by Laura Acton
Lexa asked, “You coming down with a cold?”
Not wanting to admit he might be getting sick, on top of whacking his chest and head tonight, Dan deflected. “No, must be the hay or something.”
Knowing there was a time and place to talk, Nick deferred any discussion on the call or Dan’s training for now and scrutinized Dan closely. “This is the third time you’ve been doused thoroughly in cold weather. You should care for your lungs more wisely. No duty, even light until after you’re checked out.”
Dan suppressed the groan he wanted to let out. Mother-hens. Will they ever let up about my lungs?
Lexa started to offer to drive them, but Jon beat her to it.
His expression softening, cracking a small grin, Jon chuckled. “I’m going to take them to the ER now unless you need me here?”
“Go, we have this covered,” Nick said.
Jon crooked his finger at Bram and Dan. “Come on, Kettle and Pot. We’re gonna have a little talk on the way in about the meaning of good and alright since neither of you seems to grasp the concept.”
The rest of the men couldn’t help snickering as Dan and Bram groaned, hung their heads, and dutifully followed Jon out.
Boss’ Error and Kellie’s Care
33
December 19
TRF HQ – Briefing Room – 9:00 p.m.
Alpha Team waited for Jon, Bram, and Dan to return from the hospital before debriefing. Lexa sipped coffee as she stared out the window. We got lucky tonight. Things could have gone so different. It was all unsettling. Dan and Bram went to the dairy thinking they would arrest a reckless driver but ended up uncovering a gang of gun-running women which almost cost them their lives.
Lexa shuddered as she thought about Bram getting shot. If it had been a bullet from the SR-2 Veresk, the round would have penetrated Bram’s chest—exactly like Dan last summer. Bram might’ve been dead tonight. Kellie would be a widow and Leslie, Emilie, Allie, and Sharlie fatherless. And it could’ve just as easily been Dan.
She wished she had been the one to drive them to the emergency room. Waiting for word on them left her mind rolling to worst case scenarios. Her morbid thoughts conjured up Dan contracting all kinds of horrible illnesses. Having grown up on a farm, she was well aware cows carried all sorts of organisms and diseases. Some of the bacteria caused severe gastrointestinal problems or more serious complications.
In her ninth summer, the Public Health Agency of Canada required her dad to test all their cows because they acquired some cows from Quebec where there was an outbreak of Q fever. Lexa grinned recalling that for the longest time she thought the Q stood for Quebec. Though, she learned some illnesses like the dreaded fever could be transmitted either through unpasteurized infected milk or inhaled spores from contaminated dust. None of which would bode well for Dan with his compromised lungs if those cows were infected.
A commotion at the dispatch desk drew Lexa out of her thoughts.
Bram, Dan, and Jon entered the room and headed to their seats.
Nick peered up from his paperwork. “So, what’s the verdict?”
Jon sat wearily. “Dan and Bram are ordered to take one day off to rest and ensure no signs of concussions creep up in the next twenty-four hours. If they don’t appear they’re both cleared for duty after that.”
Nick acknowledged with a slight incline of his head. “I’ll arrange coverage for them tomorrow. Shall we start debrief so we can get out of here?”
Everyone motioned in the affirmative.
As they began, Tia knocked at the door. “Excuse the interruption, but I received follow-up details on the woman and girls in the accident.”
Nick felt a twinge of guilt for how he had spoken to Tia earlier. He must rectify that. “How are they doing?”
“All are going to be okay. They’ll be spending the night for observation, but there are no internal injuries. Just some bumps, bruises, and lacerations.”
Dan sagged in relief. He had been awfully worried about the little one he spoke too. Her pulse was weak and thready the last he saw her.
“Thanks, Tia.” Nick’s expression turned apologetic. “I’m very sorry for the harsh way I spoke to you earlier tonight. We depend so much on your fabulous support. Thank you for the stellar performance.”
A smile graced Tia’s face. “No need to apologize, but thanks.”
Nick returned the grin and Tia left the room so the team could debrief.
Jon arched a brow at Nick. “I think you should follow that apology with a gesture too. Perhaps some timbits with a daily coffee for a while.”
Thinking that was an excellent idea, Nick gave a small tilt of his head and then refocused on the matter at hand, starting debrief. They began by discussing the bank robbery which proved to be non-contentious with everyone performing as expected.
Once that call was complete, he shifted gears to the gun-runners. His eyes assessed Bram and Dan wondering if this should wait—they appeared a bit wiped out.
Bram noted the expression. “Let’s just get it over with.”
Nick acquiesced. “Alright. It turns out Dan and Bram uncovered the place the Jackals utilized to run their arms dealing operations from for the past year. Sergeant Bailey of Guns and Gangs is delighted with the break in the case. Radoslav Yegorovich’s sister, Roksana, took charge of the gang and increased their profitability. They used the dairy trucks to move their stash of weapons.
“Tonight G&G seized a significant haul of deadly weapons and ammo from the farm and other locations. One of the women, Albina Denisovna, the driver of the truck, is spilling everything about the organization in exchange for protective custody. Albina is convinced Roksana will try to have her killed because she is the reason we ended up there.”
He shifted his gaze to Dan. “Overall, things turned out fine, but we must address a few issues.”
Dan stiffened at the look in the boss’ eyes. Crap, what did I do wrong? Then he recalled slipping into soldier mode. “Boss, that won’t happen again. This is urban policing not soldiering.”
Loki stared at Boss. He wouldn’t ream Dan over a slip of terms. Would he?
Blowing out a breath, Nick sighed. “I’m not talking about your use of target versus subject. That I completely understand given the situation which you and Bram faced. What worries me is you jumped into my negotiation and drew the subject’s focus to you. A risky move which fortunately didn’t bring about a disaster but could’ve gotten you killed.”
Dan stared, dumbfounded. Then his hackles raised. “You didn’t say anything. I saw her face. She was contemplating killing what’s her name.”
“Albina,” Lexa inserted.
“Yeah, her. I had to stop that.” Dan defended his action.
Nick’s expression was firm. “You broke a cardinal rule. You don’t draw attention to hostages in that type of situation. You were a hostage at that point. Bound and defenseless on the ground.”
“Bound but not defenseless,” Dan muttered as his pride took a hit. He surged to his feet and paced. “I was only in that position because you told us to comply and disarm. I only spoke because you hesitated. Hesitation gets people killed. I know. I’ve seen it often enough.”
Standing, Nick maintained his calm. “Rash actions kill people too. Unfortunately, I have witnessed it first-hand all too often.”
As the rest of the team stared at Boss and Dan, Ray interjected, “You say Dan violated a rule. I agree, but you should explain which one so he can learn.”
“Wait, before you do.” Lexa put up a hand and pulled the transcript to her, scanning for the section she wanted. She couldn’t believe she was about to say this. “Boss, you made the same error. Before Dan did.” She began reading relevant parts of the record in order of occurrence.
“Broderick: You have some pretty impressive weapons. Two SR-2 Veresk, two Bizons, two PP-93s, an MP7, and a Heckler & Koch UMP. Makes me think more is being sold here than milk.
Pastore: However, it is important for you to
know I am aware you’re loaded with armor-piercing ammunition.
Subject: How did you know?
Pastore: We are all tied into one another through these. We listened to all which has transpired since my officers arrived. Please disarm, and no one need be harmed tonight.”
Lexa stopped, staring at her boss. “At which point the subject’s attention diverted from you to Dan and Bram. You did it. Dan’s actions prevented one subject from being harmed. Yours revealed a valuable resource! So if you lead by example, why are you riding Dan for doing exactly what you did?”
The room fell into a stunned silence. Loki’s eyes bounced between Dan, Lexa, and Boss astonished Lexa called out the boss on this point.
Jon stared at Nick. “She has a point. We are the ones to set the tone and provide the example. Dan sucks at negotiation.” He shifted his gaze towards Dan. “No offense meant.”
“None taken.” Dan shrugged. Isn’t news to me. I know I suck.
Continuing Jon said, “So Dan followed your example and behaved similarly.”
Ray shook his head as he pinned his eyes on Jon. “Disagree with you, Jon. Boss’ action was calculated. Dan’s was off the cuff and too risky. They were armed with armor-piercing ammo. We need to up Dan’s training, so that doesn’t happen again.”
Adding to the fray, Loki disagreed with Ray. “Dan must’ve seen something Boss didn’t. Yeah, maybe risky but it worked out. They all surrendered.”
His calm façade slipping as the fear Ray felt earlier when he sped to the farm, wondering if they could save Dan and Bram, got the better of him and transformed to anger. Ray retorted vehemently, “And if it didn’t work out … Dan or Bram might be dead. You want that to happen? Huh, do you? Isn’t Dan getting shot in the chest once enough for you?”
Loki jumped up and his face contorted as if hit. “Low blow! That’s not what I meant! Not at all.”
Bram stood and put a hand on Loki’s shoulder. “Calm down.”
Dropping into his chair, Loki glared at Ray. How could he say that to me? How? Dan’s blood gushed between my fingers. Ray knows I had nightmares for months about Dan dying. Not cool, Ray.
Dan turned to the window and leaned his forehead on it. Damn, I’m the reason for an argument between best friends. He stared outside as a heated debate raged for another ten minutes as everyone but him argued about his screw up. What surprised him most as he half-listened was Jon, Loki, and Lexa were in his corner. Bram stayed neutral, playing peacemaker.
His chest hurt, his head pounded, and all Dan wanted to do was take some aspirin and fall asleep. Feeling a tickle in the back of his throat, Dan thought, damned dairy. His wracking cough, followed by several sneezes, silenced the entire room.
“Dano, you alright?” Jon still didn’t like the sound of the cough though the doctor indicated Dan’s lungs were okay.
Turning around, Dan gazed at each of his family. “Quit arguing. Boss is right. I screwed up. I’m tired, and I hurt. Can we just finish up so I can go home to bed?”
Wide eyes and dropped jaws greeted Dan’s words. He just admitted he wasn’t okay to the entire team.
Nick studied his weary officer. “Dan, we’ll talk privately later. You will develop the skills. I apologize for failing you by not preparing you better. That changes today. We will ramp up your negotiation training. Lexa is also correct. My example was inconsistent.”
Bram said, “Fluid nature of the call, Boss. We all adapt on the fly.”
Unused to Ray and Loki going at each other, usually each other’s staunchest supporter, Jon studied them a moment. “You two good?”
Upset with himself for speaking unkind words, Ray apologized, “Sorry, Loki. What I said was uncalled for. Dinner on me tonight? Your choice.”
Loki sighed. Ray’s words had hurt, but he realized after the long debate where Ray’s mind was. They both wanted Dan trained better to protect him. “Yeah. How about the Jamaican Parrot?”
“That’s my favorite. How about we go to your favorite place?” Ray said.
“Nah, Ma will be asleep. We could go to the Little Olive and grab a pizza.”
“Sounds perfect.” Ray leaned back, relieved Loki would allow him to make amends for his transgression.
Nick rubbed his face, exhausted and needing time for self-reflection. “Unless anyone has any other topics to discuss, I say we close this debrief.”
Lexa glanced at Dan. He truly appeared wiped out. “So who is giving Dan a ride home tonight?”
Bram piped up, “The doctor required concussion protocols overnight for both of us. So Dan agreed to stay with me tonight. Kellie has to wake me so waking Dan will be no additional effort, and you all are on shift tomorrow.”
Dan gave Bram a small smile. It was impossible to turn Bram down when he offered. Not that he wanted to. Going home to his apartment alone didn’t appeal to him, and he knew Lexa wouldn’t come over. Besides, he almost lost Bram tonight. If the bullet had been armor…. No! Dan stopped that train of thought. Bram is here, and he is okay—sore but okay.
Lexa secretly desired to take Dan to her place and ensure he was alright. Second best would be Bram’s home. She simply nodded.
After the boss called shift a wrap, Loki wanted to dispel any leftover dissension and restore humor to the team. He stood and cleared his throat.
Everyone gazed at him seeing his almost childlike glee and realized he had the eighth verse of the song figured out.
Loki began to sing, “On the eighth day of Christmas, Alpha Team gave to me, eight maids a gun-running, seven swans a sinking, six geese attacking, five onion rings, four falling birds, three mother hens, two lovey-dovies, and a frozen sniper in a pear tree.”
The team laughed as all tension eased. Loki was having a good time with creating this song. They all rose and headed for the locker rooms to change into their civies to go home.
Bram’s Home – 10:30 p.m.
Dan sat in the De Haven kitchen sipping coffee as Kellie made him and Bram a snack. Neither had eaten since lunchtime, and both were starving.
Bram wandered in with a soft smile on his face. “The girls are so angelic when they are fast asleep.”
Kellie chuckled as she prepared sandwiches. “Sleeping yes. Awake they can be little terrors. Allie decided to revert tonight and refused to dress in her pajamas after bathing. I raced around after her for almost a half-hour. Leslie and Emilie were no help. They egged her on. I had to pull out the ‘Santa is watching you’ to get her to stop.”
Bram chuckled. “Sorry I couldn’t be here to help wrangle them into bed.” His face became contemplative as he glanced at Dan. Tonight could’ve been the end of both of them.
Aware of some of what happened today, but knowing she didn’t have the full story, Kellie assessed the expression on her husband. It told her what he didn’t say. Tonight had been a close one. She steeled herself, knowing that any shift, heck, any day regardless of whether Bram worked a shift, could be the last. She put on a bright smile as she carried the sandwiches to the table.
She set a sandwich down in front of each of them. Taking a seat, she ran her hand gently on Bram’s injured shoulder and said softly, “So I should wake you both every two hours?”
Enjoying his first taste of a turkey and pepper jack cheese sandwich Bram indicated agreement with a quick nod.
Dan tucked into his sandwich, famished, and after his third bite he came up for air. “Thanks, Kellie. This hits the spot.”
Seeing it half gone, Kellie recalled Dan’s appetite. He could pack away more than Bram. She rose and headed to the island. “Bram, I know you’re up for seconds. Dan how about you?”
Sheepishly Dan bobbed his head. “Please.”
As Kellie rose, Bram looked at Dan. “Okay, so now … why don’t you like dairies? I mean besides the obvious of tonight.”
Dan swallowed his bite and smirked. “Yeah, I guess I owe you the story.”
“Only if you want to share.” Bram didn’t want to push, but he was intrigued.
“You don’t like diaries?” Kellie asked.
“No. It all stems from when I was six and Uncle Mark took me on my first camping trip with my cousins Scott, Adam, and Jeff. Scott and Adam were both fourteen, their birthdays are a week apart. Jeff was eleven. I … well … Jeff and me didn’t get on so well during the drive to the woods. My uncle stopped at a working dairy along the way, thinking it would give us something else to do other than snipe at each other.”
A chuckle escaped before Dan shared, “Uncle Mark didn’t count on us being ornery. On the tour of the dairy, where they showed people how to hand milk a cow, I spied a full bucket of milk. As Jeff bent over to squeeze the utters, I dumped the milk over Jeff’s head. He was ticked off when everyone laughed. He got me back later when we were near some empty stalls. He pushed me into one, and I ended up in the hay. Face first in a fresh cowpie.”
Bram snickered as Kellie lightly giggled with her hand covering her mouth at the image that provoked. She said, “Oh, my! How … um … funny.”
Dan’s smile turned wistful. “That trip turned out better and worse than I could’ve ever imagined. My dad arrived at the end of the first week. He’d arranged for one week off. By that point, Mudbucket and I were both being pests and argued over everything. Being my first trip, I didn’t know much about camping, so Uncle Mark paid a lot of attention to me.
“Time with our dads was limited. We all cherished it. I can understand how Jeff perceived me—an interloper who stole his time with his dad. When my father showed up, everything changed. My cousin and I turned a corner in our relationship. I think we both realized we weren’t treating each other right. The second week was awesome.”
Kellie returned to the table with seconds for Dan and Bram.
Dan finished one and began on the other as he got lost in memories of the joy he had the next week—the week he mostly remembered—the fun times he shared with his cousins, uncle, and most especially Dad.
Bram lifted his second sandwich and before taking a bite, asked, “So is that why you don’t like dairies? Cowpies in the face?”
