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

by Laura Acton

  When he hung up, Jon leaned back in the chair and closed his eyes. He allowed his mind wander as he relaxed and waited to find out their room number. Today would’ve been a decent day except for the fallout from that last call. When Bram and Dan found out about the domestic call, he was not sure whether they would laugh or become ticked off. Mostly because Jon was unsure which emotion he felt himself.

  Jon blew out a breath and forced himself to release the tension. They are alive and not severely injured. That is all that matters.

  Hospital – Room 505

  Bram squinted his eyes open as the orderlies rolled Dan’s bed into the room. Guilt which grew in the ER when he overheard the doctor discussing Dan’s injuries, resurged. I should’ve been more careful and spotted the truck. Thoughts stalled as he observed the glazed eyes and a strange grin on the rookie’s face.

  Catching sight of Bram, Dan slurred out happily, “Yo, Bram-man. Roomies!” He eyed the bandage on Bram’s head, “Twins!” Dan pointed to the dressing on his head.

  Witnessing Dan’s white-knuckle grip on the railing as they stopped his bed and locked it into place, and the flurry of motions, Bram recognized the inevitable ramifications of a concussion as the orderly grabbed an emesis basin and placed the plastic bowl under Dan’s chin just in time.

  When he finished hurling, Dan moaned out, “I want ride off this. No, ride off … this off ride … off this ride.” His eyes tried to lock on to Bram, but he couldn’t, and he said, “Stop spinning, Bram-man, making me dizzy.”

  The corners of Bram’s mouth twitched up as Dan closed his eyes and started to babble incoherently about it being cool they were twins and that he had another twin eight years older than him, and wondered aloud if that made them triplets, among other things.

  Nothing Dan said made much sense. Some of the words came out garbled, countless others were strange, and many more jumbled out of order. Bram found it quite amusing and endearing. He had never seen the stoic rookie so unrestrained and incoherent. Bram couldn’t help the growing grin.

  Listening to Dan go on and on, Bram leaned back, lowering his eyelids as he noiselessly chuckled. They must’ve given him the good stuff. Dan’s feeling no pain. High as a kite. This is what Dan must’ve meant by not doing well with narcotic painkillers. Dan continued talking nonsense, entirely out of control, and Bram doubted the rookie ever liked to lose control. With a reaction like this, I wholly understand why Dan doesn’t want to take them.

  Opening his eyes when Dan quieted, Bram thought Dan might’ve drifted to sleep, but he noted Dan had become quite interested in his covers. He spotted Dan’s confused expression as the rookie ran his hand over the white blanket covering him. “Dan, what are you doing?”

  Dan glanced at him. “Snow’s supposed to be cold and wet. This is warm and dry.”

  Chuckling Bram said, “That’s because it’s a blanket.”

  “Nuh uh. I know snow! I grew up in the friggin’ Arctic! Froze my ass off nine months of the year and was chilled to the bone the other three at the northern Yukon base,” Dan said with a serious tone as he continued stroking the strange type of snow.

  Bram didn’t bother contradicting Dan. Whatever medication the doctor gave Dan caused his apparent misperception. Dan’s expression remained perplexed as he brushed his fingers over the cotton blanket seeking a solution. As Bram continued to observe, the rest of their team tiptoed into the room. Unsure whether Dan or Bram might be sleeping and not wanting to wake them, the team entered with silent steps. They all understood keeping sounds soft would be appreciated with the concussions.

  Finding them awake, Lexa first hugged Bram then strolled over to Dan who appeared highly focused on his covering. She stood by his bed waiting for him to acknowledge her presence before hugging him. When he ignored her, Lexa became concerned as Dan continually rubbed the blanket.

  She turned a quizzical gaze on Bram, wordlessly asking for an explanation for Dan’s behavior.

  Bram shrugged. “He thinks his blanket is snow. He can’t figure out why it’s warm and dry.”

  Lexa returned her attention to Broderick and gently touched his arm. Softly and with concern, she asked, “Dan, you okay?”

  Dan glanced up, noticing Boss, Jon, Ray, and Loki standing around Bram’s bed. He turned to his right, and a goofy lopsided grin appeared on his face as his eyes landed on Lexa.

  His glazed eyes took on a dreamy countenance. “Hey, Sexy Lexie, you like guns. Wanna see my great-grandfather’s pistol? It’s an Enfield No 2 Mk I revolver with an ivory grip.” Dan started to pull down his covering to reach for a non-existent weapon at his waist.

  Lexa stepped back, stunned by Dan’s comment. Sexy Lexie? He dared to call me Sexy Lexie in front of the guys. Her eyes whipped to the others. And they’re laughing at me. Oooo, Broderick! I’m gonna kill you for this.

  Nick, Jon, Loki, Bram, and Ray couldn’t help laughing.

  Loki’s eyes brightened with mischief at Lexa’s stunned expression. “Dan called Lexa, Sexy Lexie. Oh boy, if looks could kill, our rookie would’ve been dead on the spot.” Discerning the flash of fire in her eyes now redirected at him, Loki shut up and clamped a hand over his mouth.

  Rational thinking returned as Lexa glimpsed Dan’s glazed and unfocused eyes as he grinned up at her. Dan is drugged out of his mind. Moving forward, she halted his hand before he could pull his coverings off.

  Everyone turned to Bram for an explanation as Jon asked, “High as a kite?”

  Bram chuckled. “Yep. At Christmas, Dan told me he didn’t do well on narcotics. I now understand what he meant. Dan believes we’re twins because we have bandages on our heads. He thinks he has a twin who is eight years older but says he’s the improved version because he’s Army, not Navy.

  “He’s been nonsensical for the last twenty minutes. Been quite entertaining, but I learned one thing. Dan said he grew up in the Arctic at a northern Yukon base.” Bram winced as the pounding in his head increased.

  Jon nodded. “He said something about that back in October when Loki wanted him to go to the corn maze. Years back, an old friend of mine who’s in the Army did some training in the Yukon during summertime. He said the temperature never rose above forty-five degrees. Probably accounts for Dan’s inability to swim. No one would go swimming in that kind of weather.”

  As Ray asked Bram how he fared, Jon allowed his mind wander to his childhood friend, Steve Hicks. He had not thought about him in over ten years. They went separate ways after high school. Steve joined the Canadian Armed Forces, while Jon went to the Police Academy.

  Steve’s dream was to be in Special Forces. Jon wondered for the first time if Steve achieved his goal and if Dan ever met him. He decided not to ask. Dan didn’t need reminders of his time in the military. This is where he belongs now. Inquiring might bring up painful memories, and Jon refused to be the cause of more distress. He screwed up with the rookie enough already. Though he might look up Steve, and if he made it to SF, Steve may know Dan and might be able to provide insights on Broderick.

  The mischievous glint in Loki’s eyes reignited as Dan continued to examine the blanket with is hand. “We could sure have some fun with him like this.”

  Ray grabbed Loki’s arm, stopping him from moving to Dan’s bed, and admonished, “Be kind.”

  “Come on! I can’t pass up a ready-made prank. Imagine the laughs when I play the video of him at HQ,” Loki whined as his grin split ear-to-ear.

  Nick assumed a fatherly demeanor to rein in Loki. “Not at Dan’s expense.”

  Loki crossed his arms over his chest and fake pouted. “Fine. Spoilsport. I could’ve made funny videos.”

  At that, everyone swiveled their heads back to Dan who had gone quiet. Lexa pulled Dan’s blanket up higher to cover his hospital gown-clad body and lowered the head of the bed to a more comfortable angle for sleeping. Her gaze turned to the guys but narrowed on Loki. “He’s out. Your fun is going to have to wait.”

  Lexa tucked the covers around Dan a
nd smiled. Sexy Lexie, huh? This rookie is so intriguing. She had finally quieted the little devil on her shoulder and decided she needed to do more to get to understand him better.

  She considered asking him out for a burger and a beer—not a date or anything because dating a teammate remained out of bounds. She worked too hard to achieve her goals to risk them by becoming entangled with Dan. Though, perhaps they might develop a real friendship, like the one she and Loki possessed.

  As she walked back to Bram’s bed, Lexa decided when Dan’s health improved she would keep an eye out for the right opportunity to ask him out for a casual, platonic dinner and begin extending a hand of friendship to him.

  Shifting his attention to Boss, Bram queried, “So, how did the call go?”

  “Ended peacefully,” Nick said.

  “I’m glad. What was the issue? Why did the wife want to shoot her husband?”

  Jon snorted. “She didn’t. Apparently, the couple is part of an amateur acting company. They were rehearsing for a play. Seems the director told Tessa she needed to work on projecting her voice because the playhouse doesn’t use microphones and the audience couldn’t hear her. That’s why she spoke so loudly that the neighbors overheard her and misinterpreted the intent.”

  Conflicting emotions swirled in Bram’s head. On the one hand, he was glad the situation turned out to be only a misunderstanding. However, anger crept in. He and Dan wouldn’t be hurt if they had not been responding to a call.

  Nick perceived the mix of emotions playing over Bram’s face. “What are you feeling?”

  Bram flicked his eyes at Dan then back to Boss. “Not sure. Happy, but ticked off.” He blew out a breath and closed his eyes as a wave of pain hit him. The jackhammer pounding on his skull wouldn’t let up.

  Jon patted Bram’s shoulder lightly when he noted the pained expression. “I know, buddy. We all have mixed emotions about this call. Though, I’m focusing on the positive … you two are okay.”

  Realizing one more person had been affected by the crash, and with his eyes still closed, Bram murmured, “What happened to the truck driver?”

  Ray scrutinized both Dan and Bram. They are banged up, but thankfully alive. He answered Bram, “I spoke to the paramedic who brought in the guy. He’s in stable condition. Ended up with a concussion, broken nose, and broken leg.”

  “I’m truly relieved everyone survived. A freak accident. Neither of you could see the other because of the semi-trucks turning left. The officer on scene didn’t issue any citations, only a warning. Evidently, the driver turned his music up too loud, and he didn’t hear the siren,” Nick shared.

  Bram slowly nodded in agreement. “It could have been worse.” Squinting, he opened his eyes and turned to study Dan. Pangs of guilt struck him again. Dan sat on the side of impact—he could’ve easily died. Needing to dismiss the darkness of his thoughts, Bram reminded himself, Dan’s alive. Sighing Bram repeated himself, “Yeah, it definitely could’ve been a lot worse.”

  Burgers, Beers, and JD

  24

  February 8

  TRF HQ – Men’s Locker Room – 7:00 p.m.

  Loki asked, “Dan, you want to join Ray and me tonight?” He studied Dan today as they trained and noted he was quiet and withdrawn. After Christmas and up until today, Dan had been more outgoing—lighter with some small grins. So, Loki became concerned when Dan returned to his apathetic self.

  Aware of the same changes in Dan, Ray liked that Loki extended the invitation. He waited for Dan’s response, hoping it would be yes.

  “No, I have plans.”

  “You can bring your date. There’s this Mexican bar me and Ray like. It would be fun.” Then Loki joked, “Perchance when you’re done with her, you might push her in my direction, I’m a decent guy.”

  Putting his soft chukka boots on, Dan shook his head and deflected. “No, JD isn’t your type.”

  “Zing! Danny hits the mark.” Ray laughed.

  Loki pretended to stumble backwards into the lockers putting his hands over his heart. “You wound me deeply.”

  Glancing at the antics, a grin teased his lips though Dan’s mood was not the least bit happy. Lately, Loki seemed to be able to make him start to smile when he didn’t want to.

  Straightening up, Loki grabbed his go bag and slung it over his shoulder. He learned not to push Dan. No meant no with him. Something appeared to be bugging Dan, Loki was pretty sure, but the same certainty ensured him Dan didn’t want to talk about it.

  So, Loki defused the situation and said flippantly, “Someday you’re gonna have to let us meet some of these women you date. I mean, come on. Share the wealth a bit.”

  Dan let the impression he dated a lot build over the last few months. None of them needed to know he went home alone every night. It would be better if they thought he went out with lots of women, even though the only woman he wanted to go out with remained off-limits to him.

  Sexy Lexie held the starring role in all his sexual fantasies—not that he would ever tell her. She’d beat the shit out of me if I did. And not that he could ever act upon those fantasies, either. They were teammates and nothing more.

  Though, his fantasies contained rich details … fingers combing soft hair, his mouth suckling supple breasts, the sound of her purr when he hit the right spot, the fragrance of jasmine … her scent. Dan stopped his thoughts cold. Not here. Never here. Allowing these thoughts here is too dangerous.

  Besides, tonight is also not the night for those kinds of thoughts. Scheduled for tonight would-be an assignation with a full bottle of Jack Daniels. He planned on getting shit-faced drunk.

  Ray and Loki headed out, and Loki stopped at the locker room door. He would merely put the offer out there, and Dan could choose to accept or not. He turned and called back to Dan, “If you change your mind or want to hang out tomorrow night give me a call. Otherwise, I’ll see ya in two days.”

  Dan only waved in response. No, he wouldn’t be calling. Not tonight and absolutely not tomorrow.

  Loki left dismayed, but he tried. Boss’ take on the rookie is right, things are getting better, but it will still take time.

  Blowing out a breath, Dan scanned the empty room. If it were any day other than today, he would’ve taken Loki up on his offer. Dan stood and closed his locker. He slung his bag over his shoulder and grabbed his helmet. On his way home, he needed to stop and buy Jack Daniels since he never kept hard liquor in his apartment.

  TRF HQ – Outside Lockers – 7:10 p.m.

  Like the rest of the team, Lexa noticed Dan became quiet today. Loki had shaken his head when he left the lockers indicating Dan declined the offer to grab a drink with him and Ray.

  Lexa waited until everyone else left. She wanted to try. Perhaps now Dan might open up to her. Lexa had not found the right time to ask him to join her for a burger and a beer yet. Maybe tonight it would be right.

  Dan exited and stopped short when he glimpsed Lexa leaning on the pillar outside the door. Lexa appeared breath-taking with her hair down and out of its regular ponytail. The gentle wave of her dark, rich auburn hair framed her delicate facial features and superbly offset her flawless ivory skin. Stunning, Alexandra McKenna is a genuine beauty.

  However, her best feature is her exquisite hazel eyes with shimmering gold flecks accented by long, full, dark lashes. Always drawn to them, he desired to stare endlessly and become lost in Sexy Lexie’s eyes. Before doing something he would regret, Dan said, “Hi, um … the guys all left if you’re waiting for one of them.”

  Lexa smiled. “I am. You.”

  “Me?”

  “Yeah, you. I wondered if you would like to hang out. Join me in grabbing a cold one and burger.”

  Dan tensed outside as his insides whirled. This is the second time Lexa asked me out. I should say no, I’m not up for company tonight. A whispered voice, sounding an awful lot like Brody, said, “You still need to eat. Say yes.”

  As the silence extended, Lexa shrugged. “I’d like to be friends
. Friends grab dinner together from time to time. I occasionally go to dinner with Loki and Ray. I also enjoy meals with Boss, Jon, and Bram every so often.” She tilted her head and gave Dan a hopeful smile as her eyes flashed with warmth.

  Those eyes became Dan’s undoing. “I know an excellent burger place.”

  Lexa grinned. “You want to take my Jeep and go together?”

  “No. I gotta make a stop on the way before it’s too late.”

  “Alright, where do you want to meet?”

  Outside Fire Stick Grill – 7:40 p.m.

  Dan brought his motorcycle to a halt in the parking lot of Jarmal’s restaurant and found Lexa waiting for him. He stopped at the liquor store, bought his whiskey, and stuffed it in his bag.

  As Dan dismounted, Lexa asked, “You want to stow your gear bag and helmet in my vehicle while we have dinner?”

  “Sure.” Dan strode to her vehicle. Lexa installed the hard top on her Jeep at the start of winter, but in summer and fall she drove with it off. He would prefer to operate without the hardtop year-round because he hated enclosed spaces and preferred the wind in his face. Something about it calmed him.

  Lexa locked the Jeep after Dan put his things inside and turned to follow him into the restaurant. Pleasantly surprised Dan agreed to grab dinner as she expected him to say no. Pins and needles of nervousness flittered through her stomach. Friends, we are only friends!

  Fire Stick Grill – 7:45 p.m.

  Jarmal grinned and immediately came forward as Dan entered. “Dan, great to see you. Who’s the lovely lady?”

  “This is Lexa, a friend. Lexa, this is Jarmal, an old buddy.”

  Lexa smiled at the man who helped Dan months ago. She instantly liked him. “Hi. I’m one of Dan’s teammates.”

  Jarmal nodded. Too bad. It would’ve been fantastic if Dan was dating someone. He came in and grabbed food to go often. Always a meal for one, but at least he ate adequately now. However, those damned dark circles still under his eyes made Jarmal want to slip sleeping pills into Dan’s burgers, but he refrained because it wouldn’t be right.