| Subject: Chapter 14 |
Author:
KAte
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Date Posted: 15:57:24 03/30/01 Fri
In reply to:
by Kate
's message, "Things My Mother Taught Me" on 19:49:51 03/29/01 Thu
***************
Keep a stiff upper lip.
A twinge.
Nikita hesitated and waited for a moment, not quite daring to put her whole weight on her ankle. She swallowed hard and pasted a smile on her face. "Sara?" She took a few tentative steps and when the ankle bore her weight she walked across the flagstones.
The other woman turned, smiling. "Yes?"
Nikita hesitated, this time out of embarrassment, then confessed, "I'm sorry, I don't know your full name. Milla always uses your first names."
"It's Sanderson, but call me Sara. You must be Milla's mother?"
"Yes," Nikita laughed, "You can call me Nikita."
"It's so nice to meet you," Sara's smile expanded and she held out her hands. "This is such a lovely view, thanks so much for letting us crash on you for a few days."
Nikita smiled, this time genuinely as the pain fizzed out as quickly as it had begun. "The pleasure's ours. I wanted to thank you in person for the kindness you've shown to Milla. It's hard letting your chick out of the nest, but I can tell how much she's enjoyed your company. And your husband's," Nikita added.
"We've enjoyed her, too."
"So, I see you're expecting," Nikita smiled, looking at Sara's stomach.
"Yes, in a few months," Sara put a hand on her stomach and smiled back. "We're still fighting over the name, though. Sammy wants to name it after his father, but I am certain it's a girl."
Another small burst of pain pulsed through Nikita's ankle, her knee and straight to her hip. Her breath caught in her chest. "Let's sit down, shall we? Dulcie should be bringing us some tea ... soon ..."
"Nikita?" Sara looked at her in concern. "Is something wrong? You look a little --"
Pain suddenly exploded down Nikita's spine. It felt like every cell of her body was suddenly on fire, and she stumbled, swayed and dropped to the patio, her head bouncing off the stones, hard enough to jar every bone in her body but not quite hard enough to knock her out. Hitting the ground so hard when every nerve was white-hot with pain felt like a thousand hollow-nosed bullets piercing her skin at once and Nikita cried out.
Sara dropped to her knees on the ground. "Nikita?"
Nikita heard running footsteps. Voices. "I don't know. She just dropped. Sammy --" Then ... David? Nikita couldn't tell, but someone else said, "Inside. Get her inside. It may last a few minutes --"
Nikita felt her legs twist and she caught her breath as lightening zigged through her, touching every joint, every muscle, turning her body into a raging electrical storm.
Through gritted teeth, she muttered, "Electrocution's worse. Riding point ... is ... better ..."
"What did she say?"
"I don't know. Get her inside."
Nikita felt someone tuck an arm under her shoulder and she gasped as her shoulder sockets moved. They felt like they were dislocating, along with every other joint in her body. Then she was all the way up, being cradled in someone's arms that weren't Michael's. As her body shifted, she cried out.
"Sara, open the door." The voice rumbled through Nikita, starting off another set of tiny explosions in her spine, which shot up to her neck and skull. Nikita whimpered.
The game. Play the game.
"Worse than having a knee replaced. Better than ... getting caught in a parachute upside down."
Okay, that was weak, Nikita told herself, gritting her teeth as they went through shadowy doorways into her own bedroom. You can do better than that, she scolded herself. Better than being tortured by Red Cell. Worse than being in a pit with snakes. She shuddered, remembering the snakes and how she'd been sure Michael wouldn't get her in time ... nasty, slithery things ...
"Almost there," said someone from far away.
Worse than getting lost in a war zone. Better than being caught.
She tried to brace herself for the pain of being lowered into bed.
"Slowly," said a voice ... Sara? David? Nikita was so far gone, she couldn't tell.
"Medicine ..."
Nikita felt her jaws, which she'd been keeping clamped shut so she wouldn't scream, being pried apart. Two little tablets were popped in her mouth, followed by a drowning rush of water. She sputtered, choked, felt the medicine go down. Pain danced down her head, her shoulders, her arms and legs, did a quick waltz around her fingers and toes, and settled in her knuckles, her ankles and wrists, the arch of her feet.
Nikita opened her eyes and caught a sharp, clear view of David, Sara and Sammy. But where was Michael? Oh, that's right: Madrid. Pain flooded through her again, not as vicious as before, but numbing and aching pain that lasted longer. When it receded, she opened her eyes again to see David reaching for the phone. "No."
David paused and raised his eyebrows.
"I'll be ... fine ... soon. Don't call him," Nikita said harshly.
David reluctantly replaced the receiver and Nikita closed her eyes, breathing in and out, in and out. Another bout of pain swamped her and her breath stuttered in her chest, but this time, the pain didn't last as long.
In. Out. In. Out. Nikita tried to breathe rhythmically, and soon, she didn't have to concentrate so hard on it. She felt her body begin to relax. Hot, molten pressure settled in her joints and she could feel her toes begin to swell. "Take ... off ... shoes ..." she mumbled, trying to kick off her sandals which seemed too tight now.
"Of course. Sammy, darling, get her wedding ring and watch before it's too late." Cool hands slipped off her shoes and Nikita felt someone cover her with a light blanket. Larger hands rested on her wrist for a moment, fumbling with the catch of her wristwatch. She winced when he tried to twist off her ring. Her finger was already too swollen. Sara said, "Sammy ... here's some water ..."
Nikita felt wet around her finger and the ring slipped off. From far away she heard the cling of her jewelry being placed on the table. Then, the medicine took complete control and Nikita was plunged into unconsciousness.
******************
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