Chapter Four
Wisp came to later.
She was in her bed, pillows propped
under her head. Violet was by her side. She noted she was awake, took her pulse
and wrote something down. Wisp struggled to rise, only to have two new pairs of
hands push her down. She looked up and was met with Buddy and Red's eyes.
"No," Red said plainly, "Violet
called us when she brought you in. She said you'd try to get up and she has
orders against that."
"Orders?" Wisp questioned. "From
who?"
"From me."
Wisp turned and Starlite walked in.
Wisp sighed deeply. Starlite looked at Violet. The girl removed her glasses and
polished them with a cloth before saying,
"Her blood pressure shot up."
Violet paused to wipe a damp cloth
over her leader's face before going on,
"She was worrying too much and her
blood pressure went sky high. That's why she collapsed."
"Hey!" Wisp called, agitated. "She's
right here!"
Starlite gave her a smile but a
shake of the head. "See? I told you that you worry too much. And I was
right…again."
Wisp sighed deeply. She looked at
Red and Buddy.
"Okay guys, I give. You can let go."
The two males exchanged gazes but
did release her. The blond turned to Violet.
"Well? What can I do?"
Violet sighed. "Not much, Wisp. In
fact for at least three days, I want you confined to bed. After that, no
running or heavy lifting. Not a lot of work either. You can help at the Color
Consol but no mining, no spreading color, or anything of that nature. I'd say
that your chances of collapsing again are about seventy to eighty percent. And
I'd highly recommend having some one with you all the time."
Wisp sighed but nodded. Patty spoke
up, "I can stay with her at night."
Wisp smiled. "I'd like that, Patty."
A new voice called in, "I can stay
with her now."
Stormy stood in the doorway.
Everyone was surprised at her
dedication but Wisp made no protest so they nodded. Gradually the room emptied,
leaving only Stormy and Wisp alone. The two girls, nearly opposite in
personalities sat still for time, not saying anything. Then, Stormy asked,
"So how are you feeling?"
"Well, weak, tired and well,
hungry."
Stormy gave her smile, so confident.
"I can fetch you something. What do you want?"
"Uh, chicken broth, cherries and
fish."
Stormy took on a very disgusted face
but shrugged, "Must be those feminine hormones."
Wisp blushed as her friend
disappeared out the door. The young woman laid down and placed a hand on her
large belly. The skin felt the same but she knew there was a child inside her.
But she would never know for sure if the child were alive. The girl or boy
never once stirred.
"Are you there, my little one?"
Once again, she felt no movement
form inside her.
"Wisp!"
The girl lifted her head as Stormy
reentered, smiling broadly,
"They're cooking your food right
now. Until then, I brought you a visitor."
That said, the violet haired tomboy
stepped aside. Through the door came the last person Wisp expected to see…and
the one she most longed to see.
"Brian!"
The brown haired human walked over
and hugged her. She squeezed him right back, heart throbbing.
Tears trailed down her cheeks.
"Brian! I…I am so glad to see you! Do…do you-"
"Yeah, Wisp," he said gently. He
lifted her chin and smiled at her before he wiped her tears away with his
thumb. "I know. Stormy told me and I actually suspected it. I mean, the colors
started to dull about five months after that night. I've got common sense."
Wisp swallowed, hard. "Then, you
don't hate me?"
Brian's bright eyes popped wide open
with surprise. "Hate you? Wisp, if anything I love you more!"
"Really?"
He nodded. "I…I was hoping that the
child would be immortal."
"Why? It's your child too!"
"I know that. But…well, if it's
immortal you won't be so alone after I pass on. Which I will, you know.
Eventually."
"But…you mean this child won't have
a father in their life?"
"Of course they will. I'll visit. As
often as I can. I still have that key you gave me."
The grown man lifted a silver chain
around his neck. In the direct center was the key Wisp had given him when he
was barely thirteen. When they first met.
He went on,
"But if the child's immortal, then
you'll have someone with you."
Wisp smiled brightly.
Then, she closed her eyes and met
Brian's lips with hers. He was accepting.
Wisp had never felt so relieved in
her life. Maybe Lady Brite was with her. Maybe…maybe things would be all right.
For the first since she got pregnant, all Wisp's worries vanished and they were
replaced by the joy that one feels when they know soon another creature, a
child they created would be born. That they would be parents, a father or a
mother.
"A mother." Wisp whispered as she
parted from Brian and laid her head on his chest, "I…I'm gonna be a Momma."
Brian looked down at his girlfriend.
He really looked on her as a wife, that's how strong his commitment was. If it
meant he had to come here everyday to be with his baby and her, he would do it
gladly. He smoothed her silk smooth hair and kissed her forehead.
"Ah, hem…" a voice, intoned. The
couple looked up. Stormy was standing there. "Sorry Brian. Violet's orders are
that Wisp needs some rest. Red and Buddy wanna talk to you too. And don't worry
Wisp," she said seeing her leader's face, they aren't gonna kill him."
Brian nodded, gave Wisp a peck on
the lips and then walked out. Stormy sat down on Wisp's bed.
"So, are the worries gone?"
Wisp smiled and hugged her friend.
"For the most part."
Stormy looked at her leader, leaning
against her, against her belly. She smoothed her hair. Normally, Stormy was no
emotional or soothing but with Wisp, she liked her and occasionally let her
rough exterior fall. So she just let the woman lay there, resting.
Wisp, her cheek against Stormy's
dress, suddenly felt a smirk spread over her face.
"Stormy?"
"Yeah?"
"Remember how I said you should try
this and see how you feel?"
"Yeah."
"I think you will."
Stormy paled and then asked, "What?"
Wisp lifted her eyes and said,
"I just felt something kick my
cheek. From inside you."
End
of Part One
To
be Continued…