Chapter 33: Laughter

As Edith slowly regained consciousness, the world around her came back in fragments, each sensation distinct and real. First, she felt the softness of the hospital sheets beneath her fingertips, the tightness of the bandages wrapped around her chest, and the weight pressing down on her legs. It was a comforting heaviness, grounding her in reality.

Next came taste, a subtle sensation lingering on her tongue. She could almost taste the faint hint of antiseptic in the air, mingling with the warmth of familiarity. It was a taste she knew well, a taste of home.

Then came smell, a familiar scent wafting through the air and stirring memories long buried. It was the scent of Zain's cologne, a subtle blend of musk and spice that never failed to bring a smile to her lips. It reminded her of the nights they spent in the woods, her sleeping in his arms, now she longed for that, though she would never admit it.

Hearing returned next, the world around her filled with the gentle rhythm of her team's breathing, the soft tapping of keyboard keys, and Montana's absentminded humming. It was a symphony of sound, a comforting cacophony that enveloped her in warmth.

Finally, sight returned, her eyelids fluttering open to reveal the familiar faces of her teammates gathered around her. Cian slept soundly on Kasey's shoulder, muttering random phrases in Floradé, his dreams a distant echo of reality. Zain sat beside her bed, holding her hand in a silent gesture of support, his gaze unwavering. Markus lay across her legs, his breathing slow and steady, his presence a reassuring weight. And Montana stood watch in the corner, his eyes sharp and vigilant, a silent guardian in the darkness.

Then the rhythm of her team's breathing seemed to falter, their movements stilling as they realized she was awake.

Cian's muttering ceased abruptly, replaced by a soft snore as he shifted in his sleep, his head falling from Kasey's shoulder. Kasey glanced down at him, his eyes widening in surprise as he noticed Edith's open eyes. He gently nudged Cian, whispering his name in a hushed tone.

Zain's grip on her hand tightened slightly, his eyes darting to her face as he leaned forward. "Edith?" he murmured, his voice filled with a mixture of relief and concern.

Markus stirred on her legs, blinking sleepily as he raised his head. "Hey, look who's finally awake," he said, a crooked grin spreading across his face.

Montana straightened up from his position in the corner, his eyes meeting hers with a mix of worry and determination. "You had us worried there for a minute," he admitted, his voice gruff.

The rest of the team gathered around Edith's bed, their expressions a mixture of relief and curiosity. They leaned in close, their eyes filled with concern and a hint of eagerness.

"How are you feeling?" Kasey asked, his voice gentle as he reached out to adjust the pillows behind her. His touch was light, but Edith winced slightly as he moved her.

"What do you remember?" Markus chimed in, his brow furrowed with worry as he leaned over from his spot on her legs. His presence was reassuring, his gaze searching hers for any signs of distress.

Edith managed a weak smile at their barrage of questions, feeling overwhelmed but grateful for their presence. "I'm okay," she reassured them, her voice still slightly hoarse. "Just sore."

Zain squeezed her hand gently, his eyes searching hers for any sign of distress. "Can you tell us what happened?" he asked, his voice filled with concern.

Edith took a deep breath, gathering her thoughts before recounting the events of the past few days. She described the chaos of the bombing, the rush of adrenaline as they fought their way through the Ministry of Defense, and the tense standoff with President Valentin.

Montana crossed his arms over his chest, his expression grim. "We're not out of the woods yet," he remarked, his voice low. The weight of their situation hung heavy in the air, reminding them of the challenges that still lay ahead.

The team fell into a tense silence, each lost in their thoughts. Despite the relief of knowing Valentin was no longer in power, they were all too aware of the challenges that lay ahead.

"I... I don't want to be president," she admitted, her eyes darting to each of her teammates. "I don't want that kind of power."

Zain nodded in understanding, his grip on her hand tightening slightly. "We know, Edith," he said reassuringly. "That's why we called for an urgent press conference as soon as you were almost recovered. There you can address everything.”

Edith's eyes widened in surprise, her heart swelling with gratitude. "You did?"

Markus flashed her a grin. "Of course," he replied. "We knew you wouldn't want it."

"We trust you to lead us," Kasey added, his tone firm. "And we trust you to hand over the mantle to someone able."

Tears welled up in Edith's eyes as she looked at each of her teammates, overwhelmed by their unwavering support. "Thank you," she whispered, her voice choked with emotion. 

The door to the hospital room creaked open, and Edith's parents stepped inside, their faces etched with concern and determination. They strode across the room, their eyes fixed on Edith, who watched them with a mixture of surprise and apprehension.

"Mom, Dad," Edith breathed, her voice barely above a whisper as she took in their presence. She hadn't expected them to be here, hadn't even realized they knew what had been happening.

Her parents wasted no time in rushing to her side, enveloping her in a tight embrace. "Edith, darling, are you alright?" her mother asked, her voice trembling with emotion.

Edith nodded, her eyes filling with tears as she hugged them back. "I'm okay," she whispered, her voice choked with emotion. "I'm okay now."

As they pulled back from the embrace, Edith turned to face her teammates, who were watching the scene unfold with a mixture of shock and curiosity. "Mom, Dad, I want you to meet my team," she said, her voice steady as she introduced each of them by name.

"This is Zain," she said, gesturing to him first with a playful smirk. "My former enemy turned teammate."

Zain chuckled, extending his hand to Edith's parents. "It's a pleasure to meet you," he said, his tone light but sincere. "Your daughter's quite the leader."

As Edith motioned to Markus, her parents' expressions shifted slightly, their gazes narrowing with a hint of suspicion. Her mother, in particular, regarded Markus with a scrutinizing gaze, as if trying to read his intentions.

"Markus," her father began, his voice cautious. "Are you the one who got Edith involved in all of this?"

Markus's smile faltered slightly at the question, but he maintained his composure. "No, sir," he replied firmly, his tone sincere. "I've known Edith for years, but I didn't recruit her into the agency. She started as a law intern and found her way in on her own."

Edith nodded in agreement, her eyes locking with her father's. "Markus has always been a friend to me," she said, her voice earnest. "He tried to keep me out of it, but... I wanted to make a difference."

Her mother's expression softened at Edith's words, understanding dawning in her eyes. "Oh, Edith," she murmured, reaching out to squeeze her daughter's hand. "We just worry about you, that's all."

Edith squeezed her mother's hand in return, offering her a reassuring smile. "I know, Mom," she replied softly. "But I couldn't just stand by and do nothing. I had to try to make things better."

Her father sighed, running a hand through his hair as he glanced around the room at the assembled team. "Well, you've certainly surrounded yourself with some interesting characters," he remarked a hint of amusement in his voice.

Edith chuckled, shooting a playful glance at her teammates. "That's one way to put it," she said with a grin. "But they're the best team I could ask for."

Her parents exchanged a knowing look, silently acknowledging the bond between Edith and her teammates. "We can see that," her mother said, her voice soft but sincere. "And we're grateful for all of you."

"This is Kasey," she said, gesturing to the man with kind eyes and a strong presence. "He's our tactical expert, always keeps us focused and organized."

Kasey nodded in greeting, a warm smile on his face. "Pleasure to meet you both," he said, extending his hand to Edith's parents.

Edith then turned to Cian, a determined and thoughtful look on his face. "And this is Cian," she said, gesturing to the man with a quiet strength. "Our field help, he keeps us connected and informed, while doing damage control.”

Cian offered a polite nod, his gaze meeting Edith's parents with a mixture of respect and curiosity. "It's a pleasure to meet you," he said, his voice calm but sincere.

Finally, Edith turned to Montana, a rugged and steadfast presence in the room. "And last but not least, this is Montana," she said, gesturing to the man with a wry grin. "Our muscle and morale booster, he also has been known to be good with computers.”

Montana grinned and gave a casual wave, his demeanor relaxed yet attentive. "Hey there," he said, his voice warm and friendly. "Nice to meet you both."

Edith's parents exchanged amused glances as they turned their attention to Montana, clearly intrigued by the introduction. Her mother chuckled softly, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

"Ah, Montana," her father said, a teasing smile playing on his lips. "We've heard quite a bit about you. Of course, it was under the guise of a fellow intern she was training, but water under the bridge.”

Montana's grin widened at the comment, and he shot Edith a playful wink. "Well, I try to keep things interesting," he replied with a chuckle. "And the computer stuff is just a bonus."

Her mother leaned forward, her expression curious. "So, Montana, tell us something embarrassing about Edith," she said, a hint of mischief in her tone.

 Edith's eyes widened in alarm, shooting a pleading look at Montana. "Mom, please," she protested, her cheeks flushing pink with embarrassment.

Montana chuckled, clearly enjoying the opportunity to tease Edith. "Well, let's see," he began, his tone thoughtful. 

"Did you know that Edith once accidentally walked into a pole because she was too busy reading a legal brief on her phone?"

Her parents burst into laughter at the revelation, and Edith buried her face in her hands, mortified. "Montana, seriously?" she groaned, her voice muffled by her palms.

Montana grinned unapologetically, enjoying every moment of Edith's embarrassment. "Hey, you asked for it," he replied with a playful shrug. 

Edith's parents shared a knowing look, a mischievous twinkle in their eyes. Her mother leaned in closer, her expression conspiratorial. "You know, there was a time when Edith was so scared of the dark that she insisted on sleeping with a nightlight until she was fifteen," she revealed, unable to contain her laughter.

Edith's eyes widened in embarrassment, her cheeks flushing crimson as she shot her parents a pleading look. "Mom, please don't," she protested weakly, knowing all too well where this was going.

Her father joined in the teasing, a playful grin on his face. "That's right," he chimed in. "We used to call it her 'security beacon.' She wouldn't sleep without it."

The team erupted into laughter at the revelation, the image of the formidable Edith needing a nightlight too amusing to resist. Zain chuckled, shaking his head in amusement. "Edith, I never would've pegged you for being scared of the dark," he remarked, a teasing lilt to his voice.

Edith buried her face in her hands, her embarrassment reaching new heights. "Thanks a lot, Mom and Dad," she muttered, her voice muffled by her palms. Markus clapped her on the shoulder, a grin on his face. "Don't worry, Edith," he said, trying to suppress his laughter. "We all have our quirks." 

As the laughter subsided, Edith peeked out from behind her hands, her cheeks still flushed with embarrassment. She couldn't help but smile at the camaraderie of her team, grateful for their support and understanding.

"Thanks, guys," she said, her voice soft but sincere. "I guess even presidents have their moments of weakness."

"Hey, we're a team," Zain said. "We've got each other's backs, no matter what."

With a collective nod, the team settled into a comfortable silence, the shared laughter serving as a reminder of the bonds that united them. Despite the challenges they faced and the uncertainties that lay ahead, they knew that as long as they had each other, they could overcome anything.

As Edith's parents shared more embarrassing anecdotes from her childhood, the team couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude for the moments of levity amidst the chaos of their mission. In the end, it was these moments that kept them grounded and reminded them of the importance of friendship, loyalty, and above all, laughter.

—

The press conference hall buzzed with anticipation as Edith Wood, flanked by Zain, made her way to the stage. Her steps were steady, but she leaned slightly on Zain for support, a reminder of the injuries she was still recovering from. She wore a beautiful blue dress, a symbol of resilience, while Zain was dressed sharply in a suit, his posture conveying both confidence and determination.

As they reached the podium, Zain stepped back to allow Edith to take center stage. He stood just behind her, a silent presence offering his support. Edith adjusted the microphone, her gaze sweeping over the crowd of reporters and cameras before her.

"Ladies and gentlemen," she began, her voice strong and clear, "Thank you for being here today."

She paused for a moment, gathering her thoughts before continuing. "I stand before you today to address the recent events and the future of our country. As many of you are aware, I have assumed the position of President of Crocari following a... challenging series of events."

There was a murmur of agreement from the crowd, the reporters eager to hear her plans for the nation.

"I want to make it clear that while I have held the title of President, it is not a position I sought nor is it one that I wish to retain," Edith continued, her tone resolute. "After careful consideration, I have decided to transfer my presidential authority to someone who I believe is more suited for the role."

Zain stepped forward, handing her a sheet of paper with Cameron Jones's name written on it. Edith held it up for the cameras to see. "I hereby nominate Cameron Jones as the next President of Crocari," she announced, her voice unwavering. "And I propose that he be voted on alongside his contender, Maria Vasquez, a former senator and advocate for social justice."

The crowd erupted into a flurry of questions, and Edith raised her hand to signal for silence.

"I understand that there may be concerns about the transition of power and the future of our country," she said, addressing the reporters. "But I want to assure you that my priority will be to focus on my recovery while working alongside the new administration to rebuild our nation."

A reporter raised their hand, and Edith nodded in acknowledgment.

"What are your plans moving forward, President Wood?" the reporter asked.

Edith's lips curved into a small smile. "My immediate plan is to continue my rehabilitation and recovery," she replied. "But beyond that, I am committed to working with the new government to address the challenges we face and to create a better future for all Crocarians."

Another reporter chimed in, "Will you continue to take an active role in government?"

Edith paused, considering her response carefully. "I believe that my role moving forward will depend on the needs of the country and my capabilities," she answered. "For now, I would need more time to consider my options and determine the best way for me to serve the people of Crocari."

A journalist from a prominent news outlet stood up, "Madam President, what measures do you plan to take to address the recent rise in civil unrest?"

Edith nodded thoughtfully. "The recent events have shown us that there are deep-seated issues within our society that need to be addressed," she responded. "I plan to work with Cameron Jones and his administration to implement reforms that promote equality, justice, and opportunity for all citizens of Crocari. This includes initiatives to improve education, healthcare, and economic stability, as well as measures to strengthen our democratic institutions and ensure accountability within our government."

Another reporter jumped in, "President Wood, what is your response to allegations that your decision to transfer power was influenced by collusion with Cameron Jones?"

Edith's expression hardened slightly, her gaze steady as she addressed the question. "Let me be clear: my decision to transfer power was made independently and following the best interests of the country," she stated firmly. "Cameron Jones is a qualified candidate with the potential to lead Crocari forward, but let's not forget that Maria Vasquez is also a contender in this election. This is a democratic process, and I trust that the people of Crocari will make the right choice for our nation."

The press conference continued with more questions and answers, Edith maintaining her composure and answering each inquiry with poise and clarity. As she stepped down from the podium, she felt a sense of relief wash over her, knowing that she had taken another step forward in her journey to rebuild both herself and her country. And with Zain by her side, she knew that she was not alone.

K.M Strunk