“Yes Storm, I do,” said Sky, “and I am sure you did more than just a little. Thank you for looking after Steve and Kristina.” Meowr.=Me happy me could help. Soon they were back at the hotel and once Kristina had cleaned up a bit and changed, she came down for breakfast. Storm would not eat until she arrived, he did not think it was nice for him to eat first.

Roy and Frank picked up Sky and flew me to the hospital on the main island. Baldwin had another jet waiting there too and they then flew me to Australia to the same hospital where Angel and Carine had been taken. Well, it has been 2 weeks now and we are all back at our favorite public hospital in France. I will be able to go home tomorrow.

Carine is still not doing well, though the doctors are saying she has a good chance for a full recovery, it will just take some time. Angel is sad, but she will be coming home soon too. The cats are with me at the moment and Sky just arrived. She came over to me as I lay in bed. She had that look. Kind of like when I have done something wrong. “Um, why the look?” I asked. SLAP! “Hey, that hurt!” I said. The cats giggled. “It was supposed to hurt,” said Sky, “what have you said to Kristina?”

“What? Nothing,” I said, “why, what did she say?” She was about to slap me again and I grabbed her, putting her in a locking hold and flipped her onto the bed. She tried to struggle free. “For someone who has been in bed so long, you have a strong grip,” she said smiling, “can I get up now?” “Nope,” I replied, “not until you tell me what is wrong.” “You have not talked with Kristina yet,” said Sky, “and after all she did for you too.”

“I have not had a chance,” I said, “she only came to visit once and that was with 4 other girls. Hard to talk with all those girls talking at the same time.” Sky giggled. Meow,meow.=He right, lots talking, no time to breathe even. Now I chuckled. “Do you know that Kristina is quitting the team?” asked Sky. “What? She cannot quit, we need her!” I exclaimed. “We?” asked Sky. “Yes, we need her, she cannot quit on us,” I said again. “WE?” asked Sky more emphatically.

I was beginning to sense a problem in communication here. “Storm, did you tell Steve everything that happened?” asked Sky. Meowr.=Yep, me tell everything. Almost. “Almost?” I asked, “you were supposed to tell me everything.” Meowr.=Me did, just not one part. “Then that is not everything Storm,” I said, “I could throw you off the team for not telling me everything.” His ears go straight up.

“Um, so you know what this is all about?” I ask Sky. “Yes, I do,” she said. “Storm, why did you tell Sky but not me?” I asked him. Meowr.=Me not tell Sky, she ready knew. I look at Sky. “Then why did you not tell me?” I asked. “I thought Storm was going to tell you,” she said. Sigh. Life gets more complicated all the time. Then she finally told me what was going on. “While we are on the subject, is there anything else I should know?” I ask.

Then Sky told me more, about someone else though, not Kristina. I am in the hospital for 2 weeks and my team is falling apart. “It is your fault,” said Sky, “you need to be more observant as our leader. Oh, you will need to talk with Angel too.” “I thought Galyna did that already, and you too,” I said. “We did,” said Sky, “but she needs you to talk with her too. And Benson.” “Benson I already knew,” I said, “and that is something I should be able to handle, I have been through that.” “Exactly,” said Sky, “may I get up now? I need to get home for lunch so I can bring Kristina back to see you.”

“Okay,” I said, “but you have to promise not to slap me again.” She giggled, and I let her get up. “I am sorry,” she said. “Hopefully I can change her mind,” I said. Sky brought Kristina back and I had a long talk with her while Sky went shopping with some of the girls. “Okay, I guess I will stay,” said Kristina. “Good, we all need you here,” I said, “I need you too.” Sky came in at that moment, said goodnight and left. “Oh, I am your guard tonight,” said Kristina.

It was nice to get back home again and relax. Angel came back the same day. I wonder if Sky and I could get a honeymoon now? Not likely. Sigh. I was able to talk with Angel, she was so sad about not being able to have children now and worried she would never get married because of that. And Crystal, I had to talk with her too. Oh my, I think I need to have a talk with Galyna too. But I guess sometimes I need to have these talks with my team. Then Benson. He will be okay. Now we wait for the next case to come along…

The End.

©2023 Steve McLeod.