witness
protection?”
“I've been pursuing his brother for over three years. And now the only thing I can think
about is Duke . How horrible is it that I want Duke to
live, to survive the surgery so desperately I would willingly sacrifice getting
Riker.”
“It's not horrible, it's human. Knowing you and how tenacious you are, I bet you'll get your man.”
“Which one? If I do my job
right I have to sacrifice one for the other.” Claire says as she wipes tears from her cheek.
*****
Claire composes herself and takes a deep breath before entering Duke’s
room.
Two orderlies are prepping Duke's bed, getting ready to wheel him to
surgery.
As soon as Claire enters Duke turns his head towards her and smiles, the
vulnerable Duke is back. “Jasmine.”
Claire looks at the orderlies. “Would you mind giving us a minute?”
The orderlies leave the room, leaving Claire and Duke alone.
Claire approaches the side of Duke's bed. It's been raised so he's now at chest level.
Duke looks at Claire, at her red eyes, concerned. “When was the last time you got any
sleep?”
“Before I met you. And I
don't plan on getting any until you are safely out of surgery.” Claire tenderly touches the side of
Duke's face, giving him an encouraging smile. “Everything will be fine.” She reassures him.
“You sound so sure.”
“I am sure.”
“What about afterwards?”
“We'll figure it out then. No worries now. Focus and fight, Duke. Please.”
Duke, knowing that this could very well be his last opportunity, looks
intently into Claire's eyes. “There's only one thing I've ever truly wanted in this world, with or
without my memory,” he whispers.
Claire leans closer so she can hear it. Duke, with his lips inches from her ear utters. “A kiss from you.”
She turns her head. Her
lips meet his. It's tender,
sweet. She pulls away.
Inspired by feeling and not reason, she goes back down for another
kiss. This kiss has way more meaning,
heart, heat, passion . If they had their way, it'd go on forever.
Claire reluctantly pulls away. “You'll get another one of those after the surgery.”
“Now that gives me something to fight for,” Duke smiles.
The orderlies re-enter the room. “We need to get him to prep.” They inform Claire.
Claire stands aside. The
orderlies wheel Duke to the door. Her eyes stay locked with Duke’s until he’s out of the room.
*****
While Duke is in surgery Claire waits in the chapel for about an
hour. She waits in the solarium
for about an hour. She waits in
Duke’s room, sitting by his empty bed, listening to the ipod ,
the very song that was playing when Duke regained his sight.” Finally, Claire takes a seat next to
the guard outside of Duke’s room and dozes off.
The doctor approaches. The
cop shakes Claire awake. She darts
up. “How did it go?”
“He was a fighter –“
"Was ???" Claire tries not to sound freaked.
“Is. It was touch and go for a while, but he would not give up. He's in ICU. He'll be back up here shortly.”
“Thank you, doctor,” Claire walks down the hallway heading for the solarium.
She enters and approaches the window, looking out at the nighttime
cityscape skyline.
She can't hold them back, tears of relief and joy. She regains her composure, wipes
her face and leaves the room.
Back in his room, Duke is sound asleep, handcuffed to the bed. Claire enters. She is incredibly happy to see him.
She takes a seat in the chair next to the bed. She folds her arms and rests her head on the bed up next to
Duke's hand. She falls asleep
instantly.
Duke wakes up. He looks
just as incredibly happy to see Claire as she was to
see him. He’s especially happy to
see her sleeping peacefully. He
runs his fingers through her hair before falling back asleep.
Duke and Claire are both still sound asleep. The
protection?”
“I've been pursuing his brother for over three years. And now the only thing I can think
about is Duke . How horrible is it that I want Duke to
live, to survive the surgery so desperately I would willingly sacrifice getting
Riker.”
“It's not horrible, it's human. Knowing you and how tenacious you are, I bet you'll get your man.”
“Which one? If I do my job
right I have to sacrifice one for the other.” Claire says as she wipes tears from her cheek.
*****
Claire composes herself and takes a deep breath before entering Duke’s
room.
Two orderlies are prepping Duke's bed, getting ready to wheel him to
surgery.
As soon as Claire enters Duke turns his head towards her and smiles, the
vulnerable Duke is back. “Jasmine.”
Claire looks at the orderlies. “Would you mind giving us a minute?”
The orderlies leave the room, leaving Claire and Duke alone.
Claire approaches the side of Duke's bed. It's been raised so he's now at chest level.
Duke looks at Claire, at her red eyes, concerned. “When was the last time you got any
sleep?”
“Before I met you. And I
don't plan on getting any until you are safely out of surgery.” Claire tenderly touches the side of
Duke's face, giving him an encouraging smile. “Everything will be fine.” She reassures him.
“You sound so sure.”
“I am sure.”
“What about afterwards?”
“We'll figure it out then. No worries now. Focus and fight, Duke. Please.”
Duke, knowing that this could very well be his last opportunity, looks
intently into Claire's eyes. “There's only one thing I've ever truly wanted in this world, with or
without my memory,” he whispers.
Claire leans closer so she can hear it. Duke, with his lips inches from her ear utters. “A kiss from you.”
She turns her head. Her
lips meet his. It's tender,
sweet. She pulls away.
Inspired by feeling and not reason, she goes back down for another
kiss. This kiss has way more meaning,
heart, heat, passion . If they had their way, it'd go on forever.
Claire reluctantly pulls away. “You'll get another one of those after the surgery.”
“Now that gives me something to fight for,” Duke smiles.
The orderlies re-enter the room. “We need to get him to prep.” They inform Claire.
Claire stands aside. The
orderlies wheel Duke to the door. Her eyes stay locked with Duke’s until he’s out of the room.
*****
While Duke is in surgery Claire waits in the chapel for about an
hour. She waits in the solarium
for about an hour. She waits in
Duke’s room, sitting by his empty bed, listening to the ipod ,
the very song that was playing when Duke regained his sight.” Finally, Claire takes a seat next to
the guard outside of Duke’s room and dozes off.
The doctor approaches. The
cop shakes Claire awake. She darts
up. “How did it go?”
“He was a fighter –“
"Was ???" Claire tries not to sound freaked.
“Is. It was touch and go for a while, but he would not give up. He's in ICU. He'll be back up here shortly.”
“Thank you, doctor,” Claire walks down the hallway heading for the solarium.
She enters and approaches the window, looking out at the nighttime
cityscape skyline.
She can't hold them back, tears of relief and joy. She regains her composure, wipes
her face and leaves the room.
Back in his room, Duke is sound asleep, handcuffed to the bed. Claire enters. She is incredibly happy to see him.
She takes a seat in the chair next to the bed. She folds her arms and rests her head on the bed up next to
Duke's hand. She falls asleep
instantly.
Duke wakes up. He looks
just as incredibly happy to see Claire as she was to
see him. He’s especially happy to
see her sleeping peacefully. He
runs his fingers through her hair before falling back asleep.
Duke and Claire are both still sound asleep. The
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