Honor Under Siege

by Radclyffe

  control what she felt, which verged very close on panic. She just

  wanted to see Cam, and waiting was agony. She alternated between

  stalking out to the rear deck and pacing in the kitchen. Diane waited at

  the window, watching the activity on shore in pale silence.

  “Here they come, final y, Blair said when she was able to make out a

  clutch of figures transporting a stil form on a stretcher toward the

  house. Only a single stretcher. Her chest tightened. What did that

  mean? Where was the second casualty? Where was Cam ?

  “Im sure theyl take them right upstairs, Blair said, concentrating on

  what she could do rather than let ing the terror swal ow her. “Lets go up

  so we can help.

  Within minutes, Felicia and Wozinski half-carried Cam into the

  bedroom. She was wrapped in an emergency thermal blanket and,

  other than her shoes, appeared to be naked. Her face was gray and her

  skin looked rubbery from the

  cold, but Blair was nevertheless enormously relieved to see that

  she was conscious and making some ef ort to walk. Blair pushed back

  the covers on the bed. “Over here.

  “Il get the IV set up, Wozinski said, as Felicia and Blair helped Cam

  into bed.

  “No, Cam rasped. “You and Felicia give Savard a hand with

  Valerie.

  “Stark had supplies brought over from the emergency aid center at the

  marina, Blair said, replacing Cams damp blanket with several layers

  of dry ones. “I heated four liters of saline in the microwave. Greg, I can

  help you get Cams line started while Felicia assists in the other room.

  “Yes maam, Greg

  said.

  Cam shook her head weakly. “I can

  wait

  “No, you cant, Blair said firmly. “Go ahead,

  Greg. Felicia said, “Il be next door with

  Valerie.

  When Greg left to get supplies, Blair sat on the edge of the bed next to

  Cam. She cupped her cheek, shuddering inwardly at the icy touch. “Are

  you injured anywhere?

  “Bumps and bruises. Cams teeth chat ered. “Fire feels good. Maybe I

  can sit closer.

  “As soon as you get some warm fluids into you. Blair stroked her face.

  “You know that rapid external rewarming can cause problems. Blair

  had skied in enough remote areas to know the protocol for exposure

  and hypothermia. So did al of her security staf , and every shift

  contained at least one agent who was an EMT like Savard and Wozinski.

  Many hypothermia victims died during the initial resuscitation at empts

  because warming the outside of the body without raising the internal

  temperature led to cardiac col apse. “Wel get you warmed

  up as fast as we can, but were not taking any

  risks.

  “Right now Id take my chances, Cam said, shivering violently. “Christ,

  Im cold.

  “Il get some more

  blankets.

  “No, Cam said, grasping Blairs hand. “It wont help. Juststay

  close.

  “I can do bet er than that. Blair kicked of her shoes, shed her jeans,

  and got under the covers. She cradled Cams head against her shoulder

  and wrapped her arms and legs around her. “Im not going anywhere.

  Cam had drifted of by the time Wozinski returned. He silently and ef

  iciently started an IV in Cams right arm and hung a liter of warm saline.

  “That wil run for about ten minutes. Il be back to hang the second liter

  then.

  “Thanks, Greg. Blair said, stroking Cams hair. “For

  everything. “Its an honor, maam.

  Alone, Blair closed her eyes, even though she wasnt tired.

  She wasnt planning on sleeping. All she wanted was to listen to

  Cam breathe.

  * * * * *

  “Glad youre here Greg, Renée Savard said, applying EKG pads

  to Valeries chest. “Start another IV in her left arm, would you.

  We need to get another bag of the hot stuff into her. Her temps

  ninety- two.

  “Got it.

  “Tell me what I can do, Diane urged, pressing close to the side

  of

  the bed near Valeries head, trying not to interfere but

  wanting desperately to do something. Valerie looked so white,

  so stillso lifeless. “Please.

  “Here. Felicia tossed Diane a thermal towel from the emergency

  kit brought over from the marina. “Dry her hair and when

  that towel gets cool, Ill get you another hot one.

  Valerie moaned, her body twitching reflexively when

  Diane touched her. Diane blocked out the sound and

  concentrated on doing anything she could to get her warm and

  dry. “Is she going to be all right?

  “Yes. Renée placed an oxygen mask over Valeries face.

  “Here, hold this on. Its real y important. The warm air will heat

  the blood in her lungs and help raise her core temperature.

  “Ive got it, Diane said, taking the mask from Savard.

  When Valerie moaned again and jerked her head away,

  threatening to dislodge the mask, Diane leaned down and

  whispered in her ear. “Valerie, darling, its Diane. Youre all right.

  Youre safe. Let us help you.

  Valeries eyelids, so bloodless that the blue of her irises

  shone through the skin, flickered and opened. Wordlessly, she

  stared into Dianes eyes.

  Diane smiled and caressed her forehead above the re-

  breathing mask. “Youre going to be all right. I love you.

  Valerie nodded almost imperceptibly and closed her eyes

  again. Diane shivered, not from cold, but from the pain of

  losing that brief connection. “Tell me what to do. Tell me how

  to help her,

  she said desperately.

  Renée slid an arm around Dianes shoulders and hugged her briefly.

  “Youre here, and she knows it. Thats exactly what she needs.

  * * * * *

  “Do we know yet what happened out there? Renée said,

  slumping into a chair in the command center. Mac and Paula

  hunched over the monitors. Printouts spewed from several nearby

  machines.

  “Theoriesno confirmation. Mac said, looking over his

  shoulder. “How are they doing upstairs?

  “Both stable. Valeries in for a rough ride for a

  while.

  “Mac, Paula said, pushing away from the computer console,

  “take over here for a second.

  “Sure thing, Chief, Mac said.

  Paula grasped Renées hand and gently guided her to her

  feet. Then she wrapped an arm around her waist and led her

  toward the hal . “You need to change your clothes. Theyre wet.

  Renée looked down as if realizing for the first time that her

  shoes and jeans and shirt were dripping. She shivered. “Yeah.

  Good idea.

  Once upstairs in their bedroom, Paula took Renée into

  the bathroom. “Are you okay?

  “Yeah. Renée kissed Paula and brushed her fingers through

  her hair. “Im fine, sweetie.

  “Okay, Paula said shakily, wondering why she always seemed

  to lose it after she knew Renée was safe. “Stand there. She pul ed

  off Renées T-shirt and unzipped her jeans. “Take your shoes off

  and get out of these pants.

  Renée steadied herself with a hand on Paul
as shoulder. “What a

  cluster fuck. Who targeted Valeries boat, do you know?

  “No, Paula said with disgust. “Weve got satel ite images of close

  to a dozen boats, not counting Tanners, that were in missile range.

  It will take a while to sort through them, but at first glance, they

  all look civilian or commercial.

  “Its got to be Matheson. Renée leaned against the vanity

  and closed her eyes, moaning with gratitude as Paula wrapped

  her in a huge towel. She burrowed her face in the curve of

  Paulas neck. “You feel so good I never want to move.

  “Works for me. Paula held her tightly and kissed the top of Renées

  head. “Scared me there for a while.

  “I thought we were going to lose both of them out

  there.

  I thought I might have lost you , Paula thought, and tightened her

  grip.

  “I was pret y scared for a few minutes, Renée

  whispered.

  Paula finger-combed Renées tangled golden-brown hair.

  “Me too. Renée raised her head. “Im sorry, sweetie.

  “Not your fault. You were doing your job, and Im glad you were. Paula

  kissed her. “I love you.

  “Yeah, me too. Renée stroked Paulas face. “Big-

  time.

  “And yeah, Paula said grimly. “I think it was Matheson or one of his

  people. Who else could it have been? Henry must have told Matheson

  about the meet and Matheson decided to eliminate both of them at

  once.

  “Makes sense. Who would have figured hed have that kind of

  firepower? Renée shook her head. “Were playing in a whole new league,

  now, arent we? Domestic terrorism is just another name for war.

  “We thought we had everything covered, Paula said. “We were

  monitoring for air and water assaults, except we were looking for aircraft

  or boats. Who would have expected a missile launch of the New

  England coast?

  “I dont suppose theres any chance of intercepting

  him?

  Paula snorted. “Zero. I cal ed Tanners people back in. Besides the

  fact that theyre civilians, he could have fired that missile from fifty

  miles away and been gone before it even hit.

  Renée stepped away, toweled of , and pul ed the robe from the back

  of the door. Shrugging into it, she grasped Paulas hand and walked

  back into the bedroom. As she opened the dresser and extracted clean

  clothes, she said, “Did someone contact the Coast Guard about Valeries

  boat?

  “Mac is doing

  that.

  “Whats our cover

  story?

  “Were tel ing them it was a DEA surveil ance operation and

  the engine on one of the boats caught fire. All personnel

  evacuated to another vessel, and there were no casualties.

  Because of the sensitive nature of the operation, we cant

  provide any further details.

  Renée grinned and pul ed on dry jeans. “Nice. Your

  idea? Paula flushed. “Yeah.

  “I never knew you were so sneaky. Renée found a dark

  green cable-knit sweater and pul ed it over her head. Then she

  wrapped her arms around Paulas shoulders and kissed her.

  “Ill have to remember that in the future.

  “I didnt want you to discover all my tricks before you were in

  too deep to escape me.

  “Oh, you neednt worry, Renée murmured. “Theres no chance of

  me going anywhere.

  * * * * *

  Blair jerked awake and bolted upright. Cam was no longer

  lying next to her but sat with her legs dangling over the side of

  the bed.

  “Where do you think youre going? Blair asked

  sharply. “I want to check on Valerie.

  “Get back in bed, Cameron. They were alone. A fire

  burned vigorously in the fireplace, throwing a hot red glow

  throughout the room. Blair gripped Cams wrist. “I mean itand Im

  not in the mood to argue.

  Cam, nude except for the sheet bunched at her waist, shifted

  to look down at Blair. “Just for a second. I only need

  “You need some decent rest and to recover from nearly

  drowning out there. Blair grasped her shoulders. “You dont get

  it, do you?

  Youre not indestructible. And you wont be any good to them,

  any of them, if youre too weak or injured to function. If you

  dont care about me, think about them.

  Cam blinked, her face registering her shock. “You think I

  dont care about you? Is that what you think? Gently, she

  tangled her fingers in Blairs hair and kissed her, softly, first

  her mouth, then the angle of her jaw, then her eyes. “I thought

  Valerie was dead. I thought I was dying, too. But I knew I

  couldnt, because of you. Youre all I thought about. Youre

  everything I live for.

  “Dont. Blair pul ed Cam down on top of her and drew the

  covers over them. She caressed Cams back with both hands,

  slowly stroking the sleek skin and elegant curve of muscle

  and bone. “Dont try to melt my heart. Its not going to work this

  time.

  “All right, Cam said softly. “Im sorry. Im sorry for

  frightening you. She kissed Blairs neck and settled her head

  on Blairs shoulder. “I couldnt let her die, Blair.

  “No, Blair whispered. “Of course you couldnt. She sighed.

  “What happened to Henry?

  “Hes dead. I ordered Donaldson to take him

  out. Blair stiffened. “Are you all right?

  “It had to be done. The boat was about to go up and he was in

  danger of shooting

  “Darling, you dont have to explain that to me. If you gave the order, it

  was the right thing to do.

  “You believe in me that

  much?

  “More. Blair cupped Cams jaw. “I trust your judgment, just like al of

  them do. I can only imagine what it takes for you to make those

  decisions and give those orders, and maybe everyone else needs to

  believe that its easy for you to do, but I know dif erently. She cupped

  Cams chin, tilted her head up, and kissed her firmly but gently on the

  mouth. “If you hurt, I want to know. If you need a shoulder, I have one

  for you. I cant be on the front line the way you are, but Im part of this

  fight just the same.

  “Thank you, Cam whispered. “Ive never understood more clearly than

  I did tonight that you are my strength.

  Silence ensued, then Blair said with a sigh, “Five minutes,

  Cameron.

  “What?

  Cam

  said.

  “You can see Valerie for five

  minutes.

  Cam stirred, raising herself on her elbow to study Blairs face.

  “Why?

  “Because you wont rest until you do, and because the others need to see

  that youre al right. As wonderful as each of them may be, you are the

  force that holds them together. Blair pushed the covers aside. “Lets

  get up. Il help you dress.

  * * * * *

  Diane finished set ling a log on the fire and turned at the sound of

  the door slowly opening. Absently she cinched the sash on her robe.

  “We didnt knock because we didnt want to wake her, Blair whispered

  as she and Cam stepped inside.

  “Tha
ts al right. Its good to see you. Diane touched Cams arm. “Are

  you al right?

  “Fine. Hows she doing? Cam asked quietly. She wore old khakis

  and a sweatshirt, and loosely clasped Blairs hand.

  “Im not sure, Diane admit ed, pushing her hair away from her face.

  “Shes stil asleep.

  “Diane? Valerie mut ered, twisting from side to side and dislodging the

  blankets that covered her. “Diane?

  “Im here, darling, Diane said and hurried to the bed. She leaned

  down and stroked Valeries face. “Everything is al right. Youre safe

  now.

  Valerie opened her eyes and after a few seconds appeared to focus.

  “Am I

  real y in bed?

  Diane smiled. “You most definitely are.

  “Im almost warm.

  “Yes, Diane whispered, her voice breaking as the tears she hadnt had the

  time or luxury of shedding final y fil ed her eyes. “Youre going to be

  fine.

  “Is everyone al right?

  Diane glanced over her shoulder. “Cam? Maybe you should talk to

  her for a second.

  Cam joined Diane by the bed. “Hi. Bit of a rough ride out there.

  Everyones fine, but you had quite a swim.

  A smile flickered across Valeries face. “I remember some of it. Thanks.

  “Dont mention it.

  “Henry Valerie frowned. “Henry. She closed her eyes briefly, and

  when she

  opened them, they were clearer. “I dont think he knew what was coming.

  “No, Cam agreed.

  “He didnt set me up tonight at least, Valerie said faintly. She held

  Cams gaze. “Thanks for get ing me out of there.

  “Im sorry about Hen

  “No, it was a good cal on your part. Justnot on mine.

  “You dont know that, Cam said gently. “People change.

  “I wonder. Valerie shivered violently and Diane quickly took her hand.

  “You need to get some sleep, darling. No more talking right now.

  Diane glanced at Cam. “Thank you for everything.

  Cam nodded and backed away from the bed. “Let me know if theres

  any problem.

  “I wil , Diane said.

  Blair slid her arm around Cams waist. “Lets go. Youre shaking.

  “I want to check downstairs with Stark and

  “Nice try, Blair said, laughing gently. “Youre al out of options tonight.

  Might as wel surrender.

  Giving in to the fatigue, Cam leaned on Blair. “Terms accepted.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Saturday

  J ust before noon, Cam tapped on Valerie and Dianes door.

  When Diane answered, looking as if she hadnt slept all