Part 20
Jack cursed the red traffic light as he sat there waiting for it to change over and allow him to continue his journey home. It was the middle of the night, for crying out loud, and there wasn’t another single car on the road!
He realized he wasn't annoyed at the lights really - just tired. Tired and lonely. He wondered about Philip. Wondered what the artist got up to in his absence. Knowing that he had few friends now, it concerned him that Philip would be alone a lot of the time. Once he'd asked him about the loneliness but Philip simply dismissed it by saying that it gave him time to be 'creative'. However, Jack had hardly seen any evidence of this 'creativity'. Normally Philip showed off any new piece he'd created, be it a sketch or a sculpture, but he'd shown Jack nothing on his recent stays.
He was worried that his lover was losing his faith - in his creative abilities, in them, in life and, most worryingly, in his ability to beat the disease. During recent stays he wouldn't discuss his illness at all - as if by avoiding it he could make it go away.
Yawning madly, the colonel saw the lights hand changed and moved the car off, blinking to clear the mist of the yawn from his eyes.
*
The night was still peaceful and quiet. Philip shifted on the sun lounge, entangling himself further with the warm body beneath him. Burying his face into the smooth curve of Todd's throat he mumbled something inaudible as he rubbed his face against the soft, silken skin.
Suddenly the stillness, the serenity, was pierced by loud screech followed by gut-wrenching thud as a car collided with a light post on the corner of Mainland and Epping, right by the front door of the apartment block. The sound rattled the windows in the apartment block and it woke the two men rudely, making them both leap to their feet before they were even fully conscious.
*
Daniel had been startled awake by an unrecognizable sound. He rolled over in his bed, staring at the window and waiting to see if he could hear any other indication to the noise that had so rudely woken him again. He slowly peeled the sheet back from his lap as he climbed out of bed and went to his French windows. Opening them up, he stepped onto his balcony, still trying to work out what had woken him up.
*
Philip and Todd stared at each other for a brief second, both men trying to comprehend what it was that had startled them awake. In a flash, the artist ran to the edge of the rooftop and looked down over the edge.
“Holy… shit!” He cried out loudly as he saw a dark car, crumpled beyond recognition around a traffic light. Thick smoke was billowing out from the twisted engine compartment. Turning to look at Todd, who was now also peering over the rooftop edge, Philip said, “We have to go and help..”
Todd grabbed his hand and stopped him. “Is that wise?”
Philip held his hands wide then said, “I’m not bleeding anywhere.. and whoever’s in that car, needs our help!”
Todd nodded and they ran out of the apartment together, Philip pausing long enough to grab his cell phone and call 911.
As the pair burst through the doors of 1152 Mainland street they could hear faint cried from the car. Philip ran ahead of Todd, but in the otherwise still night, he could clearly hear the man behind him saying, “Oh god! That car is totaled!”
“I cant believe they are still alive in there,” Philip turned to whisper as loudly as he could to his friend.
As they reached the wreakage, they heard a soft, low moan. Philip cautiously approached the driver’s side and as he did, his mouth dropped open. Tears welled in his eyes when he looked into the vehicle.
*
Daniel heard some sort of a commotion and decided to head down stairs to see if he could help. Grabbing his gown on his way through, he picked up his flashlight and left the apartment.
*
Todd stepped gingerly across the spilled glass then he saw that Philip was standing in the midst of it in bare feet.
“Phil, you shouldn’t be that close, you’ve got no shoes on!” He reached the side of his friend and looked into the crumpled car.
A woman, blood dripping from a large gash across her cheek, was trapped half way under the dash of the car. Philip carefully stepped up to the edge of the door and called to her gently.
“Hello…”
There was no sound. He looked across the dimness to where Todd was going around the other side, carefully approaching the car along the footpath.
"Do you smell gas?" Phil whispered.
Todd sniffed the air then nodded, but also said, "Yeah. Tread carefully, babe!"
Just as he said that Philip stepped his bare feet into a puddle on the road. "Shit!" He muttered, lifting his foot and then dropping it back down again.
"Okay?"
"I've stepped in gas. It's leaking out this side."
"Be careful!" Todd said, trying to ascertain if there were any power lines touching the car.
Phil stepped even closer, onto some of the shattered glass from the windscreen that littered the road. "Hello?"
"Help.." came the feeble response from inside. His heart leapt to his throat.
"It's okay. I've called for help. Do you think anything's broken?"
"My foot... I .. I can't feel my foot.." She cried growing more hysterical as she spoke. "Oh god.. I can't feel my feet!"
"Shh.. shhh," Philip said, finally reaching the side of the car. He looked in and saw her flopped over to the side, only the top half of her was visible from that angle. "I've called an ambulance," he reassured her. She started sobbing loudly and her hand flailed about. Philip reached through the window and grabbed it, feeling the wetness between their palms. "It's okay, you're not alone.."
"Oh.. god.. Help me!" she said, and he squeezed her hand gently. "Help me," she cried, "I've got to get out of here!"
"I don't want to move you. I might hurt you more. You're okay ..."
Todd was now onto the other side of the car and he asked her, "Do you carry an extinguisher in the vehicle?"
"Glove compartment," she muttered. Todd didn't seem to hear her so Philip repeated it for her. Todd reached in and had to really pull hard to open then glove compartment. He got the extinguisher and went to the front of the car, using it to make sure a fire didn't start from any of the wires in the engine. All the while Phil remained holding the stranger’s hand, feeling the blood trail down his wrist and drip from their joined hands.
"My name's Philip..."
"Margaret.." She said softly. Phil squeezed her hand again.
"Stay with me Margaret, okay? Don't go to sleep on me please..."
"I'm tired.. all of a sudden.." she mumbled.
He squeezed her again. "Can you feel that?" He asked.
"Yes," she said. Suddenly he saw a flash of light and realized someone was coming with a torch. He was hoping that having more light would help. Todd saw the light beam and raced around the car to the approaching stranger.
Philip was aware of Todd addressing the stranger then his heart stopped.
"Great, hey Phil, This is Daniel.. he's got a flashlight.." Todd quickly made the introductions then continued to spray the foam over the ground, wherever he suspected some gas leak.
Philip closed his eyes then turned to see Daniel beside him.
"Phil? God, are you alright?" The anthropologist looked down at the partially dressed man - Phil's feet were bare and his shirt was unfastened.
"Yeah, I was just visiting a friend-" He indicated back to the apartment block but knew it didn't look good. He was about to ask about Jack when suddenly the grip on his hand went limp. "Margaret!" He cried out, refocusing on her as he tugged her arm lightly. She startled and woke up again. "Stay with me, Margaret. I know you're tired and you want to sleep..."
"Hurts-" She cried now. He nodded and closed his other hand over hers as Todd moved in behind him, spraying the road down and getting Phil's and Daniel's feet in the process.
It didn't disturb Philip from his ministrations however. He kept squeezing the woman's hand and running his other hand up and down her forearm in a gentle show that he was there with her, as well as providing stimulation to her arm. "I know it hurts, but you've got to believe me, you have to stay awake.."
Daniel turned from the scene and looked at Todd. "Is there anything I should do?"
"No, we've already called an ambulance,” Todd said.
“Blankets?” Philip said, looking at the two of them. “Maybe some blankets? I know I'm cold.”
Daniel nodded and he and Todd took off back to his apartment.
Philip continuing his conversation with the semi-conscious woman. "Have you got any family?"
She seemed to jerk awake again. "Three children... all.. girls.." Her voice started to falter.
"No, Margaret, stay with me...please!" Phil managed to keep the panic in his voice in check. "Do you know what happened?"
*
As Daniel and Todd raced up towards the anthropologist’s apartment Daniel asked, “Do you know what happened?”
Todd rubbed his tired face and shook his head. "No. Just woke us up, that's all..."
Daniel frowned as he unlocked his front door. "You were asleep?"
The other man nodded and followed him in, having no clue who Daniel was. "Yeah, we practically fell onto the floor we both flew off the bed so damn fast!" The librarian unconsciously shivered then he rubbed his arms. "God, I hope she's going to be okay!"
As Daniel retrieved blankets from his closet, he passed on to the shivering man. Todd gratefully took it. He was only in his jeans, without a top and with no shoes or socks on. Daniel made no comment as he started out of his apartment again.
*
When sirens could be faintly heard in the distance Philip smiled and looked at the woman. "See Margaret? I told you that they were on their way!"
"Oh, thank you!" she said with overwhelming emotion. Bursting into tears she cried and repeated 'thank you ' over and over again. Daniel stepped in behind Philip and carefully placed the blanket around his trembling friend. Phili smiled, and it was as if he was hoping for some kind if indication from Daniel that this was all alright. The anthropolgist squeezed his shoulders then moved away when the ambulance arrived.
*
Soon the ambulance came and Phil was able to step back away, their blood drenched hands slipping easily from each other, if a little reluctantly.
One of the paramedics wrapped a blanket around Phil's shoulders - he was now shivering and coughing violently - and led him to the back of the ambulance while another unit, the Rescue Team, worked on the woman in the car.
"You're not sounding good," the paramedic told the artist. Philip nodded. "I'm going to put you on a neb. It's okay, it's just Albuterol and saline.."
"I know. I have them.." Phil said through a raspy gasp. The officer rubbed his back lightly.
"Are you asthmatic?" He checked. Philip looked behind and the paramedic noticed this.
In a low voice Philip told him, "I have AIDS."
"Oh, okay," the older man said casually then pointed his gloved finger to the blood stained hands. "Is that yours?"
"No. All hers. I'm not bleeding nor do I have any open wounds that I'm aware of."
The older man nodded and kept his voice low as he said, "Well, I'll get this neb into you and we'll have a look and check your feet, okay?"
"Really, I'm fine! It's her you should be worrying.. about-" Philip slurred, then his head suddenly went light and he stumbled against the paramedic. Both Todd and Daniel collided as they reached for him but saw he was okay. "Right-oh, that settles it!" The burly man announced. "You're coming in for a check up.."
"I'm fine.." Phil protested as he was eased into the back of the ambulance.
"Let me be the judge of that, shall we?" the paramedic said, preparing the solution for the mask.
"How is she though?" Phil asked, seeming to resist medical help, but the bigger man slipped the mask onto him with no troubles.
"I'll tell you how she is the minute I hear, how's that?"
"Thanks.." came the muffled voice under the mask as the dark eyes closed slowly. The paramedic crawled out of the low van and went over to see how she was. In his absence Todd and Daniel approached the back of the ambulance and the librarian smiled at his friend. "Hey, baby, how's it going?"
Daniel, a little taken aback by the pet name, stood silently and observed the two of them.
Soon the paramedic returned and started shutting the doors. "Okay, which of you wants to ride along?"
Todd turned to the 'stranger' Daniel and gave a small shrug, unaware of the other man's relationship to Philip. Getting into the ambulance without another word, he nodded and thanked him for his help and blankets. The paramedic gave Daniel a quick look before starting to close the last door. Suddenly Philip called out for Daniel and the young man climbed in, reaching over Todd to hold the thin hand.
"Don't call Jack.." He whispered.
Daniel sighed then nodded. "Okay."
Philip closed his eyes then laid back while Daniel climbed backwards out of the van. Todd was surprised that the two men seemed to know each other, then he caught his first glimpse of Daniel in the light - and was struck by the beauty of the other man. As the doors shut he turned to Philip and leaned down to whisper, "Oh god, he's gorgeous!"
Philip screwed his eyes up tightly the turned his face away slightly as the ambulance began to race towards the hospital.
*
Jack was bone-weary as he pulled the car up his driveway and got out, dragging his bag behind him, bashing it against the hand brake and then the door before he stumbled up the stone steps to his front door. He went into the dark house, kicked the door shut with his foot, and dropped the bag to the floor before heading straight to his room. Flicking on the light, he was not surprised to see that the bed hadn't been slept in. Falling face down, he didn't have time to give that any thought before he drifted off into a deep sleep.
End of part 20
Stories on this page are the property of Nessessitee and Slida. Please do not copy these without the written permission of the Author. All Rights are acknowledged for MGM, Gekko and Stargate Productions as to the Copyrights of the characters within this story and no infringement on the copyrights are intended. For the Bombshells Series the character of Philip Simmons is entirely the creation and intellectual property of Nessessitee and Slida.
While the performances given by RDA and MS help to fuel the author's desire to write for their characters in a niche that she feels is present on the actual show, the portrayal of their characters in loving relationships in no way reflects the Author's opinion of the men's private life, nor should it be construed in that manner.