Page 67 of Operation: Valiant Angel

“I have to use the bathroom,” she said. “I’m feeling better, and I drank a lot. Can’t we take it out?”

“Let me get Sloan.”

Wilson went to the door and summoned Sloan. Sloan checked her vitals, happy they all looked better. “Can you hold it for like fifteen minutes?” he asked. After she nodded that she could, he opened the valve, allowing a faster drip. “There. It’ll be done in about fifteen minutes. Then I can take it out. I want you to get the full bag.”

Sloan returned in fifteen minutes. The bag had emptied into her vein. She watched him gently remove the canula from her arm. He wrapped compression tape over a piece of gauze around her arm. Then he pulled the bedcovers back. “Let me make sure you don’t get dizzy or anything as you get up.”

Wilson stood back, watching and appreciating Sloan’s care of her. Since Kaylee had come into his life, Sloan had become a different person that showed even when he was caring for a patient, in this case, a female patient. “You’re going to make a good dad,” Wilson said to Sloan as they stood waiting for her outside the bathroom door that was within the king room. There was a second bathroom off the double queen room as well.

Sloan laughed. “Words I never thought I’d hear,” he said. “Sherman’s a hell of a dad. Now that’s something I still don’tbelieve. He does this horse whisperer thing with Bastian, get’s the little guy to settle down and stop crying, just by hearing Sherman’s voice. Or who knows, maybe it’s how he holds him.”

Wilson hadn’t really talked with Sloan about his wife’s pregnancy or the fact they were having twins. “Twins, now that would scare the shit out of me.”

Sloan laughed again. “Just knowing I was going to be a dad scared the shit out of me. I’d rather do a lot of the dangerous shit we do than know a tiny, little, completely dependent human is reliant on me. But the fact is, moms do the majority of the work. And my job will be to do whatever I have to do to help Kaylee and make her job easier. As Sherman put it, I have to do everything I can do to help, including getting up every time that baby wakes up in the middle of the night, changing his diaper, and bringing him to momma to be fed. It would be easy to lie in bed, knowing she has to feed him if she’s nursing and she’s off work for a few months, anyway. Why should I get up? Because it helps her and that’s my job. It’s going to be harder on her with twins, so I’ll have to work harder to help her.”

Wilson was impressed with Sloan. And given that Sloan was giving Sherman the credit for the approach, he was also impressed with Sherman.

Inside the bathroom, Reina heard the majority of the men’s conversation. But she was distracted by the feeling of cold that was creeping back into her. She turned the water faucet to hot to wash her hands, also wanting to splash water on her face. It took a long time to heat up, but once it did, it felt wonderful on her hands and on her face. A hot shower would feel amazing. Later.

She opened the door to find both men still on the other side of it. “I’m fine,” she assured them. She refused help and shuffled backover to the bed. She was practically shivering again as she pulled the bedcovers over herself.

“Rae, are you okay?” Wilson asked.

“Just cold again,” she said, rubbing her hands together.

“Yeah, that can happen,” Sloan said. “Your core temp hasn’t reached normal yet, I’m sure, and you left the warmth of the blankets. I’ll get you some more hot liquid to drink. That’ll help.” He left the room as Wilson tucked the covers in around her.

“I really do feel much better,” she insisted. “The soup and food, and I’m sure the IV really helped.”

Wilson leaned in and kissed her forehead. “I’m glad. I’m going to leave you to go back to sleep now. That’ll help you too. I’ll just be out in the main room with the others and I’m sure Sloan will come in to check on you.”

Tango

Reina came awake feeling nearly normal. She was warm, felt rested, and alert. The dim light was on across the room beside a chair where she saw Jimmy sat. His eyes were on the screen of his phone. She couldn’t help herself but take a moment to study his face and his solid form. She’d always thought he was attractive, and right now, he was even more attractive to her than ever.

“You’re awake. I’m sorry. Did I wake you up?”

“No,” she answered. She noticed how quiet it was. “What time is it? Is everyone else asleep?”

He rose from the chair and crossed over to the bed, retaking his seat on the edge of the bed beside her. “It’s early, nearly three. About an hour ago, our digital team found the beige Volvo. The team went to intercept.”

Excitement at the news skittered through her. “Really?”

“And don’t worry. They know Lilly is probably with them. They’ll do everything they can to protect her from seeing anything she shouldn’t. And they’ll take care so that she doesn’t get hurt.”

Reina nodded, nervous energy flowing through her. “So, this could really be over very soon.”

“I hope so,” Wilson said.

Reina sat up. She adjusted the pillows against the headboard so they would bolster her to sit comfortably. “How long did I sleep? I feel well rested.”

“That’s good to hear. You look much better, too.”

“Do you know if my phone was recovered? I’d like it back.”

“Yeah, we have it. The car accident scene was our first stop when we got into town. The state trooper who was the first on the scene had it.”

This was great news. “Well, can I have it?”

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