Be Still My Hart--Part Five

Carmen had not slept much in the last few days and all she could think of was lounging around on the balcony of her villa. Glancing down at newspaper, she realized how narrowly she had escaped this time. Aldridge and Hayward were both in police custody. Closing her eyes she let the Italian sun warm her face. This job wasn’t worth it. She had gotten none of the usual rush this time. She had accomplished nothing. She picked up the newspaper and glanced at the picture of Jennifer Hart that graced the front page. She wanted to bring her self to hate this woman, but she couldn’t. Carmen had no friends, she had business associates, most of who would sell out their own families to save their own skin. The last few days in Paris had given her a glimpse of what a normal life would be like. She very rarely let herself wonder what life would be like had she not gone to her line of work; there was no point in it. But, on the other hand it would be so nice to have a friend, some one to talk to, some one who really knew her. So much of her life could be shared with no one, especially her daughters. She would not give them any more cause to worry. Jennifer would have been the perfect friend; she had taken an instant liking to Carmen, something that was rare. Shopping with girl talk was something Carmen had long since forgotten. She glance at the paper again. Jennifer was in a coma, and it was her fault. She chided her for about the hundredth that day. She prided her self for not becoming emotionally involved in any of her engagements, that was not the case now. Her thoughts were interrupted by a tiny voice of Maria.

"Mommy, I brought you some lemonade."

"Thank you sweetheart." She pulled her up on to her lap.

"When are we going back home?"

"We’re going to stay here for a little while. We all need a vacation." The child’s eyes wonder to the paper her mother was holding.

"That lady is really pretty."

"Yes, she is."

"Not as pretty as you though. Gracie said you might be sad."

"Why would she think that?

"I’m not sure. I love you mommy."

"I love you too baby, now go play, Mommy has some work to do." Maria ran off to find her older sister. Carmen sighed. She knew exactly what she had to do now. She felt worthless for not having done it before. She went to the phone and dialed a familiar number. "It’s Carmen. I want to know exactly what was in the sedative I gave Jennifer Hart."

Jonathan had gotten no sleep in over two days. He knew that if his wife were awake to see him she would tell him to go back to their hotel and get some sleep. He knew that he must look terrible, but it didn’t matter, he couldn’t bear to be a way from her for more then a few seconds. For the hundredth time he looked at his watch. Max would be there any minute; it felt like it was taking him forever. Sitting next to Jennifer’s bed he thought about his life over last five years. It was really very short time in his life that she had been with him, and yet he couldn’t imagine life with out her. She was so much to him, the family he never dream of. It felt like some sick joke that after only five years she could be taken away from him. There was a knock on the door followed by the entrance of Max and the Doctor in to the room.

"Hey Mr. H. how ya holding up?"

" It’s driving me crazy Max. Do you any more news Doctor?"

"I’m afraid not, I’m just here to check her out." He began to examine her.

"Isn’t there anything else to try?"

"Mr. Hart, I’ve been conferring with some of the top specialist in the world, and they are all at a loss for what’s causing this." Hurriedly a nurse entered the room.

"Doctor, this just came for you by messenger, he said it was urgent."

"Thank you." He stepped out of the room to read the envelope. After studying it for a few seconds he called to Jonathan, "Mr. Hart, I think you need to see this."

"What is it?" Jonathan asked, joining him in the hall.

"It appears to be the formula for your wife’s sedative."

"What?!"

"Here, there is a letter addressed to the both of you. I’m going to go analyze this. This is exactly what we needed."

Jonathan went back in to the room.

"What is it Mr. H?"

"I’m not sure Max." He started to read the letter, the first page held just a short message that was addressed to him, the next, was a more length letter, addressed to Jennifer, which he set on the table next to her bed for her to read later.

"Doesn’t that kind of beat all," Max said.

"Sure does, who would have thought that Carmen would help."

"You think this is on the up and up?"

"It’s all we have right now. We have to try it; besides, Carmen has no reason to lie now.

It felt life an eternity before the doctor finally came back. "Mr. Hart, I think we have a remedy. Although, I do need to warn you, this is so unprecedented we don’t have much research to go on, if my team and I are wrong…"

"Will, it help her get better?"

"It’s her only chance."

"What if we wait and see of you can get a better understanding of it?"

"The longer she’s in this state, the lesser chance she has of waking up, also the longer she stays like this, if she does wake up, the more likely it is for brain damage." A look of horror came to Jonathan’s face. He couldn’t imagine Jennifer with out her brilliant mind. He made his decision.

"Go for it then, it’s what she’d do if the situation was reversed."

"All right then, I’ll prepare the antidote."

"Thank you." He sat back in his chair and waited. It seemed all he been doing lately was waiting. If he didn’t see her improve soon he was sure he was going to lose his mind.

When the doctor came back with about six or seven needles Max thought he was going to pass out. "Mr. H if you could excuse me for a moment I’m going to go get some air."

"Sure Max, no problem." He felt bad for Max, who really did want to be by her side. He himself had a hard time concentrating on Jennifer, then staring at the series of needles being injected in to her arm. The doctor looked at Jonathan after her was finished.

"What now?" Jonathan asked.

"We wait." Jonathan nodded. Waiting was something he was becoming very good at.

Six hours later, when Jennifer opened her eyes, Jonathan had his closed. He had fallen asleep in a chair next to her and his head was lying on her stomach. She knew that she ought to wake him put he looked so peaceful just as he was. She quickly surveyed her surroundings. She silently thanked God that she was not back in that house. The peace in the room only lasted for a couple of seconds, ending with the entrance of Max.

"Mrs. H. you’re awake!" He exclaimed.

"Mmm, what?" Jonathan said, poking his head up.

"Hi sleepy head," Jennifer whispered, still very exhausted. His arms quickly flew around her. "Daring, your suffocating me."

"I was scared."

"So was I, but it’s going to be ok."

"Hearing that from you is the only way I’d believe that."

"Well, I just said it, so no more worries, all right?"

"Don’t you think we should ask your doctor’s opinion on that?"

"Does my doctor speak English? Because I can just imagine you try to converse in your terrible French. It would be like a bad game of charades. "

"If you can make fun of me, then your probably going to be fine. Yes, he does speak English, although if you really want to see me play charades, I sure that once your out of here…"

"Umm, excuse me Mr. H…"

"Oh, sorry Max. Do you know if her doctor is coming by soon?"

"I’ll go find him and tell him she’s awake."

"Thanks Max," Jennifer said. He left quickly to give the couple some privacy. "Darling, that wasn’t nice to embarrass poor Max like that."

"I know, I’m sorry. He was almost as worried about you as I was."

"It’s nice to be so loved."

"Don’t ever doubt that you are for even a second. I don’t know what I’d do if I had lost you."

"Don’t dwell on that, think about that big surprise you owe me."

"What surprise, I already gave you those earrings."

"The one that you now owe me because my Paris vacation is totally ruined. Plus if it’s really good, when we get back to LA I’ll make it worth your while."

"That, my Darling, sounds like a challenge."

"Do you accept?"

"You bet, Sweetheart."

Jennifer was release from the hospital three days later. Her doctors in LA were notified of what had happened, in case of a recurrence. The Harts and Max made plans to fly home two days later. Lounging on the couch in their hotel suite the couple was trying to decide how to spend their last day in Paris.

"We could go shopping."

"Is there any store left you haven’t hit?"

"I did do a lot of shopping at the start of this trip didn’t I?"

"That reminds me."

"Of what?"

"Of a letter Carmen wrote for you. I have it in the bed room with your stuff that we brought home from the hospital."

"Did you read it?"

"No, it was addressed to only you."

"All right. Give a few minuets, ok?"

"Sure."

Jonathan got a little worried when Jennifer hadn’t returned ten minuets later. "Darling is everything all right?"

"Oh, yes, I’m sorry. I lost track of time." Her eyes were red and puffy.

"What’s wrong. Did she say something to upset you? She not coming after you again is she?" He was visibly worried now.

"No, nothing like that. She apologized."

"So what’s got you so upset?"

"She also thanked me."

"For what."

"For being the closest thing she’s ever had to a friend. It was almost sad. In a way I feel sorry for her."

"I don’t, she almost killed you."

"She didn’t mean to. It had to have taken a lot for her to write this. She is a very cold woman who leads a hard life."

"All right, I wont argue with you on that. I think before all this we were discussing on how to spend our last day in this beautiful city."

"Well, tonight, we could…"

"Nope," he interrupted. "Tonight has been all planed out."

"Oh, what?"

"Now, if I told you, it would kind of defeat the purpose of it being a surprise."

"Point well taken, now tell me any way."

"Nope. But we have all afternoon to fill."

"Why don’t we sight see a bit."

"Sounds good, where do you want to start?"

"The Arc de triomphe?"

"And then right on down through the Champs Elyesse for some shopping?"

"You cant blame me for trying."

"Sometimes you have a one track mind."

"Sorry Darling. How about I changes tracks to you?"

"We might never get out of this hotel room if you do."

"So? I’ve been to Paris lots of times."

That night, after it had become dark Jonathan led a blindfolded Jennifer out of a car and on to their next mode of transportation.

"Darling, is it just me or is the ground moving?" She asked.

"Just a second and I’ll show you." He led her a few more feet before turning her around and removing her blindfold.

"Oh my," She said, almost breathless. She was standing in front of a lit up Eiffel Tower on a small boat in the Seine River. A table with candles was near the front of the boat. "This in undoubtedly one of the most romantic things you have ever done.

"I thought you’d like to see the city of lights from a different view. This boat is ours for the rest of the evening, and we are going to see every sight possible from this river. I’m glad you like it."

"The view is breathtaking. Thank you, Darling, so much."

After dinner, dancing and much exclamation over some of the sight that were scene, Jennifer stood in her husband’s arms resting against the front of the boat. To her right was the most amazing view of Notre Dame at night, all lit up, almost as if just for her. Smiling up at her husband, she knew that it was times like this that no matter how hectic and scary it became, it would always and forever be worth it. He smiled back at her and they shared a kiss under the soft city lights.

The End!