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From: Morg105829 <Morg105829@aol.com>
Subject: Kathy by Morgan (M/F) Chapter 15b
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To:  story-submit@qz.little-neck.ny.us
From: morg105829@aol.com
Subj: "Kathy" Book II, Chapter 15b (M/F) (280 lines)
January 18, 1998

Thanks for the (mostly) friendly comments.  This is the nineteenth section (I
think.  I may have lost count because of split-chapter uploads) of a book that
runs 26 chapters.  This chapter is divided into two parts purely for upload
purposes.  Please put them together.  There's only one (1) chapter 15!

Readers are most strongly urged to read Kathy from the beginning.  It will
make no sense otherwise.  I hope to have the balance of the book posted within
a week or so.

Comments (of any kind) will be appreciated.  Contact me at morg105829@aol.com.
Although this is substantially more tame than many postings on A.S.S.M., the
usual disclaimers apply.  Permission is granted to repost, but only on non-
commercial sites.  Please inform me if you do so.

"Kathy"

(c) 1991, 1998 by Morgan.

Book II

Chapter 15b

A nurse came in to assist Charley -- "If I'm supposed to call you Kathy, you
damn well can call me Charley" -- with cleaning and dressing the abrasions.
"Kathy, I would like you to meet my wife, Cindy.  Cindy, this is Kathy Smith."
Cindy Miller shook hands, and the two then set about carefully cleaning the
abrasions of dirt, cement particles, and other debris.

Kathy was regularly "ouching" as they worked.  She finally said, "Look, I know
you Millers are sadists.  I know you have to use scouring powder to be sure
its clean.  But for God's sake, do you really need to use Brillo, too?"  The
Millers laughed but were relieved she was well enough to crack jokes.  While
Charles finished, Cindy left the room for more supplies.  When she returned,
she had a lovely robe that fit Kathy well.  She also brought some facial soap
and washed Kathy's face, as well as a hair brush which she used first to brush
out dirt and dust and then to arrange her hair neatly.

Cindy Miller looked at Kathy and said softly, "Wow!  Kathy you don't use any
makeup at all, do you?"  Kathy shook her head.  "And your hair:  You just wash
it, brush it, and comb it."  She nodded.  "Kathy, if I let this information
out, half the women in Virginia would be after you.  With all the garbage the
rest of us have to go through...  And after all that agony, we can't hope to
look half as pretty as you do on your worst day..."  Cindy cocked her head,
then grinned, "Which just might be today."

"Cindy, this is your bathrobe, isn't it?"  The nurse nodded.  "It's a very
nice one.  A present from Charley?"

Another nod.  "Kathy we're a trauma team and our hours can be weird.  So I
keep some things I need here at the hospital."

"Thanks, Cindy.  I am very much obliged."

Dr. Miller had checked outside and returned.  "How do you feel, now?"

"About like the girl who tripped jumping rope in the playground at recess.
Why?" Kathy replied.

"Because I can't even count the number of people waiting for you out there.  I
don't think there's been such a mob since President Reagan was shot!  How do
you want me to handle it?"

"Well, for openers I want to get out of your hair so you can treat some
injured people.  Then I guess I'll try to sort out the guest list."

"Kathy, I have just been told in no uncertain terms that you are the primary
concern of this institution right now.  I just realized you probably don't
even know where you are.  This is the hospital where your uncle, Sam Jenkins,
died.  He built the damn thing by himself.  His generos ity will never be
forgotten.  Furthermore, you are the hottest news item on the East Coast and
have been for months.  We like basking in your reflected glory.  Speaking
professionally -- and seriously -- I don't want you out of my sight just yet.
I'm pretty sure you're okay.  But I want to be absolutely certain."

Peter Mahoney was the first one in the door.  He was reassured that Kathy
wasn't seriously hurt and she was soon grateful for his presence.  He directed
traffic and set the interview sequence.  There were detectives who had been
assigned to the case.  They checked her pistol, extracted the empty cartridge
case and put it in an evidence bag.  A police stenographer joined them and re
corded her statement.  Finally -- at Kathy's insistence and against Pete's
better judgment -- the press were allowed to see her.

Dr. Miller had arranged to use the room in the hospital set up for press
briefings.  The TV cameras were set up and the crews were ready.  Kathy walked
out on the podium alone to field questions.  As she appeared the press
applauded and cheered.  Kathy blushed.  She realized that the gentlemen of the
media -- regardless of whatever else they might be -- are the most cynical
audience around.  They like to believe that they've seen it all and believe
almost nothing.  Their applause was a tribute from their hearts.  She briefly
described the events, which were few enough.  No, she was not seriously
injured, just scrapes and bruises.  There was absolutely no way she would
change the Dangerous Criminals Task Force approach.  She was strangely proud
of this attempt on her life.  It was proof that the program was working.
Then, from memory, she gave the press a comprehensive progress report on the
program.

When it was over she called Jane Ferguson.  She had previously called to
reassure her that she was all right.  When she finished, she asked the Millers
if they were on duty on Thanksgiving.  When they said no, she extended Jane's
invitation to join them for Thanksgiving dinner.  The invitation was accepted.
Kathy checked the time.  It was three o'clock.  She made another call to Jane
to ask for her help, quickly giving her a list of things to buy.  Jane was
used to getting strange requests but she repeated back the list because this
one was particularly odd.  Kathy then accidentally caused a near-brawl.  She
asked a group of police officers if someone would give her a ride home and a
fight almost erupted over who would get the privilege.

While Kathy was being treated, the law enforcement agencies in the area
mobilized.  In only moments the message had spread that parties unknown had
try to gun down their Kathy.  Three hours after the shooting there was a
break.  A rental car was discovered abandoned in the woods near the airport.
It was messy:  There was a corpse in the passenger seat, and a shotgun was on
the floor by his seat.  Then the crime lab people swarmed into action.  The
cause of death was determined after autopsy to be one bullet in the head.  It
had entered at the bridge of the nose and ricocheted inside the skull making
jelly out of the brain.  Death was instantaneous.  Only one shot had been
fired from the shotgun and the corpse tested positive as the shooter.  The
bullet recovered from his skull was the one bullet fired from Kathy's gun.

That evening the TV news shows rearranged their planned story sequence.  The
stories began with the shooting, shifted to the body in the car and then to
Kathy's press conference.  The story tone was one of awe.  Today, the girl who
killed two gunmen Saturday night shoots and kills a killer who is shooting at
her.

One local news show featured an interview with a Marine small-arms expert.
The Marine officer was an instructor in a special program developed to train
men in urban fighting.  The officer said that Kathy's shot was nearly
impossible.  However, he pointed out that her reactions reflected
extraordinary training and practice.  "Hitting the gunman had to be luck.  But
her prior reactions showed training and practice.  Miss Smith saw the danger,
dropped to her right, rolled, drew her weapon and returned fire in a single
continuous motion.  That was not luck, nor could it be."  The reporter asked
how the officer could be sure.  Statements from passers-by were, as usual,
conflicting and inconclusive.  The officer replied, "It's a matter of physical
evidence.  From the location of the broken glass ballistics experts reliably
placed the car at a point on the street where the shotgun was fired.  At the
same time, a forensic pathologist estimated where the car was when Kathy
fired.  The two spots were virtually identical.  With the maximum margin for
error, the two points were only a few feet apart.  Therefore," he concluded,
"It had to be highly-trained reaction."

The main story was transmitted by satellite to network news control in New
York.  It was then re- transmitted to all affiliated stations for
discretionary use on their local news shows.  Because of the pervasiveness of
violent crime in cities around the country, many local stations used the
story, and some used it all.  That night Kathy received a telegram from Chris
who had given her shooting pointers in the Yale competition.  Chris was now
working in Minneapolis where the story had been played.  The telegram read,
"SAW YOU ON TV TONIGHT.  YOU STILL LOOK GREAT.  GLAD TO SEE YOU'RE STILL
SHOOTING 10'S.  STORY SAYS 5 10'S WITH 5 SHOTS.  LOVE, CHRIS, ALPHA HOUSE,
YALE."

Kathy sat on her sofa assembling the energy required to get up and go to bed.
She had absolutely refused the police offer to have policewomen in her
apartment overnight.  Just then the phone rang.  It was Julie again.  After
reassuring the woman that she really was all right, Julie said, "I was ordered
to thank you for keeping your head down.  The dead gunner has been identified
and steps are being taken."  They talked a few more minutes and Julie hung up.

Kathy smiled to herself.  Clearly some sources were faster than others.  She
knew for a fact that the body lying in the morgue was still John Doe as far as
the law enforcement agencies were concerned.  Officially, the body was still
unidentified.  Yet she had just heard "from a well- informed source" that
others had identified the body and -- ominously for someone -- "steps were
being taken."  She stumbled into bed.

The next morning -- Thanksgiving Day -- Kathy eased herself out of bed and
limped into the bathroom.  She turned to look at her right side which was a
mess.  The bruises were now turning color and the abrasions were oozing
lymphatic fluid.  Of course, they looked far worse than they were.  She went
to her closet to find something to wear.  Her clothes were all tailored to her
figure and would be very uncomfortable over the bandage on her hip.  In the
corner she found a wild muu-muu she had bought on a trip to Hawaii.  It hung
from her shoulders like a tent.  It was perfect.

She arrived at the Ferguson mansion before the Millers.  Jane and Bob were
waiting at the door as she walked up, concern showing in their faces.  Jane
had talked with Kathy and they had seen her on the television news, but it
wasn't the same as being reassured by the woman in person.  Kathy realized
there was an unforeseen advantage in wearing her muu-muu.  When Jane saw what
Kathy was wearing she started to laugh.  The incongruity of the mansion
setting, a Thanksgiving dinner and the multicolored muu-muu were too much.
The older girl started laughing so hard she could no longer stand.  She
collapsed onto a living room sofa.

When she recovered her composure, Jane took Kathy upstairs.  They went into a
bedroom so Jane could inspect Kathy's injuries first hand.  As she did Kathy
smiled down at her, "The big problem today is going to be how to maintain
modesty.  It's the only thing I own that I can wear that doesn't put pressure
on the bandage on my hip."

Jane stood up and held her friend.  "It's disgusting...  It's not fair...
Kathy Smith, you are the only person alive who can put on that wild-looking
tent and still look gorgeous!"  She smiled, and kissed the girl.  "Kathy,
we've been so worried!  Please don't use up all your luck."  Jane then told
Kathy she had been able to obtain all the items on the strange list Kathy had
given her the day before.

A short time later the Millers arrived.  Kathy had the opportunity to see
Cindy Miller out of her nurse's uniform for the first time.  She was a
beautiful girl with brown hair.  Her size and build were very similar to
Kathy's.  Then it turned out that Charley Miller and Bob Ferguson knew one
another from the hospital board on which Bob served as a member of the
Executive Committee.  Drinks were served followed by a sumptuous dinner.
After the blessing, champagne was poured and Bob offered a toast, "To Kathy
Smith!  Without Kathy, Jane and I wouldn't be together today.  I would not be
the happiest, most contented man in the world today.  This is a day for giving
thanks, Kathy.  Thank you for being with us, and thank God for allowing you to
be with us."  They all drank.

After dinner, they adjourned to the living room.  The butler and chauffeur
appeared carrying a stack of large boxes which they placed, without
instructions, beside Kathy's chair.  Kathy said, "There are a few things here
I want to present.  I know it is Thanksgiving, not Christmas, but these are in
the way of thanksgiving."  She shoved two large boxes over to where the
Millers were seated, looking very puzzled.  Cindy and Charles each started to
strip the festive paper off the two boxes.  Charley's turned out to be a case
of Comet cleanser; Cindy's was a case of Brillo.  They were dumbstruck; they
were about to open the cases, when Kathy said, "Don't bother opening them.
They are what they appear to be.  I know you exhausted the hospital's supply
on my body yesterday, so I thought it only fair for me to replenish it."  The
Millers started to laugh, remembering Kathy's comments of the previous day.
Then Kathy carried over two more boxes and gave them to the couple.  Again
they started to unwrap the packages.  Cindy opened hers first.  She took out a
beautiful natural-tan cashmere bathrobe.  As she unfolded it, feeling the
wonderfully soft fabric, Charley finished opening his box.  It was a duplicate
in his size.  At that moment the maid appeared with Cindy's bathrobe that she
had lent Kathy.  It had been cleaned and refinished to a like-new state.

Cindy looked up at Kathy.  "I don't know how to thank you!  But it's so
unnecessary.  Charley and I saw you on television last night.  I was so proud
that the robe Charley gave me was on television.  Honestly, Kathy, I only wish
it looked half as good on me as it does on you."

At this point Jane entered the conversation.  "Cindy, I know, and you're
right.  But please accept Kathy's gifts in the spirit intended.  I can tell
you from glorious personal experience that Kathy makes a life's work out of
being nice... of doing things she isn't expected to do... of being nice to
others.  Cindy, she does it because she wants to.  She's Kathy."

	* * *

The Naval review on Sunday was memorable.  Kathy felt strange wearing the
maternity clothes she and Jane had picked out on Friday.  They were
constructed appropriately for her injuries, even if they did appear odd.
Kathy was on the reviewing stand as sailors and marines passed in review.
With the formation at Parade Rest facing them, the admiral began his address.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we are here today to honor Katherine Smith, Assistant
District Attorney of Norfolk County.  As I'm sure you all know, through her
skill and bravery she prevented serious loss of life in a very dangerous
shooting incident.  An establishment was crowded last Saturday night with
sailors and marines.  Two gunmen entered to commit a robbery.  One of our
sailors, demonstrating more bravery than good judgment, tried to intervene and
was shot for his pains.  We have statements from over a dozen eyewitnesses.
They all agree on one crucial point: The gunmen were about to empty their
weapons into the crowd.  At this point I can only conclude Providence
intervened in the form of Katherine Smith who was sitting there at the time.
She drew a weapon and fired four shots.  Each gunman was hit twice in the
heart, dying instantly.  Experts here at the base are still shaking their
heads in utter disbelief.  Each shot would independently be considered
miraculous.  There are no numbers large enough or small enough to determine
the probability of four-for-four.

"The Congress has acted on the recommendation of the President.  Katherine
Smith, please step forward."  Kathy faced the Admiral and stood straight, as
he continued.  "It gives me great pleasure to award to you, on behalf of the
Congress and President of the United States, the Medal of Freedom.  It is the
highest award the Government can present to a civilian.  I have asked
Electronics Technician First Class James O'Rourke, the sailor whose life you
saved, to present it to you."

Kathy hadn't seen Jim before.  He came forward, smartly saluted the Admiral
with his left hand - - 'He must have been practicing,' Kathy thought -- and
received the award.  He faced her and put the medal hanging from its ribbon
around her neck.  At this point he departed from the script.  He kissed her on
the cheek and whispered, "Thanks, Kathy!"  The assembled troops cheered.  The
Navy band struck up a march and the troops were dismissed.

Then the Admiral came over to Kathy and kissed her.  He echoed Jim in a
whisper, "Thanks, Kathy!"

Off the reviewing stand, Jim O'Rourke caught up to her.  Sally Fitzgerald was
at his side wearing her uniform as a yeoman first class.  Kathy thought she
looked beautiful.  Kathy could see Sally's eyes glowing whenever she looked at
Jim.  The small girl gave Kathy a warm kiss and thanked her, too.  Kathy took
the opportunity to whisper, "I assume you brilliant kids were able to figure
out how to make love last Sunday?"

Sally started to blush but then just grinned.  "Sure did!" she replied.

	* * *

Three weeks later Jim and Sally each received registered letters.  Jim's was
from California Institute of Technology in Pasadena informing him that he had
been admitted to the class starting the following September.  He read the next
lines, blinked, read them again and yet again.  The words didn't change.  Due
to a special grant, his education had been prepaid through the completion of
his doctoral studies.

Sally had a similar experience.  Hers was from the University of Southern
California informing her that she was admitted to the class starting the
following Fall.  Her education had been prepaid through completion of Law
School.

The letters arrived on Friday, the week before Christmas.  They celebrated
together over the weekend.  They never got out of bed.

On Christmas Eve, Sally saw Kathy at Charley's.  She ran to her, gathered her
into her arms and kissed her.  Tears flowed down her cheeks.  "Kathy, there's
no way Jim and I can ever thank you, let alone repay you, for what you've
done!  You saved his life and made ours.  All we can do is name our first
daughter, Katherine, after you.  So, of course we'll do that.  There's nothing
more we can say.  Merry Christmas, Kathy, and may God bless you!  I pray that
you find the guy you're waiting for."  She dabbed at her tears and tried a
small grin.  "And don't forget to try the classified ads."  Kathy gave her a
very light pinch on her bottom and left the bar.

That night, when Sally took off her uniform she found five $1,000 bills in her
bosom.  In her locker was a small box with Christmas wrapping.  The gift was a
box of birth-control pills with a little note, "Don't be in a big rush to have
Baby Katherine.  I'm patient!"  The note was unsigned.

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