Two Lonely Souls

Chapter 2

Getting to Know You

Forty-eight hours later, Isabella woke to find herself in a small critical care room. Rosa was sitting beside the bed, knitting, holding vigil for her to wake up. There wasn't anyone else. No worried boyfriend, no distraught parents, no sobbing friend, just her indispensable housekeeper. As busy as her life is, it seemed pretty empty.

"Hey Rosa, how long have I been out?" Her voice was scratchy and it hurt to talk, probably from all the tubes going in and out of her body.

"Isa, oh my dear. I am so happy to have you awake again. Let me call for the doctor to come and explain everything. I know you must have a lot of questions. Right now you are in the ICU unit. You almost died several times. Your father and uncle are here as well. They just went to get coffee so I'll call his cell." Rosa dialed the phone while feeding Isabella ice chips, which helped soothe her throat.

"My father and Denny are both here? Oh, dear. What a scene that must be making!"

"Oh yes, and Walt from the FBI field office has been following them around as well. There is a large FBI presence as well as the secret service of course. Imagine Agent Granger's surprise to find out your uncle is the Director of the FBI and your father is the head of Joint Chiefs of Staff. Denny got quite the kick out of it, although I think having the Director walk into his hospital room was probably unsettling at the least. Apparently Agent Granger knew your uncle from some previous rather shady circumstances. I'm sure someone will tell you all about it. Agent Granger was very surprised at the relationship, but he did surprise you father with his knowledge of your work in Afghanistan. It's been quite a few long days.

"So, I take it Agent Granger is doing ok?"

"Yes, he woke up yesterday, and has been asking about you apparently. I went to visit him. He is very cute, don't you think?"

"That is not very subtle Rosa. Where is he?"

"He is right next door." Hmmm… so close and yet so far.

"When they move us from ICU, can you arrange for the two of us to be put in the hospital penthouse suites. I'd like for our rooms to have those connecting doors so it is easier to visit with each other. I have a feeling we may be here for a while. Ask him first of course. He may not want to be up there. And be sure the hospital knows I'll pay for it all."

She sighed and asked the most dreaded question. "Has anyone called Bobby's parents?"

"No, my dear. Thomas and I thought you would want to do that."

"Can you get me his parents' number so I can call them as soon as possible?"

As she was finishing her request the doctor joined them. He seemed pretty young, but then she supposed she did too. Right behind him were her Father, General (5 Star) Worthington, Denny Worthington, and Walt, head guy at the LA field office, and since he was clearly not necessary here, Isabella immediately labeled him a kiss ass. Her father hugged and kissed her first and then Denny leaned over the bed and gave her a big hug. When he pulled away there were tears in eyes.

"We almost lost you Isa. You and Granger seem to have saved the day, at least for those who survived the first incoming. Of course, you both almost died too. To lose you at home over something as common as a bank robbery would have been too much to bear."

"Daddy, I assure you there was nothing common about that bank robbery. It was definitely a military operation, equivalent to what we may have seen other places. While I am glad that I continue to evade Death, there were a lot of people who died a few days ago, and that was staged by what I think must have been ex-military. I'm sure Agent Granger would agree. You have probably already talked to him. His military background will support my theory."

"You are correct Isa. They were ex-military. Granger concurred with your assessment. How did you know he was ex-military?"

"He knew Natasha."

Both the General and Denny went considerably paler at the use of her code name, but were not surprised since Granger had alluded to her work in Afghanistan already.

The doctor had surprisingly been patiently waiting for them to finish their conversation, and he took this opportunity to jump in for his part. He knew his patient would begin to fade fast. "Ms. Worthington, I'm glad to see you awake and obviously coherent. I don't know how much you have been told but the bullet wound, while a through and through, did damaged your spleen quite a bit. You lost a significant amount of blood and had three transfusions. We had to remove your spleen and in the end you had three surgeries due to bleeders causing continued internal bleeding. You are a very lucky woman."

"Great, so much for my great bikini body. I'll look like a shark took a bite out of me."

"Actually, we had a plastic surgeon do all the external work. It is doubtful you will see any scar at all."

"Well Doctor, thank you for that. When can I get out of ICU? I'd like to have Agent Granger and I moved to the hospital penthouse suites. And I'd like a shower. Please." She always tried to be gracious, but was desperate for a shower and almost forgot her manners. After months in Afghanistan living on the land, she now took at least two showers a day. She simply could never be clean enough.

The doctor took a deep breath while she saw the General and Denny holding back their laughter. She looked at the doctor with raised eyebrows, wondering what the sigh could possibly be about.

"Ms. Worthington. Seeing as how you are clearly no longer critical, I can have you moved to the penthouse suites today. The same is true for Agent Granger if he wants to be up there. As for a shower, that is out of the question for the next three days." He held up his hand to stop her impending interruption. "You can have a sponge bath, and upstairs they have a fairly good system for washing hair. However, no showers until your wound is more healed."

Two hours later, Rosa had packed everything up for the move upstairs. Denny and Walt had returned to the FBI downtown office, the General was heading back to the White House. Her father had never been one for sentiment. The most emotion she had ever seen him display was when she left for Afghanistan. The success rate for the mission was considered low, as was the survival rate. He was categorically opposed to sending his daughter into that situation, but she was probably the best person to do the task. And they were sending her with their very best Special Ops soldiers. Even so he was beside himself at her leaving. Other than that, her father displayed little emotion ever. She was out of ICU and ready to move upstairs, and other than the daily phone call from him she could expect little from him personally. But if she ever needed anything, he would have her back every time, even going so far as to ask the President for help. He was a good man, and served his country well. And he was exceedingly proud of her.

Isabella had spoken to her personal lawyer Thomas and prepared him to handle all the arrangements for Bobby once his parents were notified and made their decisions. She also told him of her decision to increase Bobby's life insurance to $2 million instead of the original $1million. She justified it that dying the way that he did, his policy should be doubled since it was certainly in the line of duty. Isabella got mild disagreement from Thomas. She shook her head slightly really not understanding why he wastes his breath. He never wins.

She had one more dreadful task to complete before she could sleep again. Taking a deep breath, she picked up the phone and dialed Bobby's parents. His mother answered on the third ring. When she heard Isabella's distinctively deep voice, she knew something was terribly wrong.

"Agnes, it's Isabelle. I'm calling from Los Angeles." Right at that time there was a knock on the door and Agent Granger wheeled himself in. Seeing Isabella on the phone he started to back out of the room, but she waved him in. He could tell by her face she needed the support. He rolled himself up to the side of the bed and took her hand.

"Agnes, can you get Carl on another extension? I need to speak to both of you."

Tears started to stream down her face, but she kept her voice normal.

"I am so sorry to have to tell you this, but Bobby was killed a few days ago in a bank robbery." The sobbing on the other end of the phone was soft and graceful, just like Agnes.

"Are you alright? The caller ID is UCLA hospital."

"Oh Agnes, Bobby was very brave and when the men with automatic weapons came in he pushed me to the ground and covered me. When he knew he was wounded and would die, he passed his gun to me so that I could help others. But in the end, I did get hurt, but I'll be fine."

"He loved you so much. He would have done anything for you."

"I will never forget his sacrifice. I'm sorry I didn't call sooner. I just woke up from surgery a few hours ago. I need for the two of you to decide how you want Bobby honored best. Do you want him buried here in LA or at home? Or even at Arlington Cemetery in Washington? What kind service? Thomas will be able to make all the arrangements for you. You don't have to do a thing. If you choose to have him buried here in LA, or D.C. we will fly you. We will take care of everything. Thomas will also need a bank wire number so he can send Bobby's life insurance payment."

"Why don't you just write a check?" Carl asked. He sounded angry at the loss of his son. Isabella kept her voice calm and patient even though she was about to burst into tears. Colby squeezed her hand and scooted even closer to her.

"Carl, when banks deal with this much money, they need it sent bank to bank. It is safer for you as well."

Now she could tell he was confused. Obviously Bobby, while he supported them in a very nice style, had never mentioned the life insurance. "Carl, Bobby's life insurance is $2million. I will be happy to have my financial people help you with investments and such, but this should support you and Agnes for the rest of your lives."

Agnes started to cry. "You are so good to us, just like you were to Bobby. It's no wonder he loved you so much."

By this time in the conversation Isabella was getting close to losing it, the physical pain she was in, the anguish of losing such a beloved confidant and protector, was just overwhelming. "Agnes, Carl. I love you both and will talk to you soon. But the doctor is here and I need to go. "

"Of course. We will talk to you soon. And we will call Thomas. Thank you and God Bless."

"God Bless you too. Good bye." Isabella placed the phone in its cradle as the first sob came.

She was still holding Agent Granger's hand, and now was doubled up on the bed sobbing. He surrounded her body with his arms, pulling her into his lap. He was careful of both of their injuries, but just rubbed her back and held her while she cried. Soon the tears tapered off and she was about to fall asleep. Isabella looked up at him with her face all puffy and tear-streaked. "I think I need to get back in bed before I fall asleep in your lap."

He smiled at her, so delicate yet he knew she was very dangerous, brushing her tears away. Her current vulnerability left him breathless and awed. "I think after all the intense emotion, we could both use a nap. You climb in first and I'll follow you. I'll hold you while you sleep. It doesn't seem like you want to be alone. And I promise I will be a perfect gentleman."

"Hmmm. Agent Granger, that is sort of disappointing, but I'm guessing that since we can't take showers fooling around would also be out of the question," Isabella teased as she climbed carefully into bed, leaving room for him.

"I think you can start calling me Colby. And given who your father and uncle are, I think a perfect gentleman will keep me alive a while longer."

"Eh… don't worry about them. I can handle both of them. It's my Godfather you should be worried about." She gave him a teasing and enigmatic smile. "Those guys are pussy cats compared to him. Let's just rest for a while Colby. They'll wake us up when they are ready to move us upstairs. You are moving upstairs with me?"

"You know what Isabelle? I go where you go. Now, go to sleep."