Water under the Bridge

by Sherryl Hancock

“Ten-four!” the dispatcher replied.

  Even as she was talking on the phone she was starting the car and speeding out of her driveway. Two LAPD officers met them on the onramp to Highway 101, one took up a position in front of Jet and the other in the back, lights and sirens blaring and clearing the way all the way to Cedars. As they pulled into the emergency room area, Jet flipped the officers a salute, and jumped out of the car, as Tyler jumped out and ran inside. Jet helped Fadiyah out of the car, holding her hand as she strode after Tyler, praying that they weren’t too late. Jet suspected exactly what had happened. Skyler confirmed it as they walked up.

  “Is she still alive?” Jet asked.

  “Barely,” Skyler said. “She lost a lot of blood…”

  “Damnit…” Jet said, gritting her teeth.

  Tyler made her way into the emergency room, heedless of the security officer that was trying to stop her. He made the mistake of grabbing her shoulder and she grabbed his hand and flipped around, putting him on the ground without slowing a pace. Finally, she found the room where Shenin was, and she moved to her wife’s side. She already knew what she was going to see, but it made her sick anyway.

  Shenin lay looking so pale as the doctors worked on trying to repair the damage she’d caused to her wrists. They were infusing blood, and had tightly wrapped her wrists. Tyler moved to her wife’s head, kissing her temple, her tears mingling with Shenin’s hair.

  “You can’t leave me here, babe… You can’t leave…” she said, her voice desperate. Then she moved closer. “Remember what you said to me in Germany? I’m saying it to you now, babe… I love you more than life itself and I will not lose you… Do you hear me? If you love me, you’ll stay with me Shenin… There’s nothing we can’t get through… I love you… I love you… Stay with me… Stay with me…” Tyler continued talking to Shenin until she was hoarse. Shenin’s pulse, which had been light and thready when Tyler had walked into the room, stabilized and grew stronger. “That’s it babe, that’s it… Fight for me… Come back to me… I love you so much… Stay with me babe… Please stay with me, I can’t live without you…” Her voice was a harsh whisper by that time, and there wasn’t a dry eye in the room, every nurse, even the doctor was teary by that time.

  “We’ve got her back,” the doctor finally said, putting her hand on Tyler’s shoulder.

  Tyler nodded, lowering her head to rest it against Shenin’s.

  Chapter 8

  Sebastian and Ashley lay sleeping in the early hours of the morning. Sebastian lay on his back, Ashley on her side next to him with his right arm around her, holding her close. The vibrating of his phone woke him. Reaching over to the nightstand he picked it up, and looked at the text message. Chuckling softly he answered it and set the phone down on the bed next to him.

  “Work?” Ashley mumbled tiredly.

  “Another woman,” he said, grinning.

  Ashley promptly nipped his chest with her teeth. Sebastian laughed even as he shifted slightly.

  “I’m kidding, babe, it was my sister,” he told her.

  Ashley looked up at him then. “How old is she?”

  “Almost your age, twenty-nine,” he said.

  She nodded. “Does she still live up in Sacramento?”

  “Yeah,” he said. “She’s a nurse now, which is why she has no concept of normal time.”

  “Normal time?” Ashley asked.

  Sebastian glanced at the clock on the nightstand it was four thirty in the morning. “Yeah, like when normal people are awake.”

  “We’re awake right now, does that make us strange?” Ashley asked, grinning.

  “No, that makes us crazy,” he said, picking up his phone and shifting to lie on his side facing her, wincing slightly as he did.

  “Is your back still hurting?” she asked.

  “Yeah…” he said, moving his neck around to stretch it as he put his phone on the nightstand behind her.

  “You need to stop hurting yourself to get over this thing with Jet,” she told him. She knew that he was going to the gym and over doing it on his work outs to try and get rid of the stress of his still tenuous relationship with Jet.

  He looked down at her, his look searching. “Do you even talk to her these days?” he asked her.

  Ashley pressed her lips together. “That’s different.”

  “How’s it different?” he asked her.

  Ashley didn’t answer at first, then she shrugged. “I’m not taking it out on myself physically.”

  “But you’re not talking to one of your best friends,” he said. “That’s not normal, Ash. She’s not pissed at you.”

  “I know, but I think she’s being stubborn about being pissed at you, and I don’t like it. She knows damned good and well that you didn’t mean to hit her.”

  “I know she does, but she also knows that I was pissed at her, and I know that I was jealous as hell of her, so even I wonder if there was something to that exchange.”

  Ashley levered up on her elbow, looking down at him. “Why do you say that?”

  He looked back at her for a long moment. “I was in a really dark place at that moment… I wasn’t thinking straight.”

  “You don’t hit women, Sebastian,” Ashley said, knowing that to her very core.

  “I threatened Kash that day too.”

  She looked back at him surprised. “You did?”

  He nodded, looking somber.

  “Wow…” she said, her voice reflecting the shock.

  “Yeah,” he said, nodding. “See my point?”

  “I see why you think you might have meant it,” Ashley said. “But I still say it’s not you.”

  He narrowed his eyes slightly, as his phone buzzed again. Reaching over he picked it up and looked at the message, grinning.

  “You need to see this one,” he said, turning his phone around so she could read the message.

  Ashley read the message out loud. “I need to meet the woman that finally captured my big brother.”

  She looked up at Sebastian, surprised. “Captured?”

  “You’re living with me, right?” he said, grinning.

  “Yeah…” she said, her brows furrowed.

  “Captured,” he said.

  “Okay…” she said, still not looking sure of the word. “So what about your mom, is she still in Sacramento?”

  “Yeah, she finally remarried a couple of years ago,” he said, grinning.

  “What?” she asked, noting the grin. “You don’t like him?”

  Sebastian shrugged. “Doesn’t matter to me, what’s important is that he’s afraid of me.”

  Ashley looked back at him surprised, then understood. “Because of your dad,” she said simply.

  “Exactly,” Sebastian said, nodding.

  “But is your mom happy?” she asked.

  “I suppose, she’s happy enough.”

  “That doesn’t sound that good…” Ashley said.

  “It is what it is, babe. Sometimes you don’t get blissfully happy, some people are okay with happy enough.”

  “Are you?” she asked, surprised by his statement.

  He looked back at her for a long moment, his look considering. “No,” he said simply, “I want it all.”

  Ashley smiled at him, liking that he was so honest.

  His phone buzzed again, this time it was an email. She handed him his phone. He read the email nodding and then set it aside again.

  “Got an air op this morning,” he said, stretching. “With Jet and Sky as it happens.”

  “Really?” Ashley asked.

  “Yep,” he said, nodding. “Of course I’m on the ground and they’re in the air, but…” he said, his voice trailing off as he grinned.

  “Maybe you can do a post-operation beer…” Ashley said.

  Sebastian looked back at her, his eyes narrowed. “You’re scheming…” he told her.

  “Am I?” she said innocently, as she blinked.

  He shook his head. “To think I thought you were
so sweet and innocent…” he said, his tone wistful.

  Ashley laughed. “Like you’d want that for long!”

  He grinned, she did know him, and he got bored with sweet and innocent pretty fast. It was her emerging wild side that was holding him fast, at least that’s what he was telling himself.

  “So what time do you have to get up?” she asked him.

  “’Bout six, why?” he asked.

  Ashley pushed him to his back, her body moving to cover his seductively, kissing him as she did.

  “Mmm…” he murmured against her lips, even as his hands slid over her back, pressing her closer to him.

  They kissed for a few very heated minutes, then she slid down over him, causing both of them to gasp loudly, even as they began to move together. Within minutes they were both crying out, his lips covering hers, his hands strong on her hips.

  Afterwards, he shifted, wincing slightly.

  “Oh babe, I’m sorry!” Ashley said. “I forgot your back… I’m sorry…”

  “It’s okay,” he said, with a grin, as he used his forearm to lever himself up. Holding her to him with the other, he shifted back to his side, his body still inside hers. “It was definitely worth it,” he said, with a wink.

  “Mmm… I love when you do that…” she said, sighing.

  “What?” he asked, settling comfortably again.

  “Use all that strength to keep me right here,” she said, lowering her head to kiss his chest.

  He looked back at her, his eyes half closed. He liked that she said things like that; she didn’t take anything for granted, and he liked that about her too.

  Ashley moved to lie on her side next to Sebastian, glancing up at him as she did.

  “So, would you mind if I texted your sister?” she asked him.

  “No,” he said, surprising her with his answer, “her number’s in my phone.”

  Ashley reached over to pick up his phone and hers at the same time

  “It’s locked,” she told him.

  “Seven nine seven eight,” he said.

  Ashley looked back at him shocked.

  “What?” he asked, seeing her disbelief.

  Ashley shook her head, as she copied his sister’s phone number into her phone to send a text.

  “I’m just surprised that you gave me your passcode that easily,” She said.

  Sebastian grinned; he’d surprised himself with that one too. “I don’t have anything to hide, Ash.”

  Ashley nodded, not looking at him.

  He put his finger under her chin, tilting her face back up to his. “You know I was kidding about that other women comment, right?”

  Ashley bit her lip and nodded uncertainly.

  He leaned forward kissing her lips, then pulled back looking down into her eyes. “You’re the only woman I’m seeing, the only one.”

  Ashley did her best not to look exceedingly pleased by this news. Even so, Sebastian saw it in her eyes.

  “What’s your sister’s name?” she asked, noting that he just has “Sis” listed on his phone.

  “Juliet,” he told her.

  Ashley began tapping out a message, and then she grimaced.

  “What?” he asked, seeing her grimace.

  “Hi, I’m Ashley, your brother’s… uh… what do I say? Roommate?” she asked.

  “How about girlfriend?” he said.

  “Am I your girlfriend?” she asked him, her look flickering with uncertainty again.

  “What part of only woman I’m seeing don’t you get?” he asked, grinning. “I’d give you my class ring, but the only one I have is my Ranger one and I think it’ll be a little bit big…”

  “Stop it!” she said laughing.

  Sebastian chuckled. “Seriously though, I definitely consider you my girlfriend,” he said, his look earnest.

  “You didn’t even ask me to go steady…” she said, her grin sly.

  “I think they call it ‘going out’ now,” he said.

  “Like on a date?” she asked, looking perplexed.

  “Yeah, but that’s how they ask someone to be exclusive.”

  “And you know this how?” she asked, her look quizzical.

  Sebastian looked back at her, his grin roguish. “I think I’m gonna plead the fifth on that one.”

  “Oh, no…” she said, shaking her head, grinning. “How young do you date them Sebastian? Geeze! Are they even legal?”

  Sebastian smiled wickedly. “Yes, they’re always legal.”

  “Do I hear ‘just barely’ in that sentence?” she asked her look playful.

  “Hey, legal is legal, babe,” he said, his tone playful too.

  “Uh-huh…” she murmured, giving him a sidelong glance.

  He simply smiled back at her, his eyes sparkling mischievously.

  They lay together for a while; she rested her head against his chest, breathing in the scent of him. The man smelled so damned good all of the time! She felt a shiver of desire go through her again; she never could get enough of him. She remembered something she’d read recently about controlling her body ‘for her man’s pleasure.’ Remembering what the article said, her head still against his chest, she concentrated on her lower region muscles. She felt an immediate response from his body, and heard him draw in a sharp breath.

  “Jesus…” he breathed against her hair, his hands on her skin flexing.

  She continued, feeling him grow more and more excited, and the fact that she was exciting him this way, excited her. He started to shift.

  “No,” she said, looking up at him. “Don’t move…” she said, her tone both commanding and husky.

  His eyes stared back into hers, she could almost feel the heat from them as they bore into hers. She continued her ministrations, actually feeling him throbbing inside her. Moments later they were both crying out. His hands grasped at her, pressing her closer, his shout rumbling through his chest as she felt such a deep, intense orgasm she was almost light-headed when it subsided.

  “Oh… my… God…” he gasped, his words measured as he tried to catch his breath. “Where the hell did that come from?” Ashley chuckled, still breathing heavily herself. “Last month’s Cosmopolitan,” she said, grinning.

  “I’m buying you a lifetime subscription,” he said breathlessly.

  Ashley laughed out loud, nuzzling his neck, feeling extremely good, sated and ridiculously happy.

  Sebastian gathered her closer to him, his lips against her forehead. Pulling back, he looked down at her. He waited until she looked up at him, his eyes stared directly into hers.

  “I love you,” he said, his tone both reverent and unwavering.

  Ashley stared back at him, shocked into complete silence. She blinked a couple of times, sure that she must be dreaming.

  “Sebastian…” she breathed, her look so awed that he couldn’t mistake her feelings for him.

  “I’m guessing you kind of like me too?” he said, his tone mild, his smile warm.

  Ashley shook her head. “No, I’m basically madly in love with you,” she said, her voice holding a note of humor.

  “Well, that’s handy,” he said, grinning.

  “Is it?” she asked, smiling at him.

  “Oh yeah,” he said, nodding as he pulled her closer to kiss her lips.

  It was a nice way to wake up.

  Later that morning, Sebastian pulled into the lot at the office and he saw Jet leaning against the open trunk of the Maserati. She was smoking and he could hear her music playing loudly. Getting out of his vehicle, he walked over to her.

  “We set this morning, Mathews?” he asked, his tone formal. It was an indication of how distant things had been between them in the couple of weeks.

  Jet’s eyes narrowed as she blew out a stream of smoke and looked considering at her cigarette. “That’s Jet Fire to you, Baz,” she said, her tone wry.

  Sebastian nodded, grinning, happy to hear it. Though his response was still a bit subdued.

  “That so?” he asked.<
br />
  Jet nodded, looking up at him. “Ash texted me,” she said, her grin sly.

  “I see,” he said. “And I take it you approve?”

  “Wholeheartedly,” Jet said, smiling, as she extended her hand to him.

  “Glad to hear it,” he replied, his tone sincere as he clasped her hand in his. He then pulled her to him to hug her tight. “I’m sorry,” he said, his tone tremulous.

  “Me too,” Jet said, closing her eyes for a moment.

  They stayed that way for a full minute, then they moved apart, both of them nodding and grinning at the other.

  “What’d I miss?” Skyler asked, her tone wry as she walked up, knowing full well the two had just finally made up.

  “Not a damned thing,” Sebastian said, grinning. “I’m gonna go make sure my team is ready to go, you girls headed over to the airport?”

  “Yeah, change of plans,” Skyler said. “We got a helo out of the LAPD Hooper Heliport.”

  “Why, what happened?” Jet asked.

  “With Dev out of commission, we got no Air Force support,” Skyler said. “So I’m borrowing one from LAPD, we’re picking it up at the heliport. Jams is already over there doing the walk around.”

  Jet nodded, looking grim at the mention of Shenin.

  “Wait,” Sebastian said, “what’s going on with Shenin?”

  Jet and Skyler exchanged a look, few people knew at this point.

  “Shenin tried to kill herself last night,” Jet told him.

  “Holy shit…” Sebastian said, his look grim.

  “Yeah,” Jet said, nodding.

  “Is she going to be okay?” he asked.

  Jet nodded, looking at Skyler. “Yeah, she is,” she said. Then to Skyler she asked, “You okay?”

  Skyler shrugged slightly. “I’m dealing.”

  Sebastian gave Skyler a questioning look.

  “Sky found her,” Jet said, her tone gentle.

  “In a pool of her own blood,” Skyler added, looking sick.

  Sebastian shook his head, blowing his breath out. He reached over and pulled Skyler into his arms, hugging her. Skyler accepted the hug with a smile; she knew it was how Sebastian lent his strength to people and she loved him for it.

  “Alright,” he said when he finally let Skyler go. “Let’s do this.”