I woke up in a sweat. My head was pounding. A bead of perspiration dripped down my forehead into my eye. I blinked, my vision blurring for a minute, then focused. I tried to raise a hand to wipe the sweat from my brow and found my arms were belted to the bed I lay on. I had no idea where I was. Vague memories of Devina and the brontosauruses flooded back. Did I dream them? Was I in fact captured and held once again by the jailors?
I let out a blood-curdling scream. In seconds, Devina was by my side. She was wearing hospital scrubs and her hair was pulled back but she was the same Devina, calm sensuality radiating from her. I was at once immediately relieved by her presence and suspicious of her motives for restraining me.
She put my thoughts at ease as she unbuckled my right arm.
“Relax, you’re okay. Everything’s okay. I’m glad you’re back with us,” she said.
“Back with us?” I asked.
She gently unbuckled my left arm. Her touch was arousing even with innocent intention.
“When we got you here, your wounds were infected. You fell into a nasty fever. You were thrashing around, in and out of consciousness. I had to restrain you so you wouldn’t cause any more damage.”
She touched my forehead with a look of concern.
“Promise me you’re not going to cause any more damage?”
I smiled. “You saved my life.”
Devina unbuckled my legs, her touch lingering a moment on the back of my knees.
“Actually Doctor Durant saved your life,” Devina admitted, moving her hand slightly up my thigh before straightening my blankets, “but I did lend some blood for the transfusion.”
“Transfusion?”
“You had more than blood loss and a nasty infection from those cuts. It seems the jailors had also infected you with some sort of slow-moving poison. I thought I was going to lose you.”
Devina bent down and kissed my sweaty forehead. “I’m really, really glad I didn’t.”
“Am I contagious?” I asked, suddenly very afraid for Devina.
“No,” she replied, “and the sweat is just a side effect of the drugs.” She touched my forehead again. “I think you’re fever’s subsiding.” Devina held my hand. “You are one strong woman.”
“She sure is,” said a voice from the doorway.
I looked up. Devina let go of my hand.
“Doctor Durant,” Devina said, “I’d like you to meet Nora.”
The doctor approached. She was older than Devina and I, I would guess by about ten years. Her posture and steady gaze commanded respect. I admired her at once.
“Hello, Doctor Renzella,” she said. My brow narrowed. No one had called me Doctor Renzella since I left my lab on Earth.
“I did some research on you while you were sleeping,” she continued. “You have a very impressive resume. I’m elated you were able to escape and Dr. Amiri was able to find you. “ I looked at Devina.