Ok R for language. We have used the "f-word" so if you have sensitive eyes
beware.
*-*-*-*-*
The small group of people in the waiting room stood as Dr. Johnson came into the room. He looked tired and worn out. "You should all go home. There isn't any change and there probably won't be for sometime. Her fever has been holding steady at 105 for the last hour or so, I have upped the dosage on the antibiotics. I have friends at the University of Illinois working on it and have our fingers crossed that we can come up with a cure."
"What are her chances," asked Alex as Jason placed his are around her shoulders. She glanced up at him and gave him a tired smile.
"If she it doesn't change, I think she has a good chance of recovery, her white cell count is good and she is fighting it. I'd give her eighty percent at this point. If her status changes for the worse within the next several hours, it could drop to as much as a fifty-fifty chance. My recommendation to you all is go back to your hotels, shower, eat, and rest. Come back later and if she is still holding her own you can see her one at a time."
"We're staying," said Alex defiantly.
"Alex," said Jason. "Maybe the doctor is right. We should get something to eat. You'll feel better."
She turned and looked at her boyfriend. "We just can't leave her here." Jason looked at Pete and said, "Pete and I could stay here and keep watch."
"Good idea," agreed Pete. "You guys go, get some rest and if there is any change we will let you know."
Natalie walked over and put her arms around Alex. Then she looked at Dr. Johnson and asked, "Could we see her now? I think it would be easier on us. Just for a few seconds?"
The doctor looked at the group who stood there with expectant faces. "Okay, but only two of you."
"Alex, Natalie," said Getty, "you two go. A visit from you would mean more to her than a visit from me."
"Thank you Mr. Getty," said Natalie giving the man a hug.
"Call me Donald," he said as the two angels went to see Dylan.
The doctor led the angels down the sterile corridor to the room in which Dylan was. He looked at the two young women at his side. "Okay, now you have to keep it short, five minutes apiece maximum. I have to warn you she doesn't look very good but she is hanging on. Who wants to go first?"
Alex and Natalie looked at each other. "You go ahead Natalie," said Alex.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, go on."
Natalie gently pushed the door open and entered the room. She walked over to the bed and looked at her friend. Dark circles were under her eyes, and her forehead flecked with drops of perspiration that matted her hair. Her left arm was a large bruise from the needles that had taken her blood. "She looks so tiny," though Nat as she sat down and took Dylan's hand in her own.
"Dylan," she paused. "It's me Nat. Boy, are you warm. We are all here for you. Pete and Jason flew in from California, they're in the waiting room," she swallowed hard fighting back the tears. "Your dad is out there too. That should be reason alone to fight this thing. Not only do you find your father but he is one of the richest men in the country. I think that is pretty cool. I really don't know what to say so I guess I'm babbling. Dylan, you have to come back to us. Fight this thing. We are all rooting for you." She closed her eyes and said a silent prayer.
The nurse walked over to the bed with a fresh towel for her head. As she leaned over to place it on Dylan's forehead Natalie asked, "Can I do it?" The nurse nodded and handed the cloth to the blonde angel. "Do you think she will make it?"
"I think she will. She seems healthy, well you know what I mean," said the nurse blushing at what she said.
"I know what you mean," replied Natalie. Then the doctor led Alex over to the bed. Alex set her hand on Nat's shoulder. Natalie looked up and gave her a little smile and exited the room with the doctor.
"Hi Dylan," said Alex. "I'm sure whatever I say would be repeat of what Natalie said. But I want to tell you I'm not mad about the boots. In fact as soon as you get better we can go shoe shopping together. Then I can get a new pair and you can get a pair of your own. How does that sound?" She looked up at the nurse. "Can she hear me?"
"Yes, she isn't in a coma and if your voice breaks through her hallucinations that is a good thing."
"She has been hallucinating?"
The nurse hesitated not sure if she should say if the doctor hadn't, "Yes, but its nothing to worry about, just a side-effect of the fever. I just wish she wouldn't have such violent ones, she ripped her i.v out twice. It seems for now they are over." She saw how worried Alex looked. "Doctor Johnson is the best; he won't let anything happen to her if he can help it." She then looked at her watch, "I'm sorry your five minutes are up. I'll see if I can arrange more time for you and your friend for later."
Alex blankly nodded; she could only imagine what was happening to Dylan in her mind. She left the room joining Natalie who waited for her in the hallway. After the door closed again the two girls hugged each other and walked back to the waiting room in silence."
*-*-*-*-*
Gloria sat in the arm chair in the hotel room that Clarke had rented. Her hair was damp from her shower and she was drinking a cup of tea. Her eyes focused on the door as it opened revealing Agent Clarke and Daniels. She hadn't known that he was actually going to get Daniels out of jail; she thought it was part of the script for the jail guard. "What the hell is he doing here!" she yelled jumping out of the chair, the blanket that covered her lap falling to the floor.
"Nice to see you again too Matthews," said Daniels in an arrogant tone.
"You bastard, you screwed the operation up," she said approaching him with her fist clinched.
"Me? I think it was those angels."
"That's it blame everyone for your being high on- what is it you take? Ecstasy? Coke? And then don't admit when you fuck up!" she screamed at the former agent in front of her.
Clarke stepped between them and put his hands on Gloria's shoulders to hold her back. "Now, now kiddies let's play nice. Gloria sit down," he waved his hand towards the chair she had previously occupied. "Mike, I hate to take sides but Glory is right, you made mistakes and fucked up."
"Hey," Daniels said beginning to protest but stopped when he saw the look cross Clarke's face.
"Good boy. Now you are obedient but we can't have you mess up again. What are we going to do with you," he asked sounding like a parent trying to come up with a punishment.
Not realizing the seriousness of the situation he was in Daniels replied, "Send me to my room without dinner, and take away TV for a week?"
Clarke's demeanor changed in a second, "Think you are really cute huh? Don't you? Well I think had it been a small offense your ideas would be fine but I think this time that punishment is death." He then pulled the same silence .38 out of his shoulder holster that Daniels had used to kill Mitchum. "The cops gave me the evidence for Mitchum's shooting," he said and without a moment of thought pulled the trigger. The bullet flew through the air and went into Daniels chest. It was so quick he never even realized the large man with the vulture like nose shot him. Daniels dropped to the floor and closed his eyes for the last time.
*-*-*-*-*
Anthony stepped out of the airplane and walked down the jetway to the terminal. He didn't bother with the baggage claim as he had none with him and went out to the taxi queue. The driver eyed the thin man with bloodshot eyes who handed him a slip of paper with an address of a hospital. "Yeah sure buddy. So who is it?" asked the cabby nosily. Anthony lifted an eyebrow in question. "Your mom? Dad? Sister? Brother?" He didn't answer he just sat back and watched the scenery go by.
"Quiet one ain't cha.," said the driver shrugging at being ignored. In the back seat Anthony pulled out the lock of hair he had stolen from Dylan in the hotel room. Its appearance shocked him. It was no longer the vibrant red-gold that it had been. He remembered his mother and her superstitions. She had seen omens and signs in everything, he wondered what she would have said about the lock of hair he held in his hand. He put it away and took out the picture. "Dimitri," he thought silently. In the photo the older man was smiling and he had worn his typical scowl they were dressed in their white fencing protective gear. The photo had been taken by Dimitri's old maid, Irena. The Russian would never met Dylan but at least she could meet him, he thought as he placed the picture back
The traffic came to a stand still. "Great, just great," complained the cab driver slapping his hand on the steering wheel and honking. "Looks like we'll be here awhile."
Anthony took out his pad and wrote, "Another way around?"
The cabby looked at him warily and took the note, "Ya don't talk at all huh? No ain't no other way around. We just gotta sit tight. Don't worry none, you won't be charged for it. New ordinance by the city against us cabbie," he said sarcastically.
"How far to the hospital," asked Anthony in his usual manner.
"Twenty blocks or so. By the time you get half way there this mess will start moving. I can guarantee you that."
He calculated the odds in his head about whether the cab driver was right. Deciding he was he sat back and tried to relax. Soon the traffic was creeping ahead again. As the cab approached the traffic cop the driver rolled down his window. "Hey officer." The cop didn't hear him. "Hey officer," the driver yelled louder. He had the policeman's attention and he approached the cab.
"What?"
"What's the delay?"
The cop looked around, "What the hell, you'll hear about it soon enough, we just found the body of an FBI agent propped against the exit sign for 28a on the Eisenhower. We are rerouting all the traffic off from the exits before and after that one."
A thought dawned on Anthony. He jumped out of the taxi handing a wad of bills to the driver. He hurried but didn't run. He had an idea what he would find out when he arrived fifteen blocks later at exit 28a. As he approached the exit there was a crowd of people standing around looking at the body hanging from the sign. A group of firemen were trying to take it down. Anthony over heard a reporter talking to a police officer, ".and no one saw who put it there?"
"No one. It wasn't there during rush hour so who knows when it happened," said the officer to the reporter.
Anthony watched as they lowered the body. It was Daniels just as he suspected. He sighed, nothing could ever be easy they were all still in danger.
*-*-*-*-*
The small group of people in the waiting room stood as Dr. Johnson came into the room. He looked tired and worn out. "You should all go home. There isn't any change and there probably won't be for sometime. Her fever has been holding steady at 105 for the last hour or so, I have upped the dosage on the antibiotics. I have friends at the University of Illinois working on it and have our fingers crossed that we can come up with a cure."
"What are her chances," asked Alex as Jason placed his are around her shoulders. She glanced up at him and gave him a tired smile.
"If she it doesn't change, I think she has a good chance of recovery, her white cell count is good and she is fighting it. I'd give her eighty percent at this point. If her status changes for the worse within the next several hours, it could drop to as much as a fifty-fifty chance. My recommendation to you all is go back to your hotels, shower, eat, and rest. Come back later and if she is still holding her own you can see her one at a time."
"We're staying," said Alex defiantly.
"Alex," said Jason. "Maybe the doctor is right. We should get something to eat. You'll feel better."
She turned and looked at her boyfriend. "We just can't leave her here." Jason looked at Pete and said, "Pete and I could stay here and keep watch."
"Good idea," agreed Pete. "You guys go, get some rest and if there is any change we will let you know."
Natalie walked over and put her arms around Alex. Then she looked at Dr. Johnson and asked, "Could we see her now? I think it would be easier on us. Just for a few seconds?"
The doctor looked at the group who stood there with expectant faces. "Okay, but only two of you."
"Alex, Natalie," said Getty, "you two go. A visit from you would mean more to her than a visit from me."
"Thank you Mr. Getty," said Natalie giving the man a hug.
"Call me Donald," he said as the two angels went to see Dylan.
The doctor led the angels down the sterile corridor to the room in which Dylan was. He looked at the two young women at his side. "Okay, now you have to keep it short, five minutes apiece maximum. I have to warn you she doesn't look very good but she is hanging on. Who wants to go first?"
Alex and Natalie looked at each other. "You go ahead Natalie," said Alex.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, go on."
Natalie gently pushed the door open and entered the room. She walked over to the bed and looked at her friend. Dark circles were under her eyes, and her forehead flecked with drops of perspiration that matted her hair. Her left arm was a large bruise from the needles that had taken her blood. "She looks so tiny," though Nat as she sat down and took Dylan's hand in her own.
"Dylan," she paused. "It's me Nat. Boy, are you warm. We are all here for you. Pete and Jason flew in from California, they're in the waiting room," she swallowed hard fighting back the tears. "Your dad is out there too. That should be reason alone to fight this thing. Not only do you find your father but he is one of the richest men in the country. I think that is pretty cool. I really don't know what to say so I guess I'm babbling. Dylan, you have to come back to us. Fight this thing. We are all rooting for you." She closed her eyes and said a silent prayer.
The nurse walked over to the bed with a fresh towel for her head. As she leaned over to place it on Dylan's forehead Natalie asked, "Can I do it?" The nurse nodded and handed the cloth to the blonde angel. "Do you think she will make it?"
"I think she will. She seems healthy, well you know what I mean," said the nurse blushing at what she said.
"I know what you mean," replied Natalie. Then the doctor led Alex over to the bed. Alex set her hand on Nat's shoulder. Natalie looked up and gave her a little smile and exited the room with the doctor.
"Hi Dylan," said Alex. "I'm sure whatever I say would be repeat of what Natalie said. But I want to tell you I'm not mad about the boots. In fact as soon as you get better we can go shoe shopping together. Then I can get a new pair and you can get a pair of your own. How does that sound?" She looked up at the nurse. "Can she hear me?"
"Yes, she isn't in a coma and if your voice breaks through her hallucinations that is a good thing."
"She has been hallucinating?"
The nurse hesitated not sure if she should say if the doctor hadn't, "Yes, but its nothing to worry about, just a side-effect of the fever. I just wish she wouldn't have such violent ones, she ripped her i.v out twice. It seems for now they are over." She saw how worried Alex looked. "Doctor Johnson is the best; he won't let anything happen to her if he can help it." She then looked at her watch, "I'm sorry your five minutes are up. I'll see if I can arrange more time for you and your friend for later."
Alex blankly nodded; she could only imagine what was happening to Dylan in her mind. She left the room joining Natalie who waited for her in the hallway. After the door closed again the two girls hugged each other and walked back to the waiting room in silence."
*-*-*-*-*
Gloria sat in the arm chair in the hotel room that Clarke had rented. Her hair was damp from her shower and she was drinking a cup of tea. Her eyes focused on the door as it opened revealing Agent Clarke and Daniels. She hadn't known that he was actually going to get Daniels out of jail; she thought it was part of the script for the jail guard. "What the hell is he doing here!" she yelled jumping out of the chair, the blanket that covered her lap falling to the floor.
"Nice to see you again too Matthews," said Daniels in an arrogant tone.
"You bastard, you screwed the operation up," she said approaching him with her fist clinched.
"Me? I think it was those angels."
"That's it blame everyone for your being high on- what is it you take? Ecstasy? Coke? And then don't admit when you fuck up!" she screamed at the former agent in front of her.
Clarke stepped between them and put his hands on Gloria's shoulders to hold her back. "Now, now kiddies let's play nice. Gloria sit down," he waved his hand towards the chair she had previously occupied. "Mike, I hate to take sides but Glory is right, you made mistakes and fucked up."
"Hey," Daniels said beginning to protest but stopped when he saw the look cross Clarke's face.
"Good boy. Now you are obedient but we can't have you mess up again. What are we going to do with you," he asked sounding like a parent trying to come up with a punishment.
Not realizing the seriousness of the situation he was in Daniels replied, "Send me to my room without dinner, and take away TV for a week?"
Clarke's demeanor changed in a second, "Think you are really cute huh? Don't you? Well I think had it been a small offense your ideas would be fine but I think this time that punishment is death." He then pulled the same silence .38 out of his shoulder holster that Daniels had used to kill Mitchum. "The cops gave me the evidence for Mitchum's shooting," he said and without a moment of thought pulled the trigger. The bullet flew through the air and went into Daniels chest. It was so quick he never even realized the large man with the vulture like nose shot him. Daniels dropped to the floor and closed his eyes for the last time.
*-*-*-*-*
Anthony stepped out of the airplane and walked down the jetway to the terminal. He didn't bother with the baggage claim as he had none with him and went out to the taxi queue. The driver eyed the thin man with bloodshot eyes who handed him a slip of paper with an address of a hospital. "Yeah sure buddy. So who is it?" asked the cabby nosily. Anthony lifted an eyebrow in question. "Your mom? Dad? Sister? Brother?" He didn't answer he just sat back and watched the scenery go by.
"Quiet one ain't cha.," said the driver shrugging at being ignored. In the back seat Anthony pulled out the lock of hair he had stolen from Dylan in the hotel room. Its appearance shocked him. It was no longer the vibrant red-gold that it had been. He remembered his mother and her superstitions. She had seen omens and signs in everything, he wondered what she would have said about the lock of hair he held in his hand. He put it away and took out the picture. "Dimitri," he thought silently. In the photo the older man was smiling and he had worn his typical scowl they were dressed in their white fencing protective gear. The photo had been taken by Dimitri's old maid, Irena. The Russian would never met Dylan but at least she could meet him, he thought as he placed the picture back
The traffic came to a stand still. "Great, just great," complained the cab driver slapping his hand on the steering wheel and honking. "Looks like we'll be here awhile."
Anthony took out his pad and wrote, "Another way around?"
The cabby looked at him warily and took the note, "Ya don't talk at all huh? No ain't no other way around. We just gotta sit tight. Don't worry none, you won't be charged for it. New ordinance by the city against us cabbie," he said sarcastically.
"How far to the hospital," asked Anthony in his usual manner.
"Twenty blocks or so. By the time you get half way there this mess will start moving. I can guarantee you that."
He calculated the odds in his head about whether the cab driver was right. Deciding he was he sat back and tried to relax. Soon the traffic was creeping ahead again. As the cab approached the traffic cop the driver rolled down his window. "Hey officer." The cop didn't hear him. "Hey officer," the driver yelled louder. He had the policeman's attention and he approached the cab.
"What?"
"What's the delay?"
The cop looked around, "What the hell, you'll hear about it soon enough, we just found the body of an FBI agent propped against the exit sign for 28a on the Eisenhower. We are rerouting all the traffic off from the exits before and after that one."
A thought dawned on Anthony. He jumped out of the taxi handing a wad of bills to the driver. He hurried but didn't run. He had an idea what he would find out when he arrived fifteen blocks later at exit 28a. As he approached the exit there was a crowd of people standing around looking at the body hanging from the sign. A group of firemen were trying to take it down. Anthony over heard a reporter talking to a police officer, ".and no one saw who put it there?"
"No one. It wasn't there during rush hour so who knows when it happened," said the officer to the reporter.
Anthony watched as they lowered the body. It was Daniels just as he suspected. He sighed, nothing could ever be easy they were all still in danger.