“Thanks, mom I really believe that we are meant together. She is my mate, my soulmate, my everything. I need her so much I can’t live my life without her.”
“I have us booked in so when we are ready, we can make tracks and get our pamper on.”
I start to laugh. “Really? Get our pamper on, you're trying to sound hip.”
“What do you mean sound hip? I am hip.”
I cock my head to the side, looking at the genuine look of confusion on Ellie’s face, and start to laugh. I move over and put my arm around her shoulder. “Of course, you’re hip Ellie.”
My mom laughs and rolls her eyes. “Okay you two, we are all hip, can we go now. My muscles are screaming for attention after driving all this way.”
We get to the spa, get checked in and change into our robes. We all go into the room and are assigned our masseur. All you can hear is the moans of approval with each knot being worked out. My mom and Ellie are conversing with each other and I have zoned out. The massage is wonderful and the masseur is working the stress out of my shoulders. I close my eyes and as always an image of Charlie floats into my mind. I smile at the image and happily sigh. I see a montage of what we did together and what we do together. My mom tries to bring me into the conversation but gives up when she realises I am in a world of my own. Ellie grins. “She has gone into a world of her own and I have no doubt that she is thinking of Charlie. She gets like that with me on the weekend, it could last five minutes or half an hour.”
“Really? Is she just ignoring us or can she not hear us?”
“She doesn’t hear us, I even tested it one weekend by telling her I was going to a sex party and I got nothing, so I knew she was completely zoned out.”
“Wow, she would have normally jumped at you and gave you a lecture.”
“Yes, she would.”
I’m smiling with happiness when I get a feel of coldness slide through my veins and my heart starts to ache. My eyes snap open and a fear rushes through my body.
“CHARLIE.”
I jump up from the massage table. In a panic, Mom and Ellie come beside me to attempt to calm me.
“Emily, honey, what’s the matter?”
My breathing is ragged and I’m finding it hard to focus. Ellie puts her hands on my shoulders and looks into my eyes.
“Breathe honey, slow it all down and talk to me.”
I look into Ellie’s eyes and she sees my fear. She rests her hand on my cheek.
“Emily, slow it all down, relax honey, we are here.”
I lean into her hand and feel grounded almost immediately. I close my eyes and take a deep breath.
“Something is wrong with Charlie.”
Ellie looks at my mom confused. “What do you mean sweetheart?”
I look at them through tears in my eyes. “I can’t explain it, I just feel something isn’t right. My body has gone cold and I know something isn’t right.”
My mom looks at Ellie and she tries to ease me. “You haven’t heard from her in a while sweetie and you miss her and believe me, I went through every emotion possible with Tony. There were times I felt just like you, it’s the strong connection you have with your mate. When I felt like this, Tony had cut himself or he had sprained an ankle. You feel Charlie and it could just be that she is missing you and trying to draw strength from you.”
I nod my head knowing that we have that connection and what Ellie is saying could possibly be it but I feel in my heart that it is more. Ellie cuts the spa treatments short and we head home. I am quiet all the way there and I curl up on the sofa with my blanket. My mom comes beside me and guides my head on to her lap. She runs her fingers through my hair easing my tension.
Please baby, fight, fight for me and fight for us. Don’t give up I’m right here waiting for you, don’t give up. Please, I need you, Charlie, I need you so much. I love you, don’t give up, fight baby, fight with all you have.
Chapter 29
The helicopter is moving over the still night air and the tension inside is rife. Everyone is hoping for the best for Charlie but are preparing themselves for the possibility of losing another member of their unit. No one is talking, a few of them are watching on as Rowan and Paige are trying to help Charlie. Rowan is looking out but it’s so dark, he cannot tell where they are, or how close they are to getting proper help. He swallows the feeling of dread of losing one of his finest soldiers. He presses harder on Charlie’s wound and barks at the pilot.
“How far are we from the base?”
“Ten minutes out.”
“Charlie doesn’t have ten minutes, she is losing so much blood. She needs blood to replenish what is lost. Fuck, can you go any faster?”
“We are at top speed, sir.”
“What if we transfuse her?”
Rowan looks at Paige. “Do you know how risky that is? I don’t even know her blood group.”
“I know her blood type, it’s the same as mine. I want to help her, she has a fiancée back home and we have to get her back to her. We need to do what we can to get her there. I promised her I would have her back and she would have mine. I am not going to let her down now. Can you do it?”
He looks hard at Paige and then down at the very pale Charlie. The blood is seeping through his fingers.
“Are you sure about this? You were hit too.”
She looks at her arm and shrugs. “It’s just a scratch. Do it please?”
“Ok get over here, pack this wound and hold it tight Sean. Paige, I need you to hold still while we get this setup. Fuck, I haven’t done this in a while.”
He proceeds to set up the emergency transfusion and Paige holds as still as she can while holding Charlie’s hand.
“You hold on Charlie, I’m here and we are going home to our girls. You need to fight for Emily. Stay with us, I have a fucking needle in my arm for you, so you better hold on. I hate those fucking things so you know how badly I want you to fight. You took a bullet for me, Charlie, you saved my life, so I need you to be okay. We are nearly there Charlie, just hold on, you can feel me holding your hand and I know you can fucking hear me so you fight with all you have. Don’t you fucking dare give up and leave me here on my own. Emily needs you and I need you here, you always look after me, you tease the fuck out of me but I wouldn’t have it any other way. So, you fight…. damn, you are draining my blood, you bloody vampire so suck it up and fight.”
Rowan grins and shakes his head while Sean continues to press the wound chuckling to himself.
“If she doesn’t fight after that sermon, I don’t know what would make her. How are you feeling?”
“Don’t worry about me, concentrate on Charlie, is she doing ok?”
He checks her pulse. “She has a pulse, it’s slow but it’s there, she is hanging in there.”
“Good, fight, you son of a bitch, fight.”
Sean starts to chuckle. “Damn you’re vicious, I thought you were quiet but seeing you out there tonight and right now, I’m glad you’re on our side.”
Paige blushes but shrugs. “When I need to be I will, so you better keep the pressure on that wound or I will kick your ass.”
“Yes ma’am, I’ve got this.”
Paige closes her eyes while Sean leans forward and whispers in Charlie’s ear. “You have created a monster, so you need to get through this and reign her in. I can’t deal with her sassiness. You made her like this, so you fix it. I like my ass right where it is, thank you very much.”
“Coming in for landing sir, they have been told of the emergency and are waiting for us.”
“Copy that. We are prepared for landing, try and make it the smoothest landing you have ever done. Tell them we have transfused in the air.”
“Sir, yes sir.”
The base is within sight and better medical attention is seconds away.
“Charlie, you are doing so great, stay with us, we are landing now. Come on Charlie, you can do this, I’m right here with you. I know you can feel my hand in yours, stay
with us, I have a son I want you to meet, come on Charlie, just fight a little more.”
Paige bites her lip as the tears threaten to fall and she refuses to let any negative thought come into her mind.
“You made me a promise, you are going to help me propose to Valerie. I need you to help me with that, I’m not good at romance and I need you to help me. You have become integral to me here Charlie, I wouldn’t have been able to last this long without you, so I am not going to start now. We are landing, you are going to get help, hang in there for me, please hang in there.”
The helicopter touches down and the medical team rush to aid them with two stretchers.
“You carried out a person to person transfusion, Jesus, you have some balls but that may have saved her. Come on, let’s get her in so we can get to work.”
Paige and Charlie are put on each stretcher and rushed as fast as they can into the tent. Rowan and Sean are standing outside the tent, both of their hands covered in blood. Sean looks down at his hands and then up at Rowan.
“Do you think she will make it?”
Rowan shrugs. “I really don’t know, but we have given her a brilliant chance. You did brilliant and she will know that. Go and get cleaned up and try to relax.”
“I will go get cleaned but I want to wait here and see how Charlie is.”
Rowan smiles softly. “I will meet you back here in a few minutes, I will be waiting for news too.”
Paige is being looked after. The transfusion line is removed and her wound is being seen to. She keeps looking over to see what is happening with Charlie but she is unable to see her. All she can hear is different commands or the noise of trays and instruments being picked up or set down.
“Can you tell me if she’s okay please, just tell me something?”
“I will have a look when I am done looking after you. You need to relax and let the fluids get into your system. What you did was very brave out there and you have given her a chance at life and being able to fight more.”
Paige lays back down reluctantly. “Fine, I will stay put but get me some information please, just something to know she is holding her own over there.”
The doctor smiles at Paige knowing that what they have gone through is playing on Paige’s mind. She squeezes her shoulder. “I will go and check, you close your eyes and behave.”
Paige smiles and dutifully closes her eyes but her mind is swimming with the images of what had happened. Charlie jumped in front of her and took not one bullet but two for her.
Please make it through this Charlie, please, I told Emily I would look after you. I don’t want to break my word on that. Please, please be okay.
Paige drifts off into a fitful sleep as the doctors continue to work on Charlie. Their work is meticulous and they do everything they can to get the bleeding under control. The beep of the machine is the loudest sound that filters outside to where Sean and Rowan are pacing. Rowan looks at his watch.
“What is taking so long, it’s been a couple of hours now?”
Sean nods in agreement. “That has to be a good thing, it means she is still fighting and I don’t know about you, but I like that beep. It means her heart is still beating.”
Rowan stops pacing when he hears movement and turns to face one of the army doctors. He quickly approaches. “Is she all right?”
The doctor wipes his brow. “She is holding her own. We have the bleeding under control and both wounds have been cleaned and sutured. She will be under strong sedation and monitored closely. She will not be on the front line again. The other soldier will be fine, she has been seen to but she will be here for another while until she is replenished and fit for duty again. She is quite the handful from what I have heard, she kept demanding updates on Charlie. She is currently sleeping, which is good news for my team. She will be let go in a few hours but I expect she will be here every spare minute she has.”
Rowan and Sean grin at each other and let out the breaths that they were holding. “She is going to be okay, she is some fighter. Can we see her?”
The doctor shakes his head. “Not tonight, I want her closely monitored but you can see her tomorrow. I will come and update you on any further developments but the prognosis is good. She is very strong and the transfusion was a thought of genius, it has made the difference for her.”
“Thanks, doc, that’s great news and I promise to try and keep Paige under control and not cause you too much annoyance.”
The doctor chuckles. “Good luck with that, she is feisty, kept saying I am doing my job for Emily.”
Rowan laughs and shakes his head. “I will talk to her, I’m just glad that Charlie will make it and that Paige is okay.”
The doctor leaves Rowan and Sean. He goes back inside. “Jesus, I can breathe a bit easier now. Every time I closed my eyes I saw Charlie’s blood seeping through my fingers. Paige is crazy but she saved Charlie’s life like Charlie saved hers. They should be mentioned in a glowing light in your report sir.”
Rowan looks at Sean and smiles. “I will do that and I will mention your part in it too. The most important part is that both are going to be okay and we can learn from them and be inspired to have the unit tight like that all the time. Go and get some rest, you can check on Charlie tomorrow, we can do no more here now.”
“Yes sir, I will thanks.”
Sean leaves Rowan and goes back to his bunk. Rowan runs his hand through his hair. “What a fucking day, two of my best in the unit injured and I’ve lost a couple of good soldiers too. I better get this report done so that families can be notified, I hate this part of the tour.”
He lets out an exasperated breath and makes his way back to his quarters.
Inside the medical tent, Paige stirs and her eyes open. “Charlie!”
She goes to sit up when a hand makes her stay where she is. “Charlie is doing well, she got through surgery and is being monitored and she is still sedated and will be for some time yet.”
Paige smiles. “Fuck yes, I knew you would fight Charlie.”
The doctor laughs and Paige blushes. “Sorry, I’m just really happy that she is going to make it. She scared the fuck out of me and she got hurt saving me…”
“Relax, breathe, you are both going to be fine and you are both here. You kept her alive and that was amazing. You can sit with her later but for now just rest and relax.”
Paige smiles and nods. “You promise that I can sit with her later?”
“Jesus, you’re a pain in the butt but yes I promise, now rest or I won’t let you.”
Paige settles back and smiles. “Thank you and I know I’m a pain but she is my best friend out here, so I need to watch out for her.”
“I understand that and I believe after what you have been through together, you will be the best of friends back home too.”
“I hope so, she has to meet my son and I have to meet her fiancée.”
“It will happen, don’t worry, she is being well looked after. Now rest or I will put you out.”
Paige grins but settles down easier in the knowledge that Charlie is going to be okay.
Chapter 30
It’s been a couple of weeks since the spa day with mom and Ellie. Every day I can’t shake that something has happened to Charlie. I have been so distracted that Stacey has slept with me every night. Even when Niall was with her, she left him in her bed to come and stay with me. She would hold me, let me cry and whisper reassurances to me. It came to the point that she called Ellie who rang up college and asked for compassionate leave. It was approved and she took me back to her house to look after me. My mom has come to visit too, so the three of us are together. I spend my days on the swing seat in the front garden curled up and praying, with everything that I have, that I will hear from Charlie soon.
“Emily, honey, would you like some tea?”
I look up and smile at Ellie. “Sure, I’ll have some tea.”
She smiles at me. “Gwen told me that you like sweet tea, so I have made a pitcher
for us.”
My ears prick up at the thought of sweet tea and Ellie laughs. “I see that I have found something that has brought a glint to your eye, come on inside and I will pour us some.”
I get up from the swing seat and take the hand that is outstretched. She squeezes it and smiles at me. We go in and I look around for mom but she isn’t there.
“Where’s mom?”
“She has gone to the store, she wants to pick up groceries for your favourite dinner tonight. Plus, it gives me a chance to talk to you.”
She passes me the sweet tea and sits down beside me at the kitchen table.
“I want to tell you about Tony and what happened to him out there.”
I look at Ellie. “You don’t have to tell me this Ellie.”
“I know I don’t, but I think you need to hear it and I want to tell you. You are my daughter-in-law and your wife-to-be, my daughter, is out there and you are frightened. I was on the other end of having someone come up to my door and give me the news that you are dreading hearing. It’s the most horrendous time and no matter how many times you tell yourself that it won’t happen to you, it can. The week before Tony was killed in action, he called me. The call was different to all the others. I could sense his fear and anxiety, so I did everything I could to give him strength and hope. I made stupid jokes and he laughed. I told him that it was okay to be scared, that it would make him sharper and more alert. I told him how much I loved and how much Charlie loved him. He had tears in his eyes when he told me that he loved me and that he was so proud of Charlie and me. He said that Charlie was the most amazing gift I could have ever given him. He told me he loved her and no matter what she wanted to do, he would always support her. Before the end of the call, he told me he had sent me a letter and that he always thinks about me and that I was always in his heart. I told him to be safe and that I loved him so much. I asked him to be safe and he said he would. He kept saying he loved me over and over again. The call got disconnected and I got this uneasy feeling throughout my body. I had a very strong connection with Tony, as you do with Charlie. On the day Tony died, I knew before I was notified. I felt like my heart split. He was killed in battle protecting his team. He died fighting for our freedom, it was an ambush attack. They didn’t see it coming, there were eight in his team and half of them didn’t make it back. I get visits from his friends now and again. Sometimes when I am at the grave, I see new flowers that have been laid. They come and apologise that they are alive and Tony isn’t. It’s heart-breaking to see them like that. I have the same connection with Charlie and yes, something happened but she is alive, I would know if my baby was gone and I have no feeling of that. Emily, Charlie is a fighter and she has one of the biggest reasons to fight and get back here… YOU honey, you are what she will fight for until her last breath. You need to keep hope and faith. She is strong and she is okay and she will be home to us. I know how frightened you are but please, the way you are thinking and feeling is going to make you sick. My heart is telling me she is okay.”
A Chance Encounter Page 20
