Chapter 42

I was in the hospital for two days. That was how long it took me to throw off the effects of the surgery, and to feel sure of myself when I stood. This was my first hospital stay, and while I was grateful for all the help, I was really bored silly.

I signed myself out, AMA (against medical advice), and went home. Since I was determined, the doctor gave me an extremely long list of instructions to follow. I agreed to hire a nurse.

I also had to deal with the protection which I suddenly found surrounding me. Theodore decided that until things were resolved with the 'council', I was in need of better watching. After all, I'd had two 'bird-dog' teams that they knew of, my own, and the governments. Yet still I was shot.

All in all, it took almost an entire day to get rid of them. After the last of the fed guards left, I loaded a small overnight bag with my meds, and instruction sheets (which were almost the size of a small book), and teleported to my Alaska home.

"My god! Tom, what happened to you?" Evelyn exclaimed coming to my side as I staggered a bit.

Ok, I admit it. Maybe I WAS overdoing it a bit. Evelyn helped me to the couch, and I sat heavily.

"I was shot by the head enforcement man of the 'council' of the North American continent," I replied with a grimace of pain.

Courtney, having heard her aunt, had come in to hear the end of my statement. With an exclamation of her own, she was by my side, her eyes showing concern. I told them both the short version of what had happened, and asked if either of them cared to play nurse for the next few days.

So it was that Courtney took charge of changing my bandages every four hours. During said changings, an antibiotic ointment had to be rubbed on and around my wound. I was also on a strict regimen of pills. I was taking enough pills to fulfill a hypochondriac's fondest dreams.

I called the satellite TV people. I had made arrangements with them to have satellite TV installed the spring of next year, but decided now would be a good time. A couple days later, they arrived. Soon we had something else to watch in addition to the VCR and DVD movies I had on hand.

Things were really moving in England. Also, the US boys were looking for several of the bigger names on the 'council' list I had leaked some time ago. Apparently, investigation was proving that this organization was guilty of a lot of crimes besides the two Kennedy assassinations.

I felt well enough, so I teleported the girls several times back and forth to England, for visits and conferences with John. Things were definitely moving in that country. While other countries had been notified of the existence of this group, they could do nothing at the time, as they had no evidence that any laws had been broken. But, they were looking, hard.

In my own case, Roger Miller had taken matters into his own hands, when he had accidentally run into me. From what the police and the feds put together, he had been in town on a wholly unrelated matter, when I had presented myself with no apparent protection nearby. I had made myself a 'target of opportunity'.

He had apparently decided to take me out on his own, right then and there. It was unfortunate for him, that a Boston police officer had been in front of a nearby building, and witnessed the entire thing. The police officer had drawn his weapon, but I had been hit by then. The officer had had no choice but to shoot the gunman down. I made a mental note to send some sort of 'thank you' to the officer.

I contemplated going back in time, and stopping myself from being shot. But I had one good example of the time line being changed when that happened. I was alive, and I was going to recover fully, so I decided against it. Also, if I went back and changed things, there was no guarantee that whatever would happen in its place, would NOT be fatal.

Besides, this would let the government know that I was not invulnerable. While this had already increased my 'protection', I hoped it would allay the idiots who fear everything they don't understand. I had overheard enough federal people talking about my abilities, and what I could "possibly" do, which caused them to talk about taking 'preemptive action'.

With my being shot, it gave them the impression I was vulnerable, and they would hopefully relax about me. On the other hand, if I guessed wrong, it could have the opposite effect. I might find myself with unwanted protections, and an execution squad on standby.

Things were well enough in hand in England, that John thought it safe for the woman to return. I had teleported to John's house, and returned to my Alaskan home with him, the day he had decided this. We decided to have a celebratory dinner together.

I proudly showed John my home, with Courtney hanging onto my good arm. He was interested in everything. He wanted to know my power source or sources, how much power was required to run the place, where I got my water, how much stores I had on hand, etc.

While it was possible to build a log home in England, it was very rare. Mine was constructed from round logs, flattened just enough to sit on top of each other. He spent a lot of time running his hands over the logs, and looking at construction techniques, where they were visible. I offered him a copy of the plans. He accepted with a pleased expression on his face.

It was three miles to the main road from my house. Basically, I had a three mile long driveway. While I liked the privacy this afforded me, it was annoying when I had to go check the mail. The mailbox was located next to where my 'driveway' joined the county road. The mailbox was built to resemble my home.

John asked about wild animals, and I told him there were wolves, and bears in the area, as well as the usual assortment of game animals. He asked if I might sponsor a hunt, in the future. I said sure, if he wanted to.

Finally the woman were all packed. Everyone linked arms, and we all stepped forward on the count of three, arriving safely in John's study. I decided to head back, so Evelyn kissed my cheek, and told me to take care. John shook my hand. Courtney carefully put her arms around me, and kissed me lightly on the lips!

"Courtney! That was a little cheeky, young lady!" Evelyn exclaimed, but with a twinkle in her eyes.

John just chuckled, as my cheeks warmed a bit. As her arms fell away, I swear that one of her hands gave my butt a little pat! I looked at Courtney, and she had a grin on her face.

"Cheeky, indeed," I muttered.

"Did you say something, Tom?" Courtney asked, all 'wide-eyed innocence'.

"Just that I have to be going. I'll phone you from my Boston home when things quiet down a little," I said.

I waved and stepped back to Alaska.

I started the process of closing down my home there. I called my employees, and told them I was headed back to the lower forty-eight. I was informed they would be back in about two hours. I told them great, but I should be gone by then. I was getting a ride, but that it should not be a problem.

With one last look, I teleported back to my place in Boston, and sighed. I had a doctor's appointment the next morning. My arm and back were feeling better. I notified my security that I was back. They resumed duties with a diligence, and a lack of questions, that made me happy.

"Well, I must say your wound is healing nicely. I was worried when you signed out AMA, but it appears that you had some good care," my doctor was telling me.

"Thanks. When do I get these stitches out, anyway? The damn thing is starting to itch, and I am afraid of ripping them by scratching," I told him as an overwhelming desire to scratch rose within me.

"You don't. Those stitches are the kind that dissolves after a period of time. Mr. Wilshire, you're healing just fine. Since you don't report any complications, and there is no sign of infection, I believe you can dispense with the 'antibiotic cocktail' you've been taking. Just lightly coat the wounded area with the ointment, dress it, and take the one Amoxicylin three times a day, 'till that particular prescription is gone," the doctor said as I was leaving.

I had another appointment in one week, but was told to come back immediately if any sign of infection appeared. I nodded, thanked him, and left.

I went back to my office. Everyone was glad to see me. I had a lot of catching up to do with my mail. While I had gotten a PO box, I still received some mail at the office, and I had hundreds of letters to dig through. It was even worse with the PO box mail. I sighed. It was going to be a long day.

Late that November, I got a call from my sister. She wanted to know if I wanted to come to Chicago for Christmas. I felt a warmth rush through me.

"Debra, I have already made plans to go to England and visit some friends there. Let me think," I told her.

She had to know I had special abilities by now. It had been all over the news, after all. I wasn't ready to reveal my teleporting ability to her, though. Not until or unless I got to know her a lot better. I had no reason to distrust her, but I did not want her to have information that could be taken from her, either.

"Do you have a passport?" I asked.

"Yes, of course. Doesn't everyone?" she asked with a laugh.

"No. As a matter of fact, they don't," I replied with a laugh of my own.

"Why did you want to know if I had a passport?" she asked curiously.

"I'm going to ask John if I can bring a guest with me," I answered her.

"England? Well, I have never been there before. What time frame are we talking?" she asked.

We talked for another hour, and she tentatively agreed, saying only if she was invited from the other end, and it would not put them out. I assured her that I would call and was sure that it would be no problem, but that I would double check.

Christmas came and went, and I had a nice visit to England with my sister. Courtney and I moved into a closer relationship while I was there. She and my half-sister got along very well. John and Evelyn were gracious hosts, as always.

With my ability to make instant trips, a 'long-distance' relationship was not a problem. Except for the trip I made with my half sister to and from England, I had dispensed with buying plane tickets and wasting a lot of time in planes.

New Years came, and I had a small company party. I handed out bonus checks for the past year. I had also given my staff a Christmas bonus, but they had worked hard and deserved the extra.

The year 2000 started off slowly. My birthday was coming up soon, and I was going to be twenty-five years old. There had been no new movement against the 'council' for over a month, now. I was thinking that both countries had gotten the people from the 'council' that they wanted.

Of course, I had no way of knowing, as I was not in any particular loop. Well, except for my taps on the government computers that I still had. I had been keeping track of some of what was going on. When I really wanted to know something, I simply went 'between', and snooped.

The government actually called me up for a job. They wanted to know about a meeting between a known 'council' member who had been on a senate committee and whether he had betrayed his office and the people, by making deals for the benefit of the 'council'.

They also told me my year started as of now, not from when I signed the contract. I just looked at them. I sighed, and said that while I would do this job, I was going to have to let my lawyer iron out the timing problem. This was typical 'big brother' manipulation, for their own benefit.

I knew I could win. Contract law is very specific, and the terms started when the contract was signed, unless specified otherwise. If they thought they could drown me in legal fees, they had another think coming. While they might have a bottomless war chest for attorneys, I had a lot of money myself, and other abilities to bring to bear.

It was an interesting job to say the least. An elected senator was indeed selling out his obligation to his constituents, as well as to the government. He had been ordered by the 'council' to accept a deal from an ex communist country, and to provide classified information to that foreign government.

With the information I gave to the fed, they were able to then establish a case of treason against the senator, and he could be charged. The government, in exchange for keeping things quiet, accepted his resignation. They also sucked the senator dry of every single bit of information he had on the 'council', and whatever other information he was using to blackmail his peers and government employees. It was a lot, apparently.

Edited by TeNderLoin

The End