Second Chances

I do not own any of the characters used in this story nor do I make any money off of it.

Terry’s eyes snapped open and he looked around his surroundings. The white mosquito netting surrounding the bed, the bright sunlight flooding the room and the sweet smell of fruit. Thank goodness he thought to himself that those horrible visions of him being shot by Lara, being left for dead and the terrible ordeal of him escaping the cavern of the Cradle of Life was just a nightmare. He started to move out of the soft bed he was laying on and suddenly pain shot from his left side.

“Fuck” he said softly to himself realizing it hadn’t been a dream.

“Hmm I see my Scotsman has finally decided to join the world of the living.” A female voice said jokingly.

Terry turned his head to look towards the doorway and saw a beautiful woman standing there. She was wearing a short sleeved white button up shirt with a melon colored tank top and khaki colored capris. Terry decided he had better behave himself at least until he found out what was going on and if these people knew who he was. She walked over to the bed and pulled one side of the netting back.

“Where am I?” Terry asked.

“You are at the Sussi Lodge off of the Zambezi river. You had me scared there for a while Scotsman. You spiked one heck of a fever. Thought I lost you.” She said as she sat down on the bed next to him.

“So how did I get here?” Terry inquired.

“Well, I was out riding and I happened to come across you lying near the road. I had some of my riding companions bring you back here to my room and I’ve been taking care of you ever since.” She explained as she rose from the bed.

“Then I owe you a huge thank you.”Terry said.

“Don’t worry about it. It’s pretty much my job around here.” She replied as she walked to the other side of the bed and pulled the other side of the netting back.

“I’m sure you’re probably about starved. Figured we’d start you out on fruit for now. You get some strength back and we’ll put you on something else.”She said as she picked up a small bowl off of a tray sitting on the small couch in front of the bed and handed it to him.

“I guess I am pretty much at your mercy.” Terry replied with a small laugh.

“I suppose you are.” She replied.

There was a knock at the door. Terry watched as the woman walked over towards the small dresser by the door. She opened a drawer, pulled something out which Terry thought looked like a gun and then asked “Who is it?”

“Doc it’s me Mosi. I have the shea salve that my sister Ayana made for you.” the voice on the other side of the door said.

She put the object away and went to answer the door. Mosi entered the room and looked over at Terry.

“Ah I see the Scotsman has pulled thru. I knew you would save him.” Mosi said with a smile.

“Actually Mosi I was going to try and find you to see if you could stay here with him for a little while. There’s something I need to take care of and I really don’t want to leave him alone.” She stated.

“Sure Doc I can stay.” Mosi replied.

“Good. I need for you to help him out of bed and get him moving around a bit. Maybe take him out on the deck for awhile and I promise I’ll be right back.” She said as she gathered up her duffle bag and headed out the door.

Mosi sat in the chair next to the bed and waited for Terry to finish his fruit. Once he had finished Mosi stood up. “Time to get you out of bed. Have to do what Doc says.” Mosi stated.

Terry slowly moved out of the bed and stood up. He wobbled a little but for the most part was pretty steady on his feet. Terry actually felt pretty good considering the hell he had been thru.

He and Mosi went out on the deck and Terry sat down in one of the bamboo chairs. Terry was surprised how close the wild animals of the land got to the lodge. The elephants were no more than 20 feet away playing in the water, like they didn’t have a care in the world. He sat there watching the elephants and thinking to himself about everything and anything.

The pain hadn’t been more than what Terry could take. At least with the pain he knew he was alive. His thoughts floated towards his savior Doc as she was pretty commonly known as. Beautiful, smart, unattached or so it seemed. Three traits Terry Sheridan always looked for in a woman. Okay so maybe he didn’t always look for smart and unattached.

”So Mosi maybe you can tell me a few things about Doc like her name or if she’s seeing someone?” Terry asked.

“Well, we only know her as Doc. She’s never given us another name to call her by and she sees no one but you.” Mosi explained.

“Okay Mosi I’m back.” Doc yelled as she walked back into the room. She put down her bag and headed out onto the deck.

“Did you have to help him very much Mosi?” Doc asked.

“No he made it by himself. A little wobbly but he made it.” Mosi replied.

“Good Scotsman. You’re stronger than I anticipated.” Doc said as she leaned up against the bannister.

“Oh I’m full of surprises.” Terry playfully stated.

“I can just about imagine.” she replied as they heard a large rumble of thunder.

“Okay Mosi you had better get home before this storm hits.” Doc said.

“I can help you get the Scotsman back into your room.” Mosi replied.

“No Mosi you need to get home. I can handle the Scot by myself.” She stated.

“I’ve been wondering just how you knew I was a Scot.” Terry said as he slowly got up out of his chair.

“Let’s just say when you were delirious you talked an awful lot.” Doc explained.

As Mosi got up and hurriedly left for home, Terry was a bit taken back by that statement. What exactly had he said? It must not have been too much or surely she would have said something but then again maybe she wouldn’t. He noticed she was watching him with a lot of concern in her face. Was he more than a patient to her?.

“Maybe now is the time for introductions. My name is Terry.” He said as they walked into the room.

“That’s nice, Terry.” She stated.

“So what might your name be love or perhaps angels have no names only beautiful faces.” Terry playfully asked.

“Ah you can always tell when a man is feeling better because they start thinking that they’re charming or something. People call me Doc so that’s what you can call me.” She replied with a little disgust in her voice.

“But I am charming.” Terry hurtfully replied.

She shook her head and sighed.

“So, why do you keep a gun in that dresser drawer?” Terry asked.

“Ah you’re observant. Just for protection. You just never know when you might need one. Especially when you’re taking care of a stranger, that’s been shot. Someone just might show up to finish the job.”She replied with a wink.

“Ah touche Doc touche.” Terry stated.

She followed him closely to one side of the bed and once there he started to fall, moving to try to catch him she ended up underneath him on the bed. She laid there for one moment just looking up at him. Terry noticed that her pulse and her breathing had quickened. Her eyes were huge and Terry noticed they were a beautiful shade of hazel. She was actually starting to shake.

God his eyes were beautiful she thought to herself. Terry started to softly kiss her lips. She moaned softly. She wanted to just let herself have this moment but then she wondered what was she doing. This couldn’t happen, she couldn’t let this happen.

“Let me up.” She said almost out of breath.

He moved slowly being careful of his left side. “I’m sorry Doc.” He said trying to judge her reaction.

“It’s okay.” She replied as she got up off the bed and walked over towards the deck area.

She stood there with her back towards Terry trying to compose herself. There’s no way she could get involved with him no matter how much she wanted to. The demons from the past would never let her.