Make Mine a Marine

by Julie Miller

  “I'll be with you every step of the way,” he promised.

  BJ smiled crookedly. “I'm counting on it.”

  He kissed her briefly yet surely, liking the flush it left on her cheeks better than the pallor that had been there before.

  The front door opened before they reached it. “Brodie.”

  “Hawk.”

  Brodie shook hands and introduced BJ. The Indian was lanky and tall the way Brodie remembered, but he had let his sleek black hair grow to shoulder length. The familiar mystery still glittered in the obsidian eyes that studied BJ.

  Hawk spoke to Brodie, although his gaze never left BJ. “I see the shadows in her eyes. Come in. Let's see what I can find.”

  He moved aside for BJ to enter first. She glanced up at Brodie, waited for his approving nod, then set her shoulders and determinedly stepped inside.

  Chapter Eleven

  “Are you sure hypnosis is safe?”

  “This isn't true hypnosis. I just want to relax you enough to recall some hidden memories.”

  BJ decided that she liked Hawk, although Brodie's ready trust went a long way to dispel the anxiety building in her as the counselor asked her a series of questions regarding her episodes. Hawk’s voice was soft, gentle, mesmerizing. But his words were succinct and to the point. He was kind and patient, but he didn't waste any time with common pleasantries.

  Brodie hovered in the background of Hawk's office, a comfortable, masculine room replete with Native American artifacts. Hawk sat in an easy chair draped with a colorful Indian blanket while BJ curled in the corner of his couch.

  “I'd like you to lie down, BJ. Make yourself comfortable.”

  After a second's hesitation, she complied. She plumped a pillow at one end of the couch and stretched out on her back.

  “Close your eyes and listen to the sound of my voice.”

  For several minutes, Hawk led her through relaxation techniques, mentally erasing the tension from her limbs. But as muscle after muscle of her body relaxed, her mind tightened and clouded with all the old fears.

  BJ shot up to a sitting position. Her limp body struggled for balance following the abrupt movement. “I can't do this.”

  Hawk's dark eyes were a stark contrast to the icy familiarity of Brodie's pale gaze. Hawk's eyes were kind, but the security, the special cherishing gleam she needed was missing.

  Brodie appeared instantly at Hawk's shoulder. “I'm right here, Beej.”

  Hawk must have seen the connection between his guests, and smoothly altered his approach. “Brodie, sit with her.”

  “Will that distract her?”

  “I don't think so.”

  BJ slowly expelled the panic she held in check. The cushions sagged beside her, taking Brodie's weight. She turned on her knees to face him. Brodie held out his hands and she took them, adjusting her grip within his, absorbing his strength, finding her own strength in the presence of his love and support.

  “Shall we try this again?”

  BJ nodded, concentrating on Brodie's face. The ugly hollow beneath his cheek throbbed with the beating of his pulse. His hard mouth pressed into its perpetual horizontal line. And his remarkable eyes shone with faith in her and trust in Hawk.

  This time, as Hawk spoke, everything within her relaxed. Brodie's grip never slackened, his gaze never left hers. But somewhere along the line, BJ slipped away from her surroundings. She sank into something soft while the line between the outer world and her inner mind blurred and disappeared.

  After several moments of fuzzy incoherence, a wall threw itself up inside her head. As solid and imposing as brick and mortar, the blank oblivion prevented her from seeing what lay on the other side.

  “Must get through.” She heard the voice, knew it was hers, but it came from such a distance that she knew she had left the substantive world and entered a plane of ethereal existence.

  The image of a fractured lightning bolt floated past once. Then again.

  “Bridget. It's nothing.”

  “No. You can't turn me away this time. I have to remember.”

  Physically, BJ tensed her muscles. Mentally, she summoned her strength to push past the impenetrable wall.

  “I've seen you. I know what's on the other side. I will remember.”

  “It's nothing.”

  “Stop saying that! I know you're there. I'll find you.”

  Then BJ saw herself running. She pushed her way through hazy darkness, running on a cloud, running from the light toward the dark abyss.

  “It's nothing. Turn back.”

  BJ pushed forward, her breath coming in short, painful gasps. “Not this time.”

  A chink opened in the wall. Blurry halos of light flashed behind the nothingness. BJ touched the wall, wedged her fingers through the crack.

  “Let me through!”

  Lightning flashed, momentarily blinding her. A silvery circle floated before her eyes. “It's nothing” echoed in her ears.

  “No!”

  With Brodie's strength flowing through her, she wrenched the opening even wider. Light spilled through, bathing her in a new level of reality and awareness. Then she was through. With the finality of a slamming door, she was on the other side, the darkness behind her.

  Gradually the light took shape and form. She watched herself from an unseen place. She sat in her office at the computer. It was late, judging by the number of lights she had turned on in the room. Duke dozed by her feet. Her fingers flew over the keyboard, programming new code.

  She looked over her own shoulder at the screen, hoping to discover some truth that would help her. She noticed the shadow that fell over her from behind, but the BJ at the computer did not. Duke growled, alerting the other BJ. But it was too late. Long hair swung into her line of vision just as the rubber cudgel slammed into a precise spot at the juncture of BJ's neck and skull.

  The other BJ slumped onto the keyboard. Duke leaped to her defense, but got kicked aside for his troubles. The other BJ moaned in dazed awareness as a needle pricked her arm. A black- gloved hand reached around her and dialed a number on the phone.

  “She's ready.”

  The assailant hung up and pulled the other, reeling, BJ to a sitting position. When he was sure she'd remain upright, he pointed her face toward the computer monitor.

  The lines of code she had put there blipped to black. Then a clear screen appeared. She watched, transfixed, as the image of a lightning bolt surrounded by a silver circle appeared on the screen.

  The assailant picked up Duke and tossed the snarling dog into the closet. When he returned, his face came into focus. His smiling, handsome, greedy face came into focus.

  Rick Chambers.

  The BJ who watched the scene tried to step forward. “Why are you doing this?” she asked when her feet wouldn't move.

  Rick glanced with satisfaction at the computer screen. A program of words and symbols unfolded before the staring BJ's eyes. “Why are you programming me?”

  The other BJ stared, unblinking, falling under the spell. Rick punched up the other computer and sat in front of it, slipping a flash drive into the USB port and typing in a set of commands. After several minutes, he shut off the machine and placed another call.

  “It's done.” He waited while someone spoke. “I understand.”

  He cradled the receiver, then crouched on the floor beside BJ. He turned her chair toward him and whispered in a condescending, menacing voice. “Bridget?”

  The other BJ blinked, then focused on Rick.

  “Bridget, you will remember nothing. You will do as you are instructed and then you will forget. If you try to fight this, you will hear 'It's nothing' and you will forget. You will forget tonight and anything else I tell you. It's nothing, Bridget.”

  He turned her chair back toward the computer and stood, laughing smugly behind her. “You think you're so smart. You're making this way too easy, you freaky brainiac. You'll pay for your arrogance. I promise, you'll pay.”

  He reached
past her and punched a button on the keyboard. “Good night, Bridget.” He laughed. Then he disappeared before the other BJ shook herself into waking awareness.

  BJ felt the same pain the other BJ felt. She rubbed at her own temple just the way the other BJ did. “I must have dozed off.” She muttered in sync with the other BJ. “Man, what a headache.”

  Barking interrupted both BJs.

  “Duke? Duke. He knows. He knows everything.” BJ faded from the scene in her office.

  Blackness closed upon her, rushing at her with the speed and power of a freight train. She ran wildly, trying to beat the shadow before it consumed her.

  “No!” she shrieked. Tongues of evil lapped at her heels. She pushed herself harder. “Brodie!”

  The shadow expanded, cutting off all the light. She didn't know where to turn. She spun frantically, lost in the vortex. An eerie chill touched her, making her jump. “Brodie!”

  She started to shake, violently, back and forth. “BJ? I'm here. Come to me, sweetheart, come back.”

  Suddenly she was falling, spiraling downward through the black void.

  “BJ!”

  Then she slammed into consciousness, abruptly opening her eyes. Brodie hovered above her, shaking her by the shoulders.

  Abruptly, gratefully, she recognized where she was. Not in the shadowy place. In the afternoon light. With Brodie.

  She flung her arms around his neck. He caught her squarely against his chest, crushing her in his protective embrace.

  “It was so awful,” she whispered.

  “I know, honey. We heard. We could imagine.”

  BJ remembered Hawk was there with them and modestly slackened her hold. But Brodie didn't release her entirely. Instead, he shifted her onto his lap, wrapping his arms loosely around her. She snuggled securely against him, glad for the shelter that kept her demons at bay.

  Hawk wore a grim expression. His eyes gave her no clue to what he might be thinking.

  “Was I any help?”

  “Yes.” His answer told her nothing.

  She would have pressed him further, but a yawn forestalled her question.

  “You must be exhausted.” Hawk got up and crossed to his desk as though the session was over. “Rest for a while. I think you'll be able to. I have some questions for Brodie.”

  “But what about Rick Chambers? And the symbol I saw? The same one is on Brodie's chest.”

  Hawk waved aside her questions. “I want you to sleep if you can. You'll be safe here. I need you rested and rational before we can continue.”

  “All right.” Reluctantly, she agreed. She couldn't remember the last time she had slept well for any length of time. Brodie was with her to keep her safe. Hawk sounded as if he thought he could help her.

  She lay back on the sofa. Brodie tucked the blanket around her and brushed a gentle kiss across her forehead.

  “I'll be within shouting distance if you need me.”

  “Okay.” Her smile encompassed Brodie and his friend. “Thanks, Hawk.”

  “Don't thank me yet. We'll get some coffee down the block and return within an hour. Sleep well.”

  BJ nodded, already drifting into a restful sleep. Answers were within her reach now. Already she could think of one way to help herself. But exhaustion claimed her before the plan could be put into motion.

  “What aren't you telling me?” Hawk asked.

  Brodie looked at his companion over the rim of his coffee mug. The man would make one hell of a card player. He never revealed more than he was ready to share.

  Brodie set down his mug and waited for Hawk to do the same. “I know who's responsible for the brainwashing.”

  Hawk released a tight breath. “But you haven't told BJ.”

  “I don't think she'd believe me. I know she wouldn't want to. And I can't explain it in any rational way she could understand.”

  “Perhaps you'd better explain to me.” Hawk fingered his mug with deceptive detachment. “I sense the presence of the Dark Ones inside her. There is evil at work here. Something not of this world.”

  Brodie hesitated. “You believe in such things?”

  “I am shaman. My people believe in the forces of light and darkness.” Hawk rested his elbows on the table and leaned forward. “When we first met at Camp Lejeune for Special Forces training, I sensed you were an Ancient One. You transcend the parameters of normal human existence.”

  Brodie wasn't shocked so much as relieved at Hawk's intuition about him. He leaned back in the booth seat. Other than Jonathan and BJ, he had told no one of his immortality. Not in this lifetime, anyway. But Hawk knew—or at least suspected.

  Regaining his composure, Brodie leaned forward and matched Hawk's stance. He could speak freely now. He trusted Hawk to believe the truth.

  “In 1216, I served as a knight for the villagers of Camber-on-Avon. In a revolt against a feudal lord, I inadvertently killed his only daughter. As punishment for my mistake, I was cursed by the lord—a sorcerer. That sorcerer lives today,” Brodie said, “And he has replaced his lost daughter with BJ.”

  Hawk's eyes narrowed. “He’s her father?”

  Brodie shook his head. “Her mentor. BJ was orphaned at a young age. She's known him for thirteen years, and credits him with turning her life around, giving her purpose. She believes he loves her.”

  “Does he?”

  “How could he? She's bright and caring and funny and generous beyond reason. But he's taking away all that in the name of vengeance or greed or… hell, I don't know.”

  “So you believe BJ is controlled by magic, not posthypnotic suggestion?”

  Brodie heaved his shoulders in a massive shrug. “I don't know. Maybe both. That injection bit she described throws me. Maybe that's how magic works in the modern world. I can't explain Rick Chambers attacking her. I told you about him. His motives hinge strictly on personal gain and professional jealousy.”

  “Is it possible that he's being manipulated by the sorcerer as well?”

  “I thought of that. Damon certainly possesses the power to influence minds. That whole research center of his is full of automatons who have no clue about what he's doing to them.”

  The two men paused to sip their tepid coffee. “What do you want to do?” asked Hawk.

  “I was hoping you could remove the spell from her mind.”

  “Under normal circumstances, removing that kind of mind control would be risky.”

  Brodie swore softly. Normal had never been a part of his life. “Then there's nothing we can do?”

  “Only BJ can undo the magic that consumes her. Or the sorcerer who placed the spell.” Brodie waited expectantly while Hawk deliberated. “BJ must discover the evil for herself, if she is to believe that this father figure you speak of is responsible.”

  “How do I help her do that?”

  “Let her pursue the tangible leads. This Rick Chambers. The computers he tampered with.”

  “How can she do the work without succumbing to any suggestions? She could forget the answer the moment she finds it.”

  “You'd be there. That symbol, combined with her given name are what control her. Find out how. She has a very strong determination to fight this. And she has you for an ally.” Hawk's features creased into a smile. “I know I always felt safer knowing you were covering my back.”

  Brodie responded with an echo of a laugh. He dug a couple of bills out of his pocket and tossed them onto the table. “Coffee's on me since you won't let me pay for your help.”

  “You can return the favor sometime.”

  “I'll do that.”

  Hawk stood and the two men walked side by side out of the coffee shop down the sidewalk to Hawk's office.

  “Are you in danger?” Hawk asked. “An old enemy is usually the toughest.”

  The question surprised Brodie. He assumed he'd be invincible as always. And a few more scars couldn't make any difference. After a moment's consideration, he answered. “The only way Morrisey could hurt me is through BJ.�
��

  Hawk gripped Brodie's shoulder and gave him a sympathetic squeeze. “Then, my friend, he can destroy you.”

  Hawk's parting wisdom haunted Brodie all the way back to BJ's house. He climbed out of the SUV and opened the temporary gates, which repairmen had installed earlier in the day.

  He can destroy you.

  After eight hundred years of losing the people he loved, and denying his love to any who might save him, Brodie thought he might have grown immune to heartbreak. Clarinda and her sons had filled a special void in his life. He had cared deeply about Lynelle, Jane, and Zora.

  But his love for BJ felt different. Destined. Somewhere in his knight's soul, he knew he had survived the centuries searching for his true lady. The one woman to whom he would pledge honor and devotion above all others.

  Bridget Jacoba Kincaid was that woman.

  One small, nameless part of him was glad he had been cursed through eternity. How else would he have met his lady of the computer world? His lady of the baggy clothes masking generous curves to be revealed to him alone?

  His lady of the beautiful eyes and laughter and life-affirming smile?

  He gladly accepted his curse for the opportunity to know BJ Kincaid.

  But what about afterward? What about when she stopped believing in him? What about when she turned away and put him out of her life for the remainder of her days?

  What would happen to him then?

  Then he truly would be cursed, living forever with the memory of what once had been his. Long after BJ was gone, he would still love her.

  BJ must have sensed his mood when he shut the gates behind them and returned to the SUV. Her chatting stopped. Her plans for running a diagnostic of LadyTech and her own private computer systems, her idea of breaking into Rick Chambers' private files, all evaporated into pensive silence.

  The somber mood followed them into the house. He checked the security while she went into the kitchen to phone the vet and ask about Duke's condition. A while later, she joined him in the computer room, where he stared, immovably, at the blank screen. He would always associate technology with her. As eons passed and the status quo changed, he would think of BJ, knowing that her brilliance played a part in the evolution of the modern world.