Whiteout

Whiteout by Jonah

Those who have read my previous stories will need no introduction to Simon and Garret and their family. Those who haven't - why not? This is the latest in the series that began a couple of years back with "A Letter from America" and it fits in right after "Christmas in New England". If you haven't read the others, don't worry. It will stand on its own. It is a story of love - the real sort. Some of its characters are gay, though that doesn't matter. They are good people. They are not, however, real people. This is a work of fiction and every character is also a fiction - created by me, except for Garret, who was created by Jacob Lion, in the USA. I want to thank Jacob for permitting me to use his characters. This story is brought to you, free of charge, by Nifty. Nifty brings all these stories to you free of charge and he doesn't charge us authors either. The cost is borne by himself and our donations. To keep this site going please consider donating to Nifty at https://donate.nifty.org/

chapter 12

On Sunday morning we took both cars to Horsham St Faith for Church. Garret took the boys, except Ross, who travelled with me because we were going to the hospital after Church.

The service was taken by a local preacher, Len Maltby, but I don't think Ross was concentrating all that much. He was obviously too focussed on the end of the service. He uttered his "Amen" after the benediction and was still standing as I sat and bowed my head for a departing prayer. I followed Garret and the boys to the hall for coffee but Ross didn't want any.

"I'd better get him to the hospital before he explodes," I told Garret.

"No, have your coffee," Ross insisted. "I'm just not thirsty."

"You're just anxious to be on the road," I told him. "Come on."

The hospital car park was no less full on a Sunday than it was in the week. I managed to park and had to virtually restrain Ross from running all the way to the ward.

We found Alice sitting up in bed eagerly watching the door.

"Have you been behaving for Mr. Ito Dear?" She asked.

"He's just been to Church," I told her before he could answer, " so he's already been forgiven his manifold sins."

"I don't know what that means, " said Ross, "but I'm sure, if I did, I wouldn't like it."

Alice smiled.

"I know what it means," she said. "It means you've been a good boy."

"I don't think it means that," said Ross.

"Going to Church is a good thing to do," insisted his mother.

"Perhaps I should have paid more attention to the service then," was the boy's reply. "It isn't as if I had a choice."

"Do you think you oughtn't to have to do what Mr. Ito says then Dear?"

"You know I don't think that Mum," returned the boy. "Mr. Ito has been very good to me. If he hadn't taken me in I'd have had to go into a home, and I'd have hated it. They wouldn't have kept bringing me here to see you."

This line of conversation obviously needed bringing to an end.

"What have they got lined up for you then Alice? Are you playing football this afternoon?"

She smiled at that.

"No dear," she replied. "That's not till tomorrow."

"Well you're not wheezing and getting out of breath while you're talking."

"No, the doc says the lung is healing nicely, but I still have to keep resting so that it can keep healing. They're hoping the plaster can come off my leg tomorrow. It'll still be about a week, and I'll need help at home for a bit."

"I can help you Mum," said Ross.

"You can when you're there," I told him," but your mum will probably need other help besides you."

"Yes, but only for a week because, after that, it will be the Easter holidays."

I should have expected that.

"Is he like this all the time?" I asked Alice.

"Oh yes, but I wouldn't have him any other way."

"Well I'll take him away, then you can have some peace - at least until tomorrow."

"Thank you for coming in Dear."

"Oh! Didn't you say you were playing football tomorrow?"

Alice smiled some more.

"Get away with you," she laughed - so we did.

That was Sunday.

Monday was your typical school day until going home time. I was just loading Ross into my car when my mobile phone rang.

"Simon Ito!"

"Simon, it's Jean. I know you want to get into the hospital, but can you swing past our school. There's been an accident."

Those are the words no husband or wife ever wants to hear.

"I'll be right there," I replied.

"Good, come straight to the office."

"Change of plan Ross," I said as I got into the care. "We have to call at the primary school. There's been some sort of accident."

I wished I had a flashing blue beacon on my roof as I drove the few streets to Garret's school. I certainly wasn't hanging about until I pulled into the staff car-park and parked alongside Garret's 4x4. Ross and I jumped out and made for the headmistress' office.

Jean Mofffat was to be found in the outer office. Garret was seated the other side of the school secretary's desk with the PE teacher kneeling beside him. Four boys sat on the bench at the back of the office. Three of them were ours but the fourth, and smallest, was in tears.

"We've had a bit of an accident Simon,"said Jean.

"So I see. What happened?"

Three of the four boys tried to tell me.but Jean silenced them.

"Young Lewis there found a hypodermic needle in the hedge next to the railings. Don't ask me what he was doing in there."

"I was only hiding Miss," sniffled the small boy.

"It doesn't matter. He showed it to your three but they told Garret who told him to hand it over. Lewis did but in doing so he accidentally pricked Garret at the base of his thumb."

"Was Lewis holding the needle when you three went up to him?"

"No, he took it out of his pocket," said Barry.

I looked at Jean.

"Trouser pocket?" I asked.

Jean shut her eyes for a second.

"Oh dear. I never thought of that. Lewis come here please."

Lewis immediately did so and Jean put an arm round his shoulder.

"Lewis, which pocket did you have the needle in?"

"This one Miss," he said thrusting his right hand into his trouser pocket."

"It must have been very uncomfortable having it in there."

"No Miss. It scratched a bit but it were all right."

I turned to Ross.

"Ross, It looks as though you might not get in to see your mum tonight, or at least, not till later. I need you to look after the other boys."

Ross looked uncomfortable.

"What even though..."

"Ross, Garret and I can do it, so you can."

I turned to the PE teacher.

"Joe, do you need to be with Garret?"

"Somebody should keep adjusting that tourniquet."

"OK, I'm taking Garret and Lewis into the University Hospital, If Garret sits next to me, can you sit in the back with Lewis?"

"Yes, of course."

"Ok, Jean, can you drop these other four off at the George Hotel?"

"Not a problem. Oh, and you might want this."

She reached down and produced a coffee jar - empty except for an almost discharged hypodermic syringe. I handed it to Joe Gibson and we went and piled into my mini.

I drove right round to the Emergency Centre's outpatients department and told the receptionist what had transpired."OK we'll get you straight into triage," she told us. "Do we know what was in the syringe?"

"No, but we've brought it with us," I replied, taking the jar from Joe.

"Good," she said. "You can leave that here. Did you do the first aid?"

Joe nodded.

"Right, then you can all head over to that door there. The Triage doctor is waiting for you."

Indeed she was, so we squeezed into the small room.

"Right you two, Garret is it? Good, just lay back on the couch Garret,and you young man, sit over there. Then I want you both to open your mouths wide and stick your tongue right at the top of your mouth. Good!"

From a shelf on the wall she took a small spray bottle of a reddish liquid.

I'm just going to spray a small amount of this. It'll slow your heart rate slightly so that, if you have got anything in you, it won't get circulated so quickly. "

She was as good as her word. Then she turned to the nurse who had just entered.

"Sandra, can you take this young man to E3 and do an exploratory. I'm guessing from the waist down. You're looking for hypodermic punctures or scratches that could have been made with a hypodermic. If there are any, treat with iodine and report to the ward house-man. Sir, can you go with him. I think he may need you more than Garret does."

"I'm his teacher," Joe pointed out.

"You're staying here." was the reply.

I followed Lewis and the nurse down a few more corridors to a sideward where the nurse said,

"Have a seat," and promptly laid Lewis on a couch and drew the curtains.

I could hear her talking reassuringly to the boy but I could see nothing. Not that I wanted to. I may be gay but I'm no pervert. Lewis, with his almost sallow skin, brown eyes and almost black hair was a good looking kid, but he couldn't be more than six.

After a while another young lady appeared with a clipboard.

"Sandra?" she called. the nurse appeared from behind the curtain.

"Jayne says you'd want to see this. " He handed the clipboard to the nurse who glanced at it.

"Not really," she replied, "though I suppose it's useful knowing who I'm looking at. She pointed to an item on the form. That won't help unless the police can find a match for it. We certainly can't. That looks nasty, but doesn't apply in this case. Both of those are not good either, but the boy appears to be clear so it doesn't matter. "

Lewis appeared from behind the curtain. His shoes and socks were in one hand but he was otherwise dressed, if a little untidiy.

" Yes you can finish getting dressed Mr. McGarrick. You'll be pleased to know that you're OK - which is more than can be said for your teacher."

The girl who no longer held a clipboard nudged her arm and nodded towards me.

"I'm sorry," said the nurse. "I'm sure your colleague will be OK."

"He's not my colleague," I replied. "He's my husband."

"Sorry," she repeated. "Nobody tells us anything round here."

I stood up and suggested that Lewis sit down to put on his shoes and socks. He still needed me to tie his shoelaces. It seemed incongruous that a boy who couldn't tie his own laces could put a teacher in hospital. I didn't share that with Lewis. Once he was shod we retraced our steps to reception.

Joe was waiting there looking glum.

" The doctor wants a word with you." he told me. "I've phoned Jean to come and collect Lewis."

"Thanks Joe, I'll leave Lewis with you then." I said.

The receptionist said that there was nobody in the triage room so I could go straight in.

""Ah, Mr. Ito. Your friend... Oh.. is he your brother?"

"Husband."

"Ah, I see. I might end up having to ask some personal questions then. The syringe contained heroine, but it's doubtful whether he was injected with any of that. The lab said that the plunger was hard to move, so it most likely didn't. We found, though, traces of the user's blood on the outside of the needle and obviously grease and sweat. An obvious concern is the usual one with needle sharing. Can I ask if the two of you are sexually active?"

"We were," I replied.

"Still can be if you use a condom but, in any case, I'm making an appointment for him with a phlebotomist in three weeks time. If there is a problem it should have become evident by then. We're admitting him to an observation ward until tomorrow afternoon to be on the safe side. Hopefully all will be well. There are no obvious problems and he seems fit and healthy enough. I've put him on an antibiotic that should help him fight off anything that shouldn't be there."

"OK, thank you doctor. i'll see you tomorrow then."

Outside in reception Jean had arrived and was about to shepherd Joe and Lewis to her car.

"How is he?" she asked.

"Staying in for observation," I replied. "They're hoping he hasn't contracted AIDS."

Jean shook her head sadly but said nothing.

"You'd best get your passengers home," I told her.

Once they were gone I headed for the main block and made for Alice's ward. I had to explain that I'd been unable to bring Ross, but he was doing important work and I'd bring him tomorrow. She told me to go home and get some rest. I wasn't sure that I could do either of those, but I didn't burden her. I just climbed into my car and drove back to the hotel.