Shaking Off the Dust (40 page)

It seems that being questioned at the airport gave Sanchez the incentive he needed to cooperate. The old man gave up the name of the man to whom he sold the bomb materials.”

I repeated this information to Hector then motioned for Tom to continue.

“Bill and Jack think they’ve found the female terrorist among the evacuees at the warehouse. Mia recognized her from the airport on the day of the bombing at the same time I recognized the man. When she tried to run, Rachel tackled her and brought her down but was injured. Rachel is still wearing her ball gown and it was a tangle of clothes. She has a couple of broken ribs and her left ankle is a mess. They’re bringing her here. Tell Hector. It looked like a fracture dislocation. That ankle will need to be surgically repaired. They are still hunting for the man Sanchez described.”

I turned to Hector. “They found one of the terrorists, a female. Rachel blocked her escape and is injured. A couple of ribs and her left ankle were broken. Tom said the ankle looks pretty bad, he thinks it will need surgery. They are bringing her here.”

Hector appeared stricken. He wanted to go to Rachel, but he didn’t want to leave me alone. I could see it all play out on his face.

I laughed at him. “I’m okay now that I know Takeshi is doing better. You have your mother take you to find Rachel. She is way more important than me. Go to her and let me know how she’s doing.”

Tom paced in front of me. “I was right, Hannah. The man I pointed out to Bill was one of the terrorists, and I helped them find him. I did stay for a purpose, and it’s finished.”

His expression was confused. “Hannah, did we do the right thing coming here? Was it worth Takeshi’s life to have found these terrorists and stopped this new attack?”

“Takeshi would say yes. We both know that. Go to him for me.”

I was alone again. The sandwich hadn’t settled in my stomach. I was cramping and had been for hours.

During the last bathroom break, I discovered I’d started to bleed and found a feminine hygiene machine.

For a split second I worried about a bomb in the machine. I paused a moment before using it. I thanked Bill silently for giving me some money before he left.

I suppose I could have gone to the emergency department. They’d have run some tests and done an ultrasound but I believed, as Takeshi did, what was meant to be would be. I was losing this pregnancy and being in a hospital gown as opposed to a scrub top wouldn’t make a difference. I sat on the couch and pulled up the blankets Hector had left behind. I waited for a long time alone, dozing.

“Hannah.”

I opened my eyes to Dr. Santiago standing over me.

“He made it through surgery. I honestly didn’t think he would, but he fought to stay with you, I think.

He’s in recovery, but he’ll be heading straight up to ICU. It will be several days before we know anything. His pressure’s holding, but he’s developed some coagulopathy problems from all the blood he’s gotten. It will be touch and go for a while yet. We plan to keep him out of it for several days. Some of our surgery was remarkably delicate. We want him not fighting us for a bit, to make sure those repairs remain intact.” He looked exhausted.

I nodded. “Can I go see him?”

“Not until he gets up to ICU. Besides, I need to check you out. I promised him in the ambulance. It’s one promise I plan to keep.”

I shook my head. “I’m bleeding. Maybe I was never pregnant at all. I’d rather believe that than think I’m losing this pregnancy.”

“I’m sorry, Hannah.” A flash of sadness crossed his face before he was back to that neutral expression doctors learn to wear. “We can get you checked out. Afterwards, I can take you up to Takeshi’s room.

I’ll have them put a sleep chair in his room. We’ll put you on bed rest.”

I shook my head. “It doesn’t matter. As long as Takeshi survives, nothing else matters. I promised God I’d join a nunnery if He saved him anyway.”

“Humor me. Let me keep me keep my word.” He stood and I got up to follow. “I’ll be back in a minute with a wheelchair.”

My feet were cold. I expected to see Tom and wasn’t disappointed. He sat next to me, his feet over mine.

“I came from recovery.” He smiled at me this time. “You know he’s out of surgery.”

“I know.” I grinned. “What’s going on elsewhere?”

“It’s pretty much over. The bombs were diffused out in the countryside. They traced the girl and janitor to the same apartment and found four others there. There were explosive materials all over the place.

They now have several in custody and are pretty sure they are the rest of the terrorist cell. But the man who bought the explosives has not been found.”

Dr. Santiago came in with a wheelchair. “Are you ready, Hannah? Ultrasound is available. We’ll do the lab work after.”

“What’s going on, Hannah?” Tom demanded.

I wouldn’t look at him. It would be like having to tell Takeshi. I didn’t want to do that either. “Go stay with him until I can get there. Where’s Brodie been?”

“He stayed for the whole surgery. He didn’t want to update you, because he didn’t want to upset you.

I’ll be with Takeshi, until you call.” Tom disappeared.

“Tell me, Dr. Santiago. Tell me everything you found and did in surgery. I’d rather be informed. It helps me cope.”

I sat by Takeshi’s bed for four days, sleeping fitfully. The foldout chair was okay to sit on, but miserable

to sleep in, especially when my nerves were like frayed wires. I suspected the constant cramping contributed to the misery. It was my own fault. I declined pain medication and the real bed Dr. Santiago offered at his place.

Dwight Santiago and the other surgeons came in a couple of times a day to examine Takeshi. His vital signs were good. His heart rate stayed in the forties, which worried the night nurse until I assured her that was normal for him.

I sat at his bedside every minute, except for bathroom breaks. On Santiago’s orders, the nurses brought me a meal tray several times a day. Unfortunately the ICU didn’t have showers in the rooms, so it was three days and counting since I’d taken a shower or bath. I used the sink and did the best I could in the night.

Hector came by the second night as he was being discharged. His mother was with him, on guard like a mother tiger. He told me all the others were tied up with their perspective governments in the clean up and debriefing after the excitement. He also told me that a military plane had flown Rachel back to the United States the day after her surgery.

Tom and Brodie kept me company at intervals. Neither of them was good at sitting and watching, so they never stayed long. Tom stuck with Bill and Enrique. He’d let me know where they were and what they were doing. Brodie knew his way around the hospital and by the end of that first day he discovered he could watch TV with the patients. He understood the words, no matter the language. It was just as well. He was a typical twelve-year-old, which means he got on my nerves when he was bored.

On the second day, Dr. Santiago brought me a couple of books, mysteries. I read them aloud to Takeshi. He was being kept chemically paralyzed with continuous pain medications infusing through his IVs. I suspected he was out of it all the time, but I read until I was hoarse.

Like most ICUs, they did their baths at night or early morning, so each morning, about 0500 they allowed me to give him his bath. His heart rate was always a little higher during that time. I think he knew my voice and touch, but I’d been telling myself all kinds of stories to feel better.

Mostly I held on to Shimodo’s hands, praying that once they let him wake up, he’d be himself. Dwight Santiago assured me that was possible, so I was counting on him being all right.

On the fourth day, Dwight announced he’d be letting him up from the medication that kept him out of it, on the next morning. Yes, we were on a first-name basis now.

It made my heart seize up just thinking about him awake and able to talk to me.

At three a.m. I called for Tom and Brodie to keep me company. We commiserated for a couple of hours on our lives and on how small the room was. When the nurse came in to take down his medications, I asked her to bring in supplies for his bath.

“You know, Hannah, you should tell him what has happened. He’s been out of it for days. He doesn’t know about the bombs. He doesn’t know any of it.” Tom blinked out.

I started Takeshi’s bath and gave a running commentary on everything I knew. I told him about his being shot and the surgery, the airport, the ghosts finding the bombs, the bomb squad, all of it.

I pretended he listened, but he didn’t move. I finished his bath and massaged lotion into his legs and

arms. As I was applying what was left to his fingers, he gripped my hand.

I searched his face. “Shimodo, don’t tease me. I’m too old to be trifled with. If you want to tell me something, open your eyes.”

I moved my chair as close to the bed as I could. I put my chin in his palm, then kissed the flesh, and sighed. His fingers touched my lips, moving slowly across my face. He was trying to wake up, to come back to me. “It’s all right, Takeshi. I can wait. I don’t mind if you tease me and I say that because I know when you wake up, you won’t remember it.” I laughed nervously.

His hand cupped my face and this time, when I looked at his face, his eyes were open. He tried to talk, but the tube in his mouth and lungs would not let him. He reached up to touch it, perhaps pull it. I caught his fingers before he reached it.

“Don’t. The tube is a necessary evil for now. Be good and I’ll not beat you. If you pull at it or cause it to dislodge, they’ll blame me and I am on my best behavior.”

He feigned shock and nodded. My heart leapt. He was back, my Shimodo was back, sense of humor and all. “If you prove what an exceptional patient you are, I may let you have paper and pen to express your immediate questions. Are you in pain?”

He shrugged, wincing.

“That’ll be the shoulder hurting, huh? Yep, that’s a big hurt there. Of course, bending over is going to sting like the dickens because of your abdominal wound. Walking is going to pain that right leg. So it’s going to be no fun around you for a while. I have several other men lined up to replace you.”

He grunted and frowned.

“Now don’t be upset, it’s only until you’re well enough to be up to regular physical activity. I have a list from which you can help me choose.” I couldn’t seem to shut up. I was going to cry if I didn’t make a joke of it.

“Hannah, you’re just plain mean. Look at him. He’s a mess and you’re making fun of him,” Tom chastised.

Takeshi looked at Tom, and shook his head, reaching out his hand for mine again.

I examined his face for a long moment. “You can see Tom?”

He gestured up at Tom, nodding.

“Tom, why can he see you?” Realization slapped me. “He died on the operating table, didn’t he? You didn’t tell me.”

I choked on bile and faced Takeshi. “I told you to go into the light if you had the chance. To take this fool with you.” I pointed at Tom.

Tom came to the other side of his bed, sitting on it. “Damn, Takeshi, you had us frantic. Don’t ever do that again.”

Takeshi inclined his head towards me.

“I’m fine.” I shot a quick warning at Tom.

Takeshi had his eyes on me and saw the exchange. He put his hand out, miming writing.

I took his hand, tucking it in his lap. “There’s nothing to tell.”

But he ignored me and stared over at Tom, his eyes demanding an answer.

“Don’t ask me, my friend. She’s been tight lipped. Dr. Santiago took her for a test, that’s all I know.”

Tom shook his head.

I struck out with my fist and if Tom had been solid, I’d have hit him hard in the shoulder. Instead it passed through him. That didn’t help me feel any better.

Takeshi’s hand came up turning my face towards him again. His eyes on mine.

I started crying. “I’m sorry, Takeshi. I told you I couldn’t have babies.”

The nursing staff came in at that moment and I moved to the back of the room. When they saw that Takeshi was awake, they were very excited. They took vital signs and he followed their commands, moving arms and legs. He kept trying to find me in the room. I’d moved away from him.

He managed to get them to bring him a pen and paper. I knew he was desperate to be alone again, but I felt safer with others in the room, hiding from my own thoughts and tears.

The surgeon showed up in the midst of all the nursing commotion. He beamed with pride at his patient, explaining all the miracles of the surgery. Only then did I hear that they’d lost him on the table for a few minutes.

Tom interjected that he’d been there when it happened and that Takeshi had left his body for those few moments and they’d talked. Takeshi refused to walk into any light without me.

I backed farther and farther from the crowd as he told the tale. Noise filled my head until I needed to catch my breath. Fresh air, that’s what I required. I moved to leave, almost falling over Dwight as he came in to the room. He caught me, looking into my face. Perspiration beaded on my forehead as the dizziness got worse.

“When did you eat last, Hannah?” he asked.

I just wanted to be alone now. To close my eyes and take a deep breath.

“Bring her some juice and food now,” Dwight spoke to someone. “Hannah, you’re all pale again. When was the last time you ate?”

“I don’t remember you eating since yesterday afternoon,” Tom reminded me.

“It doesn’t matter now, I’m fine. I got claustrophobic. I’ll be better in a few minutes. I would like to leave now.” I stood.

Takeshi pounded on his bed rails until I looked at him. He had written down on the pad.
Stay here with
me. Eat.

“I’m in the way here. I’d have me thrown out, if I were your nurse.”

He kept pointing to the pad.

Dr. Santiago gently pushed me back into the chair. “Have some juice, then I’ll take you down for breakfast. You haven’t gotten the rest you need. It’s no wonder your body’s thrown out of whack.