| Subject: Chapters 13 & 14 |
Author:
Jaron
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Date Posted: 20:13:48 12/21/01 Fri
In reply to:
Jaron
's message, "The Green-Eyed Monster" on 09:13:01 12/21/01 Fri
The Green-Eyed Monster
Chapter 13
It was just turning dark when the phone rang again.
“He’s alive,” Madeline’s voice told us. “He was shot and wounded, but he’s alive.” She
sounded relieved, but worried. “He was hit in the head, but thanks to the hard head we
both know he has, the bullet didn’t penetrate. Instead it ploughed a three-inch gash
from the left side of his forehead to his left temple. The doctors say he has a
concussion but he will recover. He is on his way home as we speak. Operations is
delivering him personally. Take care of him, Grace. We will need him back in a week or
two.” She paused, “And Grace, tell Rene to have a Merry Christmas. I’m glad he will be
with Michael.” And she ended the call.
I slumped back into Carson’s arms, and said, “Let’s go talk to Rene. Michael’s on his way.”
The tension of the last few hours was too much, and I turned in his arms and cried into
his chest. He held me tightly until I had cried myself out, then he took me to the
bathroom, washed my face and went with me to talk to Rene.
By the time we had explained Michael’s situation to Rene, there was a huge roaring sound
outside. When we looked out of the window, we saw the snow swirling up in great drifts
and a bright light arrowed down to the ground from above. Rene broke from us, grabbed
his coat and was out of the door before we could move. Carson and I ran after him.
A Bell Ranger helicopter was just settling down on the wide expanse of lawn in front of
the house. Rene had stopped on the lawn and was screaming into the maelstrom of the
swirling snow. We caught up to him just as the side door of the helicopter slid open to
reveal Walter and Birkoff with Michael supported between the two of them. Operations
had jumped out of the helicopter and was guiding Michael down and out of the helicopter.
Rene ran to his father and gently hugged him, looking worriedly at the white bandage
that was wrapped securely around Michael’s head. Carson went over to Michael and
picked him up bodily and walked back toward the house with him. I followed and, as I
glanced back, I saw both Walter and Birkoff unloading several colorfully wrapped
Christmas presents. I stopped and watched as Rene hugged Operations, and shouted
something into his ear. Operations hugged Rene back and shook his head and then
climbed back inside of the helicopter. Rene waved good-bye and then ran back to the
house and followed me inside. We went immediately to Michael’s room where Carson had
laid him on the bed and was gently pulling the layers of blankets and a heavy coat from
his body. Michael was unconscious, and I marveled again at how young he looked like this.
Soon, we had him tucked in bed and Rene took up vigil over his father, determined that he
would not move until Michael opened his eyes.
I thought to myself, how many times does Rene have to see his father like this? It was
the third time in as many months. But at least Michael was alive and as long as he was,
he would always come back to his son.
I left Rene with Michael and went back to the living room to see to my other guests.
Walter and Birkoff were shaking the snow off their coats when I greeted them with a
“Merry Christmas!”
“Is Michael okay?” Birkoff asked, as he wiped foggy glasses on his shirt-tail.
“He will be, he’s sleeping now. Rene is with him.” I asked where Nikita was and Walter
told me she was still out on a mission. She planned to drive up when she returned and
finished debriefing. “Does she know about Michael?” Walter shook his head and Birkoff
told me that Madeline would tell her when she got back. I hoped that Nikita would be
here for Christmas, and for Michael.
“Well,” I said, “Let’s get the two of you situated for the night. Birkoff, you can have
Nikita’s room. It’s next to Michael’s and Walter, you can stay in Carson’s room.”
“Uh, Gracie, where is Carson going to sleep?”
I smiled at him and said simply, “With me.”
Walter grinned and hugged me. “Congratulations, I thought I saw that coming.”
I held Walter tightly and whispered into his hear, “Walter, I was so sorry to hear about
Belinda. You okay?”
He sniffed and said, “Yeah, I’ll be all right. But I am real happy for you and Carson.”
I looked in amazement at the stack of gifts on the floor. “Let’s get these under the
tree.”
“Uh, Gracie, there’s one package that I have to take for a walk. He opened the top of a
large box and the soft brown eyes of a golden retriever puppy gazed up at me. “How do
you feel about a new family member? Michael got him for Rene just before this last
mission. He made me promise to give it to Rene if he didn’t make it back in time.”
“Oh, Walter! He’s precious! I tell you what. Take him out for a walk and let me check to
see if Michael is awake. I think this is one present that won’t make it until morning.”
Walter nodded and he picked up the puppy while Birkoff pulled a leash out of his pocket
and clipped it on to the puppy’s collar. He and Walter headed for the door with their
precious bundle. I watched them leave, and then turned to walk down the hallway to
check on the other men in my life.
The Green-Eyed Monster
Chapter 14
When I walked into Michael’s room, he was struggling to sit up and Rene was adamant
that he was not going to sit up. “Daddy, lay down! You need to rest. Please, Daddy.”
Michael finally stopped struggling and laid down. His eyes locked on to Rene’s.
“I tried my best to get back here in time. Did I make it? What time is it?
Is it Christmas yet?”
I looked at my watch and said, “Yes, Michael, you made it. It’s 12:05. It’s Christmas Day.”
I bent over him and whispered in his ear. “I’m glad you’re okay. Walter is out walking
Rene’s present. Do you want to give it to him now?” His eyes still looked a bit unfocused,
but he nodded yes, so I went to get the present, but not before giving Carson a kiss and
telling him to keep Rene in the bedroom with Michael, as if anything could tear him away
now.
When Walter, Birkoff and I walked into Michael’s room, Carson had helped Michael sit up,
apparently over Rene’s objections, to judge by the frown on his face and the stiff body
language as he sat on the bed with his arms crossed. But he smiled as he saw the huge
box that Walter carried over to the bed and set down by Michael. “Is that for me?” he
gasped.
“Yes! Merry Christmas, Rene! I hope you like it.” Michael smiled and said, “Go ahead,
open it.”
With a delighted squeal, Rene pulled open the flaps of the box and his eyes went as round
as silver dollars at what he saw. The puppy made a leap for freedom out of the box and
landed in Rene’s arms, where he proceeded to thoroughly lick every inch of Rene’s face
before looking around for another victim and descended on Michael, to give him the same
treatment. Both father and son dissolved in laughter as the puppy couldn’t seem to get
enough of either Rene or Michael. I felt Carson’s arms reach around me from the back
and I leaned into him, watching the beginning of Rene’s best Christmas yet. And as I felt
the strong arms around me, I decided this was my favorite Christmas as well.
Walter’s voice brought me back to my senses. “Well, kid, what are you going to name it?”
Rene shrugged.
“I don’t know.” He sat in quiet thought for a few minutes. “Daddy, what’s my real name,
you know, your last name. My adopted name is King, but what is my real name?”
Michael smiled a tired smile. “Samuelle, your real name is Samuelle.”
Rene returned his father’s smile, “Then, I guess his name is Samuelle, Sam for short!
Okay, Sam?” He hugged the newest member of the family and was rewarded with
another round of face washing from Sam.
Things were winding down for the night. Walter and Birkoff had drifted off to their
rooms and I watched as Michael’s eyes kept closing and popping back open to drink in
every second that Rene was near him. I finally ordered Rene to his room to get ready
for bed with the promise that he could sleep tonight with Michael. While he was in his
room, Carson left me for a few minutes with Michael. I put my hand on his forehead and
was glad to feel no fever, only coolness. “You had us all terrified. I was worried about
you. Don’t ever do that again. Now, take your pills and get some sleep. No arguments
from you. Take them.” He took the pills I gave him with a sip of water and settled
himself back on to the pillows, just as Rene came running back into the room in his
jammies. Sam bounding along behind him. He quickly snuggled up to Michael and as I
turned the lights out, both father and son were sound asleep with the newly christened
Sam at the foot of the bed guarding his new master and his master’s Daddy.
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