by M Brereton
“The doctors are going to keep you in the hospital until you can sit up without too much pain. “Noah informed her.
For a man who was sleeping he didn’t particularly look well-rested, Eva mused.
“The kids are secure at the White House and Kate and my mom is looking after them. Eric is running the country until you get better.”
He wasn’t leaving, Eva wondered, she thought he still hated her. Did he have a change of heart?
As if he heard her question, Noah said, “I know we’ve had our problems for the past year and a half, but I want to tell you. I no longer care about that shit. If you want out, you can go, I’ll sign whatever. All I ask is that you let me see my kids.”
Apparently not.
“But if you chose to stay,” Noah continued, “I’ll apologize for the way I treated you. Either way, I’ll love you the way you deserve to be loved.”
To think I had to take a bullet for the ass to get a clue! Eva griped internally.
“I love you Eva and I promise I’ll never leave you.”
So now he promises! Eva mentally fumed. I am so going to make him my bitch when I get out of here! Thinks he can make up for letting me cry myself asleep alone for a year and a half with some half-assed apology!
“What’s happening!” Noah wondered as Eva’s machine’s started beeping.
Medical staff ran into the room and checked the machines and said. “Her blood pressure is spiking!” To Eva, the nurse directed, “Calm down, Ma’am. She’s probably just a little too excited to see you.” She told Noah with a smile.
Noah nodded as his own heart rate went back to normal. The beeping subsided, and the nurses left him alone with his wife. Then Noah suddenly burst out laughing because he knew the nurse had lied or maybe misunderstood. Either way, he knew now Eva was going to be just fine because as he glanced at her hand, she was giving him the finger.
The shooter of course was caught, and it turned out to be Paul Stevenson. He was a random perp Noah arrest for aiding and abetting one of Welker’s goon’s years ago. The other one was a Stevenson also, Noah recalled. They were cousins. Paul was out on good behavior and the cousin was dead. He had never even made it to prison.
Eva’s shot hadn’t killed him, but she blew out his knee. Amputation or if the surgeon was good he may have a successful knee replacement. For a man who tried to kill the President and put the First Lady in the hospital, of course, the doctor was a quack.
Sam and the rest of the agents took over the entire floor of the hospital. The doctors and nurses assigned were the same ER personnel from the night Eva came in. It was two weeks since the shooting and they weren’t allowed to leave. Food, clothing, medical supplies were all brought in by the Secret Service who were the only ones allowed in and out.
Noah didn’t care to leave anyway. Eva’s need to fight with him made her force herself to get better faster. Today they were going to remove some of her tubes and, so she would be able to speak and eat on her own.
As soon as the tube down her throat was removed Eva croaked, “You stubborn idio…”
Noah cut her off with a kiss saying. “I missed you too honey.”
Eva fumed in silence until the medical staff left then she raged at him, “I had to get shot for you to forgive me. Then you don’t even have the decency to apologize properly…”
“Is this better baby?” Noah asked as he fell to his knees smiling.
“It’s a start.” Eva huffed.
“How about - I was an asshole, baby please forgive me?” Noah suggested, still smiling.
“Warmer.”
“Okay then, how about – Oh great and powerful queen of fire, don’t singe me too badly for my crimes.”
Eva fought her giggles and said, “Warmer still.”
Clutching his fist to his chest Noah waxed poetic, thespian style, “Oh my goddess of life. Mother of my children. Beauty before mine eyes. The beat of my heart and the fire of my blood. I have brought shame to my house by not being the protector of my woman. I have made my other half cry. I almost lost her.” Noah whispered the last, his accent gone. “I am unworthy of the blessing I have been given. Goddess of love, if you find it in your heart to forgive me to place such a precious gift in my hands once more, I promise not to crush it under my heel like the rash fool I was before, but to treasure it within my own heart so that it may beat with mine as it should for all time.”
Eva had tears in her eyes by the time he was done. “Scorching hot.” She said tearfully as she opened her arms. Noah came eagerly, and they were both crying in each other’s arms.
“I’m so sorry, baby,” Noah whispered as he kissed her forehead.
“I’m sorry too. I wish I could take it back, but he couldn’t be trusted…”
“I know that now,” Noah conceded. “Just get better. I’ll have Mom bring the kids to see you tomorrow. They’ve been kept in the dark about what happened, and I didn’t want them to see you like that.”
“That was a good idea.” Then she shrieked, “Oh my God, the twins’ birthday!”
“We can celebrate that anytime. What do they know?”
“Noah!” Eva chastised then asked, “but what about the guests.”
“Eva, you were shot. I don’t give two fucks about that party.” Noah cursed. “You getting better is all I want.” Eva lifted an eyebrow, “I think Kate and Uncle Wayland said something about rescheduling.” He grudgingly informed her.
“Oh, Kate!” Eva exclaimed coming into full hostess mode. “I must speak with Kate. When do you think I’ll be able to get out of here?”
“Knowing you,” Noah smirked, “probably tomorrow.”
“Seriously Noah, how bad is it?”
“You’re gonna have a badass little scar for a while.” As she narrowed her eyes at him he added “Another month at least.”
“Fuck!” Eva cursed, and Noah thought it was the most adorable thing ever.
* * *
“Okay, that was the last of the stitches,” Maureen informed her as she packed up to leave. Eva was now on a first-name basis with all medical staff, after all, they were all trapped here because of her, for the last six weeks.
“How bad does it look?”
“Didn’t know you were so vain?” Noah teased.
“Well, you push out three kids and have your body go from a hundred to zero. You’ll get a little self-conscious too.”
“Actually, I thought your body went from a ten to a hundred.”
Eva blushed and whispered. “Even with the stretch marks?”
“You have stretch marks?” He asked honestly.
“They’re faint, but…what about my new scar.”
“You know, I’m giving you the Medal of Honor for that, right.”
“That’s not really necessary…”
“I don’t care!” Noah stated boldly as he kissed her scar. “You deserve it.”
Eva dropped the covering on her breasts and turned to face him fully. In a heartbeat, they were attacking each other. The eighteen months drought fueling their desire. The kiss was wild and full of need. Eva had a death grip on Noah’s hair as their tongues dueled. Noah’s hands roamed all over her, cupping her breasts, around her waist then up her back into her hair. He leaned down pressing her into the bed.
“Ah!” Eva cried and not in pleasure.
Noah was off her immediately apologizing “I’m sorry, I forgot.”
9
Return to the Living
Eva waved him off as she sat up gingerly, “I forgot too.”
“Should I get Maureen?”
“Just tell me if it’s bad,” Eva told him as she turned around.
“It looks a little red, I’ll get Maureen,” Noah said and was out of the room before she could protest.
Noah returned with the doctor in tow. “What happened?” Maureen asked as she scrutinized Eva’s wound. “It was fine a few minutes ago.” She muttered to herself. “Did you put any pressure on it?”
“Um,�
� Eva whispered as her cheeks flamed.
When Maureen turned to Noah, he had his hands in pockets staring red-faced at the ceiling.
“I see,” Maureen said with a smile, figuring it out. “Well, just a little info for the both of you, you can’t put any sort of pressure on it for the next month or two. Got it.”
They both nodded in agreement still not looking in Maureen’s direction. After she left Eva cried, “Just great, now she’s going to tell everyone!”
“Two months. I gotta wait two months!” Noah complained.
“You wasted eighteen months. I think you’ll survive two more,” Eva complained bitterly.
“I wasn’t sleeping next to you for those months.” Noah rebutted. “I was hoping not to go back to that.”
“We all can’t have everything we want.” Eva teased.
“You have to sleep on your stomach right.” He stated, suddenly.
“Yes,” Eva confirmed cautiously. “Why?”
“No reason,” Noah responded cheerily.
“Uh, you can be such a pig sometimes!”
“As long as I’m wallowing in your mud baby, I’m fine with that. Oink, oink.” Noah teased as he winked at her.
“Get out!” Eva shrieked and tossed her pillow at him.
“I’m going, I’m going. I’m gonna cry wee, wee, wee all the way home!” Noah laughed as shut the door behind him.
He was still laughing when a voice said. “I thought I’d never hear that again.”
“Uncle Wayland!” Noah exclaimed. “I was just teasing Eva.”
“She’s fine then.”
“Stitches are out. She should be out of the hospital by tomorrow.” Noah informed him.
“That’s good.” Wayland declared. “Then you can get back to work then.”
“No, I’m not going back until she’s on her feet.”
“She’s on her feet now.”
“The doctor said she couldn’t put pressure on it for another month or …”
“No, Noah I mean Eva’s on her feet right now!” Wayland repeated, turning Noah around so that he could see through the Plexiglas.
“What the hell?” Noah cried as he watched her take a shaking step.
Noah barged into the room cursing, “What the hell are you doing?”
“Heading to the bathroom.” Eva declared simply. “I’m tired of sponge baths and I want to wash my hair.”
“You know I’m all for the sponge baths.” Noah teased as he wrapped his hands around her waist to steady her. “I can hook you up right now if you like.”
“Not on your life, dear husband,” Eva replied. “But once I’m stronger, I’ll be giving you a sponge bath.” Eva purred.
“I’m going to hold you to that promise, wife.”
Once inside the bathroom, Eva ordered, “You can go now.”
“Yes, and how are you planning on washing your hair and holding yourself upright hmm?”
Eva looked around a bit before conceding grudgingly, “Fine! You can help, but if you get too handsy, it’s no sponge bath for you! Understood?”
“Understood. Now let’s get you out of that atrocious dress, darling.” Noah teased as he stripped her of her hospital gown.
He was true to his word and washed her just as the nurses would, but Eva’s strength waned halfway through and she ended up leaning on him, soaking his blue t-shirt and jeans.
“Sorry about your clothes.” Eva apologized as he wrapped her in a towel.
“Don’t worry about it,” Noah said and kissed her forehead before carrying her bridal style back to her bed. He eased her into it and Eva asked with a yawn, “Do I have my own clothes here?”
Noah turned to the door, Wayland was waving outside, “Yeah, Kate sent over a few things…” then when he turned back around he was talking to himself because Eva was fast asleep.
He let in his uncle before pulling out the suitcase Kate sent, “She fell asleep.” He chose a pair of pajamas and her hairbrush.
“Since Eva’s on the mend, when can I say you’ll be back to official duty,” Wayland asked again.
“In two months,” Noah replied as he brushed her hair dry.
“Noah, two months is too long. It has already been almost two months. I’d like the country to get back to normal.”
“What do you mean normal?”
“Have you even watched the news, read a newspaper or been on the internet since you got here?”
“The Secret Service said they got the guy…”
“That’s all you’re concerned with!” Wayland chastised then ordered, “Come with me!” He walked out leaving Noah to follow until they got to the waiting room. Wayland ordered the nurses to turn on the TV.
“They told us not to,” Debra informed Wayland.
“I’m his uncle and I’m telling you to turn it on. He needs to know what’s happening in his country.” The television was switched on and Wayland took the remote from the nurse saying to Noah, “Watch this.” He turned up the volume as a reporter spoke.
“We are continuing our twenty-four-hour coverage of the White House where six weeks later, the outpouring of support for our First Lady still hasn’t waned…” He switched stations.
“Here in Detroit, the city still hasn’t recovered from what could have been the death of a president…” Another station change.
“…the actions of the First lady, nothing short of heroic…” Another change.
“Will the President recover from this? No one has seen the President or the First Lady since the Detroit shooting, and people are beginning to wonder why the President himself doesn’t answer our questions….”
“…the crowd continues their vigil in front of the hospital…”
“It’s not just here either.” Wayland told him “Your kids need you too.”
“I spoke to them over the phone.”
“They’re young Noah they need to see you as do the rest of the world.”
“I’ll issue a state…”
Wayland shook his head “That won’t work, you need to hold a press conference and let them know when you’ll be back.”
“Alright, but it would have to be after tomorrow, the kids are coming to see Eva.”
“That’s good.” Wayland praised. “It will give the press the reassurance the First Family is returning to the land of the living.”
“I don’t want the press alerted about this.” Noah declared. “This is about my family. Let’s leave the rest of the country out of this.”
“If that’s what you want, but you should at least prepare to come back to work.”
“You’re acting as though Eric’s burning the country to the ground.”
“It’s not about his ability as President,” Wayland whispered as he led Noah away from the nurses prying ears. “It’s about who the people voted for and it’s about men’s ambition. Eric is a good man, but a good man who’s always craved the heights of the political arena now he has it without the benefit of an election. Such easy power can corrupt even the best of men. It’s not wise to leave him there for too long.” His uncle advised.
“I need two more weeks at least.”
“Finally, a timeline, I can work with that!” Wayland conceded. “I’ll also give everyone the good news that Eva’s walking that should calm things down a bit.”
Noah nodded in agreement and the men hugged before Wayland left and Noah returned to Eva’s side.
Noah went into the bathroom and changed out of his wet clothes. He returned to Eva’s towel wrapped form and began dressing her. His hands shook as he buttoned the pajama shirt over her breast and his hand grazed the soft flesh. It had been too long, his horny mind told him she was his and she wouldn’t mind if he kissed her there, but a more reasonable part of him knew he couldn’t start something Eva would never be able to finish.
Through sheer will, he pulled himself away from her and sat in the chair. He pulled out his cell phone and called his mom.
“Is she alright?” Ana asked immediat
ely after she answered on the first ring.
“Yeah, she’s walking and everything.” Noah beamed. “With a little help.”
“Thank God!” Ana exclaimed right before asking “Do you want to speak to Amelia?”
“Yeah, put her on.”
There was silence on the other end then Amelia’s voice came on.
“Daddy? When is Mommy coming home?”
It was always the first thing his four-year-old asked him. “Soon princess. In fact, you and your brothers are coming to see her tomorrow.” Noah informed her excitedly.
“Really!” Amelia exclaimed. “I can’t wait to tell Will and Nate!”
Since Eva’s and his absence, Amelia had taken over their roles for the boys. She guarded them like a mother hen and comforted them when they got upset. According to her grandmother, she had even taken to reading to them so that they would be able to sleep.
“After you guys come visit and the doctor sees Mommy once more, she may be coming home with you.”
“Thank you, Jesus!” Amelia cried, her words were his mother’s influence, no doubt. Then she added, still acting like a grown-up. “The boys can be a real handful.”
“They can barely walk and talk.”
“Not anymore,” Amelia informed him. “Will’s running now and is a terror to catch. He’s even saying a few words. Nate’s not that bad, but he’s starting to follow his brother.” She complained as she lapsed into annoyed older sister.
“I’ll get the boys under control when I get back,” Noah promised with a smile.
“Thank you,” Amelia said, sounding adult again. “Daddy?”
“Yes, princess.”
“I missed you.”
“I missed you too, Milia.”
“Mommy said you shouldn’t shorten my name.” She corrected as she quoted Eva.
“Well, Mommy can’t say anything about that right now.” Noah teased. “We’ll just keep it between us okay.”
“Okay.” Amelia agreed. “Besides, I like Milia.”
“Me too.”
“Is Mommy up, can I talk to her?”
“Not right now sweetie, Mommy’s taking a little nap. You know she needs them to get better.”