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Life's Illusions The Next Generation - Chapter 15
Everything should have been sailing along, the wedding plans, the guest list, what they would eat at the wedding breakfast, it was late June, only three weeks away from the planned joint ceremony at Gregous
But suddenly it was all on hold.
David was lifeless, lying in an induced coma, Jo was in a seriously depressed state, no one knew if David would, or even could survive.
Mel had stated categorically, she wouldn't go ahead with the ceremony, she wanted to wait until David was able to take part as they'd planned.
David had stopped to refuel on his way back from Jefferson City, Illinois, it was a little after six in the evening, he'd been hard at it all day, piecing together information, until finally, he'd done it, he and his team had solved a huge fire mystery involving several interlinked properties on an industrial scale, in and around Jefferson City, it would earn them nearly a quarter of a million dollars from the potential claims they'd scuppered that day.
The interstate had been busy with rush hour traffic, he'd realised he was low on fuel, the gas station was relatively quiet when he'd pulled in, whilst refuelling nothing unusual had registered, stood patiently in a queue to pay for his fuel, there was a woman and child, a sweet little girl, talking to her Momma right in front of him, and in front of them a youth in a hoodie.
David had been engrossed on his cell phone, speaking to Jo at home, telling him he was really tired, at a gas station, but elated, with his team he'd solved it, now he could wrap it up, when the gun shot brought him up with a start.
The youth in the hoodie was pointing a gun at the woman and child in front of him, it was a robbery, David was now eyes wide.
It should have been a simple affair, give him the takings, he'd run, let the Sherrifs Department track him down, deal with him, but it didn't pan out that way.
The gas station clerk pressed a hidden button then ducked out of sight, the doors went into lockdown, the slamming of locks was deafening, it couldn't be missed, there was now no way out.
Hoodie guy was panicking, swinging the gun wildly between the missing cashier and the woman with the child, who was now crying, starting to panic.
Outside there were sirens and flashing lights, the local Sherrifs department had responded to the silent alarm.
David stepped swiftly around the woman in front of him, hoping to shield them, to talk some sense into the youth, when hoodie guy turned back David was in front of him, his mind couldn't process it, on impulse he fired, the bullet struck David in the chest like a sledgehammer, propelling him backwards, he didn't feel anything else, he slumped to the floor.
From the cell phone in his lifeless hand, Jo could be heard shouting, screaming, but David couldn't hear him, he was lying unconscious, bleeding badly.
The sheriffs deputies had come crashing through the door and terminated the hold up, but it was too late for David.
A deputy had picked up David's cell phone, hearing Jo's voice screaming from it, told him what had happened, that David was in a critical condition, he'd be transported by air as soon as the medics had him stabilised.
Jo had been in the lounge at home as all this unfolded, his reaction had frightened the whole family.
With Jo screaming after hearing the gunshot, getting no response from David, the family was suddenly on alert, but the news from the Sherrifs deputy put Jo firmly over the edge, when he knew what had happened, he'd blacked out, collapsing sideways, smashing violently into a side table, scattering glass and wood splinters as he fell.
Billy had launched himself forward, snatched up Jo's phone, gleaning the essential information of what had happened, where David would be.
Jolly and Jay had eased Jo onto a sofa.
Billy hadn't hesitated he'd dialled Guardian Headquarters, being connected with Josef in a matter of seconds.
"David's down, gun shot wound, a gas station hold up, help us if you can Josef, he's on a Medi Vac flight out of Jefferson City, we need him to be going to Chicago Northwestern Memorial".
Josefs reply was short, too the point.
"I hear you".
There was no more conversation for Billy the line registered a disconnected tone, but he sighed, he knew Josef would move heaven and earth to get David to where he stood the best chance of survival.
Josef immediately started dialling.
"Command, patch me into the medi vac flight heading out of Jefferson City, with a gun shot victim on board, conference in their command centre as well".
It was only seconds before the medi vac flight crew responded.
"Who is this, we are Medi vac Flight 6-2 Bravo, you are encroaching on a secure channel?".
Josef didn't hesitate, it went completely against all protocol, but he didn't give a shit.
"This is Guardian, CEO Josef Caswel-Thorn, you have a Thorn family member on board, don't fuck with me, this is my family, take him to Chicago Northwestern Memorial immediately, I will alert them of your arrival, your command centre should be monitoring this communication, command, I expect you to give immediate approval for your pilots to comply".
There followed a momentary pause before the response came.
"Medi vac flight 6-2 Bravo, this is command, you have approval, be guided by Guardians instructions, you are cleared all haste to Chicago Northwestern Memorial".
At Chicago Northwestern Memorial an A&E doctor had just come on shift and was being briefed, as he came on line Josef almost laughed, but the situation didn't warrant it.
Josef heard.
"Oh for fucks sake, another bloody Thorn, I wish they'd stop trying to die on my fuckin watch, okay, all up to the roof, we have a delivery inbound, I want everything ready, I'll say it again, I am not loosing a bloody Thorn on my watch, we'll have to improvise, work on the roof, stabilise him there, someone secure me a vacant theatre, we'll need to go straight in as we come down, if this file is reliable, there's a bullet that needs to be removed, this is time critical, I'll need an assist in theatre, don't scrap guys, remember what I've taught you, two of you are best placed to assist, work it out".
By that time, the family had scooped Jo into one of two cars that screeched down the driveway and out onto the highway, picking up a third car as they passed the gatehouse, the later contained a three man security detail, they were heading for Chicago Northwestern Memorial.
The family arrived at Northwestern Memorial well after David had gone into theatre, they abandoned their cars at the A&E entrance, the security detail would deal with them.
They were directed to a private waiting room, where they would wait anxiously for the next several very long hours.
Josef had called Jacqueline to update her about David's condition, she in turn had sent news around the whole family, then she and Woody, along with Beth, Dave, Pete, Jaque, Pierre, Juan and Piers had boarded a flight bound for Chicago.
Jacqueline, like Beth, had been adamant, they needed to be there for Jolly and Mel, Pierre had been just as insistent in explaining to his Poppas, they'd need to babysit, he, Piers and Juan had to be there for Jo, nothing less was acceptable.
The flight from Montclair had been gruelling, hardly any conversation took place, no one dared speculate.
Woody had spoken with Billy several times throughout the flight.
David was still in theatre when Woody and Billy spoke just before their flight began its decent into Chicago.
As the Montclair party arrived at the hospital, the doctors arrived in the private waiting room at the same time.
The family had been about to welcome the Montclair party, but everything stopped when the doctors appeared.
The one Josef had listened to spoke for them all.
"I'm Lance Cornel, I've led the surgery on David, I wish I could tell you it was all sunshine and roses, but it's not".
Jacqueline and Beth were holding Jolly and Mel in an embrace.
Jo was surrounded by his brothers and cousins when the doctor spoke again.
"This has been one of the most difficult surgeries my team and I have ever performed, there is no nice way to put this, he's alive, and right now that's possibly the best I can offer you".
He paused, all that could be heard in the room was sobbing, before he went on.
"I don't know what we will be faced with if, or when he wakes up, and I refuse to give you false hope, he may not wake up, normally I'd put him into an induced coma, but there is no need, he's already in a coma, the trauma he suffered is akin to a serious battlefield wound, the bullet shattered a rib, passed through his left lung, but it hadn't even started to wreak it's havoc by then, it shaved his spinal cord, tearing up nerves".
He stopped again, paused a short while before going on.
"I'm baring anyone, whatever the relationship, from seeing him for the next twelve hours, he's far too critical, and you are all far too emotional, you could have a negative effect on how he responds".
After this pause he delivered the most damning of what he needed to tell them.
"I can't say if he'll wake up, worse still, if he does, I don't think he'll have any use or feeling below the waist, there's too much damage, I'm sorry, I wish I could be more positive, I can't, I'll be here all night, I'll be with him, or close by every minute, trust me, my team and I will give him the best care he could possibly wish for, I'll leave you now, I'd suggest you go home until tomorrow, but I've experienced you Thorn family members before, I know I'm wasting my breath, so I'll look in on you in the morning".
Woody recognised, not the features, but the voice, this had been the man who'd saved him, he made a mental note, he'd have to speak with him.
They'd spent a restless night in the waiting room, but at eight the next morning the doctor had come to see them.
"Okay, it would seem miracles are the order of the day, he's awake, by all odds he shouldn't be, but he is, and he's asking for Jo, so which one of you is that?".
Jo was out of his chair like a shot.
"That's me, he's my partner, can I see him, please?".
The doctor smiled, before saying.
"I know this isn't quite politically correct but listen anyway, going completely against the Hippocratic Oath I swore to uphold, if you dare to upset him, distress him, or in any other way undo what we've achieved so far, I promise, I'll beat you to death without hesitation, do I make myself clear?".
Jo just nodded.
"Yes, I understand.".
The doctor smiled again.
"Okay, come with me, you'll have about ten minutes before I put him back under, his body desperately needs to rest, but something tells me you're going to be worth more than all my drugs can do, don't you dare disappoint me".
Jo followed the doctor like a lamb, out into the corridor and along a short way until they were outside a private room.
"Remember my warning, nothing that will distress him, if you really love him, this is the time to tell him".
As they entered the room, Jo gasped.
The doctor whispered.
"Hold it together, you have things to tell him, ten minutes, no more".
Jo was at his side, whispering as David's eyes flickered open.
"It's me love, don't stress, just rest, you're going to be alright, sleep now, I'm here, I'll always be here, I love you, you need to get strong again, we have a wedding to do, you asked me remember, it's your duty to come back to me".
David's eyes had opened, he knew Jo was there, the monitors registered it, his vital signs calmed, and then the drugs kicked in, he slept".
The doctor had been hovering in the background.
"Well done, you just did what all the drugs in the world couldn't do, you gave him reassurance, a feeling of being safe, he'll sleep now, for at least eight, possibly up to ten hours, go home, take your family, come back this evening, I'll allow just you another fifteen or twenty minutes before I put him under again, don't worry, he won't wake inside the eight hours, aim to be back here then".
The family, weary from a night without sleep, some having traveled over eight hours by plane before the night even began, traveled back to the house in Barrington Hills.
The only sign of Jo's fall in the lounge was a space where a side table used to stand.
After spending an hour with Ary and Bobby, mostly they retired for a few hours sleep.
Pierre found Jo out on the terrace behind the house around midday with his head in his hands.
"Jo, what the doctor said, about David possibly being paralysed from the waist down.........................".
Pierre didn't get any further, he realised Jo was sobbing uncontrollably.
Within moments Pierre had him in a tight hug.
"Listen to me Jo, it's not the be all and end all, just because the doctor thinks it is, they told me that for years, and look at me now, all we need is for David to come through this and be alive, then the work starts, you did it for me, together we can do it for David, I've found the doctor who connected my nerves, he's in Switzerland now, he has his own private clinic, I have a call booked to speak with him in an hour, I know we can't give him much to go on at this stage, but with your permission I'm going to ask him to come here and assess David as soon as he's ready".
Jo just hugged Pierre even tighter, nodding yes.
Unbeknown to either of them, the whole family were watching from the lounge, it was Juan who said.
"He hasn't slept, Pierre I mean, he's spent hours tracking down the doctor who connected his nerves, right now he's asking Jo for permission to speak with the doctor, too start the ball rolling, in case the worst happens and David is paralysed".
They watched as Jo hugged Pierre tighter, nodding his head in obvious agreement.
Juan had tears in his eyes as he said.
"You must have known, Pierre would see it as his mission, and so do we, what Jo and all of you did for Pierre all those years ago, it's time to pay it back, David will walk again whatever his doctors say".
Pierre called the clinic in Switzerland, talked to the doctor who had given him his life as a normal walking human being, explaining that he was being possibly preemptive, that they didn't know what David would be like at this stage, reinforcing the fact they wanted to be ready to bolster David's confidence.
What Pierre heard in reply was encouraging, the advances, the ability to reconnect nerves by stealing a section from elsewhere, the possibility of using artificial bridges, when he came off the call he was absolutely euphoric, he couldn't wait to seek out Jo.
Everyone in the lounge was agog, completely stunned as Pierre described, relayed what he'd heard, Jo, through teary eyes said.
"I can't believe you would do this, go to such lengths to help us, help David, thank you Pierre".
Pierre wasn't smiling, but he wasn't sad either when he replied.
"You led the gang that put me on my feet, Jace and Will, I'll always be grateful to, but you, you were the master, I always knew that, you dictated, to me, to them, it was really you that pulled it off, I didn't believe, I doubted it could work, but not you, from the moment I arrived here in Chicago, a frightened cripple, you told me I'd be walking when I left Chicago, and I was, well it's time to believe again, if you could do it for me, then between us, we can do it for David, only this time there are six musketeers, he'll be lucky if we stop at walking and don't have him flying instead".
The family were laughing, for the first time in a day and a half, they had hope.
Later that night as they spooned together Mel said to Jace.
" I never really understood what Josef said in Torremolinas until now, your family, they see a need and they're there, they'll do anything, whatever it takes to right a wrong, it's amazing, Pierre, Juan and Piers, to me before they were just distant cousins who we visited, now I get why they greeted us as they did, you're really a band of brothers, even the girls, you'll drop everything if someone, anywhere in the world needs help, I want to cry when I realise just how close you all are".
Jace was emotional but still matter of fact as he described Juan almost getting himself killed in Greece by Abby's car, he explained.
"We are brothers, and sisters, and cousins, we don't see the link as anything else, it's just family, if there's a need for help, whoever can give it does".
It had been a lot longer than they'd expected, David didn't make the progress his doctor had wanted, he was still being kept in an induced coma over a week after his surgery.
On the ninth day the doctor had taken Jo aside, thankfully Will and Jace had been there.
"This might not be what you want to hear right now but we are on the wire with how long he can stay in an induced coma, there comes a point where we start affecting his life expectancy, I am going to bring him out of it".
Jo was almost ecstatic, but then he picked up on the fact the doctor didn't seem as enthusiastic as he was.
"So why are you looking so apprehensive, what are you not saying?".
Lance Cornel looked worried but that was part and parcel of the job.
" I don't know if he's ready, it may be too soon, he might rally then decline, this is the frightening part".
Jo had been terrified, his brothers had held him, Jace had called the family, slowly they'd all appeared, by morning when the doctor visited them again, they'd all been holding their breath.
"Okay I know I gave you some pretty damning news last evening, and I know you want something to be positive about, so yes, I can give you that, he's coming out of the coma, so far it's been good, but I need someone to guide him, someone to give him a purpose, don't even think this can be half hearted, this needs to be a reinforcing message, something which gives him reason to be alive, it's critical, we've been doing tests as he comes back to consciousness, what we feared is looking to be true, he has no feelings below the waist, I'll give you time to think, but in thirty minutes I'm bringing him back, whoever speaks to him will shape what happens, don't disappoint me, or him".
Then he left.
The talk bounced around, should it be Jo, was Jo too emotional, should it be someone else, would that upset him, until Jo stood up.
"Thank you, I understand what you're all doing, I know you love him, I know you love me, but you can't shield either of us from this, it's something I have to do, I need to tell him, I'm always going to be here for him, that we have a plan, that there are six musketeers waiting to get him back where he belongs, and I have to convince him, we mean business".
He was silent for a few moments.
"I don't know what I did to deserve such a wonderful family, I don't think I want an answer, just know I'm so overwhelmingly grateful, I'm going to convince him, by hook or by crook, I'll make him see how determined we are, as Pierre says, this time there are six musketeers, and it's going to work".
And so, an hour later, Jo was stood trembling, ready to go into David's room and put on the performance of a lifetime, as the doctor said.
"Are you ready, are you sure you can do this?, there can be no room for doubt, you have to drive him forward, convince him he will be back where he was, I have to know you can do this".
Jo was suddenly energised.
"Let's go do it, I've waited, we've waited long enough, he needs to come back to us, I can't live without him, I'm going to tell him that".
And so they entered David's room.
It was only minutes before David started to stir.
Jo was sitting on the bed holding his hand as he opened his eyes.
For Jo the urge to cry was overwhelming, but he held it back, a gleaming smile was the first sight David had of his boyfriend, and his face almost mirrored it.
"Hey there lover, you've been snoozing for ten days, I've missed that smile, I need more though, first I can give you some cool water, then you and I need to have a talk".
David gulped on the straw Jo placed between his lips.
"Now my beautiful boyfriend, I want a weeks worth of loving, I've been so lonely, I never thought I could be with so many family members around me, but I have been, I can't cope without you, I need you".
David croaked a reply that Jo could just about hear.
"Tell me".
Jo froze, he knew there was something bad that Jo was trying to work up to telling him.
"Okay, there's bad news, and there's good news, you might not see it that way at first, it's my job to persuade you, get you onboard with the plan, do you understand me so far".
Jo nodded, but what he said wasn't about any news Jo was about to deliver.
"More water, so dry".
Jo slid the straw back between his lips, hearing him groan with pleasure at receiving the chilled drink.
When he'd had enough he settled back, but not before saying.
"So tell me, will you stay with me?".
Jo was completely thrown.
"What, why would you even ask that?, I can't exist without you, this is the second time you've frightened the shit out of me, the second time I thought I'd lost you, I might arrange for someone to shoot me, just so you can know how I felt".
David actually smiled before saying.
"A bit dramatic, but I take it that's a yes then?".
Jo was almost shouting now.
"Of course it's a fucking yes you bloody idiot".
David was still smiling as he replied again.
"Calm down, I asked for a reason, I think I know the bad bit you're going to tell me, I've been experimenting while you've been talking, I don't have any sensation below my waist, my legs won't move, I'm paralysed aren't I?".
The tears had started to flow down Jo's face.
"I'm supposed to be staying strong, trying to sell you the plan we have, and look at me, I'm a mess, a disaster".
David reached out to pull him down until they were lying spooned together on the hospital bed.
David's words calmed him.
"It's okay Jo, I understand, if it were the other way around I don't know if I'd be able to hold it together, so get yourself under control then just lay it out for me, if I've got you then I'm part way back already".
After a few moments Jo laid it all out just as David had asked, including the doctor Pierre had tracked down in Switzerland, when he finished, he could see the glistening in David's eyes, Jo looked directly into those eyes as he said.
"Pierre said it was important I made you understand, last time for him there were only three musketeers, this time there are six dedicated musketeers and we're on a mission".
He could see David was thinking.
"Do you, do the others, really think it can be done?".
Jo pulled out his phone and dialled.
"I need just you in here now".
In the waiting room Pierre's cell phone started to vibrate, looking at the display he nearly dropped it trying to accept the call.
"Hello, yes, okay I'm coming".
As he cut the call and headed toward the door all he said in answer to the questioning looks was.
"I don't know, Jo just said 'I need just you in here now', you're all as wise as I am".
Pierre walked the short distance to David's room, opening the door he saw them spooned together on the bed, as soon as he entered Jo said.
"I need your help Pierre, he wants to know if it can really work, the plan, I thought why not give him a positive display so do a twirl".
Pierre was surprised, but just as Jo had asked, he threw his arms out and spun himself several times until he was laughing so hard and dizzy.
When his dizziness passed he said.
"Remember David, I'd never walked, my legs had never been used up to when I was eleven years old, I didn't know how to walk, how to balance, you know how to do all that, we just need to reconnect the circuits, then a few exercises and hey presto you're up and running, so to speak".
David actually laughed, then he was seised by a fit of coughing which set of the alarms on his monitors, bringing a team of nurses and the doctor into the room running, the doctor, himself out of breath and coughing, saw David gasping for air but, with a smile between coughing bouts, he said.
"I told you to give him a reason to live, not kill him, now out, both of you, we need to get him stable again".
As Jo made to get off the bed, David grabbed him and between coughs, croaked.
"Yes, I'm onboard, do your best, I love you".
By the time they got back to the waiting room, both Jo and Pierre were holding each other tight, and sobbing.
Too the family, it seemed they'd suffered a disaster, until Jo stopped sobbing long enough to say.
"It's okay, he's onboard, thanks to Pierre and his pirouettes, we made him laugh, it sent him haywire, into a coughing fit, we got told off and booted out while they try to stabilise him again, but he's in on the plan, thank god".
The doctor from Switzerland arrived a few days later, liaising with David's Dr, Lance Cornel, he studied every X-ray, every scan, asked for a complete run of new scans, all from different angles until he had enough that he virtually had a 3D picture of the inside of David's body.
David suffered a complete battery of tests before he asked Jo to accompany him to speak with David, as an almost afterthought he asked Pierre to accompany them.
Lance Cornel was already in David's room when they arrived.
"Dr Cornel, thanks for sparing the time, I know first hand how busy you are, we've placed a heavy load on you these last few days, but it has been an enormous help in bringing me to a conclusion".
Sitting on the bed next to David he spoke directly to him as though there were no one else in the room.
"If I do this, I need you to believe it will work, the power of disbelief is a strong negative, it can convince the body to fail when logically it shouldn't, so, tell me, what makes you think this will work, make me believe you want it".
David should have been terrified, but the grin on his face told a different story.
"Two people, they're standing, looking absolutely terrified behind you, one is Jo, the love of my life, I intend to be doing this as much for him as for me, I will walk down the isle, on that point I'm determined, the other is Pierre, I can't think of a more honest and honourable person, he has told me it can work, and so it can, end of story".
Lance Cornel was staring at David's face to see if he was being truthful, he decided he was.
"Maybe I should hire Pierre as an ambassador for my clinic".
After a brief smile he carried on.
"Okay, here's what I see, I can certainly repair a great deal of the damage, I can replace a great deal of the missing sections, I will need to form bridges for some of the areas where the damage is literally irreversible, don't be alarmed by that last statement, there will be some areas that we can't do anything with, but the human body is a pretty cunning piece of equipment, if one area is compromised, another area can sometimes multi task, take on a role other than its own, replacing the missing function".
He paused, more to think of what he was going to say next.
"I cannot, and will not, give you any guarantees that this will be a roaring success, a success it will be, but too what extent, that is something we will not be privy to until you recover after surgery, you will have feelings restored, you will be capable of walking, I just cannot say to what extent, it may need several surgeries, to amend, or tweak what we have already done, it will be hard, extremely painful at times, I'm sure Pierre will talk you honestly through that, though as I remember, he never complained, not once, I think to date he has been my most determined, dedicated, and favourite patient, hence the reason I'm here today, because he asked me".
He paused again but when he started to speak again it was clear he wanted to help David.
"So there you have it, I want to help you but the decision is yours, it will be around another week before Dr Cornel will discharge you as fit to fly, after that I'll see you at my clinic if you decide you want me to go ahead".
As he stood up to leave David said.
"Thank you, and I know exactly what you mean about Pierre, but I don't need to discuss or think it over, I told you at the start, they tell me it will work, they don't know how to lie, so I believe them, I'm definitely doing it, so save me a bed for next week".
They shook hands and he was gone, walking off from the room with Lance Cornel.
And so the stage was set, David would travel to Switzerland in a little over one week, for what might, or might not be, life changing surgery.
TBC ARB Allan
Comments are welcome to cfgw2000@aol.com.
Thank you for giving me your time, enjoy.