The Cup

CHAPTER 46

Back in Washington, Selena and Nick made a quick stop at home and went to the hospital. They visited Stephanie first. She had two black eyes and bruises all over. Aside from that, she'd escaped with nothing more than an aching body and a wrenched shoulder. It was Elizabeth's side of the car that had taken most of the impact in the crash.

The new baby lay on the bed next to Stephanie. The two women bent over the sleeping child, talking in low voices. Nick stood nearby wondering what else to do after congratulating Stephanie. He decided to ask about the Grail later.

"Where's Lucas?" Nick asked.

"Shh, you'll wake the baby," Selena said.

"Don't worry about that," Stephanie said. "He's like his father. He's a sound sleeper, at least when he's asleep."

"What's his name?"

"Michael."

"I thought Lucas would be here," Nick said.

"He had to go over to Langley. Something's up, I'm not sure what. I should be used to it by now. Have you seen Elizabeth yet?"

"Not yet."

"She's in ICU. It's on the third floor."

"You go ahead, Nick. I'll join you in a few moments," Selena said.

Nick left the room and headed for the elevator.

Glad to get out of there, aren't you?

His critical inner voice whispered to him. He never knew when it was going to stick it's two cents worth into his life.

"Always got something to say, don't you?" he said out loud.

A nurse passing in the hall gave him a wary look.

On the third floor he followed arrows painted on the wall to the intensive care unit. Elizabeth's room had a glass window that allowed hospital staff to observe her and kept visitors and their germs at a distance. Nick recognized two of the security team sitting in the hall. They nodded to him as he approached. Clarence Hood stood outside the viewing window, looking in.

"Hello, Nick."

"Director."

Nick looked through the window. Elizabeth lay on her back, slightly raised in the hospital bed. Her head was tightly bandaged and locked into a brace. She looked as white as the sheets she lay on. Her eyes were closed. A bag dripped clear liquid into one of her veins. A second bag hung next to it.

A monitor near the bed displayed a steady stream of half a dozen vital functions in bright, digital colors. More machines stood ready nearby. Nick didn't know what their function was, but they looked as though you'd be in deep trouble if you needed them.

Intensive care wasn't a fun place to be.

"She's sedated," Hood said. His voice sounded strained. "I can't talk to her, let her know I’m here."

Nick and Selena had speculated about the relationship between Elizabeth and Hood and wondered whether or not the rumors were true. The way Hood was looking at Elizabeth told him they were. Hood's face had the haunted look of a man who thought someone he deeply cared for might die. Nick had seen that kind of face before, but not on the director of the CIA.

"She has a cracked cervical vertebra, three broken ribs, a hairline fracture in her skull and a broken collarbone," Hood said. "One of the ribs punctured a lung."

"She's tough. She'll pull through."

"I know," Hood said. "But seeing her like that… "

"It never gets easy."

"All these years, working in the agency, I never once had to go through this. Waiting to see if someone close was going to live or die."

"She's made it this far," Nick said. "If were you, I'd stick with that thought."

Hood turned to look at him. "You have no idea how refreshing it is to have someone say it like it is. Thanks. I was beginning to let my self-pity get the best of me."

"I know the feeling," Nick said.

"You're stepping into a bad situation," Hood said. "I don't want to brief you here. In any event it can wait until tomorrow."

Nick looked at Elizabeth, lying unconscious.

"You'd better count on being in charge for a while," Hood said.