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An extra post because so many of you jammed up my inbox with concerns. Enjoy xxxxx
Life's Illusions - Book Four - Chapter 25
Piers realised as soon as he heard the air horn, felt the massive impact, but then the noise hurt his ears, airbags were popping all around him, panic set in, the Semi and Trailer travelling at around forty miles an hour had struck him broadside on the passenger side, as he turned right onto the highway.
He'd taken the small saloon that he felt most comfortable in, but it was no match for a such a massive truck, it caved in easily under the force of the impact, Piers could see the passenger side of the car coming towards him as if in slow motion, the car was being pushed sideways, he felt the pain in his legs and his left arm as the bodywork was reduced to less than half its original width, he'd felt glass shattering all around him, the warm air from outside assaulting him, he remembered hearing what he assumed were tyres exploding, then the car was tumbling, his head banging hard repeatedly against something, the car came to rest upside down, but Piers didn't know it, Piers didn't know anything.
The family had arrived at the house within minutes of Piers heading out to the store.
As usual it had been a hug fest, with the boys feeling totally crushed but really happy, Piers had been right, they just wanted to express their love, and welcome the boys into the family.
Only Gracie was excluded, she refused to be hugged by anyone, clinging for grim death onto Vinny, and constantly asking for Piers.
Everyone was settled with refreshments when Milo, Josef and Juan's cells simultaneously signalled Red Alert messages, all three alerts screaming out loudly.
They all watched in shock as Milo staggered sideways, grabbing a wall to keep himself upright as he read the message.
'Red alert, Aus TWO vehicle signalling 'MAJOR RTA', 'Massive Vehicle Damage', Aus TWO Status Presently Unknown'.
They saw his tears, then Milo was running for his office, followed by Jo and Juan, everyone else was staring, only understanding something bad had happened, but not knowing what, or to whom.
In his office Milo was visibly shaking as he hit several buttons on his landline and desk monitor, bringing the wall screens to life, and connecting him to Guardian's Control Room.
"This is Aus ONE, Status of Aus TWO immediately, what do we have, tell me he's alive?".
Vinny had just entered the office, he gasped, he knew who Aus TWO was, it was Poppa Piers.
Behind Vinny were Aly and Bo, they were holding one another tightly, their faces ashen.
Guardian's controller in Sydney answered Milo almost immediately.
"Vitals erratic, Paramedics and Fire Service on scene, I'm authorising air ambulance costs to Guardian, I'm directing him to The Royal Prince Alfred for treatment, intercede now if you object Aus ONE".
Milo didn't speak, he just listened, and the controller understood, as he spoke to his operatives.
"Patch me into Sydney Control".
"Sydney Control this is Guardian Security Services, you are attending a major RTA, I've sent you the coordinates, the driver is Guardian Australia's Number TWO, Piers Grant-Alonso-Bowles-Cruz, I have authorised the use of an Air Ambulance, it is enroute to the incident location, I have already directed that the patient be taken to The Royal Prince Alfred, I have alerted them to his arrival, Trauma Staff will be on standby, they will liaise with the inbound flight, please patch me through to the first responders".
There followed an audible series of clicks before a voice was heard.
"P.Med at scene, who am I talking to?".
"P.Med, this is Guardian Security Services Controller, your patient is Guardian's Australian number TWO, Piers Grant-Alonso-Bowles-Cruz, I have an Air Ambulance on route to you, ETA two minutes, you should be able to hear it by now, I am instructing that the patient be directed to The Royal Prince Alfred, they have a Trauma Team on standby to meet the patient, can you give me any information on the patients current status?".
"Patient is erratic on vitals, I'm concerned because of the shock element, there's a lot of bleeding from a serious head wound, he's not stabilising, I'd be a lot happier if he'd got a hospital wrapped around him instead of this mess of mangled metal, the Fire Service are working to cut him out of the wreckage as we speak, but it's not easy, he's upside down, they should only be a couple more minutes now, and your Air Ambulance has just landed, I'll travel with him".
As the Paramedic cut his call, Guardian's Controller spoke to Milo.
"Aus ONE, I understand you have Guardian's Parent Company numbers ONE and TWO with you, plus Piers' parents, I'm messaging all five of your cells now, earphones in please, I'll patch you into communications, you'll have a constant live feed of activity, and Milo, we've got it covered, he's our number one priority until he's at the hospital, have faith, we are not losing our number two, you drive safely".
All five cells began signalling an incoming message.
Milo stood transfixed, until Vinny shook him.
"Come on Poppa, we need to get moving, I've spoken to Andy, both cars are ready, and don't argue we're coming with you, this is our Poppa".
He also opened one of Milo's desk drawers, taking out three sets of earphones, similar to the sets Jo and Juan were already using.
He plugged one set into his Poppa Milo's cell, activated a link and handed it back to him, before plugging in a set each for his grandparents, and saying.
"Earphones in and click on the link you just received, it'll give you a running commentary of what's happening".
Milo just stared at the boy, in truth he was amazed.
Before he cut the link to Guardian Control he issued one last instruction.
"Control, send a link to Vinny's cell please".
Vinny looked surprised, but he grabbed another set of earphones for himself.
In the car Pil started crying, Baz was hugging him, trying to comfort him when Vinny half turned to talk to them.
"It's okay to be upset guys, but he's almost there, the Air Ambulance is about two minutes out from the hospital, try to be brave, we don't want to upset Gracie".
When they set off, the first car with Andy driving held Milo, Vinny, Baz, Pil, and Gracie.
The second car held the driver Dennis, Aly, Bo, Juan, Ralph, Josef, and Carry
As they pulled into the hospital Milo jumped out and set off at a sprint for the ER entrance, Vinny followed him out of the car, but he headed to the second car, and to Carry.
"Aunt Carry could you look after the boys and Gracie for me please I'm going after Poppa".
Carry's reply was brief.
"Yes, you go child".
She went to the first car and set about unstrapping a wary looking Gracie, who surprisingly, allowed Carry to lift her out of the car, and held her hand tightly as, with Baz and Pil, they followed the others into the hospital.
Vinny had sprinted after Milo, catching him well before he got to the reception counter.
At the counter Milo started explaining who he was but he got flustered, Vinny took over, reaching for Milo's wallet, searching through the various cards, he gave Guardian's medical billing details for Piers medical expenses.
They were directed to a private waiting room on the first floor and advised someone would be along to speak with them as soon as there was any news.
They'd waited around forty five minutes before a doctor appeared.
He asked for Milo who jumped up immediately, shadowed by Vinny.
"Piers is finally stable, he is currently undergoing a CT scan, we want to assess the area of his head that received some pretty heavy blows, he regained consciousness for a while after the Paramedics began working on him at the scene, but he lapsed into unconsciousness again during the air transfer, that gives us cause to suspect there is swelling of the brain, we should have more information on that in about an hour once the scan is completed, there are other injuries, but none of them are life threatening, a broken left leg, a dislocated left shoulder which has already been repositioned, and two broken ribs, I know it's not the good news you were hoping for, but I believe keeping you informed of exactly what's happening leads to less anxiety, I'll be back as soon as we have the CT scan results, hang on in there".
When the doctor departed, Milo slumped down into a chair, his face in his hands.
Vinny sat beside him, pulling him in close, and whispering.
"We have to stay strong Poppa, he's a tough cookie, think positive".
Milo looked up at his son, the tears glistening in his eyes.
"You're right, he's going to be okay, sorry, I was slipping into my own pity party, how are your brothers and Gracie doing?".
Vinny indicated Carry, with a sleeping Gracie on her lap.
"Gracie seems to be expanding her horizon of trusted friends, Baz seems to be doing okay, though I suspect it's just a front, Pil's not doing very well at all".
Milo got up, going to where Baz and Pil were sitting.
Squeezing between them he put his arms around them.
"Sorry guys, I've been a bit preoccupied, he's going to be alright, I just know it, try not to be upset, and I know that's easier said than done, just have faith, and come tell me if you have any concerns, promise?".
They both nodded to him.
He'd remained holding them until the doctor came back.
"Good, and bad news, but primarily good, there is swelling, and it's what is causing his unconscious state, it's a sort of self inflicted coma, but only very lightly, his body is taking preemptive action, by putting itself into a comatose state it helps relieve the swelling, now the good news, from the point where we ran the first scan, to the point where we ran a second scan, there was a noticeable reduction in the swelling, so, as we speak, I have my team running another scan, that should tell me at what rate it's shrinking, and when he's likely to awaken, I'm going back to evaluate the results as they come in, I'll see you again in about forty minutes".
Milo breathed a sigh of relief, but he noticed Manny was having some problems, he was trying to get a response from Juan, who was staring straight ahead, unseeing, and he was grey.
Milo knew exactly what was happening, he told the boys he'd just be a few minutes, getting up he nodded to Josef to help him get Juan out of the room.
Between them they stood up an almost rigid Juan, then supported him as they exited the room into the corridor, they all tried talking to him, but he wasn't hearing them, so Milo said.
"Oh well, here goes, and I just know I'm going to regret this".
He'd slapped Juan's face so forcefully with an open palm that he jarred Juan's head to the side.
In reflex, Juan's fist connected with Milo's chin, propelling him forcefully backwards into a wall, where he slid slowly to the floor, out cold.
But it had done the trick, Juan realised immediately what he'd done, and was kneeling on the floor beside Milo, gently tapping his cheeks, begging his forgiveness.
When Milo came around, he was groggy, but not so out of it he couldn't put Juan at ease.
"It's okay, I knew what would happen, but I couldn't let you go on like that, you were back there again, it's not Pierre, this is Piers, and it's not going to repeat itself, you have to believe that, we already have good news, it's going to be alright, we just need to stay positive".
Josef later told Carry what Milo had done, and he admitted, his respect for Milo had risen like a rocket, because he needn't have done it, he'd known Juan would hurt him, but he'd reasoned it was the most practical way of bringing him out of the deep funk he'd gotten himself into, or as Josef put it.
"That Milo has some serious balls to do that, I'd have only done it if I had a steel barrier between us, or if Juan was in handcuffs, my brother is a lovely guy, but he's also a trained killing machine, Milo knew that, and he still did it for Juan's sake".
They'd no sooner reentered the room, with Vinny wanting to know what had happened to his Poppa, when the doctor was back, thankfully diverting Vinny's attention.
"Good news, the swelling is receding, he's been conscious for a few minutes, but it's still intermittent, I'll allow you Milo, to see him now for no more than five minutes, then I'm asking you all to go home, come back after midday tomorrow, if he's been conscious for a significant period of time in the morning, I'll allow his children and his parents to spend an hour with him, but no one other than Milo is going to get close to him before midday tomorrow, he needs calm, quiet, time to heal, I'll remind you he was upside down and unconscious when he was cut out of a car that had been crushed to one third of its original width, if he'd been hit on the opposite side, he wouldn't be here".
Milo had been following the doctor, but before they could enter Piers room the doctor stopped.
"Positive only Milo, no crying, nothing negative, speak softly, tell him he's going to be okay, tell him to rest, tell him you love him, he can hear you, just remember, absolutely nothing that could cause him to be agitated, the absolute need is calm, if at any point you feel you can't manage that, back out of the room".
Milo entered the room and he had to choke back the urge to scream, let alone cry, Piers was almost black with bruises, and there was still blood, dried blood, visible everywhere that wasn't covered by bandages and pads.
He backed out of the door into the corridor, bumping into the doctor, who said.
"Well that's a good start, now, compose yourself, yes, he's black and blue all over, so you know what you have to tell everyone who might visit tomorrow, prepare them to ignore it, we want positive only, I'll leave you for a few minutes, when you feel you're ready go back in, it won't be such a shock the second time around".
He'd patted Milo on the shoulder and walked to the nurses station.
Milo did some serious breathing exercises before pushing through the room door again.
Going to the bed he leaned down and kissed Piers on the lips.
"I love you Piers, it's going to be alright, rest my love, I'll be back to see you tomorrow, and I want to see you awake, you're making good progress, don't be concerned about anything, you just concentrate on getting better, the kids send their love, night night my love, sleep well, you're in safe hands".
When he came out of Piers room, he found Vinny waiting for him, he slumped against the wall and broke down crying.
Vinny pulled him into a hug as Milo muttered.
"He's black and blue all over, my Piers, he didn't even know I was there".
Vinny held him tight.
"Yes he did Poppa, he'll have heard you, now come on, pull yourself together, we need to keep it together for the others, let's go home, when we come back tomorrow he's going to be on the mend, and we're all going to be there helping him".
Back at the house, they'd explained everything to the rest of the party, even their housekeeper Mrs Findlay who was crying, but who'd stayed on to look after the remaining visitors and wait for news of Piers.
Carry had sent a news text around the wider family.
'Some of you will be aware that Piers was involved in a major RTA earlier today, he sustained severe injuries and lapsed into a coma during the airlift to hospital, but I can finally report that it appears he is on the mend, he's still in a coma, but the doctors are confident he should awake in the next twelve hours or so, I'll keep you informed with an update at midday AU time tomorrow, please don't plan to visit, I'll give the green light when that time comes, but for now give him the space he needs to heal. On a lighter note which I know Piers would approve, I've met the kids that Piers and Milo can now describe as their children, yes folks, they skipped the fostering stage and went straight to adoption, we have four new family members, and they are the absolute cutest of kids, you will definitely want to meet them, I'll update you all tomorrow".
Milo had sought out Aly and Bo once back at the house, he'd found them in their suite.
Knocking, the door it had been opened by a tearful Bo, Aly was sitting on the couch, also in tears.
Milo went into the room.
"I know what you were thinking, it was difficult not to think it, Juan couldn't hold back from it, but it's not a repeat of Pierre's accident, Piers is going to be okay, don't ask me how I know, maybe it's because Vinny told me, but the thing is, I believe it, he'll recover, and if he ever goes near the driving seat of another car, I'll personally break his bloody legs, then you'll have cause to be upset".
Aly laughed despite the tears.
"He always was a nightmare driver, I'm amazed he's never had a bad accident before".
Milo hugged them both, saying.
It really is going to be alright, but tell me, what do you think about our new brood".
Bo answered him.
"Are you kidding, they're beautiful, and little Gracie, we want to take her home with us, Baz and Pil haven't quite found their feet yet, they will eventually, but Vinny, he's unbelievable, the things he did today, I don't think you saw, or knew about half of it".
Milo was looking confused.
"Elaborate, please".
Bo explained.
"He was first into your office, behind you, Jo, and Juan, in front of even us, he heard you ask for Piers status and I thought he was going to collapse, but he pulled himself together, arranged the cars to be ready, set up mine and Aly's cells so we could follow Piers progress, he even set you up with earphones, then at the hospital, he asked Carry to look after the younger ones, and he was behind you all day, remember how many times he hugged you, reassured you, that boy has so much compassion and love it's unbelievable, and it's obvious, he absolutely dotes on his brothers and sister".
Milo was amazed, with everything going on, he'd been too preoccupied to notice how hard Vinny was working in the background.
"If you guys will excuse me, I think I'll pay number one son a visit".
He was feeling slightly upbeat as he knocked on Vinny's bedroom door, but the sight that met him when Vinny opened the door nearly broke his heart.
Vinny had clearly been sobbing for some time, his face was red, wet with tears, his eyes puffy, and seeing Milo, he lapsed back into heart wrenching sobs.
Milo pulled him into a hug as he shut the door behind them.
"Come on son, lets sit down, you've been an absolute brick for me all day, but it has to come out at some point, it's not healthy to keep it in, I don't think I would have coped today without you, all the things you did, you were the star player son, and I'm so grateful, I came close to losing it several times, and there you were, reassuring me, like when I came out of his room, I just wanted to curl up and cry, seeing my Piers so hurt, but you got me past that, I love you, and I'm so grateful for whatever powers put us together".
Vinny just hung on to him, but he said something that caused Milo to sit up straight.
"If it hadn't been for us, he wouldn't have been out in that car today".
Milo turned Vinny to look at him.
"Son, there are times when we say things we just shouldn't, things you would do well to never let your Poppa Piers hear, and this is one of those times, so pin back your ears, because if I ever tell your Poppa what you just said, I'm guessing he'll administer the rollocking of your young fucking life, to the extent you'd probably consider it less painful if someone just ripped your nuts of with a pair of rusty pliers, and we all know how important the boys down under are to a teenage boy".
Vinny looked shocked, then he started to laugh, and then they both laughed, a real rollocking belly laughter, and all Vinny could get out was.
"Poppa, that's naughty, but you're right the boys down under are pretty important, I love you Poppa, I love you both, I don't ever want to disappoint you".
For Milo it had been the moment he'd bonded with his son, they'd already had an understanding, but now they were completely joined, Father and Son, he knew, some day it would probably bring him real heartache, but right there and then, he wouldn't have traded it for anything.
Piers was awake, though still groggy, when they visited the following day.
Milo went in first, and he couldn't help it, he tried to stave it off, but he couldn't stop himself crying as he gently hugged Piers.
"You stupid pratt, I thought I'd lost you, I love you so much Piers, don't ever do that to me again, now we need to get you better".
He'd been dozing on and off as a stream of visitors came to see him.
The kids had been first, well, Baz, Pil, and Gracie, he'd spent more time with them, genuinely not wanting them to go, until Baz, being the responsible one had called a halt, insisting, there were so many others that were waiting for the chance to hug him.
His parents were next, trying desperately not to cry, as Piers said.
"I'm not going to die, it's not a rerun of the past, so let me see some happiness, or I'll threaten to move home, that should give you an incentive to smile".
Then came Vinny, he'd let everyone else go first, but in truth, without knowing it, all he'd done was delay the rollocking Piers was going to administer to his own Poppas.
Vinny had hugged him, trying not to cry, but it didn't work, he couldn't help it.
"It's alright son, let it out, I'm going to be alright, but I might need a bit of help for a while, now tell me, how are you getting on with the family?"
Vinny had described being enveloped in love by the incoming relatives, and how supportive his new grandparents were, especially them confirming what he'd been thinking, that joining the military when he finished school would be the making of him.
When Vinny left Piers had asked the medical staff for his cell phone, then trying to type one handed, he'd sent a message to his Poppas, it read.
'What have you done, telling Vinny to join the military, are you mad, get yourselves here now or I swear I'll sign myself out and come find you".
The resulting exchange was not pretty, nor was it the sort of exchange that needed to be heard outside Piers room, inside of which Aly and Bo were being subjected to a blistering onslaught.
"You told him going into the army would be a fucking good move, are you out of your tiny fucking minds, you thought Milo or I would find it acceptable for you to direct our son of only a few days in this way, is your memory so bloody limited you don't remember Juan's injuries, or how scared you were until Josef came out of that hell hole, or of what Juan or Junior lost with Gabby and Carlo, you are so fucking lucky I can't get out of this bed right now because I swear I'd kick your fucking arses around this room until you were dizzy".
Bo tried to speak, but Piers was having none of it.
"Don't dare talk, I'm not in a mood to listen, if you want to gain any credit with me, reverse what you told him, tell him anything, but be absolutely sure you make military service sound awful, if you can't do that, don't ever speak to me again".
Milo had walked in on the last sentence, shocked by Piers anger.
Aly and Bo didn't say anything else, they just turned away from Piers and left, not even acknowledging Milo as their paths crossed.
Milo looked at Piers, a look that said, what the heck was that about.
Piers saw the look.
"Believe me, I'm not overreacting, I'm furious, Vinny asked them for advice and they gave him encouragement, to join the army".
Milo's face went white.
"What, are they mad, I hope you told them they'd better reverse their advice?"
Piers was becoming really dizzy, but he was still angry enough to respond with sarcasm.
"No Milo, actually I congratulated them on giving really good advice, what do you think?, of course I bollocked them, and I told them to put it fucking right, I..... I.....".
Piers started shaking, then he collapsed into unconsciousness, his alarms started screaming.
Within seconds there a hoard of medics and nurses were streaming into the room, Milo was ushered out into the corridor, where he bumped into Aly and Bo, who looked as terrified as Milo felt.
Milo put his arms around them.
"Okay, let's not panic, he was so angry, the doctor told us he wasn't to be agitated, let's hope there's no real damage done".
Piers was stabilised and sedated, but the doctor who came to speak with them was quite clearly not a happy bunny, and he said so.
"Whoever didn't get the earlier message I gave about not agitating him, they should take what just happened as a real and serious warning, he has a head injury that is not just a bump, it wouldn't take much to cause a serious, or even a fatal aneurysm, that's something that has the potential to leave him in a vegetative state, or it could kill him outright, there's only so much we can do, and we don't need you reversing our efforts, so be warned, for now he'll sleep at least a couple of hours".
The doctor strode off clearly annoyed.
As he left Vinny came strolling along the corridor, and he noticed the red light above Piers door which signalled no one was to enter.
"What's going on, why is there a red light on Poppas door?".
Aly put his arm around him.
"Your Poppa's had a bit of a blip, he's okay now, but he's sleeping for a while, which is good because it gives us a chance to talk, I want to tell you some things, they aren't pretty, and I'm not going to dress it up for you, because your gramps Bo and I already made that mistake, it's about your decision to join the military, let's go talk".
Milo watched them walk away, and within a few minutes the doctor came back, beckoning Milo into the room with him.
"You have to be more vigilant Milo, set up a protection detail for him almost, he's going to be fragile for at least a month, no one can agitate him, it's too dangerous, now stay here talk to him, I'm leaving the red light barrier on, no one else comes in here except you".
Out in the hospital gardens Aly and Bo were having a frank discussion with Vinny, Aly started them off.
"Piers had an incident because of us, in particular what we said to you about joining the military, he gave us a complete bollocking, and rightly so".
Milo looked confused, saying.
"But you agreed with what I was thinking, it would be a good thing, I could learn the I.T. skills I want, what was Poppa upset about?".
When Aly replied he joined Bo in putting an arm around Vinny's shoulder.
"To answer that I have to tell you about all the pain and heartache we've endured, the ones we lost, the ones we thought we were going to lose, and the ones where we had panic attacks every time the phone rang until they were safely out of it".
They'd spent nearly three hours talking, with both Aly and Bo explaining why his Poppa had been so angry with them.
When they came back into the hospital, the red light over Piers door had been turned off.
Vinny edged quietly into the room to be greeted by his Poppa Milo fast asleep, his head in the crook of his Poppa Piers good arm.
Piers smiled at him, whispering.
"I think he's exhausted, do me a favour, make sure he gets an early night tonight son".
Vinny wanted to say something, but it was obvious to Piers he was holding back.
"Whatever is troubling you tell me, otherwise it's only going to bug both of us".
Vinny nodded.
"But you have to promise not to get upset".
Piers smiled.
"I promise, now come sit close and tell me what's bothering you".
Vinny pulled a chair closer.
"I caused you to have an argument with your Poppas, I'm sorry, and I'm sorry for not discussing what I was thinking with you before I spoke to them about it".
Piers was trying not to let the thought of Vinny going into the military affect him, and Vinny could see his struggle.
"You promised Poppa, and there's no reason to be upset anyway, because they spent all afternoon explaining how much heartache it would cause you if I went into the military, they told me about all the people the family had lost, so I'm not doing it, but I wondered if you could patch things up, it hurt them when you shouted at them, they didn't say that, but I could see it, like the day you had your accident, I did what I could for them that day, but they were really devastated".
Piers breathed a sigh of relief.
"Yes son, I'll apologise, I did give them a bit of a roasting, and I was really disrespectful, so leave it with me, but tell me, why were you so set on joining the military, what was it that you thought could only be achieved by doing that?".
Vinny looked thoughtful.
"I love I.T., it fascinates me, I want to study it, but I don't want to go to college or University, I know that will probably disappoint you, but I want to get my hands on what I love doing, I don't want to sit in classes just to get a paper degree, sorry".
Piers smiled, then actually laughed.
"We still don't understand each other do we".
Vinny looked puzzled, but when Piers explained, he understood.
"Yes, I'd love it if you decided you wanted to go to college, and on to University, but, to be really honest, I couldn't give a shit whether you do or don't, I didn't, your Poppa Milo didn't, my absolute priority is that you're safe, and you're doing something that makes you happy, I don't have any other agenda, that's it, and I think I might just be able to give you a solution for what you want to achieve, but I need to speak to your Poppa Milo before I tell you what I have in mind, so can you wait a little while?".
Vinny nodded, smiling, he'd thought he was going to have a battle on his hands when he'd said he didn't want to go to college or University, slowly, very slowly, he was getting the measure of this couple, and the more he learned, the more they surprised him, and the more he loved them.
TBC Allan
Comments are welcome to cfgw2000@aol.com.
Thank you for giving me your time, enjoy.