The Protector by Dawn Marie Snyder Page B

inhaler in my mouth and pumped it. I was forced to take in the mist with my next breath. I began to cough.
“She still needs to answer some questions Jack. We all need a clearer picture of what happened and frankly right now she is the only one who can give us that picture.” Jack didn’t say another word. I felt him lift me up and carried me out of the kitchen and laid me on the couch in the living room.
 
    Although I could have opened my eyes, I kept them closed. I wasn’t ready for any more questions and I wasn’t ready to see the disappointment in Jack’s eyes. I felt his hand on my chest, this time lower than where he had placed it before.
    “Better?” I heard Seth ask. “Here’s the oxygen.”
    Oxygen, I thought to myself. I was amazed at their resources and the fact they even thought to grab oxygen and I was still swirling over their stupidity in Tel Aviv. I heard the machine start up and felt something over my face. I tried to take a deep breath and let the medicine expand my lungs. The burning sensation stopped and I could feel the relief instantly. 
    I opened my eyes to find Jack and Mrs. Walker sitting next to me, Jack holding the mask. Seth and Conway stood behind talking. I tried to focus my eyes to gauge the reaction on Jack’s face. It wasn’t all what I had expected.  I had expected disappointment for my ranting, anger for my blame game, but instead his eyes were filled with nothing but concern and worry. Suddenly a new knot formed in my chest, but it wasn’t another asthma attack, it was guilt.  
    I tried to sit up, but Mrs. Walker gently pushed my shoulders down against the pillow of the couch.  When that didn’t work I tried to push the mask away, but Jack obviously was stronger. “Stay put.”   He gave me a look and I knew at once it wouldn’t be smart to argue with him. It would most likely end with me more frustrated and struggling once again for air.
    I watched the happenings around me in sort of a haze. Seth and Conway continued to talk and Jack whispered quietly to Mrs. Walker. I replayed the conversation before my fainting spell and my stubbornness took over once again.  I pushed Jack’s hand off of the mask and pushed myself to sit up. Both Jack and Mrs. Walker let me sit up this time.
    “I am fine.” I managed to say. Jack’s hand came up and guided the mask back to my mouth.
    “Please.” His voice rang in my ears and his face was sincere in its request. There was no demand. I realized then that I was not going home until I answered all their questions. 
    “Really I am ok,” I managed to whisper in a hoarse voice.
    I knew he didn’t believe me, but I didn’t care. I looked up at Conway and Seth and moved the mask so I could talk.  “What else do you want to know?”
    Conway’s head tilted in satisfaction as he could read the resolve in my face, even if it was behind the mask.  Jack shot him a look to back off, but Conway ignored him. “Alison? We need the processor.”
    “Fine,” I managed to whisper from behind the mask. “Send me home and you can have the processor. I’ll hand it over as soon as I am back in Albuquerque.” I bit my lip watching the men around me. My words were not a request, but more of a demand.
    Jack stifled back a laugh and watched Conway for his reaction.  Suddenly his expression became serious again, “I’m going with her.”  His words surprised me. As much as I had wanted it, I hadn’t truly expected him to say he wanted to take me home.
    “No.” Conway said with authority. “Catherine,” this was the first time I had heard anyone use Mrs. Walker’s first name, “stay with Alison.”  Conway pushed Jack toward the kitchen and Seth followed them.
                  Mrs. Walker, or Catherine as I now knew her only smiled halfheartedly at me.  “This could get heated,” she stated as a mother observing her sons arguing. “They’ll work it out, we just have to be patient.”  She leaned closer to me and