by Mj Fields
“I love my husband,” I needed to make sure she wasn’t going to throw me out, or try to talk me into therapy.
“I know you do. I also know that the pack of wolves assembled in the waiting room say they do as well.”
“They are --.”
“Your husband responded to your voice.” She stood up and leaned against the counter. “I looked back to the time in which his parents were in the room. There was no fight in him. So it’s one of two things. Either he is aggravated by you or--.” I tried to interrupt. “Let me finish. Or he wants to fight his way back to you.”
“What do you want from me?”
“I want you to help him get well. I want you to love your husband.”
“Why? Why are you going out of your way for me?”
She sat next to me and looked down, “I knew your brother.”
“How?”
“Will and I were very close when he wasn’t deployed or with his boys.” She looked up at me. “We only knew each other for about six months. We didn’t spend a lot of time together. Both of us were always busy. We did care for each other. He was a wonderful man.”
“Did you love him?”
“The words were never exchanged, but we talked about exploring our relationship on a deeper level. The weekend before the accident he came out with me, met my friends, I was going to meet the three guys in that room down there the next weekend. Never happened. I recognized Jaxson’s name and yours.” She smiled, “He talked about you all the time.”
I felt my lip quiver.
“All good things Frankie.”
“I’m sorry for your loss, Dr. Neil.”
She swallowed hard and nodded. Tears welled in her eyes, “Laurie.”
“Laurie. Thank you.”
“I’m here for you. I will make sure he comes back to you.”
“I can’t lose him. I can’t lose anyone ever again.”
“I understand.” She stood up. “Now will you do me a favor?”
“Of course.”
“I don’t want them to know. I am still trying to move past a loss as well. Coming back to Norfolk was very difficult, I need to continue healing.”
“You have my word. But I can promise--.”
“No, once a soldier knows one of his boys has bagged you there is no respect. I need to stay focused on my professional life here.”
“If you ever want to talk, I would love to hear about Will’s last six months. I want to know he was happy.”
“I can promise you he was, and so was I.”
“Laurie.” She turned around, “I don’t want anyone knowing about this.” I held my hand up.
“I understand that too.”
Chapter 12
Shadows
Medical healing
“How long before the meds wear off?” I asked as soon as Dr. Neil walked in.
“Should be a couple hours. You both should try to get some sleep. There is a waiting room down the hall further, it has more comfortable recliners.”
“I’m heading out to see how Little Will is,” Titan stood up.
“If you’re referring to Mrs. Irons, she is in the employee lounge resting. If one of you leave will you let Bobbie at the nurses station know so she can tell her she can come back in.”
“Oh, lookey what we have here, a ‘lil rule breaker,” I laughed.
She looked at me expressionless and then back at Titan who stood in the doorway with a shit ass grin on his face.
“Lieutenant Titan, do you think you can handle that?”
“Yeah. You make Irons all better and I promise I can handle whatever you need me too.”
“Look, both of you,” she snapped which shocked the hell out of me. “I am a professional. All of us always have the same desired outcome. This is obviously a touchy situation so being a team is important. I don’t want to throw your asses out of here too. That’s how I want this handled Lieutenant Titan. Do you understand?”
“Told you whatever you needed handled and you jumped right to thinking I was hitting on you.”
“Your innuendos, however smooth, are unnecessary.”
“I don’t go in quietly Doc. If I wanted to fuck you, I’d tell you when, where, and in what position I was going to take you. So this,” he motioned between them, “is strictly professional. Me and my boys tend to joke around a lot, can you handle that?”
“As long as we are all on the same page.” She said in a voice as confident and as strong as his.
“I’ll go get the Mrs.”
Once he left she came over and checked the machines hooked up to Irons, “How’s he looking?”
“Strong.” She turned to me. “How are you feeling?”
“You see I’m real tempted to say something that’s sure to piss you off, it’s just how we are.”
“You I can handle. That one is full of shit.”
I couldn’t help but laugh, “You calling me a pussy, Dr. Neil?”
“No, but he seems to have an attitude problem.”
“Keep giving it back and you two will be just fine,” I said as she took Irons’ pulse.
Frankie walked in and I moved out of her way. “Can I lay with him?”
“We can see how it goes. Try the right side,” Dr. Neil moved around some of the wires and Frankie sat next to him.
“Hi Jax. This may be selfish but I need to be right here. It’s getting late so I am going to lay down next to you. I’m going to try not to hurt you.” She took his arm and lifted it and laid her head on his shoulder and then brought his hand around her. “If this is too much, tell me Jax. I know you want to and I will wait right here until you can. I love you.”
The monitor did that accelerated beeping shit again. I looked over at Dr. Neil and she smiled.
“We have cut down on the medication Frankie. He may become agitated. The alarms in the nurses station will go off so we’ll know and come right in. Try to get some sleep okay?”
“Yeah,” Frankie answered but her eyes never left Irons.
After Dr. Neil left I walked over to Irons left side, “Alright, you need me in here or no?”
“You can stay if you want, but we’re good.” She closed her eyes and melted into him.
I walked out into the hallway and stretched. I looked to my left and saw nurse Bobbie looking up at me. Mmm Mmm. I walked over and stood right in front of the counter she sat behind.
“Bobbie, I need a shower. You think you could direct me, maybe get me some scrubs. I’ve been in these clothes for too damn long.”
“I suppose since Dr. Neil is breaking the rules for y’all and she’s in charge today, I could probably help you out.” She stood up and slid her sexy little self through the door marked employee lounge. She peeked out and waved me in.
Once inside the tension was so thick you could almost see it.
“When Irons is released I’m gonna take you out as a thank you for all your,” I paused, “help in bending the rules for us.”
“Well,” she swallowed hard. “Today is my last day here. I’m moving back home.”
“Where is home nurse Bobbie?” I asked as I reached behind her, opened the cabinet marked scrubs, reached in and grabbed a pair.
“Florida,” she whispered.
“You going home for a boyfriend?” I asked as I pointed to the restroom and she nodded.
“I mean, no boyfriend. Just broke up. That’s why I am moving home.”
“Well, that’s a shame, Bobbie. The shower in there?”
“Yes.” Her cheeks were turning colors and it made my dick stir in my pants.
“You alright girl?” I asked as I pulled my shirt over my head. She was a little slow on the take but she turned her head. I cupped her chin and brought her eyes back to mine.
“I’m fine.”
“He break your heart?”
“What?” she gasped.
“The idiot who you’re running from. Did he break your heart.”
“Cheated on me,” she whispered.
/> “Stupid boy.”
She looked up in my eyes and I knew I had to have that hot little piece. “Well it’s nothing compared to what you’re going through. I’m sorry about your friend.”
“Thank you.” I wish she hadn’t brought that up, made things even more urgent.
“Have you had your revenge piece yet?”
“What?” she let out another nervous laugh and I took her hand and held it against my abs.
“A revenge piece. Have you let yourself enjoy something hot and hard?” She shook her head no. “It’s like a piece of cake Bobbie. You say you won’t have a second on your birthday, but then you put that first piece in your mouth. You try to be classy, use your manners and all that shit, but then you realize just how fucking amazing it is. You take another without worrying about the ramifications. All you can think about is having another piece, hoping like hell it’s better than the one before. Revenge cake, is that second piece. The one that, unlike your boyfriend will make sure you come at least twice before he does. It’s the piece that makes you realize there is better out there. It’s the piece you savor just so one day you can look that stupid son-of-a-bitch in the eye and say, ‘I’ve had better’, and by god you did. Nothing sweeter than a revenge piece. You picking up what I’m putting down?” She nodded. “Good, keep your eyes locked on the prize,” I undid my camos and let them drop, “You still watching?” She nodded. “That’s a good girl, Bobbie, now you and I are gonna get down to the healing magic of revenge cake. You can start by losing the clothes and going down on your knees.”
She threw them little pink scrubs off and went down, “Open up, Bobbie, it’s time for cake.”
~
I walked out of the lounge in green scrubs and adjusted my dick. That nurse Bobbie, sucked dick like a fucking animal and was one hell of a lay. She was such a good little girl, I let her come three times. Probably a good thing she was catching a flight in two hours or we would have gotten caught.
Dr. Neil looked at me and rolled her eyes as I rounded the corner. She looked at me like she knew what had just gone - down in the old lounge. Looked at me like I was some fuck degenerate. I bet she was thinking I was a fucking dick for needing to pump one out when my bro was laying in bed, but what the fuck else was there to do? Besides, getting off was a stress release. Nothing better for a man like me to come buckets to take the edge off. Now I could focus a little more.
“How long before you expect him to wake up?”
“Probably a couple hours, maybe three.” She looked away. “You should rest.”
“I’m showered and ready for round two,” I winked.
“There is seriously a problem with you men. Do you know that?”
Titan walked up to us, “And what would that problem be Doc?”
“Dr. Neil,” she corrected him.
“I prefer Doc,” he said and then looked over at me. “William and Rosa Cruz are on their way here.”
“We should tell Frankie,” I started to walk away.
“No,” Dr. Neil grabbed my elbow, “Let her sleep. She is going to need her rest. I will go update the families.”
“I’ll go with you. Titan, you staying here?”
“Yes. I’ll go in and crash in the chair. You get some sleep man. Johnny is gonna want to discuss,” he paused and looked at Dr. Neil.
“Look, I know you are hiding something and unless it has to do with his recovery, it doesn’t concern me.” Dr. Neil said and looked away.
“Just need to look after Irons. But I will ask that Shadows, Frankie, or I are with him at all times.”
“I understand,” and she turned and walked away.
Dr. Neil and I walked into the waiting room and the Deveroux and Irons family discussion hit pause real quick.
“Hello, just an update. Lieutenant Irons is resting. When the medication wears off then we will know more about the extent of his injuries. You should all feel comfortable going home and getting some sleep. He is not going to wake for a couple hours and we have things well under control.”
Helen Irons was the first to stand up. “We’ll be at Jaxson’s home. You have our numbers.”
“Mrs. Irons, Francesca’s parents are there now--.”
“And why is that?”
“For Francesca, his wife,” I tried not to rub it in but I’m sure my tone was a little sarcastic.
“You all keep saying his wife, is there proof? I mean how do we know this isn’t just a hoax to get that, that, girl in his hospital room?” Mimi sneered.
“We were there, Mimi, and so were her parents.”
“Well I agree with Mimi. We want to see the marriage license or we will be going to the board and making sure you and Titans are removed as proxy and the good doctor here is taken off his case.”
“License was filed. Everything is legal. What I would suggest, Mrs. Irons, is that you accept your sons choices and be part of team Irons here. Frankie wants the same thing we all want,” I paused to gauge her reaction. “Jaxson to wake up and be one hundred percent.”
“We’ll be at the Hilton,” she snapped and walked out the door.
“Dr. Neil,” Senator Irons handed her his card. “We are on the same team. Any changes let me know.”
After they had all left Johnny walked in. “You hiding out there behind a potted plant man?”
“If that’s what it takes.” Johnny ran his hands through his hair. “Is there a place the three of us can chat?”
“Of course. Follow me.”
We walked through the automatic doors and to Irons’ room I leaned in, “Titan I need a minute.”
We walked down to the waiting room Dr. Neil had told us about. As she said it was much quieter, no one was here. I wondered for a moment how many families sat here at a time of loss and then quickly shook it out of my head. I couldn’t go there.
Johnny started right in, “Lots of activity in Princess Anne yesterday. I have another guy up there now. Just got a message that this man,” he held up his phone, “was at the city clerks office this morning. New York plates on his SUV. Two unknowns were in the building when they opened.”
“Do we know who they are or their reason for being there?”
“The vehicle’s plates are registered to Senator Roberts.”
“And the connection to the Irons family?” Titan asked.
“Nothing blatant. The man is a democrat, so no party affiliation. We are looking deeper into it.”
“Good. Look at his connection to Deveroux too.”
“Already on it.” He typed in his phone and sent a text.
“Good, now we just get Irons feeling better.” I sat back, “What a fucking mess.”
“I’m going to follow a couple leads here. Rex has Mr. and Mrs. Cruz, you have Mrs. Irons. I will be in touch.”
After Johnny skated out, Titan sat down, “Get an hour or two, when I start falling out I will wake you up.”
“I’m too fucking amped up. Fuck! We could have lost him today.” I stood up unable to sit still any longer.
“Yeah, well even if it was an accident we have a shit storm brewing. That fucking ice queen man--.”
“I know. What the fuck is her deal?”
“No idea but even his father isn’t as cold as she is. Regardless, get some rest.”
I stretched a little bit trying to relax my body. Everything was tight. Titan and the good doctor seemed to be believing the shit about him being fine. Me, not even a chance. Nothing is ever that fucking easy.
Chapter 13
Frankie
A long road
I woke to a choking sound and movement under me. I quickly opened my eyes and looked up to see Jax’s eyes wide, pained, and confused. The machines he was connected to immediately chimed and within seconds the room was full of nurses and Dr. Neil ran in.
“Come here, Little Will,” Titan grabbed me and pulled me off the bed.
“Jax? It’s okay,” tears fell immediately. I wasn’t sure if it was because I was happy he woke, or
the pain I felt when I saw the terror in his eyes.
“Lieutenant Irons, we are going to remove the tube but you need to relax,” Dr. Neil calm voice instructed. “Titan, Francesca, please wait outside.”
“No, we can stay. Jax we’re right here, okay?” Titan held me back from going to him and then pulled me out of the room. “I want to be with him.”
“They need to do their job.” He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
“Are you okay? You look pale.”
“Just stay fucking put,” Titan growled.
“He’s awake?” Shadows came rushing down the hall.
“Yes,” I laughed as more tears fell, “Yes!”
I heard Jax gasp and let out a pain filled groan, “Water.”
I walked in and pushed my way through the nursing staff who had all stepped back.
Dr. Neil raised her eyebrow and shook her head disapprovingly as I stood by his bedside.
“Lieutenant Irons, nice to have you back.”
He looked out of the corner of his eyes at me then back to her.
“Jax, I knew you would come back. I knew--.”
“Francesca, I need to ask some questions and you need to calm down.
“Of course,” I smiled. Hell I wanted to laugh. Jax was awake.
“Do you remember the accident?”
“No, ma’am.” His voice was so rough.
I grabbed the cup of water from the nurse and opened the straw, “Here. This will help.” He went to lift his arm to take it and groaned as his eyes squeezed shut. “I got it.” His eyes opened. I held the cup and turned the straw so he didn’t have to lean forward, “Go ahead, take a sip.”
He did and then coughed holding his mouth closed.
“Not so much, Jax. You’ve been out for--.”
“Lieutenant Irons, what is the last thing you remember?”
He looked around, his eyes showed confusion.
“Obviously I was in an accident.” He said with the same confidence Jax always executed in a crowd. Controlled, precise, and authoritative.
