Meeting Doctor Katherine Blaine

Part X

The door opened revealing a tall, stern, no-nonsense older woman. She looked at Garrison and his men behind him. As she raised an eyebrow she asked, "Yes?"

Garrison had to look at the address again. Katherine had said her housekeeper was expecting them but this woman looked as if she was going to have them thrown out of the building. It was the right address.

"I'm sorry to disturb you ma'am… Doctor Blaine said you'd be expecting us."

She fixed him with a cold stare. "And you are?"

Actor stepped forward. "You must be Mrs. Moore, Katherine has spoken of you. I'm Actor and these are my colleagues. May we come in?"

The formidable guard at the door looked over their heads to the men in back of them and asked, "Which one of you is called Chief?"

Garrison and Actor exchanged glances and then Goniff piped up. "Excuse me Mrs. Moore this is Chief" Pointing to the man he and Casino were holding up. "But he's not feeling so great right now and he really needs to rest so if we could come in?"

Goniff literally plowed through Garrison, Actor, and Mrs. Moore dragging Chief and Casino with him. Before Mrs. Moore could protest they were all inside and had Chief settled on the couch. "Here we are Chiefy all safe and sound. We'll get you cleaned up and a good hot meal in you and you'll be right as rain."

Chief dragged his eyes up to Goniff's face and after a couple of seconds nodded.

Casino asked, "Hey lady, you got any liquor? The guy's had a really bad night and he's freezing."

Firmly, Mrs. Moore said, "The Doctor said he is not to have any alcohol. You are to see that he has a hot shower first. By the time he is finished I'll have breakfast ready. Now, the facilities are through the hallway and on the right. Everything he'll need is all laid out."

Garrison stepped up to Chief and reached for his arm. Chief flinched. "It's OK Chief we're just going to get you cleaned up. Come with me."

Chief nodded and began to rise with Garrison and Casino's help. "Come on Geronimo one foot in front of the other."

Mrs. Moore watched the three men like a hawk until they closed the bathroom door.

Then she ordered, "You two come with me. You can help get everything ready for breakfast."

Actor smiled at Goniff. "Of course. Whatever we can do to help. We understand what an inconvenience this is for you."

A short time later Garrison stepped out of the bathroom and followed the sound of voices into the kitchen. "Mrs. Moore, our colleague is exhausted. Where can he sleep?"

Mrs. Moore said, "Doctor Blaine said he was to use her room. She also said he was to have something to eat and drink before he went to sleep."

Garrison sighed, "He's exhausted. I'm afraid he'll be asleep before he could take a bite."

Mrs. Moore said, "Doctor Blaine's instructions were quite clear. The one called Chief was to eat and have something to drink before sleeping. I'll bring him a tray but you will have to see he eats."

"Thank you Mrs. Moore. We appreciate it." Garrison said with a smile he knew it was pointless to argue.

Actor, Casino and Goniff continued enjoying their meal. "Mrs. Moore, breakfast is great!" Goniff said as he shoveled the food in his mouth as fast as he could. "I thought our Mrs. G. was a good cook but you're fantastic." He was bound and determined to get on Mrs. Moore's good side and he knew one way would be to give praise and show his appreciation for her cooking skills."

Grudgingly Mrs. Moore said. "Thank you. I'll take a tray into the other two. When you finish clean your places and place your dishes in the sink. I'll…"

Actor also wishing to get in Mrs. Moore's good graces said, "We will be happy to clean up and wash the dishes."

Mrs. Moore looked down her nose at them, "That won't be necessary gentlemen. I'll be back in a moment."

Doctor Blaine's bedroom:

A soft knock on the door and the Warden opened it to let Mrs. Moore in. He took the tray from her whispering his thanks and walked over to place the tray on the dresser. He turned back surprised to find the housekeeper looking at Chief.

Mrs. Moore had a sharp eye and took in the room and its' occupants in one sweep. Blackout curtains in place, the large chair pulled close to the bed as if the Lieutenant was watching over the younger man sleeping there. Then she remembered the blonde one saying that the one called Chief didn't feel well and how the Lieutenant and the shorter dark one had helped Chief to the W. C. What kind of name is Chief? Was he an Indian? A savage? Like in the cinema? In the doctor's bed?! What was the woman thinking of.

She looked up embarrassed to find the Lieutenant staring at her and asked, "Is he ill?"

The Warden looked down at Chief. His concern for the young man written on his face. "He's exhausted. He didn't want to stop until…He'll be alright after he's gotten some sleep."

Mrs. Moore, touched by the concern of the officer for one of his men said, "Lieutenant, I'll be going out for a bit to run some errands. Is there anything I can pick up for you?"

The Warden surprised at the break in the woman's icy exterior remembered the doctor saying she had a heart of gold. "I thank you but I think we have everything we need right now."

As she turned and reached for the door knob the Warden said, "Mrs. Moore, the other members of my team … well if they give you a hard time just remind them I'm in the next room. They're good men but they're tired and it was a difficult night."

Mrs. Moore nodded and left.

A few hours later in Doctor Blaine's bedroom:

Garrison came awake with a start. It took time for his eyes to adjust to the darkness and for him to remember where he was. Slowly he looked around the room searching for what had disturbed him and found Chief standing in the doorway of the bathroom staring down at him. "Chief?" he asked but there was no response. "Chief, are you alright?"

Suddenly, Chief moved in front of him and dropped to his knees with his head bowed. Surprised, Garrison waited. "Permission to speak, Handler?" Even whispered, the Warden could hear the slurring of the words. Chief was sleepwalking. Never wake up a sleepwalker.

"Granted."

"I don't… I don' 'member what to do." Chief said.

"Guardian, go back to sleep," the Warden said quietly but firmly.

Chief nodded and promptly laid down on the floor. The Warden sighed walked into that one didn't I. "Guardian, up!" he ordered and Chief stood up and stayed perfectly still lost in his dream. "Guardian, get into the bed and go to sleep."

Chief quietly padded over to the bed but didn't get in. He just stood there staring at it. "Handler…please not…"

What was the problem? The Warden tried to figure out where Chief was in his dream that he wouldn't get into bed. Son of a …he thought. A bed, a single bed and his handler in the room with him. Guardians slept on the floor by their handler's bed unless the handler was a pervert and wanted to…the Warden's stomach rolled as he vividly remembered standing outside the bedroom that they had let Professor A use a few months ago when he had come to evaluate the Warden's ability to handle the Guardian. What he had heard that night had sickened him. Sleepwalking or not Chief had to wake up from this nightmare.

He pulled the curtains open a little and "Chief let's go. It's time to wake up! Come on Chief wake up!"

Chief shook his head and brought his hand up to his eyes. "What…? Warden? Where…?"

Garrison said gently, "It's OK Chief. We're at Doctor Blaine's." He could see Chief trying to clear his mind and make sense of what he was seeing and hearing." He added, "She said we could rest here before we headed back to the estate. She wants you to sleep so why don't you get back into bed? Are you hungry? We have some sandwiches?"

Chief climbed back into to bed and looked at the Warden. "I…Dr. Blaine's…? Then he had it. "We're at Katherine's place? She's alright?"

Garrison smiled. "That's right Chief. You were pretty out of it when we got here. You've been asleep for a few hours now."

Chief nodded and asked, "Warden, the people? We got everyone?"

Garrison looked at the young man in his care and said with pride, "You found them all, Chief. You did a great job!"

Chief eyes lit up at the sound of his Hearth's words and remembering his promise to Actor about compliments said, "Thank you, Warden."

Garrison started to walk back toward the divan he had been sleeping on when he heard Chief get out of bed. He turned back and Chief with a sheepish look on his face was holding the tray of sandwiches out to him. Smiling Garrison said, "Thanks. Leave off the cucumber ones until later they aren't that filling. Try the spam. She grilled them and they aren't bad."

The sun was setting when Actor, Goniff, and Casino were awakened by the sound of a key in the lock. They sat up quickly and started straightening themselves up realizing that Doctor Blaine was going to be coming through the door. Actor stood first and went to greet her quickly followed by his teammates.

"Well it always does a girl good to be greeted so warmly by such handsome men," She laughed.

Actor suddenly aware of competition behind him, graciously made the introductions. Casino smoothly helped her off with her coat and Goniff ran to pour her a glass of wine and Actor escorted her to a chair.

Actor said, "We thought you would be back hours ago. I was becoming concerned."

Katherine said, "Oh? I'm sorry, I helped out for a few hours and then stayed at a friends' place. I didn't call because you all needed to sleep."

Goniff said, "That was very thoughtful of you, Doctor."

The men were all caught up in Katherine's smile and deep green eyes.

She sure cleans up pretty remembering the dirty ragged woman who was pulled out of the wreckage of the hospital. I wonder how old she is? She looks so young, too young for Actor. Goniff thought to himself. The only doctors I've ever known were old men, except for second Cousin Roland. He was about her age and he was a shrink too.

Casino was also taking in the full package. Look at those green eyes. They're like a cat's. A guy could get lost in them and that hair… is that what they call chestnut colored. It looks so silky. What a woman. Actor sure knows how to pick them.

They chatted amicably until Mrs. Moore called for assistance in the kitchen. "I see she's been making you earn your keep," Katherine said.

Goniff quickly said, "We don't mind. She's a great cook and we know we're making extra work for her. It's really nice that you let us stay here. She's been taking real good care of us."

Katherine, still smiling at them as if they were old friends, said, "No more than you all deserve. You may not get any real recognition, being scientists working on hush-hush equipment, for what you did last night but you are all heroes and you should be treated as such. Besides us Yanks have got to stick together."

Casino said, "We didn't do anything Doc. It was all Chief. All we did was stand around and look official. Just another con."

Katherine nodded. "But if you hadn't been there looking official Chief would not have been able to work that miracle he pulled off last night. You all deserve the credit. That's what being part of a team is all about. Right?"

Casino, not convinced, said, "Yeah, Doc, but the Kid get the lion's share of the credit."

Goniff, heading for the kitchen, called to the others, "Duty calls!"

Actor and Katherine had moved to the study after the others went to help and were sitting alone when Actor asked, "Katherine, would you be able to check to see if the Guardian's Flame/Rage syndrome is a documented medical condition or another G-CAT myth?" Actor asked.

Katherine said, "Shouldn't be a problem. There are usually several chapters devoted to Guardians in Abnormal Psychiatric and Psychology textbooks. If I remember correctly it's the primary justification for giving them the Compliance drug." She looked at him with a frown and asked, "Is this something I should be concerned about?"

Actor shook his head, "Not at all. As we told you he has been off the drug for several months now and not once, even in the worst situations, has he ever lost control or as it is called Flamed. Yet, Lieutenant Garrison, was told that during his second escape from G-CAT Chief had Flamed and beaten his handler to death."

Katherine looked puzzled. "He was much younger then but with the drug, even in smaller dosages, he should never have been able to get into such a rage that he could lose control and kill someone."

Actor nodded, "One would think."

Katherine asked, "What brought this on?"

Actor said, "I've been trying to understand how being a Ward of the State has become synonymous with Property of G-CAT. I have been reviewing the 13th and 14th Amendments of the United States Constitution and there are no exceptions to those Amendments. I am at a loss as to how a small group of men have been enslaved in the United States and no one thinks there is anything wrong with it. It hasn't been that long since the Civil War was fought."

Katherine looked thoughtful and asked, "Doesn't the 13th Amendment say something about involuntary servitude as punishment for a crime?"

Actor said, "Yes, it says, Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject or their jurisdiction."

Katherine said, "You said Chief was convicted of attempted murder when he was sixteen."

Actor nodded, "Yes and he was sentenced to two years in prison but a few months after he was incarcerated he was identified as a Guardian and transferred to a G-CAT Institute. Katherine, even while I was in prison I was treated as a human being most of the time. I had rights and once I served my time the chains would have been removed and I would have been released. Guardians are never released; The collar is never removed. When they can no longer function they are put out to stud. It seems they are attempting to breed Guardians like dogs unless they are rogues then they are experimented on/terminated. As bad as prison is what is done to Guardians at these institutes is much worse."

Katherine bowed her head. "I don't know what to tell you. I've lived with knowing that it was wrong but never being able to find a way to stop it for a long time. If there was a specific law there would be a way to fight it but it sounds like Guardians have slipped through the cracks."

Actor nodded, "It does seem that way. The only part of the law that might be of use is in the last part of the 14th Amendment: No state shall … deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. There is no law that allows G-CAT to do what they do and yet Guardians not only don't have equal protection they have no protection."

Katherine looked at him and sighed. "G-CAT has always been a very powerful organization politically and you know naturalized citizens usually know more about their chosen country's government and laws than those that are born and bred."

Actor replied, "True, more than likely that is what G-CAT is counting on."

Katherine said, "Ignorance, propaganda, misinformation, and playing on people's fears are all tools used in controlling the way people think and respond to the way things work in their country. G-CAT has been able to make people believe that Guardians are not human; they are useful but dangerous animals. I sometimes wonder if Hitler didn't once work for G-CAT."

Actor said, "He at least read their training manual."

Katherine knew the subject was too painful for the both of them and not something they should be discussing now. Wanting to change the subject she said, "Oh, I received a letter from my grandparents yesterday. They're still positive that you are working with the resistance and you just won't tell us. What have you been telling them. They are worried sick about you?"

Actor smiling, "I told them…"

Suddenly the door to the study opened and in trooped Goniff and Casino.

Goniff ,with a big grin, said, "So, you two really have known each other for awhile."

Casino, with a sly grin, said, "Meet the grandparents no less. That's serious."

Goniff continued, "Bet you know all the good stuff about our Actor here."

Casino said, "Hey, Doc, just how did you meet, Casanova?"

Goniff said, "Tell us everything. Don't leave anything out."

Actor shrugged, "Sometimes I think their hearing is better than Chief's."

Katherine laughed, "They won't let it go, will they?"

Actor shook his head, "I am afraid not but you don't have to tell them anything except your name, rank, and serial number."

Katherine smiled and said, "It's alright. OK gentlemen, to make a long story short you have to know that not all German citizens fell under the spell of Hitler. There were many that spoke out against him from the beginning hoping to help their countrymen realized what a monster he was. My grandfather was one of the strongest voices against Herr Hitler even after the man became Chancellor."

Casino whistled, "That was not smart."

Goniff added, "I heard he had everyone that spoke out against him arrested."

Katherine sighed, "Yes, even though my grandfather was a respected scientist and university professor a few months after Hitler became Chancellor he was arrested, tried and convicted of treason against the state. Of course the trial was a sham but my grandfather was sent to a labor camp and my grandmother was treated as a pariah."

Goniff said, "I'm sorry."

Casino said, "That must have been tough on you?"

Katherine, responded, "More than you could know."

Casino chimed in. "Hold it! You said you got a letter from them yesterday."

Katherine said, "And there in lies the tale. You see I was studying at the University in Zürich when a famous cardiovascular surgeon agreed to be a guest lecturer for a month. Some friends and I signed up for every lecture we could. Doctor Donova was brilliant. He almost convinced me to change my area of specialization." Katherine smiled at Actor brightly.

Actor said, "You would have been brilliant in any area."

Goniff asked, "Wait a minute! You were this Doctor Donova?"

Casino in awe said, "What a con!"

Katherine laughed out loud, "What makes you think it was a con?"

Goniff bewildered, "What?"

Actor suggested, "Katherine do not toy with them. They are still not recovered."

Katherine nodded and continued never taking her eyes off Actor, "Very well. It was during a lecture that I received a wire telling me that my grandfather had been convicted and sentenced to a labor camp. I left the lecture hall rather dramatically I'm afraid. I ended up in the stairwell crying my eyes out when Doctor Donova found me and helped me pull myself together. I remember we walked a long time and then stopped for coffee. He finally got me to tell him what had upset me. He was so kind and reassuring I felt that I could trust him when he told me he had friends in Berlin and he would see what he could find out about my grandparents."

"Of course the lectures came to an end and Doctor Donova had to leave but he promised to let me know if he found out anything about my grandparents. I thought he was just being kind, but a few weeks later a woman came to me and asked me if I wanted to help get my grandparents out of Germany. I knew it would be extremely dangerous but what could I say."

"When I arrived in Berlin I learned that it was Doctor Donova that had organized my grandparents' escape. I don't know how we made it out, but a week later I was waving goodbye to my grandparents as they flew off to the U.S." Still staring at Actor she said, "I am forever in your debt my dear friend."

She stood up and said, "Now if you'll excuse me I will check on my other patients."

The Lieutenant opened the door at her knock and signaled her to be quiet. As she followed him to the divan she looked at her patient lying curled in a tight ball on her bed.

Her voice barely above a whisper she asked, "Have you gotten any sleep?" Even with the light from the small lamp by the bed she could see the dark circles under the Lieutenant's eyes.

Garrison smiled. "Yes, the divan is surprisingly comfortable. How about you?"

"I'm fine. I stayed for a few hours and sacked out at a friend's house. I didn't want to disturb you," She answered him.

Garrison nodded. "I can't thank you enough for letting us stay." Then he looked to Chief. "He was so exhausted after everything I'm certain the trip back would have made him sick."

"How is he?" She asked.

"We got him cleaned up but I doubt he'll remember. He was so passive if I hadn't known what was wrong with him I would have thought he had taken the compliance drug." He shook his head and went on. "I managed to get some tea and half a sandwich in him before he fell asleep." Then Garrison smiled and added, "I hope you don't mind but he hates tea and the only reason I was able to get him to drink any was because I told him you said to drink it."

Katherine grinned and nodded, "Whatever it takes to get my patients to follow my orders is fine with me."

Garrison became a little distracted by the woman's bright smile and dancing green eyes that he had to give himself a little shake. He looked back at Chief and became serious as he decided to tell the doctor about Chief's sleepwalking. "He was fine for a few hours but then I woke up and found him standing at the bathroom door. It took a moment but I realized he was sleepwalking."

Katherine nodded, "It's not surprising. With the scanning, catting, and stress his mind has had a lot to deal with."

Garrison went on to explain how Chief had behaved as if Garrison was a handler and he was back at G-CAT. Then he asked, "Did Actor tell you what was done to him by his handlers and trainers?"

Katherine looked him in the eye and said bluntly. "That the perverts raped him. Yes, he told me. You think during his sleepwalking episode he thought that's what you wanted to do to him?"

Garrison looked down at his shoes. The idea that Chief, even dreaming, thought he would do something like that made him sick and angry. "He didn't say it, he wasn't that coherent, but he wouldn't get back into bed and he said…please in a way that…I knew what was going through his head."

Katherine studied the man sitting next to her. "You really hate to be thought of as a G-CAT handler. Can't even stand to be associated with them in any way, can you?"

"The few that I've met made my flesh crawl. Being perverts is about the nicest thing you can say about them," Garrison said with disgust.

"I wholeheartedly concur. Look, we still have a lot to discuss but right now you are going to go eat some of Mrs. Moore's world-famous Shepard's pie. No, not a word. I'll stay with him. I've already had dinner. Go on and remind your team that they are to be on their best behavior," she smiled.

Garrison walked quietly, to the door and turned back to Katherine who was walking over to Chief. She put up her hand and she whispered, "Go! I'll see to my patient."

Garrison nodded and whispered, "Yes, ma'am."

Once Garrison was out of the room Katherine sat in the chair that had been placed by the bed. "How much did you hear?"

Chief's eyes flew open afraid that she would be angry at him for listening in on their conversation. Then he saw her smile, "You had every right to be listening, we were talking about you. Next time know that I expect you to join in."

Bowing his head he replied exactly as Garrison had, "Yes, ma'am."

Stifling a laugh she told him. "I also expect you to call me Katherine. You and I are going to be working together not Lieutenant Garrison or the other members of your team." She got up and went to her closet and pulled out a medical bag. "And there is no time like the present…" And she pulled out a stethoscope.

Chief was completely lost by what she had said. Working together? Doing what? Wasn't she going to help him stop the nightmares? Why did she need her medical bag to help him stop the nightmares? Well, it was Katherine and she was a doctor…she wanted him to call her Katherine, like Actor did and they were friends…but she didn't want the others to call her Katherine. Not even the Warden. He could stop the smile that rose up from inside him. He trusted Katherine. He didn't know why. He just did. It was more than that she had cried for a dead Guardian or even that knowing what he was, she still wanted to help him. There was something about her that made him feel safe. He had never felt that way with Christina. The only person that had made him feel that way was Gouyen. What ever she asked of him he would do, even drink tea.

After dinner Actor, Goniff and Casino had talked about going out on the town but somehow they just couldn't gather the energy to make the effort. Chief, managed to climb out of bed, one thing led to another and a game of poker was started. Garrison was stunned that his men were going to sit down to a game of poker with a woman and yet when he thought about it, it seemed right. She seemed right. Mrs. Moore even prepared some tasty snacks for the interlopers. At first the men were trying to go easy on the lady doctor but it didn't take long for them to figure out that she knew what she was doing and she was good. It was close but Casino managed to be the winner of the night. Actor suspected that Katherine had thrown a couple of hands to protect Casino's ego.

Early the next morning the five men said good-bye and climbed into their car. Plans for getting Chief to meet with the doctor had been ironed out, Mrs. Moore's lunches were safely out of Goniff's reach and Chief was in the driver's seat.

As they pulled away Katherine looked at her housekeeper and said, "Mrs. Moore, we have a lot to talk about."

Mrs. Moore, replied sternly, "I believe we do Doctor. I managed to save some biscuits and tea but we're out of milk."