|
Sally's eyes scanned the length of the motionless form in the bed for the hundredth time. It seemed so strange: she knew
the state he was in was like sleeping, but he looked anything but. She had watched her best friend sleep before and the stiffness
in which he lay was uncharacteristic of his dozing behavior. Daniel lay in the hospital bed, which looked nothing like comfortable.
Having yet to come to consciousness, the nurses had laid him down in a very stiff position, his legs stretched out straight
with his arms to his sides, so as not to interfere with his wound. This was not how he usually, comfortably slept.
Sally knew that Daniel never had both legs stretched out straight: one was always bent slightly at the knee when he slept.And
his arms were never down to his sides; they were either behind his head or lay gently upon his chest.
Sighing, the blonde looked away, it just seemed so unnatural. She rubbed her face and looked at her watch. Daniel had
only been out of surgery for a couple of hours. Although the doctors had patched as much of the internal injuries as they
could, Daniel had lost a lot of blood and had fallen into a coma. The doctors were not certain of his fate. We'll just
have to wait and see, they said. She had called his father, but there was no answer, and she didn't know Jeff's phone
number or his last name. The only other person for her to alert was Daniel's roommate, Peter, but he went to Colorado for
the week with some friends.
She felt helpless and Zarbon's powers would not return for another sixteen hours, so Poopsie's healing was not strong
enough to help him either. She glanced up at his form again. Just give me a sign that you're going to be all right. She placed
her hand on his, but the familiar reaction was not displayed. There was no soft rub of his thumb over her fingers; there was
no slight smile or twinkling of those familiar gray eyes. This is all my fault.
Casually, he walked down the hospital hallway, the soothing colors wasted on his grim mood. Finding the correct numbers
he took a deep breath before he slowly began to enter the room. The first sight his blue eyes held was that of the form in
the bed, covered to mid torso with a stiff white sheet and a tan blanket. His eyes then turned to the figure sitting next
to his brother.
Sally turned toward him, she couldn't give her usual grin of a greeting; she nodded instead.
He nodded in return and sat down on the arm of another chair, pushing back his loose black hair. She watched him for
a moment. His look had changed as well as his demeanor. He wore jeans and a black t-shirt, his hair was down and loose, the
blackness tracing his cheekbones, not slicked back as it usually was.
"So," she said quietly, "Do I still call you Rick?"
"Most everyone did," he answered. "Except Dan and our mother. Mother would call me Friedrich, and Dan would call me Free,
a nickname he gave me when he was first learning to speak. But Rick is fine."
"Since now you're neither of the men I thought you were, I'll call you Friedrich. I always believe in calling people
by their real names."
He grinned in vague acceptance. Then Sally's brow furrowed in remembrance.
"Isn't Friedrich your brother who died?"
"I only have one brother, and let's pray that he doesn't," he looked over at the immobile face in the bed.
Sally swallowed, realizing what she had unknowingly implied; she felt an urge to leave, to just run away. She made a
slight movement to stand, but Friedrich's words stopped her.
"If you're trying to put this all together..." he said. "Let me just tell you everything before you get yourself confused."
Sally nodded.
"Have you met our father?" he asked.
She nodded again.
"Then you know that he has a very likable personality." He stopped, slight indications of a smile appearing on his face
as he remembered some faint childhood memory. "He used to be part of SECRET..." he saw Sally's eyes widen. "This was back
when it was legit. We used to actually do things that helped the citizens of the world. Anyway, he worked alongside of a man
named Ian Daft."
"I know who he is," she scowled slightly.
"He and our father were very close, and they learned much from each other. However, our father began to see that Daft was
relishing in the power given to him and it was taking up his life, consuming him.
"Now our father, he has a personality that anyone would like, he would charm world leaders into giving up their nuclear
weapons and such things. It was a gift, really: a power, and he knew he had it and how to use it. Well, Daft found out about
it, and turned against him, thinking he had used this persuasion on him to gain his trust and lure him into doing things he
would never had done. Suddenly to Daft, everything our father had taught him was wrong and immoral. Although vice versa was
true.
"It was about this time that our father had met our mother. He was tired of trying to keep Daft under control and he retired,
knowing that he couldn't keep our family safe in such a dangerous profession.
"Unbeknownst to our father, our mother had a gift of her own. She could see into people's hearts and recognize them for
who they really were. So although our father thought she had no clue to his past, she had already known every detail of it.
"Then Dan was born."
"Why do you call him Dan?" Sally interrupted somberly. "He hates being called that."
"We have our nicknames for each other." He grinned.
"Then," he continued, "a year later I was born. Both of us were born as healthy as could be, however, when I was a toddler
I became sick and the doctors had no clue why. My weight would fluctuate drastically; my skin would tan then blanch overnight.
But as far as the tests showed I was perfectly healthy. There wasn't much I remember from when I was that little, but I have
one memory that has stayed vivid ever since: I was lying in a hospital bed, staying overnight until some tests came back.
Our parents had left the room to visit with the doctor and I was so scared. Dan came over to the bed and crawled up, sitting
next to me.
"'Free,' he said, 'Don't be sick anymore; be like me." Friedrich set his jaw as he thought of the brotherly moment between
them. "I wish it were that simple now."
"As I grew older, I realized and learned to control this awkward gift. If you hadn't realized already, I can change my
body shape at will, I only have to touch someone to inherit his or her body. However, my face remains."
"So you incorporated Daniel's body into yours and were able to control it as a child?"
"Yeah, even now it's the one I feel most comfortable with. His body is my body. That's how I know he isn't going to die.
At least not right now."
"You mean you two are connected somehow, physically?"
"Sometimes, when he gets hurt, I'll feel it, even if he just hits his leg on the corner of a coffee table. And sometimes
I'll feel his emotional hurts too. As children I was stronger than him, partly do to the fact that I could grow muscles in
two seconds. But Dan, being rather scrawny and intellectual would get picked on and beat up. Our parents didn't know what
to think when Dan had been in a fight and both of us came home with black eyes. But after we realized our connection, I fought
the bullies for him, knowing I could best them and save us both bruises and bloody noses." He paused, smiling to himself,
remembering something.
"Of course, Dan thought having his little brother fight for him was a bit demeaning, especially when he was the older of
us and suppose to be looking after me. But then he had a gift of his own: he could grow anything. Once, at dinner he tried
to sprout a cooked green bean on his plate. Mother was not happy." His smile grew. "God, I haven't thought of these memories
for a long time." He shook his head again, and then he ran his fingers through his hair. Sally recognized it as similar to
Daniels habit. "
"When he was nine he created the yellow-stemmed three leaved fern-rose for a science fair. Remember that plant?"
"Now I'm confused," Sally interrupted puzzled.
"Yeah, our lives will do that to anyone."
"The picture in that botany book of the plant's creator, Friedrich, was you, but you didn't create it?"
"Me?" he asked shocked. "No way, Dan was the plant man, not me."
"But the book said..."
"Don't always trust what you read," he warned her, smiling. "Dan created it, he was trying to create a plant that would
filter that air of toxins and pollutants, but instead, got something he hadn't hoped for. But like the intelligent scientist
he is, he had it in an enclosed case as it grew, monitoring the quality of the air and such. The day it blossomed, we were
on vacation, and our neighbors cat had somehow entered our garage and tipped over the case, shattering it. It suffocated in
the toxins. Good thing by the time we returned the air was clear."
Sally listened, concerned.
"Now because of the mistrust Daft had of my father, unbeknownst to us, our house was covered in surveillance equipment.
They had seen the tragic death of Harold, the cat, and Daft wanted the plant for his own use. He personally showed up at our
door demanding it and our father took him into the garage and hacked up the plant right before his eyes."
Sally stared at him, wide eyed. "Daft must have been pissed." Friedrich nodded.
"Now Daft knew that one of us boys had created the plant, and he vowed that he would take the creator in order to produce
the plant again. However, I stood in for Dan when they came, and let him take me instead. There would be no way that I could
do anything with that massacred plant.
"Of course it didn't take long for them to realize that I wasn't the one they had been after. But instead of going after
Dan again, they kept me because they thought my unusual gift could be useful to their cause. To account for the plant, and
for my disappearance, they had our identities switched in that botany book. Daft told my family that I would die if they breathed
a word of this to anyone, or tried to contact me. For my safety they followed the orders to move to a new location under a
different sir name: Lairdlot.... my father is a clever man." He shook his head slightly. "Do you know what Lairdlot means?"
he asked.
"Hidden face," she answered. "Daniel told me once."
"Well, I grew up under the influence of Daft, but never forgot my origins and the sacrifice I made for the people I loved,
and the sacrifice they made for me. And no matter what he said about them, how they had tricked me or how they no longer remembered
me, I held onto the fact that my brother had once saved my life by allowing himself to be an example for me. If I couldn't
forget it, neither could he.
"I started looking for him. Not really trying to meet him, but just to see him from afar if I could, to make sure he was
safe. I knew that SECRET kept an eye on me just to make sure I didn't mingle with those I wasn't suppose to. It was right
about then when I first met you actually, that I got my first big clue: the fern-rose.
"Daniel knew that SECRET would find out hed restored it and come after it. I did intend to bring the vial of nectar back
to headquarters, but you were right, my brother would not have approved."
Sally smiled slightly, remembering how he had returned the vial of poison.
"Ever since then, I've been planning an escape. But if I left too quickly, I'd be found as a traitor and they might hurt
the family I was trying so hard to find.
"That government satellite I had hacked into was actually a SECRET satellite and it held the information about my family's
current status and names, but with Daft's interception of the disk, it was once again out of my reach. So, planning a surveillance
of campus, I told them I was trying to catch the elusive Others.
"Stationing myself on campus as a student, and trying to look how I pictured my bother would, I met you. The plan would
have worked out wonderfully when Dan returned, I would have revealed myself and we would have been reunited as a family. However,
it was then that I found out about the devise implanted in my shoulder." He sighed.
"And you know the rest."
"So what's stopping them from tracking you now?" she asked concerned.
"For one," Rick pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket and handed it to Sally. She unfolded the newspaper clipping.
Tequila Heights Chronicle
SECRET AGENTS ARRESTED IN RAID
By Wilber Davidson
Sirens rang in the night as
the police surrounded the old office building at 10th
St and Georgetown Rd in Kansas City, KS last night. A large number of members
of a rogue government faction, disguised as a reconnaissance unit under the Federal Bureau of Investigation, were arrested
under several charges. Some of the more severe were unlawful experimentation,
treason, and conspiracy.
The faction, calling themselves
The Super Evasive Covert Reconnaissance Espionage Team, or SECRET, was brought to the attention of the proper authorities
by previous members, who are remaining anonymous.
While the Kansas City
raid resulted in many arrests, a few of the rogue SECRET agents are still at large.
The FBI and your local law enforcement are asking for any pertinent information on the location of any at large agents.
"SECRET is in a state of chaos," Friedrich continued. "Our Father has given the government some information on how to track
them down. Second, the only man that despised the thought of my freedom the most is dead."
"Daft?" He nodded stiffly.
"It's probably better if you don't ask how."
"What about that Miller guy, won't he come after you?"
Rick grinned, his blue eyes flashing. "I chased him all the way across town, but lost him. He talks a good game, but really
he's too chicken to try anything for awhile." He stretched, then winced as his arm sent a pang of resistance.
"You should probably get that looked at."
"Stop worrying about me, mother," he teased. But he could see that she was hurt by his disregard for her concern. "Here,
look." He lifted his t-shirt and pulled out his arm, revealing his shoulder to her.
Sally looked on hesitantly. The slash wound caused by the graze of the bullet was completely covered by a scab already.
"It would usually be just a scar by now," he said, repositioning his shirt. "But I too, inhaled some of that gas."
"Has it been twenty-four hours already?" she asked hopefully, perhaps her weak friend was strong enough to assist with
the Elven healing.
"No, it's only been four, he replied, "This healing occurred before Miller released that canister."
Sally turned toward Daniel again. He still had not moved from his unnaturally stiff position. She sighed. "Maybe I should
try Simon again," she stated producing her cell phone.
"He already knows," Friedrich said. "I've contacted him already."
Sally gave a weak smile; she was glad she didn't have to explain the grim circumstances to the father. She reached over
again and lightly set her hand on Daniel's, again it felt unnatural when he didn't respond. Rubbing her thumb over the back
of his hand, she searched his face.
"I love the way you look at him," the black-haired man next to her accidentally whispered aloud. Sally turned.
"Huh?"
"It's just..." he sighed. "I'm glad he found someone like you; that loves him this much. I mean, there I was, physically
his double in a time when you were very lonely, and yet you are so in love with him that you saw past that. You're in love
with his soul." He shook his head in awe, his blue eyes sparkling. "Has he asked you to marry him yet?"
"Wha...? "No," she said defensively.
"Well," he should. He paused as his face beamed with a large smile. "He will. I'd be glad to call you my sister."
"I think were getting a little ahead of ourselves. He's in a coma," she gestured.
"Stop sulking," he teased, rolling his eyes. "He'll wake up, I promise. Maybe you just need to get out of this stuffy
little room." His eyes flashed with their blue fire. "I know...." He grabbed her hand and pulled her from the room.
- - - - - - - - - - - -
Tonya peeked into the room, acting quietly as to not disturb anyone inside. However, the only person in the room was the
form in the bed. She turned back to the other visitors.
"Sal's not here," Tonya said disappointedly.
"Maybe she had to use the restroom," Jessica suggested.
Suddenly they heard laughing coming down the corridor. There were two large mounds of flowers coming their way.
"Did you see the look on that nurses face?" one bush asked, chuckling uncontrollably.
"I don't see how I could with all this foliage in my face," the other one giggled.
"Sally?" Poopsie asked. A familiar blonde head popped out from between a couple of the arrangements.
"Oh, hey guys," she said. "Could you help us?"
Tonya and Poopsie grabbed some of the flowers and headed into Daniel's room. Jed took a vase then stared as she recognized
The Face, despite the lack of slicked hair.
"Guys, this is Rick," Sally explained upon seeing JED's expression. "Formerly known as The Face. He's Daniel's brother."
"Daniel's brother?" Tonya asked shocked.
"The plot thickens," Dee commented with a cocked eyebrow.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
As they brightened up the dreary room with the arrangements of flowers, Rick told them all an even shorter version of
his story.
"How are you feeling?" he asked the girl with the long braided hair, who could only have been Tygeress.
"Well, Zarbon's still resting, inhaling that gas and using all that energy for his Ki has left him with no energy." She
turned to Sally, "Sorry."
"It's okay. I understand. I think Daniel's going to be okay, he just needs to replenish his strength too."
Tonya glanced at Poopsie, who returned to worried look.
Rick excused himself; he still had a part to play in the governments takeover of SECRET and it looked like Daniel had
more than enough people to keep him company.
Sally smiled warmly and gave him a slight wave goodbye. He winked at her and nodded to the rest of the girls. After he
left, Sally's friends turned to her.
"How can you smile like that?" Jessica scolded. "The man you love is lying in a coma and you have a silly grin on your
face and are laughing with another man!"
Sally looked shocked. "Guys... I'm not..."
"She's right," Dee added, "It has affair written all over it."
"We're not even...." Sally protested.
"I looked at his chart," Tonya interrupted. "It's not good news. There's only a 5% chance he'll even live past twenty-four
hours. You can't just dismiss the facts, Sal."
"Stop lecturing me!" Sally yelled. "I thought you guys would be supportive of the fact that I haven't given up hope."
"We're not saying we've given up hope..." Poopsie said quietly.
"And it's funny that you're hanging out with a guy who, up till two minutes ago, used to be your mortal enemy," Dee observed.
"Well, I wonder why," Sally attacked sarcastically. "Maybe because I believe him when he says Daniel will get better,
or maybe because he has just as much to loose as I do!"
"Hey!" Tonya yelled. "Don't you dare say that we don't care about Daniel. He's our friend too! And if I had my full strength
back, I'd whoop your ass for implying such things!"
Just then a nurse came in, "I'm sorry, ladies," she interrupted, rather harshly because of their outburst, "Visiting
hours are over."
Tonya stomped out of the room, whispering to Poopsie. "I can't believe she said that."
"I know... I know..." Poopsie whispered back, trying to calm her friend.
Sally bent over Daniel and whispered in his ear, "I'll be back soon."
Instead of heading back with the others, Sally walked around the outside of the hospital for two hours, as the sky darkened.
This would be so much easier if I had my powers, she commented as she began to scale the outside of the building.
First peeking in to make sure the coast was clear, she opened the window she had unlocked earlier and climbed silently
into Daniels room. He still lay motionless, but in a slightly different stiff position, no doubt moved by the nurses.
- - - - - - - -
Sally awoke to someone shaking her. She was sitting in the chair next to Daniel, bent over, her torso supported by the
bed. Looking up she saw Friedrich.
"Wha....?"
"Shhhh, they're coming." He grabbed her arm and helped her as she sleepily stumbled onto the ledge beyond the window.
Two nurses entered the room, one was empty handed, and the other pushed a cart of bandages and sterile cloths. They approached
the young man in the bed and pulled down the blankets, then moved his gown to expose the wound.
Sally gasped as she saw the large hole in his abdomen held tightly closed by black stitches. She turned her head quickly
and buried her gaze in Friedrich's chest. He tenderly put a comforting arm around her as he continued to watch the nurses
redress the wound.
After they left he helped the tired girl back into the room.
"Perhaps you should return home and get some rest," he advised. "I'll be here if he wakes." His blue eyes managed to flash
at her. "Don't fret too much about it, he's in good hands."
Reluctantly, Sally left. As she left the hospital her mind seemed blank and emotionless. She didn't remember getting in
her car, or driving home. She didn't remember opening the front gate or pulling into the garage.
As the morning dawned she somehow she found herself sitting in the garden on a familiar stone bench, staring into the dimming
darkness around her. As if the flowers knew the state of their caretaker, they seemed dull and sulky. Their brightness was
gone and it only depressed the girl more.
Finally standing, Sally made her way to the Mansion. If she couldn't sleep, she at least needed to lie down and rest.
- - - - - - - - - - - -
The black haired young man blinked out the glare of the morning sun as it came into the hospital room. He stretched and
glanced around the room.
Daniel still lay in the same position as before.
Friedrich ran his fingers through his black hair. For some reason the vase of cut daisies on the bedside table caught his
eyes. After only a day of captivity, they were already wilting, drooping their heavy blossoms over the rim of the container,
their petals wrinkled and discolored.
The dark-haired man sighed and grabbed them out of the vase, dropping them into the wastebasket. He turned to
his brother and watched him for a moment.
"Hang in there, Dan."
- - - - - - - - - - -
Zarbon rubbed his forehead as he awoke. His whole body protested as he pulled back the sheets. Feeling weak and worn he
groaned in agony as he sat up and shifted his feet over the side of the bed. Tonya stretched behind him, groaning as well.
Although her powers weren't back yet, she did not feel the strain as he did. He had used all his energy to keep up the Ki
shield around them as long as he could. She crawled over to him and put her arms around his neck.
"This feels worse than that morning after I was inebriated," he said rubbing his face. Suddenly the memory of last night
entered his head. He remembered staggering into bed, aching from exhaustion and the news of his critically injured friend.
"What if I don't regain my strength in time?"
"It's okay, love. Just take your time," whispered Tonya into his ear, rubbing his shoulder slightly. "Don't over do yourself
before it all comes back. If something happens to you..."
His amber eyes locked into her emerald gaze. He leaned his head to rest on hers as his arm came up to caress hers.
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
"T," Jed called to get the attention of the man behind the newspaper. "We're going back to the hospital around ten to check
on Daniel. Want to come with?"
Techno took a sip of coffee then muttered a no.
Jessica rolled her eyes. "I thought you liked him."
"He's a good guy," the one-eyed man admitted from behind his paper. "And a brave one: he doesn't need me to hold his hand."
"I'll come with," Sebastian said as he leaned over and kissed his fiancé on the forehead.
"Of course you'll go," Alec said, not looking up from his breakfast. "The kid still owes you ten dollars from the last
poker game."
"That's not funny," Poopsie reprimanded him quietly.
"Think Sally would want to come with us?" Jessica asked.
"She didn't get home until this morning," Tonya answered as she entered. "I think she was sitting all night with him."
"Poor girl." Sebastian shook his head.
"We should let her sleep then," Jessica decided.
"How's Zarbon doing?" Alec asked, looking up as Tonya sat across from him with a bowl of Cheerios.
"He's still really weak," she answered, stirring her spoon absentmindedly in her cereal. "I told him to rest all morning,
and wed see how he was in the afternoon."
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
When Sally awoke at two thirteen, it felt as if she hadn't gotten any sleep at all. She lay in bed for another half hour;
but when her body refused to let her return to slumber, she headed for the shower.
She walked through the empty house to the kitchen, thinking of making a sandwich. But after she pulled the Miracle Whip
from the frig, she only stared at it for a moment before deciding she wasn't hungry.
For some reason the Mansion just seemed like the wrong place to be. After wandering around for a while, she ended up in
the garage, and thought it best to take a drive.
Not really having a destination in mind, she was mildly surprised when she found herself driving up to Steve's house. He
lived in a modest one-story ranch style home roughly ten miles from the Tequila Heights city limits.
Sally turned her engine off in his driveway, but sat in the car for a moment longer, not really sure what she would say
if he was home. As she exited the car she heard the distinct sound of wood chopping coming from the backyard.
Walking around the house, she found her way into the backyard. Steve was swinging an ax onto a chopping block, shirtless,
with perspiration on his skin from the activity in the afternoon sun. His short brown hair was wild from sweat.
It was the first time Sally truly realized how well built he was. As he bent to pick up another log to chop, she noticed
how every well-placed muscle moved seamlessly. Her eyes skimmed his physique. In the moment, he seemed perfect. He gave another
powerful blow and cut the lumber in half.
Then he caught sight of the intruder out of the corner of his eye. Steve straightened and grinned.
"Hey, girl," he called, setting down his axe and tossing the cut pieces into the pile. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"
His right hand found his left shoulder to relieve a tense muscle as he walked her way. As he did so, other muscles flexed.
"I was just in the neighborhood," she said softly, her eyes never leaving his flesh.
Steve outright smiled. "Nobody's ever just in my neighborhood, sweetheart." He pulled a red paisley handkerchief from the
back pocket of his well-fitting Wranglers and wiped the sweat from his face.
Sally found herself looking at the fine pattern of his moderate amount chest hair. She had to fight an animalistic urge
that wanted to touch it.
"Hey," he said as he placed a warm hand on her shoulder, grinning slightly. "You a'right?"
Her eyes trailed up his body to his wonderfully hazel gaze. Sally tried to smile, but found it impossible. His brow slightly
furrowed as he tried to judge her emotion.
She stepped slightly closer and was amazed how good his sweat smelled and she couldn't help but wonder if it tasted just
as good. Her hand reached up and found its way to his shoulder. His slick skin was warm to the touch. Her fingers traced their
way behind his neck as she pulled his head closer.
His hand was now on the back of her head as he leaned in to kiss her, and just before their lips met, Sally closed her
eyes and felt an untamable passion flow through her. Her other hand was now curving around his muscular side, as she held
him as close as she could as the kisses deepened and Steve's other arm moved around her waist and up her back. She was surprised
how his body responded quickly to every move hers made.
Steve's lips moved to Sallys neck as she gasped for breath. Her body felt as if it weren't her own and her heart had a
beat of its own, that only Steve could dance to. His hot breath seemed to be melting something inside her.
Unexpectedly, she pulled from his embrace and took a step backward. She was suddenly seeing the scene anew and slightly
shocked, couldn't contemplate continuing.
"What's wrong?" Steve asked; his face covered in concern and surprise as he caught his breath.
"Steve, I..." She couldn't describe what she was feeling. "I've gotta go."
She turned and ran back around the house to her car.
"Sally!" Steve called to her as he tried to catch her.
"Don't ask me to explain," she said as she threw open the car door and hopped inside. I can't even explain it to myself.
She tried to swallow the feeling that was now overwhelming her. It's like.... Like my heart stopped.
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
Suddenly, the blue line on the heart monitor stopped its rhythmic jumps and traveled directly across the screen as a loud
high-pitched tone echoed in the room. Three women and two men in scrubs rushed into the room, pushing aside the group of visitors.
The women and a man began to read stats and administer the defibrillator as the other shooed the young man's friends from
the small room.
The gang was waiting anxiously outside the room when the doctor and assistants emerged. The doctor stepped forward with
a grave look on his face as he surveyed the fearful faces before him.
"I'm sorry," he said quietly. "The injuries were just too severe."
Jessica gasped and buried her face into Sebastian's chest as he put a strong, comforting arm around her. He buried his
own cheek into her short dark hair.
One of Poopsie's hands was over her mouth as she sat next to Alec, the other squeezing his hand.
Tonya, a shocked look on her face stood next to Poopsie.
"No," she said disbelievingly.
"There was nothing we could do. I'm sorry." The doctor repeated.
Tonya moved to take a step forward, a threatening look in her eye. Dee grabbed her around the shoulders then forced her
into a hug.
"I suppose we ought to call his father," Sebastian said.
Through tears in her eyes, Poopsie looked down at Alec's watch. "If only it were half an hour later then maybe we
could have tried..."
Tonya slowly made her way up to the doorway, wondering if she dare go inside.
As Sally turned the corner and saw the outlines of her friends in the hallway,
her heart suddenly plummeted to the bottom of her stomach. The time it took her
to reach them seemed like an eternity and as she approached and their faces came into view, each look, each mannerism told
the tale she'd give anything not to hear. It was as if she were in a nightmare,
as in slow motion each tried to say something, words of comfort, but she didn't hear them.
Their voices were muffled by an awkward, eerie silence. Sally looked directly
into Tonya's tear filled eyes as she entered the room to see the motionless man in the bed. As she realized that his chest did not move with air, she herself found it hard to breath. The stillness of the room choked her and her vision began to blur as she reached the bed and her hands
found his.
Blue eyes found his emotionless face, but she couldn't look at him any longer;
she turned away as her whole body shook with a wrenching sob she couldn't repress. Her eyes fell upon the trashcan next to
a chair. Inside laid a vibrant bouquet of daisies. For some reason the crisp fresh colors of the yellow and white gave her comfort. She reached down and picked them up. She looked at them carefully,
taking in the softness of each petal and the careful planning of each intricately patterned center. Why would anyone throw these away?
A sudden gasp behind her made Sally turn.
Daniel's friendly gray eyes stared up at her from a surprised face. A
pained grin developed on the man's face.
"Miss me?" he asked hoarsely then coughed coarsely.
Sally tried to speak, but settled for just closing her mouth. Tonya, upon hearing his voice, rushed in.
"YOU'RE OKAY?!?!' she shouted enthusiastically, restraining herself from jumping
onto the bed and hugging him senseless. When he nodded, the braided girl spun
around and settled for Sally instead, engulfing her in her arms.
Hearing Tonya's ejaculation, the rest of the crowd entered Daniel's room. Everyone cheerfully gathered around him, all now suspecting that he was more talented
than they had thought.
"It seems we all have our little secrets," he managed to say, his eyes were
locked onto Sally's.
"Hey," Sebastian said. "At least
now we wont be one groomsman short at the wedding."
|
