Chapter Eight: Defects

Waiting in Lisa's room, unfortunately, brought Gary back with the girls, and Sue and Lucy proceeded to grill him about what was going on. Unable to avoid it, Gary explained to them that Lisa was not of Earth's origin. They, of course, were skeptical, especially since they were FBI agents and weren't light about such extravagant things.

Sue, however, remembered something from just before Lisa was shot. "I thought I…I thought I heard something when she was running to me."

All of them looked at her. Marissa said, "I thought you were deaf."

"I am…I can't explain it. It's like I heard it…in my head. A voice, telling me to get down."

"That was Lisa," said Gary, once again at her bedside, holding her hand. "She's telepathic. I just didn't know she could speak that way to people she isn't linked to."

"Speak in what way?" asked Pete's voice from the doorway. Everyone turned and found him wheeling a gurney.

"What's that for?" Gary demanded, bypassing his question. Pete eyed the three women, and Gary said, "It's okay, they know."

Pete shrugged. "She has to be taken for another x-ray. That defect in her right heart isn't normal, even for her."

Gary started to stand. "I'm going with her."

"Gary, I know you'd rather not let her out of your sight, but you're not allowed in radiology. Help me get her on the gurney, will you?"

Reluctantly, Gary gently lifted Lisa, shifting her to the gurney with Pete's help. He wheeled her out, and Gary sat down heavily on the bed, staring at the floor, and put his head in his hands.

Sue and Marissa sat on either side of him, Marissa placing a hand on his arm in comfort. Lucy said, "Gary, I'm sure she'll be fine."

"You don't understand," he muttered. "That doctor is one of the assistants of the mad scientist that was out for Lisa three years ago." Too weak from depression to stop himself, he launched into the story of what happened. "I don't trust him, or his girlfriend, no matter what he says."

"Things will work out, Gary," said Marissa softly. "Everything happens for a reason, remember?"

"God works in mysterious ways," added Sue.

Gary scoffed. He couldn't help but think that things were going to grow steadily worse.

End chapter eight.