by Jillian Neal
Garrett smiled. “You deserve for this to work, Dan. You’ve been through hell, and she’s head over heels. I’m not giving up until she meets you at the end of an aisle somewhere.”
Dan was overwhelmed by the thought. His heart flew but then slowed abruptly. His palms began to sweat. He could almost see it, but the picture seemed distorted, like the lens was out of focus.
He had to end Wretchkinsides before he could really have her, before he could really have a life or love that could exist in the daylight instead of inside a tomb. The demons, previously quieted by taking in Adderand, became restless again.
They stayed in the locker room, with nothing to do for a few minutes, when Dan had an idea. “Hey, will you help me with something else?”
“Sure, what?”
Pulling his cell phone from his pocket, Dan began working. Garrett seemed eager to help, and several minutes later Dan popped the lock on Fionna’s locker and extracted her phone from her purse. He felt guilty for doing it.
“She won’t care,” Garrett immediately assured him.
Forcing himself to only find the information he was searching for, Dan couldn’t help but note that she had an interesting looking app for different sex positions to try out. He decided to ask Fionna if he could peruse the phone with her later that night.
“Three minutes,” Garrett chanted as he came back into the locker room, after checking the play clock. “And she’s looking for you.”
Dan had everything he needed. He pushed her phone back into her purse and closed the lock. They moved discreetly back onto the field and leaned against the wall, like that was precisely where they were supposed to be. Confidence would get you everywhere. Iodex officers knew this better than anyone else.
The head of security rushed towards them.
“Everything okay?” he looked panicked.
“One of the lockers looked like it might’ve been tampered with,” Dan did his best to sound concerned, as Garrett tried not to laugh. “We’re gonna stay here, make sure no one comes or goes who isn’t supposed to.”
“Yes, sir,” the security guard agreed. He looked genuinely relieved that Dan was staying, as that meant the buck stopped somewhere that wasn’t on his back.
“They okay to start the next challenge?”
Dan nodded. “Yeah, it’s probably just some overzealous fans. We’ll stay here, make sure everyone’s safe.”
The guard moved back to the clustered hive of security by the door.
“Awesome,” Garrett complimented, making Dan chuckle. “Overzealous fans.”
“Hey, I’m a huge fan,” Dan scoffed. Garrett laughed heartily.
Fionna was thrilled with their location. She seemed to have figured out that, if Dan was in the locker room when she finished, then he could at least tell her how proud he was of her.
The Receivers began lining up, and Dan couldn’t stop smiling. “So, how’d you know that would be on her phone?” Garrett interrupted Dan’s fantasizing.
“I knew because she’s mine and because she’s female. They all have playlists like that on their phones,” Dan was shocked Garrett wasn’t aware of that.
“Yeah, see, I don’t really do the whole romantic night thing. I do more of the why don’t you and your best friend come over to my place and we’ll see how much fun we can have thing.”
Dan shook his head. He appreciated all that Garrett had done for him and Fionna, but he was growing weary of the stories of his conquests.
“If they score in the top three, that’ll put Chloe at a fifty-point advantage for the Captain’s Challenge,” Garrett sang proudly.
Dan managed a nod. He was trying not to stare at Fionna. Her face was flushed from her excitement, and pride danced in her eyes.
The announcers were discussing the upcoming challenge. “Well, she got off to a slow start this morning, folks, but Fionna Styler of the Angels has certainly roared to life. If she continues her streak, she’ll stead the Angels’ Captain, Chloe Sawyer, with a fifty-point lead for the final Captains challenge.”
Reminding himself that he might have the best seat in the house, and be able to celebrate with Fionna once she was back in the locker, but every person in the entire arena could now see him, as well.
The course was revealed. Everyone studied the requirements. A concrete brick containing a gas lantern was on the ground and the Receivers would have to use a corrosive particle to create friction energy on the brick, until they could access the lantern. They had to shatter the lantern and draw both the heat and light from the fire, separate them, and feed them into a thermal box, until they’d raised the temperature by five degrees. They would have to conserve enough energy to also fill a battery, that would be used to lift a door concealing the first, second, and third place cups.
Fionna’s entire face was contorted in deep concentration.
Garrett laughed heartily. “It’s a friction challenge. She might need your help with that,” he laughed at his own joke as he swatted Dan’s shoulder.
“It’s like you’re still sixteen,” Dan tried not to laugh but failed miserably. Fionna shot a sly glance back at Dan and waited on the buzzer.
“You know you’re thinking, I’ve got your friction right here, baby, and if you weren’t, then we need to change your name to ‘Danielle’.”
“Would you shut it?” Dan felt heat gather in his face. The thought had certainly crossed his mind.
Fionna leaned forward at the starting line. Come on, sweetheart. You’ve got this.
The buzzer sounded, and Fionna added her own heat energy to a large block of corrosive sand paper. She began chiseling the brick.
The muscle-bound Receiver from Portland was through the brick in a matter of minutes. He shattered the lantern.
Come on, honey. He’s got you in strength, but that’s it. Dan kept a commentary running in his head.
Fionna broke through the brick next, just seconds ahead of Emily. She shattered the lantern and immediately separated the heat and light.
The Powerhouse player was having trouble capturing and converting both kinds of energy at once. Clenching her jaw tightly and giving it everything she had, Fionna threw both of her hands out. She started the battery with one and forced heat into the thermal box with the other. Dan panicked. Thick, red blood traveled down her forearm. His heart stuttered helplessly. His shield lit but he was able to draw it back with a great deal of force. She’d cut her wrist on the glass from the lantern. The blood separated into multiple, thin streams and gathered in her sleeve.
The battery rose slowly, but the thermometer shot upwards. Emily filled the thermal box first but still needed another degree.
As soon as the thermometer hit 95 degrees, Fionna turned all of her power to the battery. She trembled and tried not to cry.
Dan started to race onto the field. He felt Garrett catch his shoulder.
“No!” he ordered. “You can heal her in the locker room. She’s all right. It’s just a cut.”
Her arm trembled. Her face contorted from the pain as she continued to push heat through her hand that was dripping blood.
“She doesn’t have to do this. She’s hurt,” Dan demanded.
“She’s fine; just chill. People are watching you.”
His entire body tensed painfully, but then he saw the battery charge the door containing the first place cup.
Fionna’s eyes closed and tears fell down her face. She grasped her hand to try to stop the blood as she raced towards the cup.
“Go to the locker room!” Garrett ordered.
“No!” Dan shouted as the crowds cheered loudly. “Damn it, Dan. Go in the locker room. I will bring her back there.”
The Receiver from the Powerhouses rushed for second place, and Emily came in third, a half-second later.
The Angels flooded the field. Dan gave her one last longing gaze before he slipped away from the frenzy and back into the locker room.
Panicked and pacing, Dan felt his heart splinter and ache as he
waited. Several minutes later, Garrett had pulled Fionna from the onslaught. She’d waved off the Medios trying to heal her, and let Garrett lead her to the locker room.
She was sobbing, both from pain and the emotion of winning. Her uniform was covered in blood.
“Baby,” Dan rushed to her. His shield sizzled around him. Nothing in him could allow her to be hurt. He contented himself with the knowledge that he was about to heal her. “I’m so proud of you.” He carefully lifted her hand. She handed Garrett the cup and fell onto Dan’s shoulder, giving into the powerful tears.
“Shh, baby. It’s okay. You did it.” Dan tried to cast her, but she blocked him out.
“Fi, calm down, baby. Let him in,” Garrett eased.
She shuddered against him. Her emotions swirled in a confused mass.
“I’m right here, honey. Just let me heal it for you,” Dan kept his tone soothing. She gasped for breath and tried desperately to locate calm. He could heal her faster than any Medio. She trusted him, and her body accepted his energy readily.
Dan sat down on one of the benches and cradled her in his lap. “You were amazing. I’m so proud of you. You ready, baby?” He braced her. She nodded. Exhaustion was beginning to show on her features. “Okay,” Dan closed his eyes and held her hand in his. It was a bad cut. It would’ve required stitches had she not been Gifted. Broken skin took a great deal more finesse to heal than a harmless surface-mark like a hickey.
Dan continued to tell her what an amazing woman and Receiver she was, and how proud he was of her, as he worked. She calmed to the sound of his voice. He watched the bloody gash slowly disappear into an angry red mark.
“Deep breath,” he soothed. “I’m almost done. Try to relax. It’s almost over. Let me get rid of the scar.” He pushed soothing energy into her as he healed her. She nodded against him, still shuddering from her tears.
“There,” Dan whispered several minutes later, when the puckered red mark gave way to her customary, healthy olive glow.
“Thank you,” she shook from the exhaustion and her erratic emotions.
She was the sweetest thing he’d ever seen. It killed him that she’d gotten hurt. He cradled her tenderly.
The adrenaline she’d used to keep going had exhausted her, and she slumped against Dan. He pushed his shield out over her and let her use all of his energy to regain her own.
“Did you get the bad guy?” her voice was weak and her eyes heavy. Dan and Garrett chuckled as they gazed down at her.
“Yeah, baby, we did.” He wasn’t certain his body could contain the sheer amount of loving adoration he had for her. She nodded and drew from him in heavy doses.
“She’s gotta go back out there for the Captain’s challenge. The press is about to beat down the door,” Garrett reminded them gently.
“How does your hand feel?” Dan whispered.
“It hurts a little.” She was afraid she might hurt his feelings.
“You cut it pretty badly,” Dan allowed as he weakened his shield to push soothing energy back into her hand.
“Dan, the press is right outside. They want to talk to her,” Garrett’s tone was panicked.
“Well, they can wait.”
“Yeah, well, they aren’t gonna wait long,” Garrett huffed.
Fionna eased herself upright. Exhaustion haunted her eyes.
“Let me go talk to them, and then I’ll come back after they go cover the Captain’s Challenge.” Dan helped her out of his lap, and Garrett offered her a hand. Dan hid in the bathroom as Garrett eased the door open and the press began to swarm.
“You got off to a shaky start in the first two challenges of the day. What was the turnaround, Fionna?” An overly- enthusiastic reporter leapt into Fionna’s face. Dan listened intently.
“I’m not sure. I just felt really focused and driven today. It paid off, I guess.” Dan chuckled at her complete lack of an answer.
“Your scores today are higher than we’ve seen from you in the past two seasons. What’s your secret?” called another reporter.
“You know, I just kind of feel like my life is sort of starting to pan out the way I’d always hoped it would. I’m able to focus more now than I’ve been able to for a while.”
Dan smiled; he knew precisely what she meant.
“Ms. Styler, Officer Haydenshire was at your home on the night of the break-in. He took you off the field and obviously healed your hand. You’re clinging to him now. You’re not really hiding your relationship all that well,” the reporter was nearly breathless in her profound declaration. “Perhaps he is what is going so right in your life?”
Dan’s heart and his brain were immediately at odds. What he needed to hear was only going to infuriate him.
“Well, he’s definitely a big part of it,” Fionna chuckled.
“Our relationship is no one’s business but ours,” Garrett feigned irritation.
They’d very effectively confirmed that they were dating to the majority of the major national news organizations in the Realm. Garrett had, once again, protected Fionna from Wretchkinsides better than Dan would ever be able to. Bitter gall lorded over his relief.
Silence fell as reporters scribbled furiously what Dan was certain would be the most printed story from the exhibition. Not that Fionna Styler was the greatest Receiver in the Realm, or that the Angels would most definitely be ranked number one, after Chloe gave it her all in the Captain’s competition. No, the story that would have the Realm chatting was the fact that Crown Governor Haydenshire’s son, Garrett, was romantically involved with Fionna Styler.
Uncertain what to feel in that moment, Dan didn’t hear the next few questions. His cell phone chirped. Dan read the words ‘We’ve got him, boss. Just leaving Coriolis now. He’s done for. The message came from Tuttle.
Good work, thanks. Dan felt a modicum of relief settle on him as he replied.
Several minutes later, Fionna rushed back into the locker room, looking terrified. Garrett entered a full minute later. Though this was the agreed upon plan from the beginning, he was trying to decide how Dan was going to react, now that the rubber had met the proverbial road on a national level.
Fear and sorrow had replaced Fionna’s fatigue. “That’s precisely what you both should have said. You were great,” Dan felt the words burn like acid on his tongue.
“Hey, man, you know I’m just trying to keep her safe,” Garrett pled as Fionna moved towards Dan.
He pulled her into his embrace. He needed to feel her as much as he wanted to reassure her that he wasn’t upset with either of them. He was sickened by situation that had caused all of the lies and furtive actions.
“I know, and thank you, again,” Dan choked.
Garrett nodded and then jerked his thumb back towards the field. “I’m gonna go see….something.” He knew he needed to leave. Dan wanted to talk to Fionna alone.
Dan nodded and drew a deep breath. “Thank you for everything, really.”
Garrett looked relieved that Dan was finally allowing his own personal angel to restrain his vicious demons, if only for the moment.
“My pleasure, Dan…really.”
Contentment
Dan awoke at four-thirty. He let one eye open hesitantly and made certain that Fionna was still tucked into the safety of his embrace.
She’d been exhausted after the awards ceremony, where the Angels had indeed taken the first-place cup, after Chloe had effectively crushed Trevor Sanders in a battle of wits and wills for the final diode.
Fionna had lost a fair amount of blood, had been challenging with little reprieve for hours, and she’d been up since four that morning. She’d yawned endlessly and had lain in his lap, insisting that she wasn’t tired.
Unable to stop telling her how proud he was, Dan had finally lifted her off of the couch in her suite and tucked her into bed beside him. He’d snuggled her against him and slipped his fingers gently through her hair, until she’d given in and had drifted off to sleep. She’d been out for several
hours.
Smiling, as he thought of his plans for their evening, Dan slid as softly as he could from the bed. He tucked the soft sheets and comforter around her, and ran a heat cast through his hand to warm the coverings.
In her exhaustive sleep, she didn’t seem to notice much of anything. Dan brushed a tender kiss across her cheek.
Dan texted Garrett, to see if everything was ready, and to thank him again. His demons weren’t certain what to make of his acceptance of help or his relative calm. He glanced back to the bed. They may not appreciate being tamed, but they sure as hell liked the woman who was able to silence their shrill howl. He thought of their time together the night before. Saliva flooded his mouth from the memories alone. Yes, she knew precisely which demons to damn and which ones to dance with. His miraculous, conquering angel; his everything.
Food will be here at six. I’ll bring it when they deliver it, and the flowers are here now. Garrett’s reply shook Dan from his reverie.
Dan eased the door open and then stepped out into the hallway. The corridor was empty. Everyone was either abusing their livers in one of the bars or abusing their bank accounts in one of the casinos. There were several shows at The Venetian that night, so the rooms would remain relatively empty.
Dan cupped his hand and summoned. He looped the current feed on the cameras from his room all the way to the elevator. They would display an empty hallway on all the security feeds. He would take no chances.
Quickly, he took the few steps to Garrett and Chloe’s room. Garrett answered, shirtless but wearing sweatpants. He looked irritated.
“Sorry, guess I should have texted that I would come pick up the flowers.”
“S’ok, Chloe’s getting in the shower. Bunch of us are going to play the slots a little, then see a show later. You and Fi could come with.”
Dan shook his head. “We’re gonna hang out up here. She was pretty excited about me surprising her.”
Garrett laughed and nodded his understanding. “She okay, after all that?”
“Yeah, she’s still asleep. I’m sure she’ll be out for a while. She was pretty worn out.”