| Subject: The Dragonslayer, Chapters 29 & 30 |
Author:
Jaron
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Date Posted: 19:26:15 12/18/01 Tue
In reply to:
Jaron
's message, "The Dragonslayer" on 16:44:37 12/16/01 Sun
The Dragonslayer, Chapter 29
“Daddy, I’m so glad you are awake. Did you hear my story? It was about you and how
you fought the dragons, the bad guys. I think your boss, uhhh Operations, liked it,”
this last breathless sentence was whispered into Michael’s ear. “Boy, do I have a lot
to tell you! How are you feeling? I....” Michael brushed his fingers over Rene’s lips,
quieting the words tumbling out of his son’s mouth in such a rush.
“Slow down, Rene. I can’t keep up,” he croaked, his voice raspy and rough-sounding.
“May I have some water?” he whispered.
Operations turned to find the nurse who had fled Michael’s room so quickly earlier
standing behind him with a glass of water with a straw. “Oh, thank you!” he said,
smiling at her as he took the glass of water and receiving a shocked expression from
her in return. “Here, Michael.” He held the straw to Michael’s lips and Michael was
able to quench the awful thirst with which he had awakened.
“Who died?” he asked as he looked around at the somber faces surrounding him.
“Not funny, Michael. We almost lost you again!” I said. “You gave us a huge scare.
Oh, and by the way, please take a parachute with you the next time you decide to
step out of a helicopter.” I reached out and smoothed back the hair on his forehead.
“We were worried about you!”
“Grace!” Michael looked around as if finally realizing where he was. “What are you
doing here?” A look of fear crossed his handsome features. “No...no... I don’t want
you and Rene inside this place, inside my world. Please, no.” He turned his gaze to
Operations as if to beseech his indulgence in sparing his family.
“It’s all right, Michael. They are okay here. I promise you that.” Michael looked
skeptical of Operations’ assurance, as he continued to speak, “Rene and I have had a
long talk and I promise you nothing will happen to them. We’ll make sure that they
are safe and that they will have a new, secure place to live with new identities.”
Operations put his hand on Michael’s shoulder and gave it a squeeze. There were
looks of astonishment on the faces of all who heard Operations’ words. “They...and
you, have nothing to fear from me. Getting to know Rene has made me feel more
human somehow.”
“What about Madeline?” I interjected into the discussion, suddenly wary that this
unexpected ally might not support us if Madeline opposed it.
“Madeline will do what I tell her to do. She always has.” Operations looked into
Rene’s eyes and I saw a flash of understanding between them. What did I miss, I
thought to myself.
“Rene, it was my decision to separate you from your parents. I had the final say. I
confess that I wanted your father more focused on his job, with no distractions. I was
expecting him to do things I could not do. He was more focused for awhile because
he immersed himself in his job to try and deal with your loss. Soon, we noticed that
things were not going so well with him. His friendship with Nikita helped.” I felt
Michael tense under my hand as Nikita was mentioned. “But she could never help him
get over losing you. Then, suddenly, he started improving. That was when you went
to live with Grace and Michael found you and started secretly visiting you. Madeline
and I let it happen because the Michael we wanted was back. And he was back
because he knew you were safe with Grace. We don’t want to change that.”
“You won’t separate us again?” Rene ventured to ask the question we were all dying
to ask.
“No, Rene, I will not separate you again.” Both Rene and Michael let out a long sigh
when they heard Operations make that admission. So did I. Walter grabbed my hand
and squeezed it, giving me a big smile. I was feeling quite well at this moment in my
life.
“But, in the end, I think my original decision was correct.” he said, deep in thought.
I stared at him, not believing my ears. Walter poked me in the ribs, and whispered to
me, “Hear him out!” So I listened, I wanted to hear his reasoning.
“I didn’t handle the initial situation very well. I almost destroyed the both of you, but
ultimately, I think it was best for you. You gained a stay-at-home Mom, which
Simone could never have been. A Mom who loves you and will always be there for
you.”
I felt my righteous indignation rising in my throat to voice a protest to what he was
saying, when Michael put his hand on my arm to silence me.
“No, Grace, he’s right.” Michael’s hand squeezed my arm and he slid his hand down
to mine as he smiled that heart-rending secret smile of his up at me. My sudden
anger started to melt as I looked into those magnificent green eyes. “I’ve often told
you that I can’t imagine Rene being with anyone else if he can’t be with me. You’ve
always been there when he needed you. One day, my luck may run out and with you,
I know Rene will be safe.”
I could feel tears gathering in my eyes and I was greatly ashamed to admit to myself
that I was glad Rene was with me, but that meant he wasn’t with Michael. I was glad
that Rene was my son in every way except of my blood. I turned a guilty gaze to
Michael and felt him look into my soul. He knew exactly what I was feeling and
thinking.
“I know what you are thinking, Grace, and I want you to put that thought right out of
your head.” Michael continued. “If I were to die tomorrow, I know you would never
let Rene forget me, and that would be enough for me.”
In a small, teary voice, Rene said, “Daddy, please don’t talk that way. You aren’t going
to die and I would never, ever forget you and how much you love me.”
By this time, Rene and I were both in tears, and we were both hugging Michael.
Walter was rubbing his nose and sniffing while carefully studying the steel tips of his
boots. Even Operations was clearing his throat and looking up at the ceiling.
Rene looked up as he caught a movement at the door. “Mom,” he said quietly, “even
the evil queen has a heart.”
Madeline was standing in the doorway with that enigmatic look of hers as one perfect
tear traced a path down her cheek.
“Well, I never thought I would see that!” Operations and Walter said at the same time.
We all dissolved in nervous laughter, Madeline included.
She wiped at her eyes carefully to avoid smearing her makeup. “I hate to be the
bearer of bad tidings, but...” Michael and Walter exchanged looks of amazement.
“But we have incoming wounded. Michael, it’s your team.” Her gaze pierced Michael
to his core.
He sagged back into his pillows, looking like someone had punched him in the
mid-section.
“Oh, God, no. Nikita!” Michael whispered, closing his eyes.
The Dragonslayer, Chapter 30
Madeline sighed and said, “I’m sorry, but yes, the wounded include Nikita and
Carson. Porter is dead. He died going in to help them.” She walked over and placed
her hand lightly on Michael’s shoulder.
We stood there in stunned silence while all around us, medical personnel moved
about quickly, getting ready to accept the incoming wounded and treat them.
Michael looked up at Madeline with the question in his eyes.
“I don’t know yet how bad it is,” Madeline said, answering the unspoken question.
“When Birkoff talked to them, it was still rather chaotic in the van. We’ll know more
soon. I’ll let you know when I know anything.”
Michael sat up in bed slowly, and started to swing his legs over the side of the bed,
but Operations stopped him. “Stay put Michael. You aren’t going anywhere!”
“I’m fine!” he hissed through clenched teeth. “I want to examine the mission profile
to find out what went wrong.”
“Daddy, please! I don’t want you to hurt yourself. Please lay down,” Rene, sitting
beside Michael on the bed held on to his father’s uninjured arm. “Daddy, Please!”
I could tell Michael was in pain. But I also knew that he felt strongly compelled to
find out what happened, how Nikita and Carson were injured. I added my plea to
Rene’s, “Michael, they will need you later, when you are stronger. You can’t help
them if you are in pain. They won’t thank you for risking yourself this way.”
Finally, he accepted what we were saying and lay back against his pillows, but I knew
it wouldn’t be long until he checked himself out of Medical. I sighed and settled
down to await the inevitable. Rene lay down against Michael and snuggled into the
cleft between Michael’s arm and his body and was soon asleep, confident that his
father would rest as well. Worried though he was, Michael was also exhausted and
deciding to conserve his energy, he let his eyes drift closed and joined his son in a
restful slumber. I watched the two of them silently, thinking how perfectly matched
they were. Thinking also of how precarious life was. If it were within my power, I
would make sure that Rene would grow up to be as fine a man as his father.
Almost an hour had passed when I noticed that the level of activity had increased
sharply. I heard the clicking of high heels on the tile floor and saw Madeline coming
toward us. “The van is arriving now. Michael...” She stopped and her expression
softened when she saw Michael and Rene together, sleeping peacefully. I watched
her, interested that she betrayed her feelings so openly in front of me. As if hearing
my thoughts, she took a deep breath through her nose and turned to me.
“Grace, you and I have to talk. But now, I think we need to wake Michael. Nikita and
Carson will be brought in soon.” She moved closer to the bed.
“How bad, Madeline?” I asked, “Should we prepare Michael for the worst? You must
know he loves her.”
“Yes, I know. That’s why I had her recruited. After Simone, we almost lost Michael.
He needed someone to be responsible for. Rene was gone, so we gave him Nikita.”
She looked over at me. “Does that shock you, Grace?”
I nodded. I didn’t know someone could have such a tender look for someone one
moment and then turn icy the next moment and talk of gifting the person with
another human being. “Michael never lied to her about his feelings for her, but she
thought he did lie to her, and he didn’t tell her any different. I think he loved her
from the beginning. Operations didn’t want a relationship between them, but I
encouraged it. Michael needed something, someone to hold on to. I think
Operations and I miscalculated Michael’s emotional strength when we took away
Rene. And then when Simone was lost....I was sure we would lose him.” She smiled
at me. “And then I found Nikita....and you. Two problems solved. You turned out to
be more important than Nikita in my plan. I thought at first I could control Michael by
using you and Rene, but then when he found out about you on his own, I had to alter
my plan. But all in all, I think things have turned out just fine. When you have time,
ask Walter to bring you to my office for our little discussion. All right?” She smiled
that maddening Mona Lisa smile of hers and shook Michael’s shoulder, awakening
him. He came awake, with a start. Remembering Rene curled up next to him,
Michael controlled himself and slowly rubbed his hand over his eyes and came fully
awake.
“Michael, your team is coming in. Their injuries are not life-threatening.” She smiled
down at him, locking his eyes with her own. “Now, isn’t that great news?”
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