Back on Solid Ground (42 page)

“Yeah, I
know.”

They got back
to the waiting room just as the doctor arrived.  He directed his comments to
Eli.

“We got the
bullet out, but your brother is in severe shock right now.  He hasn’t regained
consciousness.”

“But he will,
won’t he?” Eli asked.

“We’ll have
to wait and see what happens,” the doctor said.

“What do you
mean?” Eli said. 

“Your brother
is in a coma right now.  I fully expect him to come out of it, but I can’t say
when.  It could be hours or days, or it could be longer.”

“I’m gonna throw
up,” Stacy said, and she ran out of the room and vomited Gatorade into a
trashcan in the hall.  Carlos had followed her out.

“Niki’s a
fighter, Stacy.  He’ll pull through this,” Carlos said, then he hesitated.  “To
tell you the truth, I’m just as worried about you.”

“I’m fine
Carlos.  You don’t need to worry about me.”

“What
happened out there at the ranch has left you with such an emptiness, it’s like
there’s a hole in your spirit, and it’s not just Niki getting shot.”

Stacy was
silent for a moment.  “My father killed my mother.”

Carlos nodded
his head.  “Just as you thought.”

“And now I
killed my father.  It’s almost poetic, isn’t it?” she said.

“Your father
didn’t deserve to live,” Carlos said.

“I know.  And
when my father told me he had killed my mother, I wanted to kill him.  I
actually thought it would feel good.  I thought it would take away the pain of
knowing that my mom would still be here with me if it weren’t for him,” Stacy
said.   “But when I had that gun in my hand and I had it pointed at him, it was
the last thing in the world I wanted to do. I didn’t want to kill him, but he
would have killed Niki and Jason and I couldn’t let him do that.  But it didn’t
feel good and it didn’t take away the pain. Vengeance is not what it’s cracked
up to be.”

“That’s
because you didn’t shoot him out of vengeance,” Carlos said smiling.  “You shot
him in self-defense, and in defense of the man you love.  There’s a big
difference.”

Eli followed
the doctor out into the hall and he came over to Stacy. 

“He can have
two people in there at a time,” Eli told Stacy.

“Your parents
should go first,” Stacy said.

“No.  We all
agree, you should.”

The doctor
led them to the Intensive Care Unit and over to Niki’s bed.  He had tubes and
wires hooked up all over him.  He looked like he was sleeping peacefully. 
Stacy reached out and touched his face and stroked his hair, then she leaned
over and kissed him on the cheek. 

“Hi Niki,
it’s Stacy,” she said, picking up his hand and squeezing it.  “Eli’s here too.”

“Hey, wake up
asshole,” Eli said.  “Mom and Dad and Charlotte are all here.  And Carlos and
Jason and Holly.  And we’re all just sitting around waiting for you to wake
up.”

“That’s
right,” Stacy said. “Apparently it’s not possible for me to meet anyone in your
family in a normal way. But I had a nice visit with your mother.  She’s very
sweet.  Unfortunately I look terrible.  Probably about like I looked when I met
you” she said, and Eli looked at her and smiled. 

“She doesn’t
look that bad,” Eli said.  “Actually, she looks pretty cute.  She kind of looks
like an Indian.  She’s got this bandage wrapped around her head.  All she needs
is a feather.”

The two
stayed with Niki for another five minutes then Stacy told Eli, “We should let
your parents come in,” and Eli nodded in agreement.

“Niki, we’re
going to go so your parents can come in,” Stacy said.  She leaned over and
whispered in his ear, “I love you,” then she kissed his cheek.  She pressed her
cheek against his and squeezed her eyes shut to keep from crying.  “I’ll see
you in a little while.”

When they got
back to the waiting room Stacy went up to Niki’s father. 

“We haven’t
been introduced.  I’m Stacy Trent.” She offered her hand to Niki’s father.

Niki’s father
gave her a warm smile and took Stacy’s hand in both of his.  “It’s nice to meet
you Stacy.  Christopher Lautrec.”

Stacy turned
to Charlotte.  “Maybe we can start over,” she said.  “I’m Stacy.”

Charlotte looked embarrassed, but she held out her hand to Stacy and smiled.  “I’m Charlotte.  It’s nice to meet you.”

Their eyes
locked as they shook hands and sized each other up.  “Nice to meet you
Charlotte,” Stacy said. 

“Your eyes
look just like Niki’s.

Everyone
visited Niki’s bedside in groups of two and when they had finished, they had
all gathered back in the waiting room.  Niki would be in ICU for the night, and
visiting hours were almost over.  Eli had made accommodations for his family at
a hotel by the medical center.  Holly and Jason had threatened to have Stacy
admitted to the hospital if she didn’t eat something and get some rest, so they
had gone back to Stacy’s condo.  Eli and Carlos had stayed at the hospital in
case anything happened during the night.

“It seems
like forever since I’ve been here,” Stacy said, as she waited for Holly to find
her key. 

They got
inside and Holly immediately took control.  “Where are those painkillers the
doctor prescribed for you?”

“In my
bathroom. Why?”

“Because
you’re not going to get any sleep unless you take one.”  She disappeared and
came back with a horse pill and handed it to Stacy with a glass of water. 
“Take this and drink all the water.”

Stacy
complied, then set the glass on the table and sat down on the couch beside
Jason.  Holly was in the kitchen making all kinds of racket and Stacy called
out, “What are you doing in there?”

“I’m cooking
us dinner,” Holly said.

Jason looked
over at Stacy and raised his eyebrows and smiled.  Stacy moved closer. “What do
you think of her?” Stacy whispered conspiratorially.

“What do I
think of her?” Jason repeated loudly.

Stacy laughed
and slugged him. “Jerk.”  She could see Holly laughing in the kitchen.

Jason laughed
and mimicked Stacy, moving closer and speaking quietly.  “I like her,” he said.

“I knew you’d
hit it off,” Stacy said.  She got up and went in the kitchen.  “He likes you.”

“He’s so
cute,” Holly whispered.  “He held my hand in the hospital.”

Stacy’s eyes
got big.  “He did?  I am
so
excited!” Stacy said talking quietly. 

Jason came in
and the two went dead silent.  “You should see your faces.  You both look like
the cat that ate that bird – the canary or whatever,” he said, and Stacy and
Holly burst out laughing.  Jason shook his head, “Do you need some help?” he
asked Holly.

“I need some
help,” Stacy said, fiddling with her bandage.  “Help me get this stupid thing
off my head,” she said, totally frustrated. 

“You’re
supposed to keep that stupid thing on your head,” Holly said.

“I have to
wash my hair,” Stacy said. 

“You can’t
wash your hair.  You’ll get your stitches wet,” Holly told her.

Stacy was
still messing with the bandage and Jason finally reached over and unhooked the
clasps that held it together and handed the end of the bandage to Stacy. She
unwound it from her head, then wadded it up and threw it in the trashcan. 
Stacy went and looked in a mirror in the dining room.  “Damn it.  Look at my
hair,” she said, pointing out where it had been shaved.  “I’m gonna need
Consuela again.”  She came back to the kitchen and gave Holly a pitiful look.

“Will you
wash it for me in the sink?”

Holly looked at
her and couldn’t help but laugh.  She looked like a little kid.  “Yes, I’ll
wash it for you,” Holly said.  “Go get your stuff.”

“That’s why I
love her,” Stacy told Jason. 

Jason smiled
at Holly.  He hadn’t quite figured her out.  She was bossy and assertive, maybe
even more so than Stacy if that was possible.  But at the same time she was as
thoughtful and caring as anyone he had ever met.  He definitely wanted to get
to know her better.

Stacy
disappeared and returned with shampoo and a towel. Holly washed Stacy’s hair
for her while dinner cooked in the oven.  When she finished, Stacy ran a
steaming hot bath and soaked for thirty minutes until Holly knocked on the
door. 

“Dinner’s
ready,” she said.  “You feel any better?”

“Yeah,” Stacy
said.  “But that pill is kicking my butt.”

“Good. You’ll
be able to get some sleep.”

The three ate
dinner and afterwards they moved over to the couch where Stacy fell asleep
immediately.  Holly turned on the TV. 

“It’s almost
10:00.  Let’s see what they say on the news,” she said. 

“Stacy’s
lucky to have you as a friend,” Jason said.  He reached over and picked up
Holly’s hand. 

Holly
smiled.  “It goes both ways.  She’s taken care of me just as often as I’ve
taken care of her.”

“I bet you
two are big trouble together,” he said.

Holly laughed
out loud.  “Why would you say that?” she asked, feigning innocence.

“Because you
both have that air about you.”

“That air? 
And what air would that be?”

“That air
that spells big trouble when the two of you get together,” Jason said, laughing.

“Maybe.”

The news came
on and Stacy’s kidnapping was the top story.

Just over two
weeks after her incredible escape from captivity in Bogota, Colombia, Stacy Trent has been the subject of another kidnapping, this one perpetrated by her own
father. Ms. Trent was abducted yesterday morning in the parking lot of a local San Antonio restaurant, and was taken to the family’s ranch outside of Victoria.  Agent
Alex Kanes with the FBI was there, the anchor said, and they cut to a clip of
Alex.

When I came
upon them, Mr. Trent had already shot one man involved in the rescue and he was
holding his daughter at gunpoint.  We were able to distract him long enough to
get two shots off, one hit him in the head and one in the heart.  He died
instantly, Alex said.

The camera
cut back to the newsroom and the anchor continued the story.

Ms. Trent was treated at Methodist Hospital for a cut on her head, and was released.  We also
have word on the man who was shot during the rescue attempt.  He is Nikolas
Lautrec, owner and founder of Lautrec Investigation Services.  It is not clear how
he was involved in the rescue.  Lautrec was shot once in the chest and was
airlifted from the Trent ranch in Victoria to Methodist Hospital.  He is listed
in critical condition.  No word yet as to the motive behind the kidnapping.

Holly and
Jason looked at each other.  “He left out the fact that Stacy shot her father,”
Jason said.

“Thank God. 
The media would have had a field day with that.  I told you he was cool,” Holly
said.   She looked over at Stacy sleeping on the couch.  “Will you carry her to
bed?”

“Sure,” Jason
said.  He picked up Stacy and followed Holly to the bedroom.  Holly turned down
the sheets and Jason laid Stacy down and covered her up, then the two went back
out to the living room. 

“Are you
staying here tonight?” Jason asked Holly.

“Yeah, I
don’t want her to be by herself.”

Jason smiled
at her.  “I’d like you in my corner if I ever needed help.” He was standing
close to her and he picked up Holly’s hands and put them around his waist.  
“I’m gonna go back to the hospital,” he said putting his arms around her.  “But
I’ll see you tomorrow?”

“Yes, you
will.”

“Good.” He
was looking at her mouth, wanting to kiss her. “Do you have a boyfriend?” Jason
asked. 

“Would it
matter?” Holly replied.

“I’m sure it
would to him,” Jason laughed.

“No,” Holly
said, tightening her arms around his waist and moving closer to him.  “I don’t
have a boyfriend.”  It was obvious that he wanted to kiss her.  “Are you going
to kiss me, or am I going to have to kiss you?” Holly asked.  

“No, I think
I’ll go ahead and kiss you.”  He brought his mouth to hers and kissed her on
the lips, and what started out relatively light hearted, turned into a long and
passionate kiss.  When it ended, Jason pulled back and looked at Holly.  “I
knew I shouldn’t have done that.  Now I don’t want to leave,” he said, and
Holly smiled at him.

“You don’t
have to go.”

“Yeah, I do. 
I should be at the hospital,” Jason said.  “It would be like you going out and
having a good time while Stacy was in the hospital.  I just can’t do it.”

“I know,”
Holly said. 

“As much as
I’d like to,” he added.

Holly
smiled.  “I know,” she said again.  “Come on, I’ll walk you to the elevator.” 

They went out
in the hall and Jason punched the button for the elevator.  “You’ll call if
anything happens with Niki?” Holly asked.

“I will,”
Jason said.  He got in the elevator and punched the button for the first
floor.  “See you tomorrow, Lois.”

“Don’t call
me that,” Holly said, stomping her foot, and she could hear Jason laughing as
the doors closed.

Stacy woke up
early and went into the guestroom and crawled in bed with Holly. 

“Hey, did you
get some sleep?” Holly asked.

“Yeah.  I
feel better, but I’m groggy from that pill.  Thanks for cooking last night and
for staying here and everything.”

Holly waved
her hand and covered a yawn with the other.  “You’re welcome.”

“What time
did Jason leave?” Stacy asked.

Holly got a
big smile on her face.  “Right after he kissed me.”

Stacy sat
bolt upright and screamed.  “He kissed you?  Where?” Stacy asked.

“On the
lips.  It was a really good one too,” Holly said.

Stacy lay
back down, smiling.  “So you like him?”

“Kind of a
lot,” she said.  “But he’s got to stop calling me Lois.”