“Devin,” Sarah said, her tone beseeching, “don’t be like that. I just got back a few days ago, I was going to call you.”
“Why?” Devin asked, her tone challenging.
Sarah narrowed her eyes at Devin, purposefully ignoring Skyler’s presence.
“Because I wanted to talk to you,” Sarah said, smiling.
Skyler stood watching the exchange, knowing the other woman was trying to irritate her by ignoring her. Since Skyler had no idea who the other woman was, she didn’t plan on interfering unless Devin looked like she needed her to.
“Are you okay?” Sarah asked when silence ensued for too long.
“Thanks to Sky,” Devin said, glancing up at Skyler.
Skyler grinned down at her, knowing that Devin was purposely bringing her into the discussion.
Sarah’s eyes shifted to Skyler and she gave her a nod of acknowledgement, then looked back at Devin.
“I’ll call you next week,” Sarah said, her tone confident and accompanied with a jaunty wink. Then she pivoted on her heel and walked out of the room.
Fuckin’ Marines, Skyler thought to herself, even as she rolled her eyes at the dramatic exit.
“I’m sorry,” Devin said to her.
“For what,” Skyler said, grinning as she moved to sit on the edge of the bed.
Devin narrowed her eyes at Skyler, but didn’t respond. A moment Later Jams appeared in the doorway.
“Sky,” he said.
“Yo?” Skyler replied, moving to stand.
“We gotta go,” Jams said, waving at Devin.
Skyler nodded, then leaned down to kiss Devin on the lips, “I’ll be back when our shift is over.”
“Fly safe,” Devin said, reaching up to pull Skyler back for another kiss.
“You got it,” Skyler said, grinning.
CHAPTER 4
Devin was released from the hospital the next day. Skyler was there to take her home and get her settled in the bedroom. After getting her lunch and her pain meds, Skyler sat with Devin, watching TV until she saw that Devin was getting tired. The doctors had insisted that she rest as much as possible over the next few days. Once Devin was asleep, Skyler grabbed a beer from the fridge and walked out into Devin’s backyard. Sitting down in one of the chairs, she pulled a cigarette out of her pack and pulled out her lighter.
She was sitting out there twenty minutes later when Jams came out of the house.
“Hey,” he said, as he walked out.
Skyler glanced over her shoulder, nodding to her partner. “Hey.” She responded.
“So she’s home and settled?” Jams asked.
“Yep,” Skyler said, nodding and blowing out a long stream of smoke.
Jams sat down across from his partner, looking at her, he could see that she was a bit agitated, since her knee was bouncing a bit. He knew Skyler’s signals, he’d learned them over the last 15 years.
“So that was pretty damned close,” he said, as he leaned back in his chair.
Skyler nodded, taking a long draw on her cigarette. “Yeah, too fucking close,” she responded, her tone affected.
“Think she has any idea how close to the edge she really was?” Jams asked, raising an eyebrow at her.
“No,” Skyler said, shaking her head, “and no one’s going to tell her that either,” she pronounced narrowing her eyes at him.
“No ma’am,” he responded, grinning, “So who the fuck was that Marine the other day?”
Skyler grinned at the tone in Jams’ voice, Army and Navy, by definition Marines, didn’t usually get along.
“Don’t know for sure,” Skyler said, rubbing her thumb over her bottom lip in agitation, “but I’m betting an ex.”
“Aw,” Jams said nodding, dropping his head to his chest, then he lifted his eyes to Skyler quizzically, “So what ya gonna do about that?” he asked then.
Skyler looked back at him for a long moment, her look considering. She took the time to take another drag off her cigarette before she answered.
“I’ll take care of it,” she said simply.
“You better,” Jams told her, “you can’t afford to let this one go.”
Skyler looked back at him again, “What makes you say that?”
“I’m not blind, Sky, I saw the panic on your face when she called you,” he said, giving her a look that said she should know better.
Skyler nodded, “Yeah, I gotta say, I haven’t been that scared in a long time.”
Jams nodded, knowing exactly when she was that scared last.
“So you make sure that whatever you do about that Marine sticks.” Jams told her.
Skyler nodded, understanding his meaning.
Later that night, after they’d had dinner and were relaxing on the couch, Devin was laying in front of Skyler, leaning back against Skyler’s chest, her legs extended on the chaise portion of the sectional. Skyler’s arms were around Devin’s shoulders. Devin’s phone rang. Devin picked it up, looking at the name on the display; Skyler saw that it said “Sarah” on it, with Sarah’s picture. Devin hit ignore and set the phone down.
“So do you want to tell me who she is?” Skyler asked, her tone casual.
Devin moved to sit up, turning to look at Skyler, her eyes searching Skyler’s face. Skyler wondered if she was looking to see if there was any jealousy or anger. She wasn’t sure what Devin was looking for, but Skyler intended to be careful with this conversation.
“She’s an ex,” Skyler said, her tone knowing.
“Yes,” Devin said, nodding.
Skyler nodded, waiting for the rest.
“She was in the Marines, and basically even though DADT was abolished, she wasn’t out, and she wasn’t planning on coming out.”
Skyler nodded, she’d heard of a lot of gays that were still hesitant about coming out, “It happens a lot in the military.” Skyler accorded.
“Right, but she wasn’t out anywhere,” Devin said, “her parents don’t even know.”
Skyler looked surprised, but nodded. She already knew that something like that wouldn’t sit well with someone like Devin. She lived her life out loud, and who ever didn’t like it, could just deal with it.
“Okay…” Skyler said, knowing there was more.
“She got orders for Europe,” Devin said, her tone distant as she remembered the day.
Skyler waited, not wanting to push. Devin’s eyes settled back on hers again after a few moments.
“She wanted me to go with her,” Devin said, her face a mask of derision, “but what was I going to do? Be the ‘friend’ of hers?” she said the word “friend” like it was a curse word. In the gay community being referred to as someone’s “friend” when you were actually dating the person was a definite insult.
Skyler nodded, taking a deep breath and blowing it out, “That sucks,” she said honestly.
“Yeah, it did,” Devin said, nodding, “I was so in love with her, it wasn’t even funny.”
Skyler’s chin came up at that admission, but she did her best not to overreact. Devin saw it instantly.
“Oh, Sky,” she said, grimacing, “I’m sorry, I just meant that…“
“It’s okay,” Skyler said, her tone steady, “I want you to tell me the truth here.”
“I am,” Devin assured her, placing her hand on Skyler’s cheek and looking her in the eye.
Skyler nodded accepting that, “So what do you think she wants now?”
“Oh, I know what she wants,” Devin said, looking derisive.
“And that is?” Skyler asked.
“She wants to tell me that she’s out now,” Devin said.
“And you know this how?” Skyler asked.
“She’s not the only Marine I know that’s stationed in Europe,” Devin said, her eyes sparkling mischievously.
Skyler nodded, “Okay,” then she pinned Devin with a look, “and when she tells you she wants you back?”
Devin looked back at her for a long moment, “That’s the thing,” Devin sai
d, putting her arms around Skyler’s neck, “I need to know where your head is right now.”
“With us?” Skyler asked.
“Yeah,” Devin confirmed.
Skyler nodded, looking like she was gathering her thoughts. Then she looked Devin square in the eyes, “Almost losing you scared me to death, Devin,” she said, her voice soft. “Not knowing if I’d get to you in time, or if that pile of mud would shift and send you over the edge… It scared me.” She said again, her look punctuating the statement.
Devin nodded, not saying anything to interrupt Skyler’s words.
“It made me realize that I love you,” Skyler said so simply, that Devin wasn’t sure if she’d heard her right.
“Can you repeat that last part?” She asked, a smile starting on her lips.
Skyler slid her hands into Devin’s hair, pulling her in to kiss her deeply, then pulling back to look into her eyes, “I love you.”
The smile on Devin’s face was so brilliant Skyler felt bad that she hadn’t realized it sooner. She leaned in kissing Skyler back, her hands in Skyler’s hair.
“So,” Devin said, sitting back for a moment, “in answer to your question, when Sarah tells me she wants me back, I’m going to tell her that I’m in love with this pilot I’m dating.”
“You are?” Skyler said, smiling at that.
“Oh yes,” Devin said, nodding her head, “I think I have been since the moment I saw you.”
“Interesting…” Skyler said, leaning in to kiss her again.
Devin and Skyler both returned to work by the end of the week. Devin was suffering no ill effects from her accident, she felt very lucky indeed. Two other people had been killed in the same mudslide when their car had gone over the edge of the cliff. It was something that Devin thought about a lot, how lucky she’d been that Skyler and her crew had saved her. She’d found out that her vehicle had gone over the cliff approximately an hour after she’d been pulled from the vehicle.
At LAPD, she was hailed as the luckiest person alive.
“Guess it pays to date a rescue pilot, huh?” one of the guys asked, giving her a wink.
“It sure did this time,” Devin said, smiling as she headed toward her temporary office.
Getting to the doorway of the office, she saw the plethora of lucky charms in her office, she saw rabbits feet, four leaf clovers, even a box or two of Lucky Charms cereal. She turned around and saw that a lot of the people she was working with were standing around to see her reaction.
“Very funny…” she said, giving them all dirty looks, but her grin spoiling the effect.
Everyone got a good laugh that morning. When Devin told Skyler about it, she had a pretty good laugh as well.
“That’s the danger of working with cops or firemen,” Skyler said, “they’re all jokers.”
“Tell me about it!” Devin said laughing.
Later that day Devin got the call she was expecting from Sarah, she did her best to just decline the offer of lunch, but Sarah wouldn’t give up. Devin finally relented and said she’d meet her for coffee that afternoon.
At four that afternoon, Devin walked into the Starbuck’s, glancing around she spotted Sarah easily, she was wearing her Marine fatigues. As she approached the table, Sarah stood up, leaning over to hug her. Devin allowed the hug, but turned her head when Sarah moved to kiss her.
Sarah noted the rebuff, but didn’t comment. She hadn’t come there to fight with Devin, far from it.
“Thanks for meeting me,” Sarah said, smiling warmly, “I know you’re busy.”
Devin nodded, “Yeah, playing catch up for being out last week.”
“How are you feeling?” Sarah asked, every bit the concerned ex.
“I’m fine,” Devin said, recognizing Sarah’s motives. “So, what did you want?” she asked, her tone direct.
“Wow,” Sarah said, acting offended, “we can’t just get together and talk?” she asked, giving Devin a surprised look.
Devin just looked back at Sarah pausing, then she nodded slowly, “Yeah, we could, but that’s not what this is about.”
“What do you think this is about?” Sarah asked, her tone indicating that there was no way Devin knew what she was talking about.
Again, Devin sat looking back at the woman that she’d dated for three years, wondering how she’d never noticed how conniving and contrived Sarah was. Skyler wasn’t exactly and open book, but Devin also knew there were very good reasons for her silence on certain things. Sarah, on the other hand, had no combat experience whatsoever, so to her way of thinking, Sarah had no reason to hide her feelings and intentions, other than to play games and gain the upper hand. Devin realized that it was what Sarah had always done.
“Just get to it,” Devin finally said, her tone no-nonsense.
Sarah looked back at her, surprised by Devin’s attitude, she’d honestly thought that Devin had been pining for her in the two years she’d been gone. She decided to try another tactic.
“Well, I was going to ask you for another chance,” Sarah said, “but…” she let her voice trail off as she held her hands out plaintively.
Devin actually laughed, “Seriously?”
“What’s that mean?” Sarah asked, shocked into an honest response.
“I’m not interested in another chance,” Devin told her plainly.
Sarah narrowed her eyes, “You said you loved me,” she said, her tone accusing.
“I did love you,” Devin said, “but when you chose the closet over me, I kinda got over it.”
“But things are different now,” Sarah said, her tone triumphant.
Devin didn’t respond, instead she chewed on the gum she had in her mouth. She knew it would irritate Sarah that she didn’t ask, two could play the game playing angle.
“I’m different,” Sarah said, when she realized Devin wasn’t going to ask. “I’m out now.”
Devin nodded, “Great, I’m happy for you.”
“It’s what you wanted,” Sarah said, her tone cajoling.
“It’s what I want for anyone who is hiding who they really are inside,” Devin said.
“It’s that pilot, isn’t it?” Sarah asked, switching tactics again.
Devin smiled, knowing Sarah was getting desperate now.
“How long have you been dating her?” Sarah asked.
Devin thought about not answering, since it was really none of Sarah’s business, but finally she shrugged, “A few months.”
“Months?” Sarah repeated glowering at her, “We were together for years Devin!”
“Time served doesn’t really count after the fact, Sarah,” Devin told her.
“You can’t even be in love with her,” Sarah said, “What is she, some washed up Army pilot?”
Devin narrowed her eyes, “You better be careful right now, Sarah.” She said, her tone low, “You don’t know anything about Skyler, so you’d be smart to keep your mouth shut when it comes to her.”
Sarah looked shocked again, this wasn’t the easy going party girl she knew from before. Regardless, she decided to push her luck.
“I’ve never seen a grunt worth much,” Sarah said.
“Yeah,” Devin said, standing up, “we’re done.” And left.
She told Skyler about it later that night as they ate dinner.
Skyler grinned, “Marines aren’t too fond of the Army.” she said, shrugging.
“Well, since she’s been sitting in Germany, while others like you have been in the war, she needs to shut her fucking mouth.” Devin snapped.
Skyler grinned again, “Easy now,” her tone teasing.
“I don’t know why I never saw her for what she is,” Devin said, shaking her head.
“What do you mean?” Skyler asked.
“She’s so manipulative, she plays games to get what she wants, and what she always wants is the upper hand.”
Skyler rubbed the bridge of her nose, “I think that’s what they teach them in Marine basic.” She said, smiling.
“Yeah that and ‘When there’s gun fire, Marines run toward the bullets! Oorah!’” Devin said, in a pretty good imitation of a Marine.
Skyler chuckled, “Yeah, in the Army they teach us to shoot back.” She said.
Devin got a laugh out of that. “I’ll have to remember that one for when she calls again.”
“She called you after that meeting?” Skyler asked, her tone shocked.
“Five times,” Devin replied, holding up her phone.
“I guess they don’t teach Marines to take ‘no’ for an answer, either.”
“Guess not,” Devin said, shaking her head.
“Did you answer?” Skyler asked.
“No, but I texted her and told her to stop calling me,” Devin said.
“Has she called since then?” Skyler asked.
“Nope,” Devin said.
“Maybe she got the hint then.”
“Maybe.”
Sarah hadn’t gotten the hint. Apparently she’d gotten the idea that she just needed to try harder. She continued to call Devin, until Devin blocked her number. The she started emailing Devin, saying things like “I just want to apologize for what I said…” which turned to, “So you’re just not going to talk to me?” and later, “You will talk to me, Devin!”
By the end of the next day it was getting ridiculous, and Devin was beginning to wonder if Sarah was becoming a little unhinged. This concern stepped up a little while later when she got a text from a number she didn’t recognize saying, ‘I’m out front, come talk to me, Sarah’.
Devin called Skyler.
“Hey, babe, what’s up?” Skyler answered, she was in her car.
“Where are you?” Devin asked.
“I’m in the car, headed south on four oh five,” Skyler answered her tone hesitant, “Why?”
Devin blew her breath out, “Sarah’s been calling, texting and emailing me all day,” she said, loathe to drag Skyler into this situation, but not sure what else to do at this point.
The last thing she wanted was to involve LA PD. If Sarah was just trying to be tenacious thinking it would impress Devin, she didn’t want to chance that police involvement that would possibly spell an end to her career as a Marine.
When Angels Fall Page 8