Pneumonia

Chapter 4

As it turned out, Craig had to carry his blanket wrapped sister down the stairs from her flat. The stairway was too narrow for both big men to descend side-by-side with the girl between them. She was carefully placed in the back seat of the Packard, leaning against her brother. Actor did the driving.

Garrison had placed a call to the Mansion and instructed his men to get Terry's room ready. He had firmly squelched the loud attempts by Casino to find out what was going on. Not for the first time, Craig wished he could give even a simple request like this without getting some kind of flak from the safecracker.

As Actor pulled the car to a stop next to the Mansion steps and shut off the engine, the three cons spilled from the doorway and stood on the landing. Actor stepped around the front of the car and joined Garrison at the passenger door to help Teresa out of the car. The girl propped herself against the car and engaged in a fit of harsh coughing that left her weaker than the ride had.

"Need help Warden?" Chief called down.

"No," replied Craig. "We have her."

Terry straightened and slipped an arm around the neck of both men. They lifted her in a chair hold and made their way up the steps. The men preceded them into the house.

"You look like shit," said Casino to the girl. "Again."

Terry eyed him. "Sorry, I forgot to put lipstick on this morning," she wheezed.

She was set on her feet at the bottom of the stairs, her arms staying around the necks of her brother and the Italian.

"I will take her up," said Actor quietly to Garrison.

Craig nodded and ducked out from under Terry's arm as Actor bent to slip his free arm under her legs and heft her up. For once, she did not object; at least not too strenuously.

"What's with you carrying me all the time?" she asked in a weak voice in his ear.

Actor smiled. "Simply that it is far easier to carry you than pick up your broken body at the bottom of the stairs."

"Culo," she said barely above a whisper.

"Asino," he replied in her ear. "Why can you not get it right?" He frowned, "which reminds me, it is time for you shot."

"You just like my . . . culo," she accused him.

"Almost as much as you like mine," he murmured to her.

"Noticed that, huh?"

"Difficult not to," he stifled a grin of amusement.

As he mounted the stairs he realized just how much weight she had lost through fever and lack of food. She had never been heavy, but now they would have to work to build her up to a healthy level again.

The four men watched from the bottom of the stairs.

"What happened, Warden?" asked Chief before Casino could open his mouth.

Garrison shook his head. "Says she jumped into a river in Belgium to keep from being killed. Her partner was killed."

"So 'ow come the army didn't take care o' 'er?" asked Goniff.

"Apparently she wasn't working for the army."

"Then who was she workin' for this time around?" Casino wanted to know.

"She won't say," said Garrison in a tone that said he was done with this conversation. "There's a bag of medicine and things still in the car," he added, turning to Casino. "Why don't you go get it, and then you and Goniff go back to Terry's flat and get the jeep."

Goniff piped up before Casino could make any other remarks that Terry didn't want her brother to know about. "Sure, Warden," he said cheerfully. "Anything you want us to bring back from Brandonshire?"

"Not that I can think of. Thank you, Goniff."

"Sure Warden."

Actor set Teresa on her feet beside the bed. The covers had been pulled down and the pillows fluffed up to make an inviting nest. One thing was missing.

"You gave up satin sheets," remarked Actor archly as the girl sat down and swung her feet up.

"Practicality over comfort," she replied. "The bathroom's closer here."

The weakening of her voice was not lost on the con man, but he made no mention of it. Instead, he tucked the covers around her. The dark circled slightly sunken eyes followed his face as he moved.

"Get some rest, caro," she said.

"I have and I will," he replied with clinical detachment. "After your medicine."

Goniff trotted into the room with the bag of medicine and the aide kit. He studied the woman in the bed and could not recall her looking any worse, even when she had almost been raped. Sunken green eyes looked back at him.

"You don't have to tell me I look like . . ."

"I weren't, Love," the pickpocket interrupted her.

He fidgeted a bit. Actor had taken the bag and was drawing up the medicine in the syringe. The con man seemed grumpy, besides looking like shite himself.

"You need anything?" Goniff asked the girl. "A cuppa, a sandwich? I could make up somethin' for you."

Terry smiled. "Thanks, Love, but right now I just want him to finish so I can go back to sleep. Seem to be doing a lot of that lately."

Goniff nodded. "Well, you need your rest. We gotta get you better."

Actor looked at the blond man in annoyance. He held up the syringe, needle pointed upward. "Goniff, she might like a little privacy."

"Oh, uh, sure enuf there, Terry," Goniff stuttered. "I'll come see you later."

"Okay, Goniff," said Terry with an affectionate smile.

Actor waited for the slight man to leave the room. With a shake of his head, he turned back to the girl who rolled on her side facing away from him.

Terry waited for him to get done administering the injection before she said wryly, "Masochist."

"Merely one of the less pleasant tasks of being a personal physician," he replied.

He again settled her in the bed before picking up the syringe to go downstairs to sterilize it.

"Actor?" Terry said seriously.

He paused and smiled down at her. "What cara?"

"I really do appreciate everything you have been doing for me."

He gave a tired crooked grin. "I know."

Actor descended the stairs and started toward the kitchen. He did not see Garrison look at Chief and jerk his head to follow the con man. Reluctantly, Chief followed Garrison. The set of the man's shoulders was stiff with anger. Chief had figured by now the Warden and Actor would have had it out about Terry's activities. Obviously not out enough. It was a good thing Casino and Goniff had just left to get the jeep. The safecracker would have been certain to stir things into an argument.

Actor went about getting a pan of water, rinsing the pieces of syringe, and placing them in the pan. He moved around the kitchen table and used the gas hob to start the water heating. Garrison had taken a seat at the head of the table. Chief sat to his right. Actor turned and stood beside the stove watching, but not offering anything.

"Okay," said Garrison. "Apparently all of you are in on whatever my sister has been doing. Was anyone going to tell me about it?"

Actor took out a cigarette and lit it before answering. "Teresa is an adult. She requested we keep what little we know from you. We were simply respecting her wishes. If she wanted you to know, it was her place to tell you not ours."

"And if she died?" asked Garrison, pinning Actor with a hard look.

"She could die with us too," said Chief. "And you aren't gonna stop her from doing what she wants."

Garrison looked back and forth between the two men. "So why is she doing this? And who is she with?"

Actor thought it prudent not to reveal what he had seen in the basement of the Blue Fox. Something besides that did bother him. He took a puff on his cigarette.

"Possibly we pushed her into this," he suggested.

"How?" asked Chief, before Garrison could answer.

"I know I have told her many times she should stay here and take care of the house, and us, and not go on missions with us." He looked at Garrison. "You are just as guilty as I am in that respect."

Garrison chewed on a cheek and nodded. "And Terry is one, if you tell her she can't do something, she'll do it." He frowned. "You said you think she's working for SOE and other groups?"

Actor nodded. "She is not confining herself to France. This time it was Belgium. She has been there before. France, Italy, and who knows where else."

"What about this other group she goes in with?" asked Chief. "This Lt. Johnson. Don't think that's too safe either."

"No," agreed Craig. "I've been in with him and his group. They don't have the 'expertise' you guys have."

"And, most likely, they do not have the – interest – in her well-being that we have," said Actor.

"That's true," Garrison admitted. "Their con man is an idiot."

Chief grinned and even Actor smiled.

"So why can't you stop them from sending her in with them?" asked the expert confidence man. "I asked her and she said no."

Garrison pondered how much he wished to tell Actor. The man would figure it out soon enough anyway. "Because if she refuses to work with that group, they will break up this group."

The two men stared at him.

Actor's anger was rising, but kept in check. "Meaning, they would put me with Johnson's group. Teresa is protecting me?"

"Not exactly," hedged Garrison carefully. "You guys have become a great team together." That was something he tried not to admit too much because he didn't want them complacent and it wasn't the army way. "We don't want them to break us up."

"And you knew this?" asked Actor in disbelief. "You put your sister in danger to keep the team together?"

Chief was watching to see the officer's answer.

Garrison swallowed back the immediate urge to snap back at the con man for that. But Actor was right. "Yes," he sighed. "It was a joint decision by Terry and me."

The Italian frowned and calmed himself. "I don't understand you. You would allow Teresa to continue when you know going in with Lt. Johnson is dangerous for her?"

Garrison looked at the older man. He realized all of his men were close to Terry, but none as close as Actor, just by virtue of their roles together. "And you've been able to stop her?"

Chief watched a communicating look pass between the two men.

"No." Actor chewed on a cheek. "If anything, I am probably more responsible than you for her participation with that and the other groups. I have pushed her to quit. It may be I have only succeeded in pushing her to do more."

"If she didn't get some kinda satisfaction outta doin' it," said Chief, "she woulda quit a long time ago."

Both men looked at the Indian in surprise at that profound statement. And both knew he was right.

"You ain't gonna stop her, Warden."

Garrison knew if he did try to have her removed from England, she would disappear onto the Continent and no one would find her. That knowledge was shared by the other two men. The sound of boiling water broke their reverie. Actor turned and lowered the flame under the pot. It would have to boil for at least twenty minutes.

Craig had another concern. "How did she end up at the Fox and not here?"

Chief remained silent. He didn't know for sure and wondered if Actor did. In any case, the con man would be the best person to answer that.

"I don't know, Warden," replied the Italian. "She has not told me. I imagine at some point she was aware enough to tell whoever was transporting her to take her to the Fox. She was probably afraid of the reaction to her condition if she came straight here. And depending on who was transporting her, she would not bring strangers to an off limits base."

That made sense to Garrison. The con man deftly changed the subject.

"Someone needs to sit with Teresa," said Actor.

"I'll do it," offered Chief. "You two been doin' it for awhile. Yuh probably need a break."

Garrison nodded.

"If her breathing worsens, prop her up against the headboard," instructed Actor. "If that doesn't help, get me."

GGG

Chief looked at the woman in the bed. She didn't look too healthy to him. Her color was pale and her face thin. Actor had told him to watch her breathing. It was labored, but not too bad. He had seen the Warden worse. Chief was used to sitting with the Warden, but not so much with Terry, though he had done it in the past.

He hated sitting still, but he was afraid if he moved around too much, he'd wake her up. Still, he very slowly stood and moved silently to the window. Carefully, he eased a hip up on the ledge. From there he could look outside, but still see Terry without having to get up.

The grass was green and the trees were leafing out. A strong breeze made the leaves dance. The sky through the branches was turning a nasty shade of dark gray though blue could be seen if he looked up. A front was coming in again. So much for the summer-like weather. Back to the cold and wet. Chief sat and watched the gray clouds move in to cover the sky. An hour later, the first rain drops splashed against the glass. The sprinkle turned to downpour with a loud clap of thunder.

The woman on the bed startled awake. She glanced around, relaxing when she saw she was in her bedroom. It was Chief in the room with her. The young man got up and approached the bed.

"You need anything?" he asked.

"Water?" broached Terry.

Chief came around the bed and helped her to sit up, giving her a glass of water that was on the night table beside her.

"You get first watch?" smiled Terry wearily.

"Somethin' like that," replied Chief.

"I'm fine, you don't have to sit with me. But I appreciate that you have."

The way she looked with lank hair, dark-circled eyes and pale skin, made him question that statement from her.

"Wasn't doin' nuthin' anyway," said Chief.

Another clap of thunder rattled the windows and the wind whistled. Terry glanced back toward the window, though she couldn't see out it from the bed. Just the sound gave her chills for some reason and she shivered. Normally she liked a good thunder storm.

"Want a fire?" asked Chief.

Terry nodded. She watched the Indian hunker down in front of the fireplace and start to build a fire with the wood in the box beside it.

"Bad weather," said Terry in a weak voice. "You guys got a mission?"

Chief chuckled. It seemed like they always got missions in the worst weather. "Naw. At least they haven't called the Warden yet."

"Yet," smiled Terry.

Chief was still sitting on his heels watching the flames get higher when the sound of heavy footsteps coming up the stairs at a rapid rate reached them. A second later Actor was at the door.

The big Italian stopped short and looked into the amused eyes of the younger man.

"I thought it was getting colder and she would need a fire," Actor said. "I see you thought that also."

"I can take care of her too yuh know, Actor," said Chief.

"I never thought otherwise," Actor smoothly asserted.

Terry tried to stifle a laugh and it set her coughing. Both men looked at her worriedly. She waved a hand that she was all right.

"And it is time for her injection," continued the con man.

Now Terry glared at him. "Ti piace solo attaccare gli aghi nel mio culo," she said accusingly.

"So you keep telling me," he brushed it off.

Chief was grinning at the two. "She callin' you an ass again?" he asked the Italian, recognizing the last word.

"No," smiled Actor insincerely, "and she got it right this time."

Terry managed to choke down a laugh at the unexpected admission that he liked sticking needles in her backside and knowing the statement was not about her vocabulary.

GGGGG

Downstairs, in the lower common room, Casino got up from his solitaire game and strolled over to lean a shoulder against the jamb in the open doorway of the Warden's office. He stood watching the officer until Garrison finally looked up.

"Yes, Casino?" he asked.

"Yer slippin'," smirked the safecracker. "You could'a waited until this afternoon to send us to get the jeep. Then one of us would'a been soakin' wet."

Craig gave a small smile. "I'm sorry, Casino. My mind was on other things. But I will remember that the next time. God forbid there is a next time."

"Oh, there'll be a next time, Warden," said Casino with certainty. "She's stubborn. Must run in your family." The glare on Garrison's face made him decide to leave, but he couldn't resist one more barb. "Now when she starts blowin' up bridges and big guns, then we'll really know she's your sister."

Garrison's eyes narrowed. "If I find out you've been teaching her how to use explosives, you'll find yourself tied to one of those bridges or big guns."

"Not me, Lieutenant," Casino shot back. "I remember the last time she was around explosives. I ain't lettin' her anywhere near 'em."

"You better not." Garrison's face relaxed. "Besides, you wouldn't be safe with her and a bomb."

"That's for sure."

Garrison wasn't sure he wanted this conversation to continue, so he put on his army face and asked, "Isn't it your turn to cook?"

"Yeah." Casino made a sour face. "Warden you know I hate to cook."

"You like to eat?" asked Craig, stifling a grin.

"Yeah." Casino eyed he warily.

Garrison now gave an insincere smile. "Then I suggest you get cooking. The rest of us want to eat too."

The safecracker gave a snort and headed slowly toward the kitchen.

GGG

Garrison brought a plate of food up to his sister a couple hours later. He set the tray on her lap and took the towel off the plate, watching with amusement as the girl studied the offering.

"What is it?" she asked cautiously.

"K-rations."

"Hey, it's my kitchen," objected the girl. "Where have these been hiding?"

"Army sent a box the other day."

Craig grinned as Terry picked up a fork and tentatively moved some of the food around.

"I thought K-rations had a Hershey chocolate with them?" she asked hopefully.

"Goniff," was the reply. Nothing more needed to be said.

Watching his sister take a cautious nibble of the canned food was amusing. Her nose wrinkled and she swallowed hard.

"Whose doing the cooking?" she asked.

"Casino today," replied Garrison, hitching a hip on the end of her bed.

"He must not know anything about adding spices," remarked the girl.

Craig couldn't resist adding, "It's Goniff's turn again tomorrow."

"Uh, don't the other two take a turn?"

"It was unanimous among them they don't want to eat Chief's weeds. And Actor's response was 'we had cooks when I was growing up'."

"Figures."

Craig stayed sitting on the bed, watching his sister pick at the food. He had seen displaced people on the roads in France who looked better than she did.

"You probably came close to dying," he said quietly.

Closer than you think thought Terry. "No," she denied. "I just caught a little cold is all." She turned her eyes up to see the flash in the blue-green hazel one. "Okay, a big cold."

"I'd tell you to stop, but if I didn't already know you won't, I've been informed of it," said Garrison.

Terry stirred the food around on her plate. "Don't be mad at them, Craig. They've been trying to help me."

"It still makes me mad they didn't tell me."

Terry shrugged a shoulder. "Would you want to get in the middle between you and I?" she asked, looking down at her plate.

"Probably not," admitted her brother.

"Are you going to stop some of the things you're doing? And don't tell me you're just following orders. You had to agree to these assignments in the first place."

"I'm Army," objected Craig.

"Yes, you're Army, Monty's Air Force, and I'm not even sure what I am." She set the fork down. "The bottom line is we are fighting this war the only way we can. All of us."

"Women shouldn't be doing this," said Garrison, stubbornly.

"Women shouldn't be sent to death camps. Women shouldn't be forced to see their children killed in front of their eyes. Guess what? Women are doing what they feel they have to do, whether it's fight with the resistance over here, or work in factories building airplanes and boats and munitions in the States. Personally, I don't like factory work."

Craig gave her a wry look and shook his head. There was a tiny grin teasing the girl's mouth. She knew she had him and she knew he knew she had him.

A loud crack of thunder rattled the windows and the steady downpour increased in intensity. Lightening lit the room in a bright white flash.

"Looks like another round," said Terry.

"At least as bad as this is, they can't send us over to the Continent. Even the subs aren't going out."

"Good. You guys need some down time."

Garrison wasn't sure he agreed with that. The same storm that prevented them from being sent on a mission also prevented the men for going to The Doves to let off steam. The fights would be breaking out soon.