Chasing Anne

Just Wait

  Andrew couldn't think of a time he'd ever been so depressed. He sighed and scratched the side of his head. Setting down his navy coffee mug down on the tile floor of the balcony beside him, he let his eyes rest on the rising sun across from him. The golden hint of sunlight was just peaking over the horizon, waking up the world around it with its gentle glow. The waters of the Mississippi river caught the reflection of the sun and began to sparkle as the sun rose, and the long grassy shore line glowed with a dim golden orange hue. But the view didn't bring any more joy to Andrew's heart like he'd hoped it would. It actually made him feel worse. He pulled his gray-blue blanket more tightly around him and tore his gaze from the sunset. Why was Blaze's death doing this to him? He was a doctor for goodness sake! He saw dozens of his patients daily, yet this dog that he'd seen only a few times had burned a hole through him—a wound that would not heal with anything but time. He sighed and laid a hand on Dawn's head, scratching behind her ears. Dawn looked up at him and nuzzled her head under his arm as he did.
"I wish you could talk," Andrew muttered.
Dawn whimpered.
Andrew smiled and let out a soft chuckle. "Yeah, I bet you do too."
The black husky took a deep breath and then sighed deeply, knowing how distressed her new friend was. Closing her eyes, she dozed back off into sleep, the gentle hum of her breathing the only sound she made. Andrew laid his blanket over her and pulled her into his lap where she curled up and dozed in silence. The birds started chirping in the distance as the sunlight grew brighter, but still, Andrew felt as though the world was a dismal gray. He bowed his head.
"Why Blaze?" he asked softly. "Why did you have to take him?"
It was the same question he'd been asking God ever since Blaze had passed away. Tears came to his eyes as his gaze fell upon the freshly turned earth beside the massive beech tree in the Normand's backyard. That was where Blaze would rest for the rest of time. Andrew closed his eyes and held his head in his hands. "God, why?" his mind asked.
"You okay?" Brianna's voice asked from behind.
Andrew stiffened and tried to regain his composure, but it was useless. Besides, what good was there in hiding his miserable state? "No," he croaked. "No, I'm not okay."
Brianna sat down cross-legged beside him and let her eyes fill with the wonderful colors of the sunrise. "You miss Blaze, don't you?"
Andrew wiped his hand over his face and then let it fall to rest on Dawn's head. "Yeah, I do," he whispered. "I really do."
Brianna nodded, looking down into her mug of tea. "He was a wonderful dog. Mark loved him like no other pet he's ever had. The two would spend hours at the dog park chasing sticks together." She shook her head and forced a smile. "I don't know how we're going to tell him," she finished, her voice becoming nothing more than a whisper.
"It's my fault," Andrew muttered. "I shouldn't have left him."
"But there was nothing that you could do, Andrew. David told me so. You had no idea that his lungs had been damaged."
"But I should have."
"Andrew, look at me."
Andrew hesitated, and then complied, his red eyes meeting hers.
"This is not your fault."
Andrew instantly wanted to rebuttal, but then just kept silent, running his fingers through Dawn's fur. "I just don't understand why God would do something like this," he whispered. "After all Mark and Anne have been through, now they have to go through this too? Now I have to go through this?"
Brianna looked away. "I asked the same question when I lost my mom to leukemia, Andrew. I know how you feel, so don't think you're the only one that's been shattered by this event." She paused, collecting herself a moment. "I may not know why God does things, but I know I can trust that what he's doing is for my good."
"How can this be for anyone's good?"
"Because God wants you to trust him, Andrew. I was devastated when I lost my mom, but while it may seem like a loss is a bad thing, there's a reason why we go through it. Going through the tough times brings us closer to our God and that's what he truly desires from us, isn't it? To have a close relationship with him?"
Andrew nodded. "I know, I just don't like pain," he whispered.
Brianna nodded and smiled. "None of us do, so don't feel like a lone ranger. We're not meant to fight alone. That's why we have each other."
Andrew nodded and looked back down at Dawn. "Thanks, Brianna. I needed that."
Brianna laughed and shrugged. "It's the least I can do. You saved my life."
Andrew winced. "Are you still bruised badly?"
Brianna nodded. "I'm really not supposed to be out of bed. Don't tell Jadon or my Dad. They'll flip out like they did yesterday when they found out I got up."
Andrew laughed. "They care about you and have every right to be concerned."
"I know. I'm just sick of resting and lying in bed all day. Sure, I'm sore, but that doesn't mean I'm crippled!"
Andrew nodded. "I know."
They fell silent, Dawn's soft breathing becoming audible as the land around them filled with wondrous peace. Brianna shivered, which came to Andrew immediate attention, yet he wasn't sure what to do with her discomfort. So, trying to avoid notice, he gently laid the blanket that had been around him over her. Her green eyes immediately shot to his, confusion filling her expression. She looked at the blanket, then him, and smiled.
"Thanks."
Andrew nodded, but said nothing. Again silence swelled about them as they watched the brightening sunrise.
"Have you seen my brother recently?" Brianna questioned, glancing sideways at him.
Andrew nodded. "I did just last night. His heart is slowing back to normal and it seems as though his pain has become bearable. I can't know for sure until he wakes up, but Mitch is positive he'll come to in the next two days."
"What do you think?"
"I think he'll come to tomorrow, Brianna. But I'm not promising anything. It's up to our Heavenly Father what happens to him."
She nodded again, but kept returned her gaze to the sunset. "Can I ask you something, Andrew?"
Andrew nodded rapidly. "Of course! Anything!"
Brianna smiled at his response, her cheeks reddening. "What would you say to me if I suggested throwing a simple ball for Anne and Mark?"
Andrew's face crumpled with confusion. "A what?"
Brianna laughed. "A ball, like the ones in the old movies. I want to give them a special evening together after all their time apart. Do you think that it's a good idea?"
Andrew paused, pondering the idea a moment before answering. "Yes, and no."
Brianna slumped. "Why not?"
"Well, I think it's a great idea, but how on earth are we going to pull it off without them knowing, and who would attend? We can't just put them in a room together alone. That'd be really awkward! I love the idea, I just don't know how to execute it properly."
Brianna instantly brightened. "That's why I want your help. All I need is for you to be on board, and then we'll work out the details."
"Like I said, I think it's a great idea. There're just a lot of things that need to be ironed out for it to work."
Brianna jumped to her feet and clapped her hands. "It's going to be wonderful! Thank you-."
Andrew held up a hand and then smiled. "Now can I ask you a question?"
"Yes, sure."
"How'd you know I was out here?"
Brianna's cheeks reddened. "I . . . well . . . I wanted to find you, Andrew. I was worried about you after finding out about Blaze. So I just started walking. I don't really know how I found your room."
Andrew smiled and laughed. "Neither do I, but you could have been unknowingly led here by Jesus."
Brianna's eyes widened and a smile washed over her face. "Well, I'm glad he did," she beamed.
Andrew nodded and gently lifted Dawn into his arms, picking her up with the blanket still swaddled around her. "I'm glad he brought you here too," he said, smiling. "But can I ask you one more question?"
Brianna nodded. "Shoot."
"Can I call you Brie?" he asked, his voice almost trembling.
Brianna smiled and nodded. "Of course you can, Andy."
Andrew's eyebrow's furrowed. "Anything but Andy, Brianna. Anything."
Brianna tried not to laugh and nodded. "Okay, Andrew. I'll stick with that."
"Good, now how about some breakfast?"
Dawn awoke at that, yawning softly and looking up at Andrew. Her jaw slackened into a grin, her tongue hanging out of the side of her mouth. Andrew chuckled. "I'll take that as a yes."



Anne tried to lift her head to gaze out the window at the rising sun, but her efforts were futile. She simply did not have the strength to sit up. With a frustrated groan, she laid back against the pillows on her bed and closed her eyes. She could tell it was morning by the looks of the orange light that was streaming in the window and wished that she could go out and look upon the beauty of the sunrise. But she couldn't. Andrew had made that clear to her. She needed to rest for the next two days at the least. At the end of those two days, he would reevaluate her condition and have Mitchel also take note of her state. If they both agreed that it would be okay for her to start moving around, she would. But if they agreed otherwise, she would need more rest. Still, the prospect of being able to move around brought a small ray of hope to the gloom of her hospital room. That and the hope that she would be able to see Mark in a few days too. Mitchel had told her that he was stabilizing and slowly regaining consciousness. Within a few more days, he might come to and she might be able to see him. But again it was all questionable. There was no telling what Anne's condition would be in a few days, or what Mark's would be. So for the time being, the two were stuck on the opposite sides of the same building.
But while Anne wasn't happy with the arrangement, she knew that Andrew and Mitch had good reason to keep the two somewhat distant from each other. They needed both of the two to rest and being separated seemed like a logical way to keep the two latent as much as possible. Anne didn't completely understand it, but she settled for that reason. According to Andrew, she'd improved greatly since the day before and had recovered 42% of the body weight she'd lost from being in the cave. Not only that, however, she had also regained her complexion and no longer looked sickly pale from dehydration. So the prospects of her recovery were clearly in her favor at the moment. Nevertheless, she still needed to regain the rest of her stamina before even attempting to sit up. So she was stuck in bed for the time being.
Her thoughts were shattered by a knock on the door. She called for them to come in and in response to her invitation, an older man that looked about close to fifty years old entered the room. With a smile, he walked over to her bedside, Mitchel right behind him. Anne smiled as best she could and met the gaze of the man. His eyes were dark green and face looked so much like Mark's, Anne almost believed for a moment she was looking at Mark. Only the man was twenty years older than Mark so it didn't fit. The man sat down beside her bed while Mitchel propped her up with a few pillows to help her see him better. It helped, but it also made Anne dizzy as she elevated her head. She considered asking Mitch if it was normal for her to be feeling so faint, but he silenced her before she could speak and said softly, "You may feel dizzy, but it's completely normal. You've been lying down so long your body just needs to be reminded of what it's like to sit up. You'll be fine in a few minutes."
Anne nodded and closed her eyes, pushing away at the dizziness that pawed at her brain. She heard the mystery man take a deep breath and felt Mitchel take her wrist in his to check her pulse, but then the room filled with silence.
"You're probably wondering who I am," the man said softly, his voice tender and soft.
"I am," Anne replied, her voice slightly strained.
"Well, I know who you are. You're my son's sweetheart."
Anne's eyes opened wide. "You're Colonel Ryan Normand?" she asked, her voice genuinely surprised.
Ryan smiled and nodded. "You figured that out pretty quick."
"Well, I'm only the sweetheart of one man."
"True. I'm sorry we never got to meet before. I've been quite busy with the launch of Aleron. Now, I'm not even sure I'm going to launch it." He paused. "But I wanted to meet you and see how you're doing. Mark's told me a lot about you."
"Other than my dehydration, malnourishment, and serious fatigue, I'm fine."
"And the giant bruise on the back of your head," Mitch added.
Anne rolled her eyes. "Yeah, that too."
Ryan chuckled. "Right. Andrew says you should be back on your feet in a few days."
"I hope to be. Then I can see Mark." She hesitated, biting her lip. "How is he?"
Ryan shrugged. "Well, his arm is healing rapidly, his heart has slowed to normal . . . nothing really has changed since Mitchel last saw him. But he's getting better. I know that."
Anne nodded and closed her eyes again, laying her head back against the pillows. Mitch laid his hand over her forehead, his eyes concerned.
"Still dizzy?" he asked.
Anne nodded. "Slightly."
"Maybe I should go," Ryan said, standing to his feet.
"No, you don't have to, Mr. Normand. Please stay," Anne said, reopening her eyes.
"Anne, you don't feel well, you need to rest."
"But I want your company. I don't like resting by myself."
Ryan sighed and sat back down. "I can stay, but there's not much to talk about."
"Tell me about Mark."
"I think you know most things about him."
"Well, why did never tell me his real name's Markus?"
"Oh." Ryan's face became somber. "Mark doesn't like to tell anyone about that."
"Why? What happened?"
Ryan hesitated, clearly not too fond of the subject either. "His mother, Andrea, named him after her father, Markus," he began. "The day before Mark's tenth birthday, his grandpa had a surprise for him back at his house. For hours, Mark begged his grandpa to take him to go see it, but his grandfather refused as you might expect. But at daybreak the next morning, Mark could wait no longer, and so the two set out in Markus' CTS Cadillac Sedan. I remember them leaving the house just as the sky broke open in sleeting rain. Markus paid no mind to it no matter what Andrea told him and so the two set out." Ryan paused. "I got the call from the police twenty minutes later. Raymond Parr's father had been drinking and t-boned Markus' car at an intersection after blowing a red light. Markus was killed before he reached the hospital. His death shattered Mark completely. Because he survived the crash, he was indirectly blamed for it because it was his idea to go out in the rain. After being humiliated at his grandpa's funeral, he's never told anyone his real name is Markus since."
Anne didn't quite know how to respond to the story. She simply stared at the colonel, her face emotionless. "I had no idea," she said at last.
Ryan nodded. "In all honesty, Mark probably didn't want you to know. Who told you about it anyway?"
"Raymond did. He was trying to find reasons why I shouldn't trust Mark. This was one of them, but I had no idea about it."
"Well, I will say that it's a good thing for you to know, but Mark still doesn't like to talk about it, even if it happened fourteen years ago. It took him months to even get back on the road again, let alone drive, so the accident with his truck probably wasn't-."
"Accident with his truck?" Anne asked, bewildered. "What happened to his truck?"
Ryan raised a brow at her. "Did no one tell you anything about what happened while you were with Parr?"
"No, there was a car accident?"
Ryan sighed and sat back in his chair, glancing at Mitchel. "Is it okay if I tell her?"
Mitch hesitated, then nodded. "I suppose, but when's breakfast?"
"What time is it?"
"Quarter 'til eight."
Ryan nodded. "I've got time. Breakfast is a nine. My cook will have it ready be then. She always does."
"So then you do have people to help you keep this place clean?" Mitchel asked, smiling.
Ryan laughed. "As if I could even try to keep up with it with all of the military protocols I'm busy with in the basement! I don't stand a chance!"
"The basement?" Andrew asked, entering the room. "What's in the basement?"
Ryan chuckled and folded his hands. "Something you're not going to find out about for a long time, Andrew."
Andrew frowned. "How come?"
"Because it's not done. And until it's done, no one knows about it. Except for Jadon that is. I'm going to need a bit of his help with it."
Andrew rolled his eyes. "Fine. How's Anne?" he asked, turning his gaze to Mitchel.
"Better than the last time I saw her, but still needing a lot of bed rest. Where's Brianna? She was looking for you."
"She's in her room resting with Dawn like she's supposed to be," Andrew said with a nod in the direction of the hall. "When was the last time Anne ate?"
"Dinner time last night."
"How soon are we having breakfast?"
Ryan glanced at the clock and sighed. "Are all of you that hungry?"
Andrew nodded. "I could use to eat, and so could she," he said, nodding in Anne's direction.
"Well, I don't normally eat until nine, but I'm sure Tracy won't mind making our meal early. In the meantime, one of the doctors needs to check on Mark, and Jadon, wherever he is, needs to check on Jackson and Cindy."
"I can take care of Mark," Andrew said softly. "Brie wanted to see him anyway."
"And I can find David, Jackson, Cindy, and Jadon," Mitchel offered.
"No, Mitch. Someone has to stay here with Anne," Ryan vetoed. "I'll stop and wake Jadon on my way to the main kitchen"
Mitchel nodded and shot a quick smile to Anne before answering. "Just let me know when it's time to eat."
Ryan nodded, and then stood. "I'll see you later, Anne."
Anne smiled and opened her eyes to see him one last time. "You too, Mr-."
"Call me Ryan," he interrupted. "Please."
Anne nodded, but said no more.
Andrew and Ryan withdrew from the room immediately afterward. Mitchel stayed completely stiff and at attention while they left and professionally closed the door after them. But once the door was shut, his entire demeanor relaxed and a smile lit his face.
"Well, Miss Anne. It is truly a relief to see you alive and awake."
Anne laughed and closed her eyes. "I owe you for that."
"You don't owe me anything, Anne. I'm just glad we're alive."
Anne hesitated, biting her lip. Mitchel frowned. "What is it?"
"Did Mark see me before . . . you know, he went unconscious?" she asked.
Mitchel nodded and grinned. "Oh, he saw you all right. He nearly died for you."
"He did?" Anne asked, alarm washing over her face.
Mitch nodded and sat down on the edge of her bed. "He loves you very much, Anne."
Anne smiled and laid her head back against the pillows. "I'm glad to know," she said, closing her eyes as she spoke. "To think I even considered the idea of him going off with another girl makes me angry with myself. I should have trusted him."
"Anne, you didn't even know if he was alive. You were scared and had close to no hope. I'm just glad you believed otherwise once you found out the truth. From the looks of his injuries, he's gone out of his way and more to try to save you."
Anne blushed and opened her eyes. "I wish I could see him, Mitch. All I want is to be sure he's okay."
Mitchel smiled, took her hand, and squeezed it. "Just wait. He'll come around soon."
"I hope so. I don't know how much longer I'm going to be able to stare at these walls without going crazy."
Mitch laughed and shook his head. "Hey, I'm here to keep you company."
Anne nodded and grinned. "Thank you for that, Mitch. I appreciate it. I just hope breakfast doesn't take much longer. I'm famished."
Mitch laughed again. "Yeah, maybe you'll regain the other 58% of your weight that you lost," he said, smiling.
Anne shrugged. "Maybe I will. I'm so hungry I think I actually could."
"And I don't doubt that at all," Mitch replied. "Not at all."