Cobalt (22 page)

Madeline shook her head, and glanced around the white tiled, med. bay. ‘Don’t get sentimental on me, Marcus. I wasn’t yours to loose in the first place. Besides, he didn't want to kill me. Look where he shot me. Kellerin's an expert gunman. You read the file, you should know that. At a distance of less than five metres, if he wanted me dead, I would be dead! I mean, on a woman, he even had a target.’ As Marcus's eyes trained on her breast Madeline coughed, regaining his attention to her face. She continued, ‘The doctors told me I've got two broken ribs. No organs were damaged, and I only had minimal blood loss, considering exactly where he shot me. He didn't want me dead. He was testing my pain endurance. It was anticipated. I compensated.’

Marcus moved closer to her bed, gripping her hand tighter as she tried to emancipate it from him. ‘Anyway, I'd just like to say, despite getting shot and all, good job, Madeline. Kellerin and his men are in prison, impending trial, and we have a team on stand-by to apprehend Angela Rowlands the moment she enters the country. Turns out she met Ted Randal when she accompanied Rick to a senate dinner some twenty years ago. Shortly after, she left Assistant Director Glazer and has pursued a secret romance with Randal ever since. Looks like another case is solved. Oh and President Watson wants to give you a medal.’  Marcus beamed proudly at her, forgetting once more that she wasn't one of his possessions.

At that moment Sebastian Lychart chose to walk into the med. Bay, carrying one of the largest bunches of pink and white, oriental lilies Madeline had ever seen. Dressed in his customary jeans and black t- shirt, a bandana wrapped around his head. His hair was tied back in a low pony-tail, and the heels of his leather boots  clicked on the floor, punctuating his every step.  He approached her bedside and upon handing Marcus the flowers he bent down and placed a light kiss on her cheek. ‘Hey Sassy, how ya feeling? You gave us quite a scare, ya know. I brought ya some flowers.’

     ‘I can see that. Thank you. They’re beautiful.’ Madeline smiled warmly at him.

     He pulled a bloom from the bunch. ‘You should smell it,’ he stated, offering it to her. Marcus buried his face into the rest of the bunch he held. ‘Just be careful.’ Lychart continued. ‘They smell nice, but the pollen stains.’  As if to illustrate this, Marcus pulled his head quickly from the flowers, to find his face covered in tiny patches of yellow pollen. He brushed at them, but only succeeded in spreading the powder. He gave Lychart a filthy look and thrust the bunch back into his arms. Lychart winked at Madeline as he placed the flowers on the table near her bed. ‘I’d better get back. Places to be. Bad guys to catch, Messages to read. You know.’

     ‘I know. This is who we are…’

     ‘And wouldn’t have it any other way.’ He cut her off. ‘Catch ya later Sassy.’ He saluted, as he left, drawing another look from Marcus.

            Marcus looked back at Madeline.  He seemed to contemplate something. ‘One question, though. How did you know that Randal was the White House leak?’

     Madeline smiled. ‘I didn’t know for certain, when I went in. I took an educated guess, based on his facial expression, compared to the others, as I entered the room.’

     ‘Well done.’ Marcus suddenly looked serious. He continued. ‘When you’re feeling up to it, and now that you’re back in the US, do you think. I mean, I thought it might be nice. I was wondering if you want to go to dinner…with me?’

     Madeline smiled at him, once more. ‘Marcus,’ she began. ‘I think…’

     He cut her off. ‘You’re right. It was wrong of me to ask. You’re far too busy. I understand…’

     Madeline interrupted him. ‘Honestly, if you had let me finish. I was going to say dinner would be lovely. I’m sure Rick and I would love to brief you on everything that has happened over the past few days, over dinner.’

     Marcus looked slightly taken back at the mention of Rick, but remembering Madeline, and her experiences with rumours, he decided to let her have that one. ‘Ah, Rick. Of course. Well, when you
finally
see Rick,’ he continued ‘Tell him...’

Rick entered the medical room where Madeline was being held on observation. His anger flared slightly as he heard Marcus’s deliberate stress of the word finally, to insinuate to Madeline that he was the only one who cared, that he was the only one to partake in the vigil over the last six hours. His anger was evident in his voice, as he questioned, ‘Tell me what?’

     ‘Ah, good job Rick!’ Marcus shook his hand, and left the room, nodding his goodbyes to Madeline.

Rick crossed the room and stood next to Madeline's bed. He looked down, sympathetically at her. ‘Are you okay?’ he asked.

     ‘Fine’ she answered, not a flicker of emotion passing over her face.

     ‘Is it bad?’ he questioned, lightly touching her wounded side, with his fingers. Madeline smiled. ‘Could be worse.’

     ‘Oh you're very brave. Shot in the chest, and you still refuse to show emotion. I think you're afraid!’ he said smiling.

     ‘Here we go again!’ Madeline rolled her eyes. ‘Okay, I'll bite. Afraid?’ She raised her eyebrows in mock disbelief, ‘Afraid of you?’

     Rick grinned. ‘Of being human. Of being abandoned. But to quote John, I’ll always be there for you. These five words I swear to you.’

     ‘That’s six. Who’s John?’ Madeline questioned, somewhat confused.

     ‘You know, Bon Jovi. Six, huh. Oh well he is a rock star, he doesn’t need to count.’

     ‘It’s I’ll be there for you.’

     ‘You sure?’

     ‘Sure as I am that you’re insane.’ she teased.

     ‘Fine, then to expand on John, I’ll always be there for you. Always. These six words I swear to you.’ He emphasised the always in both cases.

     ‘That’s seven.’ Madeline shook her head. ‘Come here!’

     ‘What?’ Rick stopped joking around, confused by her last response.

     ‘Come here!’ she repeated, patting the side of the bed, next to her. ‘You want to see some feelings?’ She smiled.

     Rick sat on the edge of the bed, grinning more than ever, as he caught on to her train of thought. He nodded, responding to her question, ‘Yeah!’

     Madeline eased herself up off the pillow, and kissed his mouth lightly. ‘How was that?’ she inquired as she drew away.

     Rick grinned at her and answered, ‘Nup, didn't feel a thing!’ He shook his head slightly. Their eyes met.

     ‘How about now?’ Madeline teased as she pulled him to her, kissing his mouth harder. In response, Rick took control, easing her down on to the bed. Madeline flinched slightly as pressure was accidentally applied to her injury. Rick drew away, but Madeline pulled him back. He drew away once more, raising his left index finger to her lips. He reached for the remote, on the table beside her bed. Hitting two of the buttons the lights dimmed and the sliding solid door closed and locked. He looked back at Madeline and winked. She went to laugh but it was muffled by his kiss.