Chapter 66

Once back in his room and settled into his bed, he smiled at Josie and said,"Thank you, I do appreciate your patience with me, I can't be the easiest patient you've had to deal with. It's just that I'm not used to being so tired and feeling so weak all of the time."

Josie smiled at him and replied,"You are more than welcome and believe me, you are not a difficult patient to deal with. If anything, you make our job more entertaining!"

She grinned and said merrily, "Though I wouldn't suggest letting the other patients and staff see that tiny friend of yours. Dena would cause quite a ruckus and everyone would want to know where they can get one like her for their own."

Roger grinned and replied, "Not much chance of that happening, I knew Freya and her people for well over a year before I even saw Dena or any other wood elves. I only saw her because she saw me helping Freya's grandmother with her things. That, and scratching her giant wolf companion, Sasha on her considerable rump."

He chuckled and remarked, "Don't let her looks fool you she's several hundred years old, her people are long lived and age quite slowly."

He glanced at the wall clock and said, "I'd better let you go, I've taken up a lot of your time as it is."

Josie grinned and replied, "It's not a problem Mist...Er, Roger, I had fun too!" She waved goodbye as she left the room.

Roger lay back on his bed and stared at the ceiling tiles, his mind forming patterns amid the myriad tiny holes in them.

He heard a faint rapping of knuckles on his door and moments later, it opened to reveal a slender, pale skinned woman with vaguely elvish looks and flaxen hair.

He smiled at her and said quietly, "I saw you as I lay in darkness, you were sad and I asked you why. You bit your own lips and there was blood on them when you kissed me. I felt something flowing between us, something more than a mere kiss, no matter how passionate!"

He said softly, "You pulled me back from the abyss with that kiss and I can only say "Thank you" which seems so inadequate to express my gratitude."

Anna Karlsen, popular author of Gothic romance novels smiled at him and replied,"Your still being here is thanks enough."

Roger grinned at her and said cheerfully, "Come in, come in, you are always welcome here!"

Anna smiled and swept into his arms for a long embrace.

Their lips met and kissed tenderly as they snuggled together on his bed.

Their lips reluctantly parted and he gently caressed her as she snuggled against him.

Anna said quietly, "It was Anita who called and told me what happened to you. I caught the first available flight to Portland and got here in about four hours. You were in the critical care unit and they had you in a medically induced coma."

She smiled and continued, "I basically just made everyone fall asleep and went into your room and gave you a "Rose kiss". I had permission from my queen to give one to you and was only too happy to give it to you."

Roger smiled at her and said, "So it wasn't a dream, I really did see you extend your fangs and bite your own lips. You really did kiss me and I really did taste your blood. I owe you my life."

Anna smiled at him and snuggled into him some more. "It was my pleasure and I was honored to be allowed to give you the "Rose kiss". Believe it or not, my queen Henrietta-Maria has taken an interest in what you are doing. Your efforts at bridging the gap between the worlds of the ordinary and the world of the legendary have not gone unnoticed, and she is grateful for your efforts."

Somewhat reluctantly, she slipped out of his bed and sat primly in the nearby chair.

Roger thought for a few moments and asked, "So what exactly, is a "Rose kiss"?

Anna smiled and replied, "A "Rose kiss" is a transfer of blood through a kiss rather than a bite. If I bite you and feed upon you, it is only a meal and other than a draining of some blood, no harm is done. If I allowed you to drink my blood through a bite wound on my body, you would become a thrall, a "Renfield" from the character in that famous novel.

"By transferring blood to you in the form of a kiss, freely given and with pure intentions. It becomes a very powerful healing agent. Ordinarily only a queen can give a "Rose kiss", but a queen can give permission for a "Rose kiss" to be performed if it is to save a life. I was given that permission some time ago, and have performed it only twice up to now."

Roger smiled and asked, "So what now? What effect will this have upon me?"

Anna grinned at him roguishly and replied cheerfully, "Well, you didn't gain any "powers" if that's what you're wondering about. What you did gain was your life back and you will enjoy good health and a nice, long, life upwards of a century or more. But no, no powers...Sorry."

Roger shrugged and quipped, "So much for my nefarious plans then."

Anna laughed and said, "Sorry about that!"

Roger vainly stifled a huge yawn and said apologetically, "I guess I'm not fully healed, all the excitement of seeing three of my favorite ladies has left me feeling exhausted."

Anna smiled at him and replied, "Yes, getting all those hugs and kisses from those who love you, can be sooo tiring!"

She rose from the chair, leaned over him and kissed him goodbye.

He smiled at her as he faded back into his dreams and slept.

Two long and boring days later, Dr. Sadat released him from the hospital and reassigned him as a home care outpatient.

The nurses and staff all wished him well and a speedy recovery.

Roger came home half expecting to see a disaster area where once had stood a house.

To his pleasant surprise, the house was quite tidy and the kitchen and pantry were well stocked with food and supplies.

Roger turned to Ildico who had brought him home and playfully remarked, "Are you sure this is the right place? This house is neater than I remember."

Ildico laughed and retorted, "Without a certain "someone" who is always getting into things, and not picking up after himself, it's amazing how quickly a house can be tidied up!"

Roger just grinned and replied, "I have no idea of what you're talking about, I deny everything!"

Ildico smiled at him and said, "Go on inside, everyone's waiting for you and good luck!"

He grinned at her and replied, "Thanks for everything Ildi!"

She smiled and drove off towards her own house.

He was greeted by a wet eyed Freya, who enveloped him in a memorable embrace and planted a resounding kiss right on his lips without caring who saw it.

Anita and Lorna, who had joined the welcome home party, whistled and cheered her on with Lorna gleefully saying, "It's about damn time you kissed him!" and Anita hollered "Whoohoo! Go Freya!"

When they finally separated, Roger looked a little goggle eyed until Dena hopped up onto a nearby table and declared, "An' whaur's mah kiss? Ah hae kissin' rights too!"

Roger embraced her and she kissed him very enthusiastically.

Lorna giggled and said, "Go Dena!"

Dena smiled at him and said, "Welcome haem!"

Anna Karlsen stepped forward and said, "I am next!"

Roger smiled and replied, "Of course you are!"

They hugged warmly and shared a brief but tender kiss.

They had no desire for a longer kiss, the one they had shared at the hospital that night would last a lifetime.

To his surprise, Lorna stepped forward and said with a smile, "Welcome home!" then she hugged and kissed him briefly, something she had never done before.

Lastly, Anita Larsen stepped forward and said cheerfully, "Since you're collecting kisses, you may as well collect the entire set!"

Then she too, hugged and kissed him briefly.

There was a whine and as they separated, Anita giggled and said merrily, "I think Sasha wants a kiss too!"

Roger grinned at the huge wolf who was literally hopping up and down in place as she waited her turn.

He reached for her and she reared up as Roger glommed onto her.

Sasha's powerful forelimbs embraced him and he staggered under her weight as he squeezed her tightly, her huge head alongside his.

Roger laughed when Sasha frantically licked his face and he said happily ,"I missed you too, girl!"as he squeezed her again.

A boy and his dog reunited.

Anna Karlsen chuckled and remarked, "How do you like that! He comes home to a whole slew of lovely ladies, all waiting to hug and kiss him and who is he happiest to see? A great big wolf!"

Anita laughed and said gaily,"Well, she is a great big fuzzball, I can't blame him for glomping onto her like that, I've done it too!"

Roger and Sasha separated and he gave her a thorough rump scratching, his hands deeply embedded in her dense fur.

She stood still with a look of utter bliss on her face as he scratched and scratched, grinning all the while.

Roger smiled at everybody and said, "You guys were able to come visit me and did while I was out of it and unable to enjoy your company. The nurses told me you came by and for that, I thank you. Poor Sasha here couldn't, and no way could she be passed off as a "support animal" and that, dear ladies, is why I missed her so!"

He slipped his arms around Sasha's great head and neck with a smile on his face and squeezed her again.

Freya cleared her throat and declared, "Roger, ye need tae relax an' gather yer strength, ye just got home frae th' hospital an' need yer rest. Now go an' sit in th' parlour an' Ah wull make uir dinner."

Roger smiled at his towering companion, ambled into the parlour and took a seat.

Naturally, Sasha joined him just in case he felt the need to scratch her behind her ears or something equally important.

Settling into the chair, Roger gazed into the cheery blaze in the fireplace and slowly dozed off in his comfy chair.

That night, he had vague dreams of being carried to his bedroom and gently tucked into bed.

Roger woke from a very sound sleep.

He looked up at the ceiling to his room.

His own room, not the sterile environment of a hospital room with its incessant background noise of hospital staff at work and the silent presence of monitoring equipment all grimly determined to keep him healthy, yet not necessarily rested.

He stretched and realized he was not alone in his bed.

His enormous and still growing companion lay beside him peacefully asleep.

It was her first real sleep since the shooting and now she was truly asleep, her pretty face completely open in its expression.

He eased himself out of bed only to find he had another sleeping companion, Sasha, the great guardian wolf lay curled up on the hardwood floor next to his bed.

Dena, her wood wife companion had also slept with him, she was curled up in Freya's long arms with a very contented look on her pretty face.

As he stirred, Sasha's great ears twitched and her golden eyes opened at once.

Who needed monitors when one had a Sasha watching over you?

Not bothering with slippers, Roger quietly padded his way down the hall to the water closet and washed up after relieving himself.

Making his way downstairs to the kitchen with the giant wolf following behind, he made himself a light breakfast and gave Sasha doggie treats because he could.

Freya was always accusing him of spoiling her and he would just grin and give her another treat anyway.

Changing into some street clothes, Roger quietly left the house with Sasha alongside him.

It was a bright fall morning with a nippy hint of the coming winter teasing his nose, ears and fogging his breath.

He started walking with no purpose or goal in mind.

It felt good to be outside without a nurse with a wheelchair lurking nearby, ready to pounce and make him go back inside to filtered air and lifeless sterility.

Other neighbors were out, walking, jogging along, riding bicycles or joined at the leash with a furry companion.

They smiled at the sight of Roger and Sasha together.

While she now had a collar and a shiny new license tag, Roger merely carried her leash in a nod to the leash law.

If she decided to dash off after something, no mere human would be able to restrain her, even an adult Jotun would have a struggle with her.

A wolf the size of a pony was simply too strong to restrain with a mere leash.

Her loyalty kept her in check more than anything else.

Roger heard the frenzied yapping of a small dog and looked to see a streaking tuft of golden brown fur dashing towards them in his ecstasy.

The neighbor's male Pomeranian was out and had spotted her, he bounced and spun while yapping all the while, pausing only momentarily to lick Sasha's great face and strut about in regal splendor, lord of all he surveyed.

His owner, the plumpish middle aged woman across the street could only shrug and say, "He thinks he has a chance with her. He does like big girls, he does this with all the big girl doggies, he's such a playboy!"

Roger smiled at her and replied, "He does have good taste, I'll give him that. Even if she's waaay out of his league, he does have good taste."

She smiled and asked, "When did you get back, and how are you feeling?"

He smiled and replied, "Yesterday afternoon, Ildi brought me home and the ladies all welcomed me home."

He playfully scratched behind one of Sasha's great, velvety ears and said, "This was the one I missed the most, the others all could visit me and did. This big fuzz ball couldn't and I missed her."

He continued scratching Sasha's ear and continued, "As far as how I'm feeling? They let me out of the hospital and I'm now an outpatient. I am glad to be out of there even if they did wear me out last night. I think it was Freya who carried me to bed after I fell asleep in the parlour. I tire easily and need to build up my strength again, so I'll be out walking with Sasha a couple of times a day."

The woman smiled as she clipped her leash onto her dog's royal self, then said, "I'm glad you're home where you belong. We were all so shocked by what happened, that sort of thing just doesn't happen up here."

She gently tugged on her dog's leash and said, "Come along Sonny, time to go home."

The little Pomeranian resisted the tug on his leash at first, then reluctantly obeyed his owner.

Roger continued with his morning constitutional with Sasha close by, always ready for a scratch, an ear rub or to support him if he became overly fatigued.

They strolled past Ildico's house and she was out in her driveway with her boyfriend, washing her car.

She grinned at them and called out, "Good morning! How are you feeling?"

Roger shrugged and replied, "Pretty good, all things considered, pretty good!"

She grinned back and replied, "That's good to hear!"

She paused and said, "This is my boyfriend Phillip. Phillip, this is Roger Tate and the beastie is Sasha, they're neighbors of mine."

Phillip stepped forward and he clasped hands with Roger briefly with a firm, confident grip. "Pleasure to meet you's" were exchanged and Phillip asked, "Is she a wolf? I didn't know they got so large."

Roger chuckled and replied, "Sasha is a great guardian wolf from Canada, her kind are not related to the gray wolf you'll see in all the pictures. They came over from northern Europe with the Jotuns and are a companion animal to them."

Phillip briefly looked thoughtful and asked, "Jotuns, those are Freya's people aren't they?"

Roger smiled and replied, "Yes and I take it you met her?"

Phillip grinned, "I've seen her around the area. A Norse goddess like her is kinda hard to forget."

Ildi laughed and said, "Down boy! She's only thirteen."

Phillip grinned and replied, "So I've heard." He snuggled his arms around Ildi's slim athletic body and murmured, "I've got all the goddess I need right here!"

Ildi just grinned at him and replied, "Nice save, kiddo."

Phillip let go of Ildico and gently caressed Sasha's great head while saying, "She is a beauty, Ildi tells me she is quite the fixture in the neighborhood."

Roger laughed and remarked, "So I've heard, she has quite the little racket, going around begging treats from the neighbors."

Ildi laughed and said, "How do you resist such a big fuzz ball like her?"

Roger grinned and remarked, "And Freya accuses me of spoiling her? She has all of you buffaloed!"

Phillip asked seriously, "Has there been any fallout from the original incident with the Great Dane attacking you?"

Roger thought for a moment then replied, "If there was, I haven't heard of anything happening from it. The museum I work for has a pretty good legal firm handling any issues stemming from any incidents."

Phillip grinned and remarked, "They must be pretty good then. That couple's attorney is pretty aggressive and often gets what he wants...Of course his clients acting like a couple of idiots didn't help their case any."

Roger just shrugged and remarked, "Their attacking Sasha and Dena with their car and shooting me, certainly outweighed any grievance they had against Sasha or myself. Last I looked, Sasha can't be held responsible for obeying her maternal instincts and protecting me like she would any Jotun child."

Ildico chuckled and said, "So she thinks of you as being a child?"

Roger smiled as he gently played with Sasha's velvety soft ears and replied,"I wouldn't be surprised, a Jotun child between eight and ten years of age is about my size, so in her mind, I'm one of her charges and need to be watched out for."

The three of them shared a laugh and Roger resumed his walk.