DOS VIDANYA
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ST. PETERSBURG HOSPITAL – Three Weeks Later
Under AJ's instructions, Mac and Harm returned to the United States, they protested but understood that they had to go back so AJ could remain in Moscow.
"Mother," Webb said weakly as he opened his eyes.
"Don't talk," Porter said taking her son's hand. "You've given me quite a scare."
"Where's Zoya?" Webb asked. "Everything was falling around us."
"Clayton, be quiet," Porter said, "Let me get the doctor."
"Where is she? I know she was here." Webb said looking around the room.
Porter looked to AJ and then back to Webb. She then got up and left the room.
"I'm sorry," AJ said barely above a whisper as he sat.
"What do you mean?" Webb asked trying to move.
"There were complications," AJ said.
"What about the baby?" Webb asked.
"The baby is fine, you have a beautiful daughter." AJ replied.
"I don't understand," Webb said. "I shielded her."
"From what Harm told me, the ceiling collapsed on you." AJ explained. "They tried to save them both. Zoya slipped away peacefully."
"Zoya never did anything peacefully," Webb replied.
"She loved you," AJ said with a smile. "I never knew."
"We should have told you," Webb said.
"She was good at keeping secrets," AJ laughed sadly.
"Where's is my daughter?" Webb asked. "I want to see her."
Porter returned to the room after telling the doctor that Webb was awake and they should bring the baby.
"Clayton, the doctor will be here shortly." Porter said going to his side.
"I have a daughter," Webb said with emotion.
"She's strong," Porter said proudly, "and she's beautiful."
"Just like her mother," Webb said. "Did Zoya say anything?"
"Yes," Porter said. "She woke before she died."
Two Weeks Ago…
"Where's Tatiana?" Zoya asked frantically when she woke.
"Zoya, calm down," AJ said soothingly. "Who is Tatiana?
"My daughter, I know the baby was a girl." Zoya said. "Where is she?"
"She's safe. She's in an incubator. She's strong and making remarkable progress." AJ advised.
"I want to see her," Zoya stated.
"I will see what I can do." AJ replied and left the room.
"How are you feeling?" Porter asked.
"Mrs. Webb, where's Clay? Is he okay?" Zoya asked.
"He's right here," Porter said.
"What's wrong with him?" Zoya asked looking over to Webb.
"He's in a coma, but he is going to come out of it." Porter said. "He has a family to take care of."
"A family," Zoya said quietly. "I am so sorry, this is my fault."
"This is not your fault," Porter said taking her hand.
"He was saving me." Zoya explained.
"He was protecting the woman he loved." Porter replied. "He is going to be fine."
"I want to hold him," Zoya said trying to get up.
"You can't get up," Porter advised.
"Then have them move the bed," Zoya said.
"Zoya, please relax. You aren't healthy." Porter urged.
"Please have them move the bed," Zoya requested.
Porter went to the nurse and after some debate convinced them to help Zoya move closer to Webb. They had learned that arguing with Porter Webb was a waste of time. The nurses came in and helped Zoya into a chair. They then lowered Webb's bed and side rail so she could put her face near his.
"Thank you," Zoya said weakly as she took Webb's hand. "Clay, it's your Countess. We have a daughter, please wake up."
There was no change in Webb, he just laid there motionless and pale.
"Clay, I love you." Zoya said. "I need you. Don't leave me."
"Zoya, they're bringing the baby." AJ said coming back into the room.
"Her name is Tatiana Romanova Webb," Zoya announced. "Don't forget that."
"You can fill out the birth certificate when you are up to it," Porter said with encouragement.
The nurse wheeled the incubator into the room and placed it next to Zoya.
"Take her out of that," Zoya ordered.
"It's not wise," The nurse replied.
"She is my daughter," Zoya said. "I want to hold her."
"There will be plenty of time when she is stronger. When you're both stronger." The nurse said.
"Give me my child now," Zoya said with as much force as she could muster.
"I think you better comply," AJ stated.
The nurse gave them a helpless look and carefully removed Tatiana from the incubator. She then gently placed the baby in Zoya's arms.
"Clay, this is our daughter, she wants to see her daddy." Zoya said. "Please wake up."
"Ma'am I really need to put her back into the incubator." The nurse pleaded.
"Tatiana, I am your mommy. I love you." Zoya said and kissed the baby.
Zoya handed the baby back to the nurse and took Webb's hand.
"Clay, I love you." Zoya said and placed her head on Webb's chest.
"What's happening?" AJ asked.
"Get the doctor," Porter ordered.
Zoya had stopped breathing. They staff came into the room and immediately moved Zoya to the bed and tried to save her. There was nothing they could do, she was gone. It was later determined that due to complications with Tatiana's birth and her unconscious state, a blood clot formed and eventually traveled to her lungs where the flow of blood was stopped and she simply slipped away.
THE PRESENT
"A pulmonary embolism." Webb stated quietly.
"It's a clot," Porter said, "In the lung."
"I know that," Webb replied.
"Take comfort in knowing she loved you," Porter said. "She said it many times before she died."
"Mother, the only time I had comfort was when she was in my arms." Webb replied.
"I'm sorry," Porter said, not knowing what else to say.
"What about Mac, Harm and Alex?" Webb asked.
"They're all fine." AJ advised. "Mac and Harm had to return home and Alex has been by every day."
"What about the President and the Prime Minister?" Webb asked.
"They are both fine as well. They were out of the building before the explosion." Porter stated. "The President even came to see you?"
"I want to get out of here," Webb said.
"Clayton, you need to rest." Porter said.
"I have arrangements to take care of." Webb stated.
"Clayton, we've already buried her, everything was taken care of." Porter said sadly. "We didn't know when you were going to wake up. We did what we thought was best."
"Mr. Webb, welcome back." The doctor said entering the room. "There is someone who would like to see you."
"May I hold her?" Webb asked. "AJ, please help me sit up."
"Is that okay?" AJ asked the doctor.
"We need to take it slowly." The doctor replied. "But I think it will be okay."
AJ helped Webb sit up and the nurse placed Tatiana in his arms. Tatiana had surprised everyone, since the moment she was in Zoya's arms, Tatiana made remarkable improvements. She had gained weight and it was no longer necessary to keep her in the incubator.
"Tatiana, it's daddy." Webb said as he cooed. "I am going to always be here for you."
"This is so hard to believe," Porter said to AJ with tears in her eyes.
"That is a very special little girl." AJ smiled.
"Mother would you please take her?" Webb asked obviously tired and overcome with emotion.
"Of course dear," Porter said taking the baby and placing her back in the portable crib.
"They told me you were awake," Alex said walking into the room. "How are you?"
"I'm a father," Webb said.
"So I have heard," Alex smiled. "Clay, I am so sorry about Zoya. She was an incredible woman."
"We're going to give you a moment," AJ said as he escorted Porter and the doctor out of the room.
"Thank you for everything Alex." Webb said.
"I just wish I could have done more," Alex said.
"You befriended her while she was here." Webb said.
"I could have gotten her out of there faster," Alex said taking a seat.
"It wasn't your fault," Webb said.
"Thank you," Alex said. "May I hold the baby?"
"Of course," Webb replied. He watched as Alex picked up Tatiana and cooed to her in Russian. "What are you saying?"
"I told her she is a princess," Alex smiled.
"Countess," Webb corrected with a small smile. "She is my little countess."
"Have they told you when you can get out of here?"
"The doctor had just arrived when you got here." Webb replied.
"Then I will go, so the doctor can clear you and send you home." Alex said placing Tatiana back in the crib. "Not that I don't like having you in Moscow, but Tatiana needs to go home and so do you."
"Home is going to be very strange." Webb sighed.
Alex stayed for a bit longer and left when the doctor returned. All signs showed that Webb was fine but as a precaution he was to remain in the hospital for another week.
ONE WEEK LATER
Peter and Paul Cemetery – St. Petersburg
They drove to the cemetery in St. Petersburg. Alex, with assistance from Sokol, pulled some strings for Zoya to be buried there. There were other Romanov's buried there and Alex thought it would be fitting.
"I hope this is okay," Alex said.
"This is beautiful," Webb replied as they drove through.
"It was a lovely service, I think you would have approved," Porter said.
"Does Wellington know?" Webb asked.
"He was here," AJ replied. "They gave her a star."
"They what?" Webb asked. "She wasn't with the company anymore."
"That didn't seem to matter to Wellington. He said she died in line of duty as an agent." AJ replied.
With Tatiana in his arms, Webb and the others approached the grave, Webb looked at the headstone and then to AJ and his mother. They selected the perfect words.
ZOYA ROMANOVA NASSAR WEBB
1966-2003
Our Countess and Friend
"I know you never married," AJ said. "I thought it was fitting, I hope you don't mind."
"It's perfect," Webb said and then turned to Porter. "Mother, would you?"
"Of course," Porter said and took Tatiana from him.
"I didn't think it would hurt so much," Webb said and placed a bouquet on the grave.
"Take your time," Alex said.
"Have the arrangements been made?" AJ asked.
"What arrangements?" Webb asked.
"To bring her home," Porter replied. "But only if you're ready."
"I'll never be ready." Webb said.
"Everything will be ready tomorrow morning," Alex said, "The headstone as well."
"No," Webb said.
"What?" AJ asked.
"Leave her here." Webb said.
"Clayton, I know you're hurt…" Porter began.
"No Mother, it's not that." Webb smiled. "This is where the Countess belongs."
"Clay, she deserves a full ceremony in the States," AJ said.
"She wouldn't care about that. She would want to be with her ancestors, this is her family." Webb smiled.
"Are you sure?" Alex asked. "You are her family."
"For the first time in a long time, I have never been more sure." Webb said.
Webb bent down to run his fingers across her name and then turned to the group.
"I think it's time to go," Webb said.
"Clayton, do you want a moment?" Porter asked.
"Please," Webb replied taking his daughter. The rest walked away leaving them alone.
Webb took a deep breath and said, "I love you, Dos vidanya, my Countess."
He then turned from the gravesite and took his daughter home.