Jacqueline Druga - Protocol One

“Okay,” Mulligan said. “Your turn. Six to five is the score.”

I nodded at Peter and then pressed the button. “Heston. Apocalypse. Simians.”

“Planet of the Apes.”

I groaned loudly when he said the correct answer. “You’re right. Tie score. Ask your question.” I looked at Peter and told him to get it right.

“I’m trying.”

Mulligan spoke. “Director. Cruise Ship. Seventies Show.”

“Seriously?” I asked him.

Peter shook his head.

“Repeated.” Mulligan said. “Adding one more. Director. Cruise Ship. Seventies show. Blonde.”

I tossed out my hands. “Who the hell would know that answer? Blond. Cruise Director. Seventies show.”

At that moment, Tom entered the office and hung up his arctic coat. “Julie. That’s your answer.”

When I relayed the answer and found out I was right, I clenched my fist with a mighty, ‘Yes’.

“I’m up and you’re out,” Tom said. “I want to play. I came up with some good questions. Besides Tony needs to see you on the lower level.”

I whined. “He probably wants to gripe at me again for not kicking Clarisse out yet.”

“For what it’s worth,” Peter said. “I don’t blame you for waiting until it hits thirty-two. Besides, she does wonderful things with the snap peas.”

Tom stated. “Just because the woman can work magic with snap peas isn’t a reason to keep her here. She was kicked out.”

“She wants to take her son with her.” I said. “He can’t take that much cold.”

“I’ll give you that,” Tom said.

Hating to leave in the middle of a trivia game we were winning, I went to find Tony.

When I entered the lower floor of Hive Two, I didn’t see him. So I called out. “Hello?”

“Hey.” He replied.

“Where are you?”

He stood up from behind the jukebox.

“I’m here as you requested,” I said.

“Great, thanks. So I saw Nelly.” He pushed the jukebox back to the wall. “She has this elaborate Halloween party planned for the kids.”

“Is that why you wanted me?”

“No. I wanted to see you. I haven’t seen you all day.”

“That’s nice.”

“And…” Tony lifted a finger. “I fixed the jukebox.”

At that instant, it lit up.

“Oh my God, really? What was wrong with it?”

“Puzzle pieces shoved in the money slot. They slipped down and jammed things. We have music for the party. But while fixing it…” He stood before the jukebox. “I found a song. I think it’s perfect for right now.”

“You brought me down here for a song?”

“No, I brought you down here for a moment. Plus, it’ll make you happy. It made me happy when I saw it.”

The song began to play, I was familiar with the bass line, and Tony then snapped his fingers with the recording. He turned around with a serious face, extended his hand to me and started singing.

I laughed.

“I got sunshine…” He sang then grabbed my hand and yanked me into him. “On a cloudy day.”

He cupped my hand in his, and arm around my waist, began to dance with me in a fun way.

“This isn’t you, Tony,” I said. “You’re not romantic.”

“I’m sorry, is this romantic?”

“Yes.”

“Ok, I’m not romantic. But…. I’m spontaneous.”

“No. No you are not.”

“Then enjoy the moment, because it won’t happen all that….” He paused to sing ‘My girl’, and continued talking. “All that often.”

“What’s with the mood?”

“I went out this morning. Saw the sun. I was happy.”

“Me, too.”

“And I realized,” Tony slowed down in dancing. “I’m alive. I looked at that sun, and realized I am alive… because of you.”

“No.” I shook my head. “We’re alive, all of us, because of each other. You’re in a really good mood.”

“I am.” He winked. “I was thinking about us. And, you’re going to tell me I am corny.”

“Go on.”

“How it took something so bad for me to find something so good.”

His words made me stop.

“With all that’s gone bad,” Tony said. “Am I wrong for feeling very happy that I have you?”

“No, it’s not wrong at all. You promised me you’d be there every step of the way, and you were. You are. Not wrong at all. I honestly kept going for you and Joie.”

Tony smiled gently at me, lowering his head to kiss me. “Thanks for taking a moment for this.”

“Thanks for finally showing me your romantic side.”

“Yeah, well, I’m about to get even more romantic if you’re…”

The hiss of the radio brought Tom’s voice. “Tony. Tony, come in.”

“Oh my God, are you kidding me?” Tony stepped back from our dance. “Seconds away from me going over the top and telling you that I love you and Tom ruined it.” He lifted the radio, smiled and winked at me. “Thank God. I could have looked pretty dumb.” He brought the radio to his mouth. “Yeah, Tom.”

“We may have a problem. Need you up here STAT.”

We didn’t need more than that. Moment tossed aside, both Tony and I made our way to the Switch room without hesitation.

“What’s going on?” Tony said as soon as he entered.

“This.” Tom pointed to the monitor. “Intruder. One. What do we do?”

I looked and saw the person walk through the gate. They staggered, carried a huge bag and even fought to stay upright without falling. The person had difficulty, so I moved closer to get a better look. In fact my eyes widened and I looked again because only when I took that closer look, for a moment I couldn’t breathe.

“Anyone else out there?” Tony asked.

“Not that I see,” Tom replied. “Just the one intruder.”

“Oh my God.” I gasped out. “Oh my God!”

“What?” Tony questioned.

I spun from the monitor and ran to the door. “That’s not an intruder. That’s Gil!” I grabbed the arctic coat from the hook, and raced out.

I didn’t need to see his face, or even a close up to know that it was Gil.

Even on that little screen, I knew. I just knew. I heard them calling to me as I ran, to stop, to wait.

I didn’t need to.

“Anna!” Tony blasted my name. “Stop.”

I kept going.

“Anna, I mean it. Stop.”

When I finally reached the doors, I did. I didn’t want to stop on the steps. It was the first time I could recall not getting winded, I was so excited. The coat was a larger one, but that didn’t matter. I wouldn’t be out too long and although the temperatures were cold, they had been a lot colder.

“Anna,” Tony spoke breathless. “What are you doing?”

“It’s Gil. He’s out there.”

“You don’t know that.”

“I do.”

“It was a brief one inch figure on a gray scale screen. He’s wearing a coat. You don’t know.”

“And again, I do know.” I zipped up the jacket and slid the first lock open. “I’d know him anywhere. He could be a face in a crowd and I’d spot him. It’s Gil.” I tossed on the hood, and undid the remaining lock.

I saw Tony reach for a coat.

I opened the door. A fine mist of snow blew in. Not heavy, but more like ice crystals.

Tony blurted out a ‘Son of a bitch’ as I ran to the man that had dropped to his knees.

If it were possible, I don’t think I felt the cold as I stayed focused on getting to him. Was Tony near me, beside me? I didn’t know.

He wore a classic pea coat, knit cap, and his jeans were tucked into his old work boots. Along with an old pair of gloves, his clothing offered little protection from the elements. He was on his knees, hands to the ground, ahuge bag beside him and his head was down. The sun glasses that he wore had dropped to the ground.