* * *
“Paris! Paris! Do you hear me?” A panicky voice shouted.
I strained to focus on the voice. There was something important about it. I had no concept of whom or where I was, but the voice meant something to me.
I felt thumping on my chest, and the voice said, “Damn it, Paris! Wake up.”
Wake up? I wasn’t awake? Oh yes, my eyes were closed. I opened them, only to see a very angry goddess, ready to hammer her fist down again upon my chest. I raised a feeble arm to ward her off.
“Please! Don't hit me again. It hurts,” I said with a cracked voice.
The face flashed through a range of emotions, finally settling on one that looked to be relief.
My memories of my conscious self began creeping feebly back. I became aware of my surroundings. “What happened?” I croaked.
“What happened? What happened, is you damn near killed yourself – you jackass.”
The vision finally resolved itself into Elizabeth's face, and I was fully aware of the world around me.
“I think I may have made a mistake.”
She turned to Caesar who knelt nearby. “You deal with this idiot before I get angry enough to finish what he started. Don't let him up until I say so.” She stalked off toward the stairs.
I rubbed my chest. “I think she's really mad at me. My chest hurts.”
“Beth had to shock you. Your heart stopped beating,” Caesar said.
I looked toward the stairs. “Is she all right?”
Caesar shook his head. “Probably not. That's why doctors don't treat people they're emotionally attached to. No professional objectivity.”
Caesar placed a restraining hand on my shoulder. “Paris, I'm sorry, but you're going to have to get over it fast. We've got a bigger problem.”
“What kind of problem?” My head began to ache.
Caesar looked grim. “There's a bloody SWAT team surrounding the house. That kind of problem.”