The Case of the Fateful Journey
 
    Della Street could barely keep her eyes open and the bus' rhythmic bobbing only made it harder.  She caught herself nodding off and snapped her head up.  Across the aisle Frances Drake leaned over and said quietly, "Della why don't you trade spots with me.  Pud's already asleep and you can curl up too.  I want to read."
    Della looked around her and nodded.  As smoothly as possible they traded spots and Frances settled in next to the luggage.  Della curled up and faced the darkened window.  Within moments she was dead to the world oblivious to anything but Paul Drake, jr. who snuggled in closer to her for warmth.  Twenty minutes later she didn't hear the shattering glass or the dying scream of Frances as the semi-truck ran the stop sign and plowed into the side of the cross state bus.  
 
    Perry Mason and Paul Drake drove in grim silence to Placer.  They'd been told of the accident at the bus station when they went to pick the girls up and instead of waiting around for any information just took off.  It was an hour drive but it was better than just sitting.  It was just a jaunt up to Frances' parents for the long weekend.  They were going to look at the new puppies and be back for the Memorial Day barbecue. All they knew was there was a bad accident, everyone was being sent to the local hospital, and it was the longest one hour car trip they'd both spent. That was all Paul kept thinking as they drove.  He lit another cigarette and took a long drag. Mason, 
on the other hand, was so anxious and his stomach tied in knots that he couldn't even think of smoking.  If he could have told Paul that the smell of the cigarettes was starting to make him sick without actually disturbing the silence he would.  But if he said something it might lead to conversation and conversation might lead to speculation and he decided he'd rather be sick.  
    "Turn here," Drake said as he saw the hospital sign right before turning into Placer.  
    The hospital was swamped with cars.  Between the police and the ambulances and the incoming family for the victims the small two lane street was a madhouse.  A cop had been posted to direct traffic and Mason pulled up to him, "Can you tell me where to park?"
    "You here for the survivors?" the guy asked a little brusquely.  
    "If you mean my wife and kid who was in the bus crash, yeah," Drake barked. 
    The man stiffened, "Sorry, yeah, just turn down this road and park as far along the side as you can."
    Mason pulled the convertible off as close to the ditch as possible and turned the engine off.  Both men sat for a moment, neither able to move for fear the world would keep moving and leave them behind.  If there were survivors that meant there were also deceased.  Which ones were they?  
 
    The beleaguered emergency room nurse had an eternal undertaker's expression.  At times like this she had to keep from getting involved.  She'd learned it well as a nurse in Korea.  Mason and Drake walked up to the makeshift information table.  Drake went first, "I'm here about my wife and son; they were in the bus crash.  Frances and Paul Drake, jr.?"
    "Can you describe them please?  We didn't get name I.D.s on most of them when they came in."
    "Frances is 5'6", 32, has strawberry blonde hair and brown eyes.  Paul junior is 5 and has curly blond hair and brown eyes," Drake informed.
    She looked down a short list, made a notation, then looked down a longer list, made another notation.  She met his anxious eyes, "I'm sorry, you're wife was listed among the DOA.  Your son is in the children's ward.  We'll need an official identification."
    Paul stood there open mouthed and speechless.  Mason was torn between demanding information about Della and supporting his friend.  He finally stepped up, "I'm here about Della Street.  She's 5'5", 33, has dark brown hair, brown eyes, and uh... mole right next to her left ear..."
    The nurse looked down the lists, found what she wanted and checked it off, "Mrs. Street is in surgery.  Her injuries were severe but she's got a good surgeon in there.  If you could please take a seat, someone will be with you as soon as we know anything."
    Mason could tell by the way she talked that he'd get nowhere trying to demand answers.  There simply weren't any to give.  He had to get Paul taken care of first, "Come on, let's go I.D. Frances and check on Pud."
    Drake was thankful he wouldn't have to do it alone.  He knew how hard it was on Perry to just leave the situation alone and walk away without more information.  
 
    Morgues were always in the basement.  It was as if the morticians were preparing the bodies for their eternal rest underground before they were buried.  It was dark, cool, quiet, and small.  There were so many bodies from the accident that there were gurneys with sheet- draped bodies in the hallway.  Drake resisted the temptation to just run.  He was pretty much numb.  It wasn't how he thought he'd feel.  He had always imagined having a mad, screaming fit and beating his head against the wall.  But he didn't.  Maybe it was because he hadn't seen her, confirmed it was true.  Maybe it was because he had a young son up two floors who needed him more than ever and he couldn't fall apart.  Maybe he just hadn't had time to do it yet.  
    A rather froggish man, dressed in green appeared when they rang the bell at the split door.  "Yes?"
    "I was told to come I.D. my wife, Frances Drake," Paul said calmly.
    "Description?" the man said.
    "5'6", strawberry blonde hair, brown eyes..." he said wondering if that was all she really was, a description to people and not someone who had been passionately loved.  
    "Ah yes," he said with an odd tone and glanced at Mason.  He opened the bottom half of the door to let them in, "I want to warn you.  The woman who answered that description was pretty much crushed by the impact.  Apparently her seat was directly in the path of the semi when it hit.  I'm telling you this because, there isn't a lot here and it's very grisly.  So we're pretty much asking people to identify people by their jewelry or any particular oddity--dentures, glass eyes, things like that.  Did your wife have anything like that?"
    Drake shook his head, "No, she was perfect. Her wedding ring had a leaf imprint that ran around the entire band and inside was engraved: Paul/Frances/Forever." 
    The man checked the description with the jewelry removed from the corpse.  It matched and he handed a small bag of personal items to Paul.  he fingered the bag, "I want to see her."
    "I don't think it would be wise," the man argued.  
    "I'm a detective, I've seen dead bodies," Drake insisted.  "Just let me see my wife."
    Mason could hear the pain in his friend's voice and he laid a hand on Paul's shoulder to give him support.  
    "All right," the man agreed and beckoned him to come toward the table closest to the wall.  Pulling back the sheet Paul managed to see what was there before having to look away.  A lump of dead flesh was all that was left of the most beautiful woman he'd ever known.  He shook with the knowledge.  With his eyes squeezed shut, "Was she... did she?"
    "Pretty much instantly.  She would have been in no pain or even realized she was dead.  I'm very sorry," the man said.  He'd said it so many times to so many people that he figured he'd not mean it anymore, but he always did.  Putting the sheet back over the body he asked, "Where would you like the body sent for arrangements?"
    "Huh? Uh, I don't... Perry?" he asked thinking he was going to be sick and took a step back.  
    The man recognized the look, "There's a bathroom through that door."
    "Thanks."
    Perry was left with a morgue full of dead bodies and a stranger, "Uh, have Frances sent to uhm... Stillman, the funeral home in Stillman.  Uh... I don't know whether he wants her cremated or buried."
    "That's fine for now.  He can make arrangements with them for that.  We just need a final destination." 
    Mason was waiting for Drake when the detective came out of the bathroom. As they rode up the elevator Perry said, "I told them to send Frances to Stillman."
    Drake nodded, "Okay.  Let's go see about Pud."
    "Paul I need to find out about Della," Mason said, "But I'll be up as soon as I do."
    "Della, I almost forgot," Drake muttered.  "Yeah, go see about Della.  I'll be okay."
    Perry got off at the main floor went back to the emergency room to the nurse's desk, "Has Della Street come out of surgery yet?"
    The nurse checked the roster, "Are you her husband?"
    Mason blinked, "Yes."
    "The surgeon needs to speak to you.  I'll page him.  Please go wait in the consultation room until he arrives," she said her face still the wooden mask she wore when they first arrived.  
    Mason's heart seized up on him.  It didn't bode well.  He did as he was told, sat like a child waiting for punishment. It took forever for someone to arrive.  The surgeon arrived in blood splattered scrubs, a lot of blood splatter.  "I'm Dr. Winchester, the attending surgeon. You're Della Street's husband? "
    "Yeah," he said again hoping they were too busy to really check. 
    With a deep sigh the man began, "Your wife is one lucky woman, all things considered.  When the semi hit the bus it shoved the seats across from her into her.  It literally impaled her on one of the support struts.  Fortunately by the way she was positioned when it hit the strut went from her lower back and down instead of straight across.  It saved her life, but I'm afraid that there was so much damage to her left kidney and uterus that we had to remove them.  She should be able to lead a perfectly normal life, her other kidney appeared to be in perfect working order.  We were able to save the ovaries and that will help with any hormonal issues.  She simply will not be able to carry children.  I know that at your age this is a blow, but as I said before, she's very lucky just to be alive."
    Mason digested the information.  Couldn't have children, so what, she was alive and would recover and would come back to him.  Children, no big deal, there were thousands of children who needed good homes and if they ever married...  The doctor prompted, "Do you have any questions?"
    "Can I see her, stay with her?"
    "Of course.  She'll be in her room by now.  When she wakes up and is coherent I'll come to tell her the situation.  Until then I have more patients to tend to," he answered and after shaking hands with the surgeon went to find where Della was.  
    She'd been given a private room in the maternity ward of all places.  But the hospital was so packed this was the only place to put her.  Mason could hear the single baby in the nursery wailing for a bottle as he walked down the hall to Della's room.  He was half afraid she'd be as torn up as Frances was and he wouldn't even recognize her, but when he opened the door quietly he saw a woman who to anyone else just looked like she was asleep.  To Perry who was so intimately familiar with Della's habits the fact that she wasn't curled up on her side and her hands tucked under her head told him she was uncomfortable.  Her face was unaffected by the crash but there was a nasty gash on her arm, and he traced the stitches gently. He got to hold her hand, smell her hair, listen to her breathe.  Meanwhile Paul had lost his life love.  It troubled him that he was so lucky. He figured it would be hours before she woke up, she'd been through so much, so he settled in to be comfortable and tried to get some rest.  He'd need it.
  
    Paul Drake couldn't believe that the same crash that had completely shattered Frances had left his son with a broken leg and a concussion.  The doctor told him that the fact he was protected by both Frances and Della's bodies probably kept him from being injured more severely.  Paul brushed the tightly curled nearly white locks from his son's forehead as it beaded with sweat.  He always perspired when he slept.  Drake rested his head on the side rail, "Baby, what'll I do when you wake up?  How do I tell you you're mommy is gone forever?  I almost wish you'd just stay asleep and she'll always be alive in your mind.  Dream of mommy and when you do tell her daddy loves her so..."   
    
    Della stirred and Mason's head popped up.  He'd wait to page the surgeon until he was sure she could actually understand what was being said. She opened her eyes and looked around confusedly before finding Mason's.  They were concerned but not grave, "What...?"
    "There was an accident, a really bad accident," he answered simply.
    "Pud?" she asked.
    "Pud's okay," he said but left out Frances' condition.  He'd wait till she was stronger if he could. 
    It seemed to soothe her.  Della tried to move around in the bed but found everything sluggish and in pain.  She groaned and it sent a stab through Perry.  He held her hand, "Shhh, don't move around too much.  You've had surgery.  Are you awake enough to understand what the doctor needs to tell you?"
    "Hmm, yeah," she answered and let out a deep breath.  As long as she didn't move, but the cramping hurt so bad she wanted to curl up.  
    Mason hurried down to the nurse's station and then went back.  "How bad?" she asked. 
    "I'll let the doctor give you the details," he stalled. 
    "Frances?  Where's Frances?" she asked. 
    "She's... not here," he answered.
    "What room?" Della insisted grouchily.
    "She's downstairs," Mason evaded.  He wanted to wait till the doctor got there.  
    "Downstairs?"
    "Della, please, just wait for the doctor to ask anymore questions," he pleaded and met her insistent gaze.  
    "She's dead isn't she?" Della surmised. 
    "Yeah..." Perry said and just left it.  
    "Pud?" Della insisted.
    "He's in the children's ward--has a broken leg and a concussion.  Paul's with him now." 
    It gave Della some amount of comfort and she relaxed against the bed.  
    The doctor knocked on the door before coming in.  He was amicable, "Well, how are we feeling?"
    "I hurt," Della admitted.
    He pulled up a chair, "I imagine you will.  I'll have your medication increased."  
    He and Perry exchanged glances.  "Has your husband told you anything?"
    "Husband?  What husband?  I'm not married," Della said to which the doctor gave Mason a swift summons to the corner of the room. 
    "You said you were her husband."
    "No, you assumed I was her husband. I'm actually her employer, but we're also together.  I have her power of attorney for medical purposes," Mason informed.  The physician sighed but let it pass and went back to Della's side.  
    "As I was telling your boss here, you are a very lucky woman.  The position you were in when the bus was hit allowed the strut that came off the seat to go through your midsection at such an angle that it pierced your left kidney and uterus.  We had no choice but to remove them.  It was either that or you die on the table.  Your ovaries are intact and your other kidney appears to function perfectly fine, you simply will not be able to have children naturally."
    Della digested the information quietly.  Without meeting Perry's eyes she said, "Can I see Pud?"
    "Pud?" the doctor asked.
    "The little boy who was with her when the crash occurred.  He's our godson.  He's in the children's ward with his father," Mason said.
    "I wouldn't suggest it.  You're in no shape to move around," the doctor answered.
    "Can you move him up here and put him in with me?" she tried again.  There was something in her tone, something so determined that the surgeon realized she'd move heaven and earth to get to the boy.  
    "I'll see what we can do.  He's in fair enough shape to move.  Now I think you should try to go back to sleep," he suggested and made an adjustment to the IV drip she had in her arm. 
    Della nodded but had no intention of sleeping till Pud was with her.  Mason was at a loss when the doctor left.  He didn't know what to say or do to reassure her, "They say that Pud came through so good because both you and Frances shielded him.  If you hadn't been there he'd have been dead too."
    "We switched seats," Della muttered.  
    "Huh?"
    "I was falling asleep and she wanted to read, so we switched seats.  If we hadn't I'd be dead and Pud would still have his mother," Della realized with a choked voice.  
    "Della, please don't do this.  I don't know why fate made you change seats with Frances but I do know that he's going to need all of us to grow up.  I can only say that I am more than grateful you survived.  Whatever it is that decides who lives and dies and why in the Universe decided you need to be here now, with me, with Pud.  If you can just hold onto that..." Mason pleaded while holding her hand next to his cheek.  He kissed it and she focused on him for a moment.  Those blue eyes grounded him and she managed a smile.  
    "About kids..." Della brought up.
    "No doubt about it, we'll have kids when it's time," Mason insisted.  "We'll hand pick them and we'll love them and they'll love us and that's all that matters.  It doesn't matter where they come from.  We'll be luckier than most cause we can get one potty trained already." 
    The statement made Della chuckle, but it hurt.  She squeezed Perry's hand hard to offset the pain, "I'm sorry."
    He shook his head, "I'm not.  I'll never be sorry."  
    A tear started to slide down his cheek and her finger caught it as he kissed her hand again.  
    A knock on the door didn't part them.  Paul Drake stuck his head around the corner, "Hey, look who's awake."
    "Oh Paul," she cried and looked away to keep from making him feel worse than he already did.  
    He bent down to give her a kiss, "I know.  It'll be all right.  Pud's gonna be fine.  We're all gonna be fine.  They're bringing him up here."
    Della gave a nod, "Gotta see him.  I want to be with him when he wakes up.  Let him know he's not alone..."    
    Her voice drifted off and she collapsed exhausted against the pillow.  The pain medication was starting to work.  
    Drake said, "Thank God she's still alive. At least he'll have his Auntie Della."
    Mason agreed, "And Della will have him.  I have a feeling that's what saved them both and as long as they have each other they'll both be just fine."