Chapter Fourteen
The room slowly came into focus. It wasn't familiar. The ceiling was a white cloth and at the moment, it was all she could see. Heidi turned her head to the right and saw hospital beds with injured soldiers in them. The room she was in was rather primitive. It wasn’t a hut so much as a giant, white tent. She turned her head to the left and saw Aunt Reboa asleep in a chair next to her.
"Aunt Reboa?"
Reboa startled awake. She broke into a wide smile when she saw Heidi awake and leaned forward to her.
"Oh, honey, you're okay," she said.
Heidi rubbed her forehead. She had a splitting headache. "Where's Dexter?"
"I was so worried," Reboa went on, ignoring her question. "But now that you're okay I can start being happy again. Honey, the rebels are winning!" She grabbed Heidi’s hands excitedly.
"Aunt Reboa..."
"Things are still chaotic but news of the Emperor's death has spread," Reboa was talking so fast Heidi was having trouble getting a word in. “They’re calling you a hero for killing him…” She paused briefly to add: “You have to tell me what you did because from what Lt. Hathaway described, it sounded like what your mother did…”
“I don’t really know what I did,” Heidi responded. “I need to speak to Dexter.”
“Well, you’ll figure it out,” Reboa continued. “Many people who proclaimed loyalty to the Emperor are now switching sides since they were only loyal out of fear. And those who are still loyal are few and they're on the run and being captured.”
"Aunt Reboa," Heidi said again. "Where is Dexter?"
Reboa shrugged. "Oh, he's around somewhere. He comes by to check on you every now and then." She leaned forward and started talking excitedly again. "I think we can find a house together once things calm down and you're back on your feet. A lot of the homes the Emperor had control of are now abandoned and the rebellion is going to be giving them away to needy people."
"No!" Heidi shouted suddenly. "I have to talk to Dexter."
"Well, I'm sure he'll be by sometime..."
"No! Now!" Heidi exclaimed. She forced herself to a sitting position even though her head still felt like it was going to split open. She brought her hand to it and winced. "I have to talk to him now. I have to. Please go find him for me."
"Maybe you should rest," Reboa argued, trying to push her back down on the bed.
Heidi shoved her hands away. "Aunt Reboa, either go find him for me or I'm going to get out of this bed and going to find him myself."
"All right, all right," Reboa said. She placed her hands on Heidi’s shoulders to keep her from getting up. "Just lie back, I'll go find him."
Heidi nodded wearily and lay back down on the bed. Reboa got up and walked from the tent they were using as an infirmary. Base 65 had its own infirmary but by the time Heidi had been brought back, it was completely full and they were setting up tents to house more of the injured. Reboa had been devastated when she saw Heidi. Dexter had carried her in and set her down on the bed while Reboa wept. Dexter ordered her to be treated immediately—and then he’d left.
Once Reboa had calmed down a bit, she realized there was something odd about the way Dexter just left Heidi there. She asked him what had occurred and he’d told her, but in a short, business-like way. And he’d come by a few times to check on Heidi’s progress, but had never stayed for more than a few minutes, mumbling “Keep me informed about her condition” to Reboa or whatever medic happened to be looking after Heidi at the moment.
People were milling around the base as Reboa searched for him. She didn't see him anywhere in the general vicinity. She checked his hut first and then went to headquarters where she was stopped by guards at the entrance. She quickly explained that Heidi was asking for Dexter and wouldn't let up. Finally, a guard ran inside and came back with Dexter after a few moments.
"Reboa?" Dexter said, confused. "What happened? Is Heidi okay?" For a moment, concern washed over his face.
Reboa nodded. "She's fine. She's awake and she's asking to talk to you."
Dexter frowned; his concern disappeared. "Well, I'll be by later..."
"I really think you should come now," Reboa said. "I had to promise I'd come find you and bring you back or else she was going to get out of bed and come after you herself and she's really in no condition to be out of bed."
Dexter's frown deepened and he looked a little annoyed. "All right, just one second." He walked back into headquarters and found Commander Trevana, who he’d been talking to just before Reboa showed up.
“Heidi’s awake and asking for me,” he informed the commander. “And Reboa says she’s threatening to get out of bed if I don’t come to her.”
Trevana nodded. “Go and check on her and come back.”
Dexter turned on his heel and walked back out of headquarters to where Reboa was waiting. He waved her forward and then followed her back to the infirmary.
After he had returned to the base and taken Heidi to the infirmary and been assured that she would be given the best care, he had immediately reported to Commander Trevana. He had informed her of all that had occurred to him since he’d entered the palace and her face had grown increasingly irritated.
“So you disobeyed my orders?” she asked sternly as he finished his tale.
“Yes,” he acknowledged. “And I’ll take whatever punishment you think is appropriate.”
Trevana had sighed heavily and frowned at him for a few moments, but then the corner of her mouth turned up slightly. “Well, I’d say since you managed to kill Ezar there’s really no harm, no foul,” she responded finally. “And Trist and Dugan captured the captain of the guard and the rest of his men. And all the other guard posts are reporting rebel control so I really don’t think it’s time for me to be dealing with a court marshal for a rebel army that’s attempting to start a new republic. I have enough on my plate.”
Dexter’s brow furrowed. “So you’re letting me off the hook?” he asked. “I willfully and defiantly disobeyed your orders. You shouldn’t let that slide.”
“The only ones who know that you disobeyed my orders are you, me, and Sgt. Trist, correct?”
“Yes.”
“Well, then let’s just say that your rescue mission for Heidi was a secret one,” she said. “It was planned that way all along as a diversion for Ezar and it worked and we managed to assassinate him in the process. I’ve already spoken to Sgt. Trist about it.”
“So we’re just going to cover it up?”
“I think of it more as accepting that the outcome was favorable and not letting a tiny slip-up destroy everything we’ve worked for,” Trevana replied.
“It wasn’t a tiny slip-up,” Dexter argued. “It was a stupid, arrogant, malicious violation of your trust and I…”
“Lieutenant!” Trevana interrupted, holding up her hand. “I know you. Now, I don’t know what it was that happened in that torture room that’s making you question your decision but I know when you made it you didn’t act maliciously towards me or the rebellion. And if we make your insubordination a big to-do then it’s going to look like I’m trying to punish one of the two people who assassinated Emperor Ezar and brought about peace for us. Right now it’s more important that the people back us as we finish bringing down this empire and establish a new, peaceful republic. If we say that your actions and Heidi’s were planned—it works in our favor.”
“But it’s a lie,” Dexter grumbled.
“Sometimes when we tell lies we have very good reasons for doing so,” Trevana responded. “I’m sure you can see how in this case it’s important and even if you can’t, I’m giving you a new order to stick to this lie…” She inclined her head towards him significantly. “I hope that this time I can trust you to carry out my orders.”
Dexter pressed his lips together but nodded his assent once. “Yes, Commander.”
Since then he had spent the majority of h
is time at headquarters helping Commander Trevana organize the chaos that was the aftermath of the attack on the empire. He was trying to bury himself in his duties and not think about things. Not think about that kiss, not think about his confession of love, not think about everything that had occurred in that torture room. But every now and again that ache in the pit of his stomach got the better of him and he would wander over to the infirmary to check on her again. Each time he was hoping she would be awake because he wanted to know that she was okay, but was also gratified that she was not—he didn’t want to talk with her.
Now she was awake and was insisting on talking to him. He swallowed and told himself that this was inevitable unless she had died, which he certainly didn’t want, and he just had to suck it up and get it over with. Then he could go on about his business and put all of this nonsense with her behind him.
He entered the tent and when Heidi saw him, she pushed herself into a seated position again.
"Dex..."
He didn’t respond, he merely nodded to her and deliberately clasped his hands behind his back. He stood close enough that it was clear she was who he was there to see, but not so close to the bed that the meeting would appear to be anything other than him checking to see that she was all right.
"Heidi, lie back down," Reboa said. She rushed to Heidi’s side and attempted to push her back down on the bed.
Heidi shoved her hands away again. "Aunt Reboa would you give us a minute, please?"
Reboa frowned but nodded and walked out of the tent.
Heidi smiled up adoringly at Dexter. He smiled back politely. She desperately wanted to hold his hand and speak to him telepathically but he wasn't allowing it.
"I'm glad to know you're awake," he said finally.
"You came for me..." she began.
"Yes," he said, averting his eyes from hers. "There's no need to thank me. Those were my orders. They didn't want you to reveal anything you knew to the Emperor."
"Dex..."
"So if that's all, I really have to get back." He took a step backwards.
"No!" she exclaimed and reached for him. "That isn't all. I have to tell you something." She grabbed her head as she began to feel dizzy. Dexter lurched forward automatically but then quickly regained himself before she noticed. He retook his aloof stance with his hands behind his back.
"Should I get a doctor?" he asked.
"No," she said. "I have to tell you something."
"What?"
"I lied," she said and dropped her hands from her head. Tears sprung to her eyes. "I'm so sorry, Dex, I lied." She looked up at him as the tears began pouring from her eyes.
"You lied about what?" he asked, shaking his head. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"When Ezar asked me if I loved you and I said no," she explained. "I lied."
Dexter's arms dropped to his side. His lips parted slightly and his severe posture relaxed visibly. "You lied...?"
She nodded, wiping away tears. "The truth is that I do love you," she continued. "I love you."
Dexter's grin returned slowly and he pulled the chair Reboa had been sitting in up next to her bed. He reached out his hands and took hers in them.
Why? he asked. Why did you lie?
I'm so sorry. I thought maybe if Ezar thought I didn't love you that he wouldn't torture you to try to get me to talk. But it didn't work. Tears streamed down her face. He tortured you anyway and it was the most horrible experience I’ve ever had—watching you suffer. It was even worse than when they were torturing me. And I felt even worse because I know how much I hurt you when you said you loved me and I said I didn't love you back. I only did it to try to save you but it was for nothing and I hurt you and I hate myself for…
"Stop!" he exclaimed aloud and then chuckled. "It's okay."
"It is so not okay."
"It is," he said and leaned forward. He kissed her forehead gently, affectionately. "I understand. I forgive you."
"Really?" she asked.
He nodded and pressed his forehead against hers. "Really."
She sniffled and smiled at him through her tears. She leaned in and his lips met hers with eager sincerity. She kissed him tenderly and earnestly.
I love you, Dex.
Back at ya, Red.