“Slow down and approach slowly.” The voice on the other end advised.
I did as I was told when I got close enough, I stopped and held my hands out the window. The MP’s approached on high alert They looked at me and, in the back, and waived to the gate. One of them called on the radio for medics.
I leaned my head back on the seat and closed my eyes.
“Kay, Kay can you hear me?” I heard a voice trying to revive me.
“Yes.”
“Can you open your eyes?” the voice continued.
I tried to open them, but they felt incredibly heavy. I managed one than the other. It was the Unit Commander.
“What happened? He asked.
“RPG, I think and then four men with guns.” I replied a bit in a trance.
“Where are they?” he pressed.
“Dead.” I told him. He nodded to me and then to someone else and I closed my eyes again.
◆◆◆
When I opened my eyes there was a stench of rubbing alcohol in my nose. I had tubes in my arms and hands. I had something on my face. I could hear beeping and clicking. I tried to move; my whole body screamed. Everything hurt like hell.
“Hey there, glad you’re awake.” A nurse leaned into my field of vision.
“Where?” I whispered.
“You’re in the hospital at Ramstein Air Force base.” She informed me.
“Team?” I continued.
“You need to rest.” She was in nurse mode.
“Team!” I said with all the strength I could muster. My throat was dry, but I was determined to make her understand me one way or the other.
“They are all here, too.” She said, understanding I was not going to give up.
“Alive?”
“Yes.” She smiled. I relaxed back into the pillow.
When I woke up again there was a doctor leaning over me.
“Good to see you awake.” He smiled.
“How long?” I asked. I no longer had an oxygen mask covering my mouth, so it made it easier to speak.
“Have you been here?” He asked. “They brought you in four days ago.”
“Team?” I asked.
“All still here.” The doctor was checking my vitals while he was answering my questions.
I nodded.
“Want to see them.” I felt weak like breathing was too much effort. But I needed to know the guys were okay.
“I’m afraid that is going to have to wait.” The doctor pulled his eyes away from this tablet to look at me. “Ms. Dandridge you are severely injured. You need to rest.”
“Need to know how the others are doing.” I insisted.
“You need to stop talking.” The doctor insisted.
“Water!” I demanded my throat was on fire.
He frowned.
“Nurse, bring Ms. Dandridge some ice chips on the condition she stays in this bed and rests.” He smiled down at me. I frowned up at him.
“We need to talk about you.” He continued as if my steely gaze had no effect on him. Which apparently it didn’t. He pulled up a chair and sat down next to the bed. I fumbled with the buttons on the bed so I could see him better. He reached over and helped me.
“Better?” he asked. I nodded. “Okay, so here’s the deal. I’m not going to sugar coat anything.”
I nodded again.
“Your left leg is pretty bad. I’ve saved it although, I’m not sure how long that will last. I am making sure there is no secondary infection. I won’t lie to you. There is still a chance you could lose it.”
I thought I had fallen asleep again and was having a nightmare. I was thinking I needed to try and wake up. The doctor reached over and touched my arm and I knew I wasn’t dreaming.
“Ms. Dandridge?” He looked concerned.
“Save my leg.” My voice sounded calmer then it should have. I wanted to shout at him to demand that he do everything he could, but my body and my mind didn’t seem to be syncing at the moment.
“I am certainly going to do everything I can.” He patted my hand reassuringly. He started to get up.
“Wait!” I said reaching for him.
He sat back down.
“Details.” I demanded.
“What kind of details.” He asked.
“About my leg.” I said. He looked at me curiously and then nodded.
“Okay, tell you what. I have to go check on a few other patients. Then I’ll come back, and you and I will have a long talk, okay?” he said clearly trying to placate me.
I nodded. “Promise?”
He smiled. “Promise.” He left and a nurse appeared with ice chips.
I was done sleeping now. I had a new mission now. I had to figure out how to save my leg. “Can you bring me a phone?” The nurse gave me a sympathetic smile.
“Sure.” A moment later she was back. “Can I call someone for you?” She indicated all the tubes in my hands.
“No, thank you.” I needed to handle this myself.
She nodded and left. At the moment Eddie’s number was the only one I could remember. I took a deep breath and punched in the numbers.
“Hello?” Eddie’s voice sounded like home. I wanted to cry. I wanted to ask him to come get me and take me home. But I knew that wasn’t possible. Not yet.
“Eddie, it’s Kay.”
“Kay, where are you? You sound like you’re in a barrel.” Eddie’s voice already conveying his concern.
“I’m in a hospital Germany.” I heard a sharp intake of breath.
“Are you hurt?” He wanted to know.
“Yeah.” Was all I could manage to say.
“Is it bad?” His voice was hoarse.
“Yeah.” I squeaked.
“Oh god.” He said more to himself than to me I’m sure.
“Listen Eddie, I need you to do something for me, can you do that?”
“Of course, you know I would do anything for you.”
“I need Michael to come over here and I need either you or him to find the very best reconstructive orthopedic surgeon. I don’t care about the cost just get him and bring him here.”
“Kay tell me how bad you were hurt.” Eddie’s voice trembled.
“I was in an RPG attack and my leg is pretty bad, Eddie.” My voice cracked a little. I refused to cry, not yet.
“Oh
