"We wouldn't want hotel staff concerned by the blood and contacting the authorities, Mrs. Smith," offered one as they put the rags in a pile in the bathtub with the other medical waste. She nodded stiffly, forcing a smile as she kept her arm steady. O'Connell was next, grumbling and valiantly refusing pain meds as they extracted the bullet still in him, disinfecting the wounds and sewing them shut.
When he was ready to guard James again, the doctor pulled Maura aside. She'd finally found one of her husband’s shirts left in the suite and a pair of pants. Pulling off his surgical gloves, he looked her over. "That's a very nasty bite, Mrs. Smith. And it looks like your right collarbone is broken. I would like to treat you if you can sit down for a moment."
She forced a smile. "Thank you, after you update me on Mr. Smith's condition, please."
The doctor sighed, running gel sanitizer over his hands. "I was concerned that his left lung was flooded with blood, but fortunately for Mr. Smith, it collapsed first. That saved him since he could have literally drowned from his own blood if the wound had been a bit closer. I've given him a blood transfusion and tied up the internal bleeders. I'm running an IV line for fluids and antibiotics." He smiled a little and nodded to O'Connell, who was watching them suspiciously. "Your very loud associate refused an IV line. I gave him a shot instead, but they'll both need a full ten-day course. May I see to your injuries now?"
Stubbornly shaking her head, Maura said, "You still haven't told me if he'll be- will he be-" A loud, ugly sob slipped out before she could stop it.
Pulling on another set of surgical gloves, the doctor smiled. "He will be fine. Weak for a few weeks, but a good recovery, I believe. He was lucky."
"He took it for me,” she offered suddenly, not sure why she was telling this stranger.
"He must love you very much, Mrs. Smith."
And then he reset Maura's broken collarbone with an incredibly painful push.
Chapter 31: Don't Order the Crab
In which James and Maura find "happily ever after" isn't that easy.
It turned out Nicholas was wrong about help from the Sahara crew being twenty-four hours away. By the time the three were treated and released by Maaziz's medical team, O'Connell's phone was ringing. "SAHNOUN! BLOODY GLAD TO HEAR YOUR VOICE!"
Maura smothered a tired smile, at least it was proof the gigantic ginger was feeling better. Walking sluggishly back to her laptop, she watched as two of the medical "assistants" set fire to the medical waste from the trio, even ripping the fabric and cushions off the couch stained with James's blood. Finally, they turned and looked at Maura expectantly. "Would one of you call the president, please?" Sitting down, Maura plugged in the same flash drive again and waited for the connection. Pulling the bid funds first, she accessed the binary stream for the Algerian treasury and transferred the funds. "President Maaziz?"
"I'm here, Mrs. Pine."
"If you'll have your assistant check, you'll find the full £2.6 billion-pound deposit pending. By pushing "accept," you are agreeing to the terms set within the REE mining contract between Algeria and the French and Saudi Arabian partnership."
"Understood. Accepted." The assistant holding the phone placed it next to Maura, where she could see Maaziz.
Watching the transfer go through, Maura thought bitterly that the contracts for those materials were worth at least twenty billion more than the bid. But with a mental shrug, she realized that given what a treacherous bastard the new President was, he'd likely find a way to double-cross both governments and renegotiate.
"Now, sir. This is the final transfer of the additional £50 million into your personal holdings." Maura couldn't keep the chill out of her tone as she watched the Corporation's blood-stained money drain away into the cesspool of Maaziz's greed. Her hand slid under the paperwork next to her laptop, feeling the familiar grip of the Glock O'Connell had slipped her. It was unlikely the man was planning anything, but she wasn't taking any more chances.
The assistant picked up the phone, holding it to his ear, grunting in the affirmative. Holding it up once again, Maura levelly met the gaze of the Algerian President. "Our business here is concluded, Mrs. Pine. Do give Mr. Pine my regards. Go with God."
The words tasting like ash in her mouth, Maura forced out, "And to you, Mr. President." As quickly as they'd arrived, the medical group left, the doctor giving her more medication and bandages, along with some final instructions.
The sudden silence disoriented Maura, and she sat down on the bed next to James as the strength left her legs. The next thing she felt was the smooth hands of Mr. Sahnoun tucking her into bed.
"Sleep now. I will watch over you both."
***
For a horrible moment, Maura thought she was waking to her life before- the sun slanting into the late afternoon and every muscle in her body incapacitated with exhaustion. Hearing a slight groan to her left made her roll over quickly to find James next to her, just beginning to stir himself. Watching his eyes open, she gave him a small smile, uncharacteristically shy. "How do you feel?"
His eyes were cobalt, warm, as he smiled back. "Much like you employed all of your considerable martial arts skills on me. Twice," he admitted wryly. "And you?"
Maura shrugged painfully, feeling the protest from her newly set collarbone. "Eh, nothing more taxing than a typical bar night in Belfast. A few broken bottles, a few broken bones..." They shared a smile, the new intimacy strange, but not unwelcome.
"YOU'RE AWAKE? FINALLY, YOU LOUTS! I WAS SHOT TOO; DO YOU SEE ME LAYING ABOUT?"
"O'Connell!" James painfully sat up, "Thank you for saving the day, brother."
The praise actually seemed to deflate the Irishman, who frowned as he looked away. "BOLLOCKS!" he scowled, "UNLESS GETTING SHOT THE MINUTE THAT ARSEHOLE FASSELL ENTERED THE ROOM COUNTS."
"Not true!" Maura defended him stoutly. "Who planted the C-4 in James's shoes in a completely James Bond-ish fashion? Who alerted Mr. Sahnoun to gain reinforcements? Who survived while grievously injured?"
