Houston: Robinson Destruction – Paranormal Tiger Shifter Romance

by Kathi S. Barton

  I can see the chopper. The place looks like it’s been abandoned for some time now. Are you sure this is a friendly place?

  Rogen said it was, and then asked her to hold on. You should be able to see a white flag in the window. That would be Richard. He can’t come out of the building. I did ask him about the chopper, and he said he’s been working on it for the last two months off and on. Right now, he’s hoping it will get you to the school. Tru asked her if she was serious. Yes. I’m sorry. This wasn’t supposed to go down this way.

  Well, I fucking hope not.

  Moving slowly toward the building, Tru knew enough to not trust anyone, not even someone that was supposed to be on her side. As soon as she got into the building, she was blown away by the smells. Looking at the man slumped in the chair, she slowly made her way to him, speaking to him in English. “My name is Tru Robinson. I’m here to help you get back to the States.”

  “I’m awake. But it’ll be a waste of your time to help me. I’m gone.” She told him to let her be the judge of that. “You know, I thought for sure someone would have come along before now. I’m guessing no one reported me missing until just recently.”

  “That’s what I heard. The others, the doctors, they’re all dead.” He smiled at her as she slipped him to the floor. The wound in his leg was festered and seeping. “I’m going to have to remove that. You’re aware of that, aren’t you?”

  “You do what you have to do to get me home to see my daughter. She’ll be one soon, and I want to see her.” Tru told him not to give up on her just yet. “There is a kit over there from the ambulance that stopped by here about a week ago. I took what I could before they deemed this place not worth staying in. I tried to get myself fixed up, but by then, I was just too weak to care. Nor did I have the strength to remove my leg.”

  She pulled the box of medical supplies to her and saw it contained a good bunch of things she could use. The only thing it didn’t have was something to knock him out. Tru told him what was going on with each thing she readied to help him.

  “You have anything around here? Drugs? Something that resembles alcohol?” He said he’d been drinking it since he’d been notified by Agent 0023. “Good. You keep drinking, and I’ll work until I can’t do anymore except cut into you. All right?”

  “Sure.” He took another drink when she sat him up on the bunch of rags she used as a pillow. Starting an IV—just for the fluids, she told him—was harder than she’d had to do before. “I’m dehydrated and starved. I’ve been eating greens until I thought they were killing me too. So that’s the difficulty. You’re doing good so far.”

  After the second or third scream, Richard was out. She worked quickly then, knowing she was going to have to not only carry him to the chopper but to get them home as quickly as possible. There wasn’t enough clean water here for her to clean the wound as well as she wanted. Not to mention, all she had in the way of fluids for him was sugar water.

  It took her nearly until dark before she was able to get him on the chopper. She was almost too exhausted to go on when she heard gunshots about three miles away. Getting into the big machine, she was ready to go when she heard from Dawson.

  I’m going to meet you at the airport when you land where they’re heading you toward. She asked him if he had that much faith in her making it that far. I do. There isn’t any medical team around that can help you at the school. Rogen said to tell you that you should wait until morning to leave.

  If I do, then we’ll both be dead. There aren’t enough medical supplies left to fix dead for the two of us. Dawson laughed, which was what she needed him to do. Dawson, after the school—where am I going from there? If at all possible, I’d like to get him as far as I can in this thing before we have to move him again. Right now, I’d say his chances are about fifty-fifty of making it. They’ll lessen each time we have to move him.

  When he didn’t say anything, she started the chopper up and checked everything out. It was a rumbled mess, she thought, noisy enough to wake the dead, but it lifted up and rose to the sky quickly enough. She could see the men in uniforms moving toward the little shack she’d been in with Richard.

  I’ve done some looking around, and there is a place for you to land about one hundred miles from where you are. Head south, and you should be able to find it. After that, I can get you back here in the next two days. Do you have enough fuel? Rogen sounded excited, which caused the same feeling for Tru. Tru, I’m not notifying anyone in his family until we get him home.

  Good idea. I have a full tank, as I was told, and I should be able to make it the one hundred miles, barring no trouble in the fuel lines or tank leaks. She looked at her watch and discovered that at some point, it had been broken. I should be able to be there in about two hours, give or take. That should give you what—about an hour to get a medical team there? I hope so. We’re both running on empty here.

  They’ll be there. You’re not landing on land, but an aircraft carrier. Have you ever landed on one of those? She told her she’d not had the pleasure. Let me make a couple of calls, and I’ll have someone guide you through it. All right. Just get there, and you’ll be home free.

  Pulling on her headset about forty-five minutes later, Rogen telling her that a call was coming in, Tru saw the aircraft carrier just as he began to speak to her. His voice was clear and calm, just what she needed on this landing. He kept telling her to remember, no one does this on the first go round.

  “You have plenty of gas and time. If you need to lift off and try it again, that’s fine. Just remember, you and the landing area are both moving. Once you hit the ship, I need you to keep the chopper running until you’re locked down. All right?” She told him she could do that. To have the medical team ready. “They’re right here ready to jump into action. We were told in no uncertain terms not to allow you to blow us off in making sure you were all right too.”

  “Him first. He’s got himself a baby at home, and I want to make sure he can walk her down the aisle when she’s old enough to marry.” The man laughed and told her that was going to be fine with him, so long as she cooperated with the team as well. “I’m not going to promise you anything, sir. I’m known to be pretty stubborn.”

  “So I’ve heard.”

  She landed on the first try. It felt so good that Tru nearly forgot to keep the thing running until they had her attached to the ship. Almost as soon as the man told the others they were a go, it looked to her like several hundred people converged on the chopper.

  Tru watched as they took Richard out on the gurney she’d strapped him into. They gave her a thumbs up when she asked if he was still alive. After that, she didn’t remember much more, as they were working on her too.

  “The leg wound isn’t going to cause you any trouble, but the one on your shoulder needs to be operated on.” She looked where the medic was pointing as she was brought onto the ship. “You’re going to be out for a while, Agent 1748. Good night.”

  ~~~

  Houston walked around the gallery and thought about Tru. She wasn’t here with him today, but she had been put into the hotel he was going to be staying in for a few days. Her leg was coming along nicely, her shoulder as well. The damage to both hadn’t been nearly as bad as anyone thought it would have been.

  Did you know you can have room service come right into the room and set your food up for you? While you’re in bed? Houston told Tru he thought that was because they’d been told to pamper her. Oh. I thought it was something they did all the time. I’m having a light lunch. Are you about finished looking around there? Take your time. After I’m finished eating, I’m having an exciting conversation with the president. Why, you ask? Because he’s a pain in the ass.

  He might be at that, but I do believe he wants to thank you for bringing Richard home to his family. Did you know who he was when you helped him? She said she didn’t know who she was when she found him, she’d b
een in so much pain. I can understand that too. I thought you told me you’d not be hurt.

  I did, didn’t I? Perhaps we can think of some way that doesn’t involve pain to punish me. Like, you could massage more of that cream onto my ankle. She’d not only been shot twice and carried on with saving a man’s life, but she’d also sprained her ankle and wrist at some point in coming back to him. I’m still pissed about my watch. That was by far, my favorite watch. It would set itself by my location. I don’t think I have ever seen one like that before, nor since I bought it.

  We’ll have to find you one. Houston paused in front of the last piece that had been added to his gallery showing. I’m glad you talked me into putting my newest design in the front of the gallery. It shows well here. And the gallery owner has put in special lighting to make sure it almost looks like it would in the sunlight. I’ll take you a picture and send it to you.

  Good. I was going to ask you for one. I think it’ll be the talk of the gallery. Did he put a price tag on it for you? I know you were waffling around about how much to put on it. Houston told her he had and what the amount was. I don’t think one point four million is enough. I would gladly pay one point five for it. She started to giggle.

  If you were here with me, I’d let you stand in front of it, so no one touches it. Even though there are signs everywhere telling people not to touch the work, they forever do. I wish you could be here with me tonight. Tru told him she wished she could be as well. Here comes Abby. I have to see what she needs now. I know she wants things to be perfect, but I can’t get her to understand that I think it is already. She wants to tweak things a great deal.

  After dealing with the minor detail Abby wanted to clear up, Houston took a walk outside to sit on the bench out front. He raised his face to the sun and thought about the last few days. He’d not almost lost her—he had to keep telling himself that—but to him, it had felt like that every time he saw the man that had stood in front of her at the encampment she’d been working at. His head had simply disappeared. Then, when it was apparent she was going to have to walk a long distance, as well as get herself and another man out of the country with a busted up helicopter, he’d had to leave the building and go on a long run to try and get rid of the terror he was feeling. He didn’t think he was ever going to be able to run fast enough or far enough to not think about losing her.

  The word had come in that she’d gotten them to the carrier in one piece. Tru was able to speak to him via phone, and that made him feel a great deal better. Just hearing her voice like that had taken a great deal of weight off his shoulders.

  As he was leaning back on the bench, someone sat down beside him. Not bothering to look to see who it was, he continued to enjoy the sunlight and warmth on his face. There were only a few things right now that he wanted to share, and the sunshine just happened to be one of them. Today, anyway.

  “I’ve come all this way to see you, and all you can do is ignore me?” He opened one eye to look at his father. “How you doing, son? Your mom, Trudy, and Blake have gone to the hotel to see Tru. I thought I’d come here while they get it in their head that she is doing just fine. I knew she’d be all right.”

  “The president is going to call her soon. I don’t suppose you know what that is about, do you?” Dad said he did. “Can you tell me? I won’t tell Tru. Whatever is going on, she’s more annoyed about someone making a big deal out of what she did rather than her wanting to be congratulated.”

  “I’m thinking she’s not going to be liking this part. He’s inviting her and you to the White House for a private ceremony. Me and your momma and her parents have been invited too. No press, because of the secrecy of what she does for a living, but it’ll be nice to have someone notice she’s done something extraordinary.” Houston told him she’d hate every minute of it. “Yes sir, that’s what I said when I heard about it too. That she wouldn’t be happy with fuss being made over her doing her job. But I will tell you, I’m as proud of her as if she was my own daughter. She not only saved that man, but she also was able to break up a bunch of fools robbing from the sick. Then to travel all the way to the carrier and land that rickety old chopper right there like she’d done it a hundred times.”

  Houston smiled. “The captain of the ship told me he’d never seen anything like it. She just plopped it down on there like you said like she’d done it a hundred times.” Houston thought of what else he’d been told. “He told me she wouldn’t allow anyone to take the president’s brother to surgery until he was able to talk to his wife and tell her he was coming home. Captain Swank said there was not a dry eye in the room as he told his wife how much he loved her.”

  “I heard that too. I’m so happy she found us, I surely am.” Houston told his dad he was as well. “I bet you are. This thing tonight, it’s going to be the pre-showing or the show? I’ve never been to one of these in all the years you been doing them. Never would have known about this one but for that girl of yours. Why didn’t you see fit to tell us about them?”

  “Honestly, Dad, I don’t know why I never thought to invite you. However, you never asked either.” Dad said that was right enough. “Usually, I’d be so busy working right up until the deadline, then I’d be too embarrassed to tell you about it. I’d usually think about it a day or two beforehand. The embarrassment part was because I never knew how the show was going to be. I didn’t want to disappoint anyone.”

  Dad smacked him on the leg and told him to behave. “I ain’t never been embarrassed by any of you boys. Not once.” Dad leaned back against the bench as Houston was. “You set up them dates from now on, and you let me know. I’ll mark the calendar and your momma and me, we’ll be there. No matter where you happen to be.”

  They sat there in the quiet of the afternoon and didn’t say much to each other. When Dad asked him if he’d had lunch, they decided to go uptown and have themselves some seafood. Where else, Dad said, would a person get fine seafood except Florida? Houston agreed.

  They ordered and then had to have the waitress hold onto it for a little bit. Mom was bringing the Justices with her, including the boys. Houston loved those boys and would be glad when the trial and everything else was finished so they could all move on. By the time they returned, the pretrial would happen, and they’d wait around for the trial, Houston guessed.

  You’re not going to believe this shit. He laughed when Tru spoke to him just as he finished ordering some appetizers for the table before the rest got there. That moron wants to promote me. And give me a fat raise. We never did talk about money, did we?

  No, we didn’t. I didn’t hear back from that financial planner either, come to think of it. What will your promotion be? She told him what it would entail, as well as the perks she’d be getting. That sounds wonderful. I’m sure you’re going to be good at it.

  I’m not sure. He asked her what she meant as Mom, and the others joined them. I was so afraid I really was going to be killed there. I don’t think I want to think along those lines anymore. I didn’t want to hurt you that way.

  That was an unusual circumstance. Or at least that was what he’d been told when he’d been taken to the carrier to be with Tru when she woke up. I keep having to tell myself that. That it wasn’t your ordinary job.

  It really wasn’t the norm for me. I promise you that. But I’ve never been so afraid before. I don’t like that feeling. He told her he didn’t either, and that he loved her. I love you so very much too. I have the next three months off—with pay, I was told. And there is this stupid dinner thing we’re required to go to. It has to be hush hush, but it’ll be kinda fun to get all dressed up. As dressed up as I can be with this thing on my leg and my shoulder.

  You’re in one piece. That’s all I care about. He smiled at Mom when she asked him if he was talking to Tru. Nodding, he laughed when Mom told him she was cranky. What did you say to my mom? She told me you were cranky.

  She was fussing ove
r me like a mother hen. It was all right for about a minute and a half, but after that, my mom wanted to fuss. I don’t do fussing well. He laughed and told Mom and Trudy that. I have to tell you something very important, Houston. Are you ready to hear it?

  I am. What is it? She said she loved him. I love you too, babe. That is important, but I don’t think that is what you wanted to tell me, is it?

  No. Not really. I think when you get home tonight, or at least to this hotel, we need to have a long conversation about things. Not just my job and money, but children and what we want out of life. He told her he had everything he needed with her. Sap. Yes, I’m sure you think so, but we do want to have children, right? Not yet. I don’t think I want to try and get pregnant banged up like this. But sooner than I was thinking before. Is that all right with you?

  Very much so. I’d love that. She warned him not to tell anyone. I won’t. I promise you. It’s something we can hold to ourselves for a little while. Don’t you think?

  Yes. I do at that. He could feel her exhaustion and knew even though she had a nurse and everything a doctor would need to keep her well, she would tire easily. You should nap, honey. That way, when I get back there, we can order some food and talk. Okay?

  I am very tired. Promise to wake me when you come in. I know Charlie is with you—the stupid dog has no loyalty at all, does he? I don’t know that I’ll sleep that long, but I’m hurting a bit too. I’m going to take some pain medication. He had to remind himself that she’d been hurt only four days ago. Houston told her he promised he’d wake her. I love you so very much, Houston Robinson.

  And I dearly love you, Tru Robinson. He could feel her slowly resting, her body and mind slowing down to quietness.

  Remember to take a picture of the placement of your art. I want to see where it is. He told her he would. Also, a picture of the person that buys it tonight. I want to see their face when they realize they get to take it home with them.

  Then she was asleep. He could tell she’d been putting off her pain meds to talk to him and the president, and was glad she’d finally taken them. Houston did love her, and was ever so happy she was his.