it a really good kicking, but Lieutenant Jenner climbing aboard the mobile operations unit gives him a new direction for his frustration.
“They’ve made Three a ward of court,” Korin says.
“But we expected that, right?”
“A civilian ward of court,” Korin says. “I was banking on Three’s odd behavior keeping it out of public view and it being turned it over to us. Looks like Gray did too good a job.”
Jenner looks about at the mass of intelligence that has been acquired. His suspicions have not left him.
“What is it about Three that you are not telling me, General?” Jenner asks.
Korin ignores the question. It simply hasn’t registered with him. All he can think about is the situation falling apart before him.
“We need a new plan,” Korin says.
“We’re out of options,” Jenner shrugs.
* * *
A simple cough and a moment of pain after had brought Lucius in to see Felton. Now the two men sit opposite one another, Felton the bearer of bad news.
“We will need to increase your dosages immediately,” Felton says. “There will be a lot of pain, but we can manage that.”
Lucius isn’t listening. His thinking has already stepped on, but Felton doesn’t see it yet.
“It will buy us some time to look at other options.”
Lucius smiles back politely. The look on his face says it all and Felton knows what is being said, without it needing to be said.
* * *
A solemn Agent Landelle accompanies Justice Garr into the third generation chamber, the two women approaching Lucy.
“Hello again, Justice Garr,” a chirpy Lucy says. “Hello again, Special Agent Landelle.”
Garr is pale and drawn, but she manages a weak smile.
“Hello, Lucy, how are you today?”
“I am just fine, Justice Garr.”
“Very good. Lucy, we need to talk to you about something.”
SECRETS
Felton has transformed Lucius’s apartment into a palliative care unit, a large medical bed at the center of it all in the main living area. There lies Lucius.
Next to the bed a priest closes his Bible and turns to Garr. She is perched on the side of the bed looking deeply into Lucius’s eyes. He takes her hand and slips a ring onto her wedding finger, back to from where it had departed some years before.
The two kiss gently.
Rain, Felton, and Landelle stand to one side as witnesses, each a bittersweet smile.
Garr looks to all present, finishing with Rain. It is the signal for all but Rain to leave, the priest, Felton, and Landelle silently filing out of the room, past a nurse who has been watching from the doorway.
Rain fetches a folio from a side table. He opens it and quickly signs the paper document within, already countersigned by Felton. For a moment he just stares at it, before handing it to Garr, Lucius’s eyes tracking it as it passes over him.
Garr keeps her gaze deep into her husband’s as she takes the document, her eyes finally slipping down to its contents. It is entitled ‘Power of Attorney’ and ‘Cessation of Treatment.’
Having seen the document for herself, Garr hands it to Lucius. In return he hands her the photograph and them together with their daughter. She takes it, tears glistening in her eyes.
Rain leaves to join the others. Even so, the two of them can say nothing for the longest while, until finally Garr squeezes Lucius’s hand just that little bit more.
“Talk to her. While there is still time,” she says.
“And say what?” Lucius says, grumpily.
* * *
Medical monitors keep an automated watch over Lucius, periodically dispensing a little more pain relief. He is alone in the room and just waking from a nap when the nurse enters, a suffer-no-fools matron figure.
She checks the monitor and its supplies—a set of five vials mounted on top of the machine, the drug in each playing a carefully designed part in Lucius’s pain management.
“What time is it?” asks Lucius, still a little groggy with sleep.
“She’s calling again.”
Lucius heaves a huge sigh.
“I told her
“They’ve made Three a ward of court,” Korin says.
“But we expected that, right?”
“A civilian ward of court,” Korin says. “I was banking on Three’s odd behavior keeping it out of public view and it being turned it over to us. Looks like Gray did too good a job.”
Jenner looks about at the mass of intelligence that has been acquired. His suspicions have not left him.
“What is it about Three that you are not telling me, General?” Jenner asks.
Korin ignores the question. It simply hasn’t registered with him. All he can think about is the situation falling apart before him.
“We need a new plan,” Korin says.
“We’re out of options,” Jenner shrugs.
* * *
A simple cough and a moment of pain after had brought Lucius in to see Felton. Now the two men sit opposite one another, Felton the bearer of bad news.
“We will need to increase your dosages immediately,” Felton says. “There will be a lot of pain, but we can manage that.”
Lucius isn’t listening. His thinking has already stepped on, but Felton doesn’t see it yet.
“It will buy us some time to look at other options.”
Lucius smiles back politely. The look on his face says it all and Felton knows what is being said, without it needing to be said.
* * *
A solemn Agent Landelle accompanies Justice Garr into the third generation chamber, the two women approaching Lucy.
“Hello again, Justice Garr,” a chirpy Lucy says. “Hello again, Special Agent Landelle.”
Garr is pale and drawn, but she manages a weak smile.
“Hello, Lucy, how are you today?”
“I am just fine, Justice Garr.”
“Very good. Lucy, we need to talk to you about something.”
SECRETS
Felton has transformed Lucius’s apartment into a palliative care unit, a large medical bed at the center of it all in the main living area. There lies Lucius.
Next to the bed a priest closes his Bible and turns to Garr. She is perched on the side of the bed looking deeply into Lucius’s eyes. He takes her hand and slips a ring onto her wedding finger, back to from where it had departed some years before.
The two kiss gently.
Rain, Felton, and Landelle stand to one side as witnesses, each a bittersweet smile.
Garr looks to all present, finishing with Rain. It is the signal for all but Rain to leave, the priest, Felton, and Landelle silently filing out of the room, past a nurse who has been watching from the doorway.
Rain fetches a folio from a side table. He opens it and quickly signs the paper document within, already countersigned by Felton. For a moment he just stares at it, before handing it to Garr, Lucius’s eyes tracking it as it passes over him.
Garr keeps her gaze deep into her husband’s as she takes the document, her eyes finally slipping down to its contents. It is entitled ‘Power of Attorney’ and ‘Cessation of Treatment.’
Having seen the document for herself, Garr hands it to Lucius. In return he hands her the photograph and them together with their daughter. She takes it, tears glistening in her eyes.
Rain leaves to join the others. Even so, the two of them can say nothing for the longest while, until finally Garr squeezes Lucius’s hand just that little bit more.
“Talk to her. While there is still time,” she says.
“And say what?” Lucius says, grumpily.
* * *
Medical monitors keep an automated watch over Lucius, periodically dispensing a little more pain relief. He is alone in the room and just waking from a nap when the nurse enters, a suffer-no-fools matron figure.
She checks the monitor and its supplies—a set of five vials mounted on top of the machine, the drug in each playing a carefully designed part in Lucius’s pain management.
“What time is it?” asks Lucius, still a little groggy with sleep.
“She’s calling again.”
Lucius heaves a huge sigh.
“I told her
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