Chapter 10

Being tied to a bed for three days, with my wing in traction and waiting for people to come to me would have driven me crazy if it had not been for Sandy, she only left long enough to run home shower and change. Dad came in the morning of the second day along with a woman in a suit.

“Any news yet about the attack? No one has told me anything,” I asked them.

Dad said, “Sam, this is Special Agent Renee Dupree with the FBI, Agent Dupree my daughter Samantha.”

I must have looked confused about her being here. Agent Dupree stepped forward, “You may not be aware but the FBI is the lead agency on any investigation involving an attack on federal employees or land. The attacks on Paladins and you make this an FBI case.”

“Paladins are considered federal employees, Agent Dupree, you can go ahead and brief her. I’ll take Sandy to lunch while you do,” Dad said before escorting Sandy out.

Once the door closed she said, “So far not much as it is such a large scene, We know there were four other men involved other than the man in armor. The FBI is checking on those we can get fingerprints from. The man on the barge we are waiting on DNA for. As for the man in the silver armor, techs just figured out about 30 minutes ago how to get through the armor without doing more damage to the body inside. We sent the blood for DNA but we hope to be able get more information quicker from the body once the armor is removed.”

“So basically nothing new,” I said.

“The sniper you captured did confirm one thing, the man in the armor was the ‘BOSS’ from the previous attacks,” she said.

I am not sure what I felt at that news, on one hand I had taken down the man behind the attacks, but on the other hand I had killed again. I think Agent Dupree sensed something of what I was feeling.

“You need to think for a second Sam, it’s been 36 hours since the attack, and our techs just finally found a way through the armor. What do you think would have happened considering how injured you and the other Paladins already were, if you had not done what you did,” she said while taking my hand.

Taking a minute I looked back over the fight, finally I looked at her and nodded.

“Now for what I actually came for I need to get your statement about the battle,” she said.

I walked her through my part, with her asking questions at points to clarify things. We just finished my statement, when Sandy and my dad got back from lunch. Dad had his arm around Sandy’s shoulder, they were both smiling. Mom and Dad had treated Sandy and her family like they were our family, especially since they had moved in due to the attacks.

The Agent said, “I’m finished here for now, I’m going to head back to the field office. Sam it was nice to meet you, though I do wish it was under different circumstances.” Finishing, she left the room after shaking everyone’s hands.

Dad said, “Your mom will be here in about an hour, we both wanted to be here for your afternoon doctors visit.” When she arrived Mom gave me a hug and a kiss on the cheek.

“Has the doctor been in yet, did I miss him?” Mom asked as she hugged Dad followed by Sandy.

“No, he hasn’t been in yet,” Dad said to her.

They sat while I lay there watching a movie about the civil war on the history channel while we waited for the doctor. It was almost an hour later before Doctor Gordon finally came in.

“How are you feeling today Angel?” he asked.

“Like a butterfly pinned to a display board,” I said to him.

Everyone laughed, “I’m hoping your healing factor will have fixed a lot of the damage to the muscles and tendons. If it has we hopefully will be changing that. I’ve ordered a full work up on your back. If that comes back good we will take you out of traction, and find a way to put your wing into a sling,” he said.

I said, “I certainly hope so I’m getting very tired of not being able to move.”

“They will be up with the machines in a little while, I’ll return when the results are back,” he said before turning to leave.

Twenty minutes later the techs arrived pushing machines in front of them. My back still ached when they moved me around getting me into position for the machines, but at least it wasn’t the shooting pain I experienced before. They talked between themselves as they worked, but it was too technical for me to follow. Once they finished before leaving one of the techs said, “We will have the results to your doctor in about half an hour.”

Sandy sat holding my hand, while we waited for the doctor. Mom fussed and fretted over me, Dad just smiled at her antics. It took an hour for the doctor to come back, I was hoping for good news and from the smile on his face it was. He wasn’t alone, another Doctor and a nurse followed him in.

“The results of the tests were good, Doctor Smiley will be removing the traction and finding a way to support your wing in some kind of sling,” Doctor Gordon said, indicating the other doctor.

Doctor Smiley started working on my wing, removing the traction device. He had me stand before he started moving my wing, around finding the position he wanted. Holding it in place he had the nurse start wrapping my wing was soon wrapped tight to my back with ACE bandages.

“I want you to keep your wing like this for a couple of days. If you have someone to wrap it back in this position, you can gently move for 15 minutes 3 times a day but no flying. I’ll have my nurse set up an appointment for you to come into my office,” he said.

“Okay Doctor, I’ll make sure she follows your orders,” Mom said to him.

Doctor Gordan said, “I’ll see you in the morning, if everything is still good you’ll see a physical therapist then I’ll release you.”

Mom and Dad seemed happy at the news, Sandy bounced over giving me a kiss. Blushing when she noticed everyone grinning at her, she hid her face against me. After the doctors left I enjoyed being able to move around, though I felt off balance with my wing wrapped up.

As Mom and Dad got ready to leave Mom said, “I’ll be here to pick you up in the morning baby.”

I was finally able to hold Sandy in my arms, we took advantage of this by snuggling on the bed. With the nurses going in and out, some kisses were all we managed. A nurse woke us the next morning, bringing in breakfast. I kissed Sandy good morning before trying to eat my breakfast.

I said to Sandy, “Hospitals, if the doctors don’t kill you the food will.”

Sandy said while laughing, “Poor Baby, I’ll get you something to eat when you get released.” She realized what she had said, when the nurse started to laugh. She turned red, all the way down on her chest. We passed the time till Mom arrived watching TV and talking.

Mom came in around 9:00 carrying a bag of clothes for me. She gave me a hug before she asked, “How are you doing this morning?”

“Doing okay, I wish the Doc would hurry up though. I’m ready to get out of here,” I said.

Mom laughed when she said, “I imagine so this is the longest I’ve ever seen you be still and not running around like a chicken with its head cut off.” I started laughing when Sandy started doing the chicken dance behind Mom.

Of course that was the moment the Doc decided to walk in. He said, “Well by the sound of it you’re feeling a lot better today.” He picked up my chart. After glancing through it he said, “I’ll let the nurses know to release you after you see the therapist. They should be here within thirty minutes.” With that he left going to see another patient I assume.

Twenty minutes later a woman came in, “I’m your therapist Lindsey. I’m going to show your Mom and you how to wrap your wing as well as the exercises you need to do for fifteen minutes 3 times a day until your Doctor’s appointment,” she said.

She patiently explained each step as she did it, even allowing me to get dressed while my wing was unwrapped. “You don’t want to spread your wings more than half way until the Doctor clears you for that, since it could damage the muscles and tendons again,” she said before leaving.

It felt good to have something besides that hospital gown on, Sandy pouted “It’s the first time in days I haven’t been able to see your butt,” she said before grinning.

Mom embarrassed the crap out of me when she said, “My husband said the exact same thing to me this morning.”

It took the nurse about twenty minutes to bring the paperwork for my release. Once she read over everything and Mom signed it we headed out. I got a surprise when I walked out the front door of the hospital, Wendy and John were standing there next to the coolest car I have ever seen.

After I hugged them Wendy said, “Sorry we didn’t make it in to see you. We were busy with the Control R&D and fabrication people, getting this ready for you.” She waved at the cool car.

John took my hand pulling me toward the car. “I have been working on this with the Control R&D techs since October, It’s based on a Polaris Slingshot (™). We stretched it out both length and widthwise, and added a motorcycle style seat and handlebars for you. As you can see when you grab the handlebars you will be laying on the gas tank which will put your wings behind the windscreen. By leaving the two original seats you can carry two passengers. For balance we also converted it from a trike format to four wheels.” He said pointing out each feature.

Looking where he pointed, I could see a lot of thought had gone into this. “John, this is amazingly cool. I’m surprised that no one let the secret slip though,” I said.

Wendy giggling said, “It has been hard, I kept having to stop myself from telling you about it.”

John handed me the keys, before he pointed out the trunk saying, “Your passengers’ helmets are in there.”

Opening the trunk I handed Sandy a helmet, Mom reached in grabbing the other one. “Wendy and John are driving my car home, I’m riding with you to make sure you behave,” Mom said with a grin.

After making sure they were belted in, I cranked up the car or motorcycle. I’m not sure which this thing is anymore. It sure didn’t sound like a motorcycle that’s for sure. I looked at John asking, “What kinda motor does this thing have?”

“A 2.0 liter V4 150 HP and governed to 125 MPH,” he answered.

I got a real big smile at that, but Mom looked worried now. I was looking at all the controls trying to figure them out.

John leaned over pointing at a button, “You push the top of that button to shift gears up the bottom of the same one shifts back down, when you get it into neutral pushing the bottom puts it into reverse. The button next to it turns your parking brake on and off,” he said.

I waved goodbye to Wendy and John, before I put it in gear and turned off the brake. Easing on the gas I started heading for home, I hadn’t driven in almost a year so it took some adjusting before I started to be comfortable. By the time we got home I was enjoying my new ride. Wendy and John followed me as we pulled into the driveway at home. I helped Mom and Sandy out, putting the helmets they were wearing back into the trunk.

“When you get a chance I’ll show you all the features we built into it,” John said, walking up to me.

“Okay, let’s plan to do that after lunch then,” I said.

Mom ordered pizza for all of us for lunch, while we were eating Wendy asked me, “Why is your wing still bound up like that, wouldn’t your healing factor have healed it already?”

“I think that since it is my wing they are being extra careful about it, when I got out of traction there was a bit of stiffness but no pain so I actually think it’s already healed. But I would rather make sure than be flying and have it give out on me.” I answered her. She nodded her understanding around a mouthful of pizza.

I could see John getting more and more excited the closer we got to finishing lunch, I turned so I was facing Mom but could see him out of the corner of my eye. “Mom, that was good, how about some desert.” I said.

The look on John’s face was priceless, he looked like someone had stolen his puppy. I decided to have mercy on him, “Just kidding John I wanted to see that look on your face,” I said, “Come on and show me the features on my new toy.” pushing away from the table to head outside.

“Get your armor helmet before we go back out.” John said.

I ran up stairs to grab it before remembering I didn’t have it here it was at Control, “I don’t have it here, John it’s at Control getting repaired.” I said, as I came back downstairs.