KILTED DESIRE - Sands of Betrayal

by A. B. McKINLEY

  “Tell Tom I’ll call him after I speak to Dr. Hamilton. Bye, and thanks again for the great idea.”

  “I’ll tell him Katie, bye.”

  Katie sat down with her mom and dialed Scott’s doctor.

  “Dr. Hamilton,” he answered.

  “Hi, Dr. Hamilton. This is Katie Johnson. I called to ask if there is any news about Scott.”

  “Hello, Katie. There’s no change as of yet. I’m so sorry, but I must cut this short, I really need to get going. We have a lot of emergency admissions. A number of car bombs, I’m afraid.”

  “Oh my, I am so sorry! I will let you go. I hate to have bothered you.”

  “It’s not a problem, Katie. As I told you, you can call me anytime. I do have to go now, but everything we can do right now, is being done, I have checked on him a couple times today and the nurses check in on him regularly. I will call you if anything changes.”

  “Thanks, Dr. Hamilton. Bye.”

  “Bye, Katie.”

  “What did he say?” her mom asked.

  “There’s no change today. He said there were a lot of emergencies at the hospital today and he couldn’t talk. More car bombs! Seriously… what’s wrong with those people over there?” she asked. Her mother wrapped her arms around her and hugged her.

  “He’s going to be okay, honey. He’s a fighter. He will pull through.”

  “You don’t know that, mom.”

  “You’re right. I don’t know that for sure, but it’s what I think.”

  Katie said nothing. She wanted to erase the last twenty-four hours from her mind and life. If her thoughts disappeared, maybe the reality of it would too.

  Katie called in to work and explained what had happened to Scott. Her boss told her to take as much time as she needed. She told him she appreciated it and she would keep him informed. When she hung up, she wanted to call her girls. She missed them. They had gone to stay with her dad after the news, while her mom stayed at Katie’s house. The conversation with them was short, but it was good for Katie to talk to them.

  A week passed and there was still no real change in Scott’s condition. Katie touched base with the doctor every day. Every time she called, she was disappointed. He informed her that he was able to x-ray Scott’s head and it confirmed a fractured skull. He told her Scott still showed no sign of movement at all. She still wanted Tom to help her get her trip to Baghdad arranged, but he vehemently declined. He said that Scott would not be happy if she risked her personal safety. She knew he would want her safe and protected from that place, but her heart still ached to be by his side.

  Tom and Britney visited Scott every day, sometimes twice. Britney, as promised, left her laptop at the hospital and played the recording that Katie made for him. The doctor said he would have liked to see some positive signs within the first couple of days, but it hadn’t happened yet. He still tried to be optimistic since Scott was still breathing without assistance. But, he was becoming more concerned. The longer Scott remained in the coma, the slimmer his chances for recovery became.

  It was Tuesday evening in Baghdad, Tuesday afternoon in Ohio, when Katie’s phone rang.

  “Hello,” she said anxiously.

  “Hello Katie, this is Dr. Hamilton.”

  “Hi! Is there any news?”

  “Katie, we’ve had a couple of developments I wanted to tell you about.”

  “Okay, I’m listening.”

  “First of all, a nurse reported that Scott’s finger moved this afternoon. Apparently, it only happened once, but it was a definite movement. This doesn’t mean it was the first time it happened, but it is the first time it’s been witnessed. So that’s a good sign. The other thing is, and this is not good news, over the last twenty-four hours his blood pressure and heart rate have dropped. This is not necessarily a critical sign, but, since they have stayed pretty constant for the last few days, it is something that will be closely watched.”

  “Okay, that’s good news he moved his finger. Okay… that’s good. So, what could the drop in blood pressure mean?”

  “It could be many things, and it doesn’t necessarily mean anything bad. I don’t want to speculate, but it’s something we will be watching closely.”

  “Okay. I am at a loss and don’t really know what to think, but I’m going to try and stay positive because, he moved!”

  “Yes, do stay positive. We are optimistic here. Anyway, that is all I have for now. I did say I would let you know if anything happened. And this is some encouraging news. ”

  “Thanks, Dr. Hamilton.”

  Katie felt a little better after she heard Scott’s finger moved, although she was concerned about the other news. The doctor said that he was encouraged by his slight movement, but he would be monitored for the other. It was the first day she’d received positive news, and for the first time felt excited that he may be okay.

  Her raised spirits then crashed over the next few days. The doctor reported to Katie that Scott’s blood pressure and heart rate continued to drop. One piece of good news was Britney said she saw and felt his hand move while she was holding it. Dr. Hamilton informed Katie he was no longer as optimistic as he was initially. He warned her that even if he did wake up now, he may have suffered significant memory loss as well as some permanent brain damage.

  Katie continued to make recordings every day and sent them to Britney, who played them for Scott on her computer. Tom and Britney stopped in at least once a day, but it reached the point where everyone was beginning to lose hope. Katie refused to let go. Each time the doctor or Tom hinted that things might not turn out well, she quickly informed them she wanted to stay positive. She planned a life with him and he was going to come home to her just like he had promised. She never doubted it, there was no other option and she continued to have faith. Even Katie’s mom was getting to the point where she tried to convince her daughter to face that fact that what she wanted, may not happen. Katie would not accept that.

  It was now early November and the afternoon seemed colder than normal. Scott had remained in a coma for over two weeks. Katie needed positive news today. She cleaned her house for about the fourth time. She had to keep busy! Her weight had dropped considerably. Her parents were worried and hated to see her like this. They insisted she see a doctor, but she refused to go. As she scrubbed the kitchen floor, she heard her phone ring and reached for it. It was Dr. Hamilton.

  “Katie, I’m so sorry. I have some bad news.”

  “I don’t want to hear it,” she replied, still refusing to accept anything negative.

  “I know you don’t, but I have to tell you what has happened. Scott’s heart rate and blood pressure have dropped to dangerously low levels. We’re going to try and administer some drugs to stimulate his heart rate. Katie, you need to accept the fact that his body has started to shut down. We’ll continue to do everything we can, but you need to prepare yourself for the worst. Do you have any family members with you there for support?”

  Katie said nothing. All that was left to do was break down and cry. Her whole body trembled. Her legs gave way as she crumbled to the kitchen floor.

  “Are you there, Katie?” the doctor asked.

  “Yes, I have to go now. Thanks for calling,” she managed to say, as she tried to fight back the tears. The realization of everything that had happened began to sink in. She dreaded the thought that she would never see him again. She doubted a flight could get her there in time to say goodbye. Her mother stepped out of her room upstairs and walked halfway down when she heard Katie crying. She walked into the kitchen just in time to see Katie lose consciousness.

  Chapter 19

  Katie awoke in the hospital. She had only fainted, but her mom called an ambulance and she was taken to the hospital. She was in the emergency room and they had already run a number of tests. She needed to eat and rest to regain her strength. As she slowly regained total consciousness, she recalled every word of Dr. Hamilton’s phone call. She remembered his voice, then his words and how h
elpless she felt. Her mother asked what he had said, and she now relayed the horrible news to her mother who sat by her bedside.

  “I’m so sorry, Katie. Honey, I’ll help you get through this.”

  “I’m not sure I want to, mom.”

  “Don’t say that, Katie. Scott wouldn’t want you to talk like this. What about your girls? You know, Scott always says they come first.”

  “I know. I’m sorry.”

  Their conversation was interrupted by a nurse who came to check on Katie. She said they planned to keep her overnight for observation. Katie didn’t want to stay, but knew she needed the rest. She expected another call from Dr. Hamilton and feared the next call would be the one that would change her life forever.

  She hadn’t waited long when the phone rang. She looked at her mother, and trembled as she reached for the phone.

  “Hello,” she said nervously.

  “Hello, Katie, this is Dr. Hamilton.”

  Something was not right, Katie thought to herself. He sounded excited.

  “Katie, I have some amazing news,” he continued.

  “What is it?” she said, as she sat up.

  “The nurse was about to administer a drug when she saw Scott’s hand move, then his eyes flickered and he tried to roll over. The last recording you sent played from his nightstand. She believes he reacted to what you recorded. His heart rate and blood pressure have started to stabilize too.”

  “Oh my god,” she said softly. She smiled and felt relieved for any good news right now.

  “Let me be clear. The nurse didn’t administer the drugs that would have increased his heart rate. This happened just before she began. She played the recording again and he definitely reacted to your voice.”

  “I can’t believe it.” She started to cry, this time happy tears.

  “Katie, it does not mean he is out of the woods yet. He is still in critical condition, but this is a huge development. I have to go now, but I will keep in touch.”

  “Thank you so much, Dr. Hamilton,” she said, with a smile in her voice.

  “What did he say, Katie?” her mother asked excitedly.

  “He reacted to my voice, moved his hands and eyes and his heart rate and blood pressure started to go back up,” she said, as she continued to cry. Now there was a huge smile on her face. It was the first time her mom had seen her smile for a while and she started to cry, too.

  “He’s going to be okay, Mom! I just know it. I know that he’s fighting now.”

  “I hope you’re right, honey, I really do. This is great news.”

  Over the next few days, the doctor continued to update Katie on Scott’s progress. His blood pressure and heart rate returned to near normal and he continued to react to the sound of her voice. Tom and Britney witnessed movement, too, when they visited and passed this information on to Katie. But as yet, he still hadn’t woken up, and it was now, over three weeks. The movements were getting more pronounced and longer and now it looked like he was just asleep and dreaming, rather than being in a coma. Dr. Hamilton told Katie that he expected Scott to wake up at any time and when he did it, would be important for them to have something familiar for him to see. He explained that Scott could be extremely confused and would not know where he was. Photos of Katie were put by the side of his bed and the recordings continued to be played. What they did not want was for him to wake up and be scared and confused. The doctor wanted him surrounded with familiar things. He wanted him to stay calm when he woke up so they could explain what had happened, since he may not remember. He didn’t want him to try to get up and be injured more severely.

  It was a cold Wednesday, November morning in Ohio when Katie received the most important call from the doctor. He said that Scott woke up and, saw the nurse in his room, seemed startled and tried to sit up. He accidentally pulled the catheter and IV out when he moved so quickly. He was very confused and hadn’t initially recognized her photo. He was awake for only a minute before falling back to sleep. The doctor assured her that his reaction to her picture was nothing to worry about and when Scott woke up again, he would try and be there to explain things to him and to see what he remembered.

  Katie was a little worried that he hadn’t recognized her and was worried that he may not remember her at all. But, she was so glad that he regained consciousness that the other just didn’t seem all that important right now!

  Later that night, Katie received another call from the doctor.

  “Hi Katie, it is Dr. Hamilton. How are you doing?”

  “I’m good. Has Scott woken up again?”

  “Yes, Katie. He was awake for about half an hour. He’s still a little confused, but he does remember some things.”

  “Does he remember me?”

  “I’m pretty sure he does. It took a while, but I tried to explain to him what happened, that he was safe and in the hospital. I told him to keep looking at the photo and tell me who it was. As I mentioned before, it took a while and he stared at your picture for a few minutes, but eventually he smiled and said Katie.”

  “Oh, Dr. Hamilton, that’s great! I’m so happy! What else does he remember?”

  “He remembers being in Baghdad for work and recognizes Tom and Britney, too, or at least he said he did. But, he didn’t remember anything about what happened prior to when he was attacked.”

  “Okay, the first part is great! But his not remembering that day, is that something we should be worried about?”

  “It is actually very good, Katie, and I’m not saying that’s all he can’t remember. He was only awake for a short time, so we didn’t talk much. It would be very normal for him to not remember anything in the lead up to a traumatic event. But, it’s quite possible there will be other things that he won’t remember or will be confused about, too. He remained in a coma for a long period of time. It’s important we don’t try and push him too much and take things slowly.”

  “Absolutely! I’m just happy he’s alive and by the sound of it, he’s going to get better. Doctor, you have no idea how ecstatic I feel right now.”

  “I think I can guess.”

  “What about his other injuries, Dr. Hamilton? How are they progressing?”

  “The swelling in his head has gone down considerably. We will need to get him transferred to a better facility when he’s well enough to travel so they can do a CAT scan to completely check things out. The cast on his wrist will be removed in a week or so, the cast on his leg maybe a week after that. The burns on his left side and the lacerations on his face have been healing nicely, too.”

  “This is great. I know it is probably too early to say, but do you have any idea when he could come home?”

  “I don’t yet, Katie, but I won’t keep him here any longer than I need to.”

  “Okay, that’s good. One more thing, when may I talk with him? When do you think he will be up to it?”

  “Again, I can’t give you an exact time or date. We’ll see how he is the next time he wakes up and how long he stays awake. I don’t see that you talking to him will be a problem, if he’s up to it. We will see, but maybe some time over the next couple of days.”

  “That is great! Thank you, Dr. Hamilton.”

  “You’re welcome, Katie, I’ll be in touch.”

  Katie was thrilled! This was the best news she could possibly have received. Things improved with just a call. She felt good again. She arranged for the girls to come home and she wanted to go back to work. She was happy and decided to get things back to normal, plus, she was going to be able to talk to Scott.

  Tom and Britney received the news about Scott, too, from the doctor and Katie. They visited him the next day and hoped they would find him awake. With the increased violence in the city, they stayed only about an hour and he was asleep the whole time they were there. The nurse told them earlier that morning, he was awake briefly, but it was best not to wake him. Britney was particularly disappointed. She really wanted to talk to him, but was happy that he seemed to be getting better
. Tom brought Scott a new cell phone. He knew at some point, he would want to call Katie. The phone that was in his pocket when he was injured was destroyed. Tom smiled as he set the phone down by Scott. He was glad his guard and friend had survived and that all he had lost was another phone.

  The following day, back in Ohio, Katie answered her phone. It was Dr. Hamilton.

  “Hi, Katie! Are you ready to talk to Scott, today?”

  “Oh my, of course! I’ve been waiting for this for so long. How is he doing today?”

  “He’s doing okay. He just woke up, but he doesn’t stay awake for very long at a time just yet, so try and keep it short.”

  “Okay I will keep it short, I promise. Is he there now?” she asked. She was so excited to talk with him.

  “No, I’m in my office. Scott said he was going to call you, but he realized he didn’t remember the number. I came back to my office to get it for him and thought I’d let you know he was about to call.”

  “But my number should be in his phone.”

  “Tom said he’d brought him a new phone because the other one was damaged in the blast.”

  “Oh, okay. I didn’t think about that. Yes, please give him the number and tell him I’m ready and waiting anxiously to talk with him.”

  “Katie, give me a couple minutes to get back to his room and please call me after you speak with him to let me know what you think. You are the one person who knows him best, so you’ll be able to let me know how he seems.”

  “Okay, I will. Thank you, Dr. Hamilton.”

  Katie smiled from ear to ear. She had come so close to the losing the man she loved and now she was going to get the chance to talk to him again. It was something she believed was never going to happen. She waited, stared at her phone and willed it to ring. Her pulse raced and she felt like a small child on Christmas Eve. Then it happened. Her phone started to ring.