Nemesis Chapter 34

Nemesis Chapter 34

Nicholas helped Max carry the equipment upstairs to the fourth floor, and into the room that Grant was sharing with Jim. The four men exchanged greetings all around.

"You guys are both looking much better this morning," Nicholas grinned, his voice betraying his relief.

"They're releasing me this afternoon," replied Jim with a smile.

"And now that my fever is finally gone, I've got one more day of antibiotics and then I'll be out of here, too," chimed in Grant, with a look of appreciation at Max, who returned his smile.

"Oh, Nicholas," Jim said suddenly, "I almost forgot to tell you. Doctor Luccini was in here earlier, and he wanted me to send you up to critical care as soon as you got here this morning."

Nicholas paled. "Is Shannon all right?" he asked hastily.

Jim held up his hand. "Take it easy, friend," he said soothingly. "I think she's asking for you."

Nicholas smiled. "I'd better go see her, then. I'll be back soon," he promised.

As he started to leave, Nicholas looked at Max and raised an eyebrow, silently asking if he wanted to come along.

"You go on," Max grinned at his friend, sensing how important it was that he have this time with their other teammate. "I'll stay here and keep these two company."

*******

Nicholas knocked softly on Shannon's door, and then stepped inside. He was overjoyed; Shannon was propped up in bed, smiling at him.

"Hey, there," Nicholas greeted softly, sitting down beside her bed and taking her hand in both of his. This time, her hand was warm, and her heart rate was steady.

"Hi," Shannon replied. Between the damage to her lungs and having spent days on the ventilator, her voice was only a whisper. But to Nicholas, it was magical.

"How are you feeling?" he asked her.

"I'm tired," she answered honestly, "but I feel pretty good." Shannon's cheeks flushed, and she looked down at her hands.

Then she looked up again, and her moist blue eyes met Nicholas' soft brown ones. "The doctor told me that you saved my life, Nicholas. Thank you."

Nicholas smiled at her and squeezed her hand. "I'm just glad you're going to be all right. You had me worried."

She returned his smile. Then her smile faded as she was suddenly stricken with worry. "What about the others?" she asked quickly.

"Everyone's fine, Shannon," Nicholas reassured her. "We all hit some snags along the way, which I'll tell you about when you're stronger. But everyone is okay."

"And the mission?"

Nicholas sighed. "We haven't made a lot of progress," he answered honestly, "though we did manage to figure out that Garcia is working for John Christie."

"Christie?" Shannon echoed incredulously, as she, too, remembered the previous mission.

Nicholas nodded. "The four of us are getting ready to regroup and go after him."

"Wish I could help," Shannon replied with a half-smile.

Nicholas squeezed her hand again. "I know," he said fondly, "but you just need to focus on getting better."

"Promise me you'll be careful," Shannon begged, recalling with a shudder how Jim had been wounded by Christie 's bullet. "You know how dangerous he is."

"Yeah, unfortunately, we've found that out already," Nicholas answered wryly. Then, seeing Shannon's troubled expression, he rushed to reassure her. "We'll be careful, Shannon. Now, you get some rest. I'll come back when I can."

Nicholas leaned over her bed and gave her a soft hug, then he gently kissed her cheek. "I'll see you soon."

*****

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