A blast of cold air rushed through the lobby as Gerrin, Anna and Lewis walked through the main doors to the hospital. Reilly rose from his chair as they approached. “Your ex-wife is checking her right now”, he said, glancing toward the door to the recovery area.

“Good”, Gerrin nodded. Looking around, he continued “Where’s Aldous?”

“In there with them. He hasn’t come out of that room since you left”.

“Okay, I’ll go see what I can find out”. Gerrin started toward the recovery area.

“What about us?” Lewis asked.

“You’ll know when I know”, Gerrin promised.

Gerrin walked through the crowded recovery area to a room in the rear corner. Pushing the door open gently he saw Nadia examining Loomie as she remained unconscious. She looked up as the door closed. “How’s she doing?” Gerrin asked.

“Everything looks good so far”, Nadia answered. “It’s just up to her when she wants to wake up”.

Gerrin looked over to where Aldous was asleep in a chair in the corner. “What about him?”

“He fell asleep about an hour ago”, she continued. “He wasn’t bothering anyone so no point in moving him”. Noticing Gerrin’s drooping lids and glassy eyes, she commented “You look kind of beat yourself. You want to sit down?”

“It’s been a busy couple of days”, Gerrin answered tiredly. “I have to go give my crew a heads-up”.

“They're outside?”

Gerrin nodded.

Nadia gently pushed him into a chair. “Rest for a couple of minutes. I’ll tell them”. She turned to leave.

“I’ll just-“ Gerrin started as he tried to push himself out of the chair. As the fatigue of the last two days hit him, he sank back into the chair “-sit here for a couple of minutes. Thanks”.

Nadia smiled slightly. “No problem”, she said as she pulled the door shut behind her.

Gerrin eased his head back and stared at the ceiling through vaguely unfocused eyes. Within two minutes he was asleep.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Loomie sat behind the controls in the cockpit staring out at the surrounding s