Chapter Fourteen: Dreamland

Krystal awoke to an empty room, sunlight streaming through the window and hitting the curtain separating the beds. She thought she remembered sharing a room with someone, but she was now quite alone.

Memories of the accident flooded back into her mind. She remembered walking with Tedford, talking about their families and friends. The bike appearing suddenly around the corner with no warning. Sharp pain, then darkness... and voices.

She had met Tanagua in that in-between area between sleep and consciousness, or at least she thought she had. Was it real? Was it a dream? He had told her about visitors from other worlds, and the love of Our Savior, Jesus Christ, for all mankind. That He was watching over all of his Father's children, and that he was concerned for her, Krystal, whom they knew by name. Tanagua was a gentle soul, it seemed, and she felt right at home in his presence.

It *was* just a dream, wasn't it? "Teddy Bear!" she suddenly said outloud, seeing him walk into the room carrying a crumpled, white paper bag with the ubiquitous golden arches emblazoned on the side. "Hey, girlfriend, I brought you some real food. You okay? How long ya hafta stay?"

"They said I could leave this morning, after they complete some paperwork or something," she said, smiling as she unwrapped a Filet-o-Fish and devoured it, some tartar sauce dripping out of it onto her hospital gown. "It was just a concussion," she continued, her mouth half full, as Tedford admired her as she ate. He thought she still looked remarkably hot, despite not having showered now for a couple of days, having been run down and unconscious for a few hours, and now wearing the food stain upon the normally unbecoming hospital attire.

A nurse entered the room with a clipboard full of blank forms for Krystal to sign, scornfully looking over her and Tedford together, and softly mumbling something about "indigent" something or other as she retreated back out into the busy hallway.

"Look, Teddy Bear, I need to tell you..." Krystal started, but was interrupted by Tedford's hand moving gently in front of her lips, "You don't need to say nuthin', girl, you da bomb in my book." Krystal smiled at him, and opened her mouth as if to try and interject some mild protest, but T-Bone deftly cut her off by picking up her jacket and shoes from off the nearby chair, and tossing her jeans and t-shirt to her along with a question, "Whaddya say we get outta this joint?"