Angels Among Us
By Kara H.
Jamieson gently laid the limp wrist on the
blanket. Commander Crane’s breathing was
becoming deeper and slower. It was just
a matter of time now. At least he could
honestly say that Lee wasn’t in any pain.
The Admiral and Chip were resting comfortably and Jamie sighed as he
looked around the quiet Sickbay. The
explosion had injured all three men and Jamieson had managed to treat the
Admiral and Chip but Lee had been trapped beneath falling masonry and even when
he’d been retrieved the damage had been irreparable and all Will could do was
provide palliative care. Thankfully Lee’d never regained consciousness so had been spared the
excruciating pain. Jamieson was also
grateful that neither the Admiral, nor Chip had regained consciousness so they
would be spared the grief of watching the man they
both loved die.
Jamieson
sat down in the chair he’d placed next to the gurney, he laid his hand over Lee’s still one. “We brought you home, Lee,” he said softly,
to the still figure, “Rest easy, son.
We’ll never forget you and Seaview
won’t either.”
“You
love him, Will?” a soft hand was on his shoulder and startled he turned to see
a young woman standing behind him.
Surprised he stuttered, “Not just me.” He gestured to the unconscious
figures of the Admiral and Chip.
“And
the other men, they love him too?” the voice was soft but commanding and
Jamieson could only nod dumbly.
“You
may have to stand by that on Judgment Day,” he thought he heard a chuckle.
“I
would stand by that before God Himself,” Jamie retorted.
She
moved so that she was standing beside the stretcher and looking down into Lee’s
face, “Come,” she said gently, “give me your hand.”
Jamieson
stood up and moved to stand on the other side of the gurney, he looked up into
a face of such serenity that he was suddenly rendered speechless, “Who are
you?”
She
took his hand and drew him up next to the gurney. Suddenly he was aware of being encased and
surrounded by a pair of huge wings and a rose-pink light that seemed to fill
sickbay, “Oh, God-” he croaked, “You’re an angel.”
“Yes,”
she replied, she stroked the hair from Lee’s forehead and smiled.
Will
considered begging, pleading and even bargaining for the life of his friend but
just as the thoughts raced through his head he realised how foolish that would
be, she turned clear grey eyes towards him and laid her hand on his arm,
“Peace,” she said softly, “There is nothing to fear.”
She
gently took Lee’s hand and with her other one stroked the hair away from his
forehead. The angel’s wings seemed to
stretch all around them. She smiled
down at Captain Crane and said in a clear voice, “Lee, it’s time to wake up.”
If
Jamieson had thought that there would be a sudden burst of light, he was
disappointed, but the silver-rose light seemed to intensify and her own form to
glow slightly.
Lee
opened his eyes slowly and stared up into a pair of clear grey eyes, she smiled
and he whispered, “Such strange dreams.”
“Hush,”
she smiled, “Rest and heal, Captain. He
smiled and then slid back into slumber.
Jamieson looked up and then realised that the wings were no longer
visible. Quickly he took Lee’s pulse and
pulling the blanket down, examined the Captain’s torso and legs.
Meanwhile
the woman gently laid her hand on Nelson’s forehead and then on Chip’s. Both men sighed softly and then settled back into slumber.
Will
looked at her as she came to stand beside the gurney, “He’s completely
healed. There’s no evidence of the crush
injury. No bruising or tautness in the
abdomen. I don’t believe it.”
“This
is not a matter of science, Doctor, it is a matter of
faith.” She bit her
lip, “but you should not be so surprised, do you not work in that
area too?”
“I
suppose my first mistress would be science,” Jamieson replied, “Is this the reckoning?”
For
a moment or two she looked nonplussed and then chuckled softly, “You refer to
payment I suppose?”
“His life for mine?” Jamieson swallowed hard, he didn’t want
to die but he
could see no other option for this supernatural being.
“It
doesn’t work like that,” she replied, shaking her head. “Nor does my Master. I came because I could help and because I
have been watching you all for a long while.
We do not give with one hand to take away with the other.”
“I
have to do something,” Jamieson
replied tautly, “You’ve –you’ve-” He stopped, unable to speak further.
She
stepped forward so that
there were only a few inches between them and took his face in
her hands, “I know what I did, but it wasn’t me, it was with the blessing and
permission of my Master. He is the one
you should thank.”
“How? When?” he spluttered.
“Now
if you wish,” she replied, “and how? I
think you know, Doctor. And I know, it
doesn’t seem enough, but trust me. If
you listen to your heart then you will do what is right.”
“Thank
you,” Will said, “I will remember you always.”
“A privilege, Doctor,” and then he
was alone save for a swirling white feather that he caught before it hit the
floor.
A
soft groan came from the gurney and laying the feather on his desk he walked
across to Captain Crane who was trying to sit up. “Hey, easy, easy, Skipper. Take it easy, you’re all right.”
Without
much effort Jamieson gently pushed Lee back onto the gurney, “Lie back, Captain.”
Lee
managed a hazy smile, and then he said, “Give it to me straight, Will. I’m going to die aren’t I?”
“Actually,”
Jamieson said and felt a huge surge of joy within his heart, “A good night’s
rest and you’ll be as good as new. ”
“What
about the Admiral and Chip?”
“They’ll
be fine, they’re both sleeping.” Jamieson smiled like an indulgent father, “and
you should be too.”
“Mmmm,”
Lee half-smiled, then he asked, “Where’s the woman?”
“You
were dreaming, Captain,” Will replied, gently drawing the blankets up around
Lee. When he was satisfied that the Captain
was asleep again he sat down at his desk and closing his eyes he poured his
heart out to God
in grateful thanks.
It
was Nelson who noticed that Will was quieter than normal. At first he put it down to a normal
reaction. After all, he’d almost lost
all three of them this time, it was natural that he
would be quiet. What they didn’t know
was that every night just before he settled down in Sickbay, he would carefully
take the feather out of his drawer and closing his eyes, thank God for his
friends’ lives.
Will
was the same when they reached Santa Barbara.
Nelson invited him to come for a drink but Jamieson refused. “Thanks, Harry, but I’ve someplace that I
have to be this evening. Catch you
tomorrow?”
Nelson
watched him walk away, there was something about his step that was different
and somehow Jamie had lost that haunted, harried look. Shaking his head he walked back towards the
Nelson Marine Institute.
The
church was a small one but there was something about it that drew Doctor
Jamieson towards it. Stepping inside he
found a cool white interior and a young man kneeling in front of the
altar. He rose to his feet and came
towards Jamieson as he entered. “Good
evening, sir. I’m Father Luke, the priest
here at St Brendan’s.”
“Hello,”
Jamieson stuttered taking the young man’s hand.
The grip was firm and confident and Will felt
his uncertainty drain away. “St Brendan
the Navigator?” he queried.
“The
Patron Saint of Sailors,” Father Luke smiled, “Although there are others who
lay claim to that honour. You look
troubled, sir. Can I help?”
Jamieson
smiled wryly, “I’m quite willing to tell you my story, Father, I just don’t think that
you’d believe me.”
Father
Luke sat down on the pew and Jamieson slowly sat down next to him, “Tell me,” he
said gently. So Will sat down and told
his story. When he’d finished he turned
to the Pastor and said, “She said I should thank God for my friends’ lives and
I have done so every night since their recovery but I feel I should do more – I
just didn’t know what to do – I thought if I came and sat in a church it would
all be made clear.”
Father
Luke looked thoughtful for a moment and then he said, “You have thanked God
every day for the lives of your comrades, yes?”
Will
nodded, Oh yes.
Father
Luke continued, “and whenever you look at them will
you remember what God has done?”
Will
nodded, and Father Luke smiled, “Then I don’t think that you have much to worry
about, Doctor. I know – I know –” he
held up his hand, “It will never seem enough, but if you offer everything you
do to God, that might make it enough.”
Will
nodded, “Yes, you’re right. Thank you,
Father.”
Father
Luke nodded, “I’ve got an appointment with one of my parishioners, but please
feel free to stay as long as you wish, Doctor.”
Jamieson
thanked him and then Father Luke shook his hand and disappeared into the
vestry.
“He’s
right, you know,” a familiar voice said.
Jamieson
turned to see the angel sitting next to him.
“You!” he gasped.
She
turned and he caught a glimpse of her grey eyes, “Yes. But Father Luke is right. You don’t have to do anything.”
“I
cannot help the way I feel,” he replied, shrugging uncomfortably.
She
laid a cool hand on his arm, “I know that.
But as I said aboard your submarine, all you have to do is listen to
your heart. What does your heart tell
you, Doctor?”
Jamieson
turned to the being and a slow smile crept across his face, “My heart tells me
to offer grateful thanks to God and to continue to do so for the remainder of
my life.”
“Then
do that,” she replied, “I will always be watching over you, although I cannot
always help.”
“I
know that,” Will said, turning to look at her. “You will have my eternal thanks.”
“That’s
a very long time, Doctor,” she laughed softly and slowly faded from view. Jamieson smiled and then kneeling on the
hassock offered a last heartfelt prayer to the Lord of the Universe for his
friends’ guardian angel. He would
remember her always and praise God for the rest of his days. For now, he was glad of the shore leave, it would
give him a chance to reassess what he hoped to get from life.
He’d
just stood up to leave when Father Luke returned from the vestry, “Have you
found some sort of peace, Doctor?” he asked.
Jamieson
smiled, “I think so, Father, the whole experience has left me with a great deal
to think about, so I’m glad for the shore leave.”
“Will
we be seeing you on Sunday, Doctor?” Father Luke asked.
“I’m
not sure yet,” Jamieson replied.
“You’d
be most welcome,” Father Luke shook his hand warmly and then, his heart feeling
more at peace than it had done for years, Will left the church.