by Marie Jermy
Yet the high-ceiling room with its dustsheet-covered furniture held no interest. Her focus was on the utterly drop-dead gorgeous man in the doorway, one pale hand braced on the jamb, the other holding a gun. Dark brown hair laced with gray. A lean, strong and dark-jawed handsome face. A firm, kissable mouth. A frown over the black-as-night eyes.
Leia gasped. Scott really did have black eyes! Her gaze slid over the six-foot-tall, tough and capable body, the stone-and-light gray colored shirt with dried blood on the collar stretched over the broad shoulders and powerful chest, down to the faded jeans that fitted snugly on slim hips and muscular thighs. Black cowboy boots completed the whole macho heroic look.
Her mouth turned dry and her heart missed several thousand beats. The mental image she had of the man she loved with all her heart and soul fell spectacularly short of the real thing.
A loud crack and intense heat then jolted Leia’s adoring attention away from Scott to behind her. She turned and froze.
* * * *
Scott shook his head several times to clear the white spots that clouded his vision. Damn, that laser had been a bitch. If he’d known transferring the laser from his healing pen into his Beretta would produce that explosive reaction he never would have done it. A second later and he changed his mind. The vaporization of Williamson had been a blast. Quite literally.
He shook his head one final time and his vision cleared. Only to be filled with angry orangey-red flames licking the walls and black smoke rolling across the ceiling.
Holy crap! The room was on fire!
Smoke now clogging his lungs, Scott dived into action and raced over to Leia, still sat on the sofa but with her back turned to him. Scooping her up into his arms, he bolted from the room, the house, and out to halfway down the graveled drive. Just in time, for the whole structure exploded into a fiery ball.
The blast knocked him from his feet, but he gathered enough common sense to stay on the ground, roll Leia beneath him, and protect her from the debris raining down. Not quite 9/11 but close enough.
After a few minutes, it stopped raining debris and, feeling it safe enough, Scott rolled off Leia and onto his knees. The house was a blazing hell, but he couldn’t give a damn and turned his attention to Leia, running his hands over her limbs checking for injuries.
Apart from a few scrapes and cuts to her arms and legs, a ring of purplish bruises around her neck, and his blackened T-shirt that she wore, she seemed otherwise unscathed. He checked again, just to be sure. “Leia, honey, are you okay?” he asked, cradling her head in one hand while probing through her hair with the fingers of the other.
“Black eyes like those of a great white shark.”
“Yeah, that’s what Ross describes them as,” he said absently.
“Show me your shark-like smile, Scott.”
“Headache…” He trailed off when her request registered. He stared at her face, particularly at those lovely bedroom brown eyes. In the light from the roaring flames and the rosy fringes tinting the Eastern Seaboard, they were no longer blank and unresponsive, but shone with light and love. Stunned, he held up an unsteady hand and showed two digits. “How many fingers?”
“Charming,” Leia sniffed. “Why don’t you just flip me the middle one.”
Now he cradled her head in both hands. “You can see. But how?”
“I don’t know. There was an intense white light, followed by rainbow colors and then perfect twenty-twenty vision.”
“An intense white light?” Scott looked down at his Beretta tucked into the waistband of his jeans. His mouth dropped open. Had he, by combining two lasers together, inadvertently found a cure for blindness? As a barrage of further questions hit him, Archie tore up the driveway, barking madly.
“Archie!” Leia cried, flinging her arms around his neck as he licked her face with enthusiastic delight.
“I told you to stay in the car,” Scott began sternly, but laughed when he, too, received a face full of wet tongue. A real snotty sob then sounded. Leia wasn’t just crying, she shook uncontrollably. He gathered her into his arms and held tight, rocking her even as the enormity of the situation sunk in.
He’d wanted the impossible and got it. But how in hell was he going to explain it? The Federation, he knew, would never acknowledge their existence, let alone agree for this miracle to become public knowledge. And as a director, he was duty-bound not to say anything, either. How could he not say anything though? A cure for blindness would be in the same league as a cure for cancer.
That concept was a powerful motivator. This time, he vowed, his allegiance to the Federation would come second to the woman he cherished.
Huge sobs racking her body and snot soaking the front of his shirt, Leia was now choking out Archie’s name, who had actually started to whine. “Honey, it’s okay,” Scott soothed. “Archie’s fine. He’s just whining because he’s happy. I think.”
“You don’t understand!” she wailed between sobs, snot, and hiccups. “He’s a guide dog. Now that I can see, he’ll be taken away from me.”
Her heartbreak was accompanied with the screaming of sirens as the fire department, EMTs, and police, all led by Ross Anderson, arrived. Scott felt sure the squad car was still traveling when Anderson flung open the driver’s door, jumped out of the seat, and raced over.
“Thank Christ, you’re all okay,” Anderson began with a huge grin before he rounded on Scott. “You moron! You could have—”
“Leia can see.” That effectively put a stop to Anderson’s forthcoming tirade. “And it’s due to Federation equipment and technology. I transferred the laser from that healing pen into my Beretta and when I vaporized Williamson it must have somehow—”
“Scott, stop!” Leia then interrupted him.
“Ross already knows about the Federation.”
“I gathered that. But the Federation is a secret organization...”
“Screw the Federation! You are more important.” He cupped her tear-streaked face in his hands and looked her straight in the eye. “The fact you can see is more important.”
Leia nodded in agreement, albeit half-heartedly. “I know, but just think for a moment. As a Federation Director you have a responsibility to protect ghosts and vampires and everything else supernatural. You’ve taken some kind of oath, right?”
“Yes, but…”
“But nothing. If this comes out, if the public know of the Federation and its purpose, I think we can safely presume that not everybody is going to be as open-minded or as calm about it as me. You find out your neighbor’s a vampire and people are going to get scared. And that can only lead to trouble. Big trouble.” She glanced up at Ross. “I’m sure the police have enough to do without adding vigilantes intent on staking vampires or anybody who associates with and supports them. No, the Federation remains a secret, and you and every member you recruit will carry on with the duties you’ve been sworn to do. And that’s final, Scott! No arguments. We’ll say a blow to the head made me see again.”
Scott knew Leia spoke sense. Still, it didn’t mean he wouldn’t be approaching the Federation sometime in the future. He had to inform the Federation of this miracle, even if it was behind closed doors.
“Oh, yeah, like they’re gonna believe that,” Anderson murmured as two EMTs joined them.
Scott smiled at the spark of fire in the glare that Leia directed at Anderson, which had nothing to do with the burning mansion behind them. Then the spark faded as she looked at Archie. Her bottom lip again began to wobble. He had to think of a way that ensured Archie and Leia remained together.
Scott was still thinking several hours later as he paced the relatives’ room in E.R. He and Archie had accompanied Leia to the hospital, but hadn’t been allowed anywhere near her while doctors performed all manner of tests to explain her sudden ability to see. Suffice to say, doctors hadn’t believed it had been a simple case of a blow to the head.
“Will you stop pacing. You’ll wear a groove in that carpet.”
&
nbsp; Scott turned and faced Anakin Howard who had arrived a half hour before with Anderson. Initially, with Howard wanting to karate kick his balls, he had hesitated in telling him the whole story behind his sister’s kidnap, particularly the part about Leia performing sex acts in front of the cameras to help him catch a blackmailer. But then thinking the hell with it, he’d told him everything. Well, not quite everything. With Anderson’s backup, he’d bent the truth that Leia’s kidnapper had been a ghost and said Williamson had died in the fire that destroyed his former home.
After Scott had finished, and particularly with learning that his sister could see, Howard’s only response had been, “You’re shitting me!” He’d assured him that he wasn’t and that had been it. No “stay away from my sister, schmuck,” no threats, and no karate kick to the balls, either. Just a sociable, albeit cautious manner.
“I’m thinking of a way to keep Leia and Archie together.” Archie lifted his head at his name, but then plopped it back onto his front paws and resumed snoozing. “How old is he?”
“Four. Too young to retire.”
That idea squelched, Scott nodded and proceeded to pace again.
“I’m gonna get a cup of tea,” Howard said, rising to his feet. “You two want anything?”
Both Scott and Anderson shook their heads. When Howard had left the room, Anderson reached out a long arm and pulled Scott to sit. “Talk to me.”
Scott quirked a brow. “When did you start caring?”
“The same time as you. The first day I put on a uniform.” Anderson stretched out his long legs and crossed them at the ankle. “The Federation. It’s a classified organization, I get that, really I do, but Christ, Scott, you’ve got to say something about that damned laser. It gave Leia her sight back.”
“I know. And I am. The Elders—”
“The Elders?” Anderson interrupted, snorting out a laugh. “That conjures up an image of a group of white-haired, long-bearded, nine-hundred-year-old men sitting around a table.”
“You’re not far wrong.” Scott laughed at Anderson’s shocked expression. “Just kidding. There’s six Elders representing each continent, so Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, and North and South America. Really, there should be seven, but Antarctica for obvious reasons isn’t represented. They’re all former directors, and from memory only one has white hair and a beard. Claus Becker, the Europe Elder. He’s the oldest at eighty-five.”
“So as the North America’s Director you could become an Elder?” Anderson said, his interest sparked.
“If I wanted to move to Geneva, yes. That’s where the Elders are based and that’s where I’ll be going when Jessica returns. This miracle requires more than a phone call, don’t you think? I’ll go in person.”
“Which may be sooner than you think. Jess and probably Ray will be on the first flight available when I tell them about Leia. But don’t worry,” Anderson hastily added at the concern crossing Scott’s face. “I’ll only tell Jess about what really happened. She’s my wife and I’m not gonna lie to her. Besides, she knows and has seen that laser in action. As for my father-in-law, well, I’ll tell him whatever conclusions the doctors come up with. For now. But you should know, he can spot a lie a mile away.”
Scott nodded. “Good. On both counts. The sooner I can present a case to the Elders, the sooner they can conduct some experiments to see if this really is a cure, and if it is, they can filter the information through to the proper medical channels. I know we have Federation members who are eye specialists.”
Just then a wiry, deeply-tanned man dressed in fashionable beige chinos and a pale blue oxford shirt entered the room. The eyes behind the gold-rimmed frames were cool, but the smile was broad and friendly as he approached Scott. “Mr. Rafferty? I’m Doug Miller, one of the consultants caring for Miss Howard.”
“How is she?” Scott asked, rising to his feet and shaking the offered hand. Predictably, Miller winced, but didn’t comment. Archie, he noticed, also rose and stood to attention by his side.
“She’s very well. And asking for you.” The broad, friendly smile then sobered. “Before I allow you to see Miss Howard, I would like to ask you some questions. As you know we’ve been conducting a series of tests to establish the reason for why Miss Howard can now see after a period of ten years. The tests have all proved inconclusive. We can conduct further tests at a later date, but the only explanation we can offer at this point is Miss Howard was exposed to some sort of intense light, and/or heat. Like a laser.”
“A laser?” Scott repeated, his tone and expression composed and neutral. “I know nothing about a laser, but I do know I rescued Leia, er, Miss Howard, from a burning building. And it was hotter than Hades.”
“I can confirm that,” Anderson said, backing Scott. “I also know that the fire department are still damping down.”
“I see. And when you rescued Miss Howard, was she conscious?”
Scott knew exactly where that question was leading to. “No. Unconscious. She came to outside just before the EMTs arrived.”
“I see. That’s what Miss Howard states happened. Almost word for word.” Miller then shrugged and his friendly smile returned as he held the door open and gestured into the corridor. “If you’ll follow me, I’ll show you Miss Howard’s room.”
“I’ll go and find Anakin,” Anderson said, walking in the opposite direction to Scott and Miller.
“I would like to keep Miss Howard in overnight for observations,” Miller said, pausing at a closed door. “But she said she’d rather go home. As long as somebody stays with her, then I’m happy to sign the release forms.”
Nodding, Scott pushed the door open and almost tripped over Archie in his own haste to get to Leia. Now dressed in a hospital gown, she bounded off the bed, dropped to her knees to greet Archie first, then a yank on his jeans brought him to his knees. A second later, her mouth was on his and they were devouring each other with a deep, deep kiss.
Finally, finally, finally, Archie’s loud disgruntled woofs and incessant pawing caused Scott to pull back and lift Leia up onto the bed. Her fingers immediately traced his frown. “Permanent fixture. I blame the Federation.” His laugh was brief. “I’ve got so much to tell you, but not here, okay? I’ll take you home.”
She nodded. “Don’t suppose you’ve got any clothes for me?”
“One of Ross’s officers collected our belongings from the hotel and dropped them off here earlier. Along with my car. Made his year. ‘Sweet ride’ he said.”
“They didn’t keep it for forensics?”
“Ghosts don’t leave fingerprints,” Scott said softly when Howard entered the room and approached the bed. “Explain later.”
Leia nodded then flung her arms out to embrace her brother. “Anakin!”
“Step aside, schmuck—I mean, Scott,” Howard said, waving a dismissive hand. “Brother-sister time.”
Scott rolled his eyes and walked to the door. “I’ll wait outside.”
“Scott?”
He turned. “Yeah?”
“I love you.”
“And I love you. Honey.” Scott flashed Leia his shark-like grin and left.
* * * *
After exchanging hugs and kisses, and with a few happy tears, Leia couldn’t seem to divert her eyes away from Anakin as he sat on the bed beside her. There were only ten months between them—their mother fell pregnant with him soon after she was born—and the last time Leia had actually seen her brother, he had been a lanky, spotty teenager. Not anymore. He was stockier with defined muscles and a strikingly handsome face that no doubt had women falling at his feet. She never asked about her brother’s love life. Not that he would tell her. Anakin and Scott had more in common than either realized.
“Keep staring and I’ll start charging.”
“Can’t I look at my loveable brother?”
“I s’pose. Just as long as you don’t turn kinky on me.”
She slapped his forearm and pulled a face. “Annee!”
&nbs
p; “Don’t call me that,” he grimaced. “You know I hate it. Anakin’s bad enough.” He grinned then and gave her another brotherly squeeze. “Oh, what the hell. You’re safe and that’s all that matters. What happened?”
Archie licked her bare foot and Leia fussed with him before answering. She didn’t like lying to her brother, but as with her ex, Graham, there were certain things he was better off not knowing about. He’d always ribbed her for her belief in ghosts and though she knew he wouldn’t breathe a word if she did tell him, she was not about to divulge anything about a secret organization called “the Federation.”
“Well, I agreed to help Scott with a case. I can’t go into too much detail. Client confidentiality and all that. What I can tell you is that I, um, I…” She paused, suddenly flustered.
“You had sex in front of the cameras to catch a blackmailer,” Anakin supplied for her.
“Scott actually told you that?”
“And I didn’t even have to karate kick his balls.”
She grinned. “And for that, I’m eternally grateful.”
Her brother’s brown eyes turned shrewd. “How can you see again?”
“I don’t know. All I do know is, I was kidnapped and knocked unconscious with a blow to the head. When I came to, I could see.”
“Bullshit! If your sight was restored because of a simple blow to the head, don’t you think Mom and Dad and me would have done it years ago? This has got something to do with him outside, doesn’t it? What did he do to you?”
“Rescued me from my kidnapper?”
“Apart from that!”
Leia exhaled a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Anakin, look, I can’t tell you, okay?”
“But you will?” he pressed.
“No.” Anakin didn’t look at all satisfied with that answer. She squeezed his hands and changed the subject. “Have you spoken to Mom and Dad yet?”
“No. I was gonna call them later.”
“I’ve a better idea. They return home from their Star Wars convention tomorrow. Why don’t you and I go and surprise them together?”