It was still virtually unknown by the public that she had been on the Revival. The survival and sustainment of the shuttle during the nuclear and atmospheric disruption was yet another unsolved mystery…as was what really happened within and to the shuttle. All crew members were among those who “lost time” during the atmospheric “disruption;” oddly the computer systems which were programmed to fly the craft were not affected nor, miraculously, was the flight path, so the craft had somehow stayed on course in the interim.
But because of the concurrent events of the shuttle mission and the nuclear activity, NASA was able to justify classifying the entire mission to a level excluding any disclosure whatsoever. It was probably unnecessary, but a convenient move at the direction of the White House; it prevented common knowledge of Johnnie’s presence and no one wanted to ask the remaining crew-including Bonnie Janz- to lie. Classifying the events surrounding the launch simply eliminated all parties’ ability to discuss any facet of the flight.
The Constellation attempted to tie Johnnie Carter, the “soldier angel” in their exclusive scoop, to the JFK incident and the Revival Flight – but the publication was quickly discredited by official sources. The JFK security video was so poor that it could easily favor thousands of other women besides the one who was purported to have “saved” a baby in remote and rural Nevada…and the only photo of Johnnie with the Revival crew was the one produced by the Constellation. Officials pointed out it was probably photo-shopped in a very transparent effort by the sensationalistic publication to tie together fantastic events. Unfortunately, the snoops had unearthed Dean Carter, but he was such a discredit to himself, he did little to strengthen the paper’s claims.
Jeremy speculated the Constellation’s involvement had somehow led Dean to the hospital…Mary, in her grief, may have also been a factor. Johnnie was going to strangle her mother.
Then she thought of someone even more disturbing than Mary…someone who could make the great cover up for naught.
“But now that my name is out there…couldn’t the woman who blew things up – she knows exactly what I look like…”
“Oh. There’s so much to tell you…” Jeremy stopped to regroup, looking regretful. “Marsha Renee Schreiver…the bomber, well – she completed her mission. Her only goals, apparently, were to bring awareness to the whole abortion thing, then become a martyr for all of the dead children, or their mother, or something like that. During the white out, while the entire detention facility where she was being held was apparently out of it, she took the opportunity to kill herself. Some speculate she thought it was a religious incident – like lots of others. Others think it was just a way to complete her original plan since it was the first time she wasn’t under constant watch. Either way…”
They both fell silent. Johnnie found no joy in the news…in fact, it felt like a darkness spreading inside of her. Jeremy knew he needed to keep Johnnie grounded, with so much to absorb. He waited till she looked up at him, and once he had her attention, he quietly continued to get to some news which he suspected would lighten the blow.
“Of course, the Constellation is sticking to its guns about everything – and you should know Byron Hoffstedder has been no help to them at all…and, on a side line, inevitably you do have a few cult followers. There’s even a web site…” The last statement emitted a groan from the formerly speechless young woman, but Jeremy continued to lessen the impact.
“But they have no idea where you are now and the Air Force will not release information regarding an active member on classified orders. And your care here is completely authorized as you were, in effect, injured while on duty for a classified mission.” He stopped to let this sink in.
Johnnie was certain she had misunderstood…she had been through a lot and was still adjusting, after all.
“Jeremy…could you please hand me the water?” He complied, in silence. Although the quality of her voice indicated she was likely parched, it also revealed the air of preoccupation. She was processing.
He took the empty glass from her hand and waited.
“Jeremy…I’m really happy that the terms of my discharge weren’t blurted out there…but I can’t believe the President would condone a lie about my status. I’m not on active duty…”
He had waited for this moment. He leaned back and watched her has he said, “You have friends that went to great lengths to seek a correction in your records…those closest to your case requested removal of your discharge for mental health conditions.” She started to speak and he quickly grasped her hand as if to stop the flow of words. She stopped talking, but looked confused and nearly on the verge of tears. So she just looked at their hands and waited.
“Since there was some pretty keen oversight about you after you got back from the launch – concern about your condition…it didn’t take long to sync the request to change your status with interested parties at a much higher level. You also had some pretty adept legal representation on your behalf, I might add.” He squeezed her hand with the last statement and she looked at him sharply. So now he was her lawyer too?
“Your discharge was revoked, your situation was reclassified medical and tied to your current undiagnosed condition. You know…the one that caused your most recent affliction while you were on duty with your legitimate, classified assignment. The action was retroactive, so you were technically on active-duty for the shuttle flight…and you still are.” She stared at him, shocked…but the tears no longer threatened.
“Johnnie…it’s fair, appropriate…and it honors your agreement with the President. You have your anonymity…at least to the degree possible. And although you could get your active career back, believe me, at worst, you’ll receive a solid discharge…no marks…”
She closed her eyes and swallowed, her hands gripping the sheets.
“My life back. As long as…”
He knew what she was thinking and also believed he’d inflicted enough for one day.
“One day at a time…” He rose and stood next to the bed. He had waited for weeks for her to awake…but not so he could give her a detailed report. He’d hoped for something different… but he’d given her what she’d asked for.
She looked up and he was trying to find the words when the door burst open to a huge limping man and a wobbly dog. As soon as the leashed, very well groomed three legged canine…wearing a blue vest...spotted Johnnie, Betsy defied gravity and leapt high enough to get her front legs on the mattress. Sandy filled the room with a belly laugh as he caught Betsy’s lagging hind quarter and hefted the rest of her onto the bed.
Jeremy laughed, in spite of having lost the moment he’d sought. They were all caught up in the joy of the reunion. It was good. It was really good.
Betsy was well on her way to becoming a full-fledged service therapy dog. Although entering her into the training was initially a ruse Sandy adopted to get the eager girl into the hospital to see Johnnie, he realized that she was not only a natural in the role, but he had found his calling as well. As a wounded veteran looking for his place in life, it was a perfect fit. Particularly during their visits to Walter Reed National Medical Center at Bethesda, Betsy had become an instant favorite among the ailing Soldiers, Airmen, Sailors and Marines; with her missing leg, she was not only a kindred spirit – but her presence seemed completely natural.
At that moment, however, she was just a dog elated to be back in cahoots with her woman, snoring loudly at Johnnie’s side and Johnnie looked like she would join in shortly, willingly or not. Sandy and Jeremy exchanged looks, silently agreeing that it was time to wrap things up.
James would arrive in the morning, having received the news of his sister’s regaining consciousness. He’d already called from Los Angeles and was adjusting his plans as quickly as possible to be by her side. Jeremy knew she badly needed rest before James, possibly Mary, and most certainly, President Liang made it there. Not to mention the certainty of many more medical tests.
Just before Sandy and th
e reluctant dog departed, Johnnie crooked her finger, beckoning the former bartender to her side. She took his huge hand and pulled him down till he perched on the bedside. Jeremy took Betsy into the hallway to give them their privacy…trying to conceal his smile at how enormous and dark the man looked next to his tiny, pale friend. The beauty and the beast…
“Are you doing OK?” She asked, her head leaned back, but attention fully on him. Sandy Sanders had uprooted himself to follow her, not that long ago, then she had virtually left him in her wake. She hoped he hadn’t regretted his decision to sell his place and start over with what may now be little direction. Although the plan had been for him to be her protector, she suddenly felt like the responsible party.
He smiled his very contagious gap-toothed grin and took her small hand.
“I am great. If you can tolerate having me around, Betsy and I are a team…and your brother is looking for a way to sponsor this and other things like it for injured veterans as part of his bigger operation. It kind of fits, you know? These guys and gals need to believe in themselves…anyway, I’m good with it now that you’re OK.” His big face sobered and he took her other hand.
“I was so scared, Little Sis…” He stopped to steady his voice. “I don’t know how you did it, but you pretty much became my family…fast…and gave me more family. But it wasn’t going to be OK till you woke up.” He startled her by leaning close and kissing her cheek. She pulled her hands free and gave the giant a hug, which he gently returned; she looked so frail, he was almost afraid he’d break her.
As he pulled away, she grabbed his face and he immediately noted the old twinkle in her eyes.
“You are stuck with me, Bubs…but, I can only do so much. I’m not your type, remember?” He looked at her, smiling quizzically, sitting up as she lightly smacked his cheek.
“Well…yeah…but I’ll get to that eventually.” He had no idea why she’d even brought this up.
Then she said, “I have someone you should meet. As long as you don’t mind the limelight…you know? And sharing your man with his job. He’s in a pretty prominent position…but I happen to know he has a soft spot for veterans. And I’m pretty sure I could arrange a meeting. You don’t like girls…but are you OK with Asians?”
It was late and had been the second longest day of Johnnie’s life. She was physically and emotionally exhausted and still had so much to process.
Jeremy prepared to leave; he had been here every weekend to relieve Sandy since it all began and didn’t plan to change his schedule. His unfortunate discovery of Dean Carter had started this weekend’s vigil and he still had the next two days.
If he could patch together something, anything of which he’d pondered during the past weeks, it would be the coups of his life. He saw no options for himself – he just needed her agreement. He was completely committed to Johnnie and the two had never had as much as a date.
It had been a brutal day for her, he knew, but it seemed his role had been little more than a bouncer and a personal newscaster. Coat in hand, he hadn’t realized that while he thought, she lay looking at him.
“Jeremy, don’t you think there’s still a chance it wasn’t me? I mean, the whole world wanted it to stop…and no one knows the total nature of any of this, including nuclear power…” Then she stopped. She suddenly wished she’d kept her mouth shut. She just wanted it all to be over.
He wanted exactly the same thing. He didn’t care what her role was. He didn’t care why the world had barely averted disaster, he was just grateful it had. What he really cared about was pretty cut and dried at this point. And that was the only thing he addressed in his answer.
“Do you think, maybe, when you get out of here that we could get together when things aren’t exploding…or you aren’t between meetings at the White House and the space shuttle. Or saving the world…or whatever else you do in your spare time?” The words were out, so he crossed his arms and pursed his lips, staring at her. He finished, “You know…something boring, like – I don’t know, bunjee-jumping or cliff diving. Or a movie? McDonalds?”
Even after all she’d been through, her defense mechanisms leapt up. She really wanted to say yes. She clamped her eyes shut, trying to tune out the inner commotion but the activation of years of well-placed emotional land mines overpowered her exhaustion. Voices told her no. No. Nope…No way. Don’t go there.
And then she stopped them all with a single, resolute answer to their commands,
“No.” She was not going back. She wanted it all to be over.
Jeremy obviously mistook her meaning and stepped away, but only slightly. He was put off, but not totally convinced.
“Really? No?”
Her hands flew up in denial and she shook her head.
“No, not that. I was talking to…never mind. I mean, yes… Yes.” She swallowed hard and looked at him pitifully, forcing a smile. “Yes…please. And the boring-er the better. We can play checkers and eat sandwiches.” She instantly felt ridiculous and was so tired she was dizzy.
Before she knew it he had kissed her hand and disappeared.
This, she thought as she drifted off, must be the part where we live happily ever after.
_____________________________________________________________
She had been “home” at James’ for a week. She remembered her first day out of the hospital as she threw clothes onto the bed.
The surprise party had been a veritable who’s who in the recent life of Johnnie Carter. Although she had met the Hoffstedders when they visited her at Bethesda, it was better to see them in the more relaxed setting. It warmed her heart to see Jeremy with his old teacher with whom he had a great bond. Wei had travelled with them for his first trip to New York, also to attend the party. Johnnie loved the old man instantly, and had mistakenly thought the presence of the unmistakable secret service agents was for his benefit. The elder Liang also thrilled her with the news that although his daughter Amy, Johnnie’s childhood friend, had wanted to come along, she was unable to make it…but hoped to be in touch soon.
When the President, himself, arrived, Johnnie was floored, but overjoyed. He had, indeed, visited her in the hospital upon his return from Vienna and although he insisted their association would continue, she’d sadly expected it to be otherwise. His unpublicized presence at the gathering not only proved he was a man of sound intent, but also gave her the perfect opportunity to introduce him to another veteran and good friend. She’d surprised even herself when she’d taken Wing’s arm and pulled him close enough to whisper,
“No time like the present…you saved the damn world, what have you got to lose?” He had no time to respond, quickly recollecting his confession to her, as she dragged him across the room to where Sandy stood alone. She introduced them and walked away to let it be what it would be. The only ones who appeared to take exception to her bold actions were the high strung agents – but Wing quickly dismissed them, and was almost immediately lost in conversation with the man twice his size.
Mary had been in her glory, flitting about the party as if she, herself, were the guest of honor. James did his best to spirit the mother away so the daughter could enjoy the much deserved moment. Paul Leo, Sylvia Post and even Bonnie Janz, well recovered from her ghastly cold, were all present as well.
But the best surprise of all was arranged by Jeremy himself. He personally met her young friend Jason Barker, along with Jerod and Marta Stass, when they arrived after the party was underway. Johnnie’s old captain tried to apologize for his actions, but she wouldn’t allow it. She spent the most time with these dear old friends, the only part of her old life that she truly missed.
Having that specific collection of people in one place had been the most appropriate way to bring the last chapter to a close and Johnnie was ready to begin the next, whatever it would bring.
It was twelve weeks and three days since White Day, and while not perfect, the world still turned – just a little more smoothly. In a week, Johnnie would
, once again, be discharged from the Air Force – her choice this time, and with a clean record. There had been no signs whatsoever of her previous “condition,” since coming out of the coma; those in the know guessed it had truly been a journey with a destination and her mission had been fulfilled. She hoped that was the case, but had learned the hard way to simply let it be.
Today, however, she was excited. In the days since awakening, she and Jeremy had had their sandwiches, played checkers, been to McDonalds, seen two movies and had, in general, fallen into what was rapidly becoming the most natural and real relationship either had ever experienced. And, now, she was packing for a weekend trip…he wouldn’t tell her where they were going and requested only that she bring her Pac Man pajamas.
“They’re hot!” She’d almost fainted when he’d whispered those words into the hair next to her ear…they had been in a restaurant with James and Sandy at the time, and the message had been meant for her only. He was joking, of course, but it had served to remind her that this relationship was on a fast track to a place she hadn’t been in a long, long time. It had been so long, she was pretty sure she qualified as a virgin again; it may as well be the first time, and as far as she was concerned, considering her feeling for him, it would be.
As she folded the ratty old pajamas, rather than the negligée most women would have reserved for such an occasion, her phone rang.
She was relieved to see that it was her doctor’s office calling. She had gone in for an appointment that morning to determine the cause of her recent bouts of nausea. The physician was most interested in ensuring that it wasn’t related to her previous and undiagnosed comatose condition. She, however, was far more concerned about it interrupting her upcoming weekend. Somehow she didn’t feel it would enhance the experience for either she or Jeremy if she had to hang her head into a trash can while in the throes of passion.
The Unlikely Savior (The Unlikely Savior Trilogy) Page 51