Callen knew the horrible truth. He was forgetting the man that raised him, and he didn’t know how to make that stop.
Elizabeth led him to their bedroom, and they sat on the end of the bed together. She held his hand in hers, and lovingly ran her fingers over his knuckles. “Talk to me, my love,” she spoke, softly.
Callen cherished when she called him that. It wasn’t often, but when she believed his heart needed it. Now was the perfect example. “I feel guilty.”
Waiting for more, she let him set the pace. Elizabeth knew he’d get it all off his chest. “About what?”
“Yesterday I didn’t think about him once.”
Now she understood. “It’s the process, Callen. As time goes on, wounds heal and the living forge ahead.”
He stared down at her fingers, as they now started tracing the healed burn marks on his arm. They were a consolation prize from one of his mother’s boyfriends when he was a child. Timothy healed them and his heart, and now he was forgetting him.
“I don’t want to forget him, Lyzee. How do I keep that from happening?”
It was time to bare her soul. “I don’t think about my mother and father much anymore. I used to think about her a lot, but mostly what I saw in the accident. She didn’t look like herself, Callen. My mom was a beautiful woman, but the accident ruined her.”
He heard the pain. “You don’t need to do this.”
She shook her head. Before they became lovers, he was her best friend and carried her secrets. “I’ve never discussed this with anyone. I always just told my father and anyone that asked that I didn’t remember.”
He kissed her cheek, touched that she picked him to know what lived inside her. It’s just how it was with Elizabeth. They were connected on a special level.
“I remember it all, Cal. The smell of accident, the sounds and the smell of copper pennies filled the air. Even then it overwhelmed me, and I understood what it all meant. I was in the back seat on the passenger side and untouched. I had a few cuts from flying glass, but that’s it,” she paused, taking a breath. “But my mom wasn’t as lucky. The truck that hit us slammed right into the door and she was destroyed.” It was the only word she could think of to describe the vileness of the accident, and it still caught in her throat. “Her head was turned towards me, and she stared like a broken doll. Everything was gone in that instant. I didn’t even get to say goodbye,” she whispered. “For so many years, I wished she lived ten seconds, so I could tell her I was sorry I was a brat, and that I loved her.”
His heart ached for her. “Angel, I’m so sorry.”
“I sat there, strapped into the seat. I was screaming over and over again to her, begging her not to go. But it was too late. I remember it all. The police were opening my door, and this really nice man picked me up to get me away from my mom. He held me so tight while I screamed for her.” The tears began falling, and yet she continued. “Then my dad arrived. He worked for the Capital police and was on duty. I’d never seen him cry before, but he sobbed trying to get into that car to her. They held him back and told him he didn’t want to see her, but I had.”
“I’m sorry, Lyzee.”
She wiped the tears with the back of her hand. “At her funeral it was a closed casket, but I promised her I’d never forget her. Then the years passed. I never went back to see her grave, or talk to her, until I had to bury and exhume my dad. It heals over for a reason, Callen. Not because you don’t love them anymore, but because your heart forgets the pain so we can go on. I wouldn’t have moved on for twenty five years if I saw my mother die over and over again. Pain heals, but love endures. What you have for Timothy isn't forgotten. It just moved from here,” she touched his head, “to here,” and finally placed her hand over his heart. “You didn’t forget him, you just moved him to the place he’ll live as long as you do.”
Callen pulled her against his side, and they laid back on the bed. Almost instinctually she curled against him and the contact gave him reassurance. “I love you.”
Elizabeth ran her hand over his abs, stroking the fox tattoo hidden beneath his clothes. “I love you too.”
“Thank you for healing me. I’d be lost without you, Lyzee. You ground me and pull me back in when I feel like I’m floating away aimlessly.”
“I’ll always be here for you, Callen. You’re more than just a man that I share my bed with. You’re my love.”
The ache dissipated, but then he always knew it would, when she was near. “I’ll go tomorrow.”
Elizabeth moved to stare down into his chocolate brown eyes. “I didn’t tell you this to make you go. If you can’t do it, then stay home.”
“I can do it, because I have an amazing woman in my life to hold me up and keep me strong.”
“Want to go down and have breakfast now?” she inquired, dropping light kisses across his cheeks and finally finding his lips. That kiss was meant to heal, and she put her entire heart into it to show him how much love lived in her for him.
Callen could feel his entire body waking up as she kissed him. Breaking away, his heart was pounding in his chest. “I can’t wait until tonight, when we open presents.”
Elizabeth pulled him to his feet. “Me either, I think I may have wrapped up the best gift for both of you,” she said, laughing. It was doubtful they’d beat the magnitude of this one. Now she only hoped it didn’t rock the boat. “I’m starving,” she said, winking. “I can’t wait to try your French toast.”
Whitefox laughed. “You must seriously be in love with me if that’s the highlight of your morning.”
She giggled. “I am indeed smitten, Cal.”
Now he laughed at the use of the word. “Yeah, so am I.”
* * *
Special Agent Victoria Christensen hated one thing in life; being late. It was her pet peeve, and as hard as she tried, she couldn’t get Julian to haul ass to FBI West. He actually suggested stopping for coffee and a bite to eat. It must be his carefully constructed plan to make her insane. That’s the only thing she could think of as the answer, because he was driving her nutty.
After making love in the shower and confessing the secret Elizabeth shared with her, he took his time dressing. It made her want to scream. The man had no sense of time. Even with her prodding him to hurry up, he still moved like a tortoise.
The ride back to her house had been a slow one too. The man drove like an eighty year old man. As she repeatedly offered to drive, he simply laughed at her and patted her on the knee. It was beyond infuriating. Once he pulled into her driveway, she jumped out before the car was in park and raced towards the house and her waiting closet. Now, she needed to be dressed in less than five minutes and out the door.
As soon as she was finished, she searched for Julian and found him in the guest bathroom, a razor in his hand. It astounded her that he couldn’t go one day without shaving. When she protested, he simply kissed her long and slow, getting shaving cream all over her face.
The man was infuriating as hell and oh so sexy. Tori was being driven to madness and sinking deeper into an emotion, she had no inclination to dwell on either. Everything he did drew her focus, and caught her completely off guard.
The man was making her fall in love.
As hard as she fought, she could feel the bindings holding her heart closed, slowly being cut away. Once again she found herself laughing, living and… loving.
Damn him!
Tori was so screwed it wasn’t funny. What the hell was she supposed to do with this outrageously sexy Native man that made her crazy? When she looked over at him, he smiled and winked at her and her body began to overheat.
All Tori could hope was she managed to beat Elizabeth into the office, and she’d have time to grab some coffee. Oh yeah, and pray to God above that Julian kept his mouth shut about her pregnancy.
If he didn’t, she was going to skin his sexy Native hide- with a dull knife no less.
By the time they managed to finally arrive at FBI West, Ginny was alre
ady at her desk, flipping through a stack of Christmas cards that needed to be handed out. “Ginny, are the directors in yet?” she asked quietly.
“Yes, they arrived fifteen minutes ago. Right now they’re in Mr. B’s office and waiting on Detective Austin to arrive. Mrs. B said to send you right in when you got here.”
Tori gave Julian a dirty look, which only made him laugh. “We’re going to grab some coffee.”
Ginny grinned, winking at the man. “Hi Mr. Littlemoon. It’s really nice seeing you again,” she flirted, outrageously.
Julian had been aptly warned by Callen about the administrative assistant barracuda. “Nice seeing you again too, Ginny. You’re always so happy and pleasant in the morning. You should share your secret with some people.” Julian winked back and earned another dirty look from Tori. At least now she was reacting to him and not staring blankly at him. It was progress, and he was a patient man. Tori was definitely worth the effort.
“Come on, let’s get coffee,” she muttered, practically stomping away.
Julian simply laughed and followed her. You’d think with the amount of sex they’d had last night and this morning she’d be in a much better mood. Apparently not.
When she handed him a coffee, he dropped a kiss on her lips. The horrified look on her face was priceless.
“Oh Christ Almighty,” she whispered, appalled. “You can’t do that ever again!”
He kept laughing, as they walked towards Ethan’s office. “I’m never allowed to kiss you again? Ever?”
“You know what I meant Julian Littlemoon! If I knew your damn middle name I’d use that too!”
“Trenton.”
“What?” she stated, caught completely off guard.
He shook his head. “My middle name is Trenton. What’s yours?”
She looked at him like he suddenly grew three heads. “Seriously? Before going into my boss’s office you kiss me and ask my middle name?”
He simply waited.
She sighed exasperated. “Rose.”
Julian smiled and kissed her again, just because keeping her off balance meant keeping her focused on him. If she was flustered then Victoria wasn’t trying to run from what he was tenuously building from nothing.
“Wait until later,” she hissed, knocking on Ethan Blackhawk’s door.
Julian was supremely happy that she acknowledged there’d be a later, because tonight he was going to find out what was chasing her. Oh yeah, and all about the man she was once going to marry. Julian’s new goal was to make her forget Quinn Laramie and think only about him.
There was only room for one man in her life, alive or dead.
The showdown was coming.
At the knock on his door, Ethan glanced up at the two people waiting to enter. Julian looked calm and relaxed as he always did, but the woman, she looked like she was about to kill him.
Elizabeth immediately started laughing from her spot perched on the corner of his desk. Something had stirred the woman up big time. It was evident to see that she was blushing and flustered. “Morning Tori and Julian,” she grinned.
Julian winked at her. “Morning Elizabeth, how are you today?” he asked, calmly.
“I’m great, but it looks like you have riled up my agent.”
Tori looked more horrified, if that was possible. She took a seat on the couch and prayed for calm.
“I do like a feisty woman.”
Tori began choking on her coffee at his words. She looked at him like he lost his damn mind. She mouthed the words ‘knock it off!’ at him and prayed he’d listen.
“We’re still waiting on Detective Austin and Fire Inspector Wells, and then we can head down to autopsy,” stated Elizabeth. “Did you have a good time last night?” she asked.
Tori stared at her with a look of sheer shock. This was her absolute nightmare.
“Uh Tori, I think she meant the party,” whispered Julian, enjoying the woman’s discomfort. At least now she was feeling. “Not the repeated sex,” he added, softly.
“I did mean the party,” Elizabeth said laughing. “Rarely do I ask about my agents’ sex lives.”
Blackhawk was signing papers and not even looking up, and yet he jumped in seamlessly. “Well, there was that one time, but HR wasn’t happy. Elizabeth has been gag ordered to zip it.”
Tori closed her eyes and started to flush. “This is like the nightmare everyone has where they walk in to take a test in school, and they’re naked,” she muttered.
Now everyone began laughing.
“Today in general is my test and any moment I’m going to discover my clothes are gone.” Then she realized what she just said. “Oh my God! I am so sorry that I said that. It’s from lack of sleep.”
The hole kept getting deeper and the look on Julian’s face more smug. Now they all knew what she spent her night doing. Or in this case, who.
“Tori, relax,” cajoled Ethan. “It’s Christmas Eve and we’re just laid back today. We’re prepping for tomorrow. I hear you and Julian are joining us in the festivities.”
She nodded afraid to open her mouth because what would slip out.
Elizabeth felt bad for the woman. “We’re playing football in the mud and then gorging on food. Just breathe deep and don’t let the Blackhawks get you all riled up. We’re normal people who do normal things. We just happen to be your bosses.”
Tori was about to point out that they could terminate her ass too, but there was a knock on the door and the sound drew everyone’s attention.
“Come in,” stated Ethan, standing to greet the guests. The one he recognized for the party. She was Doctor Leonard’s date. After shaking her hand, he focused on the man he didn’t recognize. “Hello, you must be Inspector Wells. I’m Director Ethan Blackhawk.” He shook the man’s hand.
“Oh, nice to meet you, Director. I was under the impression that she was Director,” he said, pointing at Elizabeth.
Ethan smiled. He was accustomed to the name confusion. “We’re co-directors here at FBI West. Because of the sheer size of the facility, it is easier for two people to run it.”
“Nice to meet you and thank you for letting me part of this investigation.”
Elizabeth remained perched on the corner of Ethan’s desk, observing the detective and inspector. She looked exhausted and the inspector looked over eager. It was going to be an interesting day.
Blackhawk nodded. “Welcome aboard.” Looking over at his brother, he continued the introductions. “If you haven’t met our other director, this is Callen Whitefox.”
They shook hands.
“I didn’t meet you personally, Mr. Whitefox, but you stirred up Detective Leto when you slammed him down on the hood of the car. He’s not a happy camper.”
Callen shrugged. “Then he shouldn’t have put his hands on Director Blackhawk. Once he touched her, he crossed the line.”
Ethan saw red. “I’ve been left out of the loop, I see.” Immediately, he looked at his wife.
Elizabeth explained the situation. “As you can see, it was typical conflict bullshit. Director Whitefox just stepped in to make sure Detective Leto was aware of the boundaries.”
Ethan nodded at his brother. “I hope I get to meet the detective. I’d love to have a discussion regarding the situation.”
Changing the subject seemed like her best avenue, so Elizabeth stood. “I say we get the autopsy part of today finished, and then we can all call it a holiday.” Leading the way out of the room, she paused to offer the inspector and detective coffee. When both declined, they headed to the elevators.
Detective Austin felt like shit. Her head was pounding, and she was still trying to figure out how last night went horribly wrong. Her and Doctor Leonard were having a good time, and then came time to go home. He seemed interested, but then it all fell apart. Cyra was writing it off as the booze and hoped they’d get another chance to get acquainted. This time she swore no drinking.
What she really wanted was to get this day over with and take a
few days off with her family.
The elevator ride down was quiet, but once in the lab, the talking picked up greatly. Patrick Wells walked around looking at all the equipment.
“Wow! The CSI team would be green with envy over this entire lab and all the fancy toys,” he stated, grinning.
“Doctor Leonard and Magnus demand the best,” Elizabeth said. “Something about the best equipment for the best staff.”
Tony Magnus agreed whole heartedly. “We’re gems.”
Elizabeth noticed the second doctor wasn’t participating as he normally would. Generally Chris Leonard was just as silly and antagonistic as Tony. Today he stood quietly, hands in his lab coat pockets and was purposely avoiding eye contact with just about everyone. This didn’t bode well. Something had to have happened last night between the doctor and the detective. Elizabeth nodded at Chris and Tony shrugged.
“Shall we start?” Chris stated. “I’m sure we all have plans for the holidays, and would like to get to them.”
Ethan was surprised at his tone, and glanced over at his wife. She shook her head. “Absolutely, Doctor Leonard. By all means, let’s start the proceedings.”
Chris pulled the sheet off the victim, and pulled on his protective scrubs. After double gloving, he picked up his tools. “Inspector, if you’d like a closer look, feel free to come stand beside the table. She won’t bite.”
It wasn’t lost on Elizabeth that the charred remains looked nothing like a human shape from the hips up. They were grotesquely distorted in shape and the room held the scent of cooked flesh. Instantly, the bile rose in her throat, and she felt the need to vomit. Praying for divine intervention, she swallowed the nauseous feeling and persevered.
“We’ve done the x-rays already,” stated Chris. “This woman fought hard against extreme violence. It wasn’t an easy death,” he added, as Tony pulled up the x-rays.
“If you look here,” Tony pointed. “Someone pummeled her face. It looks like she was hit repeatedly, one strike broke her nose, then there is severe distress to her maxilla, mental tuberosity, Zygomatic, and mental protuberance.”
Fire Burns Hot ((An FBI/ Romance Thriller~ (Book 5))) Page 26