What struck Mark was how small Phillip looked onthe hospital bed. That hurt him in more ways than one. He didn'tsay anything but listened to the beeps of the machines, and Sandy'ssoft cries.
“He can't be this hurt,” Sandy whispered.“Phillip...Oh god, Mark, he can't be like this.”
“I know,” he said huskily, his voice rough fromunshed tears.
They stood beside the bed remembering Phillip ashe was. Not what he was now.
“First time I ever saw him I thought he was thegoofiest motherfucker I ever seen.” Mark said, breaking thesilence. “He...God he wore this fucking straw hat...he was carryinga rubber chicken around. He was telling everyone to kiss hiscock.”
Sandy made a sound that was between a chuckleand a sob.
“Anyways, he gets to me and tells me to kiss hiscock. He pushes the rubber chicken into my face. Then I kiss thefucking thing and he smiles.” Mark broke off because the need tocry was so strong he had to gather himself again. “He said 'Well,that settles it. You and Me, Connelly. We're gonna be goodfriends.'”
Sandy was laughing even though there were stilltears on her face. “He broke my nose,” she said suddenly. “I was ajunior cheerleader in the fifth grade. He played basketball. It wasfunny because he was so short. Well, he threw the ball at someoneand I happened to be standing there. I caught it with my nose.” Shesmiled sadly. “The very next day he brought me flowers and beggedfor my forgiveness.”
They both walked closer to the bed. Sandy ranher hand over his head and chuckled. “He would be pissed that noone cut his hair.”
Mark had to smile. Phillip would be pissed aboutthat. He liked his hair short.
Kenneth had told them that while Phillip's otherwounds were serious, the doctors would be afraid of infections fromthe burns. That's what killed most burn victims. Mark was terrifiedto touch Phillip.
“He's gonna make it,” Sandy said. “He's defiedthe odds so far. They didn't think he'd make it out of Iraq...andthen out of Germany. They don't know Phillip like we do.”
Mark wanted to share in her optimism. But he wasa realist. A lot of guys made it home. They just didn't make it outof the fucking hospital.
They had stayed their fifteen minutes.
Sandy leaned over. “Phil...you better getbetter. Too many people are counting on you,” she whispered. Shekissed the top of his head and began to sob again.
Mark leaned over and whispered, “Grabowski, ifyou die so help me God I'll find a way to Hell and drag you kickingand fucking screaming back.”
Chapter Thirteen
After three weeks of no change Mark wasconvinced that they were sitting at 'the best' Phillip would everget. Phillip was getting smaller and smaller. It was hard for Markto keep going back and seeing him like that because the man on thebed wasn't his friend. It wasn't the guy who terrorized youngrecruits.
To his surprise William and Jamie King came andvisited the family for a few days. Bob Beaver and Jeff Roach hadbecome permanent fixtures around the hospital. Ryan's sister andbrother came in and were staying with the Grabowskis.
Brendon hadn't been able to get leave but calleddaily to see how Phillip was doing. Kenneth was having moreepisodes since Phillip got transferred to Texas. Sandy was tryingher best but she wasn't what Kenneth needed. So Jeff and Robertboth took over when Kenneth went on Baghdad time.
It had been nearly a month after the accidentbefore Patrick finally got his R & R date. Mark had to go gethim in Dallas at two am on a Saturday morning.
Ryan finally called Sandy. Mark had held Sandyfor hours after the phone call. She said Ryan sounded awful andcompletely defeated. She was worried his head wasn't in Iraq. Theydidn't want to bury Ryan on top of dealing with Phillip'scondition. But neither one said that in so many words.
Alexander emailed them regularly. He wantedupdates. And he would tell them about Ryan. Mark wasn't surprisedwhen he got a call from the cool-as-a-cucumber sergeant.
“Hey Mark. Sorry I'm waking you up.”
“Hey Krutz. Don't worry about it.”
“Just wanted to let you know-- Ryan is back inthe game,” Alexander said. “Some of the guys and I had to do sometough love. But he's back.”
Mark blinked and a small smile played on hislips. “Good. Any word from the LT?”
“Not that I know, but the LT is pushing for hisR & R in the next bunch.”
“Good.”
“Well I have to go. Just wanted to let you knowhe's coming around.”
