they had shared and how they had come out the other side. Cole marvelled at the complete understanding they exchanged without any words having been spoken. Pip was right. They were a heck of a team.

  “Now please tell me one of you two brought me in something decent to eat.”

  The moment passed, and everybody chuckled at Pip’s longing for home-cooked food.

  Chapter Twenty-one