Chapter 15 - Recovery

As another day drew to a close Jackson paced back and forth across the floor. A fire was burning and the room felt just about as nice as it could but he could not rest. He was worried about Angelina but mostly this was to stop himself worrying about something else that he just could not bring himself to think about.

He continued to pace which started to irritate Luke who finally sat up a little and asked: “What’s bothering you?”

“I’m just worried about Angel.” Jackson answered.

“That AND something else” said the voice in his head.

“Shut up,” hissed Jackson.

“I’m very sorry I’m sure.” Said Luke.

“Not you,” said Jackson, he tapped his head and said: “the voices.”

“Oh those,” said Luke, “they used to trouble me but… but… I…” he could not focus his mind on what he was going to say (or think) on that subject. He could not even directly think about that subject, he found.. It was like his mind involuntarily moved on to something else.”

“But you… what?” Asked Jackson.

“No idea.” Said Luke and lay back down again.

Angelina came back, eventually. She had purchased huge amounts of food; most of it came in tins. She had even thought to purchase a tin opener.

“Have you got any pain killers?” asked Luke weekly.

“Aspirin and Paracetamol.” Answered Angelina.

“Cheers,” said Jackson taking the Aspirin packet. He opened it and helped himself to two tablets then he threw the packet to Luke. “My head is caning.” He explained.

“What ever,” said Angelina carefully tossing her hair over her shoulder in such away to draw their attention as she did so.

Jackson paid little attention, his head was a ball of pain and he could think of little else. It had started about an hour after he and Luke had last spoken. At first, it was really mild but it had grown steadily stronger. He had been doing his best to ignore it, and if he concentrated, he could almost make it go away but then something would happen and it would hit him like a speeding car.

Angelina was trying her best to keep things to herself but she had found that she was having trouble eating during the day and now that night was here she did not feel sleepy. It had happened to her like this before which is why she ended up doing night shifts and other odd hours. She had spent almost a year with insomnia before she had sought help. Surprisingly, at least to her, they were able to identify a mild allergy as the root cause and she was soon sleeping normally again. She recognised the pattern this time but could see no reason for it.

That night Jackson lay curled into a tight ball of pain and tears and Angelina failed to sleep despite her efforts. She stayed up all night nursing Jackson but despite giving him a full dose every four hours of both the pain killers he had remained locked in a small ball weeping slightly with the pain.

She had even taken off her blouse not only because she felt so hot but also in the hope that it might distract him, but to no avail.

Luke had enjoyed watching Angelina when he woke up. But the pleasure soon subsided as his guts had started to ache.

By morning, Jackson was no better and Luke was a being sick in the kitchen. That day was one of the longest in Angelina’s life. By mid afternoon, Luke was sleeping once more and Jackson was curled up by the cold fireplace smoking his way steadily through all the cigarettes.

I should have got sleeping pills, she thought, now I will have to go out in daylight and buy something.

She made sure the two boys were as comfortable as they could be and kissed Jackson gently on the cheek.

“I’ll be back soon,” she told him, “get better and I’ll give you an amazing back massage.” She had considered being more suggestive - but, she reasoned, this would not be a good time.

She slipped out the front door and carefully stepped up to the hedge. There was no traffic and so she stepped out on to the pavement. She looked left and then looked right. She was sure she had moved unseen.

Angelina walked slowly toward the same twenty-four hour convenience as before. Only this time when at last she got there she just kept on walking.

It was half an hour later that she arrived at a chemists. Her feet hurt and all she wanted was a rest.

She came out a few minuets later with a small bag crammed with as many different pain killers and flu cures as she thought she could purchase with out raising suspicion. She had two different prescription free sleeping tablets and she hoped that she could keep the boys from feeling too bad.

She stopped at a corner shop and purchased some cheap sunglasses and found herself feeling more comfortable with them on. Then she saw a cute little café and stopped for a coffee and some thing light to eat.

She felt amazing and able to do anything. She wished this feeling would last forever.

On her way out of the town she spotted an out door sports shop that sold everything from tents to fishing tackle. She stepped in and purchased a small camping stove and a lightweight aluminium kettle and saucepan set.

The she started the long walk back to the house. It seemed to take forever just to get back as far as the garage where she purchased a bottle of water a lighter and some more cigarettes for Jackson.

By the time she got back to the house, she had smoked half the packet of cigarettes and was feeling exhausted.

Jackson had been crying although he did his best to cover it up. She chose to tactfully ignore this fact and gave him some sleeping tablets and a new cocktail of painkillers. Luke looked like he had been tortured for days. She had some Imodium, which she gave him along with some painkillers and sleeping tablets. She had no idea of the medicine would react together but the pharmacist had not said anything so she guessed not.

Luke pass out quickly into a deep sleep, so quickly, in fact, that Angelina had to check his pulse for her own peace of mind.

Jackson was still awake but seemed more peaceful. She tucked him up into the pile of blankets on the double air mattress that they called a bed. Then she hung a blanket from the nails above the window.

She hoped they would sleep now. She looked at Jackson lightly dozing in the bed and felt the strong pull of sleep herself.

She quickly stripped naked and climbed in to bed next to him. In minuets, she was asleep.

Jackson was aware of Angelina’s nakedness but too drowsy even to comment. He managed a short smile before he too fell asleep.

Just as it got dark outside Angelina woke up and could not get back to sleep. She sat up and felt very exposed laying in the bed.

She stood and walked calmly into the back room where she dressed herself ready to charm anyone who might need it.

She kept both the boys sedated and well equipped with painkillers and drinks of water all that night. The next day, sometime after nine o’clock, she began to feel very sleepy. She found herself wanting to be in the bed next to Jackson, holding him and sleeping.

She laid out a does of medicines for Luke and left them by his bed and then she stripped to her underwear, slipped under the blanket and cuddled up to Jackson. She slept soundly for the entire day.

Jackson woke up with Angelina cuddling him. Her arms were bare and so too was the leg wrapped around him. This could be the best moment of my life, he thought.

Jackson discovered that he felt better.

Not perfect, but better.

With the aid of cigarettes and Vodka, he was soon a very happy man. He spent the day shirtless laying in bed drinking and smoking while a beautiful woman cuddled him and snuggled into his chest. What, he thought, could be better?

He had to get up twice to give food, drink and tablets to Luke but other than that, he spent the entire time laying in the bed stroking Angelina’s back and sides and generally being very happy.

He felt great. Achy, but great.

Luke slept most of the day but when he did wake up, he found that his eyes and nose stung a lot and that his stomach while settled still hurt.

That night Angelina cared for them. She did not bother to wear any more than her underwear, which she carefully changed to keep herself feeling fresh.

She brought the table and notes in to the front room and read as the boys slept. Luke was looking very pale and she was a little worried that he showed so many of the symptoms about which she had read.

Over the day that followed Paul’s hasty retreat from the lab complex, he had found himself feeling ever better about himself again. The end of the third day marked the end of Ricky’s slightly precautionary long course of medicine, which Paul felt tasted worse than anything he had taken before.

He knew he would be clear to return to the lab and present himself as living proof in a little less than twelve hours.

He had spent the last few days visiting pubs, drinking beer and eating takeaway food. He had been trying to avoid the phone and any place John might find him. He felt ashamed of the way he had treated his friend and vowed to make it up to him.

Paul felt the best he had done since long before the first break-in.

It felt good to be clean again, to be whole, to be cured.