Page 119 of Straight to Me

Trying my luck, I hold his hand again. I can’t see VP, but I feel his eyes on me. “Jack. When you held my hand to your truck—ute—I didn’t understand what was happening. I didn’t want to leave Dean, but I knew you’d keep me safe.”

VP’s eyes catch mine at his name. He really hates it coming from me, but for the purpose of talking to Jack, he knows it’s necessary. “When you told me to grab your gun. I was so scared. I tried to jump out and run to Dean, but you wouldn’t let me. At the time, I couldn’t understand why, but I get it now. You love him as much as I do.” I’m hoping VP’s listening carefully. “Iwouldhave got him killed, or myself killed. I’m sorry for being so careless.” I sniff back the tears. “I should have trusted you.”

VP stands to his feet, he’s uneasy listening to what happened, but I need to tell him, and Jack, what happened. I need to keep talking in case Jack can hear me.

“I was so scared,” I cry, holding my face in my hand. VP’s next to me in a heartbeat. He holds me close to him, kissing my forehead. “I thought he was dead, VP,” I say in between sobbing. He comforts me, running his hand over my hair. “Jack made me feel safe, even though he wasn’t awake.” I turn my head in VP’s arm, looking towards Jack. “I squeezed his hand to let him know I was there, and I know he squeezed it back, I know he did.”

“Shh,” VP soothes, placing another kiss on my head. “He knows you were there.” The monitor above Jack’s head suddenly beeps in double time. His hand in mine twitches.

“He’s moving!” I shout, jolting VP. He lets go of me, moving closer to Jack.

“Jack, mate, can you hear us? We’re here, lad.” VP’s eyes flit between Jack and the monitors.

Nothing further happens as we watch on in hope. “Keep talking,” I nudge. VP looks to me unsure. “Talk about something, anything he’ll remember.”

He takes a minute. His hands fidget, one going in his pocket, the other running through his hair. I nod to him as he sits on the bed next to me.

“Jack it’s me, Dean,” he says with a quick look to me. “I’m not really sure what I’m meant to say to be honest,” I take his hand in mine before he continues, “but now seems as good a time as ever to come clean… it was me who dented the new push bike you got on your fourteenth birthday, not Uncle Ronnie, like I told you.”

I smile when he looks back at me. “He loved that bloody bike,” VP adds, turning back towards Jack. “I wanted a go on it, but he always said no. I snuck out one night, took it for a spin, but I was going too fast down a hill and crashed. I limped it home. Blamed Uncle Ronnie for closing the garage door on it.”

We both stare at the machine as it beeps, making us jump. “I think he can hear you,” I say. “Keep going, you’re doing great.”

He looks back down at Jack. “Remember all those nights I said I was too ill to go with you to football practice? I wasn’t ill, I was copping off with Olivia, the blonde a few years above us in school. I knew you liked her, which is why I tried to hide it from you, but she dumped me after a few weeks, so I never told you the truth. That’s when I started going to practice.”

Hearing VP talk about his past is peaceful to hear. Studying him closely, I watch him sit more comfortably on the bed, smiling to himself as he talks to Jack.

“I know you’ve always been there for me mate. As soon as I moved here, you treated me like your brother. Yeah, we argued sometimes, like brothers do, but I always knew I could count on you to have my back, and I hope you know how fucking grateful I am for that. I’m grateful you took me under your wing, for stopping Mads from getting out of the ute… for all of it.”

VP shifts on the bed, rubbing his face with his hand before he continues, “When you get out of here, which you will, I’ll be here for you, like you were for me. I’ll fly back and make sure you get through any rehab, physio, whatever they say you need… I’m going to be here mate, by your side, whenever you need me.”

We watch as Jack’s eyes flicker, his eyeballs moving under his eyelids. His lips part slightly as he tries to speak.

“Deano?”

“It’s me,” VP says.

“I…” Jack's voice is croaky as his words try to come out. He coughs, opening his eyes only a fraction. “I knew it.” VP lets out a small laugh. “I knew you’d taken my bike. You shit.”

I laugh and cry at the same time.

“Mads?” Jack says, licking his dry lips.

“Yeah.” He smiles, checking it’s really me with half an eye open. He looks so tired and drained, but I'm pleased he's awake and talking.

Turning his bandaged head gradually, he looks to VP as best he can. His palm nearest VP rolls open. “We kept our word.”

VP’s eyes mist over. Looking down he takes Jack’s hand in his. “You did, mate.” Jack smiles before closing his eyes again. Falling asleep, his face looks peaceful.

After a couple of minutes, the nurse walks back in, notifying us that it’s time for us to leave. VP helps me back to my room. His hands are gentle over my sore skin as he puts me into the bed. He watches me move so eagle eyed, I’m afraid to show him how much pain I’m truly in. The more I hurt, the more he’ll blame himself.

By Wednesday, we’re ready to fly home. I’d been given the all clear Tuesday morning, after which VP booked the flights. He got what he wanted from Ronnie; the go ahead to open a new charter back in the UK, but our time here certainly didn’t go as planned.

I sit waiting for him in my hospital room, my bag’s packed at the end of the bed. I’m glad to be going home even though it will mean dealing with Rocco. I swallow down the nervous lump that rises in my throat, desperately trying not to think about what I’m going to do.

Checking my phone in my hand, I can’t help feel deprived I didn’t get to see more of Australia. I thought we’d have spent more time enjoying ourselves, but everything was ruined in one night. The only positives I can take from this trip are getting to learn more about VP’s past and meeting Jack.

Jack received the diagnosis of the extent of his injuries on Tuesday evening, when they went over everything with him and checked motor range of his lower extremities. He refused any visitors after that. VP said Ronnie gave him no choice but to let him in, but that was it. He wouldn’t see anyone else.

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