7Days: The Countess

Frank was wheeled into N.N.L. on a gurney with his arms folded across his chest and a scowl on his face. Just as they rounded the corner Olga stepped out of the infirmary.

"Fra- Mr. Parker," she exclaimed, then she turned and glared at Ramsey, "You shot him!"

"I was doing my job," snorted Ramsey, "and my job was to bring him back!" this only got dirty looks from Olga and Frank.

"Before the end of the night you're all going to regret this," growled Frank as they wheeled him into the infirmary and Olga started to treat his wound.

Ramsey just smirked and walked out the door and down the hall to Talmadge's office to make his report. As he neared the door he heard Bradley trying to pacify someone the Phone. When Ramsey walked into the office he found Talmadge sitting there holding the phone a foot away for his ear and still cringed at the shouting coming form the receiver. All Ramsey could make out were the shouted words.

"WHAT DID YOU THINK YOU WERE DOING?!!"

"I'm very sorry, sir." Said Talmadge trying to calm down the irate caller finally there was a loud click as the caller slammed the phone down on the other end. Olga, who had just entered the office to report on Parker's condition, stood there and watched as Talmadge sat there behind his desk glaring daggers at Ramsey.

"What's wrong, Mr. Talmadge said Olga finally breaking the tense silence.

"Do you know who that was on the phone, Ramsey?" Talmadge asked gritting his teeth and trying not to shout, "That was the Vice President of these United States, and he was on the warpath! Apparently someone from NASA called him and said that the Countess was furious because some idiot NSA agent shot her godfather in the leg at her birthday party!!!" by this time Ramsey was squirming and Olga was looking shocked. Talmadge continued, more quietly this time.

"Frank was telling us the truth all along. The countess really is his goddaughter. I guess we didn't know Frank as well as we thought we did."

"What do we do?" asked Ramsey.

"You two can patch Frank up and get him back to that party as fast as you possibly can!!" snapped Talmadge, "right now she's turning down the deal and telling the negotiators to go to Hades and stay there!"

The doors to the infirmary opened and in walked Olga. Frank who was sitting on the examination table smiled at the sheepish expression she wore.

"Now do you believe me?" he said quietly.

"I'm sorry for not believing you, Mr. Parker." She said. Turning she walked over to the drawer, opened and pulled out the birthday present that she had helped Ramsey take from him earlier.

"Now that they know the truth they are sending you back to the party," said Olga, "right now the countess is on the warpath, and she's got half of capital hill breathing down Talmadge's neck and he is breathing down Ramsey's neck."

Frank chuckled as Olga finished the bandage and helped him to his feet,

"Bridgett always did have a temper," he said, "and nothing could make her loose it faster than someone messing with her family."

Frank and Olga Walked out of the building and climbed into her car and started out for the party.

"Mr. Parker," said Olga breaking the silence, "I treated Mr. Ramsey for what appeared to be a hand-shaped electrical burn on his chest."

"Oh," said Frank appearing calmer than he felt. He had hoped that they would forget about that.

"Yes," said Olga, "and he says that the countess did it."

"And he calls me crazy," said Frank, "you and I know that isn't possible." Frank was relived when Olga seemed to have let the subject drop.

When they arrived at the party they noticed dark almost black storm clouds overshadowing the building. Lightning rippled though them causing loud clap of thunder.

"She's worse than I thought," said Frank to himself.

"What did you say?" said Olga

"Nothing," said Frank kicking himself for saying that out load.

When they entered the convention hall where the party was being held one of the federal officers ran up to Frank.

"Mr. Parker," he said, "you've got to help us the Countess has locked herself in her room and is refusing to even talk to us, and if this deal falls through guess who is going to be looking for another job!" Frank smiled,

"Let me go up there," he said, "I think I can calm Hurricane Bridgett down." Frank and Olga walked into the elevator and Frank hit the button for the penthouse floor. A few minutes later they stepped off the elevator and turning left they walked down the hall to penthouse suite Number 1 Frank knocked on the door. A few seconds later the door opened and there stood Bridgett's Butler Shanks."

"Thank goodness you are here, Master Frank," he said, "you'd better get in here and pacify Bridgett before she blows a hole in the roof."

"What," said Olga Puzzled

"It's a figure of speech." Said Frank quickly, while, at the same time, giving the butler a will- you- keep- your- mouth- shut look. Then frank glance over the Butlers shoulder into the room and saw a glow coming from the doorway at the top of the stairs.

"Stay here, Olga." he said and with that Frank darted past the butler and up the stairs when he entered the room he found that Bridge was glowing white as bolts of electricity rippled up and down her body her eyes had changed to vacant orbs that were glowing with the same white light.

Soon as she saw Frank the light disappeared and her eyes returned to normal.

"Papa Frank," she said throwing her arms around him, "are you okay?"

"I'm fine," he said, "just a little sore." Bridgett frowned when she saw the outline of the bandage under his slacks,

"You didn't bring back that jerk that shot you did you?" she asked.

"No," Frank chuckled, "He's at headquarters getting raked across the coals by the vice president and the rest of the NSA."

"Serves him right." She snarled.

"Bridgett," said Frank, as she sat on his knee, "What's all this business about you throwing the government negotiators out and telling them the deal was off."

"Well," she said, "it was a government agent that shot you. Why should I help the people that would treat you like that?"

"Bridgett," said Frank putting his arms around her, "That guy that shot me well his name is Ramsey and he has disliked me from day one. He's a real hothead but not all of these people are like that and they didn't have anything to do with what happened. It's not right to blame all of them for the actions and bad decisions of a few." Bridgett carefully considered things. Suddenly her eyes lit up with an idea. Hopping of Franks lap she scurried over to the desk and took out a piece of paper and a pen. She wrote something down quickly and brought it to Frank.

"Papa Frank," she said with a self satisfied look on her face, "that paper gives you co-ownership of the Carbide Aridium deposit, now if they want that mineral they are going to have to be nicer to both of us."

TBC PLEASE READ AND REVIEW