Chapter 90

Flashback – Ben – Sometime in the past

I had warmed myself but still hadn't found shelter from the weather. So I trudged further into the Colorado wilderness until ... I came upon my friend the fox that I'd met many times before. She recognized me and continued to hunt. It was fascinating watching her ... She pounced to catch something but came up empty. I watched again, she changed direction, pounced and this time it was success! She came up with a rabbit that had been under the snow, probably in a snow tunnel.

She trotted toward me with the rabbit, came closer than she normally did and put the rabbit down. I figured that she was offering it to me. I walked toward her, she backed up, I took the rabbit and said, "Thank you for dinner, but what are you going to eat?"

She went back over and continued to hunt. Once again she missed on her first try, then changed direction and had success. I noticed that both times she succeeded, she faced the same direction - strange, how would the direction she faced affect her rate of success?

I watched her some more when she headed away, paused, looked back at me, then moved a little further and did the same thing. I decided she wanted me to follow her somewhere, so I did...

Flashback – Tatiana – At the hospital

After my wardrobe adjustment, I felt much better. I exited the bathroom, walked into Ben's room and found it was empty. I walked to the nursing station and inquired, "I am Ben Blaine's private nurse, where did they take him?"

The nurse at the desk delivered a contemptuous glare and snapped, "If you are his private nurse, shouldn't you know where he is and be with him? Or perhaps you are too busy having sex with other patients."

I perceived immediately she was Ben's previous nurse and was upset because I had been assigned as his permanent nurse. Well if she wanted to be bitchy, then I could be bitchy too. I replied, "I suggest you pay meticulous attention to my orders you jealous bitch! Tell me where Ben has been taken before I commence to render your miserable existence intolerable."

Masha arrived with Jack before she could answer. It was obvious Masha was quite upset about something.

Flashback – Jack – At the hospital

Damn we must have set some sort of record getting to the hospital but I wondered what repercussions Masha kicking the Major's ass would cause. As soon as we got up to Ben's room, I forgot all about that. Tatiana was standing outside the room at the nurse's desk and unless I was reading the body language wrong, she and Nurse Ratchet at the desk were in some sort of confrontation.

I decided I should apply a little of the old Jack Reynolds' charm and calm the situation. I asked the crabby Nurse Ratchet, "I assume Ben has been taken somewhere, can you tell me where he is?"

I couldn't understand the words of her response, but I could sure understand the 'go to hell and do not pass go' tone of her answer. Whatever she said pissed Masha off so I wisely stepped back because I didn't want to be in the middle of this fight.

Flashback – Masha – At the hospital

Had everyone dispensed with their manners today? It was obvious Tatiana and the floor nurse were in the midst of a confrontation. Jack asked very nicely (yes I know he flirted a little but I wasn't worried) where Ben was and the floor nurse told him he had no need to know and should wait in Ben's room. However, she used some of the most vulgar terms available to her limited mind.

Once again I needed to protect my man so I walked up to get in her face when Tatiana declared, "Masha, this is my battle."

I wanted to evaluate how one of my protégés operated so I stepped back and was shocked at what Tatiana did next, it was masterful...

Flashback – Tatiana – At the hospital

This bitch didn't know who she was dealing with! She insulted Jack (the stupid village nurse did not know how dangerous it was to humiliate Jack because it infuriated Masha) and now I determined the proper method to handle this. She grinned at me like the stupid village idiot she was, so I simply withdrew my cell phone and placed a call. The party answered, I apprised them of the situation, then handed the phone to the blissfully ignorant bitch.

It was enjoyable watching her squirm and crimson in multiple shades. She meekly returned the phone to me and sweetly told me of Ben's location.

I looked at Masha and Jack and explained in English, "Ben is having another MRI. If you two wait in his room I will return him when he is finished."

Masha questioned, "Tatiana, who did you call?"

I smiled and replied, "The hospital administrator, of course."

I could tell from the look in her eyes she was impressed and she stated, "That was a very wise decision. By the way, it is good to see you have your underwear back under your control..."

Flashback – Jack – At the hospital

Damn, I needed to learn Russian! Masha said something to Tatiana and Tatiana blushed worse than Nurse Ratchet.

Masha took my hand, we headed to Banzai's room but I just had to know, "Masha what did you say to Tatiana?"

Masha laughed and teased, "Jack my love, some things are only for the benefit of other women."

I recognized the bullshit and made a vow to study Russian (and my Russian) even harder...

Flashback – Masha – At the hospital

I took Jack into Ben's room and could tell he wanted to know what I said to Tatiana that made her blush. Jack was a very observant man and I was happy he didn't notice that Tatiana had no panties on when she met President Putin and that now she had them on. I could only assume she lost them in her liaison with Ben. Yes, I was happy my Jack didn't notice because that meant his eyes were not focused on her derriere, unlike most other men...

I decided he required a reward for good behavior and in addition, after kicking his Major's rear I needed a release so I kept contact with his hand and enticed him to the bathroom...

Flashback – Glen

Yes, now I was going to fix that damn Major! I made a phone call, rousted the Colonel out of bed and ordered, "Colonel pack your bags - you are heading to Moscow, Russia to take care of a situation that's occurred with one of our Majors."