When Angels Fall

by Sherryl D. Hancock

  “Okay,” Skyler said her tone leading.

  “I blocked her number, so she started emailing me, I ignored the emails and now she’s shown up here,” Devin said.

  “Seriously?” Skyler asked, starting to signal to move out of the fast lane to head toward the 101 exit, knowing it would be faster to get to Devin that way. “I’m on my way,” she said.

  “I’m sorry, Sky,” Devin said, grimacing on her end, “you seem to have to rescue me constantly these days.”

  Skyler grinned as she entered the 101, “It’s the job,” she said.

  Devin laughed, “Great!” she said, rolling her eyes.

  “I’ll be there as soon as I can, do not go outside.”

  Skyler pulled up in front of the building 30 minutes later. She texted Devin to let her know she was there. Then she got out of her car, she moved to the passenger side of the vehicle, leaning against the front fender and lighting a cigarette, her eyes on the building. Devin saw her drive up and walked out to meet her. Sarah intercepted her halfway.

  “Devin, I just need you to listen to me,” Sarah said, holding up her hands.

  “I don’t need to listen to you, Sarah, you need to leave me alone now.” Devin said, her tone strong, but inside she was shaking.

  Devin strode toward Skyler.

  “Devin, just wait!” Sarah yelled, trying to catch up. She was reaching out to grab Devin’s arm, but stopped short when she saw Skyler.

  Skyler looked completely relaxed, her legs stretched out in front of her, crossed at the ankles. She wore faded jeans, her usual combat style boots, and black tank top with a black leather bomber style jacket. She smoked as she watched Sarah approach, trailing Devin. Her eyes trained on the other woman, narrowing slightly in the cigarette smoke she blew out, her head canting slightly, as if trying to figure out what Sarah was doing. Devin went straight to Skyler, leaning in to kiss her soundly on the lips, even as Sarah stood by glowering. After the kiss, Devin moved to lean next to Skyler on the car, Skyler’s free arm came up to encircle her shoulders.

  “Did you need something?” Skyler asked after a few moments.

  Sarah gave her a scowl, “I need to talk to Devin,” she said.

  Skyler nodded, taking another drag on her cigarette, looking like she was considering the request.

  “I think she’s made it pretty clear she doesn’t want to talk to you,” Skyler said, glancing down at Devin, who nodded her head in confirmation. “So why don’t you just run along back to Pendleton or wherever you’re at these days.”

  “Or what?” Sarah challenged, puffing up her chest in a display of offense.

  Skyler didn’t answer right away, letting a slow grin spread across her face, “Let’s not find out, huh?”

  “Oh, big bad Army pilot, what are you gonna do?” Sarah sneered.

  Sarah and Skyler were of even height, Sarah had about 20 pounds over Skyler and that made her think she was superior, besides the fact that she was a Marine after all.

  Skyler grinned, her look indicating her opinion of Sarah’s bluster, like it was absolutely ridiculous.

  “I got out of the Army about two and half years ago, and this has nothing to do with the fact that I’m a pilot.” Skyler said, her tone reflecting amusement.

  “You think you can take me, grunt?” Sarah practically spat.

  Skyler took another drag from her cigarette, her eyes on Sarah. “I think we don’t need to find out,” she said.

  “Afraid I’ll kick your ass?” Sarah countered.

  Skyler gave a snort of laughter, “No, I just don’t want jarhead blood on my car,” she answered.

  Sarah looked like she really wanted to challenge Skyler, but Devin intervened.

  “Leave Sarah,” Devin said, taking a step forward.

  She didn’t notice that Skyler immediately tossed aside her cigarette, straightening from the car and took a step toward her. She did, however, suddenly feel Skyler standing behind her, and took strength from it. Glancing up and back, she saw that Skyler’s eyes were on Sarah, she also noticed the tension in Skyler, even though her face showed nothing of that tension.

  “Just go,” Devin said then, “or I’ll march right back in there and bring a number of members of the LAPD out here to deal with your ass.”

  “Brass don’t really like police actions,” Skyler said, “could cost you your commission.”

  Sarah looked hesitant suddenly. It was apparent she hadn’t considered that angle.

  “Stalker laws are pretty strong here in LA,” Devin said then.

  “Could cost you your freedom too,” Skyler added.

  Sarah stepped back then, realizing she was definitely in a bad situation. The Corps was all she knew, losing her commission would get her kicked out. No woman was worth that. With that she pivoted on her heel and walked away.

  Devin relaxed instantly. Turning she looked up at Skyler.

  “You were ready to fight her, weren’t you?” she asked, as she slid her arms up around Skyler’s neck.

  “If she did anything stupid,” Skyler said, nodding, as she pulled Devin close.

  “Like?” Devin asked.

  “Like tried to put her hands on you again,” Skyler said.

  She’d seen Sarah try to make a grab for Devin.

  “That simple?” Devin asked.

  “That simple,” Skyler confirmed.

  Devin stared up at Skyler, thinking that this woman would never cease to surprise her. Most people Devin knew would never have even tried to stand up to someone like Sarah. Skyler wasn’t like anyone she knew, she loved that about her.

  In the end they left Devin’s rental car at the garage, deciding that Skyler would just drive her in the next day.

  On the drive back to Devin’s house, Devin looked over at Skyler, watching her sing the song that was on in the car. The song that was on was “Somewhere I Belong” by Linkin Park, the words “hollow and alone and the fault is my own, and the fault is my own” repeated a few times in the song. The chorus talked about wanting to heal and to feel and that they wanted to “find somewhere I belong”.

  It was a very somber song, but Devin could see that Skyler felt every word.

  Skyler seemed very connected to a lot of the songs that she listened to in the car and at home, so Devin had quickly learned to tune into the songs that Skyler had either turned up, or the ones she sang the words so vehemently.

  When the song ended, Skyler predictably reached over to turn the stereo down again. Devin twitched her lips in amusement, wondering if Skyler even realized she did that regularly.

  Skyler caught the look on Devin’s face, and asked, “What?”

  Devin smiled, shaking her head, “Nothing,” she said, not wanting to let Skyler know that she was on to some of her “tells”.

  Skyler glanced over at her and narrowed her eyes suspiciously, but didn’t pursue the subject.

  “So do you usually get into fights over girls?” Devin asked a little while later.

  Skyler grinned, dropping her head for a second, then looked over at Devin.

  “Not usually, no.” she said.

  Devin nodded, with a barely suppressed grin on her lips.

  “So, this was unusual for you,” Devin asked then.

  Skyler opened her mouth, then closed it giving her a scathing look.

  “You’re enjoying this,” Skyler said, her tone accusing.

  Devin laughed outright, nodding her head.

  “Is that wrong?” Devin asked, “That I like the possessive streak?”

  Skyler curled her lips in mock disgust, “Yes, it’s wrong.” She said, with no real conviction in her voice.

  Devin laughed again, nodding.

  Skyler just shook her head, even as a smile began.

  CHAPTER 5

  As fall turned to winter, the rains increased, causing Skyler to be extremely busy. She grabbed every off moment with Devin she could, but by November she was beyond exhausted. Devin was more concerned about Skyler getting enough slee
p than being with her all the time. There had been a few close calls for the team during some rescues and it had been enough to have Devin telling Skyler to just stay at the hangar or her apartment. Devin would come to the apartment when she knew Skyler had slept and time to spend with her.

  Devin often reflected on their relationship and the parts that had evolved and the parts that hadn’t. Skyler still had a tendency to keep things in when it came to her past, especially Iraq and her time there. From what Devin had gathered from conversations with Jams when Skyler wasn’t around, Skyler’s personality had changed drastically after Iraq. Because of that, Devin could always sense the looming cloud of Skyler’s depressive nature that lingered at the edges of her personality all the time. There were times when Devin was sure it was creeping closer, she could see it when Skyler would sit outside and smoke. Often Skyler would stare into the distance, her look subdued. There had been many times when Devin had wanted to ask Skyler what she’d been thinking about, but she always hesitated. She’d come to fear the ice cold facade that Skyler could so easily slip into whenever she felt threatened or challenged.

  Part of Devin knew that there was a confrontation coming someday down the road. She knew that at some point she would have to either get Skyler to talk to her about what had happened in Iraq, or she’d have to leave Skyler, or Skyler would leave her. It sat in the darkest part of her heart, and Devin did everything she could to ignore it on a daily basis. She desperately wanted to help Skyler through whatever trauma she’d sustained, but Devin wasn’t altogether sure Skyler would let her in that far, even if she did say she loved her.

  All Devin wanted to do was cling to the good times with Skyler, and to make more of them. For that reason, by early December, Devin was planning a surprise for Skyler for her birthday which fell on Christmas Eve. She’d talked to Jams and he was helping her plan.

  Christmas Eve morning dawned, Skyler and the crew had the night before off, unbeknownst to Skyler, Jams had arranged that with their Commanding Officer. So Devin showed up early Christmas Eve morning to wake Skyler.

  Walking into Skyler’s bedroom, Devin stood watching her girlfriend sleep. In the six months they’d been dating, Skyler had lost no allure for Devin, she still found her incredibly sexy and she still held so much attraction to Devin that she found it hard to believe. Devin tended to get bored easily, so it was a rare woman that could hold her interest. Skyler did that easily.

  Watching Skyler now, Devin noted that Skyler seemed to always sleep with one arm above her head, except when they slept together. For a woman that had purposely distanced herself from Devin six months before after they’d slept together that first time, Skyler certainly stayed in close contact with Devin now when they slept. Devin took that as a good sign for their relationship.

  As usual, when Devin stood staring at her for too long, Skyler sensed it and woke up.

  “Well, hello there,” Skyler said, with a warm smile.

  Devin walked over to the bed, setting her purse down by the bed, and leaning down to kiss Skyler’s lips. Skyler reached up, pulling Devin down to kiss her more deeply. Before long the fire ignited between them and it was another hour before Devin remembered.

  “Happy birthday, by the way,” Devin said, reaching up to touch Skyler’s cheek.

  They lay naked in bed, their bodies still partially intertwined.

  Skyler narrowed her eyes at her, “How did you know it was my birthday?”

  Devin gave her a look that said, Really?

  “That son of a bitch!” Skyler said, even as she grinned.

  Devin chuckled, even as she moved to reach down to her purse and pull out an envelope. She handed the large manila envelope to Skyler.

  “What’s this?” Skyler asked.

  “An envelope,” Devin said, smiling sweetly.

  “Smart ass,” Skyler said, grinning.

  “Open it!” Devin said, her tone exasperated.

  Skyler opened the envelope and was surprised by all the things in it. When she simply poked at the items, not taking them out of the envelope, Devin got impatient.

  “Oh, God, let me do that!” she said, sitting up and pulling the sheet up with her.

  Skyler chuckled, as she moved to sit up as well.

  Devin took one thing at a time out of the envelope. The first was a birthday card, which Skyler read, smiling softly at the sweet sentiment of the card. Then Devin took a folded piece of paper out and handed it to her. Skyler unfolded the paper, and read what it said. It was the confirmation information for two first class ticket on a flight to Las Vegas, leaving in three hours.

  “Vegas?” Skyler asked, raising her eyebrow at Devin.

  “Yeah,” Devin said, smiling, “you need some fun.”

  Skyler looked back at her, pressing her lips together, looking apologetic.

  “Babe, this is really sweet, but…“

  “Jams already arranged for time off for you with your CO,” Devin told her.

  Skyler looked back her, her face showing surprise.

  “Wow,” she said, nodding, “okay.”

  “Okay, next,” Devin said, reaching into the envelope again.

  “There’s more?” Skyler asked, sounding flabbergasted.

  “It’s your birthday!” Devin chided her.

  The next folded piece of paper had hotel confirmation information.

  Skyler gave Devin a sidelong look, “What is ‘The Mansion at MGM Grand’?”

  “It’s a hotel room,” Devin said simply.

  Skyler looked at the paper narrowing her eyes at a particular part of the paper, “Why is this part blacked out?”

  Devin licked her lips, smiling at the same time, her eyes twinkling mischievously, “It’s rude to leave price tags on gifts, Skyler Boche’.”

  “Hmmm…” Skyler murmured, her suspicions high at that point, “Is that five days?”

  “Yes, five days,” Devin said. “You need a vacation Skyler. I would have happily taken you anywhere, but I know it’ll take longer and I want you to have time to relax.”

  Skyler looked back at her, very touched that she’d considered that fact at this point in time. Leaning forward she kissed Devin’s lips, her hand reaching up to caress her cheek.

  Pulling back slightly, she looked into Devin’s eyes, “Thank you honey.” She said, her voice soft.

  Skyler was floored by the gift, it was so extravagant.

  That stunned feeling only grew a few hours later as the boarded a plane and sat in first class. It grew exponentially when a limo met them at the airport and drove them to their hotel. When the limo stopped, and the driver opened the door for them, Skyler stepped out and found herself completely speechless.

  They stood in front of not a hotel, but an incredible vision of elegance. The Tuscany villa inspired décor was a courtyard filled with trees and beautiful flowers, at the center of which was a huge fountain. The building itself was elegant stonework with terraces and 18th century style lighting. Skyler had never seen such a beautiful place that was considered a hotel.

  “Devin…” Skyler breathed as she wound her arms around Devin’s waist, hugging her from behind, staring at the villa entrance.

  “You like it?” Devin asked smiling as she glanced back at Skyler.

  “It’s amazing,” Skyler said, sounding every bit as awed as she felt.

  Devin giggled, “Good, cause you’re really going to like the inside!”

  Skyler allowed herself to be led into the front of the hotel, looking a bit bewildered. An hour later she was sure she couldn’t handle any more surprises. The room they were in was larger than she and Jams’ apartment and a hundred times more elegant.

  Laying back on the huge bed, strewn with rose petals, Skyler looked up at Devin, who stood looking down at her with a smile.

  “Now I know why that price tag was blacked out,” she said, her tone sly.

  Devin didn’t reply, only grinning in response.

  The room was so elegantly appointed, Skyler had no id
ea what to do with herself. She walked around examining everything from the artwork to the statues, touching the dining room table reverently, and just shaking her head and the size of the bathroom with the marble enclosed shower and huge bathing tub. The room also featured its own sauna and steam room. Further it had its own pantry and a private entrance. Skyler was blown away. She’d never even imagined this kind of opulence, let alone staying in it for five days.

  She was further bowled over when they left the hotel awhile later to go check out the sites, and waiting there was a brand new Nissan GTR, a car the Skyler had long envied. A man stood by the car, handing Devin a clipboard as she walked up, she signed a paper, and he handed Devin the keys.

  Devin turned and handed the keys to Skyler, “Ours to drive for the trip.” She said, with a smile.

  “Oh, my God…” Skyler said, even as her hands touched the fender of the car with so much reverence that it was almost painful to watch.

  Skyler looked at Devin then, “We get to drive this? The whole time?”

  “You get to drive this, the whole time,” Devin said, emphasizing the word “you”.

  Skyler swept Devin up in her arms, kissing her and twirling them around. Devin laughed, loving that she’d made Skyler this happy.

  When they got into the car, Skyler just sat with her hands on the steering wheel, looking at everything, like a little kid at Christmas.

  “My, God, babe, this trip must have cost you a fortune….” Skyler finally said, looking over at Devin.

  “Your reaction is worth every penny,” Devin said, smiling.

  Skyler bit her lip as she reached down to push the Start button for the car. Devin was sure Skyler was going to die in ecstasy when the car started with a deep rumble.

  “Oh honey, honey…” Skyler whispered, and Devin was fairly certain, by the rapt look on Skyler’s face, that she wasn’t talking to her.

  Skyler spent the evening thoroughly enjoying the drive. Skyler even got out onto the open road to ‘open her up’ at one point. Devin spent the evening thoroughly enjoying watching Skyler have the time of her life.

  After Skyler had spent two hours putting the GTR through its paces, Devin asked if she was ready for dinner.