Chapter 12

Mason had disappeared into the hospital immediately at the moment they had arrived, so his driver asked the doorman to help him to take care of the insane psychiatrist, who couldn't walk or move in any way. Earlier, Emmett Michaels had collapsed completely, when Mason had ordered him to climb into the taxi. Now his sobs were those of a little child, that had just lost his favourite toy. And in a way he had.

" Are you all right, Paul? Ken? Amy ? " But Mason missed that they all nodded as his eyes frantically searched the waiting area. " Where is she? "

" In here, waiting for the doctor. Brock's with her now…" Paul pointed into the room next to him. He stood next to the doorframe, like a guard. He suppressed a yawn, and was as pale as the white wall he leaned against. " We haven't let her out of our sight … "

At that moment, lieutenant Brock stepped out of the room, leaving the door ajar, which enabled Mason to have a glimpse of two long slender legs that could belong to only one woman.

In long, old fashioned strides of his now apparently painless legs, Mason reached the door, and shook hands firmly with lieutenant Brock. " I'm very glad they found her, Mason. "

" Me too, Ed, me too …"

Perry put his hand on Drake's shoulder. " Thanks … " The look in Mason's face made the younger man swallow hard. " Anytime, Perry, anytime. "

" Hold this for me, will you? " Handing his cane over to Drake, Mason looked into the room in front of him and forgot about the rest of the world.

He swallowed when he saw her sitting on a big chair by the window, in deep thought. Her legs stretched out in front of her, her chin on her hand, her hair a curly mess. She wore the same clothes she had been wearing last Friday, years ago.

" Della? " but his choking voice was too soft to reach her.

She was here.

She was safe.

She was fine.

" Baby? " He sighed as she turned to him and stood up immediately.

" Perry … " she hurried towards him, and reached out. He opened his arms, softly enveloped her to his broad body, allowing her to wrap her arms around his neck as far as she could. Though her slender figure seemed even more slender against his broadness, it was Perry Mason who disappeared in her embrace completely.

Three days had felt like three years.

" You're here.…" his voice against her neck was soft and low.

" I am, honey … " she cried quietly " I'm here … "

" You're really here… " The tears on her cheeks were caressed away by the back of his hands. He kissed her forehead and took her face in both hands. Her big brown eyes looked tired, but smiled warmly to him. " How do you feel? How are you ? Are you okay ? "

She sniffed. " I am, I guess ... but it was scary. I was so afraid. "

" What has he done to you? Has he hurt you? In any way? " he tightened his jaws at the thought of it.

" I don't know really. He played sick games with me, he manipulated me, scared the living daylights out of me, but I don't feel hurt or bad. Not physically anyway. I guess that just wasn't his intention. " She clung to him. " Oh Perry, I'm so glad I'm here. With you. "

" I was so worried … " he stroked her hair and cupped her face with both hands again. " I missed you … my Della ... " he kissed her lips gently, and pulled her into his tight embrace.

" I missed you too … " she wrapped her arms around his neck again and moaned softly. " Hold me close … "

" Forever … "

When they finally let go, she watched him thoroughly, and noticed his fatigue, his worn out face, his tired eyes, the frowning brows. " And how are you? How is your knee? "

" Never better. "

She snorted. " Of course…" then she dove into his embrace again, dwelling in his arms around her. She caressed his hair, his face, his neck. He held her face, kissed her hair, her cheek, her neck, her ear, her forehead, her cheek again and then he found her lips to pull her into a passionate kiss that lingered and lingered and felt too good to stop. So they took a deep breath, closed their eyes again, and continued.

Drake looked at them from over his shoulder and feigned boredom. " Oh, jeeezzz, you guys, get a room … "

" We did … and you're in it … so get lost …" Mason hit the door to close it to Drake's face. The loud laughter coming from the other side of the door, made them both laugh too.

Della swung and steadied herself against him, her eyes closed, she leaned her head to his chest.

" Are you okay? " He moved his arm tightly around her waist, and motioned her over to the small couch. " Sit down. "

She sighed. " I'm so tired. I haven't slept very much, just like you, I suppose. " They sat down next to eachother, and she turned to him to look into his eyes again. " I want to go home, Perry, I want to take a shower, I want to sleep. I want to be in my own bed, with your arms around me. "

" We shouldn't be long, baby. We'll leave as soon as the doctor says you're all right. I'm definetely going to take you home." He took her hands to kiss her fingers. " Your rings … where are your rings? "

" Well, Emmett told me to take them off, and they said they'd send them to you, so, uhm … you could give them to the lady that was in our house for a short while ? " She pursed her lips.

" The lady that was in our house … ? " It took Mason about five seconds to realise who she was talking about. He snorted. " Oh, yeah, well, about Laura Robertson … "

" Mmm-mmm. "

" I don't think she'll cause us any more trouble. "

" You chased her away ? " her amusement was evident, when she chukled softly.

" Kind of. Let's say, I wasn't very nice to her. And she sure is not wearing your rings. " Pressing her fingers to his forehead, he sighed wearily, feigning annoyance. " I guess I'll just have to buy you new ones. " He raised his brows at her. " How inconvenient … "

" Very inconvenient … " her hands circled his neck again to pull his face to hers for a lingering kiss.

He moaned extensively from very deep within when his lips touched hers again, pulling her to him to hold her again, and deepening the kiss. Secretly cursing his arousel, he had trouble to stop his hands from travelling where they wanted to go all by themselves. Her tickling fingers underneath his collar were distracting, making it even more difficult to think clearly.

The sound of the opening door annoyed him nevertheless.

" I told you to get lost…" he grunted without opening his eyes.

At the sound of a soft female chuckle he looked up to see a nurse smiling at them. " Excuse me, I'm very sorry, but the doctor is ready to examine Miss Street. Would you just follow me, please, Miss? "

" No, she won't. " Perry didn't let go of his treasure. He held Della tight to him, and moaned softly.

" Perry…" Della laughed at him, putting her hands on his chest. The nurse couldn't suppress a smile.

" Please, Mr. Mason, really, we'll return her safely back into your arms afterwards … "

" No. She's not going anywhere without me. " His pout was nearly perfect.

" Oh, Perry…"

" No, the last time I let you out of my sight, I lost you…"

" Well, you can join us, if that's what you want, Mr. Mason. I just need some bloodsamples, and the doctor needs to do some physical examination. "

" Sure... " then he whispered to Della's ear " I had planned to do the physical part myself." He buried his face in her neck again, which made her laugh out loud.

" Behave. " Her index finger on his lips made him swallow whatever it was he was going to say next.

" Well, I am coming with you. No matter what you say. " He stood up, pulling her up with him.

" Whatever you want, Perry. " She shook her head, but put her hand in the crook of his arm, to follow the nurse together with him.

" Perry Mason! " As they walked out of the room they had been waiting in, a shrieking voice startled them, and they both turned to face the man that had held her captive for the last three days.

" Emmett … " Her hand sought Perry's, found it and squeezed it.

" I'm so sorry, Della … " Emmett Michaels' shaking hands moved towards her to touch hers. " I'm so very sorry … "

" So you should be … "

" I didn't know what I was doing, I swear … " His eyes were normal again, his regrets seemed to be genuine. His head still tilted uncontrollably from one side to the other.

" Emmett … " Mason's low voice held no accussation, just pity.

" I'm sorry, Mason … "

" Get better, Emmett, heal yourself. You of all people should know how to … " Perry said as two men pulled the psychiatrist away from them, and dragged him out of their sight through two swing doors.

" God, just the sight of him … " Della shook against Mason's chest, she felt shivers going down her spine. " Though he looked better, but still … "

He stroked her back lightly. " Am I glad they found you before he did something real bad to you. I really think he could have done it. " He rest his head on hers for a while, just so she could get herself together again.

But then she felt him tensing throughout his whole body.

" You … " His tone of voice had changed from the loving, soothing, soft voice into a hard, loud and angry courtroomboomer.

When she looked up into his face, she saw his fierce eyes gazing coldly to something or someone behind her. She turned in Perry's embrace, and he let her go, to take one step forward.

Glenn Robertson was leaving the doctor's office. A sergeant took his arm to lead him outside, but he tore himself loose and walked towards them. " Della … I'm so glad you're all right, Della … "

" My ... Glenn … " Della took a step back, when he tried to grab her upperarms.

" Perry Mason, I … uhm … all's well that ends well, I suppose? " Perry Mason watched the hand of a nervously smiling Glenn Robertson, who was obviously waiting and actually expecting him to shake it.

Perry groaned.

" Perry, no … " Della recognized this look on his face. His eyes darkening, his jaws tightening. " Perry …"

He grabbed Glenn's wrist in his left hand, and held it while his right hand hit Glenn on his jaw " … this is for taking her away from me…" , and then the next punch hit him on his nose. " … and this is for bringing her to this damned doctor Emmett Michaels …"

Robertson fell to the floor and brought his hands to his face. " He broke my nose … he broke my nose ..."

" Damn… " Perry rubbed his hand with a painfilled grimace. He heard a chuckle at his right side. " Oh, dear. My knight in shining armor, hmmm? Let me see it. Does it hurt? " Her low playful voice reached his groin, even before it reached his ears. It made him pull her close to him.

" Yes, it does hurt. Everywhere. All over. Excruciating pain. And very much. It's unbearable. It needs immediate care, you know, a very special treatment, the sort only you can provide ... right now. "

" Oh, sure …" she kissed his hand. " Like this ? "

" Not really, but it is as close as we can get now, in public, I suppose. "

" Oh, you " she slapped his chest, and smiled. " … I feel so safe with you around. "

" So you should. And you should stick around. I intend to hit everyone that comes near you from now on, either with my bare hands or my cane. " With that, he took his cane from Paul, as if to underline his statement.

He laughed with her, wrapping his arm around her shoulder, determined to never let her out of his sight again. Following the nurse to the doctor, they overheard a conversation which made Della frown, but humoured Perry so much he shook with laughter.

" Lieutenant Brock, did you see Perry Mason hit my husband? " Suddenly the voice of Laura Robertson shouted through the waiting area. She had apparently been hiding from prying eyes before.

" Noooo, I actually didn't, Mrs. Robertson…" Brock's typical voice was soft but clear.

" He broke my nose…" Glenn's voice rose an octave of surprise and anger.

" I'm quite positive I saw you walking against a door there, Mr. Robertson. "

" You what? "

" You just walked against a door, didn't you? "

" No, Mason hit me, and I … "

" You know, seriously, Mr. Robertson, I guess everybody here saw you walking against that door … " Brock slowly turned around and pointed at a random door. " Let me put it this way, I don't think I can actually find a witness that saw Mr. Mason hitting you. "

As the Robertson's started to frantically argue with Ed Brock, and followed him through the swing doors to the hallway of the hospital, muffled laughter oozed through the waiting area.

Paul whistled a tune, and started to think what song it was from. Then he remembered and laughed out loud. He sang " God help you please, Mrs. Robertson, Jesus loves you more than you will know, wowowow… "

" It is actually Mrs. Robinson they're singing, you know, Paul. " Amy pointed out. She stood next to him, pulling Ken's arm to make him stand beside her.

" Yeah, I know Amy, but … " Paul watched her from aside, and decided to not explain his joke to her, she wouldn't get it anyway.

" I'm worried … " he adressed to Ken.

" Yeah." Ken nodded, and turned his eyes from the door where Della and Perry had just went through, to Drake. " Me too … "

" Why are you worried? " Amy queried. " Everything is all right now, isn't it? "

" Yes, you'd say so, hmmm? But Jennifer Parker has never arrived at the hospital. "

" Ow. Wowowow … that's bad news. " Amy whispered.

" Yeah. " Paul's face reflected his concern. " … wowowow all right … "