Chapter 221 -- LFN Storyboard 2

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Date Posted: 22:19:13 03/09/12 Fri
Author: taurus2124
Author Host/IP: CPE-58-161-100-192.nsw.bigpond.net.au / 58.161.100.192
Subject: Chapter 221
In reply to: taurus2124 's message, "Next couple of chapters of The Rising Dragons" on 22:14:22 03/09/12 Fri

Chapter 221

Dr Johnson entered ICU and approached Michael�s bed as Walter trailed in behind him. Taking his file from the base of the bed he quickly read the nursing staff�s notes to check on Michael�s progress over the last few hours. Closing the file he then looked up at the patient. Michael was breathing soundly and all his vital signs were back to normal. Dr Johnson was also pleased to see that colour had finally returned to his face since having the blood transfusions. Due to his conditioning and fitness what had appeared to be a crisis in the happening had been avoided. It was evident that Michael was surely on the road to recovery and had turned a corner despite the critical trauma he had faced when he�d first come into Med Lab. He was confident that both Nikita and Michael would bounce back from their wounds and be ready for any future assignments Madeline and Operations had in store for them with the Rising Dragons� mission.

It had been well over 24 hours since Walter had seen Michael and although he was shocked to see the IV drip and monitors surrounding him, he hoped that the worst was finally behind him. His eyes scanned all the equipment and monitors that Michael was hooked up to. As Dr Johnson checked his vitals, Walter watched as the persistent beats of the heart rate monitor at his bedside beeped. He watched as the liquid in Michael�s intravenous drip made its way into his body giving him the nourishment to get better. Walter darted his eyes from Dr Johnson to Michael then back to the doctor trying to gauge his body language.

�Is Michael going to be okay Doc?�

The physician looked at him with a wry smile that spoke volumes � it was obvious that Michael was going to pull through and there would be no need for additional units of blood. �He�s stabilized and that�s a good sign.�

Walter was thankful for that Intel even if he and Birkoff had risked life and limb to ascertain what Madeline and Operations had had classified about their number one operative. He was a glass have full guy and thus could take a positive out of a negative from their situation. If nothing else living on the edge made each situation a challenge but also a necessity to survive here in Section One. Knowing that at any time you could be killed or put into abeyance meant that you lived what life you had in this hell hole to the fullest � and he and Birkoff had certainly done that. What they�d done was dangerous but it was also exciting and exhilarating � it made you feel alive and that was vital to survival in Section.

The patient was asleep and Walter didn�t want to disturb him unnecessarily. He looked back at Dr Johnson asking in a hushed tone, �Will he recover fully?�

�I don't see why not. He is still in good shape and has the strength to come out of this very well considering that he has been put through the wringer.�

�Will there be any complications?�

�As long as no infection occurs to his wound, he should be back to normal before we know it.�

�How long will that be do you think?�

"It's hard to say Walter ... perhaps a week maybe more depending on how fast he heals. I�ve suggested both he and Nikita have some recuperation time away from Section. This will help immensely.�

"That�s good to know. I hope Madeline and Ops think so too."

�Yes � that could be a stumbling block, but I�m working on it.�

�Yeah � well good luck with that,� Walter replied knowing that an immoveable object or possibly two may have just been placed in the way of Michael and Nikita�s recovery.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

As they were quietly talking Walter turned his head when he heard Michael take a deep breath. He was still a bit groggy, but nevertheless he looked around him until his gaze finally settling on the two men standing next to his bed. Michael tried to sit up, then stopped, wincing in pain.

�Mmmm.�

�Hey � How are you feeling?�

Michael took a deep breath moving his head so that he could look at Walter. �Like I've been shot.�

�Yeah. You were shot on the retrieval Mission ... in Hong Kong.�

�Hong Kong?� Michael closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead, trying to remember what happened next.

A little alarmed by his rhetorical answer and gestures, Walter asked, �Do you remember?�

His eyes were closed as he spoke. �Yes � we were trapped in the monastery ... you rescued us ...� then without finishing his sentence Michael suddenly sighed darting his eyes to Walter then to the doctor. �Where's Operations? I need to debrief.�

�They�ve seen you already Michael.�

�Do they know?�

As he listened his face showed no expression.

�Yes they know � I�m sure your debrief can wait.�

The debrief was really secondary to what he actually wanted to know � but protocol required him to think of his obligations to Section first but it was not his primary concern. With the one pressing question hovering on his lips, Michael turned his head towards Dr Johnson and asked solemnly, �How is Nikita?�

�She�s doing very well.�

�Thank you.� He closed his eyes briefly, before opening them to stare up at the ceiling. �Can I see her?�

�Not yet ... but soon.�

�Soon? How soon?�

�I�m sure it will only be a day or two Michael, and then you'll be able to see her.� Walter chipped in. �You need to build up your strength. You have to rest.�

�I�m fine.�

Dr Johnson had experienced Michael�s stoicism on other occasions when he�d been in Med Lab and he expected nothing less from the Level 5 operative. On the rare occasions that he�d been sent to medical, Michael had often said he was �fine� even when he�d been bleeding all over the floor, but this time he was not well enough � just yet � to be going anywhere until his IV unit was out. Karl Johnson understood his frustration at being confined to a hospital bed but this time there was little he could do about it. Michael was here and that was that.

�I�m sure you are fine Michael � but � we need to look after you first. Press the buzzer if you need anything. And try to do what Walter suggests � get some rest, hmmm?"

�That�s right.� Walter reiterated like a concerned father.

�Okay.� They heard Michael reply as the two men turned and quietly left his room so that he could sleep.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Rest? How could he possibly rest knowing that Nikita was so close and he was unable to see her?

Michael detested being in Med Lab and would rather discharge himself than be here one day longer than necessary. He moved in bed trying to get comfortable but comfort eluded him. The level of pain in his chest was almost bearable � if he didn�t move � but the pain of not being able to see Nikita was more unbearable. He was uncertain if he could wait another hour before being able to see for himself that she was okay.

The worst thing was the not knowing what was going on outside these walls but particularly in Nikita�s room. He�d been here for nearly 48 hours but he had to rely on others for Intel on her progress. How much longer would he have the IV drip in for? Hopefully he would be recovered enough to have it removed tomorrow � then he would see her. He had to believe that Nikita was okay. He couldn�t bear to think of any other alternative. Walter and Dr Johnson wouldn�t dare lie to him that�s for sure, so it must be true that everything was okay...that she was okay.

Pushing himself up into a more sitting position, Michael grimaced as his wound started to throb unmercifully. He winced in anguish but gritted his teeth until the pain dissipated. He had a high threshold of pain and he wasn�t going to let a bullet wound be a setback. The surgeons had done a mammoth job of piecing him back together and because of his innate determination to fight affliction, he willed himself to be better. Michael didn�t care about his pain. That was of no consequence � what he did care about was the pain that Nikita had suffered at the hands of the Rising Dragons. What motivated his recovery even more was the thought of the pain that he would inflict on the people who had hurt her. Only then would he be satisfied and then Nikita would also be able to move on from the consequences of this mission.

Staring vacantly at the IV line poking out of the back of his left hand, Michael�s thoughts turned to what would happen when they left Med Lab. There was no way known that he or Nikita would be able to resume the Rising Dragons� mission before they were fully recovered. So he was totally resolute that come what may, the two of them would be out of here and away from the prying eyes of Section One and their superiors to recuperate.

Consumed by thoughts of his Nikita, Michael soon succumbed to the lure of sleep.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Play on text from � Not Was

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