Take a Breath (Take 1) (34 page)

   “Ana, no you can’t do that for
now.  Listen we need to take the catheter out ok?”  

    I relax
back down on the bed.  

   “My name is Dr Robinson, it seems you been
through the wars the last few days, but your vitals are getting
stronger and stronger.  It would seem you are made from fighting
stock.”  Everyone lets out a low laugh.  “Now Mr. Bennett, if
you wouldn’t mind waiting outside a minute so we can give Ana the once
over.”  Jake looks reluctant, but does as he’s told. 

The
doctor checks my chest and my eyes.  They had noticed my ankle was
a bit swollen when I came in, so they x-rayed it and all was fine, just
a very bad sprain.  He checked my bruising and asked me about the
cuts, which I told him about.  He asked me to wriggle my toes and
checked to see if they reacted the way they should, all seemed
fine.  It was then he was satisfied that the catheter could be
taken out so I can finally get up on my own accord and pee.  I
wasn’t going to do it through a tube, no way. I wanted to go
naturally.  Dr Robinson removed the catheter, which was a little
uncomfortable but a relief, the nurse then helped me up and moved me to
the edge of the bed.  The doctor opened the door for Jake to come
in, and he had visibly been pacing up and down the halls outside. 
I had to let out a little chuckle although it hurt all over to do
so.  Jake notices and comes running over to me. 

    He
helps me up and takes me towards the bathroom.  I motion to him
that I think I can do this by myself and shut the door behind me. 
I walk over to the toilet, my ankle still sore and my legs wobbly, but
I manage it all still the same.  The relief when I go is enormous,
but when I get to the sink to wash my hands, I freeze when I see the
sight in the mirror.  I can hardly recognise myself.  I have
bruises on the side of my head and finger mark bruises on my
neck.  My eyes are puffy and red, and my hair looks like
straw.  I let out a sob and Jake shouts my name through the
door.  When I fail to answer he lets himself in and see’s my face
through the mirror.  He immediately understands what I’m feeling
and his stance softens.  He walks over to me and lifts me into his
arms and just holds me whilst I cry into his shoulder, but the pain in
my throat is excruciating.  He strokes my hair and rubs the tears
from my eyes.  I nod at him that I’m ok so I can wash my hands,
and he helps me back to bed.  

   “I just spoke to the doctor. 
He said all going well you could be released tomorrow.”  

    I throw
my fist in the air to show my enthusiasm which makes Jake smile. 
It is then I wonder where I am exactly.  I grab the pen again,
‘What hospital are we in?’ 

    He frowns at the note and answers, “You’re
in St Francis in Midlothian.  I can’t wait to get you out of here
so I can take you home and take care of you.”        Neither can
I.  I’m not sure why but a flash of memory comes in my mind of
that picture on the mantelpiece.  It just made me wonder about
that night.  I pick up the pen and begin writing again, Jake
notices and waits patiently for me to finish.  ‘Do you remember
the Christmas party?’  Jake nodded.  ‘Tony had a picture in
his house and it reminded me of our dance.’  Recognition runs
across Jake’s face.

   “I remember that well.  That dance was the
most difficult one I have ever had to endure.  It took everything
in my willpower not to pick you up, drag you out of there and make love
to you over and over again.”  

    Tears begin to well in my
eyes.  I don’t know why this is making me cry, but it does. 
Maybe it’s because I wasn’t the only one after all.  

   “Why are you
crying Ana?”  

    I pick up my pen and jot down, ‘Because it is
everything I have always wanted to hear.’

Agent
Marcos turns up a little later with a couple of other agents wanting me
to relive my whole story over again.  Jake told them to take a
hike, but I reasoned with him.  If I had to do this, better to do
it now than having to do it later.  They seem satisfied they had
everything they need and wished me well.  Agent Marcos certainly
seemed to have a spring in his step.  I had hoped it now brought
an air of finality in this awful case that seemed to have been going on
for years instead of months.  Finally the blonde ladies of
Virginia were safe again and life can return to normal.

As
the evening comes, I order Jake to go back to a hotel so he can
rest.  Exhaustion is taking over and although I want nothing more
than to feel him next to me in his arms, I am acutely aware that he
must be a zombie on his feet.  After my pleadings and the nurse’s
assurances that I’m in the best of care, he reluctantly leaves the
hospital with the strict instructions he was to be called if he is
needed during the night.  He kisses my forehead and lingers there
a while, finally whispering.  “Ana did he?” He pauses and I know
exactly what he’s trying to ask, the pain evident in his voice.  I
shake my head and whisper no.  He places a finger on my lip as if
to silence me and I feel his sudden relief.  His forehead touches
mine as he grabs my hand and kisses it tenderly before he leaves.

Chapter 28

I
was in my hospital bed asleep when I hear a sound I can only describe
as clinking.  It seemed determined to wake me up.  I don’t
want to wake up now but the incessant noise just keeps going and going,
on and on.  I finally decide to open my eyes and a shadow of a man
is sitting in the far corner of the room, holding what looks like a
gun.  He is tapping it against the side of the radiator on the
wall.  I try to scream but no sound comes out.  The man
stands up, but I still can’t see him.  

   “Why did you do this to me
Ana?  Why did you leave me?”  

    Oh my god, Tony.  I
thought he was dead.  Why is this happening?  He’s going to
finish off the job.  He’s going to kill me.  Suddenly this
figure comes towards me into the light and I realise it’s not Tony,
it's Alan.  I wake clawing at my sheets, alarms are going off and
two nurses are beside me trying to hold me down.  

   “Ana, please
darling its ok.  You’re in the hospital.  You’re safe. 
You’re ok; it was just a bad dream.”  

    I hear another frantic
voice, “Give her 10mg of Benzodiazepine.”  

    I’m straining against
the voices and I try to scream Jake’s name.  I feel a jab in my
leg and very soon after, I drift off into a very deep sleep.

I
can’t remember much after that.  I woke up to the bright light
beaming through the window and the high octane’s of a very pissed off
caveman.  

   “Why didn’t anyone call me?  I knew I shouldn’t
have left.”  

    Jake comes charging through the door with two
terrified nurses behind him, unsure of what to say and do with
him.  He seems to have that effect on everyone.  I have to
smile inside.  I wouldn’t have it any other way.  

   “Ana are
you ok?  I’ve just been told you had a nightmare during the night,
that your heart rate shot through the roof and they didn’t call
me.  I told them to call and I’m pissed that they didn’t.”  

    He said that a little too loudly and the timid nurses retreated out of
the door.  I noticed that he had shaven, but he still looked like
he hadn’t slept much.  “Jake, please calm down.  It’s ok,
look, it’s unfair to talk to the nurses like that.  All they have
done is take care of me and you come in here like the bull that you
are, charging at anyone and everything.”  His face softened as he
touched my hand.  My voice was still a little hoarse but speaking
was a lot easier than yesterday.  

   “I’m sorry; I just lose all my
senses when it comes to you.  You still drive me crazy, you know
that?”  

    I smirk and touch his face.  “I know, I can see that,
but at the same time I don’t think it should be me you are apologising
to.”  He nods his head agreeing to my statement and sighs.  

   “Anyway how are you feeling this morning?  You look a lot
better.  They said they had to give you something during the night
to calm you down?”  

   “Yes, I think I was being a bit vocal.  I
just had a nightmare that Tony was in my room and I thought it was real
for a minute.  It’s all a bit confusing I guess.  I must have
scared the life out of the poor nurses.  Anyway, I feel a bit
groggy but otherwise fine.  Can you just pour me some water?” I
gesture to the jug on the bedside.  

   “Anything for you babes. 
I feel a bit hopeless just sitting around here doing nothing.”  He
gets up dutifully and pours some water in a plastic cup.  

    I take
little sips conscious of how sore my throat still is.  The nurses
then brought me in some porridge to see if I could eat.  Betty
told me that if I didn’t eat a little, the doctor will want to keep me
in another night.  There was no way I wanted that, so I had to
force it down my throat, even though it was agony to do so.

I
got myself a quick wash in the bathroom noticing my ankle was also a
lot better.  I was actually able to walk on it a bit more normally
now.  I didn’t really want to look at myself in the mirror and see
the constant reminder of what Tony had done to me.  Luckily Jake
had brought in some new clothes and a hairbrush, so I was at least able
to brush my hair.  I was grateful for that.  I sat back on
the bed and we waited for the doctor to do his rounds so I could be
discharged.  I was ready to go home now.  I wanted to get
away from this place and never to return.  Whilst we waited, I
asked about how everyone was doing and where Matthew was.  Jake
told me that Matthew was staying with Clive, and that they had argued
when he wanted to come down and stay with me whilst I recovered. 
He knew that Jake wouldn’t have been much company, so he made the
excuse that he had to stay in school.  He wasn’t happy about it
but what Jake said went.  You can’t argue with a caveman.  I
knew that for sure.  

    Also Jessie had been worrying herself sick
and calling twice a day, everyday wanting to know how I was.  Even
Michael called on a daily basis, which Jake didn’t look too happy
about.  He never ceases to amaze me, but the possessiveness only
added to his charm and made me feel all the more wanted.

After
our chats and a few cuddles and kisses the doctor finally emerged and
checked me over, amazed at how quickly I was overcoming this terrible
ordeal.  I begged him to send me home and he had said yes getting
the paperwork sorted out whilst I got ready.  I was elated to be
finally getting out of here as I have always hated hospitals. 
Jake couldn’t seem to hide his glee.  I brushed my teeth and
looked through the contents of the bag that Jake had brought in for
me.  Eyes bristled with tears when I saw that he had bought two
summer dresses, one a maroon and one a navy colour.  Although they
were sleeveless they both had polar necks on them to hide my finger
marks, which is what had made the tears threaten.  It probably
wouldn’t be a good idea going home brandishing what had happened to me,
and if I didn’t have to look at them every second of the day myself,
then all the better.

I
came out of the bathroom feeling a little better.  I threw my arms
around Jake and gave him a big kiss, grateful to have him here with me,
tending to my needs as always.  

   “Wow, what was that for?”  

    I
frown at him, “Can’t I just want to hug you and kiss you for no
reason?”  He cups my face.

   “Of course you can.  No reason is
as good reason as a reason.”  

    I start laughing.  “You’re just
too damn cute you know that?”  

    His face crinkles into a frown,
“Ana, I have been called lots of things, but cute ain’t one of
them.”  

    I smile as I realise he doesn’t seem to like that idea.
“Cute as a button.”  I grab his nose with my two fingers and I
laugh as he pulls away from me in moderate disgust.  The doctor
comes through the door at that moment, and he seems unimpressed by our
little antics.  I soon find out why.  

   “Ana, I’ve got some
pamphlets here I think you should read.  You may want to book
yourself an appointment with a Dr Townsend.  She is a very
good therapist near to you and I’m sure she could help you a great
deal.”  

    I wave my hands at him, “I’m fine honest.”  He then
proceeds to tell me that my nightmares tell me otherwise and if I don’t
deal with it, then I will be living a waking nightmare.  He seemed
pissed so I took the stuff from him anyway, and he then turned his
attention to Jake where he told him to watch out for certain signs,
like sudden loss of breath etc.  He then gave him some tablets to
help me with the pain.

We
get outside where I took my first lungful of air which felt heavenly,
despite the burning in my throat.  We got to the parking lot where
Jake opened the car door for me.  He moves burying himself into me
and gently kisses my lips, which sets my heart racing as it does every
time.  

   “You look beautiful in that dress Ana.  You always do
look beautiful.”  

    I gently rub my nose with his.  “Take me
home now Jake.”