Cockatoo

Cockatoo Part 7

I live for feedback nikkie.silk@outlook.com

Shit,' I thought as the water closed over my head, this wasn't part of the plan.'

I had no idea how long I had spent under water but I could see a bright light above me and I thought it must be the sun shining through the water as I clawed myself towards the surface. But, I thought, No, that can't be. It was dark when I fell in.' The light grew brighter and brighter and I wondered Maybe I'm dead'. I tried to open my eyes but it was so bright I couldn't force my eyelids open. I heard sounds from a long way off and it sounded like voices, but they were muffled and I strained to hear but couldn't quite make anything out.

I tried to move my arms to cover my eyes from the light but I couldn't move and I felt myself get angry that I was this helpless. I concentrated hard and forced myself to try and move my fingers. `Aaah,' I heard myself say as I felt a finger move a fraction. I could definitely hear voices now and they became less muffled. I heard someone say something that sounded urgent in a language that sounded familiar but which I couldn't place. I concentrated hard again and I felt my eyelids flicker and then I thought if I push really hard I might be able to open my eyes. I strained to force open my eyelids and with a rush my eyes were open but I had to close them quickly as light flooded in.

I felt my hand being lifted up and someone was holding my wrist. I managed to open one eye a fraction and gradually it adjusted to the light. I couldn't focus for a moment; all I could see were shades of light and dark. I could now hear different voices and they were excited about something. I seemed to be lying on my back, still unable to move and my side began to ache.

I finally began to focus as a face appeared over me and a bright light shone again into my eye which made me close it again. `Oww,' I moaned and felt someone touch my eyelids and gently moved them apart.

`James. James, can you hear me?' I heard a female voice say.

Of course, I can bloody hear you, I'm not deaf,' I wanted to scream, but all I heard was Eunff,' `He's definitely coming round,' the same female voice said to someone else. I managed to force open my other eye and I could now see that I was in a room with sunlight streaming through the windows. I found I could now move my arm a little but something tugged on it and I felt a little sharp pain.

`Try to lay still, James, you have a drip in your arm and I don't want you to pull it out.' I heard the female voice say. Drip in my arm, that's very funny I thought and started to giggle, but stopped as my side began to ache once more. I raised my head a fraction and then it flopped back again as if my neck muscles didn't exist.

`James, do you know where you are?' The voice sounded American and that confused me. I tried to speak but my mouth was so dry and my tongue felt stuck to the top of my mouth.

`Meriga?' I managed to mumble.

The female voiced laughed gently, and said, `No, you're in hospital in Thailand.'

Oh, how did I get there?' I managed to say, I live in England.'

Another small laugh. `You're in hospital in Koh Samui, James. You've been hurt but you will be OK. Your side might be sore but I'll give you something for the pain if it gets too bad.'

My mind finally began to clear and I managed to raise my head to look around. I saw the woman who had been speaking to me, dressed in a white coat with a stethoscope around her neck and in the background another woman also dressed in white.

`I'm Doctor Wichasak, and this is Nurse Taksin,' she smiled down at me. Both looked Thai. But the doctor spoke with an American accent.

How did I get here? I asked, was I in an accident?'

`James, all in good time, I want you to get some rest, and later on we will tell you what happened.'

`Okay, dokey, that's fine, thank you very much...' and I dropped back to sleep.

When I woke up the next time, the room was dark but with a small light dimly illuminating the room. I came round more quickly this time and I was conscious of the ache in my side as well as a raging headache. I tried to raise myself off the bed but the drip in my arm tugged the skin and I just lay back. My other arm was free and I managed to rub my eyes with my hand and felt a bandage on my shoulder. I must have been in a big accident I thought. It was then that I began to get jerky flashes of memory; I could remember a boat, and being at sea and falling into water.

Small jig saw pieces of memory started to return and a picture of Areeya lying bleeding on deck and Alex with blood all over her flashed into my mind. I thought, `Oh my god, what happened to them?'

I went cold and started to shout for a nurse.

Someone came into the room and I started to shout.

What happened to them, what happened to the girls?' I was yelling at the top of my voice. It's OK, sir. I'll get someone to come.'

She vanished and I fell back on the bed. `Christ, please let them be OK, please let them be OK.'

I heard the door open and the nurse said, `I have someone who wants to see you,'

I looked up and there was Alex, smiling nervously and looking anxious.

Alex, thank God, you're OK. I was almost weeping with relief.

I'm fine, I'm fine James, and more to the point how are you? You look better than the last time I saw you,' she said. She held my hand and gently squeezed it. You had us scared you know.' `Is Areeya alright too?' I said.

`James, I'm fine too, thank you,' Areeya was standing on the other side of my bed and she picked up my other hand. She had her head wrapped in a large white bandage that dipped dramatically over one eye.

I squeezed both their hands and I could see tears in Alex's eyes. `We thought we had lost you, baby, but its OK now, sweetheart.' She leant down and kissed me on the lips.

`What happened?' I asked.

`That's enough for now, I think,' and I could see Doctor Wichasak at the back.

I promise you we'll tell you, in the morning,' Alex said as the Doctor shooed them out of the room. You have two big fans, there James. They haven't been away from the hospital since you arrived.'

`How long is that, doctor,' I asked..'

`It's been five days, now.'

She gave me some water and a painkiller and I drifted off to sleep again.

I woke once more and the room was again full of light. I looked across to the window and I saw Alex and Areeya dozing in chairs. I took the chance to watch them for a bit and both looked very tired. Areeya was still wearing the bandage and had what looked like the remains of the mother and father of a black eye.Alex stirred and opened her eyes.

`Hello, sweetheart, I'm so glad to see you.' I said. She stood, came over to kiss me and started to cry again.

Ssshh,' I said and tried to hold her but the drip stopped me. I reached over my other hand and stroked her hair. It's OK, it's OK.'

She stood up and holding my hand, said, `I thought I had lost you, James, and I couldn't bear that, and then I got you back and I never want to lose you again.'

`Tell me what happened.' I said.

Wait, let me wake Areeya, she has to do this with me.' She turned and gently woke Areeya who smiled and came across and held my other hand. What do you remember? Alex asked.

I told her that I could now remember most of what had happened to the point where I had fallen into the water.

`Ok, well after you and the pirate had gone over the back, I was screaming and Areeya was still out of it, but her bleeding had at least stopped. I let the tender loose and threw out all the life jackets and cushions I could find just in case you could grab something. The pirates dropped the tow and doubled back to see what had happened. I grabbed the rifle that the pirate had dropped and let off a couple of bursts at them. I must have hit someone because I heard a scream and their boat backed off. I think they must have panicked because they disappeared into the dark and never came back.'

I looked at Alex with new respect.

She went on, `I was frantic with worry about you but had to look after Areeya. We must have drifted for a couple of hours and then we heard a helicopter approaching with a searchlight underneath. The emergency transponder you set off had worked and it had gone through to Areeya's father and he called the coastguard to come looking for us. Just about the same time a coastguard boat appeared and hove to alongside. They sent over a couple of guys and a medic who looked after Areeya.'

I squeezed Areeya's hand and said, `I am so glad you are OK,' She squeezed back and said, Thank you, I too am thankful you are well, James.'

Alex went on, `I told them about you and they radioed the helicopter which went off to search for you. I heard later that they were about to give up when they spotted you in the water. It seems you had managed to grab a cushion and hung on to that. They managed to pluck you out of the water but you were pretty far gone with blood loss and they flew you straight to Samui and into hospital.'

`So you saved my life by throwing the cushions into the water, thank you for that.' I was tearing up myself at this point.

`But you saved all our lives, James, by doing what you did, that was the bravest thing to do.'

I didn't think we would have lasted long with the guy with rifle so I just thought I had to do something. Going over the back off the boat wasn't in the plan.' I smiled grimly at the memory. I can't remember anything after going over the back of the boat.'

`After Areeya and I got back to Samui, she called her father, who was about to leave to fly here and he organised for Doctor Wichasak to fly over with him as she had lots of experience with gunshot wounds from time she spent time in the US.'

At the mention of the gunshot, I felt the throbbing in my side flare up again.

You had lost a lot of blood and they weren't sure you would pull through,' her lip began to tremble and I squeezed her hand, You needed a lot of blood to stabilize you but you hung in there and by the time Doctor Wichasak got here you had a fighting chance. She said that you had an enormous will to live and that helped pull you though.'

I squeezed both their hands and said, `Well I have a lot to live for, and a lot to be thankful for.' I think by now we were all in tears.

Alex said, `You're pretty much up to date, now. You've been out cold for about five days, as they kept you under to help the recovery from the gunshot.'

I asked Areeya, How are you? That looks dramatic. ' She said, He hit me hard with the gun as he came aboard and I was unconscious for a long time, Alex stopped my bleeding and I was only just conscious when you tackled the pirate. It looks worse than it feels now; I should have the bandage off today or tomorrow. Thank you for being so brave, I think that saved all our lives.'

`Can I thank your father please, Areeya?'

`I rather think he wants to thank you,' replied Areeya.

`Oh my God, what about my work? I need to let them know'

`Calm down, James, it's all in hand. We told them and it's fine. They flew over a temp for your project so it's all good. They told me that you should take the time to recuperate and contact them when you feel up to it. I'll tell them you are awake again.'

I lay back as I suddenly felt exhausted. I think the truth about what had happened had just hit me and it shook me up how close I had been to death and to losing the two people that mattered most to me in the world.

Alex said gently, We'll leave you to get some rest. If you're not careful I'll bring you in some Lucozade tonight.'

`Don't you dare, I hate the stuff.' I said.

`I know,' she said. She grinned and I knew Alex was back on form.

As they left I heard Areeya say, `Lucozade? Is that some kind of drug?'

`Yea, sort of...' replied Alex.

I smiled and fell asleep.

I stayed in hospital for another three days. The bullet had entered through my right side under my ribs and exited a bit higher on my back; a few more centimetres to the left and I would not have survived. There would be a scar but it could have been so much worse. Every day I felt a little better and the second day after I came round I was walking with a little help. I was weak more than anything and although the wound itself was sore and the dressings had to be changed regularly, I was feeling so much better.

On the third day they were happy to release me and Areeya had come to collect me. Doctor Wichasak had flown back to Bangkok with Areeya's father on his company plane and I thanked everyone else who had looked after me at the hospital. Areeya said her father would be flying down at the weekend to visit all of us.

I collected my painkillers and walked out with a cane to support me, as glad as I had ever been to breathe in the fresh air and to feel the sunshine on my skin. Areeya said that Alex was waiting for us so we got a taxi and headed off. It was early evening and I expected us to go back to the flat but we drove straight past Koh Samui Blue and pulled up outside Cockatoo 2. It was only as I got out that I noticed a big new banner outside the bar. I said to Areeya, that looks new, what does it say?

She smiled, I will translate. It says Welcome home James, You brave and fearless warrior.''

You're right; I blushed, this time down to the soles of my feet.

`Areeya, that's crazy, I am none of those things.'

`James, we disagree. We think you are and we wish to say thank you for your courage.'

I kissed her and mumbled a thank you in return.

Alex stood outside the bar beaming from ear to ear. She took my arm and helped me up the step into the bar itself. It's just a little party to welcome you back,' she whispered. Just a few friends and so on.'

I spotted Pao who waved happily, came across and gave me a kiss. `We glad to see you mister James.'

`Thank you Pao, I am very glad to see you too,' she beamed and glanced quickly at Alex who smiled back at her.

Alex led me across to a seat at the bar and a glass of scotch appeared from somewhere. I looked concerned. Don't worry,' Alex, said, I checked and so long as you don't drink a bucketful it's OK.' As it seemed almost to be on doctor's orders I took a healthy slug. The party was in full swing and I was introduced to many of Alex and Areeya's friends. Pao had taken it upon herself to be my bodyguard for the evening and kept people well away from my bad side. I was very fond of her, especially as she kept my glass topped up with scotch.

The TV was not playing either the usual mix of sports and music videos but what appeared to be a loop of film taken from a helicopter. I realised with a start that I was watching footage that had been shot by the coastguard helicopter which rescued us.

Areeya materialised next to me and said softly, `it's been on the news ever since it happened. Do you mind it playing here?'

I shook my head and she squatted down beside me, took my hand and I watched fascinated as the footage played on the TV. There was commentary in Thai but you didn't need it to understand what had happened. From above it showed the arrival of the Coast Guard cutter next to the Cockatoo and crew jumping across. The camera zoomed in for a moment and you could clearly see Areeya being treated by a medic and Alex smeared in blood urgently talking to the crew and pointing out the back of the boat. The helicopter then turned and flew off.

The film was edited so there were a few shots of the searchlight across a dark sea and then a shout from a crew member and the camera zooming in on a figure in the water hanging onto a cushion. It was with a jolt that I realised it was me. A rescue swimmer plunged into the water, swam across to me, turned and gave a thumbs up to the helicopter. He dragged me into a harness and we were both winched up into the air.

It was only then that I realised the bar had gone quiet and people were looking at me. Someone started to clap and then the whole bar joined in, everyone clapping and cheering. I felt myself going red and tried to make myself disappear. Alex was half crying and half laughing and Areeya was in bits too. The three of us gathered together for a photograph and smiled for the cameras, our arms round each other.

Everyone was happy and smiling, so why did I feel such a fraud?

Eventually, I began to tire so we said our goodbyes and left the party still going strong. I went over to Pao and thanked her for looking after me and gave her a kiss. She smiled shyly but looked very happy.

Alex was watching and said under her breath, `I knew I would have to keep an eye on that one,'

I turned to her and said, `Pao is sweet, she means no harm,'

Alex laughed and said, `I didn't mean her, I meant you.'

We got a cab back to the flat even though it wasn't far but I don't think I could have made the walk. They both had to help me up the stairs to the flat and by the time I had reached the top I was bushed. We had a last drink on the balcony watching the sea lap onto the beach and it was strange to think that these quiet waves were part of the same ocean that had nearly claimed my life.

Alex asked quietly if I wanted to sleep alone tonight and I told her that I had enough of sleeping by myself for a while. She nodded and said, `Let's get you to bed first, shall we? Do you want to shower tonight?'

`No. Just to use the loo, I can shower in the morning.'

I managed to get to the loo with not much trouble, took a painkiller and made it back to the bed on my own. Alex was in the bathroom and Areeya helped me to remove my jeans as I was still unable to bend much. I felt no embarrassment in front of her now and she gently helped me onto the bed. Alex came out of the bathroom in her robe and Areeya passed her on the way in. She sat on the side of the bed and for the first time had a chance to look at the wound. There was still a small dressing covering it and she traced the line between the entry and exit wounds with her finger.

`Were you frightened?' she asked.

I thought for a moment, `After I fell in I honestly can't remember a thing, but I'm sure I would have been.'

`And when you went for the guy with the gun?'

`I was more scared of not doing something, I think. I thought we would be dead if we just stood there and I was scared of dying that way, so doing nothing wasn't an option. I wasn't brave, just desperate.'

She shrugged off her robe and this time she was naked underneath it. She slipped into bed on my bad side and snuggled as close as she could without touching. She sat up and kissed me.

`I'm so glad I didn't lose you. And what you did was the bravest thing that any man could have done,' she whispered.

Areeya came out of the bathroom at that moment and headed for the other bedroom.

Areeya, wait,' I called out to her. Would you please stay with us, please? I want us to be together tonight.'

Areeya looked at Alex and she nodded her agreement. I squeezed Alex's hand to say thank you. `James, are you sure?' Areeya said.

Areeya, it would mean a lot to me if you would.'

She dimmed the lights and dropped her robe to the floor by the bed. I saw she too was naked as she slipped into the bed beside me. She cuddled up to me and she reached out for my hand and we kissed.

`My turn to say thank you,' I said.

I lay there between the two of them and listened to them as their breathing gradually slowed and they drifted off to sleep.

I found it difficult to fall asleep; for what I had not told the two girls was that ever since I had come round in the hospital I would wake up in the night with a nightmare. I was the one left on the boat this time and Alex and Areeya were in the water drifting off into the darkness. They were looking right at me as they slowly disappeared from sight but I was rooted to the spot, unable to move my arms or legs or even to cry out. As they finally were lost from sight, I would wake up covered in sweat.

I hoped that having them close tonight would bring some relief.

I woke to the sound of the waves outside, and the smell of coffee. I was alone in the bed and I had no idea what time it was, but the sun was already strong through the blinds. It was a few minutes before I realised that I had slept through without waking up and for the first time for a long while I was feeling refreshed.

Alex was sitting at the desk using the MacBook and Areeya was nowhere to be seen. She had her robe on, her hair was up in a knot on her head and I was surprised to see a pair of elegant glasses perched on her nose.

Mmm, I said, `I like that high powered woman executive look.'

She started as she heard me speak, and whipped off the glasses. `Steady tiger, we don't want to pop our stitches this early in the morning, do we? I see someone is feeling better today.'

I smiled, yawned and stretched and then winced.

`OK, not so much a tiger, more a raggedy arsed tom cat by the look of it,' she grinned as she walked across, knelt by the bed and gave me a passionate kiss.

`Mmm, nice, but what's that for?' I asked.

She held her hand up and counted off on her fingers, `One, I love you. Two, you're the best looking bloke in the room. Three, that was so nice what you did with Areeya last night. Four, I can dream it's Hugh Grant waking up in my bed and fifth, I'm feeling horny.'

I laughed and kissed her back. `I need a shower, where is Areeya?'

`Out at the boat, she's supervising repairs to it this morning.' Alex said as she walked back to the desk.

`OK, mind if I head to the shower?' I yawned again

Knock yourself out,' she said, and then quickly, Oh my God, I didn't mean that, my mouth works quicker than my brain sometimes.'

I said, `I know how fast your mouth works.'

Mmm,' she said, I'm looking forward to seeing how quickly yours can work, sweetie.' I laughed and walked slowly across to the bathroom.

I had learnt how to shower myself to keep the dressings dry, but with a bit of luck they would come off in the next couple of days. I had turned on the water and was waiting for it to warm up and I heard the door open. I turned round and there was Alex in her robe, hair still up on her head and wearing her power dressing glasses.

She said in very husky voice, `Ever had that fantasy where the mousy looking girl takes off her glasses, lets her hair down and turns into a stripper? As she said this she shook out her hair, threw the glasses in the corner of the bathroom and let the robe drop to the floor.'

Hand on hip, she said, `Will I do?'

I managed to grab her without falling over completely and drew her into me for a very long kiss.

`I take it that's a yes, then, sir?'

`Oh, yea, that's a big fat yes.'

She led me into the shower which was big enough for about five people without even touching the sides. It was a big rain forest shower with a glass wall separating the shower from the rest of the bathroom. Alex led me under the shower head and began to wash me with some beautifully scented shower gel and a wash cloth. I tell you, it is possibly the most decadent feeling in the world to be washed by someone else. Of course, Alex made sure it was an all over shower. She started washing my chest carefully avoiding the dressings and then over my back.

She moved to my cock and then my balls and I had my eyes close and wishing this was a cold shower. Inevitably, my cock decided all on its own to react and began to stiffen in her hands. She grinned, gave me a quick peck on the lips and turned her attention to my bum. She washed each cheek in turn giving each a kiss before moving the cloth slowly up and down my crack and suddenly I felt a finger gently rubbing me back there. This was something very new for me and I started to turn round and she said very firmly, `Don't turn round. Stay where you are.'

Her other hand came round and started to stroke my cock which by this time was pointing true north. She continued to rub her soapy finger around my rosebud, still managing to stroke my cock. I could feel her tits up against my back and could also feel her cock against the back of my thighs.

The sum total of these feelings was literally making me weak at the knees. This was an assault on my senses that was pushing me to my limits. Her finger, slippery with soap, now slid its way into my hole as she kept up a steady rhythm on my cock.

OOOhhhh,' I heard myself say as her finger slipped just a little bit further in and my knees buckled even more. One finger became two, and somewhere in my head that little dark voice said Stop, this is wrong' and the light voice said `It feels so good, it can't be bad.'

Sensing I was close to a climax, Alex withdrew her fingers turned me round and pushed me up against the glass shower wall. She dropped to her knees and took my cock into her mouth. I felt it slide deeper than it had before as she took the whole length into her mouth. Her tongue was swirling around the head and as she pulled back she flicked her tongue underneath and I nearly lost it there and then. She was a master at knowing when to hold back to prolong the pleasure and when to rev things up. She focused on the head, sucking and licking it with her lips and tongue.

I looked down at her and she looked me straight back into my eyes and that did it for me. She knew and began to stroke my cock and I felt that warm sensation come up from my groin and straight into my cock. I came with a grunt and my legs nearly gave way.

Alex took all my cum into her mouth and then stood up to face me. She kissed me hard on the lips, her tongue opening up my lips and I suddenly realised this time she hadn't swallowed and was pushing my cum into my mouth. I gagged a little as I tasted it on my tongue but Alex kept her lips locked over mine until I was forced to swallow. She broke the kiss and pushed her middle finger into my mouth and I rolled my tongue over and around it. We stood there for several minutes as she moved her finger in and out as licked and sucked it.

`Not so bad, is it?' she whispered.