by KD Michaels
“First of all mother, where my son is none of your concern - you don’t give a rat’s ass about him any other day of the week so don’t start now. Second, you know damn good and well Jonathan doesn’t want him, especially since he’s with his prostitute who you deemed ok to have on the side while I was supposed to be grateful he was going to stay married to me. As for Joe, he’s more of a man than Jonathan ever has been or ever will be and loves Cody as if he was his own son. So if he wants to take care of him while I’m in here or while I’m at work, I would be one hell of a lucky woman.”
“Mom, let’s just go. It’s obvious that whoever took her didn’t want her either. I don’t know why we are here. She will never change and realize she’s a nobody. Maybe when this man’s command or friends realize what kind of woman she is, he’ll wake up and realize his mistake. You did your best in raising the ungrateful whale. Hell, he’s probably out banging some other women right now just so he can tolerate being near her,” Jennifer murmured to her stepmother.
“Excuse me, I don’t know who you are but you don’t know Lt. MacLeod like we do. We are his friends. Just like Laura said, he’s more man than you could ever dream of meeting. And I know for a fact he’s not with another woman so your jealousy is actually laughable. All he ever talks about is his love for Laura and her son Cody. In fact, he calls Cody his son or their son. If Laura and her brother didn’t call you to tell you where she was or what was going on, it’s obvious they don’t want you here. I strongly suggest that you leave. Call next time to see if you are wanted before you come here again.” Caroline was fuming.
Kathy and Jennifer sneered at the three women and walked out of the room without a further word. Laura looked at Caroline, “Thank you, I appreciate it. I think I’m going to take a nap now until the doctor comes in and decides what the plans are. Thanks for coming by.” Laura started to shut down.
“Don’t listen to them, Laura. Wolf and the guys would go to the ends of the earth to protect those they deem theirs. So would Joe. That’s part of being with a SEAL - you don’t just get one, you get them all. You also get us too, and I know for a fact what your mother said was not true. We may have just met, but you’re one of us, through the good and the bad. I meant what I said; here’s my number, you call if you need anything. Fiona’s is on there, too.” Caroline laid a piece of paper on the table next to the hospital bed and leaned over giving Laura a one-sided hug, followed by one from Fiona.
Later that day, Laura was released and sent home to recuperate with strict instructions to remain on bed rest for the next several days. She called her brother Dominick to come and get her. She was still drained and upset about the visit from her mom and stepsister. She had always known her mother hated her, but she could never understand why. Not even Dom knew what the issue was. Laura felt that her parents hated her because she wasn’t perfect because she was hearing impaired and wore two hearing aids. While her body type didn’t fit her mother’s image of perfect, Joe had helped her find acceptance and happiness in herself. She fought to get her job in the sheriff’s department as well as the task force and had never regretted it. Even if she didn’t have her parents’ approval, she’d always had Dom had as her biggest supporter in life, now second to Joe. She was eternally grateful she was close with her brother.
After helping her into her house, Dom looked at Laura with a concerned look in his eyes, “Hey sis, you’ve been really quiet since you called to ask me to get you. What’s up, squirtle?” Dom hugged his baby sister.
“What makes you think something is wrong? I’m fine. Just tired that’s all,” Laura reacted.
“Because you were quiet, which is unlike you. You didn’t want me to call Joe and let him know I picked you up and the nurse said mom and Jennifer were there and ordered to get out.” Dom looked Laura in the eyes as he said the last part.
“I’m fine, Dom. Just mom being the same usual snarky bitch she always is. Only this time she had Maria Jr. with her. Same shit, different day. Bitching about the fact we didn’t ‘notify’ her of the name tarnish aka me making the news for some reason or another so she could show her face at the country club. Wonder what sob story she gave to be able to stay there. I think mom’s pimping Jennifer out now that Maria is in the wind. They actually tried to sell some bullshit story that Joe was out screwing some chick just so he could be in the same room with me. What’s even more hilarious is the twit brigade tried to claim that if his friends and command met me, they would tell him he was an idiot for dating me. Stupid bitch.”
“They are just pissed because you’re happy for once in your life and theirs is falling apart. Joe loves the hell out of you and Cody. Hell, he even came by and took him to school before going to his meeting. A man doesn’t do that if it’s a pity relationship, no matter what anyone says. His friends are just as protective of you as Joe and I are. You and Cortez made one hell of an impression on that entire SEAL team, and it wasn’t because you’re Joe’s girlfriend. Sis, they told Joe themselves if he ever hurt you, they would kick his ass. I heard that with my own ears. Don’t let mom and the twisted sister reject ruin that for you,” Dom fumed.
“Twisted sister reject?” Laura sputtered out.
“Seriously, have you seen the makeup? I think they had the same makeup artist or she watched too many videos and did it in the wrong language or something. She makes Tammy Faye Baker’s makeup seem natural. Hell, a clown looks more natural than hers. Duhhhh.” Dom made a face as he was joking with Laura.
Laura broke into a laugh then punched her brother’s arm. “That hurt, asshole, and you do know Tammy Faye Baker is dead, right? Knobtard.”
“Sorry, didn’t mean to cause you pain but you just hit me, evil meanie. I’m going to go home and cry. And yes, I know she’s dead, that’s why the makeup would be more natural than Jennifer’s.” Dom laughed as he hugged his sister. “Do you need anything else before I go? Need big brother to tuck you in?”
“Ew, gross dude. Did they teach you that gross shit in Delta? What’s your old teammates name again? I’m going to call him and tell him that you need your ass kicked perv.” Laura laughed hugging her brother back.
After Dom left, Laura locked up and for the first time actually was afraid of being home alone. She laid down on the couch and before she knew it, she was asleep. She woke up to feeling fingers rubbing against her cheek. She jumped up then groaned in pain, grabbing her ribs.
“Aye lass, it’s just me. It’s ok. I’m sorry I didn’t mean te scare ye.” Joe held his hands up while he spoke softly to Laura to give her a chance to relax.
“Joe? I thought you were at work?”
“Aye lass, I was. It’s a little after six. Ye slept the afternoon away. I went by the hospital, but they said ye had been released earlier. Why didn’t ye call te tell me that ye had been released?
“I meant to send you a text after I got settled. I didn’t want to bother you while you were at work. I’m sorry I didn’t realize I had fallen asleep. Give me just a minute and I’ll make dinner.” Laura started to get up but Joe put his hand on her shoulder to keep her in place.
“Nae lass, dinnae worry about dinner. Ye need ye rest. I can manage a simple meal for the three of us.”
“Three of us? Who else is coming? Joe, I’m not in the mood or condition for more company,” Laura fretted.
“Nae lass, nae company. It’s just ye, Cody, and myself. He sent me a text asking if I could come and get him te bring him home so he could help take care of his mum. He’s at the kitchen table doing his homework right now.”
“Oh. Oh my god, what kind of mother am I when I didn’t even consider getting my own kid.” Laura buried her head in her pillow on the couch and started crying.
Joe pulled her into his arms and gently sat down on the couch and let Laura cry. He soothed her hair from her forehead and kissed her. “Lass, ye are a damn good mum. That boy loves ye. Ye needed some alone time te get some rest. It will be ok, love.” Joe kissed her forehead again and just held L
aura in his arms.
Joe fixed a simple dinner of soup and grilled cheese, cleaned the kitchen, helped Cody with the rest of his homework, and got him ready for bed. He wouldn’t admit it out loud but he was worried about Laura. She was kind of withdrawn into herself, wouldn’t talk about what she gone through while in Mexico.
Bed time finally rolled around. Joe was hesitant on what to do. “Lass, time te get in the bed. Need me te help ye?”
“Huh? Oh, um no, I’m ok I can make it.” Laura got up and went to the bathroom.
A short time later she came out of the bathroom and started getting ready for bed. She looked at the bed, to Joe, and then back again. When Joe came up behind her to wrap his arms around her, she froze. When Joe started to back away, she turned around and grabbed his hand.
“Sorry, just a knee jerk reaction, I don’t know why I’m doing that. I know you won’t hurt me. Please forgive me?” Laura said as tears welled up in her eyes.
Joe pulled her into his arms and held her tight. “It’s ok, love. I ken. I just dinnae want te cause ye stress. Would it be better if I slept on the couch for a few until ye are ready te be around me at night?”
Laura froze and dropped her arms from his waist. “Is that what you want? Did I do something wrong?” Laura started to back up away from Joe.
“Laura, stop!” Joe grabbed her by the shoulders to keep her in place. “Ye have done nothing wrong. Nae, it is nae what I want te do. I want te be in our bed with ye in my arms. I want te fall asleep with my arms around ye. I want te wake up with my arms around ye hearing ye snore away next te me. But I can tell ye are a little scared right now and I dinnae want te cause ye fear.”
Laura stared at Joe as he spoke. She started breathing again and stepped forward, wrapping her arms around his waist. “No I don’t want you to sleep on the couch. I want your arms around me, too. I need to know you’re there next to me if I get scared. Please don’t leave me.”
Joe cradled Laura’s face in his hands and leaned down and gently kissed her. He tasted her lips, licking and nibbling her lower lip then slipping his tongue inside her mouth when she opened up under him. Laura hands roamed from his waist up to his chest and into his hair holding him tight. The kiss became heated, a mating of the tongues that were torn apart and reunited.
Without breaking contact, Joe picked Laura up, wrapping her legs around his waist and walked them toward the bed. He laid Laura down, devouring her mouth while his left hand moved up and down her thigh at his waist. They came up for air as Joe moved his lips down her neck to her collar bone and nipped her shoulder.
“Fuck lass, I’ve missed ye so much.” Joe took her arms and raised them above her head with one hand as he raised her shirt to her neck so that he could tease her nipples.
Laura tried to move her hand to touch Joe but she couldn’t. Joe kept her hand where it was while he feasted on her nipple. Laura kept trying to move her hand and started to panic. When she couldn’t move her hands, she started fighting and hyperventilating.
“Hey, hey, hey, lass it’s ok.” Joe let Laura’s hands go and sat up beside her as she scrambled to the top of the bed. Laura wrapped her arms around her middle. “Are ye ok, Laura? Did I do something wrong?”
“No, I’m sorry. Joe. I just panicked when I couldn’t move my hands to touch you. I’m so sorry.” Laura started to sob.
“Lass, it’s ok.” Joe slowly moved toward Laura and pulled her into his arms. “I’m the one who is sorry. I should nae have moved so fast te make love te ye. I should be the one apologizing te ye.”
Joe slowly brought Laura down off the headboard and laid down on the bed with her. He brought her back to his front and curled his arms around her to make sure her hands were free so she didn’t feel trapped again. He wished that he could find that son of a bitch Mendoza and put a bullet in his head. Brushing Laura’s hair back off her face, he leaned down and kissed her cheek. They would get through this, come hell or high water they would get through this together.
10
Joe and Laura fell into a routine for the next week. She took Cody to school, cleaned the house, picked Cody up from school, made dinner, and then went to bed. Laura knew she was just going through the motions of the day. At night she would get a shower and climb into bed. She at least stayed awake until he got into the bed and talked with her as he pulled her into him and held her. She knew ee didn’t know what else to do.
While Laura was cleaning the house several days after being released, she heard a knock on her front door. Answering the door, she was surprised by her visitor. “Fiona, hi, I didn’t know you were coming by.”
“I know I should have called but wanted to come by and see how you were doing. Mind if I come in?”
“No come in, sorry, my manners went down the drain. Would you like something to drink? I have water, tea, and wine.”
“Tea is fine.” Fiona sat at the table in the kitchen while Laura got them both some iced tea. “How have you been?”
Laura sighed. “Taking one day at a time. I’m ready to go back to work - so tired of feeling like I have nothing to do. I think this house will be happy I’ve gone back to work, too. There’s nothing left for me to clean and yet I’m still doing it. I think once I’m back in uniform and on the job, I’ll be fine.”
“Have you talked to anyone about what happened? I mean to Joe, Cortez, your captain, or a professional.”
“No. Captain Irby wants us to talk to the department shrink, but I’m not comfortable with her. She’s nasally and judgmental.” Laura chuckled.
Fiona pulled a card out of her purse and handed it to Laura. “This is who I go to. Actually, all of us, Caroline, Alabama, Cheyenne, Jessyka and Summer, all of us go to Dr. Hancock.”
“What in the world would you guys need to see a shrink for? You guys are normal.” Laura looked shocked at Fiona.
“Joe never told you about what we went through?” Fiona asked shocked herself.
“He just said that he wanted me to meet you all that way when he was deployed again in the future, I had someone to talk to. Said that the men on the teams were just as overprotective of the women as he was of me, that was it.”
Fiona lowered her head for a few moments and then looked up at Laura. “While I was on a couple of years ago, I was kidnapped and taken to Mexico by human traffickers.” Laura gasped and sat back in her seat while Fiona continued her story. “I was beaten, raped, and drugged. I knew no one would have any reason to miss me because I had no family or any real friends in El Paso that I kept in touch with on a regular basis. I knew I wouldn’t have anyone rescuing me. The only reason I was rescued was because Senator Lytle’s daughter Julie was kidnapped by the same men. Being a Senator, the SEALs were called in. It was Hunter who rescued me from that nightmare in Mexico.”
“I can see why they are as overprotective as they are then. This counselor that you see, how long did you see them before you started feeling safe again? When were you ok with Cookie touching you intimately? I’m damaged Fiona. Mendoza broke me and doesn’t even know it.” Laura rambled out before breaking down and crying. Fiona got up from the chair and pulled Laura into her arms and held her while she cried.
“No, you’re not damaged. You received a crack in your armor. You’ll seal that crack again, Laura. You have me and Caroline. You’ve already met us. You’ll be meeting the others when you’re ready, and whether you realize it or not, you also have Matthew, my Hunter, especially Faulkner who asks about you all the time, Sam who does the same, Christopher, and Kason. You have all of them, just like you also have Joe and his entire team who would move heaven and earth to protect you. One day at a time, when you’re ready, you’ll know it. Joe isn’t going anywhere. He loves you and will wait for you. He’s like Hunter, alpha, overprotective, and willing to fight those demons for you and with you, if you let him. I know it doesn’t feel like that right now because you’re scared. But just take one day at a time. Talking to Dr. Hancock will help.”
While Fiona an
d Laura were talking in the kitchen, there was a loud bang then an explosion outside. Both women jumped up and went to the window. Laura turned around and said urgently, “Fiona, go into my bedroom and hide in the closet. There’s a safe for you to hide behind and move stuff to hide you. I made the space for Cody in case anyone was stupid enough to find me from some of our cases. Go now.”
Laura ran to her room behind Fiona and got her weapon and ran back out to the living room. Fiona whispered out that she would call Cookie.
In the living room, Laura had her weapon in hand while she checked the doors and windows to make sure they were all locked. She set the alarm that way the alarm company would notify the police if they were breached. Suddenly, her front door blew off the hinge, knocking Laura back against the wall. When she woke up, her worst nightmare was standing in front of her with an evil grin on his face.
“Hola, senorita. Did you think I forgot about you? I wasn’t done playing with you. It’s very rude to run out on your host.” Mendoza leaned down and pulled Laura up by her hair, smacking her across the face, and knocking her into the table. Mendoza looked over at the thug he brought with him and said, “Search the rest of the house, make sure there’s no one else here.”
Mendoza then grabbed Laura by the hair and dragged her down the hall. He watched as his thug searched the hallway bathroom, Cody’s room, the spare bedroom, and then followed him into Laura’s room. He threw Laura onto the bed and started taking his jacket off. Laura jumped up when she saw the thug open the closet door and was ready to jump onto Mendoza to cause a distraction for Fiona to get out.