Basic Training - Chapter Six

This is a work of fiction loosely based on the character of Terry Thorne established and defined in the movie Proof of Life. It is strictly for entertainment purposes. Please do not copy, publish or alter this work in any way without the written permission of the author.

By: Thorne's Rose

The lads took it in turns to keep a vigil by his bed, waiting for the fever to break. For five days he tossed and turned, trapped in his delirium. On the morning of the sixth day, Hill was quietly sponging him down, trying to cool his overheated body, when he suddenly stopped what he was doing.

He turned to look at Jake’s face, and found a pair of startling green eyes looking back at him.

“’Bout time you decided to rejoin the land of the living,” he said softly.

Jake lay there looking right through him.

The door quietly opened and the doctor entered the room.

“He’s awake doctor, but he doesn’t answer.” Hill said.

Doctor Morris came closer to the bed and looked down at Jake, noting the glassy expression in his unseeing eyes.

“Well, it’s a start, but he’s not quite ready to come back to us yet. Don’t worry too much Hill, this is a good sign.”

Hill turned back to Jake and found him asleep once again. He continued sponging him down gently, hoping that he was helping the man he thought could easily become a good friend.

It wasn’t long before Gordon stuck his head round the door ready for the shift change. He pulled up a chair and sat talking to Hill in low whispers. They both stopped as they heard Jake moving in the bed, then let out a soft groan.

They turned towards the bed and watched as Jake’s eyelashes fluttered briefly, then saw his eyes slowly open to a crack. He moaned as the bright light hit his face. Gordon went to close the blinds.

“Hey mate, can you hear me?” asked Hill.

Jake turned towards the sounds, and this time Hill noticed a glint of recognition on his face.

“Where am I?” Jake croaked, his voice hoarse from lack of use.

“Back at the base mate. There are a few worried people who will be glad to hear you’re back with us. How do ya feel?”

“Like I’ve been hit by the Manly ferry,” Jake replied.

“Wow, that good, I’m impressed,” laughed Gordon from his place by the window.

Jake reached out and got a grip on Hill’s wrist.

“Get me home Dazza, please!”

“Sydney?” asked Hill.

“No, HOME!”

Hill looked at Jake with concern, not quite knowing what he meant. Then a voice from the door spoke up.

“He wants to go back to his family home, Hill,” said Colonel Fisher. “I’ll check with the doctor to see if he can be moved.”

The Colonel left the room as quietly as he’d arrived, in search of Doctor Morris, returning about ten minutes later. Jake was just barely awake when they both entered the room. On hearing Tom’s voice he tried to concentrate on what was being said. He looked into Tom’s face and whispered one word.

“Home?”

“Okay Mitch, the good doctor here says with an escort you should be okay for the flight. I’ve told him he should go along with you. I said he might find your family interesting.”

Jake smiled slightly at that remark, knowing what Tom was up to.

“Also, Hill has offered to go along as well. He said he can cop a flight back down to Sydney when you’re safely settled in. You all deserve a fair bit of leave after your ‘adventure’. Is that okay with you?”

Jake nodded sleepily, then frowned. Tom thought he knew what had flashed through his mind.

“No worries about the bike mate. I’ll get it back to Sydney for you, unless you want it up on the farm?”

Jake shook his head and Tom took that to mean Sydney would be fine.

“Right then,” said Tom. “I may even take her home myself. I fancy a quick trip to Sydney. I can pop in the office for you, let everyone know you’re okay,” he said with a wink.

Three hours later found Jake, Hill and the doctor on board a medivac helicopter heading off for Jake’s home town. He slept most of the way, and he didn’t wake up until he felt the chopper descend to the landing pad at the local hospital. He was whisked onto a gurney even before the rotors had stopped, and was quickly wheeled into the awaiting room. He was soon wrapped up in bed and hooked up to an IV. Doctor Morris went to look for the doctor in charge, and Hill was left alone with Jake.

“Nice place,” he said.

Jake turned to look at him with a smile.

“It grows on ya mate, stick around until I can show you the sights.”

“I just might do that, thanks. Can you recommend a good place to stay for a bit?”

“Hang on until the rellies turn up and I can guarantee they’ll insist you go home with them,” said Jake, smiling.

Just then the door opened and a small group filed in. There was Doctor Morris, along with the doctor from the hospital, a very attractive nurse with tears in her eyes (which interested Hill no end), a tall sandy haired man who looked like he was some kind of relation to Jake, and a serene silver haired lady with a worried frown on her face.

The silver haired lady stepped forward and held out her hand to Hill.

“Let me make the introductions. I’m Dr Emily Mitchell, Aaron’s grandmother, this is Angeline Watson, his girlfriend, this is my son Samuel, and this is Doctor Williamson, our family doctor and head of medicine here.”

Hill took her hand and replied, “I’m Darren Hill, one of Jake’s trainees. Sorry I brought him home a bit worse for wear.”

“We knew that something had happened to him a couple of weeks ago.” Emily replied.

“How is that possible, there was no way we could get a message out to anyone, and he even managed to keep it from us for a couple of days.”

“Ah, that’s so like him. Lupo let us know there was something wrong,” said Sam.

Angie took pity on Hill and spoke up.

“Lupo is Jake’s wolf. He was a gift from a client in Europe and Jake raised him from a small pup. Lupo always knows if Jake is on his way home, and he also knows if Jake is hurt in any way. Two weeks ago, when he began howling for no reason, we knew something had happened. We just had to sit it out and wait for the call. We knew Jake had to be okay when Lupo stopped.”

“You’ll get to meet him, mate,” said Jake from the bed. “Dazza needs a place to stay Emily, I said I was sure you could find a corner for him to unroll his swag.”

Emily swatted Jake lightly on the head and smiled at Hill, saying she would be happy to have him as a guest at their home while Jake was in the hospital. They all headed out of the room to give him some peace, telling him they would be back in the morning to see how he was.

Jake noticed how Sam and Doctor Morris were chatting happily together as they left the room and smiled.

“What’s that for?” asked Angie.

“I think Tom is playing Cupid luv. He persuaded Doc Morris to come along and ‘meet the family’.”

“Do you mean what I think you do?”

“Yep, Tom is trying to get Sam a boyfriend, and I guess he thinks Doc Morris would be a good choice. He could be right, he’s a good bloke.”

Angie smiled down at her love, brushing his cheek with her fingers.

“You’re not such a bad bloke yourself you know.”

“Thanks luv, you’re pretty good too.”

“I’ve been so worried about you. Are you sure you’re okay?”

“I’ve been better darlin’, but the doc says now the infection’s finally clearing up I should be up and around in no time. I just wanna go home.”

“Well, let’s see what he decides in the morning. If you promise to stay off your feet he may even say it’s okay.” Angie said as she leaned over to give Jake a welcome home kiss.

The following morning Jake managed to work his charm on Doctor Williamson, who told him that subject to a few ground rules, he could go home that afternoon. The first stipulation was that he had to agree to be transported home by ambulance and not in the car as he requested. He also had to have complete bed rest for five days. The doctor also told him he would be out to visit, just to make sure.

Jake grudgingly agreed as he knew it was the only way he could escape the confines of his hospital room. He was forced to admit to himself that he probably wouldn’t be up to doing much more than resting up for a few days anyway, but he would never let that fact be known to anyone.

Late afternoon found him at home, in his own bed, for the first time in what seemed like an age. He was glad to be there, and let Angie and Emily fuss over him for a while before starting to half heartedly complain. They both kissed him gently on the cheek and told him they would be back later to see how he was doing, but five minutes later when they sneaked a look round his door, he was dead to the world. He looked so young and peaceful they quietly closed the door and let him sleep on.

Darren spent a lot of time sitting with Jake during his enforced confinement in his room, and by the third day home, Jake had persuaded him to assist in a break out. He was going stir crazy! Angie came into the room just in time to see Darren holding onto Jake around the waist while he hobbled out through the doors leading from his room to the terrace. She walked quietly behind them and watched as Darren helped Jake ease himself onto a steamer chair and cover him with a doona. Satisfied that he was in safe hands, she retraced her steps through the bedroom and went to the kitchen to make them all a cuppa.

A few minutes later, she re-entered the bedroom with a tray and called out for Jake.

“I’m on the terrace,” he answered.

At first she thought she would feign anger at his being out of bed, but the look of pure joy on his face to be out in the fresh air again took away any idea she might have had of reprimanding him. It was good to see him smile again.

After a few minutes of idle chat, Darren stood up and retrieved the tray and empty cups. “I’ll take these out to the kitchen, Angie. I want to find Sam to ask him something,” he said, winking at her from behind Jake’s seat.

As he left them alone at last, Jake reached out a hand for Angie.

“Sit with me?” he asked.

Angie took his offered hand and rose from her seat, gently settling herself on his lap. She wrapped her arms around him, being careful of the still tender spot on his back, and he encircled her in his embrace. Fifteen minutes later, that’s how Darren and Emily found them, both fast asleep.

By the end of the week Jake was given the all clear to start getting up and around, and soon he was walking round the outbuildings of the farm with Darren, always laughing and joking with him. They were fast becoming firm friends, and Jake was hoping that he would be around the next time Michael came over as he knew they would get along well.

All too soon it was time for Darren to report back. The entire family realised they were going to miss him, He had made a real impression on them in such a short time. Jake was feeling fit enough by then to take him to the airport, and they parted amidst much hugging and backslapping, with a promise to meet up in Sydney the next time Darren got leave.

Jake drove back to the farm realising that he too would soon be on a plane back to the city. It was time to show his face in the office. He needed to catch up on the state of play, and all the paperwork he knew would be waiting. With a sigh, he pulled up outside the main house, mentally packing for his trip back to the ‘real world’.

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