Chapter 16

Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver

Dimitri Marick rubbed his eyes.

The exhaustion was almost oppressive now. The adrenaline rush that sustained him earlier was long gone and it took considerable willpower not to give in to his need for sleep.

Dimitri did allow himself to close his eyes as he thought back to the events that landed him here. Sitting on a stretcher in a crowded hospital hallway.

Dimitri remembered losing consciousness as his rental car spun around like a toy and smashed into a guardrail. He knew he couldn't have been out for long, because everything about the carnage he woke up to was fresh. There were people screaming, cars wedged into others in ways that he couldn't have imagined possible. The smell of gasoline permeated his nostrils and there was smoke everywhere, mingling with the moist Pacific Coast air.

The driver's side of his car was smashed and it pressed against his body. As was the airbag that made him feel as though he was suffocating. Dimitri remembered reaching into his pocket for his Swiss Army knife. Remembered opening it and stabbing it into the airbag for relief.

Those movements were the ones that made him realize he was hurt. That his entire left side was in pain and that a steady trickle of blood ran down his arm. The driver's side window was broken and Dimitri suspected some of the glass had struck him and cut him.

Getting out of the car was a struggle but he was relived to find he could stand and that his arm didn't seem to be broken. One glance into the side view mirror, now dangling loosely from the car, told him he had a bloody cut running down the left side of his face too.

He didn't have time to digest any of it.

An Asian woman with bloodstained clothes ran towards him almost as soon as he got out, pleading for help in getting her father out of the wreck that was her car.

Much of what happened afterwards was a blur too.

Dimitri vaguely remembered pulling the old man out of the car with the help of another man. He also remembered using his designer tie as a makeshift tourniquet on the man's leg until finally, thankfully, the sound of sirens filled the smoky air, signalling the arrival of help.

A mix of blood and rain ran down his face when he moved away from the chaos on the highway and sat down on a guardrail that was still in one piece. Judging from what he could see it involved over a dozen cars, some of which were in a much worse state than his own. He spotted an over-turned tractor-trailer too. Traffic had come to a complete standstill in all lanes and he saw that several people were hysterical, crying and sobbing even if they didn't appear to be injured.

Dimitri wondered whether his military training was to thank for his own calm. Much as he'd once hated it, back when he was young and hot-headed and vehemently opposed to serving a regime that he despised, he was grateful for it today. While others had been helpless and hysterical, he'd known what to do and how to help, without giving it a moment's thought.

One of the paramedics had commended him, even insisting he receive recognition for his efforts, but the thought made Dimitri cringe.

No. I'm not a hero. I don't feel like one.

A young policeman had come by and taken a statement from him before sticking him into an ambulance and now he was here, sitting in a hospital hallway, waiting until those with worse injuries than his had been taken care of. Based on the sheer volume of patients and frantic relatives, Dimitri guessed that the bulk of the accident victims had been brought to this hospital. There were several others, like him, stuck out in the hallway on a stretcher, waiting to be looked at.

He could see a TV screen showing the news. The multiple car pile-up was the story of the evening. He strained his ears to hear the broadcast. Something about a drunk driver. A twelve-year old boy killed. Three others in critical condition.

Dimitri winced.

What a tragic, senseless mess.

And he got caught in the middle of it. All because he'd taken a wrong turn somewhere.

Next time turn on the GPS.

Dimitri pushed himself off the stretcher and stood on unsteady legs.

"Sir, please. It's better you lie down. I know you're uncomfortable but..." someone told him.

"I ...need to use the restroom," he lied.

The woman wearing scrubs who stood next to him pointed him towards a sign that said WC.

Dimitri nodded in thanks. His legs felt steadier after a couple of steps.

He stared at himself in the washroom mirror, frowning at the sight. A paramedic had fixed up the cuts on his face and arm, so he was no longer bleeding, but the rest of him wasn't pretty. There were thick bloodstains on his shirt collar and his expensive suit was wrecked.

His entire left side throbbed and he could have used something for the pain. But that too was something he could deal with. He suspected that his injuries were superficial. They'd leave him sore and bruised but not much else.

More than anything he wanted a bed and a shower.

And even more than that, he wanted her.

He left the men's room and walked towards a police officer questioning someone in the waiting room. He pulled out a business card from his wallet and handed it to him.

"If you need to contact me for anything else," Dimitri told him.

The officer stood up. "Sir, you were in the pile-up. I saw you pulling that man out of the car...I'm sure someone would love to thank..."

Dimitri cut him off. "I'd like to leave if you don't need me here for any further statements."

"You're hurt," the officer told him. "You should to see a doctor."

Dimitri shook his head. "I don't need a doctor. I need my wife."

"Can we call her?"

"No, I..." Dimitri paused. Telling him he didn't know the number wouldn't make it seem like he was fit to leave the hospital of his own volition. "I'd prefer to go home. If you can...call me a taxi. I'd appreciate that."

The officer said something to the person he'd been speaking to and then walked to the Emergency room entrance with Dimitri. "Yeah, sure. I can do that."

Pine Valley, Pennsylvania

"Look," David Hayward sighed. "I think if you're going to use her as a consultant you should pay her what she's worth. The lack of credentials, no prior reputation...who cares? Has she come through for you or hasn't she? Well, then...base it on that."

Levy Rosenberg went on about how being part of his latest project was an honour in itself. A huge opportunity for an unknown and struggling researcher.

David bit his tongue.

Yeah, I bet Alex Devane, global pioneer in stem cell research, is thrilled to be your sounding board.

He reminded himself that Levy had no clue who she was. "I agree, you're giving her a chance, a chance on a nobody, but I'm just saying if you're going to keep using her...I don't know, judge her and pay her based on what she's contributed. And when someone else tries to snatch her up maybe she'll keep that in mind."

"Are you kidding me?" Levy laughed on the other end. "I don't run a charity here. Government funding and good intentions aside, this is a business like any other. You know that."

David sighed a second time. It was a lost cause. And the irony of it all was that, a few years ago, he would have reacted the exact same way. If he had an eager young researcher desperate to break through the ranks, willing to give him something for next to nothing, why not take advantage of it? He was always more than willing to reap in the acclaim and the glory. "You're right," he admitted. "You did me a favour and I found out what I needed. You deserve whatever you get out of it."

"Exactly."

David ended the call with a frown. Sorry, Alex. I tried.

He really should have given her a call too. To let her know he'd told Dimitri her whereabouts. But he wasn't sure he was ready for that conversation. Or even whether Dimitri had done anything with the information.

David rubbed his temple. He used to be a firm believer that it was a dog eat dog world out there. That only the strong survived and that the sooner you learned that lesson, the better.

He walked into the living room and saw Maggie and Leah's faces etched in concentration, looking for the right pieces of the giant unfinished puzzle they had stretched across the dining room table. They moved the guinea pig cage into the living room too, so Ruben could join them.

Or do we just spout clichés about it being a cruel world in order to justify our own cruel actions?

He didn't want Leah growing up in that kind of world. He wanted others to treat her kindly and fairly. And for her to do the same.

Becoming a father had changed him. In ways he could never have imagined.

That was his family he was looking at now and it filled him with a contentment that was hard to describe. If only his brother was still around to see it. David had a feeling Leo would have adored his namesake niece.

Maggie raised her head to look at him. "Ooh...look at you. All handsome and all, with suit and tie and shiny black shoes. You almost make me want to switch sides."

David laughed. "Is that all it takes, a suit? Wait until you see me in a speedo."

"Oh god...stop it. I just ate." Maggie laughed. "I think that might make Anna switch sides."

"She'd have to be here for that, wouldn't she?" David fastened his colourful tie. "Tell me again why I'm letting you stay here and eat all my food while you insult me all day long?"

"Because..." Maggie handed Leah a puzzle piece. "Because I'm family and you have no choice and I'm also an awesome babysitter."

"That you are," David agreed.

"So why the get up?" Maggie asked him. "Are you going on a date?"

"Funny."

"No, seriously."

"I have a consultation with a patient's family."

"Did Anna teach you to get all dolled up for that?"

"No, her sister actually. Alex used to believe that if you cared enough to look good for your patients, it gave them the sense that you gave a damn about their well-being too. She also believed that the more faith they had in you as a doctor the better their chances for recovery."

"Hmm..." Maggie pursed her lips, pensive. "I think I like that idea." She smirked. "Unless you look too good...then it would make me think my doc cared more about his clothes than me."

"It's hard, you know, for me not to look too good," he shot back with a grin. "It's one of the very few ideas I stole from Alex Devane. Compared to the many she no doubt copied from me."

"Of course. But aren't most of your patients out cold by the time you get to them?"

"I do see them before and after, you know."

"It is amazing what you do for a living," Maggie told him, with a sudden sincerity that surprised him. "You literally hold people's hearts and lives in your hands. I guess they do have to trust you."

"It's an incredible, beautiful job," he admitted. Sometimes it took someone like Maggie to remind him.

"Any word from Anna?"

"She called shortly after arriving in Kigali. To let me know she finally got there."

The phone rang right after he answered her question. David sat down to answer it, only to have Leah crawl up into his lap as soon as he did. "Long distance..." he told Maggie. "This may be a case of speaking of the devil."

"Anna?"

"Not quite," was the answer on the other end.

David smiled at the sound of Robin's voice. "Hi, sweetheart. How are you feeling?"

"Much better. Thanks. It's amazing what a few days of doing nothing but sleeping and eating can do for you."

"I'll have to make that a regular prescription then."

Robin laughed. "You should."

"Just make sure you don't let your mother cook for you. And make sure you don't tell her I said that."

"David?"

Her voice suddenly sounded serious. "Yes?"

"There's something I need to tell you. Something I needed to tell Mom before I could tell you."

David looked at Maggie, who was trying to follow the conversation by listening to his end of it and watching his reactions.

"What is it, Robin?"

"It's going to sound crazy."

"Are you sure you're okay?"

"Yes, yes...I'm fine. It's not me. It's...David, I don't know how to say this but...my Dad's alive."

David grasped the phone a little tighter. "What?"

"It's a long story...but I'll try to give you the short version. Do you remember Sandrine Mutanga in Paris, the WSB agent from the DRC who came to help Mom and Sean?"

David's mouth felt dry. "Yeah...I remember her."

"She was really looking for Dad, who'd gone after Faison thinking he'd kidnapped Mom. All this time, after the boat explosion, Dad had made this crazy deal with Faison that promised he'd stay away from us, if Faison promised to stay away from us too. But then, when Faison kidnapped Mom, well, it wasn't actually Mom, of course, but Dad thought it was, so the deal was off."

Robin sounded breathless and David had a hard time following her. Had a hard time focusing on any thought but one.

Robert Scorpio was alive?

"What?"

"I know it's all kinds of crazy complicated. But, what I'm trying to say is he's alive, David. My Dad's alive!"

"Robert Scorpio's alive..." he mouthed, watching Maggie's eyes widen in response. He swallowed, composing himself. "Sweetheart, that's amazing news. I'm...really happy for you."

Robin paused. "It wasn't exactly a warm and fuzzy reunion or anything. He had a lot of explaining to do. But the more it's sinking in, the more I feel like it's this incredible gift. One I'd never ever thought I'd get. Not in this lifetime anyway."

"It is...incredible."

"You understand then why I asked Mom to come here. I couldn't tell her over the phone."

David took a deep breath.

"David...?"

"Yeah, of course, I understand, sweetheart," he lied. Truthfully, he didn't understand. Just as he didn't quite understand what he was feeling right now. "So, your Mom...she knows?"

"Yeah, I just told her. She went to see him."

"I see..." Anna knew already and it didn't occur to her to call him?

"I wanted you to know as well, David."

"Thanks, Robin. And..."

"What?"

"Will you make sure your Mom's okay?"

"Of course."

"Will you also ask her to give me a call?"

"Sure. And David, I just want you to know...having my Dad back, doesn't mean I love you any less."

David took a deep breath. "I know. I love you too, sweetheart. And...I'm really happy for you. This is incredible and you're going to have to tell me the whole story when you come back here."

"I should go...I ordered some room service and I think he's at the door."

"Robin... Take care of yourself too okay?"

"Will do! Give Leah a big kiss for me!"

David hung up and felt his shoulders slump.

"Holy cow!" Maggie exclaimed. "Did I hear what I just thought I heard? Did Robin call to tell your her Dad's alive? Robert Scorpio, big WSB hero who died when he tried to rescue Anna from the clutches of some madman?"

David raised his brows. "Yeah, that's the one."

"Wow," Maggie looked at him in disbelief. "That is crazy. Did she say...why? Was he on some super secret mission for twenty years?"

"Who's Robert?" Leah piped in.

"Robin's dad," David told her, holding her closer.

Leah giggled, as if he'd told a joke. "No...you're her dad!"

He didn't have to correct her. She was already pre-occupied as she caught the perfect fit for one of the puzzle pieces. Sometimes her five-second attention span was a blessing.

"What does it mean for you and Anna?" Maggie asked softly. "Robert being back. Wasn't she married to him when he, you know, died."

David shrugged his shoulders. He didn't want to know what it meant. Surely a marriage was void and null after the husband spent years playing dead?

It's not the legalities I care about, it's Anna's reaction to it all.

"Things are cool with you and Anna, aren't they?" Maggie asked him, looking as serious as he'd seen her since she got here.

Well, we had a big fight before she left for Africa. I hurt her when I found her sister and didn't tell her. She thinks that I'm trying to run her life and control her, when all I want to do is keep her safe. Oh, and she can't seem to muster any enthusiasm for our wedding which is coming up in a couple of months.

David held on to Leah, kissing the top of her head. "Yeah. Things are cool."

Vancouver, Canada

"Do you mind.." Dimitri winced. "Driving a little smoother?" The bumpy cab ride was more painful than he'd expected.

Maybe leaving the hospital wasn't the best idea after all.

Who's to say she wants to see you after what happened this morning?

He'd pulled the piece of paper with her address out of his suit pocket at the hospital and given it to the impatient driver who now jammed on the brakes and announced they were here.

Dimitri glanced at the fare meter and handed him a twenty.

"Thanks," he mumbled through clenched teeth. Getting out of the car would take a lot more effort than usual. Everything throbbed at this point.

The driver eyed him sceptically.

"I'll be fine," Dimitri mumbled. He held on to his side as he stepped back out into the rain. It was late and it was dark outside. The neighbourhood was deathly quiet.

'Please be home,' he thought. The idea of taking another cab back to the hotel made him shudder. But as he slowly made his way to the door he was starting to have second thoughts about coming here as well.

What the hell do I say? Here I am. A mess. Please nurse me back to health. The way you did the first time we met.

Is that why you're the only person I want to be near when I'm miserable? Because I trust you to take care of me?

I wanted to do the same for you, Alex.

But you wouldn't let me.

He'd have made an effort to take a deep breath, but his ribs hurt too much for that.

He knocked on the door and waited.

It wasn't a long wait before Alex opened the door. She wore a trench coat and had an umbrella in her hand, as if ready to leave.

At this time?

"Dimitri?" She looked shocked to see him.

"Hi, Alex..."

In a gesture that took him by surprise, her hand reached out to the bandage on his face.

"What happened to you?"

"There was a big pile up on the highway..."

"I know," Alex looked at him in disbelief. "I just saw it on the news. Twenty-two cars totalled, three people dead...all because of one drunken idiot."

"Mine was the first car that idiot hit."

Alex stared at him, as if trying to assess his condition under the porch light.

"Do you think..." Dimitri searched for the right words. Something he usually had no trouble with. "I could use a bed, I mean...what I'm trying to say is that I'd love to stay at a place that's not a hotel room."

"Dimitri..." she looked at him incredulously. "Why aren't you in a hospital? Has a doctor seen you yet?"

"I was...there was a wait. I couldn't stand it anymore. So I left."

Alex moved a hand to her mouth. "Tell me you're kidding."

"I'd really like to lie down..." He was starting to feel lightheaded.

"Jesus Christ...you need to have someone look at you."

"Tomorrow."

"I don't think so." Alex shook her head and made him put an arm over her shoulder. "Not tomorrow. Tonight. Do you realize you could be bleeding internally?"

She walked him over to the car that stood in the drive way, holding him steady.

"No hospital," he insisted. He didn't have it in him to go back to lying on a stretcher in some hallway that smelled of disinfectant.

"You need to see a doctor!"

"You're a doctor!" he tried as she helped him into the passenger's side of the car.

He expected anger and frustration from her, but the only emotion he caught on her face was concern.

Dimitri leaned back in his seat, convinced that if his body didn't hurt quite as much, he'd have given in to sleep long ago.

The car wouldn't start and Alex banged her fist against the steering wheel in frustration. Judging from the ample rust he'd seen even in the darkness he guessed the vehicle was overdue for retirement.

"Nice set of wheels."

Alex turned sideways, her eyes meeting his. "Do you want to walk?"

Dimitri shook his head, unable to help a smile. She was even more beautiful when her irritation was mixed with determination. "No."

"It'll start...trust me."

"Alex...come on," he reached for her arm. "Please, no hospital. I'm going to be fine."

"You don't know that, damn it!" she shot back. "I don't have anything at home to monitor your vital signs overnight and I'm not able to do a full examination here! If anything were to happen to you..."

She stopped mid-sentence when the car's engine finally roared to life and never finished what she was going to say, speeding out of the driveway in silence instead.

"Alex..."

"I work nights at a 24-hour clinic," she told him. "There's enough equipment there that they can have a decent look at you. If the doctor doesn't think you need to be admitted, I'll trust him on it, okay?"

Dimitri nodded. "Fine"

He was too sore and tired to argue anyway.

As always, big thanks to my two editors Kel and Annie for keeping the typos in single digits. :)