Chapter 19

When I did wake up fully, Constance and Roberta were standing over my bed. As I opened my eyes, I found I couldn't properly focus, so other than knowing someone was there, I couldn't tell you anything about them. I tried blinking to see if that would help and things began to swim into focus.

"Hello there," I croaked.

Renata and Constance spoke at one. "You are awake. The doctor predicted you would rejoin the living almost two days ago, and now you are finally here." Constance was thrilled to see me open my eyes. It was written all over her.

Renata said something into her wrist mic, and I could hear activity outside my room. Doctor Abrams' people streamed in to prod, poke, and press on me, looking for all sorts of things, none of which they disclosed to me. For all the effort they spent on me, no one spoke.

Eventually Doctor Abrams wandered in. "So! My little soon to be, pretty young bride of a nice Swedish boy is welcoming us with her awakeness. Good. We miss your bright smiling teeth when your eyes are all the time closed for sleeping.

"Now, if you will please tell the kind assistants how you was feeling, we will make with the right stuff to give you good feelings on top of how you already feels." I LOVED listening to the good doctor try and speak English.

After a half hour of checking me out from top to bottom, the doctor and his pack of assistants declared me out of danger from the toxins, and by then Polly and Hawk were back from the palace. Polly rushed to my side, while Hawk stood smiling beside her. We three embraced for a long time before I was willing to let go.

"How are you feeling little one?" Hawk asked softly.

"I don't know," I answered, honestly. "How am I?"

Polly drew a deep breath and Hawk gave me the look, so I suspected the news wasn't all good. "The doctors tell me that the poison you swallowed was highly dangerous, but because it was cooked, most of its potency was burned away. Your other problems complicated how your body responded to the poison and there seems to be some ... let's say ... indecision about how long before you fully recover..."

He would have gone on for a long time, but I interrupted to make it easier for him. "In that case, you two need to go home, and I am stuck here for a little while, right?" There was no sense beating around the bush.

Polly smiled and tried to soften the news. "Sweetie, you were really sick. Doctor Abrams wants time to make sure you are recovered inside as well as outside. His people are all over your vital signs, blood work, and internal organs looking for anything that might come back and haunt you later. We need to let that run its course and make sure, before we fly you home and take a chance on things with the Doctor so far away.

"If you are afraid to stay behind when Air Force One heads home, I will stay right here. There is nothing to worry about, but I thought we might have Constance and your detail remain, with some others that will remain when we leave to make sure no one bothers you."

She was trying hard, but I needed to let her off the hook, quickly. "It's Ok. Go home with Dad, and as fast as I get well, I'll be right behind you."

We talked for a long time, before Shane Victorello walked in to speak to Hawk. They conferred out of earshot, until Hawk turned to me and said, "There are things I have to do, Honey. We promise to keep in close touch, but we have to leave and get back to Washington. If you want, your mother will stay, but you seem to feel very strongly that you are Ok with your staff and some of mine, so we'll try it your way...

"If you get afraid, I will be back here in a flash. That's my promise to you..." That was Polly playing the mother card on both of us. We hugged and kissed and they were led away within their moving cocoon, and I was once more alone.

I was feeling sorry for myself when Constance came in, hopped up on my bed, and said, "SO! I hear you're awake? I've got news for you. YOU are really boring when all you do is sleep day and night!" And we were off and running...

The days dragged as Doctor Abrams tried various treatment options. Polly was back in less than a week, and Hawk came over when it was time for me to go home. We enjoyed the trip back. Air Force One was a wonderful way to travel, even if we had to talk over the results of my stay in Sweden.

"Angela has some kind of recurring infection, most likely caused by the plague. Her body produced antibodies for everyone else except her. As crazy as that sounds, her blood can heal millions, but not her." Polly was running it down for Hawk, as we enjoyed a wonderful lunch in his private cabin. They found evidence of her system fighting off the infection, but not able to overcome it, so we are caught in between sick and well, until Doctor Abrams can fabricate a drug that works just for her blood system."

Hawk shook his head and apologized for the hundredth time. "If my people hadn't asked the two of you to infiltrate The Outpost, none of this would have ever happened..."

I stopped him right there. "You're right. I would have caught the plague and died along with everyone else." He got my message and stopped trying to take the blame.

I was feeling about the same as before the trip to Sweden, but hopeful for better things. Polly kept asking me if the trip was too much for me, and if I thought I should be lying down. "It's Ok, Mom. I promise not to overdo things and collapse. You have my word..."

She gave me the mom stare, and Hawk burst out laughing. "Sweetheart, I never thought I'd live long enough to see you imitate your own MOTHER! You should see your face. It's like Mildred is here and not you." Polly looked stricken and tried to change her expression into something – anything – different. Hawk thought that was even funnier, and we all laughed ourselves silly.