SOLACE: Behind The Shield (Beauty 0f Life Book 2)

by Laura Acton

  Whoa! General Broderick is Dan’s father. The biting words took Bram off guard. Not everyone has a great relationship with their parents, but Dan certainly holds no love for his father. Sad, really sad.

  Bram refrained from commenting on Dan’s family. “Jon’s bark is mostly bluster to cover a soft core, he cares but doesn’t express softer emotions well. Usually comes out as anger.”

  Dan didn’t care how the tactical leader expressed himself. With any luck, he wouldn’t need to put up with hardheaded Hardy much longer. Noticing the kindness in Bram’s blue-green eyes, he recognized Bram only tried to help, and he appreciated his effort. Dan quietly said, “Thanks for trying. I’m going to miss working with you.”

  Bram’s eyes opened wide. “What? You’re not leaving, are you? Please don’t leave TRF. Dan, we all screwed up, and we know it now. Give us a chance to show you that you belong, you are one of the team, and you make a difference. Because … you do, you are, and you already have.”

  Shoving his hands in his jeans pockets to hide the slight shake from the emotion churning below his surface, Dan said, “I’ve asked Gambrill to transfer me to Echo Team. He will inform me of his decision in two weeks. Until then, I’m still on Alpha Team. I’ll be back tomorrow morning.”

  Reaching out, Bram squeezed Dan’s left bicep lightly. “I hope you reconsider the transfer.”

  All of Dan’s senses began whirling. Patch’s special touch. The gesture, a soft squeeze, and its location carried significance. The only spot on him which didn’t result in pain when touched after his rescue. The touch became Patch’s way to convey without words that he cared, and Dan would be alright.

  Overwhelmed by the sensation and the flood of memories, Dan sucked in a breath. He must leave now before he embarrassed himself again. “I gotta go. See ya tomorrow.” He turned and swiftly headed for the stairs.

  Bram stood watching Dan’s rapid retreat. There had been an emotional reaction when he touched the rookie. Dan was definitely a multi-faceted man. It would take time to discover the real man behind the shields.

  TRF HQ – Dispatcher Desk – 7:40 a.m.

  Tia called out to Dan as he walked by her. “Dan, wait.”

  Dan stopped and turned. “Yeah?”

  Holding out a large baggie and a card, Tia said, “These are for you. Lexa needed to leave for a public relations gig with Ray, but asked me to give them to you.”

  Striding over to the desk, Dan reached out, and took the bag and card. “Thanks.”

  “Where are you going?” Tia asked with a worried tone.

  Dan shrugged. “Home, I guess. I’ll be back tomorrow.”

  Tia watched Dan leave. Why is Dan off duty when the team returned to active call duty today? She noted Dan’s appearance and concluded Commander Gambrill, a man who cared about the officers working at TRF, most likely decided Dan needed additional rest. She resumed her seat and perused the menu she picked up at the Fire Stick Grill after doing a wee bit of investigative work on one Jarmal Tate for Sergeant Pastore. Perhaps I’ll grab dinner there tonight and catch sight of the handsome owner and chef again.

  Worth the Fight

  2

  October 25

  Green Acres Cemetery – Brody’s Grave – 10:15 a.m.

  Dan sat on the cool grass next to his brother’s grave as he munched on an oatmeal raisin walnut cookie. He still held the card in his hand which came with them. He read the handwritten flowing and delicate script a hundred times now and memorized her words.

  Dan, I hope you enjoy the cookies. You belong on Alpha Team. I’m sorry for being such a bitch.

  Your teammate, Lexa

  P.S. Watch out for Loki, he likes to steal cookies.

  He swallowed a bite of the oatmeal cookie. They tasted even better than Jarmal’s and were on par with Bella’s and his mother’s. The thought of his mom stirred a longing in him. He toyed with the idea of calling her, but every time he dismissed it. Her rejection on top of everything else might push him off the edge regardless of his promise to Brody. Dan pulled his knees close to his chest and wrapped his arms around them as he gazed at Brody’s headstone.

  Brody Mikhail Hunter

  Beloved Son of Louise Grace Hunter

  Cherished Brother

  Music soothes the soul and lights the path to the beauty of life

  “Brody, what am I gonna do? I’m drawn to someone who dislikes me. I feel so many things I can’t put into words when I’m near her. Things I shouldn’t because Lexa’s my teammate. Well, if I stay on Alpha Team. Gambrill’s gonna inform me in two weeks if he’ll approve my transfer request.

  “I’m not sure if I should give the team a second chance. They confused me today. Loki asked me to come to dinner. Sexy Lexie made my favorite cookies. And Bram … hell, he confuses me the most.

  “Bram’s like all of you mixed up and rolled together. He’s a father of four girls, and he sorta reminds me of Blaze. Like how Blaze became all protective of Daphy and each of us. He’s almost as huge as Mason and just as gentle.

  “Bram sings terribly, but he sang ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’ to his infant daughter, and I cried. Reminded me of how you sang to me when I was hurting or screwed up in the head. When I told the team I killed you, Bram held me as you did after my nightmares. He released me when I pulled back and didn’t make a big deal just like you.

  “He’s got combat skills like Ripsaw. He has a way with words like Winds. And he squeezed my arm in the exact place Patch always did. I nearly lost control when he touched me there. God, I miss you all so damned much.”

  Dan sighed. “I’m not sure if I fit with Pastore’s team, but I might with Bram. And Bram asked me to give them another chance. Should I?”

  The only sound around Dan was the slight rustling of the fallen leaves which moved in the gentle breeze. He sat for a long time waiting for Brody to talk to him and tell him what to do. When he didn’t hear anything, he stretched out and lay down next to the grave and waited longer as he munched on a cookie—he had nowhere else to be today.

  After thirty more minutes with no whispers from Brody, Dan came to the conclusion he wouldn’t be answering him this time. As he bit into another cookie, someone sat near another grave. The voice of a young man speaking to a headstone wafted over to him. He talked to his mother of being afraid that he couldn’t take care of his family and about the pain he felt which culminated with deep, gut-wrenching sobs.

  Sixteen-year-old Alban Kettle knelt at his mother’s resting place. The tears and his fears overwhelmed him. He missed his mother so much. She died protecting him. He held Mom as she bled out on their kitchen floor and made a vow to her to help Dad care for his brothers, but some days Alban didn’t think he had what it took to honor his pledge. Things were so hard.

  Alban glanced at his natural Dad’s grave. There was still pain in seeing his grave, but it dulled a bit with time. Dad died seven years ago in an accident. However, the grief for his mother remained raw. She passed away only last year. Both his biological parents were gone now, but Alban still had his adopted father and all eleven brothers.

  When Mom remarried six years ago, he lucked out and got a strong second father and five ready-made brothers to go along with his existing four brothers. His two littlest, identical twins, Brandon and Bryce, came along a year later, making the brothers an even dozen.

  Alban knew his dad believed in him. Dad always found ways to shore him up when he doubted himself. Wiping away his tears, Alban said, “Mom, Dad told me about this song. He said this would help me when things got tough. It does. There are two lines which ring true for me. The first says each day is a gift. I believe that because every day you were in our lives I felt special and loved. The second says what’s important is worth fighting for.

  “Mom, I’m gonna keep fighting ‘cause my brothers are worth the struggle. You gave your life for mine. I promise you I will fight because family is important. I’ll do all in my power to help them grow up strong and honorable, so you’ll be
proud of them. I love you, Mom.”

  Alban pulled out his phone and started his music app. “I gotta pick up Bryce and Brandon from kindergarten soon, but I got enough time to play you the song. I think you’ll like it.” Alban hit play.

  Dan listened to the young man who carried the weight of the world on his shoulders. He started to rise to give him privacy, but Brody whispered to him. “Listen to the music, Danny.” Music floated to Dan’s ears as the teen began to sing along with ‘If Today Was Your Last Day’ by Nickelback.

  The words resonated with him too. Is each day really a gift? Brody would think so. That’s how he lived. He fought for his dreams and lived each moment to the fullest. Brody left the darkness of his childhood in the past, embraced the light, and always sought the beauty of life. He refused to allow his fears to stop him from shooting for the stars and truly believed that was the only way to live his life.

  What would I do if today is my last day? What is my dream? Dan lay staring up at the sky a long time considering those questions. He finally answered. I want to make a difference in this world, to serve, and to protect. He wanted to be a cop, ever since he was sixteen and was saved by one. If this is what I desire, what am I going to do?

  He finished the last of the cookies Lexa made him as he contemplated the options he considered a few nights ago. Staring at the clouds, not puffy enough to make shapes out of, he watched them gradually move across the horizon as he tried to decide if he should stay or leave. Pros and cons filtered in and out of his mind as he weighed each one.

  Once upon a time, he made a fresh start in this city, perhaps he could again. His godfather would likely approve his transfer, what difference did it make if he were on Alpha or Echo. I can perform the same duty on either team.

  Decision made, he sat up and laid his hand on Brody’s headstone. “Thanks for the advice, Brody. I’m gonna try to leave my fears behind and seek the beauty of life. I recognize this won’t be easy, I’m going to falter often, but if beauty exists, it’s worth the fight.”

  TRF HQ – Briefing Room – 1:00 p.m.

  Ray stood at the window gazing outside trying to put a cap on his brooding thoughts after what Boss told them this morning. His mood matched many on the team today, heavy, somber, and introspective as they all reflected on the news Dan requested a move to Echo Team.

  They only had two weeks to make everything right and show the rookie he was part of this team. Otherwise, Commander Gambrill would honor Dan’s request and might make other changes in their team, too. If that happened, well, … their failure would be complete. The best team at TRF would be no more, and they would’ve failed when it most mattered. Disappointment welled in Ray. This fiasco brought up memories he buried deep. He failed once before and lost a good friend.

  Loki came up next to Ray and showed him a flyer. “Hey, you wanna go with me to this?”

  Ray pulled himself out of his morose thoughts and scanned the flier. A grin spread across his face. “Sorry, buddy. I got a hot date that night.”

  “You could bring her.”

  “Not the type of date night I’m looking for.”

  Lexa sidled up to them and glanced down at the advertisement for a corn maze. “If you take your date there, I’m sure she will be clinging to you for protection from all the creepy things.”

  Loki nodded eagerly. “Yeah, it’s supposed to be the scariest one they’ve done.”

  “Sorry, I’m thinking more along the lines of a steak dinner and a few glasses of red wine. Woo her with refinement, not scare the bejeezus out of her,” Ray stated.

  Turning to Lexa, Loki asked, “What about you? You wanna come?”

  Lexa laughed. “And have you clinging to me like a baby as you scream like a little girl? Nah, I would rather repaint my bedroom.”

  Ray asked, “Didn’t you already paint it?”

  Biting her lower lip a moment, Lexa decided how to answer. She settled on, “I didn’t like the color.”

  “But you’ve been living with Kilkenny green splotches on your wall for months. What did you decide on now?” Loki folded up the ad and stuffed the paper into his pocket.

  Lexa answered, “Not sure.” Lexa thought about how last night she painted her bedroom wall Honorable Blue and once she realized the blue was the same shade as Dan’s sapphire eyes she repainted the wall Baked Cookie Brown. But now the hue wouldn’t leave her mind.

  “Got samples? I’ll help pick the perfect color,” Loki offered with a smile.

  Shrugging, Lexa said, “I’m thinking of doing it a velvety shade of blue.”

  “Blue’s relaxing,” Ray said as he moved over to his chair and sat down.

  Loki tried again to get one of them to go with him. “Lexa, I promise to help you paint if you go with me. It isn’t any fun to go alone.”

  Slowly swiveling back and forth in the comfortable chair, Ray suggested, “Why don’t you ask Dan? We only have two weeks to change his mind. Perhaps you two might have some fun together and begin to learn more about him. I mean none of us asked him about his Thanksgiving plans. This could be a start.”

  Lexa nodded. “Ray’s got a good point. Get to know Dan outside work.”

  His expression unsure, Loki asked, “You think he would go? I asked him to dinner, Ma’s lasagna, and he turned me down.”

  “Just ask. If you don’t ask, he can’t say yes,” Ray stated.

  Loki nodded, warming to the idea. He and Dan could have a blast at the corn maze. He loved mazes ever since he went to his first one when he was nine. Perhaps Dan would agree to go to the Mega-Maniac Super-Duper Horror Fest Maze with him. Loki grinned at the opportunity to begin making up for his horrible behavior.

  Corn Maze

  3

  October 30

  TRF HQ – Briefing Room – 7:00 a.m.

  “No!” Dan bristled at Loki’s tenaciousness.

  Sitting across from Dan, Loki asked again, “Why not?”

  “Don’t want to.”

  “Why not?”

  “Don’t want to.”

  “Why not?”

  Dan rolled his eyes. “You sound like a broken record.”

  Loki grinned. “Might be stuck, not broken …. Why not?”

  Swiveling around to stare out the window, Dan attempted to ignore Loki’s incessant badgering. The past four days had been different, and he struggled to figure out if the change was due to him, them, or both. His thought dropped as Loki pestered him yet again.

  Not to be deterred, Loki said, “Come on. It will be fun.”

  “No, for the hundredth time,” Dan said in an exasperated tone. Loki wouldn’t give up. Judging from the way Loki repetitively asked him the same thing, the guy wouldn’t accept no for an answer.

  Loki, desperate to make a connection, would not let go until Dan agreed to go with him. The two remaining weeks of his assignment dwindled too rapidly. He grinned. “But they’re exciting. Come on, say yes and come with me. I promise you’ll have loads of fun.”

  Dan turned to Loki noting the eagerness in his eyes. Despite the dejection it might create, he never would be able to answer yes. Not in a million years. “No. No. No. No. No. And finally, if you still aren’t clear, No!”

  Bram walked in during Dan’s litany of nos. He took his regular seat and asked, “No, to what?”

  Loki answered before Dan could. “He won’t go with me to the corn maze and haunted house.”

  Smiling, Bram recalled his youth. “Those are thrilling. I enjoyed going to those as a kid. Why don’t you want to go?”

  “Don’t ask,” Dan said feeling ganged up on.

  “Ya ought to go. You’ll get a chance to hear Loki screaming like a little girl,” Bram said thinking the rookie could use some old-fashioned amusement and a dose of Loki’s humor.

  “No!” Dan wanted to storm out but kept his cool.

  “I don’t scream like a girl,” Loki retorted.

  Chuckling Bram lifted a brow. “Really, then who blew out my ear drum last Halloween with hi
s high-pitched screeching when Lexa put those plastic spiders on your chair?”

  “Didn’t say I didn’t scream … but it’s a manly scream, not a girly one.” Loki insisted with a grin.

  Bram only chuckled.

  Loki turned his attention back to Dan, hoping to wear him down by his persistence so Dan would change his mind. “Come on, buddy. I don’t have anyone to go with me. Ray’s got a hot date and Lexa’s painting her bedroom. Not as much fun going alone.”

  “No.”

  Bram observed the dynamic. He perceived a slight change in Dan the last few days. The stoic mask remained securely in place, and he still didn’t initiate conversations, but he now responded to them with more than one-word answers. Well, usually.

  Something is different. I hope we change Dan’s mind and he chooses to stay with Alpha Team. Though Bram wondered at Dan’s continued resistance to Loki’s invitation, he grinned and teased Dan, expecting to elicit a small smile. “What? Are you scared?”

  “No.”

  Loki’s eyes brightened as he picked up the unlikely thread and tried to bait him into a yes. “You’re scared. Who da thunk the great and mighty ex-Special Forces soldier is frightened of a little ol’ corn maze.”

  Jon walked in at the tail end. “What’s Dan scared of?”

  Loki turned to Jon. “A Halloween maze.”

  “I just don’t want to go.” Dan’s frustration level inched up as the others joined Loki’s hounding.

  Nick rounded the corner and asked, “Where don’t you want to go, Dan?”

  Dan threw up his hands. What is with the persistent dogging? He ground out through a clenched jaw, holding his rising temper in check, “The goddamned maze.”

  Jon chuckled. Man, Loki is like a dog with a bone. Loki wants Dan to go with him and has been relentless. Jon worked on changing his behavior towards the rookie, so he responded with a touch of humor. “Tut, tut, watch the language, Dano. A group of elementary school kids are touring today. Ray and Lexa will be bringing them around here soon.”