"My, but this aircraft is so comfortable," Dr. Samarand remarked to Hellboy, as she stood up from her aisle seat, "and I'd like to take a walk."
"Let me -" he began, but she fluttered her fingers.
"You don't need to lead me everywhere, dear," she chuckled. "My white cane and I are old friends."
"Okay, Nina."
.
Watching her make her way down the aisle, Agent Sid London dropped into Nina's seat for a word with Red.
"Skeleton team, us three," he remarked. "I'll keep good watch over your blind doctor. Is she as good as they say?"
"Better."
"Fill me in, Red. What's the worst that could happen?"
"Worst is for her to get sucked into a variable-dimension portal and be lost."
"She's going to be sounding for a portal."
"Right."
"The portal is for you," London posited.
"Uh-huh."
"So what if you get sucked in and lost?"
Hellboy held up his left wrist, bound with his late father's crucifix. "That's what this is for."
.
At Nina's return, London vacated her seat and guided her into it.
"Now," she said brightly, "where will the very charming agent London be taking me first?"
"All the births took place at the Mercy Medical Center, right in the town of Mount Shasta," Hellboy told them. "When you and Sid get inside, you'll mosey around the most likely areas.."
"Oh, I'll feel where to mosey, my dear."
"I'll be waiting for Sid, as close by as possible."
"I do so hope for the best, gentlemen," Nina added.
. . .
With their arrival at the small two-storey hospital, London drove the van slowly around the building's perimeter. He got out to examine every exterior door away from the main entrance, bent on finding one not serviced with an alarm.
"Here's where we leave you, Red, and maybe the van won't get towed." London helped Nina out of the vehicle, and they headed back along the side wall and around the corner to the hospital's main doors.
.
The receptionist looked at the pair with polite curiosity.
"How may I help you?"
"Your administration's been advised to expect us," London said, passing over an open envelope. "We've come to follow up on the investigation of missing children."
"It's about time," she said, scanning the letter. "Your identification, please?"
The two sets of photo ID proffered by Sid London weren't of the BPRD, but bore crests matching that of the official looking letterhead.
.
Having received prior instruction to cooperate, the woman granted entry and walked them to the maternity wing.
"It's so quiet," Nina remarked.
"No one will come here to deliver, after the tragedies of last week," explained the woman. "As you've requested, you're on your own. I hardly understand what you mean to accomplish. Just check out when you're done."
"Yes, thank you."
Alone with Nina, London whispered, "First thing to do, is locate Red's door. We're still on the ground floor, and it's due east." She took his arm and followed for some minutes, until he stopped and reported, "Looking out the window, now, and there's our van. Let's get into the search."
.
As they retraced their steps, Nina felt for energy fields that didn't belong. "This is a pleasant change." She smiled up at him. "Times were that I worked alone, but I was much younger. I feel so safe with you, agent London."
"Then you won't scream if I need to grab a handful of your dress to drag you back from an evil portal."
"No portals are evil, sir. Only those who try to use them for such." The empty wing wasn't extensive, and they entered each room along their way. At her abrupt alarmed clutch on his arm, he brought her closer. "Sid!" she gasped, pointing with her cane, "take me there!"
He escorted her in the direction she'd chosen, and coming to stand before one particular door, he saw her appear satisfied, yet confused.
.
He pushed open the heavy door, thoroughly scanning the room before they entered. "What do you think, Nina? This room has one bed, with stirrups."
"Sid!" she cried softly in distress, "There is more than one opening here!"
He took a conscientious hold of her as she was drawn toward the end of the birthing table, ready for anything. But she could only gasp when her feet were then swept out from under her, and her long skirt strained tight, seized by an unseen force dragging at her.
"Got you!" Sid clenched his jaw, seeing her cane torn from her hand – to be seen no more.
He pulled her back and away, out the door. "Well, that tears it. Are you okay, Doc?"
"I'll catch my breath," she wheezed, "very shortly. Thank you, Sid – for your strength and courage."
.
Nina's success conflicted her. As Sid was anxious to get back to Red, he sped up their progress by carrying the slight lady. She heard the door opened, and then, Hellboy speaking with Sid. This time, Red took the honours of carrying Nina in the rush back to the specific delivery room. "You're worn out, Doc," he said, setting her down outside the room. "You've had too much strain."
But she clung onto him. "I'm so afraid for you!"
"You know – I've done this before," he tried to soothe.
"This is the strongest portal, but there are more!"
"Why the strongest?"
"This one tried to swallow the Doc, from that direction," Sid supplied, pointing to a wall.
He gently disengaged Nina's hands and went inside. Sid thumped his shoulder and tried not to look grim, then returned to her side She clutched his arm, her head up to face the sound of Hellboy's voice.
"See ya later." In two bold strides, he was gone.
.
Sid led her into a turn and walk along the corridor. "I have a feeling," he said, "that we won't get out as quietly as we came in. Can you find us a friendly room? If you want, I'll fix your hair. It's a mess. I had three sisters, you know." Nina appreciated his efforts to make her smile.
"My gallant escort, you may do whatever you see fit, to my hair."
In a room with a mirror, a sink and a handy chair, Sid dampened his comb and smoothed back Nina's hair, and tied it in her favoured low tail.
.
They returned to present themselves at reception.
"Did you find what you wanted?" the attendant asked, noting Nina's reddened eyes.
"Yes, M'am," Sid answered.
"You may wish to explain that to some bereaved parents," she leaned forward to whisper, pointing to a waiting room.
"Are you up to this?" he asked Nina. She nodded, so reluctantly, he guided her to the room of stricken looking men and women.
.
"I'm Nina," she began. "Excuse me for not seeing you. I am blind. Will you first tell me what you believe happened to your children?"
For some moments, no one answered. Impassive faces silently examined Sid and Nina.
"Who are you?"
"A birthing physician, and a seer."
"Have you seen what curses this place?" The voice challenged quietly, and Nina picked up the slight sarcasm within it.
"A man has willingly sacrificed himself today, to remove it."
"So, he's dead?"
"No, he isn't. If only I could be more clear. If you must take what I say only literally, it's my failing. Believe me when I say that we have a great power gone forth on your behalf. It may be the only hope."
Again, a thick silence, then a woman spoke.
"We've gone to our sacred mountain to ask for reasons and answers, every day. And we pray here, to ask why our newborns were taken. Whose god do you follow? Are you spiritual?"
"Spiritual, yes. You need not believe in my gift, but-"
"You say, 'the only hope'. I'll say, thank you for caring."
Nina closed her eyes and nodded. "If you would please give your names to my escort, I promise to contact you with any news."
.
The young parents looked at each other, and back at him, and after some minutes of getting paper and pens collected, gave the notes to Sid. He put them away neatly, in his billfold.
"Nina is very tired," he said. "Thanks to you all, for listening."
With Nina in the front passenger seat, Sid drove away from the hospital lot, toward the city center.
"Did anyone seem to believe me, Sid?"
"It didn't look that way. They're naturally reserved, but you made your point. How about I take you to your hotel, boss?"
"You're such a good bodyguard." Nina smiled sadly. "This day has taken so much out of me. I'm far too worried about Hellboy to sleep, now. Will you take me out for a drink, and talk?"
"Sure thing." He began to look along the buildings for a nice quiet cocktail lounge. "What did you mean by the curse being removed?"
"When one enters such a portal of free will, it closes for all time."
"And the other portals?"
"Extremely weak and unreliable."
"So wherever Red returns, if he does, is a crapshoot?"
"I believe he would call it that," Nina sighed miserably. "What's done is done. I'll never forgive myself."