Thorne: Far Horizons –3
By Atonia
Part 3
The call came at noon and Dino told Max the best thing would be for them to go on to the hospital, Wyatt was going to be there at the dock with the police. He gave him the name of the hospital where they would be taking Terry. Max called a taxi.
“It’s in Whitechapel, Toni a bit of a ride.”
“You must be spending a mint on taxi fare’s, Max,” Toni said sliding into the back seat beside him.
“I think I am, it’s not a problem.”
“I’m spending a mint on plane tickets, when does this magic money run out, Max?”
“It may have already have, haven’t you noticed a difference?”
“Yeah, but I thought it was just me.”
“What are you two talking about?” Toni asked.
“It seems sometime in the recent past we have slipped into your world ,Toni. I think it happened to me when I came to Virginia.”
“Mine when I went to Brazil, it’s been different since then.”
“Really…what does that mean for you two?”
“Too early to tell for me…” Max said and looked out of the window.
The taxi delivered them to the hospital and they were met by Jack who led them to where Terry was being observed and treated. He had removed his sword and coat and left them with Killick. He still caught a lot of attention but he ignored it, his attention was for his brother.
“You’ll be able to talk to someone, Toni who can explain what they are doing, I was only told they are going to run some tests and I was to wait out here.”
“I want to see him.” Toni planted her feet.
“They won’t let you back there right now.”
“That’s my husband, they can’t keep me from him.” Toni marched up to the desk she wasn’t taking no for an answer. Someone was called and led Toni back to where Terry was having blood drawn. The first thing she noticed was that he was strapped down.
She stood by the bed and reached for the hand strapped down close to her and took it.
“Terry, Terry darling…it’s Toni.”
His whole body trembled and he had his eyes fixed on some object beyond her. He could hear her but he was trying to bear the pain, he thought when the needle went into his arm he would feel the fire but there was no fire.
“Terry,” she touched his face, caressed his unshaven cheek and he closed his eyes. Tears seeped from his lashes and Toni caught her breath.
“Mrs. Thorne, you need to let us work with him now,” gently but firmly a nurse put her arm around Toni and guided her out of the room. It was all a blur from her tear filled eyes.
Jack came to her first, he’d been with Terry and knew. “They will help him, Toni” he said softly.
“Oh Jack, he didn’t speak…has he at all?”
“No, only grunts and groans. It’s the opiate pet, the tests will tell them what he’s had.”
“Where’s Dino?” asked Max.
“He is with Wyatt; gone to the police station, he has some explaining to do.”
“Maybe I should go down there.” John looked to Jack. “I don’t know what went down on the ship, but I can back up Dino and Wyatt, look out for them.”
“Back them up with what, you found Dino in Jail in Brazil.” Max wondered.
“Well, you know cop to cop.”
“If you wish John, they are at Whitechapel 22nd.”
Max thought Jack sounded weary, “When was the last time you slept, Jack?”
“Sleep, I had a few hours last night. Let us sit,” he turned looking at the couch against a wall.
“I’ll see you off, John,” Max went with his Alaskan brother to find him a ride.
“Did you come in the ambulance, Jack?”
“Yes, Toni I did, he was in quite a state by the time we docked. Stephen had him lashed to a bed but we had to untie him and bring him to the dock for the ambulance he fought, completely out of his mind he was, my men had to restrain him for the medics to get him strapped to a cot. I’m so sorry, Toni this has happened.”
Toni wiped her eyes, “I took his hand and he didn’t respond.”
“He will in time, and it may take some time. I would say take him to the House but he is in no condition to travel.”
Max made his way back to the waiting area carrying three cups of coffee in a cardboard tray.
“Thank you Max, good man.” Jack took a welcome cup.
“Jack, if you want to go back to the flat and rest we’ll be here.”
“If it’s all right,Max I’d like to stay until we get a verdict.”
The verdict came in the next hour when a doctor came out and talked with them.
“Mrs. Thorne, I understand your husband was kidnapped, and so I will not assume he is an habitual abuser. He’s been given heroin, and Mr. Aubrey tells me there were maybe six to eight I believe you stated, syringes in a trash bin. It would appear he was given shots at regular intervals perhaps as often as every four hours which would account for his present state. His blood results show a high level of the substance in his system. What you are seeing now are the early stages of withdrawal. He is in a great deal of pain, and his mind is still not functioning properly.”
“You said withdrawal, how long before the drug will be out of his system?”
“As long as six months to a year for the effects to be completely gone. Right now his body is craving it. He is a strong and healthy man, Mrs. Thorne do not despair, we will give him something tonight to help his pain. It is my opinion that he should be hospitalized for a period until he is in control of himself. We’re going to put him on a different drug that will in some ways mimic the heroin but is not as addictive. He will need this for awhile. There is danger to his heart if we do not wean him off slowly. I should say Mr. Aubrey, that you got to him in good time, he would not have lasted much longer with the amount of drugs he was receiving.”
“Oh, God,” Toni dropped her head into her hands. ”They made my Terry an addict.”
“Will you keep him here?” Max asked
“I would like to for a few days and then he should be moved to a facility that deals with substance abuse.”
“How long before he can travel?” asked Jack.
“Travel?”
Toni looked at Jack and back to the doctor, “Yes, we have a flat here in London but our home is in America.”
“Let’s see how he does on the alternate drug, say two weeks or so and then we’ll do an evaluation.”
“Oh dear God…can I see him again?”
“Of course you may,” the doctor stood up and smiled and led Toni back to Terry.
“Two weeks,” Max said, “Damn if we could only get him to the House tonight it would be over.”
“I know Max, but you should go back and see him and you will understand he is not fit to travel.”
“I will,” Max followed the disappearing doctor down the corridor.
Max and Toni were at his bedside when they gave him a shot, Toni watched his face as the drug took effect and it hurt to see him like this. She caressed his face again, “I love you, Terry, I love you and I’ll keep it warm for you.”
He smiled slightly and moved his head but he was not really there.
