Is When You're Making Up... Part 2

“I thought you said Jeff was coming over?” Bron said, taking another cake from Bron’s plate.

“Yes, we made a date for 3:00.”

“He’s never late when he’s not working. I wonder if he’s changed his mind.”

Bron picked up her cell and rang Jeff. There was no reply from his land line so she tried his cell, letting it ring quite a long time before looking at her sister and frowning.

“He’s not answering either phone. I think we should go over there.”

“Do we need the boys?”

“No, I don’t want to stop off and pick them up. He could just be out the back and hasn’t picked up his cell. No need to worry anyone.”

“You’re worried though, sis.”

“A bit, he’s been so low these past couple of weeks.”

They jumped in the car and started off down the hill towards the road into the village. Five minutes later they were through the centre and out the other side towards Jeff’s house. His ute was outside where it had been that morning. Ceri felt a cold shiver run through her, which was transferred to Bron.

“Something’s happened hasn’t it.”

“I think so. Let’s try the house.”

The door was open and they walked in calling out Jeff’s name. They got no reply. Checking in the office, they saw his cell on top of his ledger.

“Let’s look out the back.”

They walked through the kitchen and went out to the back patio. Jeff wasn’t by the pool, or in it. They looked around and noticed the doors to the store shed were open.

“Maybe he’s in there,” Bron said as she walked towards the building.

They both looked round the open doors and gasped. There was a huge pile of copper pipes and metal shelving in the middle of the floor, and a pair of legs was sticking out of the bottom of the pile.

“JEFF!!” they screamed in unison.

The phone rang in the ambulance station. Tom sighed, they only had 15 minutes before their end of shift. He picked up the phone and listened for a couple of minutes at the frantic voice. By the time the call ended, he was white as a sheet. He walked out to the ambo in a trance and got behind the wheel. Stevo was in the back locking down all the compartments.

“Strap in, mate. We’ve got a shout.”

Stevo checked his watch and sighed, ah well, at least it would delay his trip back to the empty house. He glanced across at Tom and noticed the look on his face.

“What is it, mate?”

Tom didn’t answer, just flicked the switch to activate the siren. Stevo just sat back, it was no good trying to get Tom to talk. He frowned when he realised they were coming to a stop outside Jeff’s.

“If this is your sick way of getting us to talk to each other, it ain’t gonna work, Tom.”

Before Tom could answer, Bron came running out from the shed.

“Thank goodness you’re here. We’ve got as much metal off him as possible without actually moving him. Tom, there’s quite a bit of blood.”

It was Stevo’s turn to go white. This was no setup on Tom’s part. He wrenched open the door and flew past Bron, calling out for Jeff as he ran.

Tom handed Bron a bag and grabbed another, heavier one himself. They hurried along in Stevo’s wake. By the time they reached the shed, Stevo was on his knees, wanting to cradle Jeff’s head in his lap, but knowing that he had to keep him flat. He looked up at Tom helplessly.

“I know it’s hard, mate, but try to forget it’s Jeff. You’ll be more help to him if you can be objective.”

Stevo wiped the tears from his eyes and sniffed, then nodded. He would do the best he could for Jeff. He looked over at Ceri, who was kneeling on the other side of Jeff, holding his hand and stroking his hair.

“Stevo’s here now, Jeff. He’s going to take care of you.”

“I’m here, mate. You’re safe now. Tom and I are gong to take care of you now,” Stevo whispered, kissing Jeff on the temple. He took a deep breath and went into professional mode.

They soon cleared the rest of the pipes and racking away from Jeff and they could see where all the blood was coming from. There was a piece of metal embedded into Jeff’s right buttock. They looked at each other and hoped that nothing vital had been pierced.

“We have to leave it in there,” Tom said, gently easing a back board under Jeff the best that he could. “We’ll have to put him on his side and strap him down.” Stevo nodded and set to work.

They soon had him in the ambo. They kissed the twins and asked them to follow in their car, and set off down through the village, heading for the main highway to Coffs.

Three hours later, Jeff was out of surgery. The wound was deep and pretty nasty, but the metal had missed everything vital. He had many cuts and bruises, and despite his weak protestations, the doctor wasn’t letting him go home. He did, however, tell Jeff there was someone who wanted to see him.

Jeff looked towards the door as it slowly opened, and couldn’t believe his eyes as Stevo stepped in.

“Seb?”

“I love you, Jeff. I can’t go on without you. Forgive me?”

Jeff held out his arms and before Stevo realised it, he was hugging his love as tight as he could, only easing up when he felt Jeff wince.

“Sorry, baby; I just don’t want to lose you again.”

Jeff pulled Stevo’s head down towards his own and kissed him. “You’re not going to lose me, mate; you’re my world.”

Stevo lay on the edge of the bed in Jeff’s arms. When he was fit again, Stevo was going to enjoy every minute of making up.