“What kind of nightmares?” She asked.
“Could you please open the blinds?”
Hatchet-face whipped them back and I saw soft night skies with stars and clouds drifting, a huge moon that coated the towers in silver. Helicopters buzzed across from Quantico and I could almost hear the sound of Washington’s incessant traffic.
“Now what can a brave boy like you be afraid of, Chico?” She said softly, taking my wrist in her slender fingers. They were warm, and a pretty olive color like hot cocoa.
“I’m afraid of dying,” I said in a low voice. “Dying with my mind in tatters, drooling in diapers and not knowing my name or my Dad’s face, in the dark where I can’t see.”
The hatchet blonde touched my shoulder and I saw her blue eyes soften. “Hey, kiddo, you want to eat something? I can get you some dinner and help you with it.”
“What’s on the menu? I’m hungry.” I was, too. First time in days. “Where’s my Dad?”
“Senator De Rosier took your uncle back to the nursing home. He said to tell you when you woke, he was going there, home to shower, shave and rest. He’ll be back in a few hours,” she told me. “What would you like to eat?”
I put my hands to my head and found it covered with one of those caps surgeons wore and felt hair under the brim and over my ears. They hadn’t shaved me completely, more like a monk’s goofy haircut. She misinterpreted it. “The drain came out yesterday.”
“I don’t remember,” I said in dismay. “I don’t remember much of this last week. I remember the Space Museum and Dad being here. Uncle Townsley came. Did someone bring me a cat?”
She patted my hand which was black and blue with needle marks. I had an IV in one near my wrist. It burned.
“You can have roast beef, mashed potatoes, creamed corn, meat loaf, stewed tomatoes, salad, macaroni and cheese, chicken divan, butternut squash. Apple pie, strawberry shortcake, angel food cake, pudding, Jell-O, flan. Coffee, tea, milk, V-8, tomato or apple juice. Pepsi, ginger ale, root beer or orange.”
I picked roast beef, taters, corn, mac & cheese, angel food cake with whipped cream, Pepsi and ice pops for my throat. She promised to bring the pops right away and the meal in 30 to 40 minutes. I begged to get up and both of them helped me sit upright, holding me until my head stopped whirling around. The lines on me were a pain, and kept getting in the way. I especially hated the one between my legs. “What’s this one for?”
“Don’t pull on that,” Rosalita warned. “That’s so you can pee-pee.”
I turned red, and lifted the gown to see a bag tied to the bed and filled with pee. “No wonder I never had to go. Can you take it out?”
“Not till the doctor says so,” she shook her head. I dropped the gown and stood up. The blonde steered me over to the chair as I concentrated on keeping my butt covered and my feet moving. Reaching the chair was a milestone and Rosalita threw a pillow and a rubber pad down before my ass hit. The blonde’s name was Emerald, Emerald Caron and Rosalita Menendez. She brought me a warm blanket and threw it on my legs, a pillow behind my back, water cup pitcher full, my tissues and a basket from Dad stuffed with Dove Bars, Lindor Truffles and Ghirardelli’s chocolates. I offered some to the two nurses and the blonde took Dove dark while Rosalita sucked down Lindor white truffles. I ate one of each. I believe my eyes crossed as the chocolate melted in my mouth.
“Is my backpack anywhere close?” I asked and Rosalita went through my closet to pull it out.
“Madre mia, it weighs a ton! What you got in here, bricks?”
“Schoolbooks. My homework. I thought I’d catch up.”
“Oh, honey,” she said. “School work is on hold for you for a while. Doctor Soong doesn’t want you to stress your eyes.”
“Not read? I’ll go nuts,” I protested and hugged my NOOK. No way was I going to give that up.
“He said no more than thirty minutes reading. You can watch TV for an hour. Your eyes are undergoing some changes, Danny because of your brain. Straining them only make it worse.”
“Worse?” I cried. “What’s worse than maybe losing my sight and my mind? I’d rather be dead!”
“Danny, you are a tough kid with lots of friends and support. You have the best neurosurgeon in America on your case. As long as you fight, you hang in there. Don’t give up, life is too precious to just hang up the towel.”
I felt ashamed of myself, swallowed and ate another chocolate. I poked my NOOK, turned it on and scrolled through my library, found Laura Hildebrandt’s novel of Unbroken. Turned to page 88 where I’d left off. If he could go through what he’d suffered, my problems seemed puny in comparison.
Dinner came. I managed to clean my plate, which made the nurses happy. The two new ones came and picked out some chocolate and fruit, offered to give me a sponge bath, which I politely declined. They changed my sheets, and left me a clean gown threatening me not to get up on my own and told me to call when I was ready for bed.
I turned the TV on and scrolled through the channels, HBO, Cinemax and Showtime were on along with the movie channels. I knew had Dad paid for them, so I wouldn’t be bored out of my mind. Maybe I even had a phone.
I looked. On the bedside stand was a land line. I wondered if my cell phone was still in my book bag and charged up.
Dad said I wasn’t ready for an iPhone; he’d given me a Droid. I texted Felice, the line in my left hand pinching as I smashed the buttons. She texted back in minutes.
Miracle boy! How R U feeling?
Im still here , eating dinner.
Watching TV. Reading.
Miss you. Head feels weird.
I’m nearly bald! Shaved my head.
Don’t know when I’ll B home.
Saw my uncle T got a cat.
Downtown.
Cat? I thought you were allergic 2 pets?
Lisi.
Some agent brought it from a crime scene.
It’s a fugitive cat.
Name Harry Turtledove.
Downtown.
Cool name, dude.
U think that up?
No it’s his name.
When U coming 2 C me?
I missU.
Not now. 10 PM Downtown.
I heard UR school is sending
U a big card.
whole place signed it.
Wish U were here. I’m scared.
Oh, baby. Wish I could make it all go away.
ILU. What can I bringU?
Will come by tomorrow.
UR Dad offered to PMU.
I yawned.
WhereU at?
Home with MND. Dusty here2.
Give him a pat 4 me.
I closed my eyes and looked up at Felice from Dusty’s golden eyes. She was laying at the foot of her bed in the White House family quarters, texting on her pink iPhone. She had her legs in the air, crossed at the ankles and wore fuzzy pink, blue and white lounge pants with a T-shirt top over a purple sports bra. She was biting her bottom lip, a habit she had when she was nervous.
“Are you tired, Danny?” She asked as she typed. “Danny? Oh, Danny boy, please don’t have cancer.” She murmured, texting again furiously. I couldn’t see from Dusty’s viewpoint, but I heard her Dad yell for the dog.
“Dusty! Time for our walk! Dusty, come!”
The Golden chuffed and stood up, poking her nose in Felice’s face, and gave her a warm lick. She tasted like cinnamon and soap.
Dusty, stay, I thought in her mind and she hesitated, torn between her master and my control. I kissed Felice and she rubbed our head, pushing us towards the door.
“Go on, Dusty. Dad wants to take you potty before bed.”
I stepped back and let the dog take over and found myself a passenger at the end of a leash as I padded through the White House corridors to the South lawn where President Rickover, Dusty and I spent fifteen minutes looking for the right spot.
He at least, cleaned up her doggie do in a plastic bag and deposited it in a trash bin off the kitch
en. The odor lingered and I felt sorry for the poor chef who’d greet the garbage in the morning.
Once inside an animal, I always knew the ‘I’ of my own self, never merged completely with the mind of my host, but there were definite degrees of encroachment. I learned how to back off enough to see and hear what was going on without being too close to it.
President Rickover went to the study with Dusty. She sneaked up on the couch, and he didn’t chase her off, but sat next to her, petting her noble golden head.
“Hey, Dusty,” he murmured. “Felice’s birthday is coming up. What can I get a fourteen-year-old girl that would impress her? Ski trip to Aspen? Jewelry? Clothes, car? She’s still too young for a car and a trip to Disneyland is too kiddie for her. Summer camp, maybe Space Camp?”
Wow. Space Camp would be cool. Dusty fell asleep and with that, I was back in my own head.
Chapter 9
Eleven forty. I was really tired. No one had put me back to bed. I pushed the call button and one of the nurses came in my room. I saw an agent behind her and recognized Matt Damon, Jake James.
“Hey, Jake.”
“Danny! You’re awake and up,” he smiled and seemed happy to see me.
“Thanks for the candy and stuff, Damon.”
“Sure thing, Danny. What did you need?”
“Back to bed. I’m whupped.” I slid my cell phone into the backpack with my NOOK so that was all he saw. He helped the nurse walk me to the bed and lowered it so I could slide my ass in. I managed to swing my legs over and she pulled up the sheet and blanket.
“Anything else, Danny?” He questioned.
“Where’s Dad?”
“Went home. He had an emergency session in Congress he had to sit through. He said to tell you, he’ll be here tomorrow. Ms. Penny will stay with you if you need her.”
“No, that’s okay. Tell Dad, it’s Felice’s birthday soon and ask him to get her something for me. She likes Terry Hicks and Morgan Feist books. Aran sweaters and lime green shoes, size 7B. Find out how much Space Camp would cost.”
“That’s out of your budget, kiddo,” he laughed. “Cool idea though. I’ll pass it on.” The nurse handed me a cup of pills and some water.
“What’s this?” I asked, poking around in the cup.
“Steroids, a sleeping pill and Elavil,” she answered. “Antibiotics and a pain med.”
“Pain med? What for? I’m not hurting,” I protested.
“You will be. Those doctors drilled your skull open two days ago. Believe me when those wear off, you’ll feel it.”
I swallowed them and grumbled, “how come I was asleep and you woke me up to take the sleeping pill?”
“Hey,” she shrugged. “I just follow the doctor’s orders. Good night.”
“Want me to stay with you until you fall asleep, Danny?” Jake asked. “I can do my shift in here as well as outside the door.”
“Sure,” I mumbled.
“Danny, who told your Dad about the guy with the rifle, the guy with a cat?”
“I did.”
“You did, Danny?”
“Saw it,” my eyelids felt as heavy as the weight bar in the gym. I felt as if I was wading through mud.
“How, Danny?”
I mumbled something, but I’m not sure if it made any sense.
*****
I woke up early in the morning with a stuffed head, and a sense of being one-step behind everyone. Assumed it was the pills and resolved to ask Dad to get the doctor to D/C them. I didn’t like the feeling; it made it too hard to think. Nurses came and left. So did the doctors on rounds and they talked over my head like I wasn’t there. Discussed removing the catheter, IV lines and redoing another set of CAT scans, MRIs and EEGs. They wanted to bring in another neurologist from Cambridge.
Some dude from dietary came up and asked me what I wanted for breakfast. I could barely read the choices so I picked out an omelet, white toast, bacon, short stack, OJ and chocolate milk. I was just able to hold the utensils when it came, and halfheartedly shoveled it in. I ate about half and started complaining.
I wanted a shower, to brush my teeth, to get up and go to the bathroom on my own. I wanted my own clothes on.
I yelled. “God dammit! Take this out of my prick or I will!”
In walked Dad, Felice and Ms. Penny. I shut up quick, ashamed of my behavior. Although, I still wanted to throw my plate at the wall.
“What’s wrong, Danny?” Felice asked, coming in to give me a hug.
Whining, I said, “I want to go home.”
“Doctor soon said maybe in two days,” Dad said cheerfully.
“Really?” I looked at all three of them and saw only happy faces. “Can I have a shower?”
“We’ll ask your nurse. I don’t think you’re supposed to get your head wet,” he returned. “You eat?” He handed me a paper Dunkin Donuts bag and inside was a super-sized hot cocoa and three Boston cream doughnuts. I ate all three, licking my fingers. Felice sat on my bed next to me and held my hand.
“Sorry. I ate them all,” I apologized handing over the hot cocoa. She pushed it back.
“Your Dad bought me a cup and four doughnuts.”
“Help me out of bed to the chair, please,” I asked and both of them shuffled me over to the recliner. Dad took the other chair and Felice set on the bed, picking at the remains of breakfast.
“I spoke to Doctor Soong and Doctor Kujowski, Danny. They said you could come home after the second tests. If they show any improvement after the steroids you’ve been on to shrink the… lesion. The last EEG looked good. Did talking to Uncle Townsley help?”
“I think so, Dad. I feel better. Except for these drugs they’re pumping into me. They make me feel foggy and out of it. Can you asked them to stop?”
“It helps to keep your mood stable, you flew off the handle, Danny. Hit people. That’s not like you.”
“I was scared, Dad. I want to go home, be in my own house, in my own bed.” I sounded remarkably like a whiny brat. But I didn’t care.
“We’ll see. I want you well, and looked after, Danny. When you come home, you’ll have a live in RN there to see you’re getting well.”
“I don’t need a babysitter!” I spat. “Felice is old enough to go to Space Camp by herself, why can’t I go home alone?”
“Space Camp?” Felice asked. “I’m going to Space Camp?”
“Oops,” I said weakly. “It was supposed to be a surprise.”
“Dad? For my birthday? Cool!” She paused. “How did you find out?”
I mumbled something about her Dad asking me what she wanted for her birthday.
Dad excused himself and went in search of the doctors; Ms. Penny brought me the cards from my junior high and unfolded the thing until it was the size of a flag. She taped it to the wall and I could read every signature from every classmate and teacher in the place, including a few dog and cat prints.
“I’ll leave you two alone. I’m sure you have things to say you won’t with us here,” she offered and shut the door after herself.
“Really, Downtown? How did you know I’d love to do Space Camp? I hear they keep an eye on those kids for future astronauts. I’d love to become one like your Dad. Super cool! Dad was okay with that? You know how he hates me being out in public, what with security and all.”
“He was going to get you a trip to Aspen. Or jewelry. Nix on the car, we’re both too young for wheels, although that would be way cool, too. What would you ask for – Mini Coupe with racing stripes? Beamer or Audi 6?”
“Hah. With my luck, I’ll get a big honking SUV built like a tank and complete with armed agents. Can you imagine Daddy when his little girl’s driving?”
“Dad’s the same way,” I reminded her. “Because of Mom.”
“I know, Danny. I’m sorry that happened. A bunch of us promised our parents to never drink and drive in honor of your Mom. When did you talk to Dad? You never come over to my house.”
“Your house is the White House, F
elice,” I said. “Like I’m going to steal a kiss under the nose of all those Secret Service drones. It’s bad enough with my Dad and Ms. Penny around.”
“I thought you liked the challenge,” she grinned. “When did you talk to Dad?”
“I heard him mention it to Dusty,” I said, and that stumped her as it always did.
“Like she tells you things,” she scoffed and punched me. “You getting up today?”
“Yeah. Can you help?”
“What do you want me to do?”
“Dad bring me any clothes?” I asked and she went to the closet, found my jeans and polo shirt, flannel pajamas, clean brand-new underwear and socks still in the packages. My boots.
“Pretty fancy climbing shoes,” she admired. “Top-of-the-line. Are these hand-sewn?”
“Yep. Got them off the Internet.”
“You know you can’t get dressed, right, Downtown? You got a catheter up your wee- wee.” She was grinning.
Disgruntled, I said, “I thought I’d just tuck everything to the right and let it hang out.”
“You’re attached to the bed. You gonna let that hang out and drag it around on the floor?”
“How’s it come out?” I gave an experimental tug and yelped. That hurt. “What? Is it sewn in or something?” Oh, gross.
“I think it’s got a balloon on one end or something, to hold it in. You need the nurse to take it out. Look, here’s a clean gown. I can help you into that.”
“You just want to see me naked,” I complained.
“Oh sure, Dantan, it’s been my dream since I turned twelve, and developed boobs,” she mocked.
“Felice, would you do it with me if I was going to die and never got the chance?”
She grabbed my ears and stared into my eyes. “Dantan Townsley De Rosier, you are not going to die and when we’re both ready, it’ll be worth the wait.” She kissed me in promise. I copped a feel. She punched me and I fell backwards onto the bed, grinning like a fool. Dad walked in. Wisely, he didn’t say a word.
Chapter 10
Another round of tests. I gripped the sides of the gurney and concentrated on keeping my emotions in check. Mostly, anxiety and a little bit of fear. I made it to all the rounds and by the time I was back in my room, I was ready for a nap and lunch. Dad had stayed with me through the whole six hours of tests. He left me when the newest nurse finally took out the catheter with a minimum of fuss and embarrassment. Dad offered to help me take a shower. By then, my hair was really gross and I wanted one bad.