Chapter 12

Michaela leaned back hard against the elevated head of the hospital bed, and let out a growl of frustration. "When are they going to let me out of here? It's been three days!"

"They just want to make sure there's no lasting damage from the poison," Casey assured her. He hadn't left her side since she'd been admitted.

Casey was currently pacing the room like a caged tiger. He forced himself to stop, knowing it was feeding Michaela's need for action.

"Doctor Metzler said that if all continued to be well today, he'd let you go home this evening," Casey reminded her. His reminder served to reassure himself too.

"The sooner the better! Drakon's trail is going cold!"

Casey snorted, "You really think I've been idle the last three days? I've been running facial recognition for every major airport worldwide! I'm tracking all of his bank accounts! I'll find him soon."

A sheepish grin crossed Michaela's face," I'm sorry! I know you're tracking him down. I just feel so helpless right now. I want to be out there, bringing that son-of-a-bitch to justice!"

"Such a dirty word to come out of such a pretty mouth." Casey had moved closer to the bed, and he was idly tracing a finger across the plastic of the bed rail.

Michaela's face turned nearly crimson, and the heart monitor registered her quickened pulse.

"Now everyone at the nurses' station knows what you do to me," Michaela murmured huskily.

Not bothering to lower the bed rail, just allowing his nanites to mold around it, Casey sat down on the side of the bed.

Idly toying with Casey's hand, which had found her own, Michaela indicated the bed rail in Casey's "body," "That might be kind of hard to explain, if a nurse walks in."

"I don't think I care," Casey's voice had grown husky, and he was leaning in toward her.

"You might not care, but I'm sure Jason will." Carlee stalked into the room, fighting to keep an angry frown on her face.

"Mom!" Michaela pulled her hand out of Casey's, and Casey stood abruptly.

"Oh, for crying out loud! I've known longer than you two have that you're falling for each other!" A smile broke through the mock anger.

"You knew?" Michaela asked in disbelief.

"Of course! I'm your mother. It's my job to know these things!" Carlee leaned over the opposite bed rail from Casey to give Michaela a kiss on the cheek.

"Then you don't have a problem with us?" Michaela asked.

Though there seemed to be more she wanted or needed to say, Carlee simply answered, "No."

* * *

Doctor Metzler had kept his word and released Michaela a few hours later, after drawing a promise out of Michaela that she'd take it easy for a few more days.

Casey had reassured the doctor that he'd see that Michaela kept her word.

"I can drive, you know," Michaela grouched, as she tried to turn the uncooperative steering wheel.

"I know. Just ensuring the good doctor's orders are carried out," K.A.I.S.Y. replied smugly.

Michaela let out a wordless exclamation of frustration and crossed her arms over her chest.

Casey very nearly carried her to her rooms in the mansion, but Michaela finally managed to talk him out of it.

The first thing she had done was take a shower to wash away the hospital smell.

Casey had stayed in the livingroom of her suite. He had sat down on the couch, and a distant look settled on his face. Michaela knew he was probably checking the status of his search for Drakon.

After her shower, Michaela put on some clean clothes and went back into the livingroom.

Casey was still sitting on the couch. His head swivelled toward her as she walked out of her bedroom.

"I need to stretch my legs. I'm going to walk through the mansion. Coming?"

Standing up, Casey responded, "Of course."

At this time of the night – nearly midnight – the mansion was quiet. Live-in personnel had retired to their quarters for the night, and everyone else had gone home. The only guards here were outside, patrolling the grounds.