Chapter Sixty-Six

Before pulling the curtain back, Gonzo turned to answer Leah's question. "I'll release you once I see the results of your blood work and it's all normal." Trapper and Doug both looked at Leah who was sitting in her bed with the head up, her pillow fluffed behind her, and her blanket pulled up over her lap. "Don't be too long, Mr. Manning. She hasn't had breakfast yet."

"Yes well," he said, taking a seat in the chair on the other side of Leah's bed. "I just want to discuss your next assignment with you and get you started. It seems your friends in the federal government were impressed with your work here during the latest crisis. With that and your government clearance, they think you're perfect for this job."

"Which is?"

Doug looked over at Trapper before leaning closer to Leah. "They'd like you to head the team going into Xanda Laboratories. Your first order of business will be to reconstruct the data they tried to destroy. After that's done, you'll be charged with getting those systems cleaned up, upgraded, documented and running. The government is taking over the lab for the time being." Doug looked over at Trapper again, who was listening quietly. Clearing his throat, he said, "We should be discussing this privately."

Leah glanced over at Trapper and smiled. "Oh, I don't think so, Doug. I have nothing to hide from Dr. McIntyre and would ask his opinion anyway. When would I leave?"

"As soon as your doctor releases you from this hospital."

"And what about my medical condition?"

"You can have your medical records sent to the hospital of your choice in Livermore. I'm sure Dr. McIntyre in his capacity as Chief of Surgery can recommend someone and has the connections to get you situated there."

"And where, exactly, would I live? I would need some time to find a place."

"Not in the short term. There is housing on the Xanda campus, and suites are available that were provided to visiting dignitaries. You can have one of those." Doug leaned back and crossed his legs. "Leah, the government wants you. They have no one else on their list of candidates for this job."

Shifting her eyes toward Trapper again, she saw the crease of his brow and the almost imperceptible shake of his head.

"After everything that's happened in the last day or so, I need some time to clear my head and think. I'm not going anywhere today, anyway. Can I give you an answer tomorrow?"

"An answer? Leah, you don't understand. This is your next assignment…unless you're thinking about resigning again," he added, looking skeptically at her.

She smiled. "I just need to get my head on straight again. This experience has been…off putting."

He nodded curtly, but smiled and stood. "I understand. If you get out today, I'm at the Mark Hopkins. Otherwise, I'll come back by tomorrow. Dr. McIntyre…a pleasure to meet you."

"Likewise," said Trapper, smiling cheekily as Manning left the room. Watching Leah bow her head and push her hair back over as she blew out her cheeks, he said, "Come over here," nodding his head to his side of the room. "It's time to talk."

She looked back at him and grimaced before she threw the blanket off and slid out of the bed, stopping short of sitting on the side of Trapper's bed.

He smiled at her wary expression. "Why don't you want to talk about this?"

"It depends on what you mean by this. If you're talking about what I said while you were in recovery, the events of this morning have made that a little more complicated, haven't they?

Reaching for her hand, he answered, "No, not really. What gave you that idea?" He tugged on the sleeve of her pajama top until she was sitting on the bed right next to him. "There, you see. Gonzo can't yell at you for not propping your foot up."

"No. He'll yell at me for crowding you."

"You're not crowding me," he snorted as he moved his arm around her shoulders and drew her into his side. With a playful smirk, he said, "Now, tell me what's going through that scientific head of yours."

She shifted away, and then leaned back over him. "We both know how I feel." Sitting back up, she turned her back to him. "This job…it's for the government, and it's cutting edge stuff. Career-wise, I'd be a fool to walk away from a chance like this. But then I think about Mark betraying me and Doug riding herd over me, and…"

"And? Isn't that enough?" asked Trapper with furrowed brows.

"It would be helpful to know…for sure…if there was a reason to stay." She ran her fingers into the front of her hair, pushing it back again. She didn't expect his hand to move around her neck, gently pulling her back to him, or his other hand cupping her face and forcing her to look into his eyes; eyes that showed anger…maybe disappointment.

Trapper looked long and hard into her baby-blues, chagrined at first because she should know how he felt by now, but he softened at the fear he saw and understood she was perched on a narrow ledge when it came to allowing herself to give in to that kind of love again. Moving closer so that they were almost nose to nose, he said softly, "I want you to stay…here…with me."

Closing her eyes, she leaned her head against his. "Doug could make it difficult for me to find another job. He has connections all over the world."

"You can still take the job he offered if you want. Livermore isn't that far away. I just don't know why you'd want to knowing that Mark has been spying on you so Doug can manipulate you. You need to get away from those two."

She laid her head on his shoulder. "Trapper, I need my work. I'll go crazy without it."

Wrapping his arms loosely around her, he pondered. "I have an idea. And all you have to do is go for a walk with me after breakfast."

She sat up, her curiosity piqued. "Where?"

Raising his eyebrows, he answered, "Patience…"

Gonzo and Leah both helped Trapper get slowly to his feet. "How do you feel?" asked Gonzo.

Pursing his lips, Trapper said, "Get out of my way, and I'll show you."

Gonzo and Leah let go, but Trapper grabbed her hand and draped it over his arm. "Not you. You're with me."

"Leah, don't let him go too far. He thinks he's still forty."

"Thirty," Trapper shot back.

"Well, that won't work," said Leah. "I don't see younger men."

"All right, forty then," said Trapper as he shuffled out the door. Looking back over his shoulder, he waited for Gonzo to disappear down the hall. "Now take me to the elevator."

"My instructions were to walk you up this hall and back," she said pointing the way. "No further."

"It's not like I'm walking any further," he said, looking sideways at her. "It'll just be on a different floor."

When the elevator door opened on the executive floor, Leah hesitated to leave. "Why are we up here?"

"I need to talk to Arnold," he said, heading out the door without her.

Trailing behind him, she looked around her as she whispered loudly, "We do have a phone in our room."

"In private…where prying ears can't hear." He stuck his head in the opening of Arnold's door. "Arnold, you got a minute?"

Arnold sprung out of his chair and rushed over, taking Trapper by the arm and guiding him to a chair. "What in the world are you doing? You should be in bed."

"Nope. I'm on my daily walk."

Leah slid inside the door and waited until Arnold turned and noticed her. "And you, too. You're both supposed to be recuperating."

"Arnold, sit down and listen to me," Trapper ordered. "Have you had any success in finding your new CIO?"

"I've done several interviews, but no," he answered, slowly dropping into his chair on the other side of the desk. "Leah advised we find someone with a strong recent technical background…that it would save us some money."

Leaning forward, Trapper asked, "Why didn't you interview Leah?"

"She didn't apply."

Stepping closer Leah stuttered, "Uh, Trapper. CIO? I'm technical. I don't do office politics."

"Nonsense," he said over his shoulder, but continued looking at Arnold. "You do politics quite well. And you have a proven track record. And you already know our system. She's perfect for the job."

Arnold smiled. "You're right. She is." His smile was instantly gone. "But she's not available. I spoke with Doug Manning a little while ago. He has plans for her."

Trapper winked. "Actually, Arnold, I have plans for him." The three put their heads together in a discussion that produced an occasional gasp, 'you're kidding', 'he did that?' and as they went along, more frequent sharp nods and chuckles.

When their lunch arrived in their rooms, Leah was sitting in her bed, staring at the far wall. The nurse placed her lunch tray on her over bed table, and she muttered, "Thank you," without even looking at her.

Trapper studied her as he lifted the cover from his plate and set it aside. "What part of this are you having trouble with?" he asked as he cut into his chicken.

"The spectacle it could become. I don't need to embarrass them in front of a crowd."

"You don't have to. If they do what they should, no one but them, you, Arnie, and me will know. Oh, and Albert."

"Albert. I need to call Albert," she said, reaching for the phone. After her conversation with Albert telling him of their plan, she continued her stare at the far wall. "Why can't we just tell them?"

"By doing it this way, Doug will have no time to react, and Albert will be there when Doug starts shooting off ways he can prevent you from accepting the position here."

"I'll give Albert a copy of my contract when he gets here."

"What else?" asked Trapper, drawing his lips into a tight line and raising his brows.

"Chief Information Officer, Trapper. I don't want to be a member of the hospital board."

"If you don't like it, you can always resign," Trapper said, shrugging. "But this will keep you working until you find something else, and it will give Arnold time to find someone else who's right for the job…with your help."

"I'll never find an opportunity like the Xanda job again," she mumbled. Trapper stopped eating and exhaled. "But you're right. I have to get away from Doug and Mark. Trapper, I don't want to talk to Mark at the party, but I don't want to see a confrontation between you two either."

He smiled sympathetically. He wanted her away from Doug and Mark. Even so, he hoped he hadn't pushed her into something she wouldn't be happy with. Turning to her, he winked. "I'll be on my best behavior."