REFLECTIONS 2   by Karmyn Author's note: This one was planned before Reflections, but Emma demanded her story be told first. Now I've managed to nail this one down again. I knew I was in a hospital before I even opened my eyes. When you've been in as many as I have, you develop a sixth sense about such things. They all smell the same, disinfectant, with an underlying odor of blood and death. No matter how often they clean, they can never get rid of that lingering metallic odor of death. But I was still alive. Somehow I had survived another impossible case, but was I safe? In my weakened state I could very easily have fallen into the hands of the enemy. Perhaps they were just keeping me alive to torture me. This place was familiar, very familiar. The Ministry Clinic. I had spend more time here than I cared to. And I wasn't alone. I could feel a soft hand on mine, smell the subtle scent of perfume, one I hadn't smelled in three years. I opened my eyes and for a moment I was sure I was dreaming. Emma? Was she really here? "Emma?" I managed to say. She smiled and touched my face. No wedding ring. Could it be true? I had heard that she and Peter had divorced, but never heard all the details. Perhaps no one wanted me to get my hopes up. My Emma, the only woman I ever really loved. She was back. "Letter?" I asked. My throat was terribly dry and it hurt to talk. I needed a drink, preferably brandy, but there was none available at the moment. There was some water on the table beside my bed, but I couldn't reach it. Emma handed me a cup of water. There are times I swear that woman could read my mind. Something I loved about her. She smiled and nodded. "Yes, I got your letter. That's why I'm here." I loved her still and maybe, just maybe we had another chance. The years without her had been so lonely. There had been other women, but none had ever meant as much to me as Emma had. Relationships never lasted long and were never as fulfilling. It was just sex, nothing more. But it had never been like that with Emma. I really did love her, even if I had never told her until I sent her that letter. The biggest mistake of my life was letting her walk out the door three years earlier. But she was back now. She stayed with me until the doctor made her leave. We didn't talk much although I'm sure we both had plenty we wanted to say. It was nice just being with her again. She kissed my cheek before she left and promised to be back the next day. I slept better knowing I would see her again. That night I had a dream unlike any I had ever had before. I usually don't remember my dreams, but this one seemed different, special somehow. I was standing at the altar of a church and Emma was standing beside me. In the pews I saw some of my family and friends seated, my brothers and sisters with their families. This was some special occasion, but what was it? The vicar appeared, carrying a bundle which I quickly realized was a baby. Then I noticed the baptismal font. So this was a baptism. Who was this child? Was this some strange prophetic dream or just wishful thinking? As the vicar approached, I got a good look at the baby. It looked somewhat familiar and I realized the baby reminded me of my own self at that age. Then it opened it's eyes and I saw they were brown, the same warm brown as Emma's. This was our child being baptized. I remembered the dream the next morning, but said nothing about it to Emma. Saying something about it would jinx it, make it never have a possibility of coming true. We talked of other things, of our lives the last three years and of our love. We knew we had been given a second chance and this time we would make things right. This time I would not let her go. I was released from the hospital two days later and Emma helped me out. She came with me to my flat and made me lunch. After we finished eating she tried to get me to go upstairs to rest but I had other ideas. "You and I have some unfinished business," I told her. Then I gently took her face in my hands and kissed her. I didn't get a nap that afternoon, but we sure had fun. The End.   ©  Karmyn Crabb 2003 No aspect of this story may be used elsewhere without the expressed prior written consent of the author. These stories may not be altered in any way or sold; all copyright information must appear with this work at all times. Please read disclaimers and warnings on top of each story. Feel free to send constructive comments to the author.. :o)     Back to The Avengers Library