| Chapter 60 Marie sat in the hospital room staring at her husband. He'd been near death when they brought him in. He had ceased to be able to breathe on his own, so they hooked him up to a respirator, letting it do the work for him. He had an IV, and several metallic mesh monitors attached to him in various places. His bite wound had been cleaned and re-bandaged. Now all Marie could do was sit and wait. She didn't get to see him when he was still conscious, having stayed in her room to watch the ceremony on the vid. As soon as Brian appeared, she and Ana had run down to the throne room. By the time they got there, Brian had already been taken down to medical. She had tried to help as the doctors worked on him, but her colleagues had pushed her out in the hall to wait. She understood why. The patient was her husband, and she had just been released from her own hospital stay. It still frustrated her though, to see her husband so sick and helpless and not be able to do anything about it. She got up and walked to the bed. Gently she touched Brian's cheek, noting how hot it was. His fever was raging, and he was so pale. Marie sighed, walking into the small bathroom and coming back with a wet cloth. She carefully wiped the cool material over his face and then folded it, laying it across his forehead. "He still out?" Nick asked, walking into the room. Marie nodded, a sad expression on her face, "I'm afraid he may be for a while. His fever is really high." Nick walked over to her and put his hand on her shoulder, "Why don't you go get some rest? I can stay with him tonight." "No, I need to be here," she said, shaking her head. Nick stared at her for a moment, "Marie, you haven't recuperated from your ordeal. You should be resting." "I can't rest knowing he's so sick. I need to stay," she said, sitting down on the side of the bed, flipping the cloth over on his forehead. Nick was about to protest again when Marie looked up at him, "I couldn't do anything to help our child. I can help Brian. Please don't ask me to leave." Nick bit his lip, seeing she needed to be there, for her own sanity. "Alright honey, just don't over do it. If you need anything, let us know," he said. She smiled at him, "Thank you, I will." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ LaDonna sat in her chambers, looking across the room to where Mason sat. It was very late, much to late for him to still be here, but something was wrong. He'd said nothing, as he walked into her room and sat down, staring out the balcony doors. She knew he wanted to talk, and would eventually spill what was on his mind, if she just stayed quiet and let him figure it out. She grinned to herself, realizing that Nick had inherited that trait as well. Mason sighed, catching her attention. "Just say it," she said. He looked over at her, then back out the balcony doors, "I'm not sure I can." "You obviously need to talk, so talk," she said, "We used to tell each other everything." He smiled for a moment, "Yeah we did. But this .. I'm not sure how you'll take it. I know it'll hurt you." LaDonna shifted in her seat, suddenly uncomfortable, and afraid of what he had to say. She watched him struggle with his thoughts for a few more minutes, then she got up and walked over to him. She knelt down next to the chair he was sitting in and took his hand in hers, "Just say it." Mason nodded, taking a deep breath. He still couldn't look at her though. "I've been involved with something that I'm not proud of anymore. I um..." he closed his eyes, dreading her reaction, "I'm responsible for the kidnaping." "What?" she said, in shock. He glanced at her, the look on her face tarring at his heart, "I was approached by some very high ups in Interstellar. They wanted the king's ear, and told me if I helped them get it, I'd be rewarded. I was stupid Donna, I was just looking for a way to ruin Nickolas and take over. That's all I wanted, so I agreed. I'm the one that arranged the kidnaping, although I had nothing to do with what happened after he was taken," he confessed. LaDonna stood up and walked over to the balcony doors, looking out at the night sky. She willed herself to stay calm, forcing the tears back. She felt so betrayed. That all his talk of second chances was just an act to get what he wanted. She shook her head, fighting to believe that the man she remembered was truly back, and not just an act. He had to be back, right? Otherwise why confess? Why not just keep quiet and let things pass? "Donna, please say something," he begged, fearing the worse. She'd been quiet to long. Slowly she turned around, anger evident in her face, "What do you want me to say? How could you do this? What happened to �give me a second chance'? Has this all been an act, or are you just feeling guilty?" Mason cringed at her accusations, knowing he deserved each and every one of them. "Donna I'm sorry. All I saw then was a way to get ahead. That's all I cared about, getting as much as I could to make up for ...... well you know. But I swear, I never thought it would go this far, or be as bad as it is," he explained. "What did you think it was gonna be like?!" she asked, throwing her hands up in frustration, "Did you honestly think nothing bad was going to happen?" He looked down, shaking his head, "Please Donna, I've changed since this all started. I don't care about monetary gain anymore, I only care about you. I'm sorry." "I'm not the one you should be apologizing to! If you mean what you say, you should ask Brian and Marie for their forgiveness. Tell them you caused all his suffering, that you killed their unborn child! See how forgiving they are!" she screamed. Mason stood up and faced her, "I will as soon as he's better. I promise you that." "Don't make promises you can't keep," she said, glaring at him. "This one I'm keeping. I uh, I cut my ties with Interstellar after the ceremony tonight. Needless to say, they weren't pleased. I just wanted to let you know, in case something happens.........." he said, forcing the tears that threaten to spill over away, "I'm truly sorry Donna. I realize now how much harm I've caused everyone. I can't ever make up for it, but this is a start." He turned to leave, his head down, slowly walking across the room. LaDonna watched him, torn in her emotions. He reached the door, lifting his hand to pass his mark across the sensor. "Will they hurt you, because you quit?" she asked. "Probably," he answered, still facing the door. The queen bit her lip, staring at his back, "You have to tell Nickolas." Mason nodded, dreading that conversation even more. LaDonna took a step towards him, "Stay in the palace. You'll be safe here. We can talk to Nickolas in the morning ... let him decide what should be done," she offered. He took a deep breath, "If you wish." "I do," she said, watching as he looked back at her. Their eyes locked, and in them she could see his regret. "Very well, I'll see you in the morning then," he said, passing his mark across the sensor and quickly leaving the room. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Nick yawned as the elevator took him to his floor. He had stayed with Marie for a while, and now he was exhausted. He was worried about Brian, but he also felt like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. His friend was back, and the mines were in the right hands now. Now all that needed to happen was for Brian to get better. Then he could concentrate on finding a way to pass on his crown and go home. He stepped off the elevator just in time to see Mason leaving his mothers room. Nick stopped in his tracks as Mason went down the hall, his back to him. What was he doing here so late? He watched as his uncle went past the rooms the guys were staying in and found an unoccupied room. Quietly he let himself in. Nick stood there for a moment, not knowing what to think. He looked from his mothers door to the door Mason had disappeared into. When did his uncle start staying here? And why is he in his mothers room at this time of night? The last question really bothered him, so he made his way to his mothers door and softly knocked. The door swooshed open and he smiled at his mother. "Nickolas, you're still up?" she asked as he walked in and sat down on her bed. "Yeah, I've been keeping Marie company," he replied. "How is Brian, any change?" she asked, coming to sit next to him. He shook his head, looking at his lap. "Well I'm sure he'll pull through. He's strong," she encouraged. "Yeah, um, can I ask you something?" he stammered. She took his hand in hers, seeing he was bothered by something other than his friends health, "What is it?" He looked at her, feeling stupid but needing to ask, "I saw Mason leave just now. Is something going on? Is he bothering you?" LaDonna laughed before she could stop herself, "No ... no he's not bothering me. We were talking about today's events." "Oh," Nick said, staring at her suspiciously. The laugh held more in it than just a routine conversation. "When did he start staying here?" he asked. "Tonight," she said, glancing at him, "He will explain in the morning." "Explain what?" Nick asked. LaDonna sighed, patting his hand, "He has something he needs to discuss with you. I can't say anymore, it needs to come from him." Nick studied his mothers face, "I'm not going to like it am I?" She bit her lip and shook her head, "No my son, I'm afraid not." Chapter 61 |