The Last Train Home - The Last Train Home Part 4
Library

The Last Train Home Part 4

The nurse was in a pale blue dress and a crisp, white apron. She appeared to be barely out of her teens and her starched hat sat slightly askew on her head. Even with Lindsay's damaged nose she could smell the scent of medicine wafting from the nurse's apron. The woman dipped a small washcloth in a basin of cool water and draped the dripping rag across Ginny's forehead. Carefully, she lifted one of Ginny's hands and pressed it lightly against the cloth, holding it in place.

The nurse told Ginny, "I'm sorry, I can't stay." The distress in her voice was palpable."A building collapsed on Mulberry Bend Street and nearly a hundred emergency patients are on their way here now."A frustrated exhale."Can you hold this?"

Ginny gasped as the cool water soaked through her bandage and hit her raw fingertips. I least I can feel something, she thought grimly. Her eyes were closed and she was trembling, but at her insistence they'd switched her medication to a straight, lighter dosage painkiller and something for the fever. Nothing more. She could focus now, and Ginny wasn't sure if that was a good thing or not.

Lindsay sat up a little, biting her lip as the stitches on her side were pulled taut."What's wrong?" she whispered.

"Oh, good. Can you move?"The nurse searched Lindsay's eyes and Lindsay licked her lips nervously, sensing something was seriously wrong.

"Yes."She took a brief inventory of her body. Her head no longer felt as though it was going to explode and, even sitting down, she could tell that most of her sense of balance had been restored. She still hurt, but not as badly as she had earlier that day.

"All right." The nurse nodded firmly."Hang on."She quickly moved around to the other side of Lindsay's bed and pushed it up against Ginny's.

"What...what are you doing?" Lindsay's apprehensive gaze flicked to the nurse.

"Miss Chisholm's fever is worse. Someone needs to cool her down with this cloth and I can't stay. No prisoners are allowed in the women's wards after dark or I'd use one here."She gestured towards Ginny."If her fever doesn't break soon we'll have to resort to an ice bath for hereafter all she's been through I hate-"

"No," Lindsay heard herself say."I'll do it. I'll help."I will?

The nurse quickly passed Lindsay the basin of water and a towel in case she spilled any. "Dab her forehead and neck. Like this." She demonstrated.

Ginny shook her head 'no' but didn't open her eyes. Now the vegetable woman is going to play nursemaid to me? She's hurt herself. She can barely move."She doesn't need to," Ginny whispered hoarsely."I can-"

"Fine," Lindsay snapped back abruptly. She pushed the basin away, sloshing a small amount of water onto the towel that lay next to it."Do it yourself." She turned away from Ginny. "I'm still tired anyway. You-"

"No," the nurse interrupted firmly."She can't do it herself. I don't know what I was thinking, but her bandage needs to stay dry. You can use your good hand and you'll be fine."She didn't wait for Ginny to argue with her. She simply pinned Lindsay with a withering glare."I can count on you, right?"

Do they learn that stare in nursing school?"Well... she doesn't want-"

"Right?" the nurse repeated a little more forcefully. She didn't have time for this.

Lindsay stuck out her jaw, preparing to refuse when, out of the corner of her eye, she saw Ginny shiver. Her heart clenched at the sight and she found herself wanting to help, despite Ginny's apparent rejection. Stubborn girl needs somebody. "You can count on me."

"Good. I knew that when I heard you two were troublemakers it was probably an exaggeration."The nurse told Lindsay, "If her fever gets any higher, you yell. There's a nurse on the other end bay with a woman who is critical. She'll hear you if you call loudly enough."With that, she lifted her skirts and hurried to the exit.

"I'm not trouble," Ginny insisted quietly, gulping back tears. God, what is wrong with me? I need to get hold of myself and stop blubbering.

"Well, don't tell it to me. I never said you were trouble."Lindsay dunked the washcloth and squeezed out the excess water."I know you don't want my help."She paused with her hand hovering over Ginny's face."I won't touch you if it really bothers you."I don't give a shit what I told the nurse. I won't force my help on you.

"No. I need to get well. Please."

After a moment's hesitation Lindsay wiped the cool cloth gently across Ginny's forehead.

Ginny sighed at the contact but her shivers increased. Time to apologize. She probably thinks... "Thank...thank you."She felt the cloth trail down her sweaty neck.

"It's all right." But Lindsay still felt stung.

Ginny's mind scrambled for something to say."Does your nose hurt?"Even in the dim light she could see that Lindsay had two black eyes and a spectacular bruise that covered most of her face.

Unconsciously, Lindsay wiggled her nose."Ouch." Her hand shot to the splint and she slapped herself in the face with the washcloth, stinging her scratches. "Shit!"

Ginny bit her lips to stop an unexpected giggle that threatened to escape.

Lindsay lifted an eyebrow at the young woman, inwardly pleased that Ginny was holding back what could actually be a smile."Yes. It does a little," Lindsay admitted sheepishly. "Not so bad if I don't touch it though."Casually, she shrugged one shoulder. "I'll heal soon and be out of this place."

Ginny swallowed hard as a rush of raw emotion swelled up inside her so quickly that she couldn't stop it."I need to heal soon, too."She blinked several times in rapid succession, sending a cascade of glistening tears down her cheeks."I can't stay here. God, the boys. Jane. I have to find them. Nobody will tell me where they are." She hiccupped and her face contorted in pain.

Lindsay's eyes went round and her hand with the washcloth in it froze, causing it to drip onto her thigh. She's crying? Not just a few tears, but really crying. Oh, God. Oh, God. "Don't cry. Please."I don't know what to do. She looked around desperately for someone to help, but only saw sleeping patients.

"I... I can't," a sob interrupted her, "I can't help it."Ginny lifted her hands to her face, forgetting about the bandages until she realized she couldn't wipe her tears without getting them wet. Before she could think of what else to do, Lindsay was running the cloth down her cheeks, cooling them with a gentle almost reverent touch that was at odds with the young woman's rough speech and demeanor. The tenderness was Ginny's undoing and with her next breath she broke down in earnest, crying freely and not even trying to stop herself.

Lindsay looked on in horror. Her own hands were shaking and she felt a little dizzy as her heart rate skyrocketed."Please," she begged."It's going to be okay. You'll see. You'll get well and go back to your family."

"No." Ginny shook her head frantically."There was a fire. And-" She swallowed thickly. Then the words spilled out in a panicky rush."My parents and two sisters. The nurse came and told me today. You were sleeping. They didn't... I mean Mama and Alice and..." The redhead began to cry harder and the rest of what she said was lost amidst a haze of salty tears and broken sobs.

Lindsay didn't know what to do with her hands. It didn't seem right to continue to wipe Ginny's face, so she dropped the rag and hesitantly laid her hand on her companion's shoulder."I am so sorry," she whispered, truly meaning it.

Ginny closed her eyes as her chest heaved and when she opened them again, for the first time, Lindsay truly paid attention to what she was seeing. She took a long look into Ginny's heartbroken, sky-blue eyes as their gazes locked and when she did, a pang of sympathy touched her in a spot so deep, so surprising, that she nearly gasped at its intensity.

The comfort Ginny felt from the slender, almost timid hand on her shoulder, squeezing gently, was all out of proportion to the act. Her heart greedily soaked it up like a dry sponge being tossed into a sea of compassion and, without thinking, she sat up and wrapped her arms around Lindsay, her body craving another's contact as two days of grief, frustration, and raw fear poured out.

Lindsay bit her tongue, first in surprise, then in pain, as Ginny's body collided with hers. It took every ounce of her willpower not to jerk away. She took a deep breath and did what she'd never done before, never had done to her. She carefully wrapped a lean arm around Ginny's shoulders and allowed the redhead to cry against her unabated. She needs this. She has no one. I can do this.

Heat was pouring off Ginny and her sweat soaked through Lindsay's thin hospital gown. God, she's burning up. Probably delirious.

"I should have died too," came the raspy whisper against Lindsay's shoulder.

"No." Her voice was unyielding and Lindsay fought against the irrational urge to shake this young woman, this stranger who was plastered to her, for even thinking such a thing. "Don't say that," she told her emphatically."It's not true. You survived. They wouldn't want that."

Ginny sniffed and closed her eyes. She couldn't keep her teeth from chattering and, between that and her low, scratchy voice, Lindsay could barely make out what she was saying."But I'm ... so so tired."A pause."My heart hurts."

And that, put simply, was something Lindsay had a bone-deep understanding of. Sometimes, when things were so dark and you were utterly lost and hurting, it seemed as though life wasn't worth the enormous effort it took just to live."Tomorrow you'll feel less tired." She felt her way cautiously."If not then, the next day or the next."

"I don't know where to find them."Ginny turned her head and Lindsay could feel small puffs of hot air as labored breaths brushed against her neck.

"You'll find them," Lindsay reassured, knowing full well that might not be possible. Orphans had a tendency to disappear into the system or worse, onto the streets, never to be heard from again. Wasn't that what I did?"You can't look from here. You need to heal first."Her arm was feeling more comfortable around Ginny's soft body and without meaning to, she began to relax a little into the foreign touch.

"But I don't know where to start! They don't have anyone but me." Ginny's voice cracked and a fresh wave of tears came along with her next revelation."I broke my promise to Alice."

Lindsay had no idea what the promise was but knew it had to be important from the self-loathing that rang in Ginny voice.

Ginny felt as though she might be sick. Abruptly, she pulled away from Lindsay, but she leaned back too fast and automatically reached out to brace herself with her hands. She cried out as soon they touched the bed, and a fat woman several beds down groaned in her sleep, mumbling for everyone to 'shudda up'.

"Hey. I've gotcha." Lindsay's good hand shot out and she wrapped strong fingers around Ginny's upper arm, allowing Ginny to take the weight off her hands and lie down more carefully. A fine sheen of sweat glistened on the redhead's brow and Lindsay uncurled her fingers so she could pick up the washcloth again. Most of the basin's water had spilled onto the towel, but there was still plenty to dampen the washcloth.

Ginny sighed as the cool rag brushed over her eyebrows and cheeks and chin, wiping away her perspiration and tears.

Lindsay debated with herself, then asked what she was wondering."What promise did you break?" she asked curiously. This girl didn't seem the sort to lie. Ginny's jaw worked and Lindsay instantly regretted bringing it up. Who cares? You don't even know her. It's none of your business.

Ginny sniffed a little."I promised not to leave my younger brothers and sister. They're just kids."

The corner of Lindsay's mouth curled upward."And you're not?"

"I'm almost eighteen."She looked at Lindsay carefully, wishing she could truly tell what she looked like. Behind the bandages and bruises and splints was someone that Ginny suspected was just about...."How old are you?"

"Old enough. Older than you," Lindsay answered seriously, trailing the cloth down Ginny's neck and wiping away a smudge of soot that had been missed by the nurses.

"How much older than me?" Ginny persisted.

Another small grin twitched at Lindsay's lips at the younger woman's pushiness."Not much. I'm eighteen... no, nineteen last October."

Ginny blinked, a little surprised that her guess had actually proven to be right. "If I'm a kid then so are you. You're just like me."

"I'm not a kid."And I'm nothing like you.

"What happened to you?"Ginny lifted her bandaged hands to trace the outside of the dressing that circled Lindsay's head, but let it fall back to the bed when Lindsay subtly shifted away."I'm sorry," she whispered, suddenly very self-conscious."I wasn't thinking. I...I-"

"No. It's okay." Lindsay's eyes conveyed her regret. She hadn't meant to do that."I just wasn't expecting that, okay? I'm not mad."

Ginny bit her lip and nodded warily."Well?"

"Well what?"Lindsay dipped the cloth into the water again and squeezed out the excess into the basin.

"How did you get hurt?"

"Speaking of that..." Lindsay groaned a little for effect."I could really use some more painkillers. My side is killing me."

Ginny just waited, an eyebrow lifting when Lindsay not-so-skillfully changed the subject.

When Lindsay glanced up from her task she noticed Ginny's expression. "Ohio umm... I was run over by a wagon," she lied. This girl doesn't need to know my business.

Ginny's second eyebrow lifted, joining its reddish-gold twin. "A wagon with claws and teeth?"

"Absolutely."

"You're lying."

"Absolutely," Lindsay confirmed unrepentantly.

Ginny was tempted to press for information but could see by the guarded look in Lindsay's eyes that the subject was closed. A tremor passed through her and she suddenly felt very tired.

As she continued to apply the cool cloth to Ginny's face, Lindsay could see the younger woman growing more and more lethargic under her care. A handful of heartbeats later and they stopped talking altogether. A comfortable silence grew between them, until all that could be heard was the white noise of coughing and snoring women, the winter wind rattling the windows, and the low buzz of the dimmed lights that lit the opposite end of the long, narrow hospital ward.

Several quiet hours passed and Lindsay's thoughts naturally turned inward to the place they were most accustomed-the hushed recesses of her own mind. Her head was throbbing and she didn't have to guess where she'd had her surgery. The area not far below her breast felt as if it was on fire. When she could no longer hold the cloth without her own hand shaking, she awkwardly shifted onto her side so that she could watch over Ginny, only occasionally pressing the cloth against a sweat-slicked forehead. If I can make it till morning they'll give me something for the pain. They can't ignore us forever. I know it.

Ginny slept restlessly, her body warring with itself as her fever raged. Finally, just before dawn, she awoke feeling cool and listless. Her shivering had stopped and her thoughts were once again clear, if grim. Her fever had broken.

Ginny studied the woman who had so tenderly cared for her. The washcloth was still clutched in Lindsay's hand and her features were slack with sleep. Dawn's first rays of sun hit ice-covered windows and fractured, casting random patterns of golden light across the walls and beds.

Shoulder-length, chestnut brown hair peeked at odd angles from beneath the white gauze dressing that circled Lindsay's headland lurid purple bruises started at Lindsay's jaw and blended into one another as they worked their way up to closed eyes, fringed with dark, long lashes.

"Who are you?" Ginny whispered, wanting to know more about this person and wishing she could see the woman behind the bandages and pain. Lindsay's eyes opened at the words and Ginny met her confused gaze easily.

"What?" Lindsay blinked slowly.

"Who are you?"

"I um..." Lindsay wiped the sleep from her eyes with her good hand."I thought you heard me answer the nurse yesterday. My name is String-"

"No."That answer wasn't good enough. Not when there was a real one lurking behind the bewildered eyes looking directly into hers. Ginny felt as though she had shared a very personal piece of herself with this sometimes kind, sometimes annoying person, and she couldn't help but crave some of that openness in return."Who are you really?"

They stared at each other for several charged seconds until Lindsay said in a voice thick with sleep, "My name is Lindsay Killian."Ginny smiled and Lindsay couldn't help but smile in return. She has dimples, her mind laughed.

"Hello, Lindsay." Blue eyes conveyed warmth and strength that wasn't there only hours before and Lindsay was drawn to their sincerity. "I'm Ginny and I wanted to thank you."

Lindsay's brow furrowed, she could hear the strain in Ginny's voice and knew every word was painful."Don't...Well..." She looked away."It was nothing."

"You're wrong. It was something," Ginny corrected softly."I um... I need to find my family when I get out of this place." Her eyes twinkled."And something tells me that you're a very good person to ask for help."

"I am?" The words tumbled out without permission, and Lindsay held her breath, half-expecting Ginny to laugh at her genuine surprise. "You really think so?"

"I really do," Ginny assured her."Will you? Help me, that is?"

"Yeah," Lindsay whispered back, there was nothing wrong with her throat but she found herself unconsciously matching Ginny's hushed tone."I'll help."

They smiled at each other, both feeling a little less alone than they had before coming to Blackwell's Island.

Chapter Four.

Twenty-four hours later.

Lindsay clenched her fist as she watched Nurse Goletz feed Ginny a bowl of lukewarm porridge."That's too fast for her to eat," she murmured under her breath. "Can't you see that?"

In all fairness, the heavy-set women looked as though she was dead on her feet. Even her starched white hat sat askew on her head and the top button of her dress, which was so high that it nearly brushed her jaw, was undone. She had been working non-stop since the building collapsed. And because they were short-handed, she was now starting another shift, in addition to the two she'd just worked.

There were several women on the ward who couldn't feed themselves because of various injuries to their hands or arms. And the nurse always started at the end, with Ginny, before working her way down the bay. It was a kindness to her young patient because at least the food would still be warm.

Ginny was swallowing as fast as she could but her throat was still tender and she always had been a slow eater anyway. In truth she was starving and mortally grateful for anything she could put in her belly. Unfortunately, during these speed-feeding sessions she ended up wearing more than she ate. Ginny was, however, bound and determined not to utter a single word of complaint. I'm not a troublemaker, she thought petulantly, ignoring a dribble of porridge that trailed down her chin and plopped onto the bib Nurse Goletz had fashioned out of a wash rag.

"Stop! Stop. Please. I can't take it anymore."

Two sets of surprised eyes swung towards Lindsay, whose head had been unwrapped. A small bandage had been taped over the lump and gash in her skin just behind her right ear. After cleaning her wound the day before, a nurse had allowed her to have a sponge bath and to wash her hair, which was now hanging loose about her shoulders, the morning sun reflecting off mahogany highlights.