Chapter Two
Linka's first reaction to seeing Wheeler waiting on the dock as they climbed out of the eco-sub was joy. She couldn't help it, no matter how many times over the years she had told herself that there could never be anything between them, her heart just wouldn't listen.
Then she saw the grim expression he was wearing and her whole body went cold, something was terribly wrong.
"Yankee, what has happened?" She asked, quickly walking up to him and taking his hands without thinking about her actions.
At the same time Gi called out, "Hey Wheeler, do you know what the alert is?"
The American squeezed Linka's hands reassuringly, giving her a sad smile and answering them both, "It's kind of a personal alert. Babe, can I speak to you alone?"
She nodded, the dread in her heart increasing as she followed him to his cabin.
Retaining one hand in his, Wheeler led his friend over to the bed and gently pulled her down beside him, before putting his arms around her. Normally she wouldn't allow him to hold her in such a private setting but she correctly interpreted his gesture as one of comfort, meant to prepare her for what he was going to say.
"I'm sorry Babe, I don't know a good way to tell you this." He began, his voice gentle.
"Grandmuska?" She whispered fearfully.
He shook his head and continued before she could make any further guesses, "Nina and Gregori were in a car accident they… they didn't make it. I'm so sorry Babe."
She stared at him for a moment as if she didn't understand the words, then large tears began to spill down her increasingly pale face. "Natalya?" she croaked.
"Alive" Wheeler told her quickly, "Gaia says she has a broken arm and few bumps and bruises but she's gonna be fine."
"How can she be fine?" Linka asked, her voice breaking into sobs, and he pulled her close, cradling her as she buried her face in his shoulder.
Wheeler's heart was breaking for her. He hadn't known her cousins well but he'd liked them both and was finding it difficult to believe they were gone, he couldn't imagine how much worse it must be for Linka and hated that he couldn't take her pain away. He kept talking, hoping that it would comfort her somehow. "Tanya is staying with Gram and we're going to meet Mishka at the hospital. It's going to be ok Babe, I know you don't think that now, I know I can't say anything to make it better, but you aren't going to be doing this alone. I'm right here, we're all going to be here for you."
She slowly got herself under control but the look she cast him when she finally pulled away had as much guilt in it as grief, "You do not need to look after me Wheeler… thank you for telling me, and I will be grateful for you taking me to Russia but… I know you mean well, it is very, very sweet of you but I cannot allow you to… it is not your responsibility and I will not be returning so you see it is better if you just leave me there."
Linka swallowed and stood up, intending to head to the geo-cruiser but he caught her arm in a light clasp, "We can talk about the future later Babe, for now you must know I'm not going to leave your side while you deal with all this, and I'm just as stubborn as you are so for once let's not argue, ok?"
She hesitated and he wondered if he imagined the look of fear that passed across her features because it didn't make any sense for her to be afraid when he'd just promised to stay with her. Finally she nodded, but she still looked as if the world was coming to an end. "We should go."
He nodded and gestured for her to precede him, "Do you need to pack anything?"
"Nyet," She shook her head, "I have enough at Grandmuska's for now."
"We're all set then, Gaia will explain to the others."
Linka was silent on the ride to Russia, lost in her own troubling thoughts and fears, which gave Wheeler far too much time to brood over what he'd learnt.
"Are you angry about something?" Linka asked innocently after a while, startling her friend out of his reverie.
"No, why? Should I be?" There was an edge to his voice that he hadn't intended and a wave of guilt washed over him when she flinched.
The lovely Russian shook her head and pressed on anyway, "There is something bothering you."
Wheeler hesitated and then said sadly, and without further rancour, "I'm angry with Fate I guess, life's unfair. Maybe I'm angry with myself for forgetting that for a while."
Trying not to be overcome though her throat was burning, Linka said, "They did not deserve this."
Reaching over to take her hand, "Sorry Babe, I didn't mean to take my lousy mood out on you."
"You were right," she shrugged.
"Yeah, but I'm supposed to be cheering you up." He replied lightly, giving her hand a squeeze.
That drew a small smile from her but she shook her head. Linka felt as if their time together was rapidly running out and the nicer Wheeler was, the more it hurt.
The American couldn't help but notice how tightly she was holding his hand, as if she thought he would disappear if she let go, fortunately he didn't need both hands until they were ready to land. "Gram seemed to think you'd want to take care of Natalya now." He felt her stiffen and bit back an angry retort, pretending not to notice. "I spoke to Gaia and she's happy to have her on Hope Island, she even offered to set up a nanny. I think she already had someone in mind in case we… any of us, decided to start a family."
"I do not know what to say." Linka seemed stunned and Wheeler wondered whether he shouldn't have said anything yet.
He gave her hand another squeeze, "You don't have to decide anything right now, I just didn't want you to worry about having to leave the Planeteers, you do have other options."
"Spasiba." She wiped away some tears with her free hand but they kept coming.
"Oh hell. Come here." Wheeler set the autopilot and tugged on her hand until she gave in and moved to his lap, once more burying herself in his embrace. Wheeler sighed and, kissing her hair, wrapped his arms tightly about her, trying not to notice how perfectly they fit together. "Let it all out Babe. It's okay, everything's gonna be okay, I promise."
By the time they reached the hospital Linka had herself under control but she was dreading the moment when Wheeler would realise the truth about her.
She'd had nightmares about the look of disgust he would give her when he found out that she'd had a baby, not to mention how that baby had come about. She also knew full well that he was too good a friend to walk away when she needed him and that it was her duty to release him from that obligation, even though it would break her heart irreparably to do so.
It didn't seem like that moment could be far off but when the woman at the reception desk spoke to her in Russian she realised that she could hold it off a little longer and was able to focus fully on the child who had been for a short time her whole life, and who was about to become so again.
"You have a Natalya Petrova here." Linka asked.
The receptionist checked and nodded, "And you are?"
Linka's mouth went dry, "Her mother."
"I thought her mother was…" She frowned as she checked the file, "Oh no, I see there is a copy of her birth certificate here. You are Celina Orlova? Do you have any identification?"
The Wind Planeteer assented to both questions and produced her passport, "Is my brother here do you know? He should be here by now."
"Yes, I believe so," She returned her passport with a sympathetic smile. "There is a second waiting area by your daughter's room, up the stairs and to your right. I will call ahead and they will let Doctor Dykhovichny know you have arrived."
"Spasiba." It was the first word Wheeler had recognised, although he understood the significance of Linka proving who she was. "This way."
Linka wanted very much to take her friend's hand as they made their way through the hospital but she didn't dare, which made it all the harder when he tucked an arm about her waist, though she didn't complain.
"Linka!" Her brother rose to greet them as they reached the waiting area by the nurse's station. He hugged Linka and shook Wheeler's hand, thanking him for bringing her but he was clearly upset, "They have told me Natalya is stable but they will not let me see her, it is against hospital policy."
"Miss Orlova?" A grey haired man in a white coat approached them, having spoken briefly with the duty nurse.
Linka would have continued the conversation in Russian but Mishka immediately asked that he speak English, assuming that Wheeler already knew everything.
"How is Natalya?" Linka broke in with her most pressing concern.
"She has a broken arm and some minor abrasions, but as I am sure you can understand, she is also experiencing some psychological shock."
Mishka had paled but he asked, "Does she know about Nina and Gregori?"
Doctor Dykhovichny nodded, "I believe so. We have not told her, but they died on impact and she would have seen and heard enough at the crash site for a child of her years to understand."
Linka was grateful that Wheeler's arm was still around her because he was practically holding her up at this point. "Can I see her?"
"Yes," the doctor nodded, "We have given her a mild sedative so do not be alarmed if she does not wake immediately…"
"There's something you're not saying." Wheeler said quietly, encouraging the doctor to go on.
The older man nodded, "She is not talking… she is clearly responsive and there is no brain damage. It is not unusual for a child who has experienced severe trauma to go in on themselves for a while. You will need to be patient with her."
"Of course." Linka nodded, fighting back tears and even Wheeler was struggling as he remembered the happy, outgoing child who had wrapped him round her little finger at Linka's party.
"Go and be with her now. I would like to keep her in overnight and you are welcome to remain with her." They thanked him and he added, "We will see how she is in the morning and then we can discuss the way forward."
Linka thanked him again and then walked bravely towards the door he indicated.
A pace behind her, Wheeler saw Linka tremble at the sight of her child lying so still and pale in the hospital bed. He placed reassuring hands on her shoulders and moved forward with her as she slipped into a visitor's seat and took her daughter's hand in her own. He felt choked himself and he wasn't surprised when Mishka excused himself to call his grandmother and their friend.
"She looks barely alive," Linka croaked, still shaking slightly.
Wheeler grabbed another chair from beside a second, empty bed, and placed it close enough to rest his arm over the back of Linka's, his hand once more resting on her shoulder. "She's ok Babe, you heard what the Doc said, she's been through it but it looks worse than it is."
Linka nodded and reached out to stroke the young girl's hair. "I am glad you are here Yankee, though I know I should tell you to go, it is not fair to you…"
"Hey, none of that." He scooted his chair a little closer and let his arm slide down around her, hugging her against him and resting his lips against her temple, "I'm where I want to be, for you and for her."
She was prevented from responding by the little girl's beginning to stir, and whimpering softly as she became aware of her injuries.
"Natalya?" Linka forced her voice to steady, speaking in Russian, "You are not alone Sweetheart."
"Hey there Angel," Wheeler added, wanting her to know of his presence too though he doubted it would matter to her.
Natalya blinked as she looked up at them, then her eyes filled with tears but she held her arms out to Linka, the cast on her left weighing it down slightly.
The Wind Planeteer moved into the child's embrace immediately, scooping her up in her own and moving her so that she could sit beside her on the bed, hugging her close.
Wheeler remained where he was, wishing he could do more but beginning to feel as if he was in the way. They have each other now, they don't need me… even if the father's not in the picture, Linka probably still loves him. She's never wanted me to love her, that's for sure. She needs me here as a friend though and that's what I'm gonna be, for as long as she'll let me… He had a feeling that that wouldn't be very long though.
Linka was very independent and she was clearly struggling with needing help. He guessed she was also feeling guilty for not trusting him with the truth, knowing how he felt about her, and he was doing his best not to feel bitter about it, but it did hurt.
"Wheeler?" Mishka spoke softly from the doorway and the American rose to join him outside the room, leaving Linka speaking softly to her child in Russian.
"What's up?" he asked with concern.
The older man grimaced, "Grandmuska has been very upset, I do not think she knows what she has been saying. Tanya was Linka's best friend at the time Natalya was born but she never told her… well, anything, and Tanya is not very happy about that."
The irony of Mishka telling him that was not lost on Wheeler and part of him sympathised with Linka's old school friend but he said, "Linka doesn't need that right now."
"I know," her brother agreed, "I was wondering if you were planning on staying? If so, I think it would be better if I went home and tried to smooth things over. I will come back in the morning of course."
Wheeler shook his head, "I won't leave them, and look, you might as well stay at home and take care of Gram. I promised her that I'd bring the girls to her and that's what I intend to do. If it turns out we can't bring Natalya home in the morning… well that's different, but there's no point you coming all this way just to hear she's ready to leave."
The Russian hesitated. Taking care of his family was deeply ingrained in him and it was on the tip of his tongue to argue his right to do so. In the end however he gave a slight nod, "Very well, I am sure Linka would rather have you here than me anyway."
He looked into the room at his sister at that moment and so did not see the look of pain in Wheeler's eyes and the slight shake of his head in denial.
"Will you tell her what I am doing? I do not want to disturb them." Mishka added.
"Of course." Wheeler nodded, and shook his hand again when it was offered, "I'll see you tomorrow."
To be continued…