Elizabeth
I knew something had happened as soon as Scott came in today. He came over and kissed my hand like he normally does, but instead of sitting down I could hear him walking around the room. "What's the matter, Scott?" I asked him anxiously. "Is something wrong?"
I heard him pace up and down. Being unable to read his expression only served to increase my fears. After what seemed like ages he started to speak "I've been breaking the rules by coming here to see you these past few weeks - did you know that?" "Well" I replied, trying to keep my voice light, "I didn't think you did hospital visits to all the people you rescued".
I heard his footsteps slow. "Yesterday my" he paused as if looking for the right word "commander found out what had been going on."
"Are you trying to tell me you've been fired or something?"
He gave a short laugh, "No, he can't exactly do that. But we had a row that must have been heard all over the - base" (again that pause). He came over and I felt him sit down on the edge of the bed and take hold of my hand. "And in the course of that row, I realised something. I started coming here because you needed me. Now I don't want to stop coming, because I need you." Now the words starting coming out in a rush. "Elizabeth, I just can't stop thinking about you. My life changed when you took hold of my hand in that railway carriage. When I think of what could have happened there my blood runs cold. I've never been very good with words, but I think I'm trying to say that I'm in love with you."
Yes! I could have shouted out loud, but managed to keep my voice level as I replied "Well I know I'm in love with you - I have been for a long time now".
I felt the mattress shake - I think he must have struck it with his hand. "Dammit! I want so much to be able to put my arms round you, to kiss you, but I'm not allowed to touch you. I've got to wait until that damn gel comes off - and that won't be for what - another week?"
"You'd kiss me when I'm half covered in green goo?"
His voice was gentle and loving. "I stopped seeing that a long time ago. All I can see is the girl I love."
I reached up and pulled him down towards me, until our lips touched, and we kissed. Maybe it's because I can't see that I'm now more aware of my other senses, but that kiss was like no other I've ever had - so soft, so gentle, yet so strong.
You're one lucky girl, Elizabeth.
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The bandages came off today and I can see! The world really is a beautiful place. The nurses clubbed together and bought me a bunch of flowers to celebrate, which was sweet of them. My skin has regrown, apart from a couple of small patches, but the doctor reckons a second, smaller application of gel later on will cure those as well. I've been allowed out of bed, and had a little walk around the ward. I feel a bit stiff, but at least I can move properly, so I suppose I ought to apologise to poor Angela for thinking badly of her. I wish I'd thought to ask Scott to leave me a photo of himself - I can't wait to see him now.
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This has certainly been a day I'll remember. I'd asked the nurses to let me know if Scott arrived - after all, a girl wants to look her best, doesn't she? Simone had lent me some make-up, and a scarf to put over my head - the new hair on the burned side is still very short, so I look lopsided. Anyway, I was sitting up in bed reading when she slipped in the door. "He's here!" she said, and spent a couple of minutes helping me get ready before going back to the door and showing him in.
He stood in the doorway, obviously a bit uneasy. "If I'd known I was going to be inspected I'd have worn something a bit smarter" he joked.
"Do you think I care what you're wearing?" I replied, holding out my hand. "Come over here so I can get a good look at you." He came over and sat down on the edge of the bed while I got my first real look. Dark hair - yes, I knew that. Blue eyes - now that was a surprise - somehow I'd imagined them brown. Tanned skin - he must spend a lot of time in the sun.
"Well? Will I do?" he said, in an amused tone.
"Simone was right", I replied, "you are 'drop dead gorgeous'" I touched his cheek. "You never told me you had a dimple".
He smiled, a lovely warm smile. "Well, if you think you like what you see I have a question for you." He took a deep breath. "Elizabeth, will you marry me? I'd have asked you last week but I thought you might like to see what you're getting first. I've got an English friend who has this saying about 'not buying a pig in a poke'"
"What's a poke?" I asked.
He paused, "Do you know, I haven't got the slightest idea, except that it's something you don't buy a pig in. Well - do you want time to think about it?"
"No, I don't need to think about it. If you'd asked me last week I'd have said 'yes'. I fell in love with you long before I knew what you looked like."
"I was going to, but I chickened out at the last minute - not something that happens very often to me, but then I don't ask girls to marry me very often, either.."
He leaned forward and kissed me. Was it as good as the first time? No, better, because this time his arms were embracing me and I could put both my arms around him, feeling the strong muscles in his back as he held me tight. We stayed like that for a long time, before we began to make our plans.
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It's been a long, eventful day, but I want to try and dictate it into my machine now, as I might not get chance again later.
This was the day I was being discharged and Scott showed up, as we had arranged, but much to my surprise he had brought another girl with him. "This is Tin Tin" he introduced her, "She lives with us on the base."
Tin Tin came over to me. "Don't worry," she whispered, glancing at Scott, "I'm not some sort of rival. I pointed out to Scott that if you'd lost all your luggage in the train crash you wouldn't have anything to wear, so I thought the two of us could do some shopping together - you know how hopeless men are when it comes to shopping."
She was right of course. The clothes I was wearing had come from some hospital fund, and looked it. I'd wondered what I was going to do - whether this base of Scott's had some sort of store. Tin Tin gave me a hug. "I'm so pleased to meet you. I've heard so much about you from Scott". I started to warm towards this diminutive girl.
So, having extracted a promise from Tin Tin not to let me get too tired, Scott returned to the hotel while Tin Tin and I spent the next few hours working our way round a department store. I wondered how I was going to pay for everything - I had yet to apply for new credit cards to replace those lost in the crash, but Tin Tin kept offering her own card, assuring me it was all taken care off. We finished of in the store's hair salon, where the hairdresser gave me a new style to disguise the lopsided look of my hair. When he had finished, I looked in the mirror and was more than pleased with the image that looked back at me.
We returned to the hotel and went up to the suite where Scott was waiting. As we went in he stood up and gave a low whistle. "Two such beautiful girls! I hardly know which one to marry."
"Well" laughed Tin Tin "it had better not be me or you'll catch it from someone else when we get home!" Just then a waiter brought in some coffee and cakes. "I thought you'd be hungry after all your shopping" said Scott, "so I organised some food."
"You mean you are" Tin Tin retorted, swatting him on the arm. Her easy manner with him spoke of a long friendship.
Suddenly it was all too much for me. I don't think I had cried at all since they pulled me out of the train, but now it was if a dam had burst and the tears came pouring out. All the weeks of tension, lying in the dark, wondering if I would ever be able to see, or even if I could, whether I would want to look in a mirror again, and the emotional roller-coaster caused by my relationship with Scott had obviously built up until it had reached breaking point.
Scott moved towards me and tried his best to comfort me Trouble was, every time I looked at him all the fears and doubts I had came back and I started to cry afresh. Tin Tin took charge "Scott, I think we need some 'girl time' here." I heard her shoo him out of the room, ignoring his protests, then came back and put an arm round me. "Honestly, these Tracy boys," she muttered, "give them a perfectly normal emergency like the place catching fire, or the ceiling falling in and they'd know exactly what to do. Start crying and they're lost. Now then, honey, what's the matter?"
"It's so silly" I managed to get out between sobs, "I should be so happy, but I'm scared. What if they don't like me on this base of yours? What if Scott decides he doesn't love me now I'm out of hospital? What if I want to leave?"
"Well would you? Would you want to leave Scott?"
I shook my head. "Well, there you are then. And you don't have to worry about Scott. The man's besotted with you. I knew something was going on when I found him sitting on the beach carving that little dolphin. And of course the others will like you." She paused. "Has Scott told you anything about us?"
I shook my head. "I suppose he couldn't in the hospital." So then she called Scott back into the room and between them they told me about Jeff Tracy, and how he had used his wealth to found International Rescue, which he ran with his five sons from their secret island base. They sound a lovely family - just like I always wished I had.
I can hear Tin Tin coming back from the bathroom now - she and I are sharing a room - so I'd better stop..
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This is probably the last recording I'll make on this machine. I'm going to keep the discs though, as a record of this time. I've just got a few minutes to myself while Scott and Tin Tin are making arrangements for us to go to the airport, from where we'll fly back to their base.
I couldn't sleep last night. After so long in the dark I suppose I'm too used to listening to all the background noises of the hospital - every little sound had me alert. I could hear Tin Tin's slow breathing from the other bed, but after several hours of lying awake I got up to go to the bathroom. Across the living room I could see a light on under Scott's door, so I went over and tapped on the door. He answered and I went in. He was lying on bed, wearing a black T-shirt and shorts, reading some kind of aircraft magazine. He looked up, concern on his face "You can't sleep either?"
"No" I replied, sitting on the side of the bed, "too many strange noises."
He reached out for my hand and brought it to his lips. My hand seemed to move almost of its own accord round his head and stroked the back of his neck. As I did so, I noticed he closed his eyes - had he always done that?
"Are you sure you want to come back with us?" he asked. "You don't think we are rushing things too much?"
"Scott, you saved my life after that crash, you probably saved my sanity when I was in hospital, and if there is one thing in this world I am sure of, it's the fact that I want to be with you." I stroked his neck again. "When I was lying in that hospital bed and I did this I always imagined that I was kissing you."
"Do that once more" he said with a gleam in his eye "and you might have to leave or I won't be able to restrain myself."
Slowly, deliberately I reached out my hand and stroked his neck again, while with the other hand I turned off the light. "Now then, Scott Tracy" I said, "let's see how you manage in the dark."
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I knew something had happened as soon as Scott came in today. He came over and kissed my hand like he normally does, but instead of sitting down I could hear him walking around the room. "What's the matter, Scott?" I asked him anxiously. "Is something wrong?"
I heard him pace up and down. Being unable to read his expression only served to increase my fears. After what seemed like ages he started to speak "I've been breaking the rules by coming here to see you these past few weeks - did you know that?" "Well" I replied, trying to keep my voice light, "I didn't think you did hospital visits to all the people you rescued".
I heard his footsteps slow. "Yesterday my" he paused as if looking for the right word "commander found out what had been going on."
"Are you trying to tell me you've been fired or something?"
He gave a short laugh, "No, he can't exactly do that. But we had a row that must have been heard all over the - base" (again that pause). He came over and I felt him sit down on the edge of the bed and take hold of my hand. "And in the course of that row, I realised something. I started coming here because you needed me. Now I don't want to stop coming, because I need you." Now the words starting coming out in a rush. "Elizabeth, I just can't stop thinking about you. My life changed when you took hold of my hand in that railway carriage. When I think of what could have happened there my blood runs cold. I've never been very good with words, but I think I'm trying to say that I'm in love with you."
Yes! I could have shouted out loud, but managed to keep my voice level as I replied "Well I know I'm in love with you - I have been for a long time now".
I felt the mattress shake - I think he must have struck it with his hand. "Dammit! I want so much to be able to put my arms round you, to kiss you, but I'm not allowed to touch you. I've got to wait until that damn gel comes off - and that won't be for what - another week?"
"You'd kiss me when I'm half covered in green goo?"
His voice was gentle and loving. "I stopped seeing that a long time ago. All I can see is the girl I love."
I reached up and pulled him down towards me, until our lips touched, and we kissed. Maybe it's because I can't see that I'm now more aware of my other senses, but that kiss was like no other I've ever had - so soft, so gentle, yet so strong.
You're one lucky girl, Elizabeth.
---------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------
The bandages came off today and I can see! The world really is a beautiful place. The nurses clubbed together and bought me a bunch of flowers to celebrate, which was sweet of them. My skin has regrown, apart from a couple of small patches, but the doctor reckons a second, smaller application of gel later on will cure those as well. I've been allowed out of bed, and had a little walk around the ward. I feel a bit stiff, but at least I can move properly, so I suppose I ought to apologise to poor Angela for thinking badly of her. I wish I'd thought to ask Scott to leave me a photo of himself - I can't wait to see him now.
---------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------
This has certainly been a day I'll remember. I'd asked the nurses to let me know if Scott arrived - after all, a girl wants to look her best, doesn't she? Simone had lent me some make-up, and a scarf to put over my head - the new hair on the burned side is still very short, so I look lopsided. Anyway, I was sitting up in bed reading when she slipped in the door. "He's here!" she said, and spent a couple of minutes helping me get ready before going back to the door and showing him in.
He stood in the doorway, obviously a bit uneasy. "If I'd known I was going to be inspected I'd have worn something a bit smarter" he joked.
"Do you think I care what you're wearing?" I replied, holding out my hand. "Come over here so I can get a good look at you." He came over and sat down on the edge of the bed while I got my first real look. Dark hair - yes, I knew that. Blue eyes - now that was a surprise - somehow I'd imagined them brown. Tanned skin - he must spend a lot of time in the sun.
"Well? Will I do?" he said, in an amused tone.
"Simone was right", I replied, "you are 'drop dead gorgeous'" I touched his cheek. "You never told me you had a dimple".
He smiled, a lovely warm smile. "Well, if you think you like what you see I have a question for you." He took a deep breath. "Elizabeth, will you marry me? I'd have asked you last week but I thought you might like to see what you're getting first. I've got an English friend who has this saying about 'not buying a pig in a poke'"
"What's a poke?" I asked.
He paused, "Do you know, I haven't got the slightest idea, except that it's something you don't buy a pig in. Well - do you want time to think about it?"
"No, I don't need to think about it. If you'd asked me last week I'd have said 'yes'. I fell in love with you long before I knew what you looked like."
"I was going to, but I chickened out at the last minute - not something that happens very often to me, but then I don't ask girls to marry me very often, either.."
He leaned forward and kissed me. Was it as good as the first time? No, better, because this time his arms were embracing me and I could put both my arms around him, feeling the strong muscles in his back as he held me tight. We stayed like that for a long time, before we began to make our plans.
---------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------
It's been a long, eventful day, but I want to try and dictate it into my machine now, as I might not get chance again later.
This was the day I was being discharged and Scott showed up, as we had arranged, but much to my surprise he had brought another girl with him. "This is Tin Tin" he introduced her, "She lives with us on the base."
Tin Tin came over to me. "Don't worry," she whispered, glancing at Scott, "I'm not some sort of rival. I pointed out to Scott that if you'd lost all your luggage in the train crash you wouldn't have anything to wear, so I thought the two of us could do some shopping together - you know how hopeless men are when it comes to shopping."
She was right of course. The clothes I was wearing had come from some hospital fund, and looked it. I'd wondered what I was going to do - whether this base of Scott's had some sort of store. Tin Tin gave me a hug. "I'm so pleased to meet you. I've heard so much about you from Scott". I started to warm towards this diminutive girl.
So, having extracted a promise from Tin Tin not to let me get too tired, Scott returned to the hotel while Tin Tin and I spent the next few hours working our way round a department store. I wondered how I was going to pay for everything - I had yet to apply for new credit cards to replace those lost in the crash, but Tin Tin kept offering her own card, assuring me it was all taken care off. We finished of in the store's hair salon, where the hairdresser gave me a new style to disguise the lopsided look of my hair. When he had finished, I looked in the mirror and was more than pleased with the image that looked back at me.
We returned to the hotel and went up to the suite where Scott was waiting. As we went in he stood up and gave a low whistle. "Two such beautiful girls! I hardly know which one to marry."
"Well" laughed Tin Tin "it had better not be me or you'll catch it from someone else when we get home!" Just then a waiter brought in some coffee and cakes. "I thought you'd be hungry after all your shopping" said Scott, "so I organised some food."
"You mean you are" Tin Tin retorted, swatting him on the arm. Her easy manner with him spoke of a long friendship.
Suddenly it was all too much for me. I don't think I had cried at all since they pulled me out of the train, but now it was if a dam had burst and the tears came pouring out. All the weeks of tension, lying in the dark, wondering if I would ever be able to see, or even if I could, whether I would want to look in a mirror again, and the emotional roller-coaster caused by my relationship with Scott had obviously built up until it had reached breaking point.
Scott moved towards me and tried his best to comfort me Trouble was, every time I looked at him all the fears and doubts I had came back and I started to cry afresh. Tin Tin took charge "Scott, I think we need some 'girl time' here." I heard her shoo him out of the room, ignoring his protests, then came back and put an arm round me. "Honestly, these Tracy boys," she muttered, "give them a perfectly normal emergency like the place catching fire, or the ceiling falling in and they'd know exactly what to do. Start crying and they're lost. Now then, honey, what's the matter?"
"It's so silly" I managed to get out between sobs, "I should be so happy, but I'm scared. What if they don't like me on this base of yours? What if Scott decides he doesn't love me now I'm out of hospital? What if I want to leave?"
"Well would you? Would you want to leave Scott?"
I shook my head. "Well, there you are then. And you don't have to worry about Scott. The man's besotted with you. I knew something was going on when I found him sitting on the beach carving that little dolphin. And of course the others will like you." She paused. "Has Scott told you anything about us?"
I shook my head. "I suppose he couldn't in the hospital." So then she called Scott back into the room and between them they told me about Jeff Tracy, and how he had used his wealth to found International Rescue, which he ran with his five sons from their secret island base. They sound a lovely family - just like I always wished I had.
I can hear Tin Tin coming back from the bathroom now - she and I are sharing a room - so I'd better stop..
---------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------
This is probably the last recording I'll make on this machine. I'm going to keep the discs though, as a record of this time. I've just got a few minutes to myself while Scott and Tin Tin are making arrangements for us to go to the airport, from where we'll fly back to their base.
I couldn't sleep last night. After so long in the dark I suppose I'm too used to listening to all the background noises of the hospital - every little sound had me alert. I could hear Tin Tin's slow breathing from the other bed, but after several hours of lying awake I got up to go to the bathroom. Across the living room I could see a light on under Scott's door, so I went over and tapped on the door. He answered and I went in. He was lying on bed, wearing a black T-shirt and shorts, reading some kind of aircraft magazine. He looked up, concern on his face "You can't sleep either?"
"No" I replied, sitting on the side of the bed, "too many strange noises."
He reached out for my hand and brought it to his lips. My hand seemed to move almost of its own accord round his head and stroked the back of his neck. As I did so, I noticed he closed his eyes - had he always done that?
"Are you sure you want to come back with us?" he asked. "You don't think we are rushing things too much?"
"Scott, you saved my life after that crash, you probably saved my sanity when I was in hospital, and if there is one thing in this world I am sure of, it's the fact that I want to be with you." I stroked his neck again. "When I was lying in that hospital bed and I did this I always imagined that I was kissing you."
"Do that once more" he said with a gleam in his eye "and you might have to leave or I won't be able to restrain myself."
Slowly, deliberately I reached out my hand and stroked his neck again, while with the other hand I turned off the light. "Now then, Scott Tracy" I said, "let's see how you manage in the dark."
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