Chapter 11 It's Always Something
Efraim struggled against the hands that were restraining him.
He had to get to Francine, had to make sure she was alright. He tried to get up, but his body felt leaden and weighted down. He tried to call to Francine, to tell her to get away from the blast. He heard her call to him, telling him to rest, that she was alright, that they both were alright. Reassured by her voice, he stopped his struggles and let the blackness claim him again.
Francine sat by the small bed where Efraim lay in an uneasy sleep. They had driven him to the local hospital where he had been thoroughly examined by the emergency room team. He had wavered in and out of consciousness, fighting the doctors and nurses and calling for Francine. They had allowed her to stay with him as he would quiet and be still when he heard her voice.
She now kept up a steady conversation with him, talking about nothing in particular. She told him how she wouldn't have minded if he had caught her with the mistletoe all those years ago. She laughed when she remembered that fateful case that had paired the two of them together. Francine discussed moving into his apartment with him when they were married, how she loved his study and knew exactly where she wanted to put her grandfather's letter.
Amanda stood in the door, her arms wrapped around body as she watched Francine keep her vigil with Efraim. Amanda was amazed at the changes she had seen in Francine the past year; but to watch her as she sat with Efraim, talking quietly to him as he lay unconscious, moved her to tears at the love she witnessed. She looked up as Lee put his arm around her.
"Any change?" He asked as he observed the scene before him.
Amanda shook her head and shrugged. "He seems to have calmed down, as long as Francine talks to him. His vitals are normal and he's stabilized. I think he just needs time."
"We should take Francine to a hotel so she can rest; she had it pretty rough too."
Amanda raised an eyebrow at her husband, a small smile pulling at her lips. "That isn't going to happen, Lee. She will not leave him."
"We should make her."
Francine's voice stopped their discussion. "I'm not leaving." She hadn't turned from the bedside and though her voice was soft, but there was iron behind the words and determination in her tone. Amanda walked over to her, placing her hand on her shoulder.
"Francine, is there anything we can bring you?" Amanda whispered, not wanting to intrude on Francine's gentle words to Efraim. Francine shook her head, bringing Efraim's hand to her cheek. Amanda hugged her. "Dave is in the hall and he'll stay until Lee and I come back. Just call him if you need anything, alright?"
Francine nodded, her eyes never leaving Efraim's face. Amanda turned and walked to the door of the room.
"Amanda? Thank you."
"You're welcome, Francine. Try to rest a little as well. You won't be any good to him if you're exhausted."
"I will, I promise," Francine said, trailing her fingers along Efraim's forehead, gently moving his hair off of his face. She leaned over and gently touched her lips to his, letting his breath caress her face. "Please Efraim, please wake up and talk to me. Please." She quickly tried to wipe away the tears that threatened to fall. She kissed him and let her cheek rest on his, her tears wetting both of their faces.
Lee shook his head and took Amanda's hand and led her from the room.
Amanda wiped her own tears away and leaned into her husband's side. "It breaks my heart to watch her like that."
"I know. Love does funny things to people," Lee answered, giving his wife's shoulder a firm squeeze. "Why don't you get us some coffee while I make another call to Billy?" His eyes followed Amanda as she went into the small cafeteria that served the hospital staff and visitors. Picking up the receiver on the pay phone, Lee exhaled and placed the call to Washington.
Dave Geiger stood at the door of Efraim's room, watching the nurses and doctors walk past on their way to whatever they needed to do. He lounged against the doorframe, looking relaxed to the casual observer, but he was prepared for quick action should anyone try to pass him into the room.
Geiger had always liked Efraim, the two of them got along just fine. Both graduates of the military academies, Efraim from Annapolis and Geiger from West Point; they shared a common background and bond in the service of their country. They had gone to the last Army-Navy game together in Philadelphia where Army had won 24-23 over Navy. They had tickets to the next game in early December in New Jersey. Efraim wasn't much of a football fan, but that changed when it came to the Army-Navy game.
Geiger turned and watched Francine as she gently stroking Efraim's face, her voice soft and gentle. He'd had his doubts about this relationship between the two of them, but seeing Francine with Efraim now, those worries vanished.
Noise from down the hall caught his attention. He looked up to see the bus driver that had taken them to Poenari the day before walking down the hall. With him was an old woman, obviously his wife from the way she was gesturing to him. Turning the corner were at least ten more people of differing ages.
The old man came to a stop in front of Geiger, talking a mile a minute to him and gesturing to Efraim and Francine in the room.
Dave finally figured out that they wanted to go into the room and he lifted his hands, shaking his head. "No. No one goes in the room! Please, we need to be quiet!" As he finished, the old man's wife stepped up to him, her finger raised and just meeting his chest. She proceeded to scold him, if the tone of her voice was any indication. She finished with a stomp to his foot with her heel and she walked into the room where her husband already was standing at the foot of the bed.
The old man stood watching Efraim and Francine, his cap in his hands, a sorrowful look on his face. His wife looked over the situation and went to Francine, talking quietly to her and gently taking Francine in her arms as though she were a child. He watched as Francine stiffened and then allowed herself to be enfolded in the woman's arms as she cried. The old woman rocked back and forth, gently stoking Francine's hair, speaking gentle words all the while Francine wept.
Dave shook his head, his hands on his hips as he stared in amazement as the scene unfolded before him. That was all the distraction the others needed as they piled into the small room. Each stood at the foot of the bed, respectfully watching Efraim before they moved to Francine, hugging her and leaving small gifts as they left the room. Dave turned and watched them leave, only to be surprised by the line of people waiting to come into the room. He didn't think he could stop them, so he stepped into the room, standing as sentinel at the side of Efraim's bed.
Dave watched as one of the nurses entered the room, taking Efraim's pulse and listening to his heart. "Do you speak English?" He asked her.
"Yes." She replied to his question as she charted her results.
"Why are these people here and what are they doing?"
The nurse smiled at him. "They are heroes," she pointed to Efraim and Francine. "These people live in the town here and some are from the Fargaras Ridge. They have heard that these two stopped that evil man from shooting his lights at their homes. They know they are to be wedded and they bring gifts to bless their union."
"I'll be. . . ." Dave just shook his head, not knowing what else to say. So he stood and watched as people came and left. Francine sat with the old woman, smiling and thanking everyone who came to into the room.
Amanda hurried down the hallway, carefully avoiding the crowds lined up along the walls. She had a sneaking suspicion that these people were here because of Efraim and Francine, and she wanted to get back to the room before Francine let loose with one of her tantrums. She came to a stop outside the room and felt her jaw drop.
Francine was serving tea from a rolling cart that had been wheeled in. Several old women sat with her, patting her hand as she handed them small cups of tea. Men stood at the foot of the bed, their caps and hats in their hands, silently giving their respect to Efraim. Dave stood in the thick of it, beside Efraim's bed and next to Francine.
Lee appeared by Amanda's side. "What the hell is going on here? Amanda?"
"I have no idea."
Lee flung his arm in Francine's direction. "She's serving tea in a hospital room!"
"I can see that much for myself!" Amanda caught Dave's eye and watched as he leaned down and said something to Francine. Francine smiled and nodded at him, going back to the conversation with the women around her. Dave came out of the room, nodding to the people waiting to get in.
"Geiger, what the hell is happening here and why the hell did you let it happen?" Lee's voice was laced with irritation and exasperation.
"The bus driver came with his wife and the next thing I knew there was this crowd of people. The wife took Francine in her arms and Francine cried her heart out, I thought I was going to break into tears myself. Next thing I know, they're leaving gifts for Beaman and Francine, an orderly brought tea and chairs, and there's an impromptu wedding shower going on. Francine is better than I've seen her all day; the distraction seems to be helping her. And Beaman is fine, he's calm and his vitals are all normal. The nurse told me that many of these people are from the Fargaras Ridge, they consider Beaman and Francine their heroes and are giving them the honor due them."
"They should be left alone in peace," Lee grumbled; obviously he wasn't happy about the crowd.
"Lee, let it be. They're fine." Amanda turned and walked into the room as Dave brought in a chair which he placed next to Francine. Amanda sat down and Francine handed her a cup of tea.
Lee watched from the door and sighed. He had been out-voted again. So he watched and glared at everyone who came through the door, wondering again why he hadn't wanted to become an engineer or lawyer.
The people continued to come and go, the elderly women stopping to sit and have tea with Francine. Everyone left a small gift; someone had put a lovely shawl around Francine's shoulders, giving one to Amanda as well. Francine gave a small yawn behind her hand, but the sharp eyes of the bus driver's wife had seen it and she began to shoo everyone out of the room. The room came to a hushed standstill as all the locals stopped and looked at the very old woman standing in the doorway.
She was tiny and thin, her back ramrod straight. Her eyes were as black as coal, bright and snapping as they took in everything around her. Her hair was a shock of white under her babushka. She walked into the room and stopped. The bus driver's wife ran over to her, bowing and taking her hands. She led the old woman to Francine, who stood and offered her the seat she had been sitting in. The old woman shook her head and took Francine's hands. She asked her something and Francine answered, taking her over to the bed where Efraim lay sleeping. The old woman dropped Francine's hands and took Efraim's head between her own hands. She talked, mostly to herself and a few comments to the room that had them all spellbound. She laid her palm over the graze from the bullet on Efraim's forehead, closing her eyes and mumbling. Then she turned again to Francine and talked with her, taking the cup of tea and sitting for a chat. She took the brooch from her shawl and gave it to Francine, closing her fingers over Francine's hand. With a nod of her head, she stood up and left as everyone in the room held their breaths.
When she was gone, the room erupted into chatter, everyone at once talking. Amanda leaned over to Francine, asking her what had just happened.
"That was the local Gypsy healer, a wise woman. She came to thank us for saving the mountain." Francine told her.
"But taking Efraim's head in her hands?" Amanda gave a small shudder.
Francine smiled. "It's their custom for the wise woman to come and make the pronouncement of health and long life. And as we are to be married, she also gave us her blessing for happiness and many children."
Amanda grinned; she'd like to see Francine deal with 'many children'! Both women turned at a sound from the bed. Francine leaned over Efraim, laying her hand on his cheek.
"Efraim? Wake up Efraim. Can you hear me?" She leaned over and kissed him, laying her cheek against his.
"Francine?" His voice was faint and scratchy as he lifted a hand to Francine's head to hold her close to him. "Did we do it?"
Francine lifted her head and nodded at him, not trusting her voice to the moment. Her eyes were bright with unshed tears and her smile was tremulous.
"You've been crying again, Franny?"
Francine laughed, nodding her head as the tears streamed down her cheeks. "Maybe just a little bit, B."
Amanda motioned for Lee to go get the doctor and she went to stand by the door to give the couple some privacy.
Efraim rubbed his thumb over her cheeks, wiping away her tears. "You look like hell, hon." He threaded his fingers in her hair to pull her close enough for him to kiss her.
She nodded in agreement and sighed as his lips touched hers and she leaned closer, giving herself over to him.
"I see our patient is progressing nicely!" Francine quickly moved to the head of the bed to watch as the doctor put the stethoscope on Efraim's chest. He examined his head, flashing his pen light in his eyes and doing a basic neurological profile test on him. "How are you feeling?" He asked as he flashed his penlight in front of Efraim's eyes.
"My head feels like it's been split open. That damn light hurts my eyes."
"That is to be expected. I do not wish to give you pain medication unless the pain in your head becomes unbearable. We do not wish to mask the symptoms."
"No, that sounds like something we should do; let's mask them!"
"You are making a joke! American humor is so dry. The pain will subside; I wish it to do so without the pain medication unless we absolutely must."
He then turned to Francine. "He's doing well, I am happy that he is finally conscious and his greeting to you gives me much reason to believe he will continue to improve. I wish for him to stay at least through tomorrow, perhaps the next day, before he travels. And you, how are you doing? You are looking tired." He took her hand to check her pulse, frowning. "Your pulse is rapid, it is the exhaustion I am sure. Since you are so stubborn and will not leave, I will have a bed brought here for you to sleep. I will be able to keep both of you quiet, which is what is needed. I will check again later, now you both must rest. How do you American's say, doctor's orders! Yes, doctor's orders! I have always wanted to say that! Sleep, both of you. Sleep!"
Francine nodded and thanked the doctor. She sat on the edge of Efraim's bed, taking his hand in hers and holding it to her breast.
"I'm really tired Francine. Why don't you lay down with me until they bring in the bed? You know what? I dreamed you were talking to me about mistletoe and my study. I kept trying to focus on your voice. I swear I could feel you right here beside me."
Francine curled up beside him, resting her head on his shoulder, her hand on his chest. She closed her eyes and sighed. "I was. I did talk to you, Efraim, the entire time I was with you. I wanted you to wake up and tell me to be quiet so you could rest."
He squeezed his arm around her shoulder, bringing her closer to him. "Be quiet so we can get some rest."
Francine giggled and snuggled closer and the two lovers fell asleep safe in each other's arms.
Amanda gently removed Francine's boots and pulled the extra blanket at the foot of Efraim's bed over her. She thought that while they may bring in an extra bed, these two were settled for the night where they were.
Lee opened his arms as Amanda walked over to him and Geiger. He hugged her. "I know you're worried about them, but do you want me to take you to the hotel?"
"Well, no, I want to stay here in case Francine or Efraim needs something. I don't want to leave them Lee, I'm sorry." She looked back over her shoulder at Francine and Efraim sleeping soundly. "They won't get Francine out of Efraim's arms tonight, so I'll curl up in the extra bed and take a nap. I'd feel better being here for them."
"Geiger, why don't you go then, I'll stay with Amanda and keep an eye on things here."
"Okay, but call if anything here changes. Oh, what did Billy have to say when you gave him the update?"
"Admiral Beaman is on his way over. I'm so out of the time loop, he may be here already, I just don't know. The Deputy Director of Defense is coming with him; I expect that we'll be visited by an entourage in the morning. Billy said that the DOD was not impressed with the subtle difference of having the laser and knowing where it was. I hate this inter-service crap. So, get some sleep, I'll stay with Amanda and if you'd come back early in the morning, we'll go from there. And do me a favor, will ya? Call Billy and let him know that Beaman came around and the doc is encouraged."
"Sounds good, Lee. Remember. . ."
"I know, we'll call if anything changes, Dave. Goodnight."
Two orderlies wheeled a hospital bed down the hallway. Lee and Amanda watched as Dave moved out of the way, a small smile on his face. "He's laughing at us, Amanda. The man is laughing at us," Lee said; his tone heavy with disgust.
"Maybe just a little bit, sweetheart. He has the hotel to himself and here we are cramming into two very small hospital beds. Dave just sees the humor."
"Well, I wish I did."
They moved out of the way as the orderlies manhandled the bed into the small room. They worked quickly and quietly and left. With a flourish of his arm, Lee ushered Amanda into the room. She quickly checked on Francine and Efraim, both sleeping soundly, so she kicked off her shoes and climbed on the extra bed, settling in for the night. She watched as Lee looked up at the ceiling, threw his arms up in defeat and sat on the side of the bed while he kicked off his shoes. He looked over his shoulder at Amanda, who lay smiling at him. He shook his head and laid down, his body tired and his mind weary.
"Amanda, promise me you won't tell anyone about this?"
"I promise, not a soul Lee. Goodnight sweetheart."
His sigh was the only sound in the room.
Francine awoke feeling terrible. Her head ached; her body was on fire, her throat felt as though it had sandpaper stuffed down it. She opened her eyes to find Efraim gone. She tried to sit up, but was so dizzy she had to hold onto the railing of the hospital bed to keep from reeling. The additional bed the doctor had promised was a few feet from where she was, empty, but someone had obviously slept in it.
"Efraim?" She tried calling out, but her throat was parched and her voice sounded terrible. She grabbed her throat, trying to massage it when the door to the room opened and Efraim flanked by Lee and Amanda giving support, walked in.
"Good morning, beautiful! How are you?" He looked wonderful to her, still pale, but his eyes were sharp. She could see he was stiff from the way he held himself and walked, but she knew he would be fine.
"Terrible. I feel--just awful."
Efraim's face lost its smile and was replaced by concern for Francine. Lee and Amanda helped him to the bed and he sat down beside her, his hands on her face. "You have a fever, you're burning up." Lee sighed and went to find the doctor at Amanda's look.
Francine closed her eyes and leaned into Efraim. "I don't feel good." She complained, sounding like a little girl.
He smiled over her head. "I know you don't hon. Why don't you lie back down, and we'll get the doctor to look you over." He helped her to lie back in the bed, pulling the blankets up. His fingers lingered on the patch sewn onto his sweater bearing his last name; she hadn't taken it off. "Looks good on you," he told her, smiling as she brought her hand up and rubbed the leather tag. "Close your eyes, I'll be right here." He leaned over and gave her a gentle kiss on her forehead, gently pushing her hair behind her ears.
"I want to go home," she told Efraim, her eyes closed, her face and lips pale. Her breathing was labored and shallow, Efraim raised the head of the bed to ease her breathing.
"I know, honey. I'll take you home as soon as I can, I promise." She nodded and fell into a fitful sleep. Lee came back with a doctor and nurse. Amanda took Lee and they left the room so the doctor could examine Francine.
Lee paced outside the door while Amanda leaned against the wall across from the door. They both looked up as Geiger, Admiral Beaman and the Deputy Director of Defense walked down the hall. Lee cursed under his breath and stopped pacing, Amanda stood up straight, watching the scowls on the men's faces as they approached.
Geiger stopped and rolled his eyes in the direction of the men beside him. "Sir, Admiral, this is Lee Stetson, the agent in charge," and with a nod of his head, "Agent Amanda Stetson."
While hands were shaken, the Admiral got right to the point. "How is John? I had a report from Melrose that he was conscious."
Lee nodded. "That's correct sir, he is conscious, but badly bruised and battered from the gun shot and the fall from the van. The doctor doesn't think there's any neurological damage."
"That's good news. Now where is he?"
"Ah sirs?" Amanda spoke up. "The doctor is with them right now, we're afraid that Miss Desmond is sick and is being examined. She is in Commander Beaman's room," she told them with a nod of her head in the direction of the door.
"Sick?" The Admiral asked; his face one of concern. Amanda knew that Efraim's parents liked Francine, but she was happy to see his concern for herself.
"Francine was drenched from the snow by the time everything was over yesterday sir, and she was chilled to the bone when we got her into the vehicle. But she refused to leave the Commander, sir, and in all the commotion of getting him here and seeing that Quigley was secured, she never changed."
"Stubborn woman," the Admiral said, with a hint of pride in his voice. Lee and Geiger nodded, knowing indeed just how stubborn Francine could be.
The door to Efraim's room opened and the doctor came out. He stopped, taken back by the Admiral's uniform. He looked to Lee and Amanda but the Admiral stepped in.
"I'm John Beaman, you are my son's doctor and you've just examined my future daughter-in-law, how are they doing?"
"Ah. . ." The doctor looked to Amanda who whispered "Admiral Beaman" to the doctor, "Admiral Beaman, your son is recovering nicely, but I am concerned that Miss Desmond may be developing pneumonia. I wish for her to have a series of chest x-rays, and then I will know positively what must be done. But from the chest sounds that I hear, I am sure we are looking at least at severe bronchitis."
"May we see them?" The Admiral asked; concern for his son and Francine evident on his face.
"Of course. Miss Desmond is sleeping and your son is keeping watch. Perhaps you can get him to rest as well." The doctor nodded to everyone and left to make sure his orders were carried out.
Geiger offered to take the Deputy Director to the cafeteria for a cup of coffee, to which he agreed. The Admiral carefully opened the door to the hospital room. Efraim was in a pair of hospital scrubs, sitting on the edge of the bed stroking Francine's face with a damp cloth. He looked up when the door opened, gave a quick nod and turned back to Francine.
The Admiral walked over to the bed and rested his hand on his son's shoulder. He reached over and lifted Francine's limp hand and kissed the back of it before gently laying it back on the bed.
"She's pretty sick, Dad. The doctor said he's sure it's bronchitis if not pneumonia. She stayed in wet clothes all day yesterday because she wouldn't leave me."
"You would have done the same."
Efraim shrugged; his face one of concentration as he watched his fiancé.
"We're going to get her well and then the two of you will be coming home."
Francine began to cough and call for Efraim. He leaned over her, whispering to her and she fell asleep again. Efraim got up from the bed and rinsed the cloth he had been using to wipe her face with, rung it out and sat down and began again.
"You're moving pretty slow there. How are you feeling today?"
Efraim gave a short laugh, no humor in the sound at all. "I feel like hell, Dad. Worse than that, I think I'm probably gonna live."
His father smiled and his voice was gruff with emotion. "Well, I'll have you know, you scared your mother to tears. I'll appreciate it if you'd be more careful in the future."
Efraim replied with some sarcasm lacing his words. "I'll try to remember that, Dad." He sighed, weariness in the sound. "Tell Mom I'm sorry for causing her to worry."
"You can tell her yourself later when you call her. She however asked me to deliver this." Efraim's father, the Deputy Secretary of the Navy and a full-fledged four-star admiral in full uniform, took his son in his arms and hugged him. He stepped back and nodded at his son, turned and walked to the door. His hand was on the handle when Efraim's voice stopped him.
"Dad?"
"Yes, son."
"Thanks. I'm glad you're here."
"I am too, son. Take care of our girl there while I go run interference with the Deputy Director."
Efraim nodded and gave his attention over to Francine.
The admiral closed the door, pulled his starched white linen handkerchief from his pocket and wiped his eyes.
"Sir?" Amanda stopped the admiral. "Perhaps I can help with your interference. I have the complete audiotapes of the operation yesterday. I know that you won't have Efraim's insights, but enough perhaps to keep the Deputy happy and busy until Efraim and Francine are feeling better."
"That is an excellent suggestion, Mrs. Stetson."
"Please, sir, call me Amanda."
"Only if you'll call me John. Now tell me Amanda, how does my son look to you today?"
Amanda grimaced. "Well, sir, ah, John, I know he looks pretty bad, but he's much improved from yesterday."
"Improved, you say. How so?"
"Well, for one thing, he's conscious. And he's lucid and he's back to form. He won't let anyone near Francine without him being there. He's pretty protective of her."
"Well that sounds like love, Amanda, doesn't it?"
"It sure does!" Amanda agreed, liking the Admiral more each minute.
"Well then, shall we go stall the secretary? I do like throwing a wrench into the policy works at Defense." He held his arm out for Amanda, which she took. Lee indicated that he would stay with Efraim and Francine should they need anything.
Lee watched his wife and the admiral disappear around the far corner of the hall and he knocked gently on Efraim's door. He opened the door and went into the room. "How's she doing, Beaman?"
"She's sleeping, but not well. Her breathing is short and raspy. She wasn't feeling well before this assignment, she had been losing weight and not sleeping because of the damn wedding plans. Our mothers are driving her crazy. The night all of this went down I hauled her out of her apartment because they had been arguing about hord'oeuvres all day long. Arguments over damn finger food!"
The door opened and an x-ray technician came into the room wheeling a portable x-ray machine. The doctor was with behind him as well as a nurse. The doctor took one look at Efraim and pointed to the extra bed.
"Now," he ordered. "You will not be any good to her if you collapse. I insist that you rest or I will see that you are tranquilized. Mr. Stetson, if you would excuse us for a few minutes, we will do what must be done and then you can see that your friend receives the rest he must have to recover."
"I'll be in the cafeteria, Beaman, I'll be back." Efraim nodded as he climbed in the spare bed. Lee closed the door behind himself as he left.
Francine's condition worsened through the first day and despite the doctor's assurances that she would be on her way to recovery in the morning, Efraim had been beside himself with worry. The doctor had finally ordered a tranquilizer to be administered to Efraim for him to sleep. The admiral, Lee, Amanda, and Geiger had stayed that evening until both Francine and Efraim had fallen asleep. When they returned the next morning, they had stopped dead in the doorway as the Admiral broke into laughter. Efraim had climbed out of bed and into Francine's; the two of them were sleeping peacefully in each others arms.
"I do believe John is more sailor than he likes to let on. He's certainly comfortable in close quarters, the true sign of a Navy man," the Admiral stated with a thumb in the direction of the soundly sleeping couple.
Several days had passed since the morning at Poenari. Quigley had been transferred to a hospital in Bucharest and was scheduled for transportation to the military hospital in Germany and from there he would be returned to the United States.
The Deputy Director of Defense had listened to the tapes of the operation as it had happened and had wanted to interview Efraim at length, but his condition did not warrant the effort it would cost him. The DDOD had warned Efraim that there would be further debriefing in Washington when he returned. Efraim had assured him he would be available as long as it did not interfere with his wedding.
Their hospital stay caused them to miss the arrival of the President and his visit to Bucharest. He had sent a letter to the agents congratulating them on their success in finding the laser and saving the towns on Fargaras Ridge. The admiral had smiled and told Efraim he had nothing to worry about with his wedding plans, that he would fix it with the DOD.
Amanda and Lee headed home the night before Efraim and Francine were to be released from the hospital. Amanda was torn between staying with her friends and going home to her family. Francine had convinced her that they would be fine, and after promises to take care of themselves, Amanda and Lee left for the States.
Francine was still weak from the bronchitis, but was recovering quickly. The doctor announced that he was pleased with her progress when he signed the papers for her release. He suggested that she take time off when she returned home to fully recuperate and he made arrangements for her records to be sent to her personal physician in the States.
The doctor just shook his head when he released Efraim. "Commander, you have been an extremely difficult patient, you do not stay where I put you." Efraim had laughed and apologized for the grief he had caused the hospital staff. The doctor had shaken his hand, wishing him good health and made the same arrangements for his records. He wanted Efraim thoroughly examined when he returned home, and Francine promised to see that he did.
The bus driver and his wife returned to the hospital the morning that Efraim and Francine were released. They brought flowers for Francine, as well as a wreath of flowers which the old woman placed on Francine's head, "For the bride," she told them. Francine warmly hugged the old woman and man and both promised to come back and visit in warmer weather and under happier circumstances.
Leaving the hospital, they walked to the Suburban that Geiger was idling to take them back to Bucharest. Efraim stopped and looked back at the Carpathian Range that rose from the horizon. Francine stood with him, her hand resting on his shoulder as they stood and watched the sunlight play along the ridges.
Efraim exhaled, his breath wreathing above his head in white puffs in the frigid air. He nodded and put his arm around Francine, grinning as she raised an eyebrow to question his thoughts.
"I guess it's always something, Franny."
Efraim helped her in the car, climbing in beside her. Pulling the door shut behind him, Efraim silently hoped they were closing the chapter as well on Dr. Harry Quigley.
