Chapter 94

Flashback – Tatiana – At the hospital

I was talking to Masha in the hallway when she dropped a bomb on me! I gasped, "Does this mean that you're leaving 'the company'?"

She smiled at me and answered, "Yes Tatiana, I must. You know our superiors will never accept a situation where I am married to Jack and do not feed them information. And feeding their insatiable appetite for information from Jack is something I will never do. To do that would break the sacred trust of marriage."

I questioned, "But who will be my new handler? Will I be forced to provide them with information acquired from Ben?"

Masha promised, "I will make sure your new handler is a well briefed professional and if you remember, Ben was able to successfully resist the advances of Miranda. So, 'when' you fail it will not reflect poorly on you."

I was heartened that Masha was instructing me to ignore attempting to entice information from Ben, which made me feel better. However, I hated the fact I would lose her as my supervisor since she was regarded as one of our finest field agents. And there was still much I needed to learn from her.

I hugged her and...

Flashback – Masha – At the hospital

Tatiana hugged me for which I was slightly surprised, and then cried, "Masha, I will miss you!"

Jack walks into the hallway and questions, "Hey, what's going on? Why is Tatiana crying?"

I slightly improvised, "She is just happy for our upcoming wedding because I want her to be my maid of honor."

Jack declared, "This will be perfect! Ben will be the best man and now Tatiana will be the maid of honor. Ben's asking if he can get cleaned up some and I think it's the perfect time for us to get you a ring."

I smiled at Tatiana and said (in Russian), "Be careful with Ben's back."

She blushed, I grabbed Jack's hand and we departed for some jewelry stores...

Flashback – Ben – At the hospital

I was just getting ready to jump up and head to the bathroom when I heard a noise at the door. Then Tatiana scolded, "Ben, don't tell me you were going to try to get out of your bed! What did I tell you?"

I laughed, "Well, you were busy, I smell terrible and need a shower. So, how about you help me into the shower."

She scolded, "Ben, you will not get out of the bed and take a shower! I will give you a sponge bath in the bed then we will change the sheets."

I complained, "Taking a sponge bath is like screwing with a condom."

She lightly tapped my face and stated, "And if you get out of that bed you might not ever have coitus again. Besides, you have never experienced a sponge bath from me."

I taunted, "Oh yeah, well I've had many sponge baths in the past so how is yours going to be different?"

She gave me a kiss full of promise on my lips and suggested, "You will just have to see. Now I'm going to call an orderly to make sure you stay in bed while I'm gone."

I questioned, "Why don't you get Jack to help with that."

She giggled, "Because he and Masha are shopping for rings. And you should know as you are the best man. I am going to be the maid of honor."

I informed her, "The only way I'm going to be the best man is if I can walk by then."

She promised, "Oh do not worry, I will make sure that you walk, along with other things, by then!"

I heard her leave and continued with my plans to get to the bathroom when I heard (in Russian), "What the hell are you doing?"

Damn busted again! I figured it was a guy so I said, "I need a bedpan." Yeah let him take care of my shit so Tatiana didn't have to...

Flashback – Masha – Ring shopping

Jack was being true to his word. With Ben and Tatiana occupied he wanted to purchase me a ring. We walked out of the hospital hand in hand and strolled down the street. I had no idea where any jewelry stores were located and was surprised when we appeared in front of one. I looked at Jack, saw he was grinning so I questioned, "How did you know?"

He smiled and explained, "Well, when I was on the computers in the internet café, I just happened to do a search for jewelry stores in this town."

I kissed him on the lips and said, "You are going to be so fortunate tonight."

He hugged me and declared, "Hell, just having you with me makes me the most fortunate man in the world."

We went inside the store and began to shop, while I also considered 'special' ways to show Jack my love tonight...

Flashback – Major M – At the hotel

I started to shower and complained, "What sort of dump is this place - there's no fucking hot water."

The bony bitched yelled through the door, "Well if you'd done your research on Russia like you should have, you would have known that all Russian cities have central hot water and they shut it off for a week twice a year to clean the pipes. Besides, why are you so worried about the cold water since it can't shrink it any smaller than it already is."

That fucking bitch! I don't know how, but somehow I will get even for that comment. Besides, her gash had been used so many times that it was larger than the fucking Grand Canyon.

The worst part of cold water showers was getting the soap to lather up well. I was almost done when she banged on the door and yelled, "What the hell is taking you so long! You'd better not be whacking off in the shower."

I thought 'with you out there, there was no need for that to happen'. I finished my shower and worked on my plan to take care of this bitch...

Flashback – Colonel Maggie – At the hotel

Damn, I needed to thank the hell out of Glen for giving me this assignment. I had waited for years to get even with this bastard and the revenge I was getting now was better than I imagined it would be - but it was just beginning.

The Major came out of the bathroom wearing a towel so I said, "Why so shy Major, it's not like I haven't seen that tiny thing before."

He turned about five shades of red and started, "About that night..."

I interrupted, "Please Major, I've done my best to forget that terrible night and I sure don't want to talk to you about it. Now get your ass dressed so we can head to the hospital. I can't fucking believe you haven't made it there yet to congratulate your Sgts., especially since they made you look so good."

He took his clothes, went into the bathroom and it was all I could do to keep from laughing my ass off...

Flashback – Ben – At the hospital

Now that's what I call a sponge bath and a half! I think we did almost everything except have sex! Tatiana said with a slight giggle in her voice, "Now we need some assistance to get your sheets changed."

She must have pressed the call button because I heard some people come into the room. She directed them how to help turn me in one motion. They turned me while I gritted my teeth and moaned. Tatiana immediately asked, "Ben, are you okay?"

I fought out the words, "Oh yeah, I'm fucking great!"

She said, "We really should get your doctor in here to look at your bandages, he might want them changed."

I heard a new voice, "Well then, let me see those bandages."

I asked for clarification, "You aren't Dr. Kaeoorov."

He replied, "That's right I am Dr. Mikhail Voskoboynikov and I'm here to operate on your back. Now let us take a look at my new patient."

He began to fuck with my back and it hurt like hell! I tried to move and he ordered, "Sgt. Blaine stay still." Then he questioned, "When was the last time this man had something to control pain."

Tatiana replied, "I believe he had one shot early this morning and hasn't requested any since then."

He scolded, "Are you crazy! With this pain he should receive pain medication automatically."

I didn't like the tone he used with Tatiana, so I explained, "Excuse me doctor, don't yell at Tatiana because it's my fault. I don't like taking drugs for pain."

I could feel the bandages come off my back and the doctor said, "How many times have these been changed?"

Tatiana said, "Dr. Kaeoorov ordered that the dressings should not be changed."

I heard some swear words which he said under his breath, then he sent Tatiana out for some supplies. When we were alone he said, "Sgt. Blaine, I apologize for the lack of care my colleague provided. However I will rectify that oversight."

I asked, "So then tell me doctor, is it really as bad as I've heard?"

He explained, "Yes Sgt. Blaine, it is very bad. However it is hopeful that you do have feeling below the waist. Tell me is it really true that you stood for President Putin and also told him his Russian was almost perfect."

I bragged, "Hell yeah! There was no way I was going to stay seated when he was here."

Dr. Voskoboynikov continued, "And the comment about his Russian?"

I laughed, "Well I sort of use humor to mask the pain."

Tatiana arrived and the Dr. pulled off the dressings, I swore, "Son of a bitch that hurts."

The doctor stated, "And it would also appear you also use swearing to mask pain."

I laughed, "No, that I do for fun."

He questioned, "Nurse what happened to your hands?"

Tatiana said, "I was Ben's flight nurse and cut my fingers removing the ceramic shards from his back."

What he said next told me he was one hell of a doctor...

Flashback – Tatiana – At the hospital

Dr. Mikhail Voskoboynikov looked at my hands and ordered, "Nurse when I'm finished with Sgt. Blaine I want to have a look at those hands to make sure there is no nerve damage."

Ben questioned, "Doctor, Tatiana didn't mention any problems with her hands."

The doctor stated, "Of course she wouldn't because she's a nurse and they often work when they are in pain. But I can tell you her bandages are wet, probably from the sponge bath she gave you, and that will not happen again."

I was a little sad because I really enjoyed giving Ben the sponge bath...

The doctor finished changing the dressings, we turned Ben to the other side and finished changing his sheets then rested Ben on his back.

The doctor picked up and needle and stated, "Sgt. Blaine, I want you to tell me if you feel this."

He slightly pricked Ben's right foot, Ben jerked and stated, "Hell yes I felt you jabbing my foot. If you do it again I'm going to kick you with it!"

Dr. Voskoboynikov moved to Ben's left leg pricked his foot and Ben stated, "Now that's better. Thank you for not jabbing me again."

I looked at the doctor, he smiled and said, "Well Sgt. you have reduced sensation in your left leg."

Ben interrupted, "If you had asked me, I could have told you that."

Dr. Voskoboynikov continued, "However, that you have feeling at all is a very good sign. Now nurse let me look at those hands."

Flashback – Masha – Back at the hospital

Jack bought me the most beautiful (and shockingly large) ring. I was amazed how much it cost but Jack didn't even blink. We walked back to the hospital and I finally felt like his fiancée so I hugged his arm tightly.

We walked into Ben's room and I noticed a new doctor was looking at Tatiana's hands. He scolded her, "Nurse, you should know better than to let your hands get in this condition."

Ben complained, "Doctor, what's wrong with her hands?"

He answered, "Well it's obvious she's been busy taking care of you and not taking care of herself."

I laughed when Ben suggested, "Well you could have a second bed pulled into this room and put her on bed rest."

Ben heard me and questioned, "Masha you're back, is Jack here too?"

Jack replied, "Shit Banzai she held my arm so tight since I bought her the ring, I thought she'd become part of it."

Banzai laughed, "I want to see the ring."

The doctor stated, "Now that I'm done with your nurse Tatiana, we do need to examine those eyes."

Ben asked, "How are her hands."

The doctor replied, "They will be fine but she needs to change the dressing more frequently. Nurse, please turn off the lights while I remove the bandages on his eyes."

Flashback – Jack – Back at the hospital

The doctor was going to remove the bandages from Banzai's eyes and I was damn happy! I never told him but he looked like someone had transplanted a mummy's head on a human body. But if we were going to continue as a team he needed to have his vision.

He began to remove the dressing and Banzai swore, "Dammit!"

The doctor replied, "Sorry about that but your skin has began to heal from the flash burns and is embedded in the dressing. Tatiana how often was this dressing changed."

She replied, "Never."

The new doctor said some more words under his breath. I leaned over and asked, "Masha, did he just say son of a bitch?"

She nodded and I added, "After we see how Banzai's eyes are, I need to go take care of something."

She gave me a knowing look and promised, "Jack we will take care of your problem together."

The bandages were off and surprisingly Banzai didn't look that much worse for the wear...

Flashback – Ben – At the hospital

I don't fucking like doctors, but I liked the hell out of this doctor. Hell, he took care of Tatiana and even swore when he didn't like how something was done. Plus, for a doctor he was gentle as hell. Shit, most of them yanked bandages off with no regard for how you felt.

He finally got the bandages off my head and eyes then said, "I want you to slowly open your eyes and tell me if you see anything."

I opened my eyes and...

Flashback – Glen

I sat at the damn table eating my fucking PB&J and drinking skim milk when Jennifer walked in the kitchen.

She looked at what I was doing and scolded me, "Daddy, what the heck are you doing?"

I complained, "I was hungry and there's no damn way I'm eating rice cakes but this PB&J was all I could find to eat."

She folded her arms across her chest, tapped her foot and ordered, "Well, if you leave the kitchen for a few minutes I will make you a real sandwich. You shouldn't be eating a PB&J."

Now this was news to me! Somewhere in this damn kitchen was real food.

I went back into the living room, turned on the TV and the next thing I knew...

Flashback – Jens

Sometimes I couldn't believe my father! Eating a PB&J sandwich! Oh I know they can be good for you, but not when there's more J than PB.

I made sure Daddy was really in the living room, went into the refrigerator, looked waaaayyyy in the back, opened the container marked sprouts and pulled out some healthy lunch meat. I then took a couple slices of bread, toasted them, added some Grey Poupon (and fought back giggles at the name) then added the healthy lunch meat and cheese. I then put it in the microwave for thirty seconds to melt the cheese.