26 Alex

After the officer left Sam and Terry waited patiently in the waiting room until Drew came out with crutches under his arms. "Hey guys." He said as he saw his friends. "I'm all bandaged up, and they gave me some powerful antivirals and antibiotics just in case."

Sam and Terry popped out of their chairs. "Drew!" They said in unison as they made their way over to him.

"Any word on Alex?" Drew asked as they approached.

"No, nothing yet." Sam said. "We are expecting an update after surgery. They asked if she had any family because they couldn't find her in any database."

"That's odd." Drew said. "So, she isn't who she said she was, and she had a gun."

"I know." Sam said.

"It's the damn government!" Terry said. "You both know it! Don't beat around the bush, they had her embedded with us after the incident at the black site. I bet she was just waiting on her chance to wipe up loose ends."

"Terry that's crazy." Sam said.

"Is it though?" Terry asked. "We know what happened, and then right after that the studio sticks us with a mystery girl with no past and that carries a gun. I say it screams government agent."

"I guess we will just have to ask her when she wakes up." Drew said.

"Oh, and she is just going to be honest and tell us she is an agent." Terry said. "Of course, she is going to lie, that is what the government does."

"It could be something else." Drew said. "She could have moved out to our area, like so many young ladies do, in search of a career in the movies, and changed her name so that her past wouldn't follow her. Happens everyday where we live, don't you think that's a bit more plausible than her being a secret agent?"

"How do you explain the gun then?" Terry said, raising his eyebrow.

"Well, a girl has to protect herself." Drew said. "There is nothing wrong with a woman carrying a firearm. The world is a dangerous place, hell we tend to end up in the most dangerous places of all. I think we should all start carrying a gun honestly."

"I agree with Drew on this one Terry." Sam said. "I think his argument makes more sense."

"Now, let's discuss the case while we wait." Drew said. "Do we think the ghost has been eliminated?"

"It is possible." Sam said.

"Explain." Drew said.

"Well, I got bored waiting, so I went out to the van and got one of the tablets." Sam explained. "It was the same tablet that Alex was using. The ghost she had pulled up was a vengeful wraith, apparently in order to kill a vengeful wraith, you have to kill them the same way they died in life. That wraith must have been the man who did the stabbing and the police shot. When Terry shot him as a ghost it triggered his true death."

"Interesting." Drew said. "Well we did see him turn into a plume of smoke. So, l think we should call it case closed. Great work team!"

"I agree." Sam said. "That was a rough case, but we made it through somehow. I wonder who sent us there to begin with."

"It was probably some fan, like I said." Drew replied. "I wouldn't worry about it too much. We made it through in one piece, mostly."

"I am already missing our old cases." Terry said. "These new cases are so intense."

"They make for some great television though." Drew smiled. "Just think of the ratings and awards! Not to mention all the people we help by cleansing these locations. We are saving hundreds of lives and making money, what could possibly be better?"

"A vacation." Terry said. "After the past two cases I need a vacation."

"Ha!" Drew laughed. "You know what buddy, I do too. Let's ask the studio for a vacation when we report back. I think we earned one."

"Sounds good to me Drew." Sam said.

The door to the ER opened and a doctor came out. He walked over to the trio and addressed them. "You three Alex's coworkers?"

"Yes, how is she doc?" Drew asked.

"Well, I am not going to lie, it was touch and go." The doctor explained. "We had to give her a lot of blood and do several surgeries. Her heart stopped a few times, but each time we were able to bring her back. She is stable now and should be able to receive visitors tomorrow. So, you three go to a hotel or something and relax. You have had a traumatic night; some rest will do you all some good."

"Thanks doc!" Drew said. "I think we will do just that." Drew and the others then left the hospital and got into the van. They drove off to a hotel to rest for the remainder of the night.

Back in Alex's hospital room, she was slowly regaining consciousness. As she opened her eyes, she saw her unit chief standing next to her bed. "Welcome back agent." He said as he saw her open her yes. "I am glad you survived."

Alex pulled the mask off of her face that was supplying her with fresh oxygen, so that she would talk to her supervisor. "I messed up sir." She said.

"It's okay agent, just tell me who stabbed you?" Her boss asked. "Was it one of the suspected terrorists?"

"No, sir." She struggled to speak. "Ghosts are real. A wraith stabbed me, I was careless, and he snuck up behind me."

Her boss just stared at her with that latest revelation. "That would explain much." He said. "Although I must admit that sounds absolutely insane. Given everything that has happened though, it is the only thing that makes sense."

"Has something happened sir?" Alex asked.

"It's better if you don't know," Her boss said, "gruesome stuff. That being said, we need to know how to fight this new enemy. Stay with those three and learn everything you can. IF you think they can be trusted you are allowed to bring them into the fold. With everything that's happening we could use all the help we can get."