Previously on Vision Quest - On their trip to Lake Champlain, Trevor and Brad meet Bill Ides and his teenage son Marc. Bill manages the campsite where the brothers are staying. At a bonfire, it’s revealed that Marc is associated with Kip and Freddy, two local delinquents involved in drug trafficking around the lake.
Marc is trying to get out of this relationship, but Kip and Freddy confront him at gunpoint, telling him there is no way out. In a swift move, Trevor draws his gun, and Kip and Freddy leave with their tails between their legs.
Trevor’s conduct is so impressive that Marc agrees to enlist in the Navy. Brad treats everyone to dinner to celebrate Marc’s decision.
Feeling optimistic about their Vision Quest progress, the brothers break camp the next day. In a downpour on the way to their next destination, Roosevelt sends them a 911 page, and they learn from him that Kip and Freddy have ambushed Marc on his way to the recruitment office resulting in his death. They decide to drown their sorrows at a bar near Erie, Pa.
Trevor and Brad were sitting on the beach of Lake Erie, watching the sunrise and looking out at the never-ending water that disappeared into the horizon.
“Ooh, my head,” said Brad.
Trevor put his head in his hands and looked up. “Me too, big brother… me too.”
Trevor and Brad were reeling from the death of Marc Ides. They drank way into the night, drowning their sorrows, and were now paying the price. They had left their motel early and rode out to the lake to watch the sunrise and think.
“Why do we seem to be surrounded by death?” Brad asked.
“I don’t know, I was just starting to feel good about this Vision Quest of yours… of ours… but now—”
“Trev, I don’t think I can continue this… with Cory and Jerry, I wasn’t sure, and they worked out, now with Marc… I just don’t know.”
Bradford looked deeply into his brother’s eyes. They’d been through so much together, the sale of Pizza Land, their family’s death, the Vision Quest’s high hopes, and now Marc’s death. Quietly he said, “I think we should pause this Quest thing for a while.”
The same thought was on Trevor’s mind. He didn’t want to quit but needed time to think. “Let’s return to the motel, pack up, and head home. We can talk to Roosevelt when we get back to Philly.”
They both silently rose, walked over to their bikes, and started down the access road of Presque Isle. Their Harleys were just above idle as they slowly rode back to the motel.
Trevor was deep in thought as he and Brad made their way down the access road to the lake and back to their motel. At the end of the access road, they pulled out onto the highway that led back to their motel. He couldn’t believe they were considering pausing the Vision Quest. As he thought more about it, he changed his mind and decided he would try to talk Brad out of this idea. Given that Brad was the one who mentioned Laura and Jill watching from heaven, what would their thoughts be on abandoning the quest?
Suddenly, there was a car right in front of them. It seemed like slow motion. Trevor slammed on his brakes and laid his bike down, sliding into the ditch. Brad wasn’t so lucky. He hit the front fender and flew over the hood into oncoming traffic. A bright red VW bug slid sideways and hit Brad, glancing off of him and stopping in the middle of the intersection. Other cars screeched to a stop, two of them colliding together.
Trevor was confused as he attempted to stand, only to be met with shooting pain in his leg and a throbbing ache in his chest. His SEAL training kicked in, and he pushed through the pain. Looking around, he saw that a red Cadillac Eldorado was the car that had caused the accident. It sat in the middle of the intersection. He heard sirens in the distance.
His attention turned to Brad, unconscious, lying face up in the street. He didn’t panic. Because of the Navy, he was a trained EMT and faced similar situations. Trevor kneeled beside Brad, checked his pulse, and saw he was still alive and breathing. Brad then opened his eyes and groaned.
“Brad, don’t move. We need to wait for the medics.”
He smiled. “You always were a better motorcycle rider than me.”
“Quiet, you dummy.”
The cops arrived, Trevor stood and limped over to one of them and told him what happened. The other cop kneeled to check out Brad.
“Well, thanks for those details, sir, we’ll take care of things from here. I’m more concerned with you. Are you injured?”
“I’m fine. It’s my brother—”
“My partner will take care of him. Come sit in my car. I don’t want you standing in the street.”
While Trevor sat in the patrol car, the cop spoke on his radio. He turned to Trevor and said, “I called the hospital. A helicopter is on its way.”
Trevor sat there, fidgeting with his hands anxiously. It felt like an eternity, but eventually, the sound of a helicopter could be heard in the distance. It landed nearby in a cloud of dust. Two medics with a rolling gurney appeared. They took out a box that contained medical equipment. One medic started working on Brad, and the other placed an IV in his arm. They carefully put him onto the stretcher, then loaded him into the chopper.
A medic approached Trevor. He knew his injuries weren’t life-threatening but wanted him examined more, “I understand you’re injured too. Get in, and you can ride with us to the hospital.”
“I’m okay, just take care of my brother.”
The medic’s words were clear and assertive, “Please get in, it’s the fastest way for you to get to the hospital and for them to check you out.”
Trevor sighed, realizing he’d been beaten. “Okay, you win.”
He and the medic crouched low as the blades whirred above them and entered the bright red chopper. With a loud click, the doors slid closed, and they lifted off from the accident scene, leaving behind a gust of wind and dust. Trevor’s view through the window was of flashing lights, damaged vehicles, and both Harleys bent and smashed.
The medics sprang into action as soon as the helicopter landed, racing to get Brad on a gurney and through two doors into the Emergency Department. Another doctor approached Trevor, “I need to examine you, sir.”
Trevor was not concerned about himself. “I’m fine, just take care of my brother.”
As the medic smiled warmly at Trevor, he reassured him, “Don’t worry, we’ll take good care of him,” before adding, “But I need to check you over too. Can you walk?”
“Yes… I can.”
The examination room was bright and sterile as the medic examined Trevor. She looked at his leg and his chest and took his vital signs. After about twenty minutes, she put down the stethoscope.
Smiling, she said, “Well, you’re banged up a bit, but there’s nothing serious. You also have a bruised leg and some bruised ribs, but nothing is broken.”
This was good news, but something other than what Trevor was concerned about. “Well, doc, that’s great, but what about my brother?”
“Look, Trevor, he just landed, and as you saw, they rushed him into the hospital.” She paused and took a breath. “The waiting room is just out those doors. Have a seat, and someone will talk to you soon.”
In a daze, Trevor made his way to the seating area. The idea of losing Brad and being alone without him was unbearable.
A doctor approached Trevor and said, “Excuse me, sir, you’re Bradford Strand’s brother, right?”
Trevor stood. “Yes, I am.”
“My name is Doctor Meade,” His voice carried the authority of someone who had said these words many times before. “I’m responsible for the Emergency Department here at Erie General Hospital and will be the primary physician caring for Bradford. He’s still in surgery and —”
“How is he?” Trevor interrupted.
Trevor’s heart sank when he saw Dr. Meade’s grim expression. “He has many internal injuries, a broken leg, and three broken ribs… but the main issue is… well, he’s unconscious. I saw the accident report, he was lucky the car that hit him was a VW Bug, but it still caused serious damage.”
“How long will he be in surgery?” Trevor asked.
“It’s going to be awhile, hours for sure. We’ll come and get you when we're done. Rest assured, we’re doing everything possible for him.”
That was not what Trevor wanted to hear, but he wasn’t surprised, “Well, Thankyou, sir. I appreciate all your help.” He paused. “Doc, I need to call a family member. Is there someplace private I could use?”
The doctor smiled, “Feel free to use my office. It’s three doors down the hall on the right.”
Sitting at the doctor’s desk, he noticed pictures of the doctor’s family. Dr. Meade and his wife sat together with broad smiles; between them was a little girl with curly blond hair, about three years of age. He let out a deep sigh, his eyes welling up with tears as he put his head in his hands. Suddenly, he sat up straight and exclaimed, “Let’s go, marine, do this!”
He picked up the phone and dialed the number, listening to it ring three times before Roosevelt’s voice answered. “Hello?”
Trevor’s mind went blank.
“Hello? … who is there?”
“Roosevelt, it’s me,”
“Oh, Mr. Strand, how are you this fine—”
Trevor interrupted, “Roosevelt, something bad …” He briefly set down the phone… then picked it up again and continued. “Something bad happened.”
“What? What is it? Are you and Bradford, Okay?”
“Well, I am, but… well, Brad isn’t.”
Trevor gave Roosevelt a detailed account of how Brad hit a Cadillac that pulled in front of him, the fact that he was run over by another car, and that Brad was undergoing surgery.
Roosevelt’s voice trembled with worry. “How long will he be in surgery?”
“They don’t know, all we can do is wait.”
Roosevelt’s thoughts turned to Trevor, and he asked with concern, “Trevor, are you really okay?”
“Yes, I was able to lay my bike down. I got a bit banged up, but Brad was not so lucky.”
At that moment, Dr. Meade walked into the room to share an update. “Your brother is out of surgery, Mr. Strand.”
Trevor looked up from the phone. “One moment, I’m speaking with a family member.”
The doctor nodded.
“Roosevelt, I gotta go. Brad is out of surgery.”
Roosevelt wanted to get to Erie as soon as possible. The firm had a Lear Jet that was always available. “Okay, but I am coming out there. I will use the jet and be there in just a few hours.”
“Good, I’ll see you when you get here.”
Trevor hung up the phone.
“Okay, doc, give it to me straight. How is my brother?”
“The surgery was touch and go, he flat-lined twice. We were able to bring him back, but he’s currently in a coma.”
The doctor proceeded to elaborate on Brad’s condition, providing more specifics. Trevor’s experience with injuries in Vietnam made it easier for him to understand so he didn’t need to ask simple questions like others would have to.
“I understand, doctor. Can I see him?”
“He may not know you’re there, but we’ve found it often helps in the recovery having a family member around. I’ll take you to him now.”
Trevor entered the ICU. Brad lay still, the only movement the rise and fall of his chest as air flowed through the tubes in his throat. The sound of his respiratory system hissing and gasping was punctuated by the beeping of the machinery. Brad also had an IV in his arm and appeared to be in a deep sleep, his eyes closed and his face looked chalky.
“Please don’t die. I need you, big brother. I don’t know how I can go on without you.”
Then, Trevor did something he never did before, even in Vietnam; he prayed.
“God, please don’t let Brad die. He told me Laura and Jill were watching over us and approving of this Vision Quest thing we’re doing. I want him around for me to continue what we started. I cannot imagine life without him.”
With a sudden jolt, Bradford’s eyes opened wide. He looked around as a sense of familiarity washed over him. It was his high school gym, and off in the distance through the fog, no… it was more like a mist… he saw himself walking up to… who is that? It was Jill, and she was talking to Laura.
They look so young; he searched his mind. What the hell is going on?
“I remember that day like it was yesterday. You were so nervous.”
He whirled around to the sound of the voice; it was Jill. He glanced from the Jill next to him to the one he could barely see through the mist in the distance. The Jill standing next to him looked exactly as she did at the time of the limo accident, while the other Jill seemed much younger.
“What the hell is happening?”
She gave his hand a gentle squeeze. “Everything will be fine, honey.”
He looked off through the mist, recalling the scene that happened so many years ago. “I wanted to talk to you for weeks. Finally, one day, Laura took me aside and told me to get my shit together and do it.”
“I thought you were interested in her. She was the beauty.”
“Jill, honey… no, never. Laura was always meant for Trevor, not me.”
Jill and Laura had been inseparable since their grade school days. Laura blossomed into a blonde-haired, blue-eyed beauty whose hourglass figure turned the heads of all the boys. Jill was much different. Her red hair, freckles, and slim build caused her to be bullied by the other kids. Laura’s outgoing personality drew her to the cheerleading squad, while Jill’s shyness and passion for math made her appear nerdy to others.
“Well, I’m glad Laura talked to you. I loved you since the third grade.”
This walk down memory lane was all fine and good, but he still didn’t know where he was and had to find out, “Jill, what the hell is going on?”
Still holding his hand, she squeezed it. “What’s the last thing you remember?”
His brow furrowed, and he searched his mind, looking off into the distance.
“That car… he pulled right in front of us… then, something red hit me.”
She looked into his eyes and put her arm around him.
“Am I dead? Is that what this is about?”
“No honey, not exactly, you’re not dead. You’re in a coma at the hospital.”
“Then, where are we?”
She sighed, “It’s hard to explain, this is kind of an interim place. I’m here to greet you since I’m the closest person to you.”
Then it hit him. He looked deep into Jill’s eyes.
“So you’re all here… all of you?”
“Yes, dear, we‘re here... and we’re all fine.”
“Timmy?”
She beamed a warm, affectionate smile that radiated love. Brad felt a glow about him and a sense of hope. “Yes, Timmy is fine, Laura and Faye too, all of us.”
Somehow with these simple words, Brad knew this was so and didn’t need to worry about them, he just felt it deep in his soul, no other explanation was necessary.
“So what now? What happens next?”
“Well, that’s up to you, stay here … or go back.”
Brad’s mood improved, and with an eagerness in his voice, he said, “If I stay here, will I get to be with you and Timmy?”
Jill understood her husband’s desire, but knew he had more to accomplish. “Well, yes, but I think you and Trevor have more to do. The Vision Quest you guys started is really helping people.”
He felt the blood rise into his head, “That’s not true. Look what happened to Marc.”
Jill’s voice was calm and steady, “Yes, Marc was terrible. There are no sure things, but you both planned for a year, right? You’ve only been doing this for a few months. You still have more people to visit. And you told Trevor you think Laura and I are watching you. Well, we are.”
“You heard me say that?”
“Yes, and Timmy is watching too. We’re very proud of you… Trevor, too.”
“I don’t know, it’s so hard down there, and I miss you and Timmy so much. The feeling here is so full of love, down there, it’s hardship and agony.”
“Look, Bradford, this is your decision, no one will blame you if you stay. But… some more people will visit you; please wait till you talk to them before you decide.”
Trevor made a reservation for two rooms at the Hilton, the most luxurious hotel in Erie, boasting picturesque lake views. At the hospital, Roosevelt entered Brad’s room. Trevor was asleep with a copy of Red Storm Rising resting on his chest. He approached Trevor quietly, not wanting to startle him, but knowing he would.
“Trevor… Mr. Strand.”
No response.
He tapped Trevor’s shoulder, causing him to wake abruptly.
“Uhh…” He wiped his eyes, “Roosevelt.”
Roosevelt’s six-foot-plus frame towered over Trevor. As usual, his white crew cut and beard were expertly groomed. His blue eyes, which usually shone with a bright glow, appeared lifeless.
Roosevelt extended his arms, and Trevor clasped them tightly before they embraced.
“What’s the latest on Bradford?”
“Dr. Meade was here about two hours ago. Brad hit his head hard, even though he was wearing a helmet, he’s in bad shape. The pressure in his brain was so intense that a hole had to be drilled in his head to relieve it. Now… we wait.”
With a heavy sigh, Roosevelt’s shoulders slumped. He spotted a chair on the opposite end of the room, and as he pulled it over, it squeaked loudly. He took a seat beside Trevor.
“How are you holding up, son?”
Just then, Dr. Meade entered the room and went straight to Brad’s bedside. He picked up his chart and stood beside him, silently reading it. Next was the beeping screen, with Brad’s vital signs displayed as squiggly lines, a constant reminder of Brad’s fragile state. He then checked the fluid levels in the hanging bottles, which had IVs attached to Brad’s arm.
Trevor said, “How does he look, Doc?”
His expression was passive and noncommittal as he responded, “It’s about the same. We’ll have to wait and see.”
After Trevor introduced Roosevelt, the doctor added. “It’s good for him to have family around. There’s no proven science in this, but I believe having loved ones just talking to a patient helps. Do you have any other family members who can visit Brad?”
“Not really,” Trevor said. “Roosevelt and I are about it.”
A smile lit up Roosevelt’s face, “What about the people you and Brad helped? I bet they would come and visit him.”
Trevor felt the first positive feeling since this entire ordeal began. “Roosevelt, that’s a great idea.”
“Okay then. I am on it. You got us a hotel room, right? I will be over there making some phone calls.”
Dr. Meade touched Trevor’s shoulder. “Look, Mr. Strand, you should go to the hotel too, have a shower and a good dinner. We’ll call you if there are any changes in your brother’s condition.”
“Trevor, the doctor is right. I rented a car, let’s head back to the hotel. We can talk more over dinner.” Roosevelt said.
Thanks for reading the first part of Helping Bradford. To read the second part of this episode click here.
For more information about Vision Quest click here.
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Wow! You have really been working on this Scott! What a sad, unexpected turn of events. These poor men have experienced so much tragedy, I never imagined Bradford would be injured. How would Trevor ever survive the loss of his brother after every other loss? I am hoping for a happy ending here -- maybe he will be cared for by a remarkable nurse! But, of course, that would be a Hallmark story, and life is not like that, is it? With a little trepidation, I look forward to the next. Nice work, Scott.