FORGOTTEN MEMORIES!—6

The dreams were real, his body arching on the bed as the car once more made contact with him. "No," he whispered as he was thrown through the air and impacted heavily with the ground. "No!" he shouted as he opened his eyes and saw the face of the woman from his nightmares.

"Joe, you're all right. It's just a dream."

"No! Get away from me!" the injured man shouted as he struggled to stop the hands that held him down. "Leave me alone!"

"Joe, listen to me. We're going to have to tie him down if he doesn't respond soon," Marseilles informed Mannix's friends.

"No! D...don't tie me up. N...not again," he shouted, but continued to fight the hands that held him, the hands that belonged to his enemy not to the people who were trying to help him.

Peggy moved closer to the bed, anguish written on her face as she watched the struggling man. "Joe, it's Peggy. You're safe now. Nobody's going to hurt you anymore," she told him.

The doctor watched as the nurse administered a sedative to his patient's IV and watched the almost instantaneous affect. The body on the bed relaxed as the new drug entered his system. "He should rest now," he explained.

"What did you give him?" Peggy asked as she placed a hand on his forehead and flicked back a stray lock of dark hair.

"Just a mild sedative, but he's so exhausted it took effect faster than normal. He should sleep for a couple of hours. Just press the button if he needs anything," Marseilles told her as a nurse finished taking his vitals.

Peggy watched as the two left and returned her attention to the man who'd come to mean so much to her. 'You have to get better, Joe, I can't go through the loss again,' she thought as she reached out and took his hand.

MANNIX-MANNIX-MANNIX

Joe opened his eyes and looked around the room, smiling when his eyes fell on the pretty woman sitting in the chair next to his bed. "Hi, Peg," he said.

"Joe," she returned the smile as she stood up and moved closer to him. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm..."

"Don't you dare say it, Joe Mannix," she snapped, a little more forcefully than she intended.

"Say what?" he asked sheepishly.

"That you're fine. I don't want to hear that anymore. I want the truth!"

Mannix smiled and nodded slowly. "All right, Peggy, should know better than to try to hide things from you."

"Yes, you should. Now answer the question," she said.

"I'm doing okay for now, Peg."

"Are you sure?"

"Peggy!"

"All right, Joe, I believe you but if you need anything at all just let me know."

"The only thing I want right now is to go home and sleep in my own bed."

"Well that's not going to happen for a while yet," she told him.

"I figured as much."

Peggy was taken aback by the handsome face showing through the healing bruises, paleness, and cuts. She swayed and sat heavily in the chair.

"Peggy!" Joe gasped as the woman he cared for seemed ready to pass out.

"It's okay, Joe, I think it just hit me that your home. I...I thought we'd lost you," she explained.

"I'm here, Peg, and I don't plan on disappearing again," he assured her as he reached out to take her hand in his.

"You'd better not," she warned as she placed her head on the pillow and let the tears flow.

MANNIX-MANNIX-MANNIX

Art stepped quietly into the room and smiled at the two people he called friends, close friends, friends he'd do anything for. Joe's too pale face was still lined with pain and fading bruises and he swore he'd find out who was behind his disappearance and subsequent beating. He let the door close softly behind him and was surprised to see Joe Mannix turn his gaze on him. He stepped up to the bed and asked softly. "How are you feeling, Joe?"

"Tired."

"Then why aren't you sleeping?" Malcolm asked worriedly.

"To much p...pain," he answered honestly.

"Why didn't you call for the nurse?"

"Don't want to w...wake Peggy. She's s...sleeping."

"She'd shoot you if she knew that, Joe. Look, I'll go get the nurse. You just try to rest until she comes in."

"Thanks, Art," Mannix told him, smiling weakly as he let his eyes slide shut. The image of the dark haired woman invaded his mind as he was left alone with his thoughts. 'Who are you? Why can't I remember?' He hated feeling helpless and right now that was just how he felt. He knew this woman was behind the beatings and his disappearance and that he needed to remember who she was before it was too late. He knew she was going to come back after him and he had to protect Peggy Fair from this unknown threat.

"Mr. Mannix, I've got something to help you with the pain."

Joe opened his eyes and smiled gratefully. "T...thanks," he whispered as he moved on the bed.

"You shouldn't wait so long the next time," the older woman told him. "If that doesn't help then just let me know, all right?"

"Okay," he answered sheepishly.

"Go to sleep, Joe," Malcolm sat in the second chair and watched over the two sleeping forms.

MANNIX-MANNIX-MANNIX

"Did you do as I asked?"

"Yes, ma'am, the arrangement has been sent and he should receive it before long."

"Oh, Joseph, I would love to be there to see your face. You'll pay for betraying me." She smiled and sat in the chair, the sun beating down on her face making her feel warm in spite of the cold hatred she felt for the handsome man who'd managed to get her sent to prison. 'Oh yes, Joseph, you'll pay dearly before I let you die. You cost me everything I had and now you'll know what it means to turn your back on my loyalty.,' She lifted her glass of amber liquid and made a toast. "To your death, Joseph, let's hope it's a long and painful reminder of what you cost me," she swore as she downed the last of the brandy, angrily throwing the crystal goblet across the veranda, to shatter against the wall.

MANNIX-MANNIX-MANNIX

"This is not a good idea, Mr. Mannix."

"Look, Doc, I've been here nearly three weeks and I'm tired of it. I just want to go home and rest in my own bed."

"Will you rest or will you go after whoever did this to you?"

"I can't go after anyone until I get rid of these damn things," Mannix indicated the heavy casts on his body.

"That won't be for a few weeks yet, Mr. Mannix. If I agree to let you leave you'll have to make sure you see your doctor when you get back to California."

"I will. Thanks, Doc," Mannix said with a lopsided grin.

"Not so fast. I said if I agree to let you go. I want to run some tests first. If they turn out okay then I'll arrange your release. Otherwise you'll be staying as our guest for at least another week."

"More tests?" Mannix grimaced at the thought of being poked and prodded.

"That's right. I'll make the arrangements and if all goes well you can go home in two days. Until then you just take it easy and let the nurses know when you need anything."

"I will. Thanks, Doc," Mannix said as he pushed the button to lower his head. He closed his eyes and thought back over the last few weeks. His still healing body was a constant reminder that the danger was still out there and that he needed to heal in order to go after the mystery woman. 'Who are you?' he thought as he rubbed his head. The IV's were gone now and he was eating more. He was alone in his room after insisting that Peggy and Art get some lunch.

He drifted toward sleep and didn't hear the door open or see the person who entered and placed a wrapped vase on his bedside table.

MANNIX-MANNIX-MANNIX

'You will pay for betraying me, Joseph. I will make you regret the day you turned your back on the things I offered you. I could have made something of you.' She slapped his face, rocking his head back with the force of the blow. Her hand print stood out on his bruised face as she reached out and stroked his chin, smiling maliciously when her eyes met his. The fear she expected to see there was absent, and her anger at the man flared on her face.

'I don't think I'd have liked what you made me,' he answered through swollen lips. She struck him again and he knew he wasn't going to get out of there alive. 'I'm sorry, Peggy,' he thought as the beating began again and the painful blows landed on his already battered body.

MANNIX-MANNIX-MANNIX

"I'm sorry, Peggy."

Peggy sat up in the chair and leaned in over the bed as the sleepy voice apologized to her. "Joe, are you alright?"

He forced his sleep drenched eyes open and stared into the face of an angel. He'd been so involved in the nightmare and was relieved to see that was all it was. He wasn't at the mercy of a madwoman and her henchmen. Swallowing past his dry throat he nodded slowly as the headache returned once more. "I'm f...fine, Peg," he lied.

"Is your head bothering you again?"

"Among other thing," he answered softly.

"The dreams?"

"Yeah, I keep seeing the face of a woman, Peggy, she's the one behind all this and I have to remember who she is before it's too late," he groaned as he tried to pull the memory from his numbed, fog entrenched mind. "Dammit, I need to remember," he gasped painfully.

"It'll come back, Joe, you just can't force it," Peggy tried to assure him.

"I hope you're right, Peg, because I have a feeling she's just biding her time waiting for me to get out of here."

"You really think she'll come after you again?" Peggy asked worriedly.

"I don't think it, Peg, I know it," he snapped as he pushed the button and raised his head. "Where'd that come from?" he asked, pointing to the package on the nightstand.

"It must've been delivered while I was gone. Would you like me to check who it's from?"

"Please."

"The card says it's from Wendy Parker. Do you know her?"

Joe smiled when she handed him the small card. "She's a nurse at the hospital back home. My father must've told her I was here," he explained and saw a strange look on Peggy's face. He smiled as he realized she seemed slightly jealous. "She's fifty, married, with six kids, Peg."

"Oh," she said simply. She unfolded the paper and smiled as she turned back toward them, gasping as the gift was revealed.

"What is it?" Joe asked as he strained to look into the open package.

"I...its, Joe I have to get Art."

"Peggy, what's in it?"

"She sent you Roses."

"What's wrong with them?"

"They're dead, Joe." she answered angrily. "I'm going to get Art and Frank."

"Peggy, it's ok," he assured her, reaching for her arm as he heard the tremor in her voice.

"No it's not, Joe. She sent you dead roses. That's a threat and you know it."

"Peggy, they didn't come from Wendy."

"How do you know that? The card says she sent them."

"I know but there's no way Wendy is behind any of this."

"I'll be right back, Joe."

"Okay," he said, his head continued to pound as he closed his eyes and pictured the mystery woman of his nightmares.

Peggy pulled open the door and took one last look at the man she'd fallen for. A man who's life seemed full of danger. She knew he would never give it up as long as there were people who needed his services.

It wasn't long before Peggy returned with Art Malcolm and Frank Williams. Both men examined the bouquet of dead flowers and Williams assured them he'd check the package for prints and find out where the deadly gift was sent from.

Joe nodded as the detective left the room, the flowers, the card, and the wrapping secured in an evidence bag.

"Mr. Mannix, I need to take some blood," a petite nurse said as she entered the room. She placed a rubber tube around his arm and slapped it gently until she found a vein she could use. She slid the needle under the skin and expertly drew two vials of blood before placing a bandage over it and leaving the room.

"How're you feeling, Joe?" Malcolm asked.

"Tired, sore, and sick of being used as a pincushion."

"I can understand that. Hopefully you won't be in here much longer," Malcolm assured his friend.

"I told Doctor Marseilles I wanted out today."

"You did what? Of all the stupid things to do, Joe."

"Easy, Peggy, he said he needed to run some tests first and if they turn out ok I can go home in two days."

"That's still too soon."

"No it's not. I need to get back home and work on whoever the hell is behind this. Especially now. Those roses were meant as a threat and I need to find out who sent them," Joe snapped.

"The card said Wendy Parker," Peggy reminded him.

"She wouldn't do this, Peg," he told her. "I have a feeling this is just the first of many threats from the person behind this."

"I'm going to get Williams to post a guard at your door, Joe," Malcolm told the injured man.

"All right," Mannix reluctantly agreed, yawning as the fatigue and injuries caught up to him. It wasn't long before he was once more asleep with two people standing guard in his room. The dark circles under their eyes were a mute testimony to the lack of sleep they both suffered from. Things were far from over and neither one wanted to see the man on the bed hurt any more than he'd already been hurt.