Chapter Twenty-One
Kaden
Ihave no idea where I am. My throat burns like acid. Something is covering my eyes. I try to feel around, but my arms are restrained. I’m flat on my back. I can move my legs, though, and it feels like I’m covered with something. I realize that I’m not wearing pants. Why am I not wearing pants? I try to speak, but it hurts to even try.
I start to fight against the restraints when I feel a hand on my shoulder and a small pinch on my arm. Everything fades back to black.
♦♦♦
“Staff Sergeant McIntyre, can you hear me?” I hear as I feel a hand touch my arm. “Just nod your head if you can. Don’t try to speak.”
I nod slowly and feel my head throb. I let out a soft groan. I still can’t see anything, realizing something is still covering my eyes. I try to lift my hands and feel that they are still restrained.
“I’m sorry about the restraints. We didn’t want to remove them until you were fully awake and understood. They are for your protection,” I hear the man’s voice calmly state.
“Your unit was caught in a sand storm. Do you remember that?” he asks.
I nod and he continues, “Okay, good. Well, you’ve sustained some damage to your eyes, face, and throat. Think of sandpaper and the damage it can do. We didn’t want you to try to rub your eyes and cause more damage.”
He undoes the restraints as he continues to talk. “You have a few broken ribs. Appears one of the crates slammed into you and did a number on your one side. Other than that, you just have superficial wounds. The doctors are a little concerned with your eyes, though. They were washed out as good as they could be. We won’t know anything more until the doctors feel the bandages can be removed. You swallowed a lot of sand. There shouldn’t be any long term effects, but you will be sore for a while.”
I try to speak, but it comes out weak and hurts like a bitch. “Here. How long?” I manage to get out.
“It’s been about seventy-two hours since they brought you in. They are going to transport you back to Germany once they feel you are stable enough,” he says, taking my blood pressure.
I start freaking out thinking I missed three days with video calls to Alyse. I can hear him walking around the bed.
All I can get out is “Lyse.”
“Sir, please don’t try to talk. I know you have a lot of questions. Your emergency contact has been notified of your condition. I understand your enlistment is almost up. I have a feeling this will give them a reason for an early release. You have some healing to do, and it’s not going to be quick.”
Damn right I have a lot of questions. He answered the most concerning one though. At least Alyse knows I’m safe. I put her down as my emergency contact before I left. My next concern is my eyesight. Will I see her beautiful face again or look into my son’s hazel eyes? I blow out a breath and groan from the pain. The pain in my side combined with the throbbing in my eyes and throat has me struggling. I can’t even ask for pain meds. I tap the side of the bed to try to get the nurse’s attention.
“Are you feeling pain, sir?” he asks.
I hold up seven fingers to indicate my pain level. He states that he will get me something, so I do my best to try to get comfortable. I hate being flat on my back, and even though it may hurt to sit up a little, I feel around for the bed remote. Once I find it hanging on the bed rail, I slowly raise up and breathe through the pain. I get to the point I feel more comfortable. The nurse must have put something in the IV because the pain in my side starts to subside. I need something to drink, though. I start to point to my throat hoping the nurse sees me.
“I see you, sir. I’ll get you some ice chips to start. It’s going to hurt. So, just take your time,” he says, patting my shoulder.
A few minutes later, I hear the nurse approach my bed and grab my hand to place a cup of ice into it.
“Take it slow. Just a few at a time, okay?” he says.
I gingerly place a few chips in my mouth and let them slowly melt. There’s pain, but it’s not as bad as I thought. The cold helps, too. I’m so thirsty, but I’m trying to take it slow.
I need to hear Alyse’s voice. I miss her so much and can only image what she is going through right now. I need to make sure she’s okay.