Melissa ran to Liam and fell to her knees beside him, her fingers searching his neck for a pulse. It was there, though faint. Blood slowly trickled down the side of his face where he had bumped it. Looking over her shoulder she saw a gurney approach and she got up to make way for the nurses. With expert motions they carefully got Liam�s limp form onto a backboard and onto the gurney. Melissa followed them inside the hospital and into the Emergency Room. To her dismay Sandoval followed her in and she whirled on him, suddenly furious.

�Agent Sandoval, I want you to wait outside,� she said in as calm a voice as she could muster. He did not move though and it fired up her temper even more, �In case you�ve forgotten, Agent, this is my jurisdiction. Do I have to call Security to have you removed from this room?�

�No, you do not. I expect to be briefed on his condition though,� answered Sandoval and he turned around to leave.

As the doors swung shut behind him Melissa cursed and turned back to her patient. Arrogant bastard!

�Okay, people, let�s work swiftly here.�

*****

An hour and a half later a tired, but relieved Melissa Park left the Emergency Room. Sandoval was waiting for her in the hallway and he got up from his chair when he saw her.

�How is he?� he asked as he watched her remove her gloves to stuff them into her pocket.

Behind her Melissa heard the doors of the ER open and the sounds of a gurney being pushed towards the elevators. Sandoval�s eyes flicked from her face to the gurney and the unconscious man lying on it, but he made no move to follow him. His face never lost it�s impassiveness as he looked back at Melissa

�He�s going to be fine. He has a bullet-wound in his left shoulder. Someone with quite a bit of medical knowledge operated on him. Probably to get the bullet out. By the looks of the wound he suffered an infection and was treated with antibiotics, though he is still a bit feverish. The blood tests I ordered should prove that. Apart from that he now has a slight concussion and a shallow scalp wound. Like I said, he�ll be fine in a couple of weeks.�

�When can I see him? I need some questions answered.�

�When he�s ready. Right now I don�t want him disturbed. He�s still unconscious anyway and I don�t expect him awake for a couple of more hours. I�ll let you know when.�

�Fine. Keep me informed of any changes, doctor,� Sandoval nodded at her and he stalked off.

Sighing Melissa took the elevator to the second floor of the hospital where she found Liam in a private room. A young nurse just finished tucking him in and she smiled at Melissa.

�You may go now, Sandy. I�ll take it from here,� nodded Melissa and she watched the young girl leave the room. When the door closed behind her she turned her attention to the young man on the bed. Liam was still unconscious from the blow to his head and his face looked pale. For the umpteenth time since his arrival at the hospital she checked his pulse to find it strong and regular. His rising temperature worried her though, even if she knew that the added trauma to his body was responsible. Pulling up a chair she sat down next to him and pulled her global from the coat pocket. Dialing Augur�s number she waited for a connection.

�Melissa, how�s Liam?� asked the cyber wizard on seeing her face and she smiled to put him at ease.

�He�s okay, Augur. He arrived here about half an hour ago. Is Renee Palmer with you?�

�No, I haven�t seen her since she left with Liam. Is something wrong?�

�You could say that again. She had him jump from the back of the van. Liam now has a concussion in addition to the bullet wound. I can�t wait to get my hands on that woman and strangle her.�

�I�ll tell her that,� grinned Augur and he saw Melissa relax a bit on the other side.

�How are you holding up, Augur?� she asked after a few moments of silence and Augur shrugged with a sad look on his face.

�I�m hanging in there. I�m still reacting rather than acting. So much has happened in such a short time. I�m expecting it all to catch up on me any moment. How about you?�

�Pretty much the same. Agent Sandoval is helping me though.�

�Come again?� asked Augur and Melissa laughed at the stupefied expression on his face.

�He�s constantly breathing down my neck and my frayed nerves don�t like that much. So in the last couple of hours he has had the dubious honor of being a punching bag for all my frustrations. You should have seen his face when I almost literally threw him out of the ER.�

�I�m sorry I missed it. Can I visit Liam?�

�Not at the moment. I don�t want him disturbed for at least a day. He needs to rest. And I would not recommend you coming here with all the Volunteers hanging around the hospital. I�ll tell him you wanted to come though."

�Good. Just let me know when you think it�s safe and I�ll bring the kid some clothes and stuff.�

�Thanks, Augur. I will. I�ll talk to you later, okay?�

�Okay.�

Putting her global away Melissa stood up and stretched her tired muscles. She could kill for a hot shower or a good masseur right about now. Walking up to the window she stared out across the lamp-lit vistas of Washington DC. Now that Liam was safe in the hospital she could relax a little. Not too much though, not with Sandoval hanging around. Sighing deeply she ran her hands through her blond hair. Amazing how much could happen in only a couple of days.

Behind her Liam suddenly moaned softly and she hurried back to his bed, just in time to see his eyes open.

Hosted by www.Geocities.ws

1