Page 66 of Operation: Valiant Angel

Reina fought to keep her eyes open as she listened to the two men talk. She was exhausted. At some point, she fell back asleep and was woken by Jimmy gently shaking her and talking to her sometime later. She woke disoriented but warm. It didn’t take long for her to remember where she was and why. And she smelled the incredible and unmistakable aroma of Chinese food.

“That smells good,” she said to Jimmy. He sat beside her. Had he stayed with her the entire time she was asleep? The thought he had brought a smile to her face.

“It just got here. Sloan wants you to start with some soup. He’s getting it for you now,” Wilson said. “Let me help you sit up more.” He positioned the pillows behind her to prop her up.

“I’m actually hot now.” She looked down at her chest to see her coat was still on, as well as the silver emergency blanket. “Can you help me get my coat off?”

“That’s good. Yes, let’s get it off you.” Wilson pulled the bedcovers back. He gently pulled the mylar emergency blanket off of her and from under her. He unbuttoned her coat. He helped her slide it off the arm without the IV and he helped to pull it from under and behind her. He slid the coat up the tubing and hung it on the hook Sloan had inserted behind the headboard to hold the bag of fluids. “Can I help take your shoes off so you’re more comfortable?”

Potential embarrassment hit Reina. “No, they’re fine. And I’m sure my feet stink. My shoes haven’t been off the whole time since. What day is it?”

“It’s Wednesday night, Rae,” Wilson said. He watched tears fill her eyes. He sat beside her again and covered her hand withhis. “It’s okay. Losing track of time in situations like the one you were in is common.”

She turned her hand over, grasping his hand, and stared at their joined hands as she tried to collect her dismayed thoughts and breathed deeply to calm herself.

Sloan entered the room, carrying a steaming mug. He saw the tears in her eyes and their joined hands. “Okay, I’ve got some good and hot wonton soup for you.” He came up beside them. “You already look better,” he said to her. “After you have the soup, I’ll recheck your vitals. It’s good to see you doing your deep breathing. That’s going to bring your O-two sats up.” He handed the mug with the soup in it to Wilson. “What do you want? I’ll bring you a plate so you can eat in here with her.”

“I’ll wait till she moves on to the rice or noodle course and get it then,” he said. “I smell something spicy. Just make sure some is saved for me.”

Sloan glanced back at Rae, who was blinking rapidly to clear the tears. “If you want to talk to someone about what you just went through, let Wilson know. We have a team shrink and he can request a video call with him for you. He’s really good to talk with after traumatic situations. He has a lot of great coping techniques.”

Reina stared at him shocked he was suggesting it. Then she recovered her game face and said, “Thanks, I’ll let him know.”

Sloan pointed at her soup. “Eat up.” Then he left the room.

Wilson couldn’t believe he hadn’t thought about Lassiter and suggesting a call for her with him. Sloan was right. Lassiter could help her. He handed her the mug. “His name is Joe Lassiter and Sloan’s right. He’s very helpful. Let me know if you want to talk to him.”

She nodded and took a sip of the hot soup. It tasted amazing. She drained the cup and ate the wonton.

Wilson took the mug. He stood. “I’ll get your next course. Be right back.”

The food cartons were lined up on the little countertop in the kitchen area of the room. The five other team members sat at the table and on the couches and chairs in the main room. “What’s her next course, Sloan?”

“Get her some white rice and some of the chicken in lo mein noodles. That’ll be easy on her stomach.”

Sherman made her a plate and then grabbed an empty plate for himself. The Mongolian Beef was empty. “Motherfuckers!” He lifted the empty container into the air. “You didn’t save me any?”

The others laughed at him. “Check the microwave,” Lambchop called across the room to him.

Wilson opened the microwave to find a plate piled high with some of every dish that was on the counter, including a generous serving of the Mongolian Beef.

“Sloan was the perfect little wifey, making you a plate,” Lambchop said with a laugh.

Wilson laughed. “Thank God he did, you ass holes wouldn’t have left me any.”

Sloan got out of his seat and went into the kitchen. “How’s she doing, mentally? Has she talked to you?”

Wilson shook his head.

“Don’t let her stay in her own head for too long,” Sloan said. “And encourage that call with Lassiter. You know as well as I do that she’s going to have PTSD after what she went through.”

Wilson hadn’t considered it yet. First, he wanted to be sure that medically she was okay. “Yeah,” he agreed. He carried the two plates back to the bedroom.

They both devoured all the food on their plates.

She glanced up at the bag that still had a lot of fluid left in it. “How much longer do you think this has?” she asked.

“I don’t know. Maybe a half hour. Why?”

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