New Beginnings

CHAPTER TWELVE

Blake was floating, suspended in watery weightlessness. It felt nice, comfortable, safe. Was he dead? No, there was pain, despite the watery cushion around him. He heard Alex’s voice and he tried to call to her, hoping she would tell him what was going on. He called again, something touched his hand and smiled. A little blue penguin floated its back, staring at the intrusion into its world, he reached his fingers out but it scooted away. A sweet memory of mermaids and little blue penguins filtered through him and he wondered if he was confusing fiction with reality because mermaids didn’t exist, did they? A light touch caressed his fingers again but when he opened his eyes there was no penguin, there wasn’t even a mermaid. A shaft of pain stabbed at his head, he cried out and suddenly his watery reverie was no longer pleasant, boots and fists connected with every centimetre of his body, it was relentless, sustained and it hurt like hell. He cried out, Jack and Lucas needed to go, he called out to Jack a second time and that’s when he heard it. The best word in his world,

“Dad? Dad, it’s me, Jack.”

Maybe he was dreaming, only imagining the voice he wanted to hear, Alex would be with Jack, why wasn’t she talking to him.

“He was awake, he called out to me!”

Blake tried to force his eyelids open, if only so he could see Jack but all he saw were dark shapes moving around at the end of his bed, their voices were muffled, indistinct and he wanted so badly to talk. He sucked in a breath and the pain was so intense he cried out, from somewhere he found his voice.

“Jack? Help me.”

“I’m here, Dad. We’re all here.”

Blake’s heart sank. They were all here? As in his funeral? No! Stop with the negative. You are not dead! I am not dead, he reiterated to himself. Now there were more voices, muffled voices, he was being prodded and the beeping became louder and louder and finally, he opened his eyes.

“Am I dead?” he asked the man leaning over him.

“Welcome back, no, you are not dead.” A light shone into his eyes making him blink and he thought of a rabbit caught in headlights. He tried to focus on his surroundings, tried to make sense of this place. ICU? There were no windows, the lighting subdued which made focusing even harder.

“What the hell happened?” He croaked to the guy in hospital scrubs who continued adjusting wires and watching a monitor.

“I’m Dr Griffin but, you can call me Griff. Do you know your name?”

“Huh?”

“Humour me. Give some correct answers and I’ll let a couple of those people who’ve kept a bedside vigil for you in.”

“People?”

“Answers first. Do you know your name?”

“Blake.”

“A bit more information?”

Blake groaned, “Winchester soon to be Forrester.”

“Excellent. Do you know where you are?”

“Hospital.”

“Last one, do you know what year this is?”

Blake’s mind refused to budge on that one.

“Okay, I think we’ll worry about that one later. Now, there is one extremely attractive woman and a young guy who looks a lot like you out in the corridor. I’ll let them in, ten minutes only because you’re going to be totally stuffed with even short visits. Okay?”

“Deal,” Blake grunted. The

“Before that however, we’ll get you tidied up with a fresh hospital gown and I wouldn’t advise looking in the mirror just yet either.”

“That bad?”

“Yep. You have the imprint of boots all over your back. The police have been here and taken photos. We’ve sponged you down a few times, but you won’t be able to wash your hair for a few days yet.”

Two nurses pushed a trolley with towels and hospital gowns up to the side of his bed, helped ease him forward, removed one gown and replaced it with another. The end of his bed was raised so he could sit up. The top sheet and blanket were thrown into a linen bag along with the old gown and replaced with fresh. By the time they were finished, and Blake flopped back against the mattress he was well and truly knackered.

“Okay, time for some proper company.”

Griff ambled to the door, said something Blake couldn’t hear and then Alex and Jack were standing on either side of his bed.

“Hey,” he croaked.

“Hey yourself,” Alex replied, taking his hand in hers, gently sweeping her thumb across the back of his hand.

“Jack?”

“I’m here. You must be in a lot of pain, yeah?”

“Probably not as much I would be without the drugs.”

“Do you remember what happened?” Jack asked, casually lifting Blake’s other hand.

“Not all of it. I remember the guy with the torch, but I didn’t see the other guy, the one who whacked me on the head. Bastard. I remember the explosion.”

“Was it insured. The boat?” Alex asked, her voice so warm and soft he wanted to take her in his arms, but it didn’t look as thought that would be any time soon.

“Yeah. Is my house secure?”

“Dad has a security firm patrolling it and he and Mum are checking it three times a day.”

“Mrs Compton has turned herself inside out trying to find out why those security guys are there,” Jack chuckled.

Blake wanted to smile but, Jesus, his face was sore.

“You’re lucky to be alive, Blake. If Xavier and Hunter hadn’t turned up when they did, things might have been a lot different.”

“I thought I was dead,” he mumbled, and he shifted his gaze to settle on her, “But I’m happy to be very much alive. Happy to see you two.”

“We’re not supposed to stay long, Gabriella is downstairs in the café, the doctor said she can come up for a few minutes once we’re out of here.”

“Okay. I don’t even know what time it is.”

“Almost lunchtime,” Jack said, “You’ve been here three days.”

“Three days!”

“Ssh, calm down,” Alex soothed, “You don’t need any setbacks, do you?”

“No. But three days?”

She leaned over and left a gentle kiss on his cheek,

“We’re staying with Mum and Dad until we know exactly how long you’ll be in here. The Police need to get a statement from you as well.”

“Right.” Griff wasn’t wrong about being tired, he was exhausted, but he gripped Alex’s hand tight when she stood up.

“Will you be back?”

“Later, alright?”

“I guess.”

Jack lifted Blake’s hand to his face, the kissed the back of his hand.

“I love you, Dad.”

“I love you too.” They were almost at the door when he called out, “If I’ve been here for three days, how the hell have I managed to pee?”

Alex returned to his bedside, closely followed by Jack,

“You have a catheter.”

“They stuck something up my d**k?”

Alex giggled and Jack laughed, “Geez, Dad, they had to otherwise you would have peed the bed.”

“I hope it doesn’t have any lasting effects,” he grumbled, and Alex bent down and kissed him again, running her fingers gently over his jaw, “I’ll check with the doctor,” she whispered before lifting her head.

Alex leaned against the wall outside Blake’s room and let out a deep sigh. He looked bad the night of the attack, his head a bloodied mess and covered in ugly red welts, now the red welts had become black bruises around his jaw and over his cheek bones. The medical staff had raised concerns Blake had sustained a fractured eye socket or worse still damage to his vision, but a scan had revealed no fractures.

“Mum?”

“I’m okay. Tired. Why don’t we go and find Gabriella and let her come up to sit with Blake for a bit?”

He shrugged, “Are you going back to Devonport?”

“I am. I need a shower, something to eat other than what they dish up here and I’d like to sleep if I can.”

“Okay. Would it be alright if I stayed at the hospital, just sat with Dad? I know he’ll probably be asleep more than he’s awake, but I don’t want him to be alone. What if those guys come here?”

“Oh, sweetie!” Alex pulled him to her in a fierce hug, the released him, “You’re such a lovely boy, do you know that? Are you sure you wouldn’t rather come to Devonport for a couple of hours and then come back with Grandma and Granddad later?”

“I’ll stay. He will come through this won’t he?”

“He will. It might take a while but if we take good care of him, he’ll bounce back. He’s fit and healthy, strong both physically and mentally, as long he does what the doctors tell him, he’ll be back home in Devonport in no time.”

“Who’s going to look after him if he’s alone?”

Alex considered Jack’s question because she had asked herself that same question as they had waited by Blake’s bedside. Without a doubt her mother would be moving in with him for as long as it took and while he would let Diana fuss around him, she would inevitably smother him with kindness and good intentions to the point he wanted to scream. It seemed the most sensible course of action would be to bring him back to Waiheke where she could keep an eye on him but that would depend very much on his medical team. She placed her arm around Jack’s waist,

“You can walk me to the elevators.”

“You didn’t answer my question.”

“I know. I’ve asked myself that question too, Jack and although Grandma is well intentioned, I think it might be best if we get him to Waiheke. However, all of that will depend on what the doctors say.”

“Sure. You’re the best, mum.”

“Thank you. I think you’ve incredibly special too.”

The doors of the elevator swished open, and Alex froze. Royce Winchester stood, staring open mouthed at them. She refused to get in the lift with him, so she backed away, taking Jack with her.

“Wait!” Royce called, “Alex, please. I mean you no harm.”

She turned to face him and when he was closer, she noticed the years had not been kind to him, not that she felt sorry for him. This was the man who tried to pay her off, to terminate her pregnancy and pretend none of it ever happened.

“I don’t believe we have anything to say to you, Royce.”

He blinked, his face lined with wrinkles, his complexion sallow, unhealthy as though he might have major health issues of his own. He offered his hand to Jack,

“I’m Royce Winchester, your grandfather.”

Alex felt the tension in Jack’s body, the expression on his face highlighting his struggle to show respect. Slowly, Jack took the older man’s hand only briefly, long enough to do what was right.

“Why are you here, Royce?”

“I heard that Blake was injured.”

“Only close family for now so you’ve wasted your time,” she explained, her voice terse.

“Blake is my son.”

“Whatever. You’ll find that ICU has strict limits on visitors and, that gentleman standing over there is a police officer. At this stage, you will have to wait until Blake is moved into a ward if Blake instructs hospital staff not to let you near him, you’ll have to leave.” She was no longer that nineteen-year-old girl, the one he had intimidated back then. Looking at him now, all she saw was a shell of a man and he wouldn’t get away with threatening or intimidating her again.

“You always were a smart mouthed b***h, nothing has changed,” Royce sneered at her, taking a step closer.

“If you continue to invade my space, I will ask security to remove you,” Alex warned, “Stay away from us. Stay away from Jack.”

“Or what? Do you honestly believe you can continue to keep Blake from his family?”

“We are his family, Royce. Now, let us past.”

 “Alex, is everything alright?”

She swung around at the sound of Gabriella’s voice and relief had her wrapping Blake’s sister a hug.

“Who is he?” Gabriella whispered.

Turning back to face Royce, she said, “Gabriella, this is Royce Winchester.”

She watched Blake’s sister frown and in an instant, she went from sweet music teacher mode to full on ninja sister,

“How did you know Blake was a patient here?” Gabriella demanded, hands on hips, taking up a defiant pose.

“I -I heard it from an acquaintance,” he stammered, the pallor of is skin increasing. A thin layer or perspiration beaded his top lip,

“Are you feeling alright, Royce?” Alex asked, now concerned Royce was about to collapse.

“A – A bit dizzy.”

“He could be faking it, Mum,” Jack warned.

“I don’t know, he looks sick, stay here with Gabriella and I’ll alert the medical staff.”

Royce moaned softly and gripped the rail that ran along the corridor wall, at the nurse station Alex noticed two nurses look up and then move toward them,

“I think he needs a doctor,” Alex explained.

A wheelchair was brought over followed by a doctor.

“We should move away,” Alex said to Gabriella and Jack, “Give them space.”

“Do we have to stay?” Jack asked, “It’s not like he’s a relative, is he?”

“Jack’s right,” Gabriella agreed, “You look exhausted, Alex. I can sit with Blake for now.”

She smiled at Gabriella, “I am exhausted, and I was going to take the ferry across to Devonport to try and get a couple of hours sleep.”

“Then get rest when you can. What about you, Jack? Are you going with your mum or are you staying?”

“I’m staying.”

Gabriella smiled and gently rubbed, Alex’s arm, “All settled, now get on your way and we’ll see you later.”

Alex hugged her again, “Thank you. I’m so happy Blake has you in his life. He’s been lonely for too long.”

“Not anymore and please, don’t underestimate how important you and Jack are to him.”

 Alex dug in her bag and handed Jack some money, because knowing her son, he would need food. Gabriella pressed the button for the elevator,

“Excuse me?”

It was one of the nurses who had looked after Royce.

“Are you relatives of that gentleman?” She asked.

“Not at all. We were just helping out.”

“Oh, okay. Well, thank you for your help. He’s being taken to cardiology; doctor thinks it’s a heart attack.

“I didn’t ask,” Gabriella began, “But that was Blake’s adoptive father, wasn’t it?

“That’s him,” Alex replied glancing at Jack, “Alright?”

“Yeah. What a sleaze. I’m glad I don’t share any of his DNA.”

Gabriella laughed, “I’m more than happy not to share DNA with him as well.”

Alex gave Jack’s hand a squeeze, pressing the money into his palm.

Alex slept for two hours, had a shower, and tucked into the delicious roast her mother had made. She told her parents about Royce and the way he had tried to intimidate her.

“My God, that man has a nerve. And what was he doing there, Blake’s attack hasn’t been made public!” her mother cried, slapping the table with the palm of her hand.

“You know, we could get an intervention order to stop him from coming near you,” her father suggested calmly.

“Are they difficult to obtain?”

“I’m not sure, but you could think about it.”

“Thanks, Dad.”

“Did you two know Blake was adopted?” she asked them.

“We suspected. I mean he looked nothing like Royce and Arlene, nothing at all. I never understood how he slotted into this family so easily and yet they didn’t get him.”

“I know.”

“I’m happy he found his sister and imagine finding her living on Waiheke!”

“Call it what you want,” John remarked, tenting his fingers together, “Coming back to New Zealand and Jack turning up at his front door, was the best thing to happen to Blake and Jack, in a long time.”

“Your father’s right, don’t get me wrong, we love Jack to bits, but he needs a father which is what John told him a few weeks ago.”

“He asked Jack if it was okay to date me.”

“And Jack gave his blessing?” her father asked.

“As long he didn’t mess with me. I thought it was sweet.”

Diana began clearing the table with help from John,

“I’ll just do a quick tidy up here,” she said, “Then we can get on over to the hospital.”

“Did they mention any idea of when Blake might be moved out of ICU?” John queried, “If he’s conscious now, I suppose they won’t keep him in there for too long.”

“The doctor will be there tomorrow morning to talk about where he’s at just now,” Alex picked up two serving dishes, “Jack wants him to come back to Waiheke, but all of that depends on what the doctors say. He’ll probably need physio, right?”

Diana was nodding, “What about his pain levels?”

“He’s on some heavy-duty stuff, so they might want to wean him off that before he goes to a ward.”

“Then there’s the issue of the attack and blowing up his boat,” John had a pensive expression, “Did you give the police the name of that investigator Blake was working with?”

“I don’t know where Blake’s phone is.”

“What do you mean?”

“In the attack his phone was either stolen or lost. Xavier and Hunter searched the shoreline but couldn’t find it.”

“Hell,” John muttered, “I hope those bastards didn’t take it.”

“So do I, but you know what, I think Blake might have been able to throw it away before the attack started.”

“And he definitely had it on him?”

That hadn’t occurred to Alex. Was it possible the phone was still in the house?

“The events of that night have been a blur; I can’t even remember if he had the phone on him. We had dinner, then he was going to show me or tell me what happened at the meeting with the investigator.”

“Alright, tomorrow I’ll go over and check the house. Where were the papers?” John wanted to know.

“In his backpack and I can’t even remember if he took it out onto the deck,” she groaned, “Some help I am, I can’t blood remember anything!”

“Now, don’t be so hard on yourself, Alex,” her mother soothed, “You were in shock so it’s understandable you can’t recall. John’s right, tomorrow he’ll go and look through the house. Right now, we ought to go and make sure Blake is settled for the night.”

The piled into her SUV, her father behind the wheel. At the end of the long driveway, he opened the gate with the remote and made sure it closed behind them. What none of them saw was the individual standing in the shadows up against the exterior wall of the property.