“I will be fine with some rest. Come here,” he pulled me into him. Lach nodded am left us to talk and rest.
“Walker what happened to you?”
“My heart condition, my heart beats too fast and when it really starts to go fast, I lose my blood pressure and pass out. Lach has been monitoring it and my medications since I moved here. I am doing well this is the only episode I have had.” He explained.
“Lach said you are going to live a long and happy life.” I wanted to repeat that over and over again.
“And I will. We need to rest, Val. I will be right here.” He kissed my forehead and ran his fingers through my hair. I fell asleep thinking how nice it felt.
Chapter 29
Walker
I scared the shit out of myself. No wonder the Army wanted me out. I would have been no use to anyone if that happened on a mission. I could have gotten all of us killed. I held Val close to me thanking every God I could think of that we were okay and nothing worse had happened.
Lach came in a while later and took the machine off of me. He left the pads on so the stickiness would not spread everywhere. He said when I was ready for a shower, he would give me some stuff that would take the adhesive off. I drifted back off to sleep after that.
Officer Bolen came the next day and questioned us. With all the video footage, Jessica and her PO were going away with a slew of charges included attempted murder. I was happy about that; she would not be able to bother us for a long time. Val, Tabby-Girl, and I stayed in the bunk room for three days while the guys fixed the doors on her apartment.
I was never more thankful for Binary for making that fob that got us the help we needed. I never saw Val press it, but I was so glad she did. I had started to do quite a bit of reflecting on how everything had played out, and how I could have done things differently. Val finally yelled at me that I was not God; I could not know or control everything. We were alive; we were fine, she said. Just be thankful and drop it.
I did what she said, but Binary didn’t. She spent hours going over all the programming. She was obsessed with it. But two weeks later it paid off. She found the loophole Jessica used to get in the system and manipulate it. She closed it up and doubled her protection on everything. She was furious with herself for it happening. She wasn’t really talking to anyone. And if anyone talked to her, she would either not respond or she would take your head off. The only one she was civil with was Val. We just left her alone to deal with it.
“You ready to be home?” I asked her as I pulled up in front of her house.
“Yes, I am sick of asking to be carried everywhere. I love you, and being in your arms is great, but I want my independence back.” She was looking at the outside of her house. “Where did those plants come from?”
“My mom. She had my dad and brother in law drive down and plant them for you. She thinks you will like them; I have to take care of them, or she will throw away my zombie collection.” I smiled at Val.
“Oh, that means you will take real good care of them.” She laughed. I would anyway, because I knew she liked them from when we visited my parents.
“All right, let’s get you back in your house and your chair.” I went around and picked her up. Binary opened the door for us. She had taken our things and Tabby-Girl home and put back everything she could. “Welcome home!” Binary also had one more little surprise.
“Grandma! Grandpa! What are you doing here? I wasn’t expecting you till August!” She had tears in her eyes. I put her in her chair.
“Josie called us and said we needed to come for a visit. That you had been injured and you would want to see us. She also told us about a fine young man named Walker that we would have to meet,” her grandma said, giving her a hug.
“Hello, I assume you’re Walker?” Her grandfather stood before me with his hand outstretched.
“Hello, sir. Wonderful to meet you. Yes, I’m Walker.” He still had a good handshake for his age. He had Val’s coloring and a slimmer build, but you could see his wiry strength from years of carpentry work. Her grandma shook my hand as well. She was a bit blonder and a bit plumper than Val or her grandfather, but she wore it well.
“Walker, these are my grandparents, Sherry and Fred. This is Walker,” Val said. “Let’s all have a seat and we can chat.”
“I ordered food. Kasem should be dropping it off soon,” Binary said, sitting on the couch with Val’s grandparents. I went and grabbed a chair from the kitchen so I could sit next to Val.
“Well, it’s not every day you find out that your granddaughter has been shot. You want to tell us how this happened?” Fred asked.
I looked at Val. “You want me to tell it?”
“Sure, let’s hear how you will explain this.” Val had a mischievous grin on her face.
“Well, I met a woman named Jessica three or so years ago when I was actively serving our country. She turned out to have some severe mental issues. She ended up serving eighteen months in jail over it. I thought that would have ended her craziness towards me, but I was wrong. She followed me here to Chicago. I met your granddaughter and I asked her out on a date. Sadly, that made her a target for Jessica’s crazy. I am the reason your granddaughter was harmed. And for that I am truly sorry. I am struggling with the guilt of it. Val yells at me for it, but I am truly sorry she was harmed.”
“Well, I can’t say I am thrilled that this happened, but I am glad she met you. You do seem a decent fellow even if you couldn’t keep it in your pants,” Fred said. I turned red; of all the things her grandfather could have said.
“Grandpa, don’t start, Grandma says you were no angel either.” Val had been holding my hand the whole time. Now she brought it to her lips and kissed it.
“Well, I like him so far, Valerie. Even if he did mess up in the past, he seems to have learned from his mistakes. He is also not hard on the eyes at all,” Sherry said with a wink. I laughed. “From what you and Josie have said, he accepts you and treats you as a partner. That’s all I could hope for,” Sherry smiled.
“Thank you, Grandma. I’m pretty happy with him so far,” Val said.
“Harrumph, I never got to threaten him. You girls took all my fun away,” Fred said, crossing his arms and pouting.
“Well, Domino threatened to have me beaten if I wronged her, I don’t know if that would help.” I still remembered him saying he would have Ammo beat me if Val asked for it.
“I guess it will have to do; you would probably break me in half anyway. It would have to be someone your size to kick the crap out of you.” Fred was rethinking his plans for me.
“Ammo is shorter than him but could knock Walker into next week without breaking a sweat,” Binary added.
“Well, that’s good.” Fred put an arm around Sherry and relaxed. We ended up sharing a wonderful meal from the Chimpongs’. Her grandparents and Binary left not long after. Val was still healing and was getting tired. I wrapped her leg in Saran Wrap and washed her hair for her. She liked being home in her own shower, in her own bed.
“You sure you are okay with me being here?” We had settled into bed. I had wrapped myself around her. Tabby-Girl was in her spot on my legs. It was perfect.
“For the final time, yes. Take over the guest room; make it yours. If I get annoyed with you, you can go in there and leave me in peace. It will work just fine.” She kissed me after that. I didn’t ask again.
She went back to work the next day and told me to do so as well. I spent most of the day in the command center. I was grateful to be back. I enjoyed the work I was doing. It was different from what I was used to, but I was still using the skills I learned. I didn’t feel like I had been wasted.
“You missed it,” Gena said as we sat down to eat lunch.
“What did I miss?” I was curious.
“Trick came by.” She had a smile on her face. All I could think was oh God, what did he do this time?
“He corrupted my daughters!” Domino yelled from his end of the table. “That a
sshole and my daughters strung all my underwear up through the house!” Domino looked like he wanted to murder someone.
I couldn’t hold it; I burst out laughing. “But did he touch the toilet paper?”
“Walker, you now have all the installs for the next two weeks. Asshole.” Domino was pissed.
I laughed. I didn’t care, everything was fine. I had my woman, I had my job, I had my friends, my family. Everything had worked out just fine. I couldn’t wait to pick up Val and tell her what Trick had done. Life was good.
Epilogue
Valerie
2 Years Later
It was finished. It had taken a total of fourteen hours, but it was done. I loved them. Walker was surprised when I said I wanted a tattoo. Then, when I explained what I wanted, he nearly fainted. He said it was huge. I didn’t care. I was his wife, his Valkyrie, and I wanted them. He took me to the artist near his hometown who had done his. The artist and I worked together designing them. They started on my shoulder blades, went up to my shoulders, then down my back. Some of the tips even came to wrap around on my waist. I had Valkyrie wings.
It didn’t hurt as bad as others had said, but I imagined that came with my paralysis. I couldn’t wait to show Walker. He never sat with me; it was probably a good idea since I was sure he would faint. He really could not handle me being hurt or bleeding. I cut myself in the kitchen once. He walked in and was out cold.
“So, it’s done?” he said as I got out to where he waited for me at the Jeep.
“Yup! I can’t wait for you to see them.”
He kissed me. “I know they are beautiful like you, wife. You hungry or you ready to head home?” He lifted me into the Jeep.
“Head home. Pick up something form the Chimpongs’.” We never got tired of eating there. “So, have you thought more about it?”
“I have. You sure it’s what you want?” he asked.
“It is. I think it’s the best option for us.” We had been discussing this for at least six months. The risks with pregnancy with me were very high and I was not willing to risk it. Walker couldn’t handle me being at risk; he’d even suggested he go get a vasectomy. I told him that was up to him. I was fine with getting the implants; they helped me out so much anyway.
“Well then, let’s get signed up.” He kissed my hand. We had just agreed to become foster parents. We had agreed we wanted to be parents, and this was the best way. We would help a kid in need, and we would get to be parents like we wanted. We knew what we were signing up for. We had already done lots of research and had a few meetings with DCFS. They really tried to scare you with how bad some of the poor kids could be, but we were not going to let it deter us.
“Today has been really great. Thank you for being so wonderful, husband.” I smiled at him.
“It is easy when you have a wonderful wife.” He smiled. He was still the most handsome man. I was so lucky.
Teaser
Lynch and Mina
“Dom, you have to come home. I’ve been calling for your father and he won’t answer.” Mom sounded really upset.
“Okay, Mom, I’ll be home in fifteen minutes. Sit tight.” I shut down my computer and collected my things. I hated leaving when there was still work, but with my mom bedridden and my dad not answering her, there wasn’t much choice. I was really worried about my dad. This was not like him.
I waved to my boss as I left. He knew what my parents were going through and he didn’t care as long as the deadlines were met. I drove home and looked around outside. I didn’t see my dad anywhere, I walked into the kitchen and found him on the floor. I rushed over, seeing if he was even alive. He was, but not responsive.
“Mom, Dad’s on the floor of the kitchen, unresponsive. I’m calling the ambulance right now.” I dialed. I explained to the operator what I’d found, and she dispatched an ambulance right away.
“Dom, what’s happening?” I heard my mom yell. She was bedridden in a hospital bed in the living room. She couldn’t see into the kitchen.
“I don’t know, Mom, just stay calm.” I knew that wouldn’t work, but there wasn’t much I could do. The paramedics came around to the kitchen like I asked the dispatcher. They started working on my dad.
“We are going to take him to the hospital. Are you going to ride with us, Lynch?” Darrel “Gooner” Harding asked. He had been one of my best friends growing up, through school. Upon high school graduation he had gone to the fire academy while I went into the army. We had stayed friends the whole time.
“I’ve got to stay with Mom. Can you or your sister stay with him? I am so sorry to ask; I just don’t have anyone else.” I hated relying on his family. Yes, they were neighbors, great neighbors, but I felt like I took advantage of them.
“Sure, I will get Mina to help. Don’t worry about it, Lynch. If this was my family, you would be right there.” He smacked my shoulder and headed out with my dad.
I ran a hand through my hair. It was clipped high and tight and I hated it. I hated not being on the team. I hated that my parents were sick. I was hating life. I collected myself. This was not what my mom needed. I shook off my thoughts and went to check on my mom.
My phone was vibrating. It was Mina telling she was at the hospital, and she had no problem keeping my dad company and keeping us updated.
“Mom, you okay? Mina is with Dad. She will keep us posted.” I looked her over. She had been crying. Ugh, multiple sclerosis sucked. It was killing her, my dad, and me.
About the Author
Annette Stephenson enjoys reading, writing, quilting and 80's music. She has participated in National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) since 2015. 2018 she accomplished the goal of 50,000 words in the months time.
Annette was born in Skokie Illinois. She now lives in a small town about an hour outside of Chicago. Annette and her husband married in 2018. Their favorite holiday is Halloween and they like to go big to pass out the candy. They met in 2011. For her birthday that year her husband adopted a kitten they call Mojo. Two weeks later we adopted another kitten Jinx. Their lives have never been the same since.
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There are also pictures of the cats!
Other Titles By the Author
Joining Forces
Huntsman and Eve
Walker and Valerie
Lynch and Mina (2020)
Forces Security
Ammo and Mary
Ape and Greta (2019)
Phoenix and Nora (2019)
A Forces Christmas Special (December 2019)
Ninja and Charity (2020)
Ladies of Forces
Gena and Tim (2020)
Joey’s Mysteries
Joey’s Mysteries Book 1 (2020)
All books available on Amazon Kindle or Paperback
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