Love Letters: Saving Gideon (The Angel Chronicles Book 4)

by Mary May

  “Young lady, I’m assuming that you are Nathaniel’s girlfriend?”

  Charlie nodded her head. “Yes, I’m Charlie Blakely and, while it’s not official, Nate and I plan to marry.”

  Dr. Reed leaned back in his chair eyeing her with a speculative look. “Nathaniel was a good-looking young man, Miss Blakely, and you yourself are a very pretty young lady. I would imagine you have a nice image in your mind of your wedding day. Let me tell you right now…that perfect image is gone forever. How do you feel about that?”

  Feeling her blood pressure shoot up at the doctor’s implied suggestion that she was shallow enough to leave Nate because his looks had changed had Charlie smiling coldly at him as she crossed her arms. “Dr. Reed, all I need for my image to be perfect is for it to be Nate and myself exchanging vows on that day. I have loved him since I was five years old and I don’t expect that to change because he looks different. His looks have change a lot since I was five and, strangely enough, I love him more than ever. Now what I need you to do is be his doctor and make dang sure that he lives to get to that altar and I’ll be his girlfriend and I’ll make dang sure that I’m there to walk down that aisle to him. Do you think you can do that?” By the time Charlie had finished, she was leaning over the doctor’s desk looking him square in the face as her sparkling blue eyes pinned him down.

  Dr. Reed smiled coldly as he stood up behind his desk. “I wish I could tell you that your speech, as nice as it was, was something I haven’t heard dozens of times before, Miss Blakely. They all start out devoted and determined, but within weeks and, for some, days, they all find that the love they swore to me would never fade…does. So do yourself and Nathaniel a favor, and walk away now. Before he even knows you’re here.”

  Charlie’s heart was pounding so hard in her chest that she felt sick from it, her mouth dry and tasting of copper where she had bitten the inside of her cheek to keep from saying something her mama would wash her mouth out for. Instead she held her ground and finally Dr. Reed sighed; then opening the door he led the way down the hall to Nate.

  Gideon followed the family down the hall with his jaw muscle ticking dangerously. Dr. Reed had made him angry quicker than anyone had in a good while. He rolled his shoulders, popping his jaw, trying to calm himself before they got to Nate’s room. He felt a small smile crease his lips when he saw Charlie rolling her shoulders and popping her jaw, perfectly mimicking his actions. The doctor had struck a nerve telling her to walk away. He most likely had the patient’s best interest at heart, and after seeing the same thing repeated countless times, he was judging Charlie by what he knew. But Gideon knew something that the doctor with all his years of college and experience didn’t know. He knew Charlotte Marie Blakely and he would bet on her every time!

  Doctor Reed stopped outside a door with a long wall of windows. The curtain was pulled closed so Charlie couldn’t see anything that was inside. “Mr. and Mrs. Jackson, I’m going to take you inside first. Right now Nathaniel is heavily medicated to control his pain, so he won’t know you’re here.” He looked at both Nate’s mother and Charlie with a stern eye. “Whatever bad reaction you feel the need to have, now is the time to have it. When he is unaware of it. If and when Nathaniel wakes up, I want nothing but courage and smiling faces entering his room. Do I make myself clear?” He raised his hand when Nate’s father opened his mouth to protest his stern commands.

  “Let me explain how I work. I am your son’s doctor; his needs and well-being will come before yours every time. I have no problem denying anyone access to him, including his parents, if I feel they are a detriment to his recovery.”

  “How on earth would having his own family with him be a detriment, doctor? You cannot stop me from seeing my own child!” Dr. Reed reached for what Charlie assumed was Nate’s file in a small slot just outside the door. He opened it, looking at it for several long seconds before responding to Nate’s mother.

  “Mrs. Jackson, I assure you I can and I will do exactly that if you bring anything into your son’s room other than positive and encouraging energy. It will take every medical skill I possess, along with every medical skill of every other doctor and nurse that will handle your son’s case, to pull him through this. I take no chances; I utilize every tool at my disposal, including prayer and a positive atmosphere. If you cannot be productive to that plan of action, then you will not be allowed access to him. It’s as simple as that. If you do not believe in God or prayer, then I will not pray in your presence, but that is the only concession I’ll give you. Now do you have any questions before we go in?” After shaking their heads no, the doctor opened the door that made an odd blowing sound and they stepped inside.

  Charlie leaned her head against the wall, letting a deep breath slowly expel. She had no idea what to think of Dr. Reed. On one hand she was happy that he was so devoted to Nate, but it was a scary thought that with one unapproved reaction she could be denied visitation with him.

  “Please, God, give me courage to help Nate through this. Help me be whatever it is that he needs me to be. I’m terrified right now that I will react badly when I see him for the first time. So please give me strength and peace to give to Nate.” She stopped to wipe away the tears, searching for some tissue in her pockets.

  “Here, you look like you could use these.” Charlie looked up into a pair of kind gray eyes that smiled down at her. The janitor held out a small packet of unopened tissues.

  “Oh, yes, thank you so much.” She took the tissues with a grateful if somewhat watery smile.

  The man nodded toward the door. “You got family in there?”

  “Yes, my boyfriend…well, he is more than that really. It’s not official, but we are to be married.”

  He glanced down at the silver ring on Charlie’s left hand. It was two silver hearts linked together with a tiny ruby nestled in the center. It was simple in design, but Charlie loved it. “Is that his ring he gave you?”

  Charlie lifted her hand as she nodded. “Yes, it’s just a promise ring though; it’s not an engagement ring.”

  He smiled as he looked at the pretty silver ring. “Well, miss, I’m not sure what the difference is exactly. Seems they both mean something pretty important. Anytime a man puts a ring on a gal’s finger, he is telling the world that she is officially taken. So I wouldn’t take it too lightly.”

  Charlie looked up at him with wide eyes. “Oh, my…you’re right. I have been doing exactly that. I’m a terrible girlfriend!” She covered her face, sobbing.

  The janitor patted her shoulders awkwardly. “Oh now…I didn’t mean to make you carry on so. I was trying to make you feel better, not worse! I gave you the only packet of tissues I had on me. You may want to conserve them.” Charlie sniffled and snorted, blinking rapidly until she had herself somewhat under control once more.

  “That’s a good girl. Now I bet your young man is sleeping, but he very well may be able to hear you so you make sure your voice is strong and tell him exactly how much you love him. You do love him, don’t you, girl?”

  Charlie nodded as a smile spread across her face and right up into her eyes. “Oh, yes, sir! I have loved him since I was five years old.”

  “Good, that’s real good. Do you know what is stronger than love?”

  Charlie shook her head. “What?”

  The man reached around and grabbed his cart before he smiled down at her once more and whispered, “Nothing!” Then he stepped around her, walking on down the hall.

  “Wait!” Charlie trotted down the hall where the man had stopped to wait for her. “Thank you again for the tissues and for the advice. I’m Charlie Blakely and my boyfriend, I mean my fiancé, is Nate Jackson.”

  She held her hand out and it was grasped in a warm firm grip. “Well, now, Miss Charlie it’s my pleasure to know you, and I’ll be keeping you and your young man in my prayers.” Once again he started to move off down the hall to resume his duties.

  “What’s your name?” Charlie called after him.
/>   Without stopping or looking back he replied, “You can call me Mac.” He then disappeared around the corner.

  Charlie slowly walked back to wait outside Nate’s door until it was her turn to see him. She felt calmer now, stronger somehow. She had only been standing there a couple of minutes when the door opened once more with the weird blowing sound. Nate’s parents hurried out. His father’s face looked strained and concerned, but his mother’s face was a complete wreck. Tear-streaked and pale, she was clearly shaken. They both turned and walked down the hall without so much as a glance in Charlie’s direction.

  Dr. Reed stepped out, pinching the bridge of his nose. He gave her a look that said he didn’t expect much from her. “Young lady, are you ready?” Praying silently once more for courage and strength, Charlie nodded her head and then followed the doctor into the room…

  Chapter 3

  Dr. Reed stopped just inside the door and instructed Charlie to slip on a white coverall, mask and gloves. “We have to keep Nathaniel’s room as sterile as possible.” he explained. “Even something as harmless as a dust microbe can kill him in his weakened state.” They stepped into a dry enzyme shower to further remove any germs.

  “The blowing sound at the door? What is that?”

  “That is the first defense against airborne germs. There is a fan that blows clean air from this area outside every time the door opens to prevent dirty air from coming in.”

  “Ok, that makes sense. You don’t have to kill it if you can stop it from getting in here in the first place. That probably means less chemicals being used, too.”

  The doctor’s eyes showed surprised at Charlie’s comment. “That’s correct; better to prevent than to cure.”

  “Is there something I should be washing with at the hotel before I come visit? A special body wash or shampoo maybe? Something antibacterial?”

  The doctor shook his head. “No, you would gather up germs on your way over here. But you are the first to ask me that.”

  Surprise registered on Charlie’s face when she looked at the doctor. “You’re kidding?”

  “Miss Blakely, to my knowledge I do not possess a sense of humor, so I can assure you I never ‘kid’ about anything. Now are you ready to see your fiancé?”

  Squaring her shoulders, she met the doctor’s eyes without hesitation. “Yes, sir, I am.”

  A clear plastic bubble surrounded Nate’s bed. Tubes and vents were inserted to carry in oxygen-rich air to help speed up the healing of his burned and damaged skin. Charlie felt her heart race as she stepped closer. At first all she could see was a human form, nothing she could really identify as Nate.

  His torso was partially uncovered, the skin black in some places, red blistered and seeping in others. Her eyes traveled slowly from his right leg, which ended in a white bandage just below the knee then up to his chest that was a mangled mess of scorched skin and gaping lacerations. The inability of his damaged skin to stretch made the deep cuts impossible to stitch closed. A mesh-like bandage covered the worst of them. His left arm and hand appeared to have escaped without much injury, as did his left leg. She could see just a few superficial cuts and bruises. Taking a deep breath, she allowed her eyes to drift upward to his face.

  Dr. Reed watched the young lady take in what was left of her boyfriend. He had stood in this exact spot more times than he would care to count and had seen every reaction: screams of horror to silent tears of denial, and everything in between. He wondered which route this blonde beauty would take. So far she had looked everywhere but his face. He had seen his enlistment picture. Nathaniel Jackson had been a good-looking young man. A rugged masculine face with a square cut jawline, black hair and deep brown eyes with a fringe of dark lashes. Yes, Mr. Jackson was certainly a head turner, and he still would be, but for a different reason. The doctor folded his arms and waited for the fallout.

  Charlie finally let her gaze land on Nate’s face. An involuntary gasp escaped her lips, which she covered with her gloved fingertips. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she nodded her head before walking up to the plastic tent whispering, “Ok, babe…it’s all going to be ok. I love you always, Nate Jackson, always. Can you hear me? I don’t care how long our road to recovery is; we will walk it together. Do you hear me? I need you to fight for me, Nate. Fight to come back to me. You made me a promise and I’m holding you to it! God will get us through this, my love; I know it in my soul. I’ll be strong for you as long as you need me to be. I’m here, Nate…I’m right here.”

  Dr. Caleb Reed was a man of science and very little surprised him. But if not surprised then he was at least taken back, because he did see a new reaction in Miss Blakely. He prided himself on being a trained observer of human reaction. He had to be in his line of duty. He watched a lot of the same reactions cross the young lady’s pretty face, shock, denial, anger, but then he saw acceptance and peace followed by determination. This little slip of a girl showed more courage than both of Nathaniel’s parents.

  The mother had very nearly gone to her knees after her first quick look; if not for the quick actions of her husband she would have. She then spent the remainder of the time sobbing in her husband’s arms while he asked one or two questions before they quickly left. Neither of them bothered to speak to their son. Charlie continued to stand there and chat with him like they were sitting at lunch. He usually kept the visits to five minutes or less, but seeing how the parents didn’t really use any of their time, he decided to give it to Charlie. He had a feeling that Nate, as she called him, would get much more from spending time with her.

  Gideon walked over to Nate’s guardian. Shana paced beside his bed, her face pinched in worry, her lips moving in a constant silent prayer. She held on to Gideon briefly when he hugged her, trying to absorb some of his immeasurable strength.

  “What happened?” he asked.

  Shana kept her eyes on Nate as she answered. “I honestly don’t know for sure. We were flying to our destination. It was a night raid, but it had all been going very routine. They called on the radio for air support to finish the raid and we were nearly there. We could see the village and they were getting ready to fire off the finishing shots. Then I heard a high pitch whistle and I knew a rocket was heading our way. I barely had time to throw myself over Nate when the chopper exploded. After that it was like hell. Flames and screams for help… the smell of burning flesh.” Shana stopped as a small shudder went through her tall frame.

  Gideon placed his hand on her shoulder to comfort her. It truly had to have been a terrible thing; usually the tall female guardian was fairly unflappable. She reminded Gideon of a feminine version of himself in a lot of ways. She drew in a deep breath then continued her story.

  “Once the Apache crashed, I thought for sure this assignment was over. But I heard Nate screaming trying to release his seatbelt. The flames were shooting up from the floor burning him alive.” She stopped once more, looking up at Gideon. “I had no choice. I had received no orders that this was his appointed time. I had to save him, Gideon, but…” Shana trailed off, looking over at Nate motionless in his bed.

  “He saw you, didn’t he?”

  She nodded. “Yes, but only briefly. I saw his eyes widen when I broke his seat loose from the plane so I could carry him away from the wreckage. I put him to sleep as quickly as I could. It’s very possible that he either won’t remember it at all or he will believe he was hallucinating from the pain.”

  Something about the way she looked when she said it prompted Gideon to ask her another question. “Did he recognize you? From his youth?”

  Shana smiled, tucking a strand of ebony hair behind her ear. “I can’t be certain, but I think he did. There was just…just a flash of something in his eyes for the briefest moment that makes me believe he did remember me.” She ducked her head, looking ashamed. “I know we are always behind the scenes, rarely if ever acknowledged. We do what we do and move on to the next assignment, but do you ever want or long for more?” She tilted her head, ma
king her long ponytail sway as she gazed at Nate. “Is that prideful…sinful?”

  Gideon thought before he answered Shana’s question. Pride was truly a double-edged sword. On one hand it was a good thing because it made you strive to do your best, but it could consume you if you weren’t careful. He decided he needed clarification so he asked what she meant by “more.”

  “I don’t know, more involvement, more responsibility, more opportunities to interact, more ways to truly help. Just…more. Am I making sense?”

  Finally understanding what she was saying, Gideon nodded, but that was all he had time to do because Dr. Reed announced that Charlie’s visit was over.

  The ride back to the hotel with Nate’s parents was even more strained than the ride up there. Charlie tried to talk to them, but they shut her out with non-answers or one-word answers designed not to encourage further conversation. Finally she sat back and watched the traffic as his dad maneuvered through the late evening commuters. Once reaching the hotel she didn’t even try to engage them or find out what their plans were because she was sure they didn’t include her. Now she wondered why they brought her at all. Closing the door to her room with a soft click, she leaned against it briefly before all strength left her legs and she slid down, landing on the floor in a heap. Staring at the basic framed wall decor on the opposite wall, she tried to let her mind go blank. But the sight of Nate’s poor face wouldn’t go away no matter how hard she tried to block it out.

  The worst of the damage was on the right side, like the rest of his body. His right eye was bandaged. Dr. Reed advised that it would heal but he might never see out of it again. The skin that was visible below the bandage was swollen and blistered. Parts of it were already turning black as the tissue deprived of blood was starting to die. It was truly a devastating injury and Charlie tried to imagine how she would feel to wake up and be told that her life was forever changed and not even her own reflection was spared. She lifted her hand and ran her fingers over her smooth features; then she cupped her hand over her right eye, looking around to get a feel for how it would be to lose half of your sight. After a minute she covered both eyes and it didn’t take her long to understand that two eyes were better than one eye, but one eye was most definitely better than none. “So that’s the approach we will use when it’s time to help him adjust,” she whispered.