Nemesis Chapter 22

Nemesis Chapter 22

The sun shining through the window woke Nicholas from a restful sleep. He was in unfamiliar territory, and for a moment, he had trouble figuring out exactly where he was. Then he caught a glimpse of the figure in white dashing out the door of the room he was lying in, and the memory of yesterday's events returned to him.

Nicholas realized that he was in a hospital, and knew that someone must have checked on him every hour or two during the night. But he had no memory of having been disturbed. He must have been exhausted.

Before he had a chance to think any further, the doctor - Luccini, was it? - came in. He smiled at Nicholas.

"We are feeling better, yes?" he asked.

"Yes," Nicholas replied, returning his smile. His chest did feel better, and his voice sounded stronger.

"I thought so," the doctor observed. "Your lungs showed vast improvement overnight."

"Does this mean I can get out of here today?" Nicholas inquired.

"So quick to leave our hospitality?" the doctor returned, with a twinkle in his eye. "I suppose so, if you promise to take care of yourself."

Nicholas' face grew serious. "How's Shannon doing?" he asked anxiously.

Doctor Luccini's expression sobered. "She's still stable, and holding her own," he responded. "We've removed her from the oxygen chamber and placed her in critical care, but she's still sedated and on a ventilator. Hopefully, it's just temporary," he added hastily, seeing Nicholas' troubled expression, "to allow her lungs some more time to heal. Right now, our biggest worry is that she will develop pneumonia, and we're trying our best not to let that happen."

"Can I see her?" he asked worriedly.

The doctor nodded. "I think it would be good for both of you. Let's get you discharged and then I'll take you to her."

*******

Despite the doctor's words, Nicholas was ill prepared for the sight of his unconscious friend, lying in the hospital bed, all hooked up to IV's and monitors and the ventilator. He stopped at the door and hesitated.

"It's okay to talk to her, touch her if you'd like," the doctor said softly. "She won't respond to you, but she may know you're here."

As the doctor left the room, Nicholas sat down in the chair next to Shannon's bed and took her hand in his. It was cold, limp, and seemingly devoid of life. This bothered Nicholas greatly.

"Shannon," he whispered softly, "you're in a hospital, but you're going to be okay. I just need you to keep fighting."

Unsure of what else to say, Nicholas sat there in silence, holding her hand. Just being next to her comforted him; judging by the way her vital signs evened out, it had the same effect on Shannon.

After a few more moments, Nicholas kissed her hand softly and left the room. He had something important to do.

*******

Nicholas exited the hospital and looked for the car he had drove in the previous night, but was not surprised that he didn't find it. He called for a taxi and headed toward base camp. He had to find Jim, to let him know what had happened. Surely, he was worried sick by now.

As the taxi stopped in front of the building they were using as headquarters, Nicholas' eyebrow furrowed. Jim's car was gone, but as far as he could tell they had not missed one another at the hospital. So where could he be?

Nicholas urged the cab driver to leave the meter running, that he would pay the fare, then got out and started inside. Fear shot through his body when he realized that the door showed signs of a break-in.

He proceeded inside with caution at first, unsure if whoever broke in was still there or if they had taken Jim's car and he was lying hurt somewhere in the building. But a thorough search yielded nothing, and Jim's communicator was lying on the table. With no way to reach his leader, Nicholas surmised that Jim must have taken the car and fled.

But where did he go?

Nicholas glanced at the IMF computer, which was still on. He pushed the button that allowed him to connect with Grant's tiny earring transmitter. There was no signal.

"Grant, it's Nicholas. Do you read me?" he tried, not really surprised when he got no response.

Nicholas frowned. He could not remember a time when the team had been so far out of touch, and it troubled him deeply. He hastily scribbled a note in case one of them returned, then he exited the compound and hopped back inside the taxi.