From the Pulpit, Chapter 40

Chapter 40

Columbus Memorial Hospital
January 18th, 2012

Hogan was aware of his friends standing over him, although he wasn’t sure how long they had been there or, for that matter, how long he had been there.  His right side still hurt like crazy and he vaguely remembered several instances of surgery, but knew no details.

The doctor spoke with Mike and Hilde quietly.

“Well folks, your friend here sustained a lot of damage in that single gunshot.  As it turned out we had to take more than half of his right lung, and he lost a rib that the bullet had totally shattered.  The real problem though, and what continues to be a problem, is the infection and the damage it caused to some of his organs, primarily his liver and pancreas.  It is under control now, and hopefully will stay clean, but he has a long road to travel before he’s going to be back behind a desk, and he won’t be kicking in doors again.”

“Thanks doc.” Said Mike Farris, “Thanks for all you’ve done.”

“So you two have known each other for a long time?”

“He saved my skin in Somalia back in ’93.” Replied Farris, “I just wish I could do more for him now.”

“Well, your prayers are the best thing you can for him.”

“Yes, again thanks.”

Hilde leaned down over Paul Hogan and gently kissed him on the forehead.  “Hey Paul, how you feeling?”

His eyes opened slightly, glazed by the medication.  He attempted to smile weakly and managed to breath out a barely audible reply.  “Good.”

“Hey Gunny.”  Mike said.  “Doc says you’ve got a long road ahead but you’ll make it, you’ll make it Marine.”

“How’s Billy?” Paul asked.

“Bill Coffee?”

Paul nodded slightly.

“That kid is amazing, not to mention blessed.  Three bullets hit his left chest but missed all of the major organs and ribs.  He did nearly die of blood loss that day, but has since almost fully recovered.  He is itching to get back to work too.  But then, he’s about ten years younger than us old farts and still has a few lives left.”

Paul smiled and whispered, “Good for him.  Me too.  Gimme two months.”

Mike smiled, “You’re going to be alright, man.”

“Start looking for that Frankenstein chick for me.”  Paul said then he drifted back to sleep.

Mike and Hilde walked out of the room and left the hospital.   They crossed the street out the main doors and walked slowly up the sidewalk in the chilly winter air.  The sky was gray with heavy snow laden clouds that hung low above them.

Hilde glanced up at him.  His eyes were fixed at some distant point far ahead of them, his face almost unreadable.  A trace of sadness seeped out of his gaze.

“Mike?”  She asked.

“Hmm?”

“What are you going to do?”

“I don’t know yet.” He answered.

“How is your church handling everything?”

“They want me to stay on, but I really don’t think I can.”

“Are you going to start a new church?”

“No.  I put my whole congregation in danger by the way I did things.  I think it is best for me to find a different ministry altogether.”

“Look, Mike.” She said, “I saw a memo of a job opening at the FBI.”

“I am done with all the spies and agents stuff Hilde.”

“Not as an agent, Mike.”  She replied, “As a Chaplain and Psychological Counselor. Our current one is retiring this month.”

He glanced over at her, “Really?”

“Yes,”  she said, “It covers the Ohio Valley Region, six states. It’s right up your alley.  You’re the only one I can think of who has actually experienced what some of these agents go through.  You’d be perfect for the job.”

“I’ll think about it.”

“The office is at the Columbus Headquarters.”  She said.  “Just down the hall from mine.”

“Oh really?”  he smiled.

“Yeah.”

He stopped walking and turned to face her.  Taking her hands in his he looked down into her eyes.

“Hilde, I don’t know if I am right for you.”  He said flatly.  “I just have too much baggage.  You deserve someone fresher than this old war horse.”

“If I was looking for someone fresh, I would have been married long ago.” 

He started to reply but she put a finger to his lips to stop the words.

“Shhh.  Whatever it is about you, I am hooked.  And I will wait until you are ready.  In the meantime, let’s just walk together.”

Large, fluffy white snowflakes drifted down from above as their heels clicked softly on the pavement. 

Mike offered his arm to her and she tenderly accepted it, leaning into him as they moved into the rest of their lives.

You have just completed the first draft version of "From The Pulpit"  Thank you for staying with it and completing the story.  Also, thanks for your comments along the way.  In the next few months I will be going back over it and completing the story, filling out many of the characters and scenes, and deepening the whole feel of it.  The final product will be almost three times the length of this draft and hopefully will be ready for the publisher by later this summer, then who knows where it will go from there?

Again, thanks for reading it.  If you haven't read my other stories on Gather, please do and let me know what you think?

Basil

From the Pulpit

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