My-Serendipity.net - Echoes in the Silence

Tove drove like his life depended on it. Maybe it did. He and Eric filled the two front seats of the Tahoe, willing guardians for the unstable cargo behind them. Hayden’s mind had gone back into that fog from the day before, not able to process anything other than the feel of Beth’s hand holding his and the pounding of his heart within his chest. The questions kept increasing, steadily outpacing the answers. Closing his eyes, he prayed again, offering his own life in return for those he loved. More than his lungs needed air, he needed them.

As Tove steered them off the freeway and onto the small town streets, the fog began to lift. They had been following a police car, lights flashing and sirens wailing even after they left the freeway. Lefts and rights and through stopped intersections, the police lead them to an older style home. It was a single story, unassuming in boring beige, completely void of decoration or personality, and very much NOT a veterinarians hospital as he expected. Waiting outside by the remnants of what was once a lawn was a middle aged woman with grey streaked through her auburn hair and concern etched into her features. Bolting from the car, he raced toward her.

"I’m Ester," she offered, already turning toward the door, "follow me." She hurried through the house toward the back where one would expect a yard, but instead found a patio that had been turned into a spare room. The sides and back had giant windows, covered by white plastic bamboo style roll up shades. Each one on the west side of the house was lowered to dull the glare of the setting sun. The east windows were blocked by a large elm tree but had shades as well, though probably never used. Plastic dog crates were stacked along the back, where the patio adjoined the house, silver aluminum food bowls, dinged and dented from years of use were stacked on top waiting for an evening meal to fill them.

On her side, just as he’d seen her do hundreds of times in their bed at home, the noble dog rested on the floor, both on and under a pile of blankets. Her eyes stared off blankly into what should have been the distance but, in this room, it was just a blank white wall. An older man sat in a chair close to her, round Santa Claus belly straining at the buttons of his goldenrod shirt, stethoscope draped around his neck. He monitored the drips from a bag of fluids whose tube disappeared under the covers. Unlike the woman, he looked relieved to see Hayden. "She’s been waiting for you."

Walking slowly, he knelt to his knees in front of her, frightened by the lack of soul in her eyes. "Hey there…how’s my girl?" His voice cracked, giving his emotions away to the humans in the room. There would be no hiding anything from Kona. She looked just as lost as he felt.

"She’s dehydrated, but that’s the least of her problems," said the voice of the older man. "I’m Dr. Lyness. Ester called me when Kona arrived. I came as soon as I could."

"Charlie and Emma found her walking on the side of the freeway," Ester offered modestly, fixated on the way Hayden and Kona were staring into each others eyes as he stroked her head. "They saw her feet and knew she needed help, but expected her to run. Instead, she stopped and walked back to them."

"Her feet?" Now they had his attention. Lifting up the blanket made him sick to his stomach. All four legs were wrapped in gauze with blood seeping through. Dried gashes down her side were tainted by the same iron red from the accident and the fur that always shined didn’t have the resiliency of life behind it as it hung limp across her bones. Gently he placed the blanket back over her.

"Nearly all of her front toe nails are completely gone, almost like they’ve been ripped out. Her back ones are worn well into the quick. The pads on all four are down to nothin’. Her front legs have gashes and rips. I cleaned ‘em up as best as I could here, but she needs to get some x-rays to check for more damage and surgery to fix what I can already see."

Lifting Kona’s head, he moved closer and placed it in his lap, still stroking any part of her face he could. "Then do it – all of it. If that’s what she needs, that’s what she gets."

The vet had been around the block a few times with emotional owners, his tone was mellow and soothing, putting his hand on Hayden’s shoulder as he spoke. "It ain’t that simple son. Those feet are all infected. She’s weaker than I’ve seen an animal and yet, she don’t sleep. Her gums are even ripped up, so she won’t eat. We’re getting her full of antibiotics and fluids which is the best we can for now. The university is all set to do the surgery tomorrow, but…"

He was beginning to hate that word. "But what?"

"She’s comin’ up short on ‘fight’ and there ain’t no shot I can give her for that."

"With all due respect Doctor, you don’t know her like we do. You don’t know what she’s capable of, especially when the chips are down." He spoke but looked only at Kona. "I know how much you miss her. I know she’s lost right now and I know I’m not her, but we’ll find her. You and I, when you’re better, we WILL find her. Show them girl. Show them that, for you, giving up isn’t an option."

Turning his attention back to the doctor, he continued. "You assume she was waiting for me so that she could die, but that’s not her." He turned to look at Ester. "They expected her to run but instead, she walked to them. Isn’t that what you said?" Ester nodded. "She could have given up and died at any point on the side of the road. She didn’t. She went to strangers for help. She has been fighting for her own life and for my wife’s. She hasn’t lost her fight, she’s tired. She’s asking us to help her and that’s what I intend to do. We need you to tell us what’s next. We’re in this together. We’re a team."

"All of us," Beth added, tears having never left her eyes. She, Eric, and Tove all gathered around the big dog’s somber face. "Isn’t that right girl?"

"She waited for us to remind her that’s not fighting alone, that we care as much as she does." He bent down and kissed her on the side of her face, resting his cheek on hers. "I understand now," he whispered only to her as he looked at the bright light peaking through the shades. "I’m here. I didn’t miss another sunset and when we’re all together…we’ll watch the sunrise. I’m not going anywhere."

"Ok," the doctor relented. "We’ll transport her tomorrow for surgery. Michigan State’s vet school has the best orthopedic surgeons and equipment. They’re ready for her if she’s up to it in the morning. Ester, you got room for us for the night?"

"As long as chairs, couches, and sleeping bags are ok," she nodded. "We’re certainly not the Ritz."

"Thank you," Hayden offered in earnest.

"Now listen," the doctor continued, skeptical. "It’s still gonna be risky. She needs to rest so her body can hold up to that spirit of hers." They all understood but, despite the odds, their money remained on Kona.

~*~*~*~*~*~*

Hayden sat with Kona, watching while she finally slept, as the rest of the house began to prepare. The officers that had accompanied them, stayed even after their shift was over. Working with the Haslett Police, they took point around the house, doing their best to secure some privacy as the paparazzi descended. Eric called both sets of parents, Beth called Karen and Tove had Cecilia get George and Adam on a conference call.

"I had no idea she could be the missing dog," Ester confided to Beth during a rare quiet moment. "Charlie brought her here because Doc’s place burned down a while back and he knows I do rescue work. Not like Kona," she corrected quickly. "I just try and find homes, not people."

"That’s just as important," Beth assured her, noticing Hayden wave to her. "Excuse me just a minute."

"Will you stay with her?" he asked, knowing she would. "I need to call Kate and get a few things from the truck."

"Ask your brother or Eric to go to the truck," she warned. "Photographers."

"Is Jason out there?" Beth shook her head. He nodded and walked through the kitchen, stopping where Ester was stirring something on the stove. "That smells delicious."

"Chicken soup," she smiled. "It’s not much…"

"It’s more than enough. Thank you for letting us stay here, I know we’re an imposition, it’s just…"

"You love them," she interrupted, "Your family, your wife…Kona. They are your whole world. Homes like that are my dream, so I’m happy to do whatever I can."

"What is it that you normally do," he smiled, "I mean, when your house isn’t under police lockdown."

"I find new homes for pets that’ve lost theirs. Dogs, cats, even bunnies and gerbils, they’re all welcome here. I work from home as a medical transcriptionist. It doesn’t pay much, but it keeps the roof over our heads and food in their bowls. I don’t need a lot. I just need to be doing something."

"You sound like Melissa," he sighed.

"I don’t go the movies." She was almost apologetic. "I don’t know much about you or her, but I’ve seen enough to believe what you said earlier. We were treating Kona without knowing her. I can see it now. She’s a fighter."

"Yes, she really is. If you’ll excuse me for a few minutes, I need to make a call before she wakes up," he explained, "but we really can’t thank you enough."

Phoning Kate was just as hard the second time as it had been the first. He wanted these calls to end. He wanted good news instead of bad. He wanted to be home, in his bed, with Melissa beside him and Kona bouncing up with her leash ready for their run. He wanted to wake up from this nightmare but instead, as night fell, he gave himself willingly to the possibility of pleasant dreams.

They took shifts, the rest of the house, all watching the reunited pair. With his chest spooned against Kona’s back, Hayden shared the pillow he had taken from Melissa’s truck with her injured partner. As the first ray of morning light beamed through the Elm tree, they were up and getting ready to go. It wasn’t a long drive to the college but they didn’t want to be in a rush.

The still off duty Port Huron police continued to work with their Haslett counterparts to deal with the small but dedicated band of paparazzi at the house. Tove shared an analogy of warning with the officers. "They are like cockroaches. If you see one, you have a hundred more hiding," so they prepared for the ones that would come out of the woodwork as soon as Hayden left the house.

Beth prepared the back of the Tahoe for Kona. She would ride with her and Hayden while Tove drove and Eric rode shotgun. The police would both lead and follow in the hopes of warding off some of the chaos. Dr. Lyness called the university hospital and let them know the latest on her condition as well as just exactly who this stray dog turned out to be so they could prepare as much as possible.

With a heartfelt thank you to the doctor and to Esther, Hayden went to Kona. "Ok girl, it’s time to go." For the first time since he’d arrived, his furry fighter made an effort to get up before he stopped her. "Hey now, I get it, you’re feeling better, but I need you to save your strength so the doc’s can fix up your feet, ok?"

Kona breathed a heavy sigh and Eric chuckled softly. "She likes depending on people about as much as Mo does."

Beth took the bag of IV fluids, still working their medicinal miracle on Kona as Hayden very gently scooped her in his arms. Together they walked out of the house and the sound of advancing camera shots buzzed like a swarm of electronic bees. Calmly he made his way to the open rear of the Tahoe and softly laid her on the bed of blankets, including Melissa’s sleeping bag. Beth pulled the dog further into the car using the fabric as Hayden made a surprise trip back to the door of the house.

"I really can’t thank you enough," he told the doctor and Ester, but talking mostly to the woman. "You were right last night. All of this craziness," he motioned his head slightly to the press, "I would leave behind in a heartbeat for my girls. Melissa and Kona, they are my whole world and you helped me get back part of that." Emotion threatened him like it hadn’t since he had faced Tove in the Toronto airport just a few days ago. When Ester nodded meekly and held out her hand, he took it to return the gesture, but it didn’t feel like enough. With a single step closer, he gave her a kindhearted hug before walking back. Climbing in next to Kona, he raised his hand in a small wave as they drove away.

The University Veterinary Hospital was already in full motion when they arrived. Campus police blocked the paparazzi and hospital staff waited with a stretcher as Tove brought the Tahoe to a stop. "Mr. Christensen," an older man extended his hand, "I’m Dr. Taylor, the senior doctor here."

Hayden shook his hand. "This is my brother Tove, brother in law Eric Hamilton, his fiancé Dr. Beth Hewitt and this is our girl, Kona."

"Let’s get her inside and I can go over the records Karen sent us and the ones from Dr. Lyness. We’ll make sure they’re up to date, and then I’ll have a look at this feisty girl of yours."

Hayden liked this doctor immediately. He seemed concise and organized which complimented his tidy appearance and perfectly groomed hair. More than outward impressions, what he had was a feeling that this was the right person to trust Kona to and he was trying to listen more to those.

The exam room was full as the doctor led his interns and residents through the diagnosis and different levels of treatment. He spoke in depth about the orthopedic requirements of service dogs, in particular, search and rescue dogs, teaching with compassion. Hayden felt comfortable asking questions when he had them, and the doctor answered anything directed to him with ease, no matter who it was from.

"That about covers everything. If you’re comfortable with our course of treatment, we’d like to get started." Hayden nodded and the interns left the room, he assumed to get things ready. "I know I’ve never met any of you before today, but I wanted to let you know that I met Kona a few years ago." They looked at him with confusion on how that could be possible. "I volunteered in New York," he explained. "There was a tent where vets would treat the search dogs. I remember her and Melissa. It was my privilege then, as it is now, to take care of her. They’ll come for her in a few minutes and I’ll be out to talk to you again as soon as the procedures are complete."

The emotion that threatened as they left Ester’s house was surging in Hayden’s chest again. Eric rubbed Kona’s ears. "See ya in a bit there girl."

Beth stroked her face and kissed her head. "Stay strong for all of us, ok?" Tears overwhelmed her and she left the room with Eric limping quickly behind her. In the safety of the hallway, she fell into his embrace and cried.

Tove took his turn, leaning to whisper in Kona’s ear before patting her shoulder and stepping back.

Hayden was at a loss for words. The sound of Beth’s tears blew on the embers of rage he buried deep within him. Kona didn’t need angry. Right now, she needed him. "So, you know him. He’s fixed you up before so you’re in good hands," he attempted. It wasn’t what he wanted to say, but nervousness won out momentarily. Taking a deep breath, he bent down to look eye to eye with her and let his heart speak over his mind.

"I’ve been thinking, girl, about what happened and I have a few ideas. You tell me if I’m wrong, ok?" Kona blinked, probably out of necessity, but he chose to believe the alternative. "I think the truck rolled and she got out, probably checking on you, but she never let you out of the crate did she?" Each vocalized thought dug deep in his gut.

"She went to the road for help, you might have even seen her walking away. She would have called to you, told you to wait, that she would be right back, but then…whatever happened, happened and you heard. You heard it all, but you were locked in." His arms were covered in goose bumps and his voice was trembling.

"You clawed your way out. You fought that crate and broke through that metal even when it ripped your gums and pulled your nails off. You followed whatever scent you had until you couldn’t go anymore."

Kona blinked again. Tears flowed down Hayden’s cheeks as well as Tove’s, who stood behind him, having never left the room.

"Please don’t think that you failed her because you didn’t find her. She’s out there still and I meant what I said. We’ll find her Kona, I promise. I want both my girls home and safe. I need you. Without you I’ll be the one who’ll be lost with no one to find me." There was a glimmer in her eye that he recognized, a hint of understanding. "I love you girl…so much." Two interns came in to carry the stretcher back. "I’ll be right here, waiting for you." He saw her turn her head to watch him as they carried her away.

An icy chill filled the room and it began to spin making him feel nauseous. Tears fell fast and furious, fighting to exit his eyes while his defenses were down and the gates were open. His chest tightened and the walls seemed to be closing in on him as the spun. He turned toward where he remembered the door to be, hoping it would be there, hoping he could escape. What he found was his brother, a stationary object in a rotating existence. He looked up to him like he had done when he was 5 years old and had taken a tumble off his bike, waiting for him to soothe his fears and give him a reason to get back on.

"They were supposed to be together," he blurted out and Tove nodded. "It’s how I function without being terrified every minute of every day. If she’s not with me, she’s with Kona or with you…" His chest didn’t expand anymore, his lungs felt paralyzed by the pressure on them. "But she’s not. Tove, she’s alone. She’s probably hurt and scared and…oh god…where is she? Who is she with? How do I find her?" His voice had grown to pure panic. "Who’s going to protect her? What do I do now?"

"You lean on us." Tove felt as emotionally exposed as he knew his brother was. "You let us help. You try and remember that you aren’t doing this alone, that we love you. Most of all, you keep your promises. The ones you made to Melissa when you married her and the ones you made Kona last night. Neither one of them will ever stop fighting for you or for each other. Keep telling yourself that, over and over again if you have to. It’s the truth."

As the words sank in, the pressure in his chest eased only to be filled with heaving sobs. Physically and emotionally, the two men held onto the other and any shred of hope they could find. He wasn’t alone. He had his brother and Beth and Eric and now Kona. He had the support of their parents and George and Adam and the team. He had the world, but without its center, it spun without reason or control. Wherever Melissa was, he prayed she had what he didn’t and that it would be enough.