The people of the United States are ecstatic! The electricity has been restored throughout the country, and just in time for Christmas!
The President and the rest of the United States government are happy too. The gold bullion has been returned, the electricity has been restored, and the criminals have been apprehended.
Jerry also receives a personal call from the President, on his return from Saldo's hideout.
"Hello, Jerry!"
"Mr. President! I know that I am late for my summons to meet with you, but I needed to respond on the Saldo situation in the field," Jerry begins.
"I understand, Jerry! Thanks to WOOHP and your field agents, the country is back to normal! Outstanding job, Jerry!"
"Well, Mr. President, the thanks belong to Clover, Sam and Alex. They did the actual tracing and takedown of Saldo. Without their work, our current situation would not have been possible!"
"I remember those gals, Jerry! They saved Madison from those kidnapers awhile back, as well as me from that invisible teen and from that crazy psychiatrist! You're lucky to have them!"
"Thank you, Mr. President! I know I am!" and the telephone call ends. But Jerry is thinking about Alex.
Alex is unconscious in Christ the King Hospital. She is in a single bed unit. There is a television hanging on the wall, a combination radio-call for assistance unit behind her bed, and because it is Christmas, a small Nativity scene on the dresser. There is a window that looks out onto the street, to the left of the bed, where happy Christmas shoppers can be seen scurrying to their destinations.
Her recovery does not look good. The doctors have told Jerry that if she doesn't snap out of her coma within the next 24-48 hours, she will die. Clover and Sam are spending every minute at her side. When he can get away from the responsibilities at WOOHP, Jerry also comes to visit.
"Dr. Malstaff, what is the probability of Alex recovering from her injury?" Jerry asks anxiously, pulling aside Alex's doctor out of sight from Clover and Sam.
"Jerry, I'll level with you, I would not give her any better chance than one in one hundred thousand. I won't tell her two friends that, but it does not look good," replies Dr. Malstaff sadly.
"I see," responds Jerry, as he wipes a tear from his eye.
Clover and Sam have been by Alex's bedside constantly. They slept in her room, in chairs, and continue their vigil on Christmas Eve. They only take a break to change clothes and eat, but one of them is always there.
Throughout the day on Christmas Eve, the gals wait, hoping and praying. It is closing in on midnight, and Dr. Malstaff decides that the girls must know the truth.
"Clover, Samantha may I have a word with you?" Dr. Malstaff asks.
"Sure, doctor," responds Clover.
"As long as we stay here in Alex's room," adds Sam quietly.
"Your dedication to your friend is heart warming, but I feel I must tell you the truth. Alex is dying."
Clover and Sam hold tissues quickly to their eyes, and their faces show the grief that they had been praying would not come to pass.
Dr. Malstaff continues sadly, "I am sorry, ladies. Every hour she remains in that coma, the closer she comes to death. Even now, if she were to snap out of the coma, there may be irreparable brain damage."
The gals look sadly at Alex, as tears start to stream down their faces.
Dr. Malstaff adds quietly, "I….I do not expect her to make it through the night. You probably should say your good byes to her now." Dr. Malstaff then sadly turns around and exits the room, so the gals can have some privacy. Not much of a Christmas Gift, he thinks sadly, but they had to know the truth!
Clover and Sam look at one another and then slowly walk to Alex's bedside, Clover on her left and Sam on her right.
Grasping her left hand, and giving her a hug, Clover says, "Good bye, girlfriend! I'm going to totally miss you! But I'll be here until the end!" Clover then sits down still grasping Alex's hand, and buries her face in the sheets of the bed, crying silently.
Sam is grasping Alex's right hand. She also gives her a hug and says, "We'll be right here for you, Alex, until it's over! Good bye, friend forever!" She also buries her head in the sheets on the bed and cries silently too, still holding Alex's hand.
As a distant church bell chimes the midnight hour, Sam and Clover tearfully glance up at the Nativity scene, and especially at the newborn Baby. They each offer a silent prayer, begging that Alex be spared.
As if in reply to their prayer, it appears that the star above the Nativity set is shining a little brighter. It must be a trick of the light, the gals think. But then…..
"Clover, Sammy, where am I?" a quiet voice asks tiredly from the bed.
The two girls quickly turn around, and Alex is looking at them with a quizzical look on her face.
"Why are you two crying?" Alex asks.
She is answered with hugs and tears from her two best friends.
"We were just worried about you!" exclaims Clover with a smile, grateful tears streaming down her face, as she embraces her friend.
"Why?" asks Alex, still not knowing how she got to where she is.
"We'll explain later, Alex!" exclaims Sam with a smile, through her tears, as she also continues to hug Alex.
As Clover and Sam hug Alex, they glance at the Nativity set. To them it appears that the baby Jesus is smiling a bit more at them then they remember before. They offer a sincere prayer of gratitude, in thanksgiving for their friend's life. Then it appears that the star above the set flickers brighter in acknowledgement of their thanks.
Within the hour, the room is abuzz with activity. The doctors and nurses on duty begin to run some quick checks on Alex to ensure she is out of immediate danger. Dr. Malstaff is called at home, and he arrives within the hour. He hurries into the room, where he sees a smiling Clover and Sam seated next to a wide awake, and apparently okay Alex. Clover and Sam smile at the doctor, as he enters.
"Hi, Dr. Malstaff. Why am I in this bed?" asks Alex.
The good doctor is shocked! He has never, in his 32 years of medicine seen anyone recover from a coma as deep as Alex's. He runs a few quick tests to satisfy himself that she is out of imminent danger.
"Alex, you may have forgotten, but after a visit to certain areas of the world, the government requires you to be quarantined for 24 hours!" he fibs nicely.
"Oh! I didn't know that!" replies Alex, with a blush of embarrassment on her face. She forgot to ask why Clover and Sam aren't in bed too, and Dr. Malstaff is extremely happy for that omission.
"But now, you need a good night's sleep! I plan to have some tests run on you tomorrow morning. If they pan out, you can probably leave by noon!"
"Thanks, Doctor! That'd be rad!"
As the doctor leaves the room, he motions to Sam and Clover to follow him, and they do.
"I think we have just witnessed a miracle! In all my years of medicine, I have never seen anyone recover from a deep coma such as hers!"
"It was a gift, Doctor!" explains Clover happily.
"Yes, a gift from the Baby Jesus!" adds Sam, with a big smile.
He looks at both of them, and smiles. "I believe it! Miracles still do happen!"
"Is it true you may release her tomorrow?" asks Clover hopefully.
"You mean today, don't you? Yes, I'll be in early on Christmas Day, and I will review the results of the tests I have scheduled the staff to run. If everything works out, Alex goes home!"
"Thank you, Doctor! It's the best Christmas gift we could have possibly asked for!" gushes Sam.
Doctor Malstaff smiles. "Oh, by the way! Merry Christmas ladies!" he says as he waves goodbye.
"Thanks, Doctor!" replies Clover happily.
"And to you also!" adds Sam happily, as they go back into Alex's room.
Alex is waiting for them and asks, "What did Dr. Malstaff want to talk to you about?"
"Oh, he was just asking us when would be a good time to come and take you home in the morning!" answers Clover.
"Yeah," responds Sam, picking up on Clover's theme, "we told him the sooner the better!"
"You guys are right! I don't want to stay here!" remarks Alex.
"Alex, it would be best if you try to get some sleep! Then you'll be ready when we come!" Clover says.
"I do feel a bit tired! And I have one WHALE of a headache!" responds Alex. "You guys are going to sleep at home, right?"
"Yes, Alex! We're going home so we can be ready to pick you up in the morning! Goodnight!" says Sam as she tucks Alex in on the right side of the bed.
"That's right, Alex. Goodnight!" adds Clover as she tucks Alex in on the left side of the bed.
Alex replies tiredly, "Goodnight, guys! See you in the morning!" Alex then closes her eyes, and within minutes is peacefully asleep. Clover and Sam wait until she falls asleep, before they leave.