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Michael Hailey stood silently beside the hotel room bed watching the young man tossing fitfully in his sleep. Even unconscious Marcase's passionate intensity strove to break through. Michael shook his head in bemusement, Edward was turning out to be a handful. He could still see the outrage on the virologist's face when he realized that Cassian had slipped sedatives into his coffee, thus putting an end to the doctor's plan to keep an all night vigil outside Shiroma's door. Hailey had just barely managed to get him into bed before the combined effects of medication and exhaustion had pulled him into a much-needed sleep. The strain of the past three weeks was written on the slumbering man's face. The exhaustive work of tracking down the mutant Legionnaire's virus responsible for the unexplained deaths at the local hospital, followed by the fear, anxiety and frantic search for Shiroma had taken its toll. Of course, Marcase would never admit it. Edward's passion and drive were two of his biggest assets but they were also his greatest weaknesses. Marcase considered it his job to worry about everyone else but held little regard for his own health and safety. He would literally work himself into collapse if someone didn't keep a tight rein on him. That task usually fell on his teammates. It was Hailey's job to look after the welfare of the team even if that meant protecting them from themselves. Of all those that he was assigned to protect, Edward was proving the most challenging. With Cassian safely back in Washington and Marcase out for the count until morning Hailey was now free to focus all of his attention on his remaining charge. Slipping through the hotel room's connecting door Hailey crossed the room to stare down at its sleeping occupant. For the hundredth time in the last four hours Hailey said a prayer of thanks for Shiroma's safe return. It had been close, too close. He could understand Marcase's need to stand watch over their teammate this night. The fear and anxiety were still too fresh; they all had to constantly reaffirm to themselves that the nightmare was indeed over. Michael observed the sleeping woman and again marveled at her strength. Hailey smiled, anyone who considered Kimberly Shiroma weak and helpless didn't know the lady. She might appear outwardly delicate and fragile but inside was a core of tempered steel. He could still see her standing facing her attacker, crowbar in hand, daring him to come closer. No, weak was not a word Michael would attach to Shiroma. But Hailey knew from experience that even the strongest person just didn't shake off a traumatic experience overnight. Kim would need time to put her ordeal fully behind her and the bio-crisis team would be there for her every step of the way. When he had time to stop and think about it Hailey was amazed at how much these people had come to mean to him in such a short time. A lot had changed in the last year. When they had first met, Michael would have covered any bet that the bio-crisis unit would not stay together long enough to finish their first mission. If anyone had dared to tell him that they would become some of his closest friends he would have laughed and then admitted that person for psychiatric evaluation. No, Hailey had been sure that hatred and suspicion would have destroyed any chances of the group functioning as a team long before now. But they had surprised him. Despite their animosity, Shiroma and Marcase had put aside their differences and worked together, blending their unique perspectives to defeat an enemy that neither could have mastered alone. Since that rocky beginning the three of them plus Cassian had slowly developed into a true team, one based on respect and then trust. A team, that despite their obvious differences, backed each other when it counted. Watching the sleeping woman Michael felt a familiar stab of guilt. It was his fault she had suffered. He was supposed to protect the team and he had failed. That maniac should have never been able to reach her. Thank God they had found her in time. If they had been too late... No he would not go there. Michael had buried his share of friends and teammates. If Shiroma had died from his incompetence he doubted he would have been able to live with himself. Hailey shook his head to dispel the dark thoughts. All that mattered was that Kimberly was here and safe. Tonight he would stay close by in case she needed him. In truth it was more for his benefit than hers. He needed to know that she was safe and well. He would guard her sleep and keep the night monsters at bay. But whether the demons he strove to protect her from were hers or his he couldn't say. Turning away from the bed, Hailey made his way to the sitting area of the suite. Shiroma always carried a small electric pot to heat water for tea when she traveled. Michael and Edward often teased her that if disaster struck; the thing she'd try to save would be the teapot. While Hailey had seen her drink coffee, usually when maximum caffeine intake was needed and she had no time to leave the lab in search of hot water, tea remained Kim's drink of choice. Finding the small pot on the counter in the bathroom, Hailey put water on to heat then turned to rummage through Shiroma's stash of teas. Finally, he found the package of China Black that Kim carried for those days she needed an extra boost of caffeine. It wasn't coffee, but at least it would keep him awake. Making himself comfortable in one of the room's large stuffed chairs, Michael prepared for a long night's vigil. "No!" Shiroma jerked awake, fear clutching
her throat. Her gaze darted around the room seeking the source of
her terror. All she saw was an empty hotel room. Pulling the
bedcovers tightly around her body to ward off the sudden chill, Kimberly
tried to slow her ragged breathing. A dream, it must have been a
dream. The racing heartbeat, ragged breathing and chills were familiar
to her but it had been many years since she had woken up in this state,
fleeing from an enemy she could not remember. After her parents'
death she had suffered from horrible nightmares. She could never
remember the dreams that sent her screaming into wakefulness but she remembered
the bone numbing fear. Damn, she thought she was past this.
She was no longer a child but a grown woman. She was stronger than
this.
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