Free Hidden (Final Dawn) by Darrell Maloney

blockage to some degree. We get it from the fatty foods we eat. It only becomes a problem when it starts to restrict the blood flow.
         “When it gets this serious, before the freeze we might have considered surgery. That’s obviously no longer an option. But if she watches her diet, I think there’s a good chance the Niaspan will help reduce the blockage over time.”
         “Do we have enough Niaspan for her long term treatment?”
         “Yes, it’s one of the basic drugs we were able to sock away before the freeze. I checked the freezer, and we’ve got enough to get her and a couple of other people through until the thaw, if anyone else needs it. After the thaw we’ll have to send you guys to a pharmacy to gather some more, if you can find it.
         “In the meantime, we need to encourage her to stay active, but to rest when she feels weak or dizzy. Also to eat better foods. I know it’s not easy in an environment like this, but she’s an expert at developing a separate diet plan for the diabetics, and for those with food allergies. Making her own diet plan that still gives her the calories, but with lower fat, should be easy for her.”
         Mark breathed easier, knowing that Debbie was on the case.
         “What’s her prognosis? For the long term, I mean?”
         “Well, let’s just say we should probably pray that there are still heart surgeons left alive out there when we break out of here. And that they still remember how to do arterial blockage surgery. All the medication she takes now, and all the changes to her diet, will extend her life, but they won’t fix the problem completely. They’ll keep it from getting much worse, hopefully. But eventually, she’s going to need to unblock that artery.”
         Mark slept fitfully that night. Was that the one thing they had failed to plan for? Should they have found a surgeon and invited him to join them? To bring a portable operating room and all his necessary tools of the trade with him? But then what? Would he need operating room nurses? Would he have to bring a staff of four or five people with him? And if so, which four or five of Mark’s relatives would they have had to leave behind?
         Hannah awoke at three a.m. to find him still awake. She wanted to take away his stress, to absorb his worry. But there was nothing she could do.
         “I’m sorry, honey. I wish I could do something to help.”
         He kissed her and said, “Just pray.”
         Mark looked across the room to the portable crib where Markie slept.
         “Isn’t it about time for him to wake up?”
         “Not quite yet. He usually wakes up around five a.m. But it wouldn’t hurt my feelings if he woke up a little early today.”
         She very gingerly touched her left breast, which was swollen and tender.
         Mark crawled out of bed and went to the kitchen, then came back with two baby bottles and Hannah’s breast pump.
         “Here you go, honey. Fill these up and go back to sleep. I’ll take care of the little squirt when he wakes up.”
         “Are you sure, baby?”
         “I’m positive. I can’t sleep anyway. No sense in both of us being up. And besides, you know I love to watch you sleep. That’s when you are most beautiful.”
         “You say the sweetest things. How did I manage to land such a sweet man?”
         He smiled and said, “I don’t know. You must have pissed somebody off big time. I was your booby prize.”
         She kneaded her left breast, squirting milk into the first of the bottles.
         “Speaking of boobies,” she said matter of factly, “I’m not making as much milk as I used to. Should we start converting him over to cereal?”
         “It’s up to you, honey. He’s a guy, after all. It wouldn’t bother him to suck on your boobies his whole life. So don’t wait for him to say he’s had enough.”
         She laughed that