by Laura Acton
“Soup kitchen?” Scott asked as he stepped forward with open arms and took the squirming boy who continued to reach for him. He tousled the tike’s golden hair and got a huge smile for his efforts.
After letting Dillion go to Dan’s look-alike, Brandi said, “Mayfield Soup Kitchen. Dan helps out when he can. Ms. Bennett and all the ladies who work in the kitchen miss his smile. Max, Jeff, and Old Murray are worried about him.” She held the bag out to Dan’s dad.
William accepted the bag of cookies and cards. “Thank you for these. Please thank everyone at Mayfield. Daniel isn’t taking visitor’s now. When he wakes from his nap, I’ll be sure to tell him you all are thinking of him.”
Brandi stooped down and picked up the toy car.
Scott grinned. “Dan used to have a car like that. I remember playing with him with it.”
“Wow, really?” Brandi asked.
Nodding, Scott replied, “Yeah, he did. I’m Scott, Dan’s cousin. My mom watched Dan often when he was a kid. It was his favorite toy.”
Brandi’s smile flashed big and bright. “Wow. Dan bought this toy for Dillion. I don’t have anything left over for things like this. It was Dillion’s first real toy. Dan’s a great guy. I hope he gets well swiftly. I gotta be going now.” She reached for Dillion. He came to her freely when she showed him the toy.
They all said goodbye as the little boy clasped the car to his chest. When his mom carried him to the elevator, Dillion’s little hand waved bye as he said, “Da, Da, Da.”
When the elevator shut, Scott turned to William. “Danny makes a difference in this world. He positively touches so many lives.”
William put his arm around his nephew’s shoulder and replied, “Yes, he does. Undoubtedly more than we’ll ever know.”
Bram followed them back to the room and thought he couldn’t wait to tell the team about this. It would make them smile. They all needed reasons to smile because Dan’s nap was going on far too long.
The Kiss
33
August 2
St. Michael’s Hospital – Room 1030 – 10:00 p.m.
Alone in the room with Dan, Lexa sat staring at him as her mind wandered. Alpha Team finished a six-day rotation and was scheduled off for the next two days. They worked the extra shifts to compensate the other teams who covered for them when they stayed at the hotel and hospital with Dan.
When the team returned to work, it was strange to go out on calls without Dan. Jon actually called out for Dan to find a Zulu One position a few times. No one teased Jon about it. They all missed Dan and expected him to be there sometimes.
No one joked around during workouts. Debriefings were always subdued. They went through the motions, doing their jobs, but their minds never quite let go of thoughts of Dan. One person missing from their team left a gaping hole which no one wanted to fill with anyone except Dan. Though the guys planned to run trials tomorrow for Dan’s temporary replacement.
Lexa wanted no part of it. Whoever they selected it didn’t matter, they are only temporary. Dan’s injuries are serious, they all recognized, but no one ever admitted aloud the possibility of him not returning. If left up to her, no one would take Dan’s place. He is coming back even if she needed to drag his ass the whole way. She snickered at the image of the thought.
She recognized her allies—his cousins. They adamantly professed they would whip Dan back into shape. In the last two weeks, she spent a lot of time with them. Scott seemed to have the closest relationship with Dan. Adam appeared gruffer, and she sensed a lingering grief in him. Jeff, well, he is unique. The drill sergeant insisted on calling Dan Runt. Jeff and Jon got along well. She discerned an impatience in Zach, he paced the room when he visited. The youngest, Kyle, showed his emotions more openly than the others.
Initially, everyone talked non-stop to Dan. They learned a lot about each other and Dan. As the days dragged on, they would simply recount their day, but it was mostly quiet as they waited for Dan to awaken. A few times it appeared he was waking which got everyone’s hopes up, but the wakefulness was fleeting.
Lexa didn’t think Dan would remember those times. Dr. Markson said with the extent of Dan’s trauma and the heavy pain meds they still had him on, it would take time. For the past two weeks, the Broderick men had spent the most time with Dan, especially after the team returned to work. Though now only Scott and the general remained.
Dan’s uncles left first, though they didn’t want to. A day later Jeff and Adam grudgingly left. Kyle and Zach stayed until yesterday but needed to return to duty. Still in protective custody, Dan’s mother and sister could not visit. Lexa wished they would catch Pletcher so Dan’s mother could be with him. Somehow Scott wrangled additional leave. Apparently, he called in some favor owed to him by an admiral, though Scott would have to leave in eight days.
Blaze and Winds hadn’t been back but regularly called to get status updates. She had no idea what they were doing. However, Lexa comprehended it must be important, or they would’ve been here for Dan just like Patch.
Patch returned to work but stopped by daily to say hi to Dan. Easy for him to do because his work brought him to the hospital frequently. He usually accompanied Heather. Lexa thought those two made a cute couple.
The general stayed with Dan the most—he rarely left. He discarded his sling after a week—you would never guess he was shot a short time ago. The general said he healed rapidly, a trait he shared with his son. The commander told the team the Chief of the Defence Staff insisted the general take a full month to recoup. General Broderick complied, though Lexa thought it was out of character for the general to accept downtime easily—like Dan. But Lexa realized it allowed him to give Dan his undivided attention.
Lexa stretched her arms wide as she gazed out the window at the city lights as her mind wandered. A grin started to grow as she recalled how Scott showed up tonight and insisted the general go rest. The family friend they stayed with must be rather powerful because when Scott said the general must leave or he would incur the righteous wrath if he didn’t, the general sullenly left the room. She wondered who could wield such power over the undeniable mighty General Broderick.
She stood and paced for a while needing to stretch her muscles—sitting for long periods of time is exhausting in itself. She walked to Dan and ran her fingers through his hair. It became routine for her now, and she didn’t give it a second thought. “Dan, time to wake up from your nap. We need you. I miss you.”
Everyone started calling Dan’s coma a nap after Bram shared what Jon said to Dan the first night. She looked over at the wall covered in little girl artwork. Bram’s girls seemed to draw something new every day. She laughed when her gaze landed on the one Bram drew. It was sweet Bram sat with his girls and did that. The guys ribbed him about it, but Bram shrugged it off and said it was fun.
Turning back to Dan, Lexa grinned. It made her happy she could see his full face now. He still needed to be on oxygen, but three days ago, they switched him from the full mask to a nasal cannula.
The desire to lean down and kiss his now unmarred full lips snaked through her again. Until now, she had not been able to kiss him because someone had always been in the room with her. The craving increased significantly after Loki teased her about kissing Dan awake.
She recognized both she and Dan experienced the pulse of electricity whenever they touched. Lexa wondered if a kiss from her would really wake Dan. Lexa pushed the thought away—again.
Lexa moved her eyes to his chest concealed by a hospital gown which covered the extensive bandages. All the chest tubes had been removed which made her happy because he looked more like he was only sleeping. A few days ago, when Nurse Betty changed his dressings, Lexa saw the incision on his chest. It was healing well but would leave Dan with more scars. Not that scars mattered to her. She wanted to tell him his scars didn’t matter to her. He needed to wake, she needed to tell him so many things.
Her eyes went back to his slightly pale face. Dan looked to be
peacefully sleeping. The abrasions and bruising on his face and the rest of his body had almost cleared—only a yellowish coloring across his chest remained. His sprained wrist was now wrapped in only an elastic bandage to provide support. After the last x-ray of his ribs, the doctor said the bones were healing well.
The scans on his lungs were not quite what anyone wanted. Dr. Markson told them that between the initial damage and the infection, Dan’s lungs would be an issue for him. They all listened to the prognosis but refused to be anything other than positive, even with each setback Dan experienced.
Lexa continued to stroke Dan’s hair as she stood by his bed musing.
St. Michael’s Hospital – Outside Room 1030 – 10:05 p.m.
Scott returned to the hospital tonight after taking his uncle to Bella’s because he thought Lexa might like company. They got on well and enjoyed sharing stories of Dan. Scott suspicion grew and now believed there might be something between her and Dan by the way she gazed at his cousin. But either Lexa didn’t know or was unwilling to share her thoughts on the subject.
He stopped outside Dan’s room which no longer had a guard on it. The police guard had been removed because there had been no attempts in the past two weeks. Plus, the security cameras were being continuously monitored by TRF and hospital security, and the fact armed family was always with Dan. The general reluctantly agreed and considered bringing in a unit to guard Dan. However, with the investigation underway and the search for Pletcher, no units could be spared.
Scott was about to enter the room, but something told him to stop. He looked through the little window in the door and saw Lexa standing next to Dan’s bed as she caressed his head. Scott had seen the touching gesture a lot. It is one thing which made him think there is something between them. As Scott watched her gently caress Dan, her words softly drifted through the air to him.
St. Michael’s Hospital – Room 1030 – 10:08 p.m.
Lexa stroked Dan’s hair as she gazed down at his handsome face. “Please wake up and show me those gorgeous blue eyes. We miss you. I miss you. The days are no fun in the truck. No silly banter. No one calling me Sexy Lexie. No one to tell me brushing his teeth is more important than eating then giving me his WOW smile. No one to argue with in debriefing. You need to wake now. Please wake up. I need my friend-with-benefits. We have so much to explore and discover.”
She leaned down and brushed her lips across his forehead and caressed his face. Tears filled her eyes. No longer able resist the desire to kiss his lips, her tears splashed onto Dan’s cheek as she lightly pressed her lips to his. The sensation of electricity shot through her as their lips touched. She increased the pressure and felt his lips open and kiss her back.
After several moments, Lexa pulled back. She wiped her eyes and pleaded, “Please I need you. I’m not sure what this is. What it will be? It scares me, but I know I need you to live. Dan, let me see your soul. Please open your eyes.”
Dan’s eyes fluttered open.
Unfocused blue eyes sought and claimed hazel ones. Deep yearning rushed between them as a dry, raspy, whisper of a voice longingly reached out, “Lexaaaa.”
St. Michael’s Hospital – Outside Room 1030 – 10:10 p.m.
Scott, rooted in place, sensed the push-pull power of the attraction between Lexa and Dan. Observation is one of his stronger abilities, a skill which served him well in his job, but even the most clueless person wouldn’t miss the desire communicated with one breathy word.
Danny desperately wanted Lexa. Though he wanted to go in, Scott refused to interrupt the two at this moment. He turned around and placed himself in front of the door covering the little window to afford them some privacy.
As he stood there, Scott thought, Dan needs few minutes of quiet before the coming storm—the onslaught of medical staff and visitors once they know he’s awake. Lexa and Dan, yeah, they are a perfect match for one another. Just like Lilyanna and me.
Lexa and Lily were alike in many ways, intelligent, kind, and insightful. Though where Lexa is a spitfire, Lily is calm and always able to cool tempers with a quiet word or touch bringing harmony to a situation. They both were petite, Lily is five four while Lexa is a little shorter at five two. Lily has short dark chocolate brown hair while Lexa has medium length dark auburn hair. Lily’s eyes are baby blue where Lexa’s are an interesting shade of hazel with flecks of gold which he had seen flash with both fire and humor.
They both lost their moms when they were teenagers. That was a tidbit he learned by accident. Lexa shut down the conversation immediately and said no more about her family. Scott perceived Lexa’s family was a painful subject so steered clear of it afterward.
His wife Lily had been his salvation these past weeks. He missed her. Their nightly calls just didn’t cut it. Scott needed to see Lily now—especially after he witnessed Dan and Lexa. Scott pulled out his phone and called his wife.
“Hello, Babe. Dan’s awake, I’d love for you two to meet. Why don’t you book a flight and join me here? Maybe you could get on the next available one. I still have eight days of leave.” Scott made plans with his wife for her to join him in Toronto then called to arrange a hotel room for them. Staying at Bella’s home is pleasant, but he needed some private time with his bride.
St. Michael’s Hospital – Room 1030 – 10:12 p.m.
For several minutes, Dan knew of only one thing—Lexa. The rest of the world didn’t exist. He listened to her words begging him to wake. He felt her fingers running through his hair, the kiss to his forehead and the soft caress of his face. Then she kissed his lips and told him she needed him to live.
Lifting his eyelids took so much effort, but he finally forced his eyes to open. Desire, craving, and hunger so deep surged through him as he stared into her beautiful hazel eyes. No breath, his throat arid, realizing he would only get one word out, he said Lexa’s name.
The way Dan said her name shot straight to her heart and soul. Her name said with such aching want and need—as if life depended on it, bolted her in place. Their eyes locked together and time meant nothing—minutes, hours, or years might have past as their souls communicated.
The coughing started. First one, but immediately followed by another, rapid fire and unrelenting. Dan was unable to catch his breath between coughs. The pain in his chest increased with each one. The monitors beeped wildly, as alarms sounded off. Lexa scrambled for the call button.
Scott raced in the room hearing the monitors go wild. He observed Dan’s distress and pivoted to run for the nurse’s station.
Dan gasped for air between coughs. His lips became blue tinged by the time the doctor and nurses showed up. Lexa backed away to let them work. Scott came up next to her and placed his arm around her shoulders. They watched silently as the medical staff helped Dan breathe.
As the coughing fit gradually subsided. One nurse replaced the nasal cannula with a full mask again allowing Dan to get more oxygen as he gulped air through his mouth. The blue tinge faded away leaving only paleness. Dr. Markson raised the bed to make breathing easier.
Dan kept his eyes tightly shut as he concentrated on breathing between coughs. He pulled on years of training to focus on sniper breathing to calm his racing heart and lower his blood pressure. The monitors returned to their normal beeps as Dan got his breathing under better control.
When the coughing ceased, Dan sluggishly reopened his eyes and scanned the room. He saw a doctor, two nurses, Lexa, and Scott. Scott? The doctor was speaking to him, but he missed what the doctor said. Dan shifted his eyes to the doctor and gave him a questioning look.
Bill noticed the confused look on his patient’s face and backtracked. “I’m Dr. Markson. I have been taking care of you. Can you tell me your name?”
Not the twenty questions game, Dan thought. He hated this part of waking up in a hospital. It is too hard to breathe to answer. Dan feared speaking would cause him to cough again and coughing hurt too much to repeat. The pain only now ebbing to a somewhat manageable level, h
e motioned with his hand to write. The nurse gave him a pen and her clipboard after flipping the paper to the unused back side.
Dan weakly gripped the pen and sloppily wrote Dan Broderick. Then he stared at his wrist confused. Wait, wasn’t it in a brace and swollen? He made a light fist with his left hand and rotated his wrist. It didn’t hurt, it isn’t swollen, and the knuckles aren’t abraded. His grip was weak, yet he felt only a slight twinge of pain.
He slowly wrote, how long have I been out? He showed it to the doctor and let his hand drop to his side. Writing that small amount wore him out.
Dr. Markson observed Dan test his wrist and recognized the question expression on his patient’s face. After reading what Dan wrote, Bill answered, “You have been out for quite some time, young man. It has been fifteen days since you arrived here.”
Dan blanched at the number of days. Two weeks? Then he peered at Scott. Why is he here? Why the hell does he have his arm around Lexa? The little burst of emotion exhausted him. Dan lay back and closed his eyes. Why can’t I breathe right? Why is it so difficult? It took so much effort.
“What do you remember?” Dr. Markson asked.
Damn twenty questions. I’m too tired to play. Digging down for strength Dan put pen to paper, everything, funeral, Tammy, General shot, me shot, then nothing until now, no more questions, tired, hurt - level 9. All energy spent, his hand dropped to the bed as his head lolled to the side and he tried to keep his eyes open.
Lexa saw part of what he wrote. Delighted his memory is intact because that is one thing they worried about. The lack of oxygen when they lost him so many times worried the doctor—a small possibility of brain damage he had told them. Thank God, Dan remembered. Though it worried her when she noted his eyes kept closing and the pain etched on his face.
Dr. Markson turned to Lexa and Scott. “You must leave while I examine Dan fully.”
