Steven

by Suzy Shearer

  When they landed in an open area opposite the hospital, the pilot told them he'd stay at the local airfield until they needed him to return later that evening. Warren told Ash and Avril he would arrange something to bring them back tomorrow whenever they wanted to. It was after seven when the three of them entered the hospital and Ash made enquiries.

  "Please take a seat. I'll let the medical staff know someone is here for the two injured pilots."

  Once more Avril sat on a hard chair and waited. A number of people came to Warren. Apparently, they were part of the Search and Rescue teams. Warren thanked them all on behalf of the company. Avril shook hands with so many different people, thanking them as well, and their caring and good wishes threatened to overwhelm her.

  Two men from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) came into the reception area, telling Warren they had already secured the scene and would begin the investigation.

  "From first sight of the area those two were very lucky men. There's ample evidence of the bird strikes on the engines and the front of the plane. How they managed to land the plane and survive is beyond me. There's a fucking great hole ripped from the cockpit down to the back from where the wing was torn off."

  "They're both great pilots."

  "I spoke with Allan Foster when they first arrived here. Steven apparently took over the controls when the accident happened. The large flock of birds, geese Allan thinks, hit the front screen, took out the engines, and Allan got a face full of glass and a dead bird. He said he didn't think anyone would have been able to land the plane except Steven. It was one of those bloody flukes that should never happen.

  "Steven somehow managed to turn the plane around before they lost height rather than crash in the mountains and through some miracle glided in and landed it. Where it is, it's fairly level compared to the mountains and not too many trees, but Allan said Steven was in control the whole time, kept a cool head. That man's got more fucking huge balls than a dozen bulls. Sorry, Miss."

  Avril shrugged.

  "Anyway, my crews at the scene have got the black box recorder, cockpit recorder, and the notes. I'll be back to interview them both formally through next week if you could let them know, Warren."

  "Will do, Chuck. I'm only thankful they both survived. We can replace planes but not people."

  "I'll give you copies of all the reports when we've finished for your insurance company as well."

  "Thanks, Chuck."

  Both men shook hands with her, Warren, and Ash, and then they left. Another twenty minutes passed until a harried-looking woman went to the front desk. The receptionist pointed them out, and she came to them. It was about ten minutes after eight—five hours since they'd found the wreckage, but over twenty-four since the plane went down.

  "You both here for the two pilots?"

  "Yes. I'm Warren Prudeau. I work for Steven Bray. I'm the manager at Bray’s Charter Company, and this is Avril Thomson, Steven's fiancée, and Ash Siddiqi, his business partner."

  "Right, come this way where we can talk."

  She led them into a small room with a number of couches and sat. Avril had Ash's hand in a death grip as the woman spoke.

  "Right, I’m the doctor in charge of emergency tonight. Mr. Foster is in surgery at the moment. He has a badly broken right leg that needs to be pinned. He also has a broken collar bone, a number of facial lacerations, and a large hematoma to his temple. Mr. Bray underwent surgery first. His condition was critical when he arrived. He needed blood as he had a ruptured spleen, which has now been removed. He also has a large number of lacerations, which required stitching. Apparently, the front window burst inward on Mr. Foster, with the glass spraying across the cockpit, cutting both of them. Mr. Bray's right arm is broken in two places but has now been set. He also has some nasty lacerations on his upper right arm, which required a lot of stitches."

  "Can I see him? Steven Bray, please," Avril asked fearfully.

  She needed to see Steven for herself.

  "Mr. Bray is up on the ward now. Mr. Foster's surgery should be over in about half an hour, and then he'll be admitted to a ward. Visiting hours finished at eight-thirty, but we'll let you stay until nine-thirty. Mr. Bray will be kept in for about a week, and Mr. Foster should be able to go home in a day or two."

  She directed the three of them to the private room, and Avril's legs felt rubbery as she walked into the room. Steven had his eyes closed. He was pale, his face etched in pain as she reached the bed. His face had a number of cuts and a few stitches. As well she could see a long, jagged wound on the top of his right arm held together with numerous stitches as well as a plaster cast below.

  Avril could barely speak as she tentatively touched his left hand. "Steven?"

  He opened his eyes.

  "Kitten!"

  Avril couldn't help it. She burst into tears. Relief flooded through her body as she tried to blindly grab his hand.

  "Don't cry, Kitten. It's okay. I'm okay."

  "I thought, we thought—I thought you were dead."

  "It was hairy for a while, but we're both safe."

  Ash pushed her down into a chair, but she refused to let go of Steven's good hand, holding it in a death grip. He couldn't take his eyes off her as Ash touched his shoulder and shook his head.

  "You scared the piss out of me, you bastard."

  "Scared it out of myself as well."

  Warren was shaking his head as if he couldn't believe Steven was alive. "What happened?"

  "Things were fine. We were close to home and flying over the mountains when this fucking great flock of birds came out of nowhere. Lost one engine immediately and a couple hit the cockpit windows. The other engine was hit but still had power although it was coughing badly, and I knew it was going. I thought Allan was hurt bad. Fucking great dead bird was in his face! We were both covered in glass, bird feathers, blood, and shit. I took over—he couldn’t see properly through the blood. I knew we were going to lose the engine, so I turned the plane around. We'd only recently flown over a fairly clear area, and I thought it might be the only chance for us to make it. That was, if I could get the plane back there."

  Tears were still running down Avril's cheeks as Steven continued. She couldn't believe he was here, that he was alive.

  "Got off a part mayday call. I'd just finished the turn, and we’d gone for maybe a minute, maybe two, back toward the clearer area when the second engine died. We glided down and just hung on. Beats me how the fuck I got the bird on the ground. Hit a tree and sheared off a wing as we plowed into the dirt. We both got thrown around, despite the belts. That was when I broke my arm and Allan's leg got busted. I got a hit on the head, and when I came to, I was hanging out the missing side of the plane."

  "Shit, man! You were fucking lucky!"

  "Tell me about it. I honestly thought we were goners. Seeing the ground come rushing toward us, the fucking trees. Hell. All I could think of was you, Avril. I kept thinking I'd finally found someone to love forever and now I was going to fucking die!"

  He looked at her, squeezing her hand.

  "Kitten, don't cry."

  "I can't help it. I thought … I thought I'd lost you. I couldn't bear it. I can't live without you."

  That started a fresh round of sobs as it sank in to Avril exactly how close she'd come to losing him.

  "It's okay, Kitten. It's over, and I'm okay."

  "I … I know," she stammered. "But I was terrified."

  "You and me both. I shit myself."

  That had them all laughing from relief, and Avril found it difficult to stop. Finally, she breathed deeply and gazed at Steven. Somehow, he managed to wink at her through his bruised and battered face, and she knew everything was going to be okay. Ash asked him about his injuries.

  "Well my arm's busted and cut up. Got a few stitches in my head and these ones on my face. The doc said I'd ruptured my spleen, and they took it out."

  "The doctor told us you were bleeding internally."

 
"Yeah. Said I was lucky. A few hours and I'd be dead. Warren, you need to thank the guy who saved us. I don't know his name. I guess the hospital will or the cops. If he hadn't come to investigate I'd be dead."

  "We’ll get him, don't worry. I’ll get Nico to find him."

  "Good. I want to shake his hand."

  "You will. Just get yourself better."

  "Honey, does it hurt?"

  "Yeah. Wish I was you and could enjoy it, but instead it fucking kills. Was worse at the crash site. I thought my guts were on fire, and I think I passed out a couple of times from the pain in my arm and my stomach."

  Avril finally was able to smile. The thought of a sadist hurting had a funny side to it. A nurse came into the room.

  "I'm sorry, but we're going to have to ask you all to leave. Mr. Foster's surgery is finished and he’s in his room. He's going to be fine. But both men really need to rest now."

  Avril didn't want to leave, but she could see the lethargy creeping over Steven. He was still pale, and she knew the nurse was right. Still it didn't make it any easier to leave. She dropped his hand when Warren and Ash came to Steven's side. Both men gently shook his hand and promised they'd see him tomorrow. The two men left to check up on Allan. She wanted to cry again at the thought of leaving Steven.

  "I'm okay, Kitten. Truly I am."

  "I know. I don't want to go, but I know you need to sleep, to get better."

  "I'm tired. It's all catching up on me."

  "Sleep, hun. I'll see you in the morning. Warren's taking care of everything."

  "I love you, Kitten. You're what kept me alive. I knew I couldn't leave you."

  Avril felt another round of tears spill down her face. "I love you, I truly do."

  He lifted her hand to his mouth and kissed it then tugged her closer. She kissed his lips carefully, then straightened.

  Pain and tiredness were evident on him as he said with a weary tone, "Tomorrow, Kitten. I'll see you tomorrow."

  Avril nodded as his eyes shut, and she left the room to join the others now waiting in the corridor for her.

  "The chopper is going to take us back. I'll get things organized and that way he can fly you here in the morning, Avril."

  "Thank you, Warren. I appreciate that."

  "Ash, will you go with Avril? I'll have to get things organized at the office. There's a lot of paperwork to do, plus we have a number of charters."

  "Of course."

  "I'll arrange for the chopper to fly you over at nine in the morning and to pick you both up around six in the evening. By then you should know how things stand with the two of them, when they can be released."

  Avril was grateful to Warren. She'd wondered how she'd get from A to B.

  “I’ll see if I can find somewhere to stay nearby while Steven’s in the hospital.”

  “Good idea, Avril.”

  They flew back, and Ash drove her home in the early hours of the morning. Greg greeted her at the door, and she told him all she knew.

  “Ash is picking me up around eight-thirty. I’m going to see if I can find somewhere to stay near the hospital.”

  “Thank goodness both men are safe. If you need anything, just ask. Go and get some sleep now, Avril.”

  “Thanks, Greg.”

  She didn't think she'd be able to sleep, but as soon as her head hit the pillow she was out.

  Chapter Twenty

  Steven was kept in the hospital for a week while Allan was discharged two days after his surgery. Avril booked into a motel nearby, spending each day with Steven. He was told by the medical staff that because he no longer had a spleen, he would be susceptible to infections. They suggested he keep his immunizations up to date and to avoid people with colds and illnesses. Finally, he was discharged and flew back with Avril in one of the company's helicopters. Steven was glad when Avril told him she'd taken another four weeks’ leave from her job. He was still trying to come to terms with almost dying, and simply the fact of having her around made it easier.

  They had a steady stream of visitors during the first few weeks home as people reassured themselves he was okay. Anna kept the kitchen supplied in cakes and coffee. Allan Foster's ex drove him across one day, and it was an emotional meeting between the two men. Neither had spent much time together since the accident, and each needed to see the other. Nico had tracked down the man who had found the crashed plane, and Warren arranged for him and Steven to meet one day. Steven couldn’t thank the man enough. He wanted to give him a reward, but the guy wouldn’t accept anything until Steven finally got him to agree to a joyride for his family in one of the company’s helicopters.

  Avril wanted to postpone their wedding until Steven was back on his feet completely. The spleen surgery would take a few months to recover from, and his cast would be on for at least six weeks, but he refused.

  "I came damn close to death, Kitten. So close to the two of us losing each other. I refuse to wait any longer. The restaurant is booked, and we're holding the service at the club. I'll be fine. It will be about eleven weeks since the crash, so my cast will be off and my stomach should be fully healed."

  The first time they went back to the club, Steven was overwhelmed by the amount of emotion shown to him by everyone. He wasn't able to do much, but he and Avril enjoyed sitting in the lounge and talking to their friends. It reassured him. It reaffirmed that he was alive as he sat and watched.

  By the end of the third week at home Steven was getting antsy. He was used to being active, to work, to play, but at the moment he was forced to accept help from Avril and their friends. If he wanted to go somewhere he had to accept someone driving him. He knew no one objected, but it was galling. His stitches had come out, but with the cast on his arm and the tenderness in his stomach, he was mostly still house-bound.

  Avril went back to work on the fifth week since the plane crash. She was taking six weeks off for their wedding. Steven knew she needed to get back to the office where things were piling up despite having a team that were trying to cope with the work. Her phone hadn't stopped ringing, and he knew she was both angry and resigned. He also knew she didn't want to leave him.

  By her third day back at work he could see exactly how torn she was. He knew she loved her work, but something had changed. They were sitting outside, and Avril was tossing a ball about for George to chase in the yard when she cleared her throat.

  "Steven, I've been thinking. I want to leave work now. This has scared me so much. I don't want to waste time anymore, hun, and I want to spend as much time together as we can."

  "Are you sure, Kitten?"

  "Yes. I've been thinking about it a lot lately. I took those few weeks off when the accident happened, and since I've been back at work I really can't get into the swing of it. It truly isn’t the same. I used to love it, but these past three days have been a drudge. I honestly can't work up any excitement for it."

  "A lot has happened, Kitten, so maybe you need to give it some time."

  She was silent, staring out into the yard, ignoring George nudging the ball at her feet. Steven wondered what was going through her head. She'd been the rock all through this. The only time she'd cried was that first night in hospital. Since then she'd taken charge and he'd come to love her even more. He heard her sigh loudly and look across at him.

  "Would you be upset if I left work, if I retired?"

  "Upset! You're joking, I'd love it. I can't fly at the moment, and, like you, I've been rethinking my future. I'll still do the occasional charter, but coming this close to death makes you see things in a whole new light."

  Her eyes glossy with unshed tears, Avril nodded. She said, "I know. That's why I want to leave."

  "So, what will you do, my dearest? When will you leave?"

  "I was taking most of September off, then half of October because of the wedding and our honeymoon, but instead I'll leave. The wedding is in seven and a half weeks. I'll give the company my notice tomorrow. That will give them plenty of time to select a replacement a
nd for me to hand things over."

  He didn't want her to regret her decision in a few months’ time, but at the same time he was overjoyed. "Only if you're sure, Kitten. Don't do this for anyone but yourself."

  "Oh, I'm definitely sure, hun. I've been thinking about it since the accident. And then when I went back to work on Monday I knew then I'd honestly lost my interest. I don't want to spend the next few years in a job I no longer want or like."

  "As long as you've thought it through carefully."

  "I have."

  "Then I'm very glad."

  He wrapped his arms around her shoulders, pulling her close, and she rested her head on his chest. Steven thought his heart might burst with happiness knowing Avril was leaving work. He would never force her to, but the knowledge she was going to be with him full time was exciting. He wanted to take her traveling, to show her the world. Since the accident, other pilots had taken over his duties, and he also had to get medical clearance before he would be able to fly again. Steven imagined it wouldn't be until late January or early February until he got the all clear. Warren would give his charters to the more senior pilots, so there was no need for him to rush back to working. The office ran like clockwork, and now he could sit back and enjoy the rewards of the business.

  There was also the investigation into the crash. There had been a preliminary hearing, which had cleared him and Allan of any wrongdoing. In fact, Steven had been commended on his ability to land the craft and save both men's lives. The final report wasn't due out until February, but Warren had told him he'd been given inside information that since the hearing the crash would officially be put down to the bird strike with neither man at fault. It would mean the insurance would cover the cost of replacing the plane and that, in turn, would mean little disruption to their charter services.

  ****

  One night at the club six weeks after the accident, Steven overheard Avril tell Ash she was ready to murder him, and he guessed he'd been rather short lately. Avril was at work, and he missed having her around. Jake had gone back to finish overseeing his latest project in another state. Ash was busy running the club, and Kaden had driven across country to pick up some vintage car a customer wanted him to restore. Steven hadn’t run a class since the crash and was bored out of his brain at having to side on the sidelines, twiddling his thumbs. He’d even got Greg to drive him to the office, but he ended up annoying everyone there and Warren sent him home.