Chapter 33
Sue and Simon were waiting at the helipad as they landed, Sue waving frantically even before the helicopter had touched down. Jimmy once again was flying them home. When he had picked them up from the airport he had known that it would be the last time that he would fly Tracey anywhere. She looked so very, very tired. Even behind her brave face there was no denying that she had come home to die. They did not speak of it and it broke his heart to know this was the reason they were home. Jimmy got so mad when he thought of all the people in the world who did not deserve to live and yet Tracey would be taken away from them. Initially he was going to stay for a few days but as tough as he was this was not something he could handle. Give him terrorists, and international operations but the death of his friend was already tearing him apart.
David was the first one off the helicopter, helping Tracey. Even over the past week she had deteriorated, her strength was failing; her legs had become so weak that at times she could not hold herself up. Sue gasped when she saw her. She was so much worse than she had expected. Simon squeezed his wife’s hand. “We need to be brave for her Sue, for all of them. This is going to be tough. We’ve always known that.”
Sue nodded, smiled and went to hug her friend. “About time you came home young lady. I’m out numbered here or did you forget.”
Tracey smiled at Sue. “Nice to see you.”
By this time the others were off the helicopter. Simon waved to them all.
“Darrel says hi. He said as long as Nat or Tracey didn’t do the driving we could have the jeeps.”
Tracey laughed. It was a good sound to hear. “But Simon there’s no gates between here and the house. He won’t have any unbending to do.”
“No but last time Nat and Urs were here she managed to buckle the steering column and rip the speedo cable out of the jeep. He was not impressed.”
Tracey looked over at Nat who just shrugged her shoulders trying to keep the innocent look on her face.
Sue broke up their little talk. “Well come on lets get you back to the guest house. It’s all fixed up so you can all stay together.”
Nat jumped at Urs wrapping her legs around him, so he had to catch and hold her. He never knew when she was going to do this and over the time they had been together she never seemed to loose her zeal or energy. “Great. I loved it when we are all together. I promise not to drive anything this time.”
Urs looked at her with a quizzical expression. “Ok, I’ll try very hard not to.”
As David passed Sue she got hold of his arm. “How you doing?”
“I’m scared Sue.”
She hugged him. “I know. We all are. She’s been so very strong for so long I guess we just never expected her to loose the fight. Even the doctors say she had been living on borrowed time for the last 5 years.”
David once again choked back his tears as they drove back to the house.

Sitting on the top step when they arrived was Baby Girl. A little thinner and older but still so very big. Sue had told them that her sight was not so good these days but she got around just fine. Spent most of her time with Sue.
Tracey got out of the car and called her. They had not seen each other in such a long time. “Hello Baby Girl.”
The cat stood, stretched and then waited for Tracey to get to her. Tracey was just about to pick her up when the cat stretched up her paws as she used to do. Tracey picked her up and she rested on her shoulder just like old times.
Sue Smiled. “She hasn’t done that in a long time.”
David was standing next to Tracey. Baby Girl meowed and touched his face with her paw.
He smiled and tussled the top of her head. “Wow she must remember me.”
As if to answer his question the cat meowed again.
Urs was smiling, he remembered the first time he had met Baby Girl.
Tracey carried the cat into the guest house but feeling the strength wain in her arms she placed her on the ground. Tracey took a deep breath. “This is the second best smell in the world.”
David embraced her from behind. “What’s the first?”
“Tracey took hold of his arms as they lay over her chest. “You are Merlin, You are.”
David tightened his hold and kissed her on the top of the head.
The others all made their way into the house. It had been along time since they had all been there together. They had managed to get back as couples; a few times a number of combinations of couples had been at the property together. Not planned, they had just decided they needed time back in Tasmania and they would always arrive with in days of each other. Sue was amazed at the phenomenon. The last group had been Urs and Nat followed a few days later by David and Tracey.
Now she smiled, the family was home all together. She smiled but her heart was sad, the reason they were all home was indeed a tough pill to swallow.
As always Carlos and Sebastien were drawn to the kitchen. Carlos was the first to say something as he inhaled. “I smell freshly baked scones.”
Sue laughed.” Well I don’t know how. I cooked them at my place. But you are right. A nice fresh batch of scones, cream and jam await. Take a seat, I’ll put the kettle on.”
So this family sat around the table working their way through Sue’s scones and freshly brewed tea and coffee and taking about the last few months of the tour and bringing Sue and Simon up to speed on the events in their lives.
Mid afternoon arrived and it seemed that jet lag had finally caught up with them all. They each drifted off to have a sleep before dinner.
Tracey, David, Sue and Simon were the only ones left at the table.
Tracey was very tired but did not want to stay in the house. “I think I would like to spend some time at the cottage. David would you mind?”
He smiled at her. “No. I think that is a great idea.” He looked at Simon. “Can I borrow the jeep Simon? The walk is a bit too long.”
“Sure Dave, just keep the keys away from Nat.”
They all watched as Tracey got up from the table, slowly, testing her legs. She gave a quick glance to David and he was at her side in an instant to hold her up.
Tracey tried to make a joke of it. “The old sticks are a bit wobbly these days.”
Holding onto David they walked to the waiting Jeep.
Once on their own David turned all his attention to his wife. He had felt the heat coming from her body, a sure sign that another attack was in progress. “How bad?”
Tracey was trying to hide the fact that she knew this one was going to be bad. “Just get me to the cottage Merlin. I don’t want Suzzie to see me like this.”
David drove as Sue buried her head into Simon’s chest and cried. “Dear Lord Simon she’s…”
Simon had no words to comfort his wife so he just held her as a few of his own tears fell.

By the time David had Tracey at the cottage she could not walk, she was trembling, burning up and trying to do battle with the pain in her chest. He carried her to the bedroom, laying her on the bed; Tracey curdled up and began to rock. All David could do was sooth her brow and talk her through until it was over. “I’m here baby, Just hold onto me.”
Tracey cried through the pain and her tears mingled with the perspiration covering her face. “It hurts so much.”
David tried hard not to cry but is tears flowed. “I know baby, it will be over soon.”

In the early evening Urs had come to find his friends for dinner. He found David curled up on the sofa asleep. Tracey’s attack had taken a lot out of him emotionally.
Urs knelt down and tapped him gently on his arm. “Hey David. Rise and shine.”
Urs smile disappeared when he saw David’s eyes. It was obvious that he had been doing a lot of crying. “Hey, David you ok?”
David sat up and nodded. “Yeah, just tired.”
Urs knew that was not the truth but chose to ignore it. “How’s Trace?”
David sighed.” She’s sleeping, had another attack. Urs, she’s so weak. I feel so helpless.”
Urs sat next to his friend. “We all do David. She is such a strong person, has been for so long it’s hard to see her like this. You want to talk?”
David shook his head. He did want to talk but had no idea where to start.
“You know we are all here for you, anytime.”
The men smiled at each other. “You want me to get Sue to send some supper down for you?”
“Yeah that would be good. Need to make sure Tracey eats.”
Again Urs smiled at his friend. “We need to make sure you eat.”