Jim, Jeremy and Colonel Richmond sat around the table looking over Artie's notes and his journal. Jim was comparing the journal against his partner's notes trying to decipher the code Artie had used. They had agreed to take four-hour shifts sitting with Artie during the night as Danielle would be with him during the day.
"Colonel, who would have access to all of this information? According to what I see not all the department heads have access to it."
"There are only two people that I am aware of who have access to all of the information. But before you go jumping to conclusions you might want to make sure you have VERY good evidence," Richmond said solemnly.
"Are they high up in the government then?" Jeremy asked.
"One is Bristow and the other is Orville Babcock."
"President Grant's personal secretary?" Jim asked surprised.
"Whew, no wonder you didn't want us going to the President with this," Jim said.
"How are you going to investigate him without tipping him off?"
"For now all your inquires will have to go through either myself or Secretary Bristow. He reports directly to Grant's Secretary so he can keep his name out of it until we are ready to proceed with the charges."
"It looks like it. But due to his high level and his close association with the President this is one investigation that must proceed with the utmost care and attention to detail."
"We'll get right on this as soon as we get the information Artie has," Jim vowed.
"Sir," Jeremy questioned, "What if Artemus doesn't regain that portion of his memory?"
"Let's hope it doesn't come to that. Should that happen we'd lose a lot of legwork not to mention the entire list. After committing it to memory Artemus burned everything but these preliminary notes," Richmond sighed.
"Maybe next time at least two agents should memorize the information."
"Without a doubt, Mr. West. I have already made the changes. The two agents will not be partners and if we can help it they won't even know each other."
Their conversation was interrupted by a rather loud shout followed by a quieter, more feminine one. Artie! Jim thought as he leapt up and rushed through the train to his partner's room. He flung open the door to a scene of utter chaos. The petite Danielle was trying unsuccessfully to keep her powerful charge in the bed. Jim rushed over to the bed and grasped his partner by the shoulders and tried to push him back onto the bed.
"You gotta let me go! I have to find Jim…it can't be true…it can't be true…" Artie fought Jim's hold.
"Jeremy get on his left side, I'll take the right. Colonel you stand over there and help catch him if he falls off the bed."
Jeremy and Jim gently but firmly gripped Artie's shoulders and forced him back onto the pillows. Colonel Richmond stood ready to do whatever was needed. Jim noted the sweat pouring off his partner and the bright red flush to his cheeks.
"Mr. West, try talking to him. His fever has spiked to dangerous levels. He's delirious with fever. He doesn't remember you finding him or that you are alive. I'll be right back. Mr. West, try and calm him down if you can," Danielle left the room to get more ice water.
"Hey Artie…it's me, Jim. You're okay, you're safe now."
"Jim? Jim's dead…he's…" Artie began to babble incoherently again.
"Listen to me, pal. I'm right here…I'm not dead. Feel my hand, Artie," Jim gripped his hand tightly.
Jim continued to talk to Artie, slowly calming him down but even he could see the fever raging through his friend. Jim was no doctor but he knew enough to know that a fever this high for too long could cause damage to his brain. He had Jeremy soak a cloth in water and put it on his forehead. Jim shouted for Danielle and was somewhat surprised when she didn't answer. Richmond ran to the door and flung it open, preparing to go and find her. He looked down the hall and saw her struggling with a gigantic block of ice.
Richmond hurried down the hall and grabbed the ice tongs from Danielle and began to drag the block of ice toward Artie's room.
"I thought you were going after ice water NOT a glacier," he retorted.
"I went after the ice water but I have an idea that just might bring his fever down quicker."
They maneuvered the ice block into Artie's room and Danielle instructed Richmond and Jim to begin chopping the ice off in chunks and place them around Artie's body. She asked Jeremy to help while she arranged the ice chunks and kept a cloth on his forehead. Jeremy grabbed the extra hatchet Danielle had brought and began chopping.
Within minutes they had chopped almost the entire block and Danielle had placed it on and around Artie's body. The sound of the chunks knocking against each other while Artie's body shook sounded like a glacier breaking apart. Soon Artie began to relax into the bed and the shaking slowed to dull tremors. His skin was still flushed with fever somewhat.
"Can we remove the ice now?" Jim asked worried about his partner.
"Not just yet, Mr. West. We still need to break this fever. If we remove the ice now his fever will more than likely spike again."
But he's cold," Jim protested.
"I understand your concern, but by making his outer body so cold it should force the fever to break. I'll need one of you to stay with me for a while in case he has another attack."
"I'll stay," Jim quickly replied.
"Jeremy, why don't you go and get some sleep?" Jim offered.
"Fine, James, come get me to spell you in four hours," Jeremy said as he left the room. Jim took the chair next to Artie and Danielle moved to the other side and took a seat. She watched as Jim gently wiped the sweat from Artie's face.
"Well, it seems things are under control here so I will take my leave and head for my hotel. If you need anything send someone for me," Richmond said as he gave Danielle a hug and nodded to Jim as he left.
"Your partner is very lucky to have a friend like you. Most partner's wouldn't take the time to do this."
"Artie's more than just a friend. He's like a brother," Jim commented with a shoulder shrug.
"My uncle told me about you two. He said you have a friendship like no other he has ever seen…"
"Danielle, if you're going to get around to asking if I approve…the answer is yes."
"Excuse me?" she asked flustered.
"I've seen the way you look at him. I must admit I had thought about looking at you like that. Until I saw the way he looked at you. No matter how sick Artie might be I could see how he felt. My suggestion would be to wait until he's feeling better. Artie seems quite fond of you," Jim smiled at her, causing Danielle to blush.
They chatted idly for a bit, Danielle checking Artie's temperature every fifteen minutes. True to his word, Jim woke Jeremy on schedule and after much protesting, finally went to his room to get some rest.
Jeremy and Danielle passed the time pretty much the same way she and Jim had. Jeremy told her about some of his past missions. Danielle hung on his every word. She was fascinated by the work a secret service agent did and asked a lot of questions. As Jim approached his friend's door he heard their conversation and paused to listen. Uh oh, the doctor isn't going to like this! Jim thought, recalling his earlier talk. I better get in there and nip that little Florence Nightingale in the bud Jim thought as he pushed open the door and entered the room.
"Jeremy, you better watch out the doctor warned me we'd be in deep trouble if we convert her over to become one of us," Jim said with a smile.
"Too bad, James, I think she'd make a fine agent," Jeremy said.
"Don't let my uncle or the Colonel scare you gentlemen. I make my own decisions regarding my chosen profession," Danielle regarded them with a twinkle in her eyes.
"Something tells me I bet you do!" Jim said.
"Danielle, how's Artie doing?" Jim asked for an update.
"The fever broke a few minutes ago. I think he'll sleep better now. And he should sleep through the night with no difficulties," she replied not taking her eyes off Artemus.
"That's great! Why don't you go get some rest? Jeremy or I can come and get you if he has any problems."
"Well…I…"
"Danielle, your uncle didn't mean for you to lose sleep tending to your patient," Jeremy said.
"Trust me if anything happens we'll come get you so fast your head will spin," Jim smiled.
"All right, gentlemen, you win. But I warn you…" She smiled back at them as she left the room.
"She sure is a spitfire, isn't she?" Jeremy asked Jim with a chuckle.
"Artie has his hands full that's for sure," came the reply.
"You noticed then?"
"Even a blind man could see it," Jim smiled.
They settled into the chairs and kept their conversation down to low tones. Jeremy and Danielle had changed Artie's sheets and blankets after his fever had finally broken and they had tosses the remaining ice outside. Jeremy left to get some coffee and returned carrying the coffee and several folders.
"The Colonel left these on the desk in the parlor car. I thought we could look through them and maybe find something useful."
Jeremy handed Jim some of the files and a cup of coffee and they set to work. Comparing notes every now and then. Just after 2 am Jim yawned, stretched and looked at the clock. Man time flew by! We've been at this for over 6 hours. He was about to say something to Jeremy when Artie began to talk.
"No…no…that can't be right. He can't be involved in this…" Artie said, his head tossing from side to side.
"Artie?" Jim questioned softly.
"I can't believe it…I won't believe it. What evidence do you have that backs up your theory?" Artie was talking to some unseen person becoming quite agitated.
"I don't believe it…it's just…oh man how am I going to tell Grant?" Artie grew quite again and lapsed back into sleep.
"I wonder what that was about?" Jeremy wondered.
"Someone on his list must have upset him. Maybe he's talking about Grant's secretary. I can't imagine telling Grant information like that would make anyone's day."
"True, James, true. When he wakes up why don't we tell him we'll give that information to the President. Artie's liable to be out of commission for quite some time anyway so he won't know that we won't give it to him."
"Good idea. The Colonel will know he wants to handle it."
They settled back into the quite conversation and reading the files. Danielle entered the room quietly around six am to find Jim and Jeremy asleep in their chairs. Jim with his legs stretched out in front of him and Jeremy with one leg hooked over an arm of his chair and one arm draped over the back. She took the files from them and stacked them on neatly on the sideboard where she noticed the notes Jim had made about Artie's earlier talking in his sleep and she read them.
Oh this is a good development. His memory is starting to come back, she thought as she turned to check on her patient to find him staring at her.
"Good Morning, Mr. Gordon. How are you feeling?" Danielle said quickly.
"Fine, just fine. And the name's Artemus. Mr. Gordon was my father," he smiled at her.
"Fine then…Artemus. I need to ask you some questions…" Artie moved to sit up, "Stay down, Artemus. Judging by the look in your eyes you're still having problems with your equilibrium," Danielle had to remind herself she was a nurse first and woman second but Oh My how easy it was to get lost in those eyes!
"Nothing gets by you does it?" Artie laughed.
"No not much gets past me, Artemus," she replied in a tone that let him know she meant business.
"Now about those questions…" Artie rolled his eyes and grinned, "Artemus, what is the last thing you remember?"
"The last thing I remember was…" Artie reached up and felt his shoulder in the sling, "Jim was holding me and the doctor was pulling my arm off!"
"Well, that's a fairly accurate description," Danielle smiled, "a little embellished maybe but accurate."
"Embellished? You have someone yank your arm off your body and then we'll talk!" Artie smiled back at her, glad that he was able to focus clearly again and what could possibly be wrong with seeing two such pretty faces?
"How long have they been sleeping?" Artie whispered gesturing to his fellow agents still sprawled out sleeping.
"They were asleep when I came in so I don't really know. I took the folders they had and put them on the sideboard," Danielle pointed to the stack of folders.
"Hand them to me, maybe I can figure out what they were working on and give them a push in the right direction."
"No you don't, Artemus! The doctor AND the Colonel warned me about you. You'll not play me like you have played nurses in the past. I am not your average nurse," Danielle found it hard to scold him while keeping the grin from her face.
"I can see that…" Artie grinned turning on the charm.
"I was also warned about the famous Gordon charm, so that won't work either, mister," She tried to glare but there was a hint of a smile in her eyes.
"Oh I'm famous am I?" he smiled.
"Give it up, Artemus, at least wait until you are well enough to back up your flirting," Artie stared at her with his mouth hanging open then he snapped it shut.
"Now if you are through I'd like to continue," Artie merely nodded.
"How is your head feeling today?"
"Like a herd of buffalo stampeded through it…twice."
"Blurred vision?
"No, not really, it seems pretty clear today."
"Nausea?" Artie had to think about this one before he answered her.
"No lying, MISTER Gordon…" Danielle glared and Artie laughed.
"Yeah some," How am I going to be able to ask her to the theater if she keeps figuring me out? Artie sighed.
"All right, follow my finger," Danielle put her finger in front of his face.
"I thought only doctors could do that," Artie chided her as he watched her delicate digit move across his field of vision.
"Yes, well, I happen to be studying to be a doctor. Now how many fingers am I holding up?" Danielle asked as she held up two.
"I see four but I'd bet it's only two," Artie winked at her.
"Bet all you want, Artemus…you've still got a serious concussion. I don't want you to move around too much yet."
"Can't I at least sit up a little? My back hurts from being in this position so long," She thought he sounded just like a helpless child and couldn't help but smile as she resisted the urge to put her arms around him to comfort him.
"I'll bet it's more than just your position that hurts. As soon as one of these gentlemen wakes up I'm going to need to take a look at those cuts on your back."
"Cuts? Oh yeah…" he shifted as they made themselves painfully aware of their presence.
"Are you sure you're related to the doctor and not the Marquis de Sade?" Artie asked playfully.
"Oh I'm quite sure, Artemus. I probably could have taught him a thing or two," Danielle winked at him, Artie just looked back with a shocked expression.
"What's this about the Marquis de Sade?" Jim asked as he stretched.
"Trust me, Jim, you don't want to know," Artie chuckled, "Good Morning by the way."
"I'll just take your word for that, pal. And a Good Morning to you as well. "
"Mr. West, if it's not too much trouble I could use your help."
"Sure, and since you're going to be here a while please…call me Jim," he told her.
"All right, Jim. What I need you to do is help me remove Artemus' shirt. I think that for the time being it will make things easier on me to get to his bandages…not to mention making Artemus more comfortable," between the two of them they managed to slip Artie's night shirt off his left arm.
"Now if you can hold him while I remove the bandages."
Jim gently pulled Artie into a sitting position. He tried not to stare at his partner's back when Danielle gently cleaned and rebandaged the cuts, taking the time to admire his otherwise finely chiseled back, making note of several scars. Oh the life you must have led! She thought sadly.
"There…that's done!" She finally announced, "Jim, can you ease him back gently?"
"Yeah, sure. Artie are you okay?" Jim asked as he leaned him back.
"Yeah, Jim. I'm just discovering that my pretty nurse was right," Artie gave him a slight smile as kept his eyes shut.
"About what?" Jim and Danielle asked in unison.
"I still have a concussion. Boy does the room spin when I keep my eyes open!"
"That unfortunately won't be going away any time soon."
"Oh, well, that's reassuring," Artie deadpanned, "but at least I will get to see two of you," he smiled, oh how she loved that smile!
"Jim, can you hold him for a moment longer? I want to find some more pillows to prop him up some. It will help with the dizziness if he's in a more upright position. And then I'll see about getting everyone some breakfast."
"I'll get some pillows," Jeremy offered finally awake, he left to get the pillows.
"Danielle, if you could hold Artie I'll go see about breakfast," Jim said.
"That's a good idea, Jim."
"None for me thanks," Artie told his partner.
"Jim, if you have some broth Artemus WILL have some of that."
"You heard the lady, Artie. I'll bring it as soon as I can," Jim smiled at his partner.
Danielle perched on the edge of the bed just behind Artemus, gently supporting him careful not to touch his wounds. They chatted idly for a few moments when Jeremy returned with some pillows. Danielle instructed Jeremy to place the pillows in such a way as to create a cocoon to cradle Artie. Then they gently settled him back into the pillows. The winces and groans he tried to hold back were not lost on Danielle.
"Mr. Pike, do you know how much longer Jim will be?" Danielle asked, noting how tired Artie was becoming.
"Please call me Jeremy, the mister usually means I'm in trouble," he laughed, "I think it will be another minute or two…the language I heard coming from the galley leads me to believe Jim is not having the best of luck in there."
"Maybe I should go help, Jim's all thumbs in a kitchen," Artie made to move and Danielle held him back.
"You'll do no such thing, Artemus," Danielle glared, "you are my charge and until I say you will not set one foot out of that bed."
"Yes ma'am," came the timid reply.
At that moment Jim entered the room carrying a tray containing a bowl of steaming broth, and three plates that closely resembled fried eggs, bacon and toast albeit rather blackened toast. Artie took one look at the food and clicked his tongue at his partner.
"James, my boy, as soon as I'm able you're getting cooking lessons," he told his partner.
"As soon as you're well there'll be no need for lessons," Jim smirked. There was a knock at the door and the room grew quiet.
"Come in," Artie said as Colonel Richmond entered.
"Colonel," the three men replied in unison.
"Gentlemen," he acknowledged them with a nod, "Danielle, how is Artemus today?"
"Much better, Colonel. In fact he was just going to have some broth, weren't you, Artemus?" She smiled evilly at him.
"Uh…yeah I can't wait!" Artie rolled his eyes.
"Would you care to join us for breakfast, sir?" Jim asked pointing to the tray.
"Uh…no thank you. I'm glad I ate already."
"Not to worry, sir…when I'm better Jim will attend my cooking class," Artie smirked.
"I should hope so, Mr. Gordon. THAT…" Richmond pointed to the tray, "could be construed as an act of terrorism," everyone laughed.
"Gentlemen, if you'd care to eat that bring your meals to the parlor car…I'd like to discuss some things with you," Jeremy and Jim grabbed their food and headed out of the room with Richmond following closely shaking his head and laughing.
"Now that all your distractions are gone, Artemus you can eat," Danielle smiled at him, Artie smiled back Not ALL the distractions are gone! He thought.
He reached for the bowl and became dizzy. Danielle caught him before he fell completely out of the bed. She propped him up on the pillows and told him to relax she would feed him the broth. Artie felt silly being fed like a baby but it did give him a chance to observe Danielle up close and personal and he decided that he definitely liked what he saw and he fully intended on asking the lovely lady to supper and perhaps the theater.
Artie ate as much broth as he thought he could hold and had settled back enjoying the quiet. Danielle checked his vital signs and made a note to show the doctor later. Artie had closed his eyes and Danielle thought he had gone to sleep. She stole a look at him. He's ever so handsome even when he's sleeping, she thought as she adjusted the blankets. She jumped when he opened his eyes and smiled at her. She smiled back, both of them jumped when the door opened and the doctor walked through.
"I'm sorry, have I interrupted something?" he asked with a lopsided grin.
"Uh…no, uncle, I was just adjusting Artemus' blankets. He's very much improved today," Danielle said quickly moving off the bed.
"I can see that," the doctor laughed, "have you checked his wounds yet?"
"Yes, at least the ones on his back. They are showing no more signs of oozing or infection," Danielle was all business now.
"And the shoulder?"
"It doesn't need to be rewrapped or anything so I left it alone."
"Wise choice, you'll make a fine doctor someday…that is if these boys don't turn you into a spy," the doctor winked at Artemus.
"Who us? No sir! The Colonel warned us so we're on our best behavior," Artie replied with a smile the doctor only shook his head and grinned.
"Has anything else happened that I should be made aware of?"
"He did have some problems last night but I dealt with them."
"What kinds of problems? And how did you treat them?"
"He spiked a very high fever and was delirious. I had Jeremy, Jim and the Colonel chop a block of ice into chunks which I placed on and around his body to reduce the fever."
"Did it work?" the doctor asked intrigued.
"Quite well, it took a few hours for the ice to work but it did bring his fever down."
"So that's why I dreamt I was stranded in Alaska in the middle of winter without a coat!" Artie said surprised.
"You were thrashing about and babbling incoherently with a temperature of 105 degrees, Artemus. In my opinion that called for drastic measures," Danielle told him.
"You did an excellent job, Danielle. I myself might not have thought to do that."
"Thank you, uncle."
"I assume you gave him the memory and vision checks as well?"
"Yes, sir. He still has a severe concussion, prone to dizzy spells and nausea when he moves. He claims his vision is getting sharper, however he still has at least double if not triple vision and he failed the finger test," Whoa, she's good, Artie thought.
"How'd you know about…?" Artie started.
"You're apparent ease at which you tend to lie to your nurse? Simple…I am very observant and I was warned about you," Danielle smirked.
"Why does everyone feel the need to warn people about me?" Artie groaned, when he was met with stern looks he replied, "Never mind I withdraw the question."
"Well, you seem to have things well in hand. I'll leave you to your patient and I'll check back tomorrow," the doctor gave Danielle a hug and nodded to Artemus and took his leave. Before Danielle could insist, Artie had drifted off to sleep.
Out in the parlor car, Jim and Jeremy had been filling Colonel Richmond in on what had happened. They told him how Danielle had helped Artie and they told him the ramblings Artie had uttered while he was delirious. Richmond listened intently nodding his head from time to time. When they finished he sat quietly for some time.
"Gentlemen, you know who he was babbling about don't you? He's been talking about President Grant's personal Secretary…Orville Babcock," both men nodded and he continued.
"As hard as this is for you, James, I am going to order you and Jeremy to handle this. I want you to two to check the President's secretary out from top to bottom," Richmond was surprised when he expected protests from Jim and none came.
"James, I'd have thought you'd protest and want to stay with your partner."
"I would, sir, but I think this time Artie's in very capable hands."
"Hmm, very well, then. I'd like you two to get on this as quickly as possible."
"Has Artemus remembered anything yet?"
"No, sir, not yet. Danielle has her instructions should he remember anything. But if we have to leave…"
"I'm leaving some men here to keep an eye on the train in your absence…they will be instructed to contact me at once if Artemus remembers anything."
"Yes, sir," Jim looked at Jeremy and said, "Come on, Jeremy, the sooner we leave the sooner we can get back!"
"You in that big a hurry for your cooking lessons, James?" Jeremy chided.
"Very funny, Jeremy," Jim rolled his eyes as he pushed him toward the door.
They entered Artie's room quietly, Danielle shushing them with a finger to her lips. They quietly told her Richmond was sending them on a mission. Jim had wanted to make sure Danielle would tell Artie when he woke and make sure he didn't do anything rash. She promised she would take care of things and they took their leave, Jim secretly glad that Artie was not awake so he didn't have to argue with him about going with them.
Artie woke to an empty room. Where did everyone go? He wondered. Thankful Danielle had left him propped up on pillows, Artie clumsily tossed the blankets back and swung his legs out. He had pulled himself into a fully upright position when the door opened. Danielle stood framed in the doorway, a bowl of broth in her hands.
"Just what do you think you're doing?" She asked vehemently.
"Getting caught?" Artie asked timidly.
"You just lie right back down. I leave the room for one minute and you decide to sneak off.
"I woke up…no one was here…I thought I'd find out why."
"Well, stop thinking, it'll only make your head hurt," Danielle said as she set the broth on the sideboard. She opened a packet and poured the contents into his broth.
"What's that?"
"Your headache and pain powders. You seem to fight taking them…this way I know you aren't cheating," she regarded him sternly.
"Oh now that's just so wrong," Artie moaned.
"But you get your medicine," Danielle smirked at him.
"Let's sit you back and I'll feed you. I don't think your vision has improved to the point of letting you try it on your own."
"Not even if…" Artie tried to protest.
"Not even if you drank it straight from the bowl, Artemus. We already changed your bedding once and I'd really rather not have to do it again so soon."
"Well, I feel kind of silly…"
"All right then, if you can grab the spoon I'll let you do it."
Artie made a grab for the spoon…and missed. He grunted in frustration and tried again. This time he hit the edge of the spoon. He frowned and tried to force his eyes to focus on just one spoon. He stared intently for a moment then he sighed. Resigning himself to his fate, he heaved a heavy sigh and leaned back. Danielle merely smiled and began to spoon the broth.