Chapter 15: Bad Dreams

Christine woke up to see she was in the infirmary on Tracy island and that the sun rising outside. She saw Tin-Tin sitting in one of the visitors chairs reading a magazine.

Tin-Tin looked up from her magazine and smiled seeing that Christine was awake "Well good morning sunshine"

"Hello yourself" smiled Christine "where's Scott?" glancing at the other beds.

"After all of his whining, Brains finally let him out"

Christine laughed weakly and winced as her ribs contracted.

"Christine, I'm sorry"

"Oh…it's nothing…"she shrugged. "I've been through a lot worse" That made Tin-Tin raise her eyebrows in surprise and interest. "I'll tell you that story another time" she smiled

"Well are you ready to blow this popsicle stand?" asked Tin-Tin.

Christine giggled "You have to stop making me laugh"

Tin-Tin smiled "First we have to get you out of that hospital gown and into some normal clothes" lifting up a duffel bag. "You have to be the only person that owns all pajama pants and no shorts which would have been helpful to check your leg so, I brought down some of your shirts and I took the liberty to go in Scott's room and raid his pajama drawer for some boxers" she winked.

Christine looked at Tin-Tin embarrassed and trying to hide her face which was changing every shade of red imaginable.

"Here, let me help you into the washroom so we can make you beautiful" said Tin-Tin ignoring Christine's reaction. Tin-Tin helped Christine out of bed and into the washroom.

Christine grabbed some clothes from the duffel bag "Thanks Tin-Tin I can manage from here though"

Several minutes later Christine came out of the washroom wearing Scott's boxers with a t-shirt. She was struggling to get her sweatshirt on but her ribs were protesting too much. She managed to get her head covered and didn't that there was someone else in the room.

"Tin-Tin can you help me get this one?" she asked.

"Sure" said Tin-Tin. Christine totally oblivious to who was really helping her said "Tin-Tin you have to be one of the bravest girls I have met to go in Scott's room and get these boxers for me"

Christine's head emerged from the sweatshirt and instead of seeing Tin-Tin she came face to face with a muscular chest under a light blue shirt. She looked up and saw that it was a very red faced Scott.

She finally understood what she said and started to blush "Oh…Scott…I'll change and give these back" she went to leave but a gentle grip on her shoulder made her stop and turn around.

"It's okay, keep them. They look better on you anyway" he blushed even more just realizing what he said.

"Thanks Scott" she said bashfully not realizing that they were starting to drift closer together.

Their faces were inches apart when Alan popped his head into the infirmary "Guys, breakfast is ready" and ran off.

Scott looked at Christine and smiled "wait here" he left the infirmary and returned with a wheelchair. "Your ride mi'lady" he said using a British accent and saw her frown at it. Christine opened her mouth to argue but he put his hand up stopping her. "You're going to have to get used to being pushed around in a wheelchair for awhile chicky pooh" planting his hands on his hips. "You'll graduate to crutches when your shoulder is healed"

She smiled and saluted with her good arm "Yes, sir!" and sat in the wheelchair.

Scott pushed her into the living room smiling that he won the little argument. They saw John and Gordon sitting at the table not fully awake. Everyone else was sitting across from them trying to fight smiles from their faces.

Christine and Scott stayed where they were perplexed at everyone else's behaviour. Then Christine saw why they were smiling. She quietly got Scott's attention and they saw that Jeff was sneaking up to John and Gordon. When Jeff was inches away from their heads he screamed. Everyone jumped a little but not as much as John and Gordon. They both grabbed for each other and fell on the floor still holding onto one another. Everyone burst out laughing while John and Gordon glared at their father. Jeff just shrugged smiling and told them that he couldn't help it. Scott and Christine were able to collect themselves the fastest and entered the room like they didn't see anything happen.

"Good morning" she greeted everyone as she was pushed to the table. John and Gordon's faces brightened up when they saw her. She looked at them showing concern "You two look awfully pale. It looks like you guys just saw a ghost." Everyone started to snicker except John and Gordon.

"You could call it a ghost" said Virgil.

On a more serious note Christine asked "where are Brains and Fermat?"

"Brains went to go get Fermat" replied John.

"They should be back soon" added Alan. "Then I'll be going up for a month"

Breakfast was like any other breakfast. Everyone was laughing and talking like nothing has happened. After breakfast ended Jeff asked to see Christine in his den, so he could get debriefed from her about London.

Scott brought Christine to the den and left to give them privacy. Jeff's back was to her as he looked out the window. He turned around to her with anger and disgust on his face.

"How could you let the Hood manipulate you like that? I thought you were strong enough to fight him" he said with disgust. "I guess I was wrong to bring you into International Rescue, you're nothing but a weak fool."

Christine sat there stunned at what she heard "sir, it wasn't my fault. I was fighting the Hood the entire time" she exclaimed.

Jeff sneered "that's bullshit. You probably weren't even fighting him. You were probably working for him and manipulating us"

"No, Mr. Tracy. I would never do anything to harm you guys. You're my family"

"Family?" snorted Jeff "we're not you're family. I just took you in because that was my wife's last wish. I never loved you"

Christine sat there speechless trying to fight the tears forming in her eyes.

"You put my eldest son in danger and you say you love him. If you truly loved him you would have gotten him out of the building"

Just then Scott, John, Virgil, Gordon and Alan walked into the room and formed a circle around her with the same expression as Jeff.

"You killed my mother" spat Alan.

"Yeah, you should of died and not her" added Gordon.

Christine's tears were flowing freely now.

"She gave her life for you and this is how you repay that by betraying our trust?" asked Virgil.

"You don't deserve to wear our uniform, you're despicable" said John.

"I told you I love you Christine and this is how you show your love? You let the Hood try and kill me and my family. I could never love anyone like that. You're dead to me" said Scott

The insults kept coming and Christine thought she was going to pass out. She tried to defend herself but none of the Tracys would believe her. She finally couldn't take it anymore and screamed. Then she fell into darkness her last thought being that she should die.

(TBC)