As the flames from Percy's body were extinguished, the stretcher arrived and the Commander was loaded onto it quickly. Corky slung her rifle over her shoulder and raced behind DeSoto and Daly as they hurried her lover out of the lab and down the hall.
05/12/02 - 0920 hours
Four hours later, McNeely watched dispassionately as Garret's remains were reduced to ashes and Reynolds walked up beside him.
"Fuckin' A, Doug," the Chief whispered. "She got every one of 'em."
"Yeah," he said quietly. "Yeah, she did."
Reynolds let out a long breath. "Think she'll be okay?"
"I dunno," he replied. "I fuckin' hope so."
"So do I."
McNeely sighed. "Let's get this place cleaned up and stowed away. We still have a few months before we can get the hell out of here. Start with the mess, I'm sure I'm not the only one hungry enough to eat the ass out of a rhino."
"Watkins is still in the lab," he reminded amusedly.
"Have someone tighten his restraints and wheel him into his quarters," McNeely said. "Let him work his way free."
Reynolds grinned. "I believe Alvarez would volunteer for that."
A small chuckle. "I'll bet," he said. "We might also want to look after the belongings of everyone we lost."
"I'll see to it," Reynolds said. "What are you going to do?"
"I'm going to Medical," he said. "Have someone bring me a plate when chow is available."
"Will do," Reynolds agreed. "I'd imagine everyone will be there as soon as they can."
McNeely nodded and turned to walk out of Operations, leaving Hanson and Ring to see to their grisly task.
He found himself alone when he arrived at his destination, the divider drawn across the room. With a tired sigh, he seated himself to wait, all too aware of the steady beep of monitoring equipment hidden behind the curtain.
--------
McNeely was startled awake by a nudge from the Chief, who offered him a hot plate of food and sank into the chair next to him. He rubbed the sleep out of his eyes and was surprised to find everyone but Watkins present.
"Thanks," he grumbled. "What time is it?
"1400."
"Any word?"
"Not yet."
He grunted. "Everything squared away?"
"It's a work in progress," the Chief said. "It'll be a few days."
A nod. "I guess it's time to bite the bullet," he announced reluctantly, rising to his feet and setting his plate in the chair before warily slipping behind the divider.
His eyes instantly landed on the unconscious Commander and he winced in sympathy as she was rendered almost unrecognizable by the metal cast taped across her nose. A thin sheet was tucked meticulously around her body and he followed the IV trail to her arm, where he found the doctor asleep. Corky was slumped over in a chair by the bedside, her face resting on the mattress next to Malory's hand. He approached quietly and knelt next to the slumbering doctor, nudging her gently.
She snapped awake instantly. "Malory," she said hopefully, her eyes anxiously searching.
"Doctor," he said softly, alerting her to his presence and she jumped in surprise. "I'm sorry."
"It's alright," she mumbled.
"How is she?"
She turned tired eyes in his direction. "She's gonna be okay," she choked out, her voice cracking.
He blew out a long, relieved breath. Not getting the chance to speak as Corky's face crumbled and she launched herself into his arms, crying tears of worry and relief. "Oh, hey," he soothed, surprised to find the little doctor clinging to him desperately. "It's all over now."
The men nearby overheard snippets of the conversation and recognized the unmistakable sounds of Corky crying, they muttered among themselves in agitation.
"If the Commander doesn't make it," Alvarez rumbled darkly. "I'm going to execute Watkins just for the fuck of it."
A few mumbles of agreement met his words and several minutes later, the Sergeant Major emerged from behind the divider. All eyes rose expectantly.
McNeely smiled and shoulders slumped universally in relief. "She's gonna be out of it for awhile, but she'll pull through."
"Is there anything we can do, Sergeant?" Clovis asked.
"I'm glad you asked that," McNeely said. "Dr. Rivers will be staying in Medical for the foreseeable future so I'd like you to pack her a bag and grab a cot. Also, someone go grab her something to eat, I'd imagine she's pretty hungry."
The men jumped to their feet.
"Oh, one more thing," he added nonchalantly. "Someone go tighten the ropes on Watkins and put a plate of food just out of his reach."
"I'll do that," Alvarez said quickly, turning to leave the room.
"Mr. Alvarez," McNeely said before he could leave.
"Yes?"
"Make sure you leave the faucet dripping too."
The Tech Sergeant smiled widely.
05/15/02 - 1530 hours
Corky bent over her patient studiously, squinting through magnifying lenses as she carefully placed the stitches. She had never sewn a head back on, mostly because the act itself seemed like an exercise in futility, but this was a special case. It was her hope that the endeavor would leave undetectable scars and she went through great pains to make her stitches as small as possible. So intense was her concentration, that she failed to notice the blue eyes that fluttered open behind her.
Malory immediately squinted in response to the bright light situated above her and she spent a few minutes adjusting. When she was able to open her eyes completely, the first thing she noticed was the obstruction on her face and a hand rose to investigate.
"Oww," she squeaked piteously when she poked herself harder than she intended.
Corky's head came up immediately and she turned in her chair hopefully, her face lighting up happily as she met Malory's open eyes.
"Hey," she said, a ridiculous smile on her face that she couldn't control.
"Hey," Malory rasped hoarsely, trying a smile that rapidly turned into a scowl. "It hurts to smile."
"I know," Corky said, turning to discreetly cover her other patient with a sheet. "Let me get you some juice to drink," she added, bouncing across the room to a little refrigerator.
"Okay."
Malory crossed her eyes in an attempt to view her nose until Corky approached and placed a tender kiss on her forehead. "Apple juice, alright?"
"Sure," she replied and was instantly force-fed a straw.
"Suck," Corky demanded.
Malory did as she was told, watching the doctor with wary eyes.
When Corky had determined that she had consumed an acceptable amount, she withdrew the straw.
"You're smiling at me," Malory said. "I take it I'm going to live?"
"Yep."
"How bad is my shoulder?"
"It was just dislocated," Corky replied. "Nothing was broken or torn."
Malory released the breath she was holding in relief but then looked at Corky suspiciously. "Then why do I feel so bad?"
"You lost a lot of blood, most of it internal. You broke three ribs, they were piercing you on the inside."
"Oh," Malory whispered. "What's with the shit on my face? Will I end up looking like the Elephant Man?"
Corky giggled. "Nope, in a few weeks you'll be as pretty as ever."
"Really?"
"Really."
"Do you have a mirror?"
"Why?"
"I want to see."
"No, you don't."
"Please."
Corky rolled her eyes. "You won't like what you see."
"You said it would heal, right?" Malory asked suspiciously.
"Yes."
"Then let me see."
Corky wavered uncertainly, but sighed and crossed the room to retrieve a hand mirror. "Remember, you'll soon be as good as new. I promise," she said and reluctantly held the mirror in front of Malory's face.
A gasp and Malory swatted the mirror away. "I look like the ass end of a roadk
ill," she said babyishly.
Corky smiled. "You're beautiful."
"Whatever," Malory said. "How long do I have to lie here?"
"A while yet."
A childish sigh.
"I missed you," Corky said softly, leaning over to place another kiss on her forehead.
"Do you love me?" Malory whispered.
"More than anything in the world."
"Okay, I'll lie here for a few days," she announced generously.
Corky chuckled. "You don't have much choice in the matter."
"But what if I need to… uhm… shake the dew off my lily?"
Corky smiled and reached down to produce a bedpan.
Malory's eyes widened in horror. "No way."
"Give it a rest," Corky scoffed. "I've already changed it for you a couple of times," she teased gently. "And the Sergeant Major did it once."
A mortified gasp and Corky broke down instantly with a look at her face.
"Okay, I was just kidding about the Sergeant," she admitted with a snicker.
"No fair picking on me," Malory rumbled. "I'm convalescing."
"Oh, alright," Corky said with a grin. "I couldn't resist."
Malory grunted.
"Speaking of the Sergeant, I should call him. I know he wanted to talk to you when you woke up."
"No."
"Huh?"
"Is everything okay?"
"Yeah, thanks to you."
"Then I don't want to see him unless it's an emergency."
"Why not?"
"Why not?" she asked sarcastically. "Look at me. I'm so ugly I could make a train back up and take a dirt road."
A chuckle. "So? Its not like he's gonna make a pass at you or anything. Don't be such a little prom queen."
Malory sighed. "Fine, but I'm not using the bedpan. I'd rather teach my asshole how to chew gum."
Corky laughed. "I love you, Malory."
Morose eyes rose. "I love you too."
"I know you're feeling moody," Corky soothed. "I have something that might cheer you up."
"What's that?"
For an answer, Corky walked over and pulled the sheet away from the room's other occupant with a flourish.
"You fixed her!"
Corky grinned like an idiot at Malory's delight and carried Little Lovecraft over to be clutched in an impatiently extended hand. "She's a tough little bitch, just like her Mommy. Although, she did learn some manners while you were sleeping."
Eyes sparkled with amusement. "Is that a fact?"
"Yep."
Malory seated the doll on her chest and pulled the string.
"What happened to your nose? Did your parents lose a bet with God?"
Malory scowled as her lover roared. "It's going to be a long winter."
V
10/31/02 - 0800 hours
It had been six days since Corky had seen Malory, something she had been quietly warned to expect on the flight to Washington. So it wasn't a surprise when upon arrival, Malory and the other servicemen had been spirited away and she had found herself, Clovis, Lenard, and Watkins together in a separate vehicle, losing sight of Malory's car as it pulled into an underground parking garage situated beneath the Pentagon
From that point, she had been separated from her colleagues and had become an unwilling guest of the government, spending three full days undergoing an interrogation conducted by six stern looking men that had absolutely no sense of humor. On the fourth day, she was given a room key and an escort to a nearby hotel with instructions to remain there until called upon.
The time since, had been spent in a long haze of worry and concern, wondering anxiously what would happen to Malory and the others. They had discussed it a lot in the month before their rescue, both in public and in private. As Commander, Malory was the one held the most culpable and speculating her fate was a constant source of unease that consumed Corky to no end.
Finally, the call had come and had been greeted with both relief and apprehension. Now, the Pentagon loomed in the distance and she looked disinterestedly through a car window as the scenery passed her by.
As the vehicle pulled to a stop, she recognized with a scowl several of the men waiting to greet her as erstwhile interrogators and she got out reluctantly. Unexpectedly, another man emerged from the crowd and her eyes lit up happily as she rushed forward to embrace him.
"Larry!" she exclaimed, flinging herself into his arms. "It's so good to see you."
"Well, hello there," Larry said jovially after receiving his mauling.
"What are you doing here?"
"They wanted to talk to me too."
"What's going on?"
"Not quite sure yet."
A throat cleared and their escort gestured them inside. Corky scowled as she fell in with the pace of the procession, more than a little irritated with all the secrecy. The entourage traveling silently through what seemed like never-ending miles of corridor until they arrived at a door manned by a pair of grave looking Marines, one of which opened the door.
"Dr. Rivers, Dr. Daniels, please make yourselves comfortable," he said, gesturing them inside.
Warily, Corky entered the room and smiled happily upon encountering her friends, all of whom were wearing their dress uniforms.
"Hi guys, don't you all look handsome," she said happily, looking around hopefully but coming up empty. "What's the scoop?"
"Don't know," McNeely said. "This is the first we've seen of each other since we landed."
"Where's Malory?"
"No idea," McNeely admitted. "But I'll bet we find out today."
Corky grunted. "Is she in trouble?"
"She better not be," Clovis rumbled and she smiled at him fondly.
"We were all run through the ringer," Reynolds said. "I can guarantee it was much worse for her."
"So what are we here for?" she asked.
"To wait," McNeely said.
"For what?"
"We'll have to wait to find out," McNeely said and Corky scowled in frustration.
10/31/02 - 0400 hours
It had been almost seven hours and the sound of the door opening startled everyone, Corky looked up expectantly and was disappointed to see an elder man in a Naval uniform enter the room.
"Attention!" McNeely barked as he sprang to his feet, prompting the other soldiers to follow suit.
"At ease and good afternoon," he said amiably. "Mr. Watkins would you come with me, please?"
The ostracized Watkins who sat by himself in a far corner of the room, reluctantly rose to his feet and preceded the Admiral out of the room. He left the door open in his wake and Corky performed a double take, hardly recognizing Malory as she walked through the door in her uniform.
"Attention!" McNeely said again and Malory closed the door behind her, turning to find a roomful of salutes directed at her.
"Oh, cut it out," she chided jovially, accepting a flying embrace from Corky.
"Would you look at those legs?" McNeely said in wonder.
"You owe me money," Reynolds said. "I told you she shaved them."
"Look at those ribbons," Alvarez said. "I've seen Generals who didn't have so many."
Malory rolled her eyes and leaned over to kiss Corky on the top of her head. "If everyone is finished having fun at my expense, I'll tell you what's going on," she said, belatedly noticing Daniels. "Nice to see you again, Mr. Daniels."
"Good to see you, Commander," he replied.
Everyone found a seat good-naturedly and looked at her expectantly.
"First of all, everyone has been cleared of any malfeasance, including myself," she announced to communal relief. "And the powers that be have approached me with a proposal to present to you all."
"What's that, skipper?" McNeely asked.
"You have thirty days to decide whether or not you'd like to continue on to other duty assignments or remain under my command. Those of you with the Coast Guard, which falls under the authority of the Department of Transportation, will be perm
anently seconded to the Navy," she explained. "Those of you with the NSF have the option to become DOD employees under my purview."
A rapid exchange of surprised glances.
"Wow," Reynolds exclaimed. "That's a bag of tricks."
"I don't get it," McNeely said.
"As improbable as it seems, our government doesn't have an abundance of people experienced in, what one would call, the supernatural," Malory said casually. "The DOD will provide a base of operations for us and we'll be deployed nationally and internationally to investigate… uhm… paranormal phenomenon."
"You're kidding, right?" Clovis asked.
"No, I'm not," Malory said. "I was just as surprised as I'm sure all of you are now."
"Does that include me?" Daniels asked.
"It includes everyone in this room and any staff we care to bring into the fold," Malory explained. "However, our mission and objectives are to remain classified."
"I'll be damned," Alvarez muttered.
"You have a month of leave to decide," Malory said. "Those of you interested need to report back to me here, at the end of that time."
Corky pulled on her sleeve, guiding her to a private corner of the room.
"Malory," she said. "What does this mean for us?"
A bright smile. "We can do whatever you want. I don't have to be involved in this and neither do you."
Corky grunted and peeked around Malory at the men muttering among themselves. "I want to do it."
"Then that's what we'll do."
"Just like that?"
"Just like that."
"Can we go see my parents first?"
"Sure."
"Where will we live?"
"Don't know yet, but I used to work in this building. I have a condo in town," Malory said. "It has a king-sized bed," she added rakishly.
Corky giggled. "I can hardly wait."
"Me either," Malory said excitedly. "I've been wondering for months what sex would be like in a real bed."
Corky favored her with a gentle smile. "I'm so proud of you," she said softly. "Let me go talk with the guys, you wait here."
"Okay," she said agreeably and watched curiously as the men huddled around the doctor and they mumbled quietly for several minutes.
Eventually, she wandered over to the window to watch the traffic in the distance, becoming lost in her own thoughts.
Stories by Kiera Dellacroix Page 77