Chapter 12. The discerning heart.

She was looking at a fully equipped operating theatre. Sam was laying on an operating table while a doctor was busy disinfecting her burns. He looked up from his work, nodded to Terry they could come closer.

"How is everything going professor?" Terry asked.

"She got here just in time for the antidote, miss Quant. Luckily for Samantha it is very effective. Although she underwent some serious trauma, she should get out unscarred. You could almost say she saved her own life. If she and David weren't so much ahead in their research, she'd probably have died." He explained. "For the burns, I've informed the burns unit at the Queen Astrid Base. We can land there in a few minutes. Their team will be at the ready."

"That's good news professor, thank you." Terry concluded.

Alex had rounded the table and had taken Sam's hand into hers. "Did you hear that Sammy? They can save you. You'll be as good as new." Alex croaked, not able to control her voice.

"You have driven her to the airport, haven't you?" The professor asked Alex.

"Yes, Alexandra is one of our top test-drivers." Terry informed, before she left this part of the plane.

"In that case I have to congratulate you, Alexandra. You're driving skills have saved Samantha as much as our drug. It all was a question of minutes, if not seconds. If you had driven but a bit slower, I would have been unable to help Samantha." He clarified. Alex was tickled pink by the praise. The fact she was an important part in saving Sam's life was worth more to her than any GP victory she ever made.

"I'm afraid you'll have to leave though. I must prepare Samantha for transport to the clinic." The professor said ushering Alex towards the rear of the plane.

Donna was typing at breakneck speed on a laptop. She was completely focused and had excluded the outside world. Alex tiptoed up to her and looked over her shoulder at the screen. She saw the logo of the DEA on top of the page Donna was entering information on. She wanted at first to startle her by giving a kiss, but decided against it.

Instead she walked to where Terry was working and who looked up from her computer screen, raising her eyebrows in an invitation to open up a conversation.

Alex was a bit nervous. Her relation to Terry was a lot cooler then with Jerry.

"Yes Alexandra, what is that you wanted from me?" Terry asked in a friendly voice. A tone Alex couldn't remember ever hearing before from her boss.

She blushed slightly before she finally asked, "I would like to know what is going on boss. At first I get a reprimand wanting to use confidential information. Then you send us out to meet Donna, I get gassed, Sam tortured and while escaping I kill Sam's interrogator. Donna rescues us and I find out Donna is somehow linked to Woohp. Finally I get felicitations for saving Sam. You'll have to admit that's a lot to happen in two days."

Terry smiled at Alex, "Yes Alexandra I think it's time you get informed on what is happening. I admit underestimating you a lot, you deserve to get your 'for your eyes only' security clearance back."

Alex had to sit down. This was too weird for words.