With Honor

by Rhonda Lee Carver

  Shawn’s breathing became labored as the fog and fumes grew thick. He stumbled across the cement floor. On his hands and knees, feeling the wall, he moved until he found the emergency alarm. With a hard hit on the button, loud sirens squealed through the haze. Water splashed him as the overhead sprinklers came alive.

  Holbert was somewhere in the building. He had to find him before it was too late. Standing on wobbly legs, Shawn grabbed the fire extinguisher from the glass cage, then rushed toward the fire. The intense heat became stronger, but he moved into the depths of hell. The flames licked at him before he was even close. Shawn closed his eyes and followed his instincts as he took baby steps across the smoke-engulfed room. Once he came to the plane, he saw Holbert through the blur of fog and flames. His friend was lying still under the plane’s nose, surrounded by flames. Without hesitation, Shawn released the safety button on the extinguisher and the foam oozed onto the blaze, with no luck.

  The popping and cracking, the smell of fuel, the thick smoke, all overwhelmed his senses. He could barely see, couldn’t hear and he could no longer breathe. The yellow flames licked at the metal of the plane. Holbert didn’t have long before he would be submerged inside the inferno.

  Shawn looked for something, anything…and spotted Holbert’s jacket hanging on the hook two feet away. Reaching for it, he wrapped it as securely as he could around his hands as he moved in. He felt the stinging sensation of his hands burning through the material. Finally making it to Holbert, Shawn did all he could do as his body grew weak from smoke inhalation. Tugging the man’s feet, he managed to slide him out from the plane’s belly and into safety outside.

  Holbert was sputtering and covered in soot, but he was alive.

  Shawn looked down at his own hands. The flannel jacket was now black and covered in large singed holes. His body hurt like hell. In the distance, he heard the wail of sirens. Relief sifted through him until he took a deep breath and a sharp pain splintered through his chest. The light faded into darkness as he crashed to the cold ground.

  “Shawn…Shawn…” Was he only imagining Jasmine’s voice? He wasn’t sure…

  Damn blackness blanketed him. He fought, but he knew he was losing. He drifted into sleep…

  Chapter 19

  There were moments in life one could never forget, no matter how many came and went. This was one of those times for Jasmine.

  No words could describe the frustration and sadness of sitting in the hospital lobby waiting for someone to tell her whether Shawn was okay or not. If she hadn’t been asleep when they’d pulled into the hangar, she’d have been in the explosion too. The loud boom had awakened her. At first, she thought she’d been dreaming but she saw the smoke billowing out of the seams of the metal building. She’d thought Shawn was dead until he’d emerged from the black cloud. She’d hurried to be near him, but not before he’d collapsed onto the ground. The sirens had wailed their arrival as she’d held Shawn’s head in her arms. She’d watched in horror as paramedics worked on him. She couldn’t lose him, not when she’d finally found him and the love she’d always wanted. The next few hours had passed in a blur of ambulance, firefighters, doctors, nurses… Her mind was in turmoil. She had to be strong. For Shawn. For the baby.

  Several of Shawn’s men lingered in the lobby and down the hallway

  Staring at all the unrecognizable faces surrounding her, it became a blur. They thought he was Shane. His secret was still safe. Some were sitting around solemnly and others were drinking coffee and talking softly. She’d learned from one of the conversations that Holbert was alive but in serious condition.

  Where was the doctor with news on Shawn? She’d never felt more helpless. Her hand naturally fell to her baby bump…her baby with Shane–not the man lying down the hospital corridor.

  The baby felt more like Shawn’s. If only…

  Her baby deserved to know Shawn. He had to survive.

  Shane’s name was mentioned among a group of men standing next to her. One of the men said, “Conner was in his office and apparently heard the explosion. He reached into the fire and pulled Holbert to safety.”

  Another piped in, “If it wasn’t for Conner, Holbert would be dead.”

  She swallowed with difficulty. These men believed Shane had saved Holbert’s life, but Shawn was the hero. She wanted to scream in his defense. Shawn had stuck his neck out to find out why his brother’s plane went down.

  “Excuse me.” A soft voice drew her attention upward.

  Jasmine looked up into the blue eyes of a pretty nurse. She stood over Jasmine with a kind smile.

  “Yes?” Jasmine stood up in anticipation.

  “Are you Jasmine Sinclaire?”

  “Yes.” She wrung her hands together, anticipation clawing its way up her stiff spine.

  “Sergeant Conner is asking to see you.” Her smile grew wider.

  “Is…he’s okay?”

  The nurse nodded and tendrils of blond curls bounced around her cheeks. “He’ll be spending the night for observation, but he’ll be fine.”

  Jasmine followed the nurse. The walk down the hall seemed to be the longest of her life. They finally stopped at the last door on the left. “Here he is. If you need anything, please let one of us know.”

  Jasmine feared what she’d see when she looked inside the room. He was sitting up in the bed and when she entered, he pulled off his oxygen mask and watched her. Not what she’d expected. Tired looking, he still managed to be the best thing her eyes had seen. His right hand was bandaged in white gauze. Three fingers on the left hand were bandaged. “You were burnt.”

  He glanced down at the wounds and didn’t seem concerned. “I’m good. Have you heard anything about Holbert?”

  “He’s in serious condition. Your men are waiting outside for word on you.”

  His face went grim.

  Staring down at him, she wondered how he could be alive and in one piece? His survival was a gift. Beyond the obvious visible wounds, he seemed different. He lowered his gaze to the thin hose of the IV, as if it were chains biding him to the bed. A man like Shawn, who seemed to always be in control, didn’t appreciate being tethered by tubing.

  “What happened, Shawn? I know some…but not all.” She saw his hesitation. “If you don’t want to talk about it–”

  “I heard an explosion. I knew Holbert was still in the building.” He tugged at the hospital gown with the impatience of a toddler. “He was underneath the plane. I found him engulfed in flames. Everything is a blur after that.”

  “You saved his life.” She touched his arm and felt his muscle clench.

  “I did what I had to do,” he answered.

  “You did what you had to do, but you also went above and beyond what most people would.”

  “Not a soldier. A soldier always goes above and beyond.”

  Shawn would never accept that he was a hero. She backed off. “He’ll be fine. Holbert is a strong man with the will to live. Otherwise he wouldn’t have survived the fire.”

  He nodded. “I just want to get the hell out of this place. I hate hospitals.”

  “Uhh…has the doctor spoken to you yet?”

  “I just woke up before you came back here. The nurse said they gave me a sedative through my IV while they worked on my hands.”

  “Maybe I can search for the doctor and we can figure out how serious your burns are.” She didn’t want to inform him that she’d heard he had to spend the night.

  “Hell, I’ve been hurt worse in the field and had to continue on. These are superficial.” He held up his hands and turned them. “They’ll heal in no time.”

  “I’m glad you’re so positive. That will help in the recovery time. I’ll go get the doc.” Jasmine left the room and stopped at the nurse’s station.

  A nurse popped up from behind the counter. “Can I help you?”

  “Will the doctor be in this evening to speak with Sergeant Conner about his wounds?”

  “Hi, I’m Sergeant Conner’s doct
or.” A gray haired, grim-jawed man held out his hand. “I’m Doctor Callahan. I was just heading in there.” The man wore a tough-all-over expression. This would be interesting. She knew Shawn would give an argument over staying the night, but she had a feeling the doctor wouldn’t be persuaded.

  A few minutes later, Doctor Callahan told Shawn the news about his overnight stay.

  “What?” Shawn’s mouth parted in shock.

  “I’ll sign release papers tomorrow if the burns show no sign of infection.” Doctor Callahan didn’t even look up from his chart as he jotted something in his notes. “After that you’ll need to use a burn cream three times a day and keep the bandages clean and dry.”

  “What’s the difference if I’m here or home? Those are easy enough instructions.” Shawn’s bottom lip twisted in irritation.

  The doctor lifted his chin, staring through his thin eyelashes. The harsh set of his jaw said he had no patience. Jasmine knew she’d been correct at her first assumption. He wouldn’t take any crap from Shawn. “Sergeant, it’s mandatory with your wounds that you stay for observation. The government wishes to make sure you’re better so that you can serve your country with no long-term damage. You’re property of the government.”

  * * * *

  Shawn huffed loudly. The doctor outranked him. Otherwise, Shawn would have been bitching and hollering a hell of a lot more. He couldn’t think of anything worse than staying overnight in a sanitary room that reeked of death.

  The doctor bid them farewell and Shawn resisted the urge to flip the older man off as he left the room. “Property of the government, my ass. A man should have a choice whether he wishes to stay in the hospital or not.”

  “The best thing for you now is to be here until tomorrow. Things could be worse,” Jasmine said from the chair by the window.

  “Yeah? How so?” He realized his tone was a bit harsh, but he had a lot to take care of that he couldn’t do from a hospital bed.

  “Look, you have a nice view.” She nodded in the direction of the large window. “And you have a private room.”

  He snuffed. “It’s dark. The scenery is screwed until the sun comes up. I’ve had the pleasure of sharing my room with farting, burping, piss-on-the-floor, wake up with a morning woody company most of my military career. I won’t even mention showering. So, privacy means nothing to me unless you’re talking concealed files with my personal information.”

  She couldn’t have looked more flabbergasted if he’d recited the Pledge of Allegiance backward.

  “Too much information?” he asked.

  “A bit.” She sighed, then got up and came around the side of the bed. He knew that expression and the hands on hips told him she was about to give him a lecture. “Your negativity is giving me a headache. I understand you don’t like to be confined to a hospital room, but let’s face it, you’re hurt. So since you’re here for a short time, relax and grin and bear it. Can I get you anything? Coffee? Tea? Something to eat?”

  “There’s only one way I could see getting any pleasure from this.”

  Her brow lifted. “What’s that?”

  He flashed her a crafty grin. “How about sliding up here in bed with me, and let’s find out if the goods still work.”

  Her eyes narrowed. “Did you get burned, uhh, down there?” Her gaze traveled to the area where the blanket tented.

  He laughed. “No, not one scratch.”

  “Then why wouldn’t it work? Is it from the trauma?”

  If his hands didn’t hurt like hell and he didn’t think she’d slap his face off his skull, he’d already have grabbed her and brought her sexy body down on him to show her he was a man who always functioned under any stress. “I think all is well.” He pointed to the obvious bulge below his waist.

  Pink color highlighted her cheeks. “You’re the only man I know that would have sex on the brain mere hours after almost losing his life.”

  “Does that mean you’ll consider crawling into this cold bed and keep me warm?”

  Her mouth slanted in surprise. He thought she was the prettiest woman he’d ever laid eyes on.

  “Shawn Conner, if you’re cold I’ll get you another blanket.” She wagged her finger at him.

  I’ll let you off the hook. I am in a little bit of pain.”

  “I’ll have the nurse bring in pain killers.”

  “Screw that, Jasmine. I can manage.”

  She flicked a look of exasperation his direction. He could tell she was ready to unleash another speech when a rap came on the door. His gaze beelined to the door. “Colonel Randolph? Do I need to get up and salute you sir?” Shawn asked, partly teasing.

  Randolph motioned for him to remain in the bed. “I’ll forgive you this time.” They’d been friends for years, so there was no necessity for professional regards.

  “Looks like I won’t be playing a game of golf too soon, Randolph.” Shawn held up both hands and proudly showed off his wounds.

  “That’s okay, Conner. There’s plenty of time for me to beat you in the future.” Randolph winked and stepped closer to the bed. He noticed Jasmine then, and offered a hand in greeting. “I’m Danny Randolph.”

  Jasmine smiled and they shook hands. “I’m Jasmine. Nice to meet you.”

  Shawn liked Jasmine meeting his friends.

  “Conner, I stopped by to assess Holbert’s and your condition. Doctor Callahan tells me you’ll be fine, but you’ll have no use of your hands for several months.”

  Shawn sniffed in irritation. “You know me. I’ll be back in action in no time.”

  “I’m sure you will.” Randolph darted a quick glance around the room as if he looked for a reason to hesitate. “We’ll get your paperwork in and you’ll be contacted later on this week by administration. Sit tight until then. Got it, Conner?”

  “I’d like to speak freely here, sir,” Shawn said.

  Randolph nodded.

  “I’m working on the details of my brother’s death. I feel we are close to understanding why–”

  Randolph shook his head. Sincerity filled his brown eyes. “I know you got it bad to solve this case, son, but you need your rest. I think now is the time to let it go.”

  Shawn swallowed a four letter word that’d end him up in devil’s shit, friend or not. He wasn’t happy in the slightest to be off work with a disability for several months. He’d be dammed if he’d let this take him out. It was best to change the discussion. “How is Holbert? Any new news, Colonel?”

  The Colonel’s bravery was as evident in the row of medals on his chest as it was in his stern expression. “He’s in serious condition. No changes. Doc said he needs to get through the night and then we’ll know more.”

  “Have they inspected the accident yet?”

  Randolph sighed. “We’ve got the men over there taking a look at the remains of the plane, but I don’t have any reports yet. Looks like a fuel line blew up.”

  Shawn glanced toward Jasmine. She was standing to the side, not saying a word.

  “Well, I better let you go, Conner.” He patted Shawn on the knee. “Rest up and get those hands back in order so I can beat you at the Airman’s Annual Charity Tee-off.”

  “Yeah, yeah.” Shawn grinned. Golf was the only thing Shawn had ever lost at. If he could talk the Colonel into a game of baseball or basketball, Shawn would wipe the scoreboard.

  When the Colonel was gone, Jasmine stroked him with a curious gaze. “Golf?”

  Shawn laughed. “I hate the game.”

  “Then why do you play?”

  “Do you think getting ahead is all about fighting wars and flying jets? There is a certain amount of elbow-rubbing a man is expected to do to climb the proverbial ladder to the top.”

  “Is that along the lines of kissing ass to get ahead?”

  He rolled his eyes. “It’s not asskissing…well, not literally.” He noticed the worried line and darkness round her eyes. “You should go home and get some rest.”

  She glanced at the clock on the wa
ll. “In a few hours.”

  “You should go home. I’ll send my buddy Pete to make sure you’re safe.” That is, if he could get in touch with the man.

  A stubborn expression marred her delicate features. “I’m staying. So, the Colonel knows that you’re not Shane?”

  Shawn nodded. “He is the one who has made me capable of doing this. He was a good friend to Shane also. Maybe you’ll rethink sharing my bed.”

  “After they shoot you with a shot of morphine for the pain, the only bed warming you’re going to want is the one in your dreams.”

  He couldn’t argue that. The soreness and pain weren’t subsiding. A shot of painkiller was sounding better by the second. Screw pride.

  Chapter 20

  Jasmine hated leaving Shawn at the hospital, but she was wiped out. After getting his shot, he’d be out for awhile, enough time for her to get some sleep. She pulled his Jeep into the driveway at home and pushed it into park. The house was dark when she entered and she didn’t bother turning on the light.

  Slipping off her flats, she walked down the hallway and into her bedroom. A thudding sound made her stop. She peeked around the corner. Her breath caught when she saw a man on his knees ripping through the boxes in her closet. She jerked back as her mind raced and her heartbeat bounced with fear. What should she do? What did he want?

  She needed to call the police.

  Her purse was on the kitchen table with her phone inside.

  Not any help at the moment.

  Her next best plan was to get out of the house.

  Jasmine held her breath as she took a step backward. She paused…nothing. Another step. The stranger was still digging through the closet. Braver, she turned and bumped the side table with her hip. The bedroom became silent. Her chest burned as she still held her breath. She waited, seconds passing like days. A thought fired through her: He realized he wasn’t alone and she had one choice…

  Jasmine darted down the hall, but the thundering of the stranger’s steps was loud in her ears. She made it to the living room with hand on door when the grip fell to her shoulder, pulling her back with such force that she was sent to her back onto the cool wood flooring.