Chapter 25
Sam was hearing indistinct sounds from far away, like his ears were full of cotton. His eyelids seemed to weigh a ton each. His head was so painful he wanted to groan, but his throat was dry, and no sound came out. His left shoulder was aching too, and he couldn't move his arm. He heard voices around him, and a male one said:
_ He's waking. Please call Ms Grimsdottir.
Grim. They were going to call Grim. He wanted so much to see her that, with tremendous effort, he forced his eyes open. His sight was fuzzy, like in a thick fog, but he saw a small room with people around him, and the bed he was lying on. A woman bent down on him, and he stared in her direction with hope, but it wasn't Grim. Even if he couldn't make out her features, she had a white lab coat and long dark hair. Definitely not Grim.
_ Mr Fisher? Can you hear me?
He tried to speak but no sound came. The woman picked up a small goblet of water and, gently raising his head, helped him drink with a straw. The water eased his dry throat, and after drinking several mouthfuls, he felt better.
_ Where am I? he managed.
_ In the medical unit of the American base in Kabul, she said. I'm Dr Prescott. How are you feeling?
_ Head hurts a lot. The shoulder too.
_ We'll give you something stronger to ease the pain. Do you remember what happened to you?
The mission. An ambush. Kestrel and Briggs tortured. The pain. And Alpha rescuing them. Alpha wounded, kicked, still on the field.
_ Where's Alpha?
Dr Prescott looked at him sadly.
_ The young woman who was with you has fallen into the hands of your enemies.
_ Kestrel? Briggs?
_ They are here, in this unit. Agent Briggs is still sleeping, but he's okay. Agent Kestrel...
Her voice trailed off, an a feeling of dread settled in Sam's stomach.
_ Is he alive?
_ Yes, but he's in a deep coma.
Sam's head was spinning so fast that he grabbed the mattress of his bed with his right hand to make it stop, but in vain. He was feeling sick, and had to roll on his right side to vomit on the floor. He heard concerned voices around him, but his stomach heaving and the remorse he was feeling were the only things he truly registered. When his stomach calmed a little bit, he sensed gentle hands helping him roll on his back and wiping his mouth. But he was in shock, the guilt menaced to engulf him again and drown him in an endless pit of doom, so he called her. He called the woman he loved, the only person on Earth that could save him.
_ Grim!
A blurred figure hastily approached his bed, and this time he knew it was her.
_ Sam! I'm right here, Sam.
_ Grim.
He raised his hand, reaching for hers, and she took it. The world spinned a little slower, but he still couldn't see her clearly.
_ Fog in my eyes. Can't see you.
The woman in a lab coat went to stand on his left side and switched on a small flashlight. She put it right into his eyes, and he was temporarily blinded.
_ Don't worry, Mr Fisher, it's simply the after-effects of the tranquilizers. They'll wear off in a few hours.
_ Grim?
He pulled her closer to him, and she sat on the bed.
_ Is Alpha alive?
He couldn't see her face, but she shook her head, while he heard people leaving the room.
_ I don't know, Sam. But it seems like they disarmed her, so they probably wanted her alive.
_ Kestrel... Will he be all right?
_ I don't know. If he wakes up, maybe.
_ What have I done, Grim?
He felt crushing guilt and pain building up in his guts, making him feel sick again. Grim helped him to roll again on his side, and backed a step. When he had finished retching, she came back next to him, avoiding the puddle, and put him back on his bed. He didn't feel the tears rolling down from his eyes but he tasted the salt on his lips. He wondered if one day he would be able to forgive himself.
_ You made an error of judgement, Sam, she said kindly. But I know you'll take responsibility for the consequences of your decisions. For now the situation looks bad enough. But Briggs will be fine. Kestrel is tough, I don't doubt he will come out of the coma. As for Alpha, she's strong, she'll resist. Charlie and I are looking for her and her captors, and we're preparing a rescue mission. So when you're up, you'll go and...
_ No.
He forced the word out, but he knew it was the right thing to say. He had to step aside, he really was losing his grip. He would retire, and stay behind with Grim. Not because of fear or cowardice, but because he thought the time had come to pass the torch.
_ It's over for me, Grim. I'm too old, and too reckless. I'll help you stage the operation, but I won't be going on the field. That failed mission was the last one.
He closed his eyes in despair, hating himself for not making up for his mistakes, but he wanted to cut his losses. Grim didn't reply, but he couldn't see her expression, so he was clueless about what she thought. Finally she spoke.
_ The mission has not failed.
_What?
He opened his eyes, wondering if he had heard correctly. Her blurred face came closer to him.
_ The operation is a success, if we put aside the injuries and Alpha's capture. All the targets have been killed.
_ Alpha?
_ Yes. Before and after she saved you, she shot down the nine members of Meggido. One of them was a commander. She even found some data, and put it into Kestrel's suit, where we found it.
Sam was dumbfounded. In spite of everything that had happened, Alpha had saved the day. She was a true hero, and he wanted to find her and save her. He looked in Grim's direction, and saw her nod.
_ We'll find her.
He started to nod too, but stopped and groaned, because his head did not appreciate at all. His left shoulder was aching, but he could feel his arm in a tight sling on his chest, and knew that without it the pain would be ten times worse. He was very tired and wanted to sleep. His eyelids started to droop.
_ Sam? Grim said with a strange voice. Before you fall asleep, I have something to tell you.
_ I'm listening.
_ Well... it's...
He raised his head a little. She was clearly embarrassed, but he didn't have a clue why. And he cursed the tranquilizers' after-effects which didn't allow him to see her.
_ Damned fog! Could you come closer to me, please? I want to see you.
She hesitated, then put her face a few inches from his. He could see her expression now. And he immediately knew what she wanted to say. So he put his hand around her neck and pulled her closer, and kissed her. Startled at first, she relaxed and kissed him back. She gently caressed his face, avoiding the bruises, and he felt joy and happiness and love blossoming in his heart. He hadn't felt something like that since Sarah's birth, a long time ago now. They kissed a few more times, caressing each other, but soon he felt the world starting to spin again. She sensed his faintness and pushed his head back on the pillow, stroking his face and hair until he was on the verge of sleep. Then, with a voice he could hardly hear, he told her:
_ I love you, Grim.
And he fell asleep.