And there were five For Amethyst Part 4 CHAPTER TWO Three days wasn't a long time to plan a complete life overhaul. Given that David was also finalizing the details for Charles' mission, had more children to test, had project reports to review, as well as ensuring that they had all of Madeline's notes and materials, time passed in a blur punctuated by trips to pick up Mark from the daycare and bring him to his mother in the hospital. If Celia hadn't stepped in and taken the boy overnight, David might have lost his mind entirely. When the call finally came that Charles' plane had gone down, David didn't have to feign shock. Fortunately, by that point, everything was already in motion. There was nothing more he needed to do. At least, nothing when it came to Charles. His new priority, then, became Madeline and Mark. As a dutiful friend, he told Rona to reschedule his appointments, gave her a list of things that had to be done immediately, and left for the hospital. Delivering the news by phone would look too callous, despite the fact that she was expecting it. At first sight, she looked rested. The moment he stepped into the room, though, and their eyes met, the color drained from her face. He paused, confused. Was she acting? Or had she momentarily forgotten this was coming? But they both had parts to play. David came forward, taking her hand, and was surprised to find it trembling in his. "Madeline ..." "What's happened? Is it Mark?" A mother's first concern. That's what any staff within earshot would expect to hear. David kept his voice gentle, continuing his part what was feeling less and less like a charade. "No, it's not Mark. Charles' plane went down over the ocean. They're still searching ..." Madeline's face went ashen. Until that very moment, it hadn't occurred to him that she'd hope Charles changed his mind. Her mouth moved, but no words came out, and the monitors showed her pulse racing. Should he have tried harder to hold Charles back? Looking into tear-filled eyes, David squeezed her still shaking hand. His mind went uncharacteristically blank, causing him to hesitate, before remembering the next step in this charade. "Let me speak to the doctors." It didn't take long for Madeline's doctor to reach the desired conclusion. "She's going to become very weak. She won't be able to care for the boy. If she remains in the hospital, someone will have to take him for her." David nodded and stared thoughtfully at the wall for a moment. He already knew the answer, but of course he shouldn't have known to read her file and ask the question. "Is home care possible?" "Yes. But as I said ..." "Madeline is a very close friend, as is ... was ... her husband." Fortunately such a slip was common under the circumstances. David paused, as though gathering himself in his grief. "Let me talk to her." The doctor left, and David returned to the hospital room, where he found Madeline still speaking softly to her tearful child. He hated to interrupt, but this had to look unplanned and natural. "Madeline," he said, pausing until he had her full attention, "I'd like to move the two of you in with me. If you stay in the hospital, you won't be able to spend much time with Mark, and if you stay at home ..." David knew he didn't need to spell that out. Her lost expression said she understood perfectly. "But your place is too small ..." "Yes. I could upgrade to family housing." David stepped in closer. He hadn't actually discussed this with her before, there had been no time. Plus, the last thing they needed was to sound rehearsed. "Let me do this, Maddie. There's not much time." Madeline's mouth moved again, but no sound came out. In the end, she just nodded, letting out a quiet sob. He searched for something to say. What could possibly reassure a dying woman whose husband chose a mission off-world over her, and whose four-year-old son would be raised by a man who might exploit him? After a few moments of standing there in silence, David gave up and cleared his throat. "I'll make the arrangements. And ... I haven't forgotten my promise." It was an empty reassurance -- they both knew intergalactic security came first -- but Madeline regained a bit of color. Still cuddled next to her, Mark just stared at him, his blue eyes so much like his mother's. David wished he could reassure the boy, at least. Again, what could he possibly say? Instead of saying anything, David stepped into the hall. He flipped open his phone and called Rona, making sure she understood his requirements. The apartment had to offer a hospital room for Madeline, a bedroom for Mark, a bedroom for himself, and a sizeable home office that could accommodate two -- at least for a while. A nurse approached him as he hung up. "Madeline needs to rest. She asked if you'd take Mark back to daycare until the apartment's ready." If David was a praying man, he'd send up a small prayer of gratitude to whatever divine force created on-site daycare. Instead, he made a mental note to ensure Celia and her staff felt appreciated, then returned to Madeline's room. "It's just for a little while, Munchkin," Madeline was saying as Mark clung to her hospital gown. "David will bring you to me after work." "Back here?" The boy's voice trembled. "No." She smoothed his unruly hair. "Someplace more comfortable and less scary. Be good for David and Celia, okay?" Mark hesitated and then nodded, allowing David to pick him up. The boy stared back over David's shoulder as they left, then was quiet throughout the drive, just clutching his stuffed plane. After all the chatter on the way there, the silence was eerie. With some relief, David handed Mark off to Celia, then got back to work. First, he assigned trusted staff to oversee the movers. Getting two families' things moved intact, then arranged in the new place much like they were in their original homes, would take some doing. By the time he'd arranged for security enhancements, medical equipment and care, and other essential upgrades, the day was almost gone. Finally, in his first quiet moment alone, David took a moment to breathe, and to wonder. Was he a monster for following through with their plans? In an ideal world he'd have chosen another to go to Riga, but if there was someone better suited, he wouldn't have chosen a man with a wife and young child in the first place. With a start, he realized said child was still in daycare. Madeline might not be working, but she couldn't watch over him from the hospital, so she'd chosen to stick with Mark's usual routine. Dread filled David as he closed up his office. Why had Madeline chosen him? The profiling portion of his project would soon launch into its next phase. If luck was with him, he'd find the children he needed. He'd be busy, far too busy to raise a child, let alone one dealing with so much loss. Sighing, he headed down to the daycare. There he found the normally exuberant boy sitting off by himself, holding his stuffed plane, just as he'd been at the end of the other days. Celia, the daycare manager, approached with a sad smile. "How's Madeline?" "More bad news, I'm afraid." David didn't have to fake a touch of awkward grief as he shifted into a whisper. "Charles' plane went down." Her face fell even further. "Is there anything I can do?" "Actually," he said, mentally checking his list, "Madeline wants me to care for Mark when she's gone. I might need help caring for him with my busy schedule. If you could send me some recommendations ..."