Читать книгу Heart Of Courage - Sue MacKay - Страница 14

CHAPTER FIVE

AFTER TAKING FOR ever to go to sleep, Sophie was woken by banging on her door and someone calling out. ‘Captain, wake up. You’re needed in the medical hut.’

Two-twenty in the morning. Must be urgent. ‘Coming.’ Rolling out of bed, she grimaced. Her back ached. Her head was full of cotton wool. And the baby was dancing nonstop. As for the thoughts about her baby’s father that had followed her right into sleep, she was about ready to forget she’d ever met him if it meant some peace. The pillow beneath her hand was wet. Her cheeks below her eyes were puffy. She’d been crying? In her sleep? Never.

Shrugging into a shirt and pulling up her fatigue trousers, she opened the door. ‘Hey, Simone, what’s the problem?’

‘Some of the guys have been in a brawl with civilians,’ Simone told her. ‘Down at McGregor’s Bar.’

‘So we’ve got drunks to contend with.’ Great. ‘Where did I put my boots?’ She looked all around her room, came up empty-handed.

‘Want me to look?’ Simone grinned.

‘Go ahead. Oh, no, there they are.’ Feeling unsteady, she held onto the bed end as she leaned down to pull the offending boots out from under a chair.

Simone was at her elbow immediately. ‘Are you all right?’

‘Must’ve leapt out of bed too fast.’

‘Captain Daniels is already at the unit, trying to quieten some of the noisier of the idiots.’ The nurse was not known for her patience with soldiers who’d overindulged and got themselves into trouble.

‘Who asked Coop—Captain Daniels to lend a hand?’

That grin widened. ‘Your friend Cooper?’

‘That one.’ Of course everyone on base would know she and Cooper had spent a few hours together.

‘Seems he was out running when he came across the guys fighting with two locals outside the pub. Pulverising them was his summation. Something about the soldiers defending a young woman.’

Why was Cooper running in the middle of the night? Sophie shut her door and led the way outside. ‘The police involved?’

‘Our MPs and the state troopers. The troopers have taken the civilians to their hospital. We’ve got our morons to deal to.’

‘Maybe not morons if they were looking out for a woman.’ Any male who could go past a woman, or any one, in trouble wasn’t worthy of being called a man. Unlike Cooper. Even now she could feel his body covering hers in that dirt as the air had exploded around them.

‘Huh,’ grunted Simone.

‘Nothing too serious reported in the way of injuries, though we have a minor knife wound and a couple of black eyes,’ Cooper informed Sophie the moment she stepped inside the medical unit and noted the four men waiting to be checked over. ‘Noisy but not drunk,’ he added.

Two MPs were trying to hold one of the men upright but he seemed determined not to use his legs for some reason.

‘Wonderful,’ she muttered.

I got up for this?

‘I told Simone not to bother you but she wouldn’t listen.’ Cooper was peeved about something. Being ignored by her nurse probably. Well, Simone was never going to look at him twice. He was a male.

The noise level was rising. Standing to attention, she yelled in her best parade-ground voice, ‘Soldiers, quiet.’

The room instantly became silent. Sheepish men in various states of disarray froze on the spot.

‘Stand up straight. Including you.’ She nodded at the man the MPs were holding. She didn’t lower the decibels. Only one way to treat the soldiers when they were in this state, and that was to remind them who and what they were. Pointing to a table, she snapped, ‘Form a line over there.’

‘Want me to take the stab wound?’ Cooper asked into the quiet.

Sophie nodded. ‘All yours. Simone, who’s next?’

Simone led a man across and pushed him onto a chair. ‘Sergeant Dexter took a direct hit in the eye and another on the back of the head, Captain.’

Sergeants were supposed to prevent their men getting into trouble, not be in the thick of it. Unless he’d been trying to stop the fight. ‘What happened, Sergeant?’

‘Looking out for my men, Captain.’ His mouth was a flat line.

‘I meant your injuries.’

‘Took a fist in the face, twice. Hit the back of my head on the kerb when I went down, ma’am.’

Sophie tilted the man’s head forward and examined the wound at the back. The bleeding had stopped. ‘I’m going to put some stitches in here.’

‘Thank you, ma’am.’

‘How’s your vision? Any blurriness?’

He shook his head and winced. ‘No, ma’am.’

This was not the time to be brave, but Sophie knew better than to say so. He had a reputation to uphold in front of his men. She held out a penlight torch. ‘Hold this for me.’

His reaction was swift and firm.

‘Good. Headache?’

‘No.’ Again he winced.

‘Care to rethink your answer?’ She stared at him for a long moment but got nothing back. His head would be thumping. Male pride could be plain stupid. ‘Sergeant, you’ve taken a hard hit on your skull, which could’ve shaken your brain, resulting in a concussion.’

‘I understand.’

She’d give him a concussion herself if he didn’t start answering her questions honestly. Retrieving the torch, she shone it into the corner of his good eye. The man blinked rapidly. ‘Sure there’s no fogginess in your sight? Or your head?’

‘I can see you clearly.’

Guess that was something. ‘What about the other side of the room? Can you read the top line on the notice-board?’

One side of his mouth lifted in a wry smile. ‘Staff rosters for August.’

She gave up. Being stubborn was something she understood all too well. ‘I want you to come and see me the moment you feel any nausea, have blurred vision or a strong headache. Understand?’ When he nodded, she continued. ‘About this other eye...’

It was swollen shut. Not a lot she could do until the swelling went down. After cleaning his grazed cheek and forehead with disinfectant in case he got an infection, she picked up a needle and syringe. ‘I’m giving you a local anaesthetic so I can suture the back of your head. Ready?’

The sergeant turned whiter. ‘Yes.’

Within minutes she’d finished and was tugging her gloves off to toss in the bin. Then she unlocked the drugs cabinet and put a few antibiotic tablets in a bottle. ‘Here you go. One every twelve hours until they’re finished. And some analgesics.’

Reluctantly he took them, and quickly shoved them in his pocket. ‘Thank you, ma’am.’ And he was gone.

Shaking her head, she called, ‘Who’s next?’

‘Bruised ribs and a punch to the gut,’ Simone informed her as she nodded to a lance corporal to approach.

‘I’ll check those ribs,’ Sophie said. He might need an X-ray. Pressing carefully over the reddened, swollen area, she judged the lad’s reactions and with what she could feel decided he’d been lucky. ‘Take it easy for the next couple days.’

Cooper was finishing up suturing a corporal’s knife wound, and glanced up as Sophie approached. ‘This man won’t be holding a rifle for a few days. The knife went nearly through to the other side at one place.’

A commotion at the unit’s door had Sophie whipping around to see what was going on. The room spun. Grabbing at the nearby table, she held on until her head returned to normal.

‘Sophie? Captain Ingram?’ Cooper was before her, reaching for her arms.

She stepped back on shaky legs. ‘I’m fine, Captain.’ There was no air in the room. Her feet were leaden. ‘I’m fine,’ she repeated more forcefully.

‘I’ll see what the racket is about.’ His lips were tight and his eyes were shooting daggers in her direction.

Just then an MP and a soldier pushed inside, the sergeant she’d released held between them, his head lolling forward.

‘Put him on the bed,’ she ordered as she focused on work and not the pounding behind her eyes. ‘What happened?’

Someone told her, ‘He was halfway back to his quarters when he dropped. Out cold, he is.’

Cooper lifted the man’s legs and helped manoeuvre him onto the bed. ‘This the guy who hit his head on the kerb?’ he asked her.

Nodding, she picked up the sergeant’s arm to check his pulse. ‘Concussion for sure. He was denying any symptoms, and I couldn’t nail any, apart from his obvious headache. I want him sent into the city hospital for a scan. Simone?’

‘Onto it,’ was the reply.

Silly man. Why did he let pride get in the way of receiving the correct treatment? Even if she hadn’t foreseen him losing consciousness she’d have been better prepared to treat his symptoms.

Cooper nudged her shoulder lightly with his. ‘You did your best.’

‘Pulse is low.’ She raised the eyelid on the man’s good eye. No one home.

‘Respiration rate is low,’ Cooper commented.

It felt good having him working beside her. ‘He’s coming round. Sergeant, can you hear me?’

The sergeant’s eyes opened briefly.

Thank goodness. It was a start in the right direction. ‘You blacked out. We’re going to send you for a scan.’ She spoke slowly and clearly.

He opened his eyes for a little longer.

‘That knock on your head is more serious than I first thought.’ Not that she’d had much to go on. ‘Has your headache got worse?’

He nodded once, then put his hand up to his mouth.

‘Bucket,’ Cooper called loudly.

Simone returned to say the ambulance was backing up to the door.

Since Cooper was dealing with her patient Sophie filled out a form for the hospital ED. ‘Simone, I want you accompanying him after we’ve finished checking him over.’

‘No problem.’

Fifteen minutes later the unit was quiet, empty of everyone except Sophie and Cooper, who was putting the kettle on to boil.

‘Want a cup of tea? Or hot milk?’ he asked.

Sinking onto a stool, she felt shattered. So not up to speed. The heat and her pregnancy were taking their toll. ‘I made a mistake not insisting he tell me his symptoms.’

‘I heard some of your conversation. He was never going to admit things in front of his men.’ Cooper dropped teabags into two mugs. ‘Tea it is.’

‘I should’ve known to take him into another room.’

‘He should’ve known to talk to you. Are you on parade at zero seven hundred?’

The thought made her feel even more tired. ‘Yes.’ Four more days to go. ‘Never thought I’d say this but I’m looking forward to stopping work, and I haven’t even been busy in here.’ She glanced at the stack of notes from their earlier patients. ‘Most of the time, at any rate.’

‘You could ask to be stood down.’

She raised one eye brow at him in reply.

‘I figured,’ was Cooper’s only comment.

While she drank her tea she cruised the internet for places to rent in Auckland.

‘Can’t that wait?’ Cooper asked with his usual bluntness.

‘The sooner I set up appointments the sooner I’ll find somewhere and can get my mess sorted.’

‘There is an alternative, Sophie. You can bunk down at my place for a few days if you’re still determined to find your own place.’ He was frustrated with her. It showed in his tone and the tightness of the hand holding his mug.

It was more than she needed right now. Shutting down the laptop, she took her tea and headed for the door. ‘See you after parade.’

* * *

‘Attention,’ shouted the sergeant leading the parade.

Boots slapped the tarmac as rows of soldiers stood straighter than straight.

Cooper was to the side of the ground, standing at attention but not part of any unit. Sophie was at the front of the medical corps, eyes to the front. She hadn’t said a word to him over a hurried breakfast in the canteen. Exhaustion had rippled off her like heat waves in the desert. Her fatigues needed straightening and her hair could do with being tied tighter but far be it for him to point that out. Someone on the parade ground would do it and cop her wrath for their effort.

List stood at the front, ready to talk to the troops. He glanced Cooper’s way, and then at Sophie. A frown appeared on his brow, and he dipped his head at Sophie.

What? Cooper’s gaze returned to her. She seemed to be struggling to stay upright, swaying on her feet. Her chin was pushed forward as though she was willing herself to stand erect. As he made to step out and head to her she slumped in a heap.

Cooper ran. ‘Sophie.’ Instantly dropping to his knees, he reached for her, felt for a pulse. It was slow but at least it was there.

Simone had been standing two away and was as quick to reach her as he’d been. ‘Sophie, what’s happening? Did you faint?’

‘Let’s get you inside out of this heat. I need to check your BP.’ Low blood pressure would explain what had happened. Might explain a few incidents where she’d appeared to lose focus briefly. Like when she’d lost her balance outside Harry’s on the day he’d arrived. It made Cooper think he was on the right track.

Sophie flopped against him, blinking and trying to rub her head. ‘What happened?’

Cooper held her gently and looked up to growl at the man next in line. ‘Get a stretcher. Now.’

‘Yes, sir.’

‘Sophie, can you hear me?’

‘Yes. I’m fine.’

‘You’re not fine. When did you last have your BP checked?’

Simone answered for her. ‘I did it two weeks ago. It was normal.’

‘Two weeks and you haven’t had a reading since?’ No wonder he needed to keep an eye on her. She wasn’t doing a good job of looking after herself. ‘What about blood sugar?’

‘Shouldn’t we talk about this inside?’ Simone glared at him before tilting her head towards nearby troops. ‘Sir.’

List appeared, saving him having to answer. Simone was right. ‘Captain Ingram? Are you all right?’

She nodded. ‘I’m fine. Please continue with the parade. With your permission, Sir, I’ll go to the medical unit.’

‘Permission granted,’ List snapped. Then he leaned down and said quietly, ‘Take the morning off, Sophie. You’ve got to look after yourself.’

Whatever she’d been about to say was forgotten, instead her eyes widening as the soldier arrived with a stretcher. ‘That had better not be for me. I’ll walk, thank you very much.’ Instantly she struggled to stand up.

Cooper put a restraining hand on her arm. ‘No, you don’t. You’ve just taken a tumble, and before you say a word, think about the baby.’

The look she sent him should’ve frozen him to the spot for eternity. At least she sank back down to the ground and muttered, ‘All right.’

Cooper sighed. She had landed on her knees and tipped forward but had gone sideways just before her baby tummy could hit the ground. Still, he wanted to check her over, make sure Sophie and the baby were fine. And find the cause of these light-headed incidents she was having. This definitely wasn’t the first, and he doubted it’d be the last until they knew more.

Above them List pressed his lips together, no doubt smothering a smile at Sophie’s reluctant concession to Cooper’s order. ‘Right, soldiers.’ He nodded to Simone and the soldier who’d brought the stretcher. ‘Take Captain Ingram inside.’

Cooper felt for the two as they reached down to lift the stretcher once Sophie had slid across onto it. She had plenty more of those icy glares and wasn’t worried about sharing them around.

List leaned close to murmur, ‘Go with her. Make sure she’s all right.’ Then he marched back to the front of the parade.

Cooper muttered, ‘Try and stop me, mate,’ and strode after the stretcher bearers. Now the fun would really start.

Except Sophie surprised him. ‘I’m feeling stupid. There’ve been a few times when I’ve experienced light-headedness but I put it down to the heat and lack of sleep. What sort of doctor does that make me? It’s not a good start to motherhood, is it?’ Her eyes lifted to him, imploring him to go easy on her.

She didn’t have to ask. He wasn’t about to rip into her, only wanted to make sure she and baby were safe. The sadness and worry blinking out of those green eyes hit him hard. She wasn’t as confident as she made out. Yet she insisted on going it alone. Not on his watch she wasn’t. Not now, not ever. They were in this together. Even if not living under the same roof, he’d make absolutely certain he was always there for her. ‘I heard doctors usually made the worst mothers, always thinking of all the horrific things that can go wrong. It’s cool that you’re not like that.’

Suspicion clouded her eyes. ‘You don’t think I’m too casual?’

‘No, Sophie, I don’t. You look fit and healthy. I haven’t seen you do anything you shouldn’t, like go jogging in the heat or drink alcohol. Our baby is in perfect hands.’

She gasped.

So did Simone.

Cooper slapped a hand on his forehead. ‘Sorry.’ He’d forgotten they weren’t alone. ‘I shouldn’t have said that.’

Simone was smiling as she looked at Sophie. ‘Don’t worry. I know nothing.’ Then she leaned over to give Sophie a hug. ‘Knew you were more than friends.’

Sophie looked surprised. ‘Actually, we’re not. Not really.’

Time he was out of there. Partaking in a discussion with the hard-nosed sergeant about their relationship was not happening. ‘I’ll get the sphygmomanometer and phlebotomy kit.’ And some air that wasn’t laced with Sophie scent and filled with words he wanted to refute. They weren’t friends, not in the true sense of the word, yet he wanted to be. More than anything. He wanted to be able to spend time with Sophie and say anything he liked, help her without wondering how she’d interpret his actions. At the moment they were leery of each other, and he was past putting up with that.

Neither woman tried to stop him going, but when he returned with the equipment needed to take a BP reading and some bloods to send to the lab Sophie was on her own, looking glum.

‘Hey, you’re doing fine.’ Cooper ran a hand over her shoulder.

Tears glittered out of the eyes she raised to him. ‘You think? I’m feeling so hopeless.’

Pressure built in his chest, and the need to be there for her expanded further. This wasn’t just about his responsibility towards her and the baby. This was about that friendship they didn’t have yet. ‘There’s not a hopeless bone in your body.’

‘I’d say thanks but, really, you don’t know me at all.’

‘I know you’re stubborn, kind, fun, sexy...’ Now, why had he added that? Friends and sex were a mismatch. Except sex had led to them being tied together with a child. Now the friendship had to start. Which meant sex was off the list. ‘Did I mention annoying and adorable?’

Now she looked disappointed. ‘It’s been said before: you’re a charmer.’

He’d meant every word and hadn’t been trying to get his own way about anything. He’d been wanting to make her relax and stop fretting about how she was coping. That wasn’t good for her or the infant. ‘Let’s find out what’s going on.’ He held up the BP cuff.

Holding out her arm, she told him, ‘You can’t do a glucose test. I ate breakfast.’

‘We’ll start with a non-fasting and if that’s even slightly raised we’ll follow up with a fasting blood tomorrow.’ No more stalling.

Sophie sagged, her chin hitting her sternum. ‘Get on with it.’ There was no strength in her words, just defeat.

That unsettled him further. He preferred the fighting, stubborn Sophie to this one. Watching the monitor until it beeped, he felt out of his depth. Sure, reading BPs and taking bloods was basic medicine, but cheering up his patient when he was so involved was more complicated than he’d expected. And he was about to add to her gloom. ‘BP’s too low.’

‘I figured.’ She shook her head. ‘Gestational diabetes is looking more likely by the minute.’

‘They don’t necessarily go hand in hand,’ he argued.

‘I know.’ She held her arm out again and watched quietly while he drew some blood.

* * *

Three hours later Cooper found Sophie munching on a healthy salad and reading files in her office. ‘Your glucose is a little too high.’

‘So tomorrow I’d do a glucose tolerance test. Can we start early? I get hungry all the time.’

‘I’ll take the fasting sample twelve hours after your dinner tonight.’ And fingers crossed the final results would be normal.

They weren’t. ‘I’ve got gestational diabetes.’ Sophie put the phone down the following afternoon and stared at Cooper.

‘I was hoping otherwise.’ But he wasn’t surprised at the result.

‘You and me both. Guess I’m off the ice cream.’

‘They can relax in the canteen. There’ll be enough left to go round everyone from now on.’

Her smile was tired. ‘Home is looking better and better all the time.’

Home meant a lot to do, if what he’d gleaned from their conversations was true. ‘You made those appointments for viewing properties yet?’

‘I’ve got four lined up the day after we touch down.’

Of course she had. Tired she may be, inefficient she wasn’t. ‘Anything that really excites you?’ Would it be wrong to hope not? He might’ve got off the hook when she’d turned down his offer to live with him for a while, but more and more the need to be there with her for these weeks leading up to the birth was dominating his thoughts. She needed pampering. He was going to pamper Sophie? Yep, and why not?

‘Yes, all of them,’ she replied in the flattest voice he’d heard in a long time.

‘Better than nothing you like.’

She didn’t answer.