A Fire That Burns

by Kirsty-Anne Still

  Watching the nurse leave, Tyler relaxed as he knew everything was well under control as it should be. He sat up again, and leaned in towards her. “I guess that makes it official. Three days from freedom, Aus, how’s it feel?” Tyler asked her almost excitedly.

  “There’s a family meeting later,” Austin started with a cocked brow, “Does that tell you how I’m feeling?”

  Tyler winced and shook his head, “A family meeting over you going home?” he asked her. He knew that Pearson family meetings were never something to be taken lightly. They usually meant business, and no one ever left until a dead set decision was made.

  “Mom wants me with her and dad, you want me with you, Tom wants me there,” Austin threw her hands up in the air, her bad arm giving a little in protest. “I don’t know if I’m coming or going.”

  “You know I understand your reasoning to not coming with me, but maybe your parents would be good?” he questioned her. He remembered her telling him that she couldn’t live comfortably in a house that he had once shared with Natasha. It just wasn’t right for her and he respected her honesty.

  “I’ll decide later. For now, I want some alone time with you before the chaos erupts,” Austin said almost seductively. She knew she wasn’t the most attractive creature at that moment, but Tyler never took his eyes off of her. It was always her he seemed to want – greasy hair, no make-up, it didn’t matter – it was always her.

  “Oh, is that so?” Tyler asked her with a self-assured smirk.

  “It really is so,” she spoke back playfully, biting her bottom lip with eager tease.

  “We best use our time wisely then,” Tyler mentioned as he closed the gap between them, his eyes staring intently into hers.

  “God, I love you so much, Tyler Armstrong,” Austin commented all of a sudden as she looked deeply into his eyes. “And that’s all I’ll ever know about love.”

  “I think you find that’s enough,” he finalized for her and kissed her again.

  ***

  “Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!” Austin shouted out, waiving her arms to call a halt to this discussion before it spiraled out of control. “Give a girl a say in this, yeah?” she asked them and watched everyone as they turned to face her, “My stuffs at Tom’s and I’d like to go back there.” Austin told them with a matter of fact tone and brought her good hand up to soothe her injured arm after the strain of getting their attention.

  “Aussie, you need twenty-four hour care,” Jane jumped in hoping to win this debate.

  Austin exchanged a look with her mother, before the sarcastic response just rolled off her tongue. “My feet still work, as do my arms and hands-”

  “So does her mouth,” Tyler jokingly jumped in and was rewarded with Austin sticking her tongue out at him.

  “What I am saying is that I am not a cripple,” Austin told them, “and I know you all want to look after me, but to do, so you’d have to move all my stuff over and that’s too much effort.” She told them truthfully and smiled, “Plus, how much mischief can I really get up to on my own when Tom’s not home?”

  “Do you really want an answer for that?” Sienna said as she sat down on the bed and smirked at her sister.

  Giving Sienna a glare for not being any help, she looked back to her parents, “It’s my arm and side. I’m not broken, just crispy around the edges,” she joked, trying to break into the tension that was eating at every viable piece of atmosphere in the room.

  Tyler chuckled, “And there’s the sense of humor you’ve been holding out on us.”

  “There’s a lot you’ve been holding out on, Baby,” Austin replied sweetly to him and just watched everyone realize that she was actually back with a vengeance. “Believe me; we’ve got all the time in the world to fix that, Ty.”

  “And point proven!” Tyler teased, making everyone laugh. “Well we’re all going to need to keep her under wraps, and if she won’t stay with me or you guys, so I guess we’ll have to make a schedule.” Tyler said as he spoke to Jane and Nicolas.

  Austin put her good arm across her eyes and groaned, “I’m twenty five, not five!” she shouted at them, hating that all her rights to independence seemed to be snatched away in that instance. “No offence, but I did manage six years on my own.”

  “Yeah and look where that got you,” Dean teased her with his brotherly sense of humor.

  “Out of debt?” Austin quipped back at them with a grin. “Can’t deny that one!”

  “She’s got a point,” Tom told them as he relaxed. “So what, you’re going to stay with me and not allow anyone to help?”

  “I didn’t say that,” Austin huffed at them. “I am plenty capable of doing some things on my own because life has to go on.” Austin told them, then smirked as she spoke without thinking. She needed life to go on, but if they were going to suffocate her, then nothing was moving forward. “Believe me I, am plenty capable at looking after myself, and the last year and half proved that.”

  “Aussie’s got a secret!” Sienna all but shouted as she heard that statement and the tone of voice Austin used. She watched Austin try to think of ways to deflect the question and knew she had let too much slip for that sentence to just be overlooked. “What do you mean the last year and half proved that?”

  “Nothing,” she said as her defenses flew up to the heavens. “I meant I had survived the last six years.”

  “Spill,” Tom pressed and watched her purse her lips in refusal. “Spill it, Aus, or I’ll make sure they find a reason for you to stay in here a little while longer.”

  “You wouldn’t!” Austin shouted back in horror.

  “Oh, I would,” Tom told her with a voice slick with glee, “Now tell.”

  “Don’t judge me?” Austin questioned them all as she looked from one person to another and back again, “Imighthavegottenarrested,” she muttered under her breath so quickly all the words became one.

  “What was that?” she heard Tom press.

  She looked up and tried not to break, “I might have gotten myself arrested,” she told them and heard her name gasped in shock horror.

  “Good Lord!” Jane gasped as her hand flew to her chest. “What for?” she asked having multiple questions buzzing around in her head. Horrible scenarios of her daughter committing horrific crimes flew to her mind.

  “I just hacked the wrong software,” Austin shrugged like it was nothing to worry about. “I just did it once and that was it. After I was arrested I never did it again.”

  “Did you not get a sentence or anything?” Tyler asked, not sure how to respond. The love of his life had committed a felony, and right now, he couldn’t stop thinking how sexy that was on a woman.

  “I was recruited to fill a position in a division for the FBI for a year’s trial. If I didn’t do anything that went against regulation, and I didn’t hack anymore, then I was fine. I wasn’t a threat. Even though the job required me to hack and break regulation, but it was within reason. At the end of it, I was reviewed and evaluated and they set me loose.”

  “You? FBI?” Sienna asked confused slightly.

  Austin nodded and gulped, “In New York.” She told them truthfully and shrugged, “When the year was up I wanted out. I couldn’t do it anymore; I just wanted to come home. I learned my lesson for trying to be creative,” she looked down as her emotions bubbled and tears spilt.

  “Hey,” Nicolas said swooping in to wipe away her tears, “Aussie, you’re home now. You had every right to come home whenever you wanted to. You did, and that’s all that matters.”

  Austin sniffed as she looked into her father’s eyes, “Nobody wanted me back though.” She whispered as the sting still lingered long and heavy in her as a result of her arrival back. It caught her unaware and the backlash was harsh from time to time and she hated herself for it. “It was selfish to come back.”

  “Oh hell no,” Tyler stepped in and sat on the other side of the bed, “Austin, Baby, you coming back was a shock and I reckon everyone in this damn town will vouch for
me on that. You left without warning and came back exactly the same, but my God you came back at the right time.”

  “Doesn’t feel like it,” Austin muttered to Tyler.

  Tyler laughed a little, “Aus, you saved me from a life I would have regretted and both our families are closer than ever, and that’s because you’re back. Your mom’s happier than she has been, your brothers and Sienna are too, your dad for sure, and me,” he paused and sighed, “I’ve wanted to feel alive for so long and now I do. Never think it was selfish to come back or I will spank you from here through to next year.”

  “Is that a promise?” Austin retorted thoughtlessly as her mood seemed to break as easy as it always did.

  “Best believe it,” Tyler told her back enthusiastically and winked at her.

  Exhaling loudly, Austin let her shoulders slump, “Sorry.” She mumbled apologetically, and she felt a blush of embarrassment sweep her cheeks.

  “I just think someone’s tired,” Nicolas commented as he watched his daughter falter a little. “You’ve been up a while.” He watched his daughter slowly agree and gave her a smile, “Wanna get some sleep?” he asked her and she nodded quietly.

  Austin felt like the dip in her mood was too heavy. She didn’t want to be sad, but telling everyone what she had done with herself in the last six years was still difficult to confront herself, let alone a roomful of people. She was a criminal now, but unlike the real bad guys, she had cut a deal. She was used to the advantage of the government, as a unique secret weapon.

  Dean immediately agreed, and then stood up. “Well now that we’ve got Austin set up with where she’s going, I guess we best let her rest up a little more before we completely wipe her out. I say we go find food and bring it back,” Dean mentioned. Everyone quickly agreed and began to disperse from the room leaving Austin’s parents, Tyler, and Thomas behind in their wake.

  As everyone settled or left, Austin yawned tiredly and just curled up on her side facing her brother and Tyler. She pulled the sheets up; thankful for her mom stepping in to help and she felt the exhaustion begin to creep over her entirely.

  “It’s still early,” Tom commented as he put his feet up on the bed. It wasn’t even dark yet and she was looking ready to go to bed.

  Austin smirked sleepily, “I don’t care, I want three days time to be today.”

  He had to smirk as he understood fully what she was getting at, and she had a good point. Everyone wanted her discharge papers to finally be given so they could get her home.

  Chapter Forty-Three

  CAN I help you?” Daniel asked the blonde that was standing in the road looking up and down completely lost. It wasn’t often a stranger came through town and looked this confused and lost – and they certainly were never this attractive if they did.

  She looked at him and smiled brightly. “Hi, I’m looking for Austin Pearson,” she replied sweetly and looked at her phone to see if she had any reply to her texts. “I’ve tried that house,” she pointed up to the Pearson family home and then turned back, “But there’s no reply and I don’t know where else to try.”

  “You’re looking for Austin?” he asked the blonde and looked over as Dean and Sienna approached, “This little lady is looking for Austin.”

  “Who wants to know?” Dean asked protectively.

  “Jessica Roberts,” she started and couldn’t continue as Dean looked passed her and into the distance.

  “What the hell?” Dean said infuriated, and ran down the road to the empty plot of land that was still being cleared of all the burnt remains. “Hey! Can I help you? Excuse me!”

  Jessica ran down after them, and before the young man standing inspecting the area could respond, she caught his attention. “Archie!” Jessica called out to him, “Archie, get over here now!” She waited for him to come to her, “What the hell was that about?”

  “Seventy percent of house fires can be prevented if peop-” Archie began before he was cut off.

  Jessica swatted his arm, “Not now.” She warned him and then turned to the three men. “Sorry, he spouts useless facts when he’s in uncomfortable situations,” she said teasingly and straightened up ready for answers. “We’re friends of Austin’s. She just left us, and we’ve been trying to get here to look for her, but we haven’t been able to until now.”

  “You’re both friends of Aussie’s?” Dean asked, and when he got an affirmative he exchanged glances with his brother and sister quickly. “I think you better come with us.”

  “Why?” Jessica quickly asked, “What is it?”

  “Where, Archie was it?” Daniel started, and waited to see if he got the name right or not before continuing, “Where Archie was standing was where Austin was helping fix up a house. It caught on fire with her in it.”

  “What?” Jessica gasped and felt a little weak. She wasn’t at all surprised that Archie remained quiet. “Is she okay?”

  “As can be,” Dean told her truthfully, “She’s coming home in a few days, but maybe you’d want us to take you to her and you can see for yourself that she’s okay?”

  “Please,” Jessica said and looked at Archie, “We need to give Emma heads up.”

  “There’s another one coming?” Sienna asked as they walked towards the truck. They might have just come back from the hospital, but they had no problem with going back.

  Jessica nodded, “Emma, she’s another friend. She’s been waiting to come with us too. We just need to see her.” Jessica told them with a small anxious smile, “We miss her.”

  “How do you know her?” Sienna continued to ask away.

  “She worked with us,” Jessica answered honestly, trying her hardest to stay on top and not put any barriers up. These people had extremely similar mannerisms of Austin, and it was hard to not trust them wholeheartedly from the word go. “I’m guessing you’re her sister?” Jessica asked, wanting to clear this up instantly.

  “Yup, one of the Pearson five,” Sienna commented proudly, “So you don’t happen to know anything about her getting arrested do you?” Sienna asked as she opened the back door for Jessica to hop in.

  Jessica laughed, “That’s how we met her.”

  Chapter Forty-Four

  WHEN Austin opened her eyes it was still dark outside. She knew she hadn’t really slept long enough, but she was grateful when she finally felt her stomach rumble. She realized that, at long last, she was extremely hungry.

  Getting an appetite back? This had to be a good sign, she thought to herself as she became aware of the emptiness in the room. Pushing herself up, she painfully reached over and grabbed the glass, thankful for the cool water.

  “Hey,” Tyler said as he came back into the room. “You’re up.”

  Austin looked up in shock. Her eyebrows knitted together, but nodded slowly and stretched a little, “Where is everybody? I thought no one was here,” her voice still dry and quiet. She then looked to the window, “What time is it?”

  “It’s almost eight,” he told her as he came to sit on the bed with her. “Everyone’s outside. You were asleep and we didn’t want to disturb you.”

  Feeling her confusion taking over, Austin tried to release the furrow in her forehead, “Disturb me how?” she asked and tried to stifle a yawn as it took over.

  “You have some visitors,” Tyler told her coolly, “Nothing to worry about, just some people here to see you.”

  “Who?” Austin asked as she lay back down. She hadn’t quite woken up and wasn’t finding herself too easily. “I don’t think I’m going to last long.”

  Tyler smiled at her, “That’s okay. They didn’t want to leave without seeing you, and I think your mom and dad got a little protective about leaving you with people that they hardly know.”

  “And you’re still here because...” she trailed off trying to get an answer.

  “You know I’m not leaving my baby’s side easily,” Tyler told her with a wink, “And well, right now, I have nowhere I’d rather be than sleeping in the same bed as you.�
��

  Austin smiled at that, she loved nothing more than Tyler holding her and sleeping with her. With that thought, she looked up at him and he seemed to know what she wanted to do.

  Tyler stood up, “Want me to get them and then we can sort out who’s going where, and who’s sleeping where?”

  “Go for it,” she told him and smiled as he gave her a kiss. She watched him go to the door and call them in. She smiled as he came and sat next to her again. Once more being her support when she felt a little uneasy. Austin watched the door as two familiar figures came into view and she felt her heart clamp a little at the sight. It had felt like a lifetime ago since she had seen these guys and she had felt a part of herself miss them. Here they were, here to see; she had never been so happy than to know these people had travelled across the country to see her.

  “Oh, Aussie,” Jessica exclaimed quietly as she came into the room and smiled at Austin, trying to withhold the tears that were brewing.

  Austin felt herself slip a little at the sight of Jessica in front of her, “Hey, Honey, I’m okay.”

  “You don’t look it,” she fought back and tried to keep herself collected. “You leave for not even five months and look what happens.”

  “It wasn’t intentional, Jess, promise,” Austin replied and offered her a reassuring smile. “Believe me, I’m okay. I’m going to be amazing when I get out of here.” Looking over Jessica’s shoulder, Austin’s smile broke again, “And you brought my favorite genius with you.” She teased and watched as Archie smirked at her comment.

  “Hi Austin,” he said nervously, “Didn’t you learn anything from working with us?”

  “A few things,” Austin started, “But being caught in a burning building doesn’t quite constitute the bad guys you throw yourself at.” She watched as Jessica shot her a look, “It doesn’t! I don’t need to think like you guys or need a gun, or need to tackle anyone!” Austin exclaimed before muttering, “Although it would have been fucking useful!”