It had been some time since Terra Lowinn had been united with a rare gift called hope. That was to say nothing for her husband Garth. Eternity had passed since he had even dared harbor such a thing. And now? Now here sat that very thing ... that elusive creature that was all too rare on this world now. Shameful, but for sure. Yet here was hope, personified. It breathed, it blinked, and it spoke to them both. Hope came in the form of a woman, an ancestor of Garth's. At least, that is what they suspected. What they hoped.Terra smiled softly at the old woman as she lay in a bed. Nothing serious, merely a minor surgery, but something that needed tended to, before it became more than minor. "There is plenty of time to talk Lorna. No need to fret over this now."
"I'll be fine," she smiled as she spoke. "Not the first time ... this has ... happened."
"I am sure. But nothing wrong with some help."
A man turned the corner into the room with a broad grin. "How is everything going in here, ladies?" Garth had made his way back through the cafeteria to check on the two most important women in his life.
"Seems to be OK. She is stabilized." As always, Terra was business before pleasure as she glanced over the scans of tissue. "There seems to be a small tear. We can stitch that in no time. Are you agreeable to this Lorna?"
The older lady nodded. "Of course."
"Terra," interrupted Garth, "can we talk?"
"Sure." Dr. Lowinn gestured to an attending nurse as she prepared to leave with Garth. "Please monitor her. If there is a change, notify me. I will be back shortly."
The couple left the one called Lorna with the nurse and headed towards the elevators. Terra knew that he meant to speak to her in a more private place. They rode in silence as the elevator took them to the second floor laboratory. That in and of itself was of no shock. The entire of the hospital was quieter than normal. Holes in the wall and half of the lobby blown to the sky tended to dampen both voices and spirits. Damn factions. They never could keep their conflicts and arguments and measuring contests between themselves alone. The differing number in the equation was the mood-betraying look in Terra's eyes.
They stepped out onto the second floor, their direction intended for the lab. "Is ... Lorna your grandmother?"
"I don't know, Terra. That's what I wanted to talk to you about." He shrugged as the doorway was cleared.
"Ahh, OK. How did you find her?"
"I found her in Balrog's Ballroom," Garth said with a far too matter-of-fact tone. "Saved her from some thugs."
"Well, that's odd." Though she did not wish to, Terra did harbor some reservations. She could not help but feel suspicious about anyone. The waning trust factor had much to do with her lack of hope, and her inability to put faith into much of anything.
"I don't really trust her either." He had read into her meaning perfectly. He too shared some of the same doubts. "But how does she know?"
"I don't know. I mean ... some of the things she knows ... could be a matter of record, if one knows where to look. Did you tell her of the babies? The names?"
He shook his head. "No, I didn't. I merely listened as she rambled on about so many things..."
Terra arched a brow. "Well, did you ever know what happened to your grandmother? Or was she just not around?"
"I didn't know I had one." He sank into a chair, this new revelation weighing heavily upon him.
She knew this was hard on him. She wanted nothing more to do as a wife should, and comfort him tenderly. Yet she could not prevent herself from being the voice of logic and reason, in the wake of his emotion and want of family. It would be all too easy to allow the 'softer' side to rule out, yet the harder, fact-filled side needed to prevail. For the sake of all concerned.
"So, what do you think we should do?" she asked. She wondered why she would have waited so long to talk to him. But then, if she didn't know that he existed ... then again, if she did, and knew his whereabouts the whole time ... so many variables. And they both knew them all by heart.
"I don't know," he admitted. "Only thing we can do is ask her."
"Well," she smiled, "we can do that."
"They don't believe me," commiserated the old woman in her first floor room. She smiled a bit to herself with a sigh. She had known that this was not going to be easy. He had no reason to believe her, and all she really had to ask him to go on was faith. That was something sorely lacking in this world now, she knew. She could only pray that he could find his faith again, and that his wife could find hers.
Smiles of reassurance passed between the doctor and her husband as the casual banter continued back out of the lab. The button in front of the elevators was pressed again, this time for the first floor. They had a patient to check on, and a surgeon to find for her. The trip was short and the playful exchange resumed as they stepped out into the lobby. Lorna's room was near the emergency room, and Garth needed to attend to a minor matter in the cafeteria, so Terra entered the hopeful grandmother's room alone. She was looking over the woman's charts when a voice interrupted her.
"You were talking about me." Lorna smiled at her.
"Of course we were," she smiled back. "It isn't every day one meets their grandmother. And Garth is concerned."
The older woman continued with her smile. "No. You don't trust me ... either of you." And could she honestly expect either of them to?
"Many things have happened," Terra sidestepped cautiously. She did not want to offend Lorna, but she did not want to be too free in anything either. "And well ... due to Garth ... of course we are leery."
"Of course. After Locutus, you should be worried."
Terra shivered visibly. "Locutus. How did you know about him?"
"I know many things," came the enigmatic answer. "I've been watching Garth for years."
"I see." Now this did puzzle her. If she had been watching, then she had not only known of his existence, but his very placement. Why had she not sought him out before? Made any attempt at contact? What was she hiding? So many questions, too few answers. Most of these were Garth's to ask, but in some regards, Terra could not help herself. This concerned her and her family as well. "Where were you?" she demanded.
"I've been staying away due to a request by his mother and father. I'm Garth's ... backup you could say. IF there ever came a time when Garth needed me, I would be there. And now, Garth needs me ... as do you."
It was all clear. She understood. Terra smiled and squeezed the woman's hand. "You will be fine. And soon, be able to take an active place in his," she paused and blushed lightly at her faux pas and corrected herself almost immediately, "our life. The operation shouldn't take any time whatsoever," she began as Garth entered the ER. It seemed that he had a follower, one that she noted as she greeted him and bid him stay with Lorna for the moment. She knew that he would like to spend more time with her, and she with him. She smiled to the two of them and left under the pretense of rounding up the surgeon for consultation.
Caine waited patiently outside of the ER for Terra. He knew it would only be a matter of time before she would make time for him. People had a habit of doing that for him, whether they particularly wanted to or not.
"Good evening, Doctor Lowinn. When you have a moment, I would like to speak to you."
"I have the time now. I am awaiting some last minute details on a surgery. How is Sierra?"
"Sierra is doing as well as can be expected. Thank you for asking. Now, if I can speak to you about something." Always to the point, concise and succinct. Pleasantries were those afforded by and to others.
Terra nodded for him to continue.
"I need information on viruses, and the Hospital's holding of such stock." He spoke this ever so casually, as if he were asking for nothing more than a price on bread.
Her brow arched slightly. "Oh you do? And for what purpose?" Him and half a dozen of everyone else would love to get their hands on such things.
"Research."
"Research," she repeated. "I see." Yeah, she saw all right. She never had really trusted Caine, and this did nothing to further what little amount she did harbor.
Caine continued in his business, common sense tone, as if his request was completely innocent. "My staff is interested in viral contaminants that have a limited toxic frame. High toxicity, with a life span of days, once exposed to air."
"You know that there are certain things ... that are highly classified here. I am also very aware that the 'accidental' release of one of these viruses could be devastating."
"Dr. Lowinn," came the even voice with more than a hint of patronizing, "I myself supplied you with many of the equipment you use. Quality and safety are quite assured." Caine lowered his tone to a slightly more dangerous level. "If we can stop playing games ... I wish to deal."
"Well, you obviously have intentions for this ... type of request."
He watched her with an aloof attitude, and his hands slid into his pants' pockets. "Your facility is not the only one interested in finding viable cures. I know you have access and authority. And if my staff can find cures for these deadly viruses and can provide them to you and your hospital ... how can you deny those that need such?" Ah, the biting appeal to her Hippocratic Oath. A nice touch ... low, but nice and effective.
She knew he was right, but she did not like the implications. A free dealer like Caine, who sold to whoever the highest bidder was, or whoever got there first. To have such a force in his hands, or in the hands of someone worse, was not a responsibility she was willing to accept. "But, we are not the one's who wouldn't charge for said cure."
"I must say that your suspicion and insinuation are quite offensive, Dr. Lowinn."
"I will see what we have available," she quickly covered.
"Thank you, Dr. Lowinn. I will leave you to your accusations. I will check back in three day's time."
"Caine," she began, "I don't mean it this way, but I have a duty here." She was no negotiator and had no way, really, of knowing how to maneuver through such talks with grace. She was a doctor, and a researcher, not a trader or expert at barter in any way. He had known that she was in a position to grant his request, and he also knew that she would be an easy mark for his intimidation tactics. And so far, they were working. He was leading her exactly where he wanted her to go, much to her chagrin and as much as she did not wish to. She was floundering all over the place, and trying to backpedal her way back into his good graces. Caine was a cut and dry man. He was not given to much talk, nor did he expect much.
He smiled his trademark smile to her, as though he knew he had won. "Thank you, Doctor." Always so polite. "I am sure we can come to an acceptable solution."
"I will see what is available, Caine."
"You have nothing to lose, and everything to gain."
"So it seems Caine ... so it seems."
He kept smiling that damnable smile. "I will be in contact with you then, or one of my associates." He offered her a grand gentlemanly bow before he turned and left her in the lobby. She had after all, patients to attend to, and there was no more reason to take up more of her time.
She smiled after him, giving her thanks, though she was not sure if he had heard her or not. A bit disconcerted, she reentered the ER. Garth had already gone off to bed, tired as he was, and she was alone with Lorna. It was clear that the staff had prepped her for surgery, and the preliminary anesthetic was starting to take effect.
"Terra," sighed "Lorna, her voice faltering, "you must be watchful with Garth ... and the babies ... They will be like their father. You know this, though ... don't you? You have been very sick."
Terra could only look at her in astonishment. "Yes ... I have." She smiled at her husband's grandmother. "Everything will be fine; believe me." She meant both with her continued pregnancy and subsequent delivery, and with Lorna’s impending surgery. That small kernel of hope was burgeoning and beginning to grow. A new seed had taken root and perhaps had the right environment to nourish it to fruition. She had rediscovered it. That small, rare thing called hope.