Part 7

A couple of hours later, Davenport and his team returned. Madeline took the scientist to interrogation. She quickly discovered that the antidote took ten hours to work. They still had time to treat the women before the 48 hours were up. They were given the antidote and then released.

Since it would take a while for the antidote to work, Sherry's dinner party went on as scheduled. Walter arrived first. He volunteered to help, but Sherry told him to sit. She and Michael could handle it. There was a knock at the door and Walter answered it. It was Northstar.

"Well, as I live and breath," Walter stated. "If it isn't the most beautiful star in the sky." North laughed and slapped him playfully. "Walter, you old flirt you," she said. They sat in the living room and talked while Sherry and Michael finished the dinner preparations. Sherry happened to be near the door when the next knock came. She opened the door to see Operations standing there.

"Hey dad, come on in," she greeted him and threw her arms around him. "I'm glad you could make it."

Michael wanted to laugh seeing the expression on Operations' face. This mess was clearly making him uncomfortable. Walter noticed that North visibly tensed when Operations entered. Michael had given him a heads-up, so Walter quickly went to work, distracting her. Operations noticed the two of them together and wasn't happy. Sherry told him to have a seat in the living room with the others.

"Walter, Northstar," he said as he walked in and sat down. "It's good to see you up and around," he said to North.

"It sure is," Walter answered for her. "She's looking absolutely lovely. Much prettier than any of those old stars up there in the sky." Operations clenched his jaw and Walter smirked at him. Walter was totally enjoying himself. Oh, he knew Operations would probably pay him back, but for tonight, he was gonna make the most of this.

Once the meal was on the table, they were seated. When everyone was eating, Sherry turned to Operations. "So, dad. You are going to give me away at the wedding, aren't you?" Walter almost choked at the question. He had never wanted to laugh so hard in his life.

Operations was annoyed. There was nothing he would like better than to give her away. Only not at her wedding. Sighing he turned and smiled at her. "Of course, sweetheart. I would love to give you away." Michael glared at him and Walter almost laughed out loud. He glanced at Michael, who had also picked up Operations' meaning. Oh this was gonna be a fun evening, Walter mused.

"We haven't set the date yet, but we want it to be soon. You'll have to let me know you're plans for the next two months, dad, so we can schedule around it."

Wanting to get this over with, he simply answered, "Of course."

Sherry turned to North then. "North, you will be my maid of honor, won't you?" Northstar gasped. "Me?"

Sherry laughed. "Of course, you. Who else would I pick? We've been friends a long time."

Operations wanted to gag. This family togetherness was gonna choke him before the evening was over. He noticed, however, that Northstar was beaming at the idea.

"Of course, I'll be your maid of honor, Sherry. I'd be thrilled. If Michael doesn't have any objections, that is," she laughed.

Sherry smiled at him. "You better not, buster, if you know what's good for you." Michael held up his hands in surrender. "Far be it from me to object to my own sister." Sherry looked confused for a moment, but Michael squeezed her hand under the table and she remembered that he told her the drug made North think she was his sister. So she played along.

"Good, now that that's settled, I wanted to ask something else." She turned to Operations. "This afternoon when Kathy was yelling at me in Comm, she said that you were pretending to be my father. Why would she say something like that? She was lying, wasn't she?"

Michael could see the paranoia creeping in again. Apparently the antidote hadn't started to kick in yet. He glared at Operations, daring him to refute her story.

Operations knew he couldn't win this game, so he relented. "Of course she was lying. It had to be the effect of the drug. There's no other reason for her to say something like that."

Michael nodded. Walter caught the by-play between the two men. He could see it beginning to happen, slowly but surely. Michael was getting the upper hand. It wouldn't be long before he had it completely and would replace Paul as Operations. Personally, he thought that day couldn't come soon enough.

Walter caught North watching Operations and decided it was time for a distraction. "So, beautiful lady. You need a date for this wedding we've been discussing?"

Everyone but Operations laughed at the change of subject. North turned her full attention to Walter and then smiled. "As a matter of fact, I do."

Sherry was still confused over North's reaction to her father, but again she remembered Michael's words. She would let it go for now. But sooner or later, she was going to get to the bottom of it. Michael noticed the look in Sherry's eye and knew she was plotting something. He had to distract her.

"Sweetheart, do you want me to get dessert?" he asked. Sherry leaned over, kissed him and then turned to North. "Your brother is an absolute doll, do you know that?" Then she nodded to Michael.

Operations became more and more frustrated as the evening wore on. He was tired of playing dad to his worst nightmare and her fiancé. He was sick of watching Walter fawn all over North. He wanted nothing more than to go back to his office and have a stiff drink. Deciding he had all he could take, he turned to Sherry.

"Honey, I'm sorry, but I've got to get back. I'm expecting a call from George. Thank you for dinner, it was wonderful."

Sherry looked disappointed. "Are you sure you can't stay? I wanted to discuss the wedding with you a little more, but I understand. We'll do next time." Visibly relieved that he was able to make his getaway, he said goodnight to everyone and made his exit. Once he was gone, everyone seemed to relax.

The remaining foursome had a great time. Walter regaled them with tales from his former life and his earlier time in Section. Sherry and North discussed wedding plans. Michael was happy just to sit back and watch. He contributed to the conversation when appropriate or when Sherry prodded him, but for the most part, he simply observed.

Eventually, Walter and North decided it was time to leave. They thanked Sherry for the lovely evening and Sherry invited them to do it again soon. After they left, she and Michael make quick work of the clean up. Michael could see that she was getting tired. He took her hand and led her to the bedroom.

"Why, Michael. Just what do you have in mind?" Sherry asked him mischievously. Michael smiled and shook his head. "Sleep. Only sleep. You're exhausted. You've been through a lot these last two days. You need rest."

Sherry sighed. "Well, if you insist." Just then she betrayed herself by letting out a huge yawn. She quickly changed into her nightshirt and Michael tucked her in. He started to leave and she called out to him.

"And where do you think you're going?" Michael turned to her. She didn't seem to be suffering from the fear or paranoia. She simply wanted to know if he was going to stay with her tonight.

"I'm just going to lock up. I'll be right back." True to his word, he was back in no time at all. He crawled into bed with her and once again cradled her in his arms. "Rest my love. I'm not going anywhere." Sherry smiled up at him and then snuggled in closer. In no time at all she was asleep.