Her Lieutenant Protector

by Lara Lacombe

What was his name? She frowned a bit as she tried to recall it. Something unusual... Everett? No, Everest. Like the mountain. Probably a story there, she mused. Even though she’d blanked on his name, she had no trouble recalling his face. Dark blond hair and eyebrows, a square jaw and the most piercing blue eyes she’d ever seen. He was definitely a handsome man, and the rest of him wasn’t too bad to look at either. Even though his workout clothes had been a little on the large side, she’d seen the way the fabric of his T-shirt moved as his muscles shifted underneath. His long legs had eaten up the distance between them in easy strides, his gait a little stilted but still graceful.

  Her first response to his approach had been alarm. It was an instinctive reaction now, thanks to her past. She’d tried to overcome the flare of panic that sparked whenever a man drew close, but her body wouldn’t listen to her mind. And maybe that was for the best. After all, it had been her mind that had ignored the little warning signs all those years ago...

  She’d gotten better at controlling her reaction, though. In the weeks following the attack, she couldn’t stand to be in the same room with a man she didn’t know. Over time, and with the help of her therapist, she’d been able to work through the initial burst of fear that came with meeting someone new. Statistically speaking, the vast majority of people were decent and had no interest in harming her. But she still kept an eye on them all the same.

  Everest was just the kind of man she normally stayed away from. Tall and strong, his body was a constant reminder of her comparative physical vulnerability. But there was something about him that had put her at ease and quelled her nerves. Maybe it was his deep voice and the calm manner of his words. Or the quiet confidence in his gaze, as if he was sure he could handle anything. She couldn’t quite put her finger on it, but she’d been drawn to him, had felt her wariness ease as he’d stood there talking to her. She hadn’t felt so relaxed around a man in ages, and the fact that a relative stranger had had such an effect on her left her a little shaken.

  Was it just a one-time thing? Or would she have the same reaction when she saw him again? She’d find out soon enough. He had mentioned stopping by sick bay today, and while he hadn’t made good on the remark yet, she was sure he would at some point. Everest didn’t seem like the type of man to forget an appointment, even one as loosely made as his earlier suggestion. A shiver of anticipation ran down her spine, and not for the first time, she wondered why he wanted to visit.

  “There she is!”

  The excited exclamation cut through Mallory’s thoughts, and she focused on the door to the bar. Olivia and Avery stood at the entrance flanked by two men. As soon as she made eye contact, her friends dashed forward, leaving the men behind. The guys exchanged bemused looks and stepped inside, trailing in the wake of their girlfriends.

  Mallory set her empty glass on the bar and stepped forward to meet her friends, her arms raised high so she could hug them both.

  “It’s so good to see you!” said Olivia.

  “I’ve missed you so much!” said Avery.

  Mallory closed her eyes and let their voices wash over her, happiness welling in her chest. Avery and Olivia were her best friends, her confidantes. The sisters of her heart. Thanks to their demanding careers—Olivia was a plastic surgeon in DC, and Avery worked as a disease investigator for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta—they didn’t get to see each other in person nearly as often as Mallory would like. Not for the first time, Mallory wondered if she should move from Miami to Baltimore, just to make it easier to see her friends. She missed them so much at times it was a physical ache in her chest. But they were here now, and she was determined to enjoy every minute of this trip.

  Even though she did have to work.

  “I’m so glad you could both come,” Mallory said, leaning back so she could look at her friends. They both looked good. Olivia’s dark eyes practically glowed, and there was a spark in Avery’s blue gaze Mallory hadn’t seen before. She glanced beyond her friends to the men standing a few feet away. They must be the reason for her friends’ newfound joy.

  “Hello,” she said, nodding to them both.

  “Hi,” said the man on the left. He stepped closer to Olivia and put his hand on her shoulder. “I’m Logan.”

  “Nice to meet you,” Mallory replied with a nod. Both Olivia and Avery held her hands, so she couldn’t offer to shake his. They were protecting her, giving her a socially acceptable excuse for not touching the men. They knew how much she dreaded physical contact, and she felt a flash of gratitude for their efforts.

  Logan looked nice enough. He was tall, with dark brown hair and angled eyebrows over intelligent green eyes. He smiled, revealing twin dimples that made him look a little boyish, in a charming sort of way.

  “So you’re the one who saved Olivia in Colombia,” Mallory said, referring to Olivia’s misadventures on her last medical charity trip.

  Logan snorted. “I think it was the other way around,” he said, giving Olivia’s shoulder a squeeze. She lifted her free hand to cover his and looked up at him, love shining in her eyes.

  “I’m just glad you got home safely,” Mallory said. “Both of you.”

  She turned to the other man who was standing next to Avery. “And you must be Grant.”

  He offered her a quick smile. “Guilty as charged.”

  Mallory nodded, taking in his slightly curly hair and hazel eyes. There was a humorous slant to his mouth, and she could tell by the fine lines at the corners of his eyes that Grant was a man who laughed a lot.

  “Have you thawed out from your stint in Antarctica yet?”

  He wrinkled his nose. “Oh, yeah. Atlanta gets downright steamy in the summer.”

  “Told you,” Avery said softly.

  Grant put his arm around Avery’s shoulders and drew her close. “It’s a small price to pay to be with you,” he said, pressing a soft kiss to her temple.

  Mallory couldn’t help but smile at her friends and their partners. Olivia and Avery had both chosen well, it seemed. They’d both been through a lot, and it was good to see them so happy.

  “Let’s grab a table,” she suggested. People were starting to trickle in, wanting before-meal drinks. It wouldn’t take long before the bar was packed.

  “Do you have time?” Olivia asked. “I know you’re on the clock.”

  Mallory glanced at her watch. “I said I’d be back by five, so we’re good. Besides, they can page me if they need me.” She led them to a round table in the corner, away from the growing bustle of the room.

  The women sat down while the men remained standing. “Ladies, what can we get you to drink?” asked Grant.

  Olivia and Avery both requested a fruity cocktail. Grant nodded, then looked expectantly at Mallory.

  She hesitated only a second. “Water for me, please.”

  Olivia and Avery exchanged a shocked look, but if Grant noticed it, he didn’t react. “Sure thing,” he said.

  Avery waited until Grant and Logan were out of earshot. “Okay, now I know you must like them,” she said, leaning forward with a smile. “That’s the first time I’ve seen you order a drink from someone who wasn’t me or Olivia.”

  Olivia nodded in agreement, her expression hopeful. “She’s right. Does that mean they get your seal of approval?”

  Mallory smiled and shook her head. “You guys don’t need me to tell you they’re great.”

  “Yeah.” Avery leaned back, a dreamy smile drifting across her face. “We’re really lucky.”

  “Tell me about the new house,” Mallory prompted. Avery and Grant had recently bought a house and moved in together. She’d seen a few pictures, but it would be good to hear about the details firsthand.

  “Oh! It’s fabulous!” Avery dug in her purse and pulled out her phone, talking excitedly as she pulled up photos.

&n
bsp; The men came back just as she handed her phone to Mallory. Olivia leaned over to view the images, as well.

  “Is she showing you pictures of the house?” Grant asked. “Did she tell you about the table she wouldn’t let me bring inside?”

  Avery rolled her eyes, but it was clear from the look on her face she wasn’t upset. “I told you, baby. That thing is hideous.” She leaned forward and addressed Olivia and Mallory. “A bottle-cap tabletop, can you believe it? He thought it would make a good coffee table.”

  Grant shrugged and looked at Logan. “The guys and I made it in college. It’s still got a lot of life left.”

  Logan nodded and took a swig from his bottle. “Sounds legit to me.”

  Olivia glanced at him in horror, and Mallory couldn’t help but laugh. “Where is this table now?”

  “The garage,” Grant and Avery said in unison.

  “Seems like a fair compromise,” she said.

  “For now,” Grant replied. He leaned forward, a conspiratorial glint in his hazel eyes. “I’m just biding my time until we move to a bigger house and I can have a man cave. Then I’m bringing it inside.”

  “As long as I don’t have to look at it,” Avery remarked.

  Mallory held up her glass of water, capturing the attention of the table. “A toast,” she said. “To new beginnings.”

  “And to friendships,” Olivia added. “Old and new.”

  “Hear, hear.”

  Their glasses touched with a delicate clink, and everyone took a sip. Then the conversation started up again, an easy back and forth between them all. Mallory relaxed into the flow, enjoying the comforting push-pull of talking with her friends. She felt revitalized by their company, and the knowledge that she could let her guard down and speak freely about anything; Olivia and Avery were her support system, and she knew they wouldn’t judge her. They all managed to stay in touch via the phone or the computer, but seeing them in person was a huge boost to her mood.

  She had just started to tell them about her last cruise when the pager on her belt began to vibrate. “Sorry, guys,” she said, pulling it free to examine the display. Crap. It was an emergency. Her heart sank as she stood to take her leave. “I have to go. I’ll catch up with you later.”

  The group called out a chorus of goodbyes, but she was already headed for the door. Adrenaline thrummed through her system as she raced back to sick bay. What could possibly be going on? The ship had launched a few hours ago, and so far the sailing had been smooth. Still, it did usually take time for the passengers to adjust to walking around on a moving vessel. Had someone fallen and injured themselves?

  She rounded the corner just in time to hear an eruption of voices from sick bay. Mallory broke into a run, covering the remaining distance in a few seconds. The voices grew louder as she approached, and she skidded to a stop in front of the door. Whoever was inside sounded angry and scared, a bad combination. She took a deep breath to regain her composure, then pushed open the door and walked into the chaos.

  * * *

  Everest clenched his jaw and tightened his grip on his temper. The two young men in the sick bay were loud and obnoxious, and he could tell by their body language they were on the verge of getting physical. It was his job to make sure that didn’t happen, but the men weren’t interested in listening to reason right now.

  “You don’t understand! The walls are melting—we have to get off the ship!”

  The other man eyed the porthole window at the far end of the room. “Why is the sun in here?” He shuddered and took a step back, running into a gurney. “We’re going to burn up!”

  They began to talk over each other, their exclamations growing more and more agitated. One of them began to pace, his steps jerky and uncoordinated. He came dangerously close to crashing into one of the nurses, and Everest held up a hand, trying to stop him. He jerked away with an incoherent yell.

  Before Everest could respond, a new voice cut through the fray. “What is happening here?”

  Everyone turned to view the new arrival, and Everest felt a surge of relief when he saw Dr. Watkins standing in the doorway. These men were obviously psychologically disturbed, and if anyone could help them, it was her.

  The men stared at her in silence, jaws gaping. A nurse stepped forward and spoke in low tones. “They were brought in a few minutes ago, ranting and raving. We haven’t been able to examine them, so I don’t know their vitals yet. They might be having a psychotic break of some kind.”

  Mallory’s gaze drifted over her two patients while the nurse gave her report. She nodded once, then walked forward until she was only a step away from one of the men. Everest moved to stand next to her, wanting to be close just in case the guy became violent.

  Mallory stared up into her patient’s eyes. “I’m Dr. Watkins. Can you tell me your name?”

  “Jeff.”

  She nodded. “Okay, Jeff. What’s going on with you today?”

  “The walls are melting.” His voice had calmed compared with his earlier distress, and now he sounded almost earnest. “Don’t you see it?”

  “Which walls?” Mallory asked. Her voice was soothing as she used a penlight to examine the man’s eyes.

  The second man drifted closer, apparently drawn in by her calm presence. Everest shifted a bit, using his body to make sure the doctor had some space. She seemed to be making progress with the men, and he didn’t want to break the spell she’d cast on them.

  “All of them!”

  “And the sun,” said the second man. He stood in Everest’s shadow, cowering behind him. “The sun is in the room right now!” He pointed at the porthole and glanced quickly away, squeezing his eyes shut as if in pain.

  “Okay,” Mallory said, nodding as if this was the most natural observation in the world. “I need you both to get on the gurneys. It’s the only way to protect you from the walls and the sun.”

  The men scrambled to comply, both of them leaping onto the exam beds with more enthusiasm than grace. Mallory walked over to the nearest bed and began to fasten Velcro straps around the man’s ankles and wrists. “I’m just going to make sure you’re attached, so you don’t float away.” She nodded at one of the nurses, who hurried over to do the same to the other man.

  Everest watched her quietly, his respect for her growing by the minute. She’d walked into a chaotic mess and hadn’t hesitated to act. But rather than adding to the confusion, she’d taken charge and applied a calm, cool response that had served to de-escalate a volatile situation. It was a mark of her leadership, a skill he knew not everyone possessed; his time in the army had taught him that much.

  “Have you taken anything today?” she asked, glancing at each man in turn.

  “No,” said Jeff.

  Mallory merely raised one eyebrow and stared him down. He squirmed a bit, his cheeks going pink under her scrutiny. “I mean,” he amended, “maybe I did. I can’t remember.”

  “Uh-huh,” she replied. “I can’t help you if you don’t tell me the truth.”

  Jeff closed his eyes with a sigh, and his head lolled back. “Special K.” He stretched the words out like taffy, grinning like a loon.

  Mallory nodded, his answer plainly confirming her suspicion. She turned to the nurses and began issuing orders. “Start an IV and give two milligrams Versed to each, please.”

  The women nodded and left the room, ostensibly to gather supplies. Mallory caught Everest’s eye and angled her head, silently asking him to join her.

  She walked over to the corner of the room, and he met her there, careful to angle his body so he could keep an eye on both men. They were quiet now, but that could change in an instant.

  Mallory gestured for him to lean forward, clearly wanting to keep their conversation private. Everest dipped his head and caught a whiff of her shampoo. It was a light, floral sce
nt that made him think of spring. She tilted her head up to meet his gaze, and he noticed her dark brown irises were shot through with flecks of gold. It was the kind of observation he hadn’t made in a long time, and he shouldn’t have noticed it now. Keep it professional.

  “I’d like to post a guard here, if you don’t mind,” he said. “Just to make sure these two don’t cause any trouble for you or your staff.”

  She nodded. “I appreciate it. The sedative should take effect quickly, but it will be nice to have someone here in case they get agitated again.”

  Everest pulled the walkie-talkie from his belt and called up Wesley, his right-hand man. He relayed the request for a security officer and glanced at the men as he clipped the handset back into place. Jeff was talking to himself, muttering and shaking his head. His friend still had his eyes closed, as if he was afraid to open them. “How long until the drug is out of their system?”

  Mallory lifted one shoulder. “No idea. It depends on how much they took, and that’s not something they’re likely to know. The street pills don’t exactly come with dosage instructions.”

  “You think it was a pill?” Everest knew that ketamine, their drug of choice, could be ingested, injected or inhaled. He hadn’t smelled any smoke on the men, but they may have used a needle.

  “I didn’t see any injection marks on their arms, but they could have used another site. Regardless of how they took it, it might take a while for them to come down. They’re experiencing some pretty powerful hallucinations, so they likely took the drug fairly recently.” She shifted to glance at them, then looked back at Everest. “I want to keep them here for observation until they’re back to normal.”

  Everest frowned at the suggestion. Even though Mallory had displayed a no-nonsense, take-charge attitude, there was something almost fragile about her that made Everest want to shield her from the likes of these two party boys. He knew the likelihood of them causing more trouble was low, especially since he was going to station a guard here. But he just didn’t like the idea of Mallory being around them for long; he’d feel much better if he could transfer them to the room that served as a makeshift jail cell on the ship.