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Chapter 29

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I woke up a few times after that, but I was in a hospital room when I regained full consciousness. My back felt sore, and my front. My burned hand was bandaged. I felt around with my other hand and discovered that my ribs had been taped. I must have cracked a rib or something.

Eric was sitting by my bed, taking a catnap. Even in repose, his face had harsh lines. He never looked vulnerable. He woke up then and stared straight at me.

I smiled. “Bet they tried to kick you out.”

A slight smile creased his expression. “As if I’d let them.”

“What happened after I conked?”

“EMTs did their thing. They brought you to the ER.”

“Did the doctors find anything? Other than what feels like some broken ribs?”

“Three cracked ribs. You haven’t been admitted, but the syncope—technical term for your faint—suggested a wait-and-see period.”

“That’s exactly what I was about to say,” said a pleasant-looking young woman. She introduced herself as a doctor, and explained about my ribs and the planned progress of care. She said a short period of observing my vitals was necessary. “We’ll probably release you in a couple of hours.”

“Or whenever I feel up to walking out,” I said. I didn’t intend to be a prisoner here all night.

The doctor eyed me with disapproval. “You were wearing a superhero costume when you came in, but you’re not super. Why not relax and rest a bit?”

I looked down. Sure enough, I was now in a regular hospital gown printed with tiny designs all over it. No one retains dignity in such garb. I didn’t give her another smart aleck answer.

After she left, I turned to Eric. “Did you hear about the guy behind all this?”

“Your tame ex-boyfriend filled me in. He caught up to me as they were loading you into the ambulance. He’s outside in the waiting room,” Eric finished, with evident satisfaction.

Eric never could miss a potshot at Roland, but I let it pass. Roland had the same problem.

I didn’t say how grateful I was that Eric, typically masterful boss-man Eric, had taken care of me when I was out cold. It would be nice to have him here with me, just doing nothing, although Eric never, ever did nothing. “Before you leave, I have something to say to you,” I said. 

“I’m not going anywhere.”

I continued as if he hadn’t spoken. I leaned my head back and stared up at his face. “You are such a tool sometimes.”

“I know.”

“We can’t go on like this, the ‘you’re the boss and I’m the serving wench’ routine.”

“Serving wench?” He raised an eyebrow.

“You know what I mean.”

When he started to say something, I talked over him in typical New Yorker style. “No, you listen to me. You’re older than me, and you have more experience, and you definitely are taller than me, too. But I’m not a child. I’m not stupid. I’m an adult, even if I’m still feeling my way. I need you to respect me.”

“I do.”

“No, you haven’t been. I get that you don’t see us as in a serious relationship. Maybe we aren’t meant for each other in the long run, but even if we’re not, I deserve respect. It’s not right or fair to spring things on me, like the whole deal with Leslie. I’m your girlfriend, not a hired sex worker. Tell me your plans, explain my part in them honestly. Treat me with respect.”

“I can do that,” he said. His large chest expanded as he took a breath. “I’ve been screwing Leslie to get her to sign the deal.”

“Wait, what?” I said, gaping at him.

He grinned. “Kidding.”

“You are such a tool.” I couldn’t help a tiny laugh. “How can I get through to you?”

My fingers folded and re-folded the sheet as I said, “You ought to forget getting revenge against CP Comics. They cheated lots of talented, naïve people out of their creations. Still do. To use some of your favorite words, it wasn’t personal. It was business. You have to forgive them so you can forgive yourself. Then get on with your life.”

Eric’s expression gave nothing away. Typical.

Roland, Sarah, Ardis, and Damien arrived together.

“How are you?” Roland asked, moving to the other side of my bed and bending down to place a too-intimate kiss on my lips.

“Don’t mess with her ribs,” Eric warned. His tone indicated he wanted Roland to back off from kissing me, too. Roland straightened and stared at Eric, not looking intimidated. My current lover and my former lover faced each other across my bed, hostility open in their eyes. 

I didn’t want them coming to blows. I detailed my short list of injuries before seeking another distraction. “Did the comicon’s secret enemy ever reveal his name?”

“After I put my foot on his neck, he did,” Sarah said, without an ounce of braggadocio. “Ralph Fisher.”

“Never heard of him,” Eric said.

“That was his beef,” Roland said. “He’d been overlooked his entire career. According to him, he’s the one who built CP Comics licensing into the powerhouse it is today.”

“He probably did,” Eric said, “but no one cares about licensing.”

“The company owners do,” Roland said. “Comic books are a loss leader today, merely the inexpensive generators of story concepts that can be turned into toys and blockbuster movies.”

Eric did not look pleased to hear he was the boss of a cheap house of ideas.

“I lost the Dimensional Diamond,” I broke in. “It’s somewhere in the rubble of what used to be that luxury suite.”

“I’ll alert people to look for it,” Roland replied.

“Don’t bother. I’m done with being a temporary superheroine,” I said. “I spent the entire comicon looking for trouble. It’s no way to live.”

Roland’s expression showed his skepticism. “Being powerful enough to save the day is important. I hear it’s addictive.”

I shook my head. “My adventures are over. I have no superpowers in this universe and no comic book weapon anymore, either.”

Eric frowned. “You’re bigger than that. Anyway, I called your mother when you were unconscious. She said your father felt a disturbance in the force and is sending you another weapon.”

“You’re kidding,” I said, rolling my eyes. “A disturbance in the force? Howard Hogarth specializes in talk like that.”

Roland grinned from ear to ear. “You were meant to be a superheroine. When a need occurs, a heroine appears.”

“Are you quoting a sci-fi movie?” I asked. I tossed my head. “Of course you are.”

Damien said, “I’m heading back to the convention center to pack up. It’s been an exciting comicon in very unexpected ways.” He looked at Ardis with warmth in his eyes. “Maybe Ardis and I will combine comic book dynasties and strike back at the corporate comics empire after all.”

“The revenge of the cheated,” Roland said, slurring the last word to sound suspiciously like “Jedi.” He’d made a movie joke. A big step for him.

We all groaned.

The End