London, May First, 1945
At Westminster Hospital, Barbara waited anxiously until a young intern came out of the emergency room where No Face was taken. Looking tired from lack of sleep, and shaken from ministering to the torn man with half a face, the medic still showed compassion and concern for her.
"Are you related to the patient?" he asked. "If not, I'm afraid I can't let you see him. He may not live the hour out.
I'm sorry, but it's hospital rules. Only a relation can see him."
Barbara hesitated a moment. "I'm his... daughter," "Then you can see him," the intern said. "But I'm sorry to say, he's still unconscious and there's really no hope for him."
Barbara entered the small antiseptic room where No Face lay face-up on a narrow bed, a white sheet covering his torn body. He was, as the intern had said, still unconscious. Barbara pulled a chair up beside his bed and stroked his head. He did not respond, but she kept stroking his forehead gently.
After ten minutes, the intern looked in on them, but Barbara said there was no change. He left and she resumed stroking the injured man's forehead.
After about another ten minutes, No Face's eyes opened. At sight of Barbara, a smile crossed his face. But just as soon as he saw her looking at him, he turned it away, toward the wall beside his cot.
"No, don't look away," she said softly. "It's all right.
I want to know... Who are you, and why did you save my life?
Can you speak? Are you Jimmy O'Reilly, my father's friend from long ago?
No Face looked as if he was not sure he could speak. After clearing his throat, he tried.
"No. But the same thing happened to his face as did mine, though in a different way. He lost his good looks in an auto accident. I lost mine another way. He's dead. I will be, soon." He almost laughed at that, as if death would come as a relief to him. "I'm Dennis Markey, your father."
Somehow, Barbara knew. She did not understand how he could be, but she knew he was her father. Who else would have protected her with his life?
"I'll call the doctor. He'll want to know you're conscious."
"No. There's no need to. I don't have long. I want to explain..."
She had gotten up and started for the door, to call the intern, but stopped and returned to her father's bedside.