Sierra was shocked when she felt Kashena’s hand in hers squeeze slightly. Later the doctors would tell her there was no way Kashena could have been conscience enough to do such a thing, but she never believed it, not once.
Sierra sat in the hospital room where Kashena was recovering. She hadn’t regained consciousness yet, but the doctors said that was to be expected with as much trauma as her body had sustained, including a concussion from where Jason had slammed her into the wall. They’d also removed the bullet from Kashena’s leg and it was healing well.
Sebastian walked in, seeing Kashena lying in the hospital bed. Her eyes were blackened from the blood loss and trauma and she was very pale, but she was a alive and that was all that mattered to him.
“So,” he said, moving to sit down next to Sierra, “Do you think you can collect on a life insurance policy if the person was technically dead?” He asked.
Sierra looked back at him like he’d lost his mind, “What are you talking about?”
“Well, Kash took out a two million dollar life insurance policy on herself, knowing she was going to die.”
“What?” Sierra asked her look completely shocked.
Sebastian pressed his lips together, his look serious now, “She knew she was going to die.” He repeated.
“How?” Sierra started to ask, but then understanding dawned in her eyes, “She had a vision…” She said, her voice trailing off as she closed her eyes looking pained.
Sebastian nodded, confirming it, looking a bit stricken himself.
“Why didn’t she tell me?” Sierra asked, looking saddened.
He shook his head, “I don’t think she saw the point in upsetting you.”
“But she told you,” Sierra said.
“Yeah, and a lot of times I wished she hadn’t.” He told her.
“That’s why you were so pissed at me.” Sierra said.
Sebastian nodded, “You were wasting what little time you had left with her.”
Sierra grimaced at his words, but knowing that he was right. She looked over at Kashena, reaching over to touch her hand, taking it in her own.
“So you two were going through all of that alone.” Sierra said, her voice subdued as her mind worked through events. “That’s why she got so mad at Colby when he said he’d protect her with his life…”
“She knew she was going to die anyway, she didn’t want to take either of you out with her.” Sebastian said.
Sierra closed her eyes, feeling tears stinging the backs of her eyes, opening them, she looked at Sebastian.
“Why does she think she has to be so brave all by herself?” she asked him, honestly wanting to know.
Sebastian shrugged, “She’s a Marine,” he said, his tone wry, “They think they gotta do everything alone.”
Sierra looked back at him, “Like Rangers don’t,” she said, making a face.
Sebastian chuckled at that, she’d definitely picked up Kashena’s habits.
It took a few days, but Kashena woke up, laying in a hospital room with an unimaginable amount of flowers, balloons and get well cards.
She tried to say something, but her voice didn’t come out.
“Hi there!” Sierra said, moving to stand, looking down at Kashena, her eyes sparkling. “Don’t try to talk right now,” she told Kashena, “Everything’s all swollen, but you’ll be okay soon.”
Kashena looked up into Sierra’s eyes, her eyes asking questions her voice couldn’t.
“Jason is dead,” Sierra said, “Sebastian managed to beat the location of where Jason was holding you, and us out of a Marine that attacked him.”
Kashena nodded sighing in obvious relief.
“Rest, honey,” Sierra told her, “You need to get your strength back.”
Kashena nodded again, her eyes already half closed.
It was four days before Kashena could speak loud enough to be heard, and even then it was difficult for her. Colby was visiting, Sierra had insisted that he keep up with his school work, so he was going to school and coming to the hospital as often as he could.
Kashena woke, turning over carefully on her side as she did. Colby was sitting in the chair next to the hospital bed. He was doing homework.
“That’s… more… like… it…” Kashena said, her words measured and barely above a whisper.
Colby’s head snapped up and a bright smile lit his face, “Mom, hi!” he said.
“Hi,” Kashena said.
She slowly reached out her hand to him, and he took it, holding it in both of his, and squeezing it gently.
“You really scared me,” he told her, his eyes serious, “You died.”
“I’m… sorry…” Kashena said, her eyes reflecting the apology.
“He killed you…” Colby said, his eyes sad.
“He… tried…” Kashena responded.
“I love you, mom,” Colby said, tears in his eyes now.
“Love… you…” Kashena responded, squeezing his hand.
“Please don’t die ever again,” he said then, his grin starting.
“Ever?” Kashena asked, with a raised eyebrow.
“Nope, you have to live forever.” He said, grinning.
Kashena rolled her eyes grinning.
Julie Powell, went on trial for attempted murder of a police officer. She attempted to claim diminished capacity due to childhood trauma. The District Attorney called Deputy Sherriff Raine Mason to testify. He asked Raine about her experiences growing up in the foster system. She explained in detail the number of homes she’d lived in and the experiences she’d had in each.
Sitting in the audience, Natalia realized that Raine had glossed over some of the worst of her experiences. Raine’s life in foster care had essentially been much worse than Julie’s, culminating in the loss of her best friend due to violence. Natalia testified against Julie, documenting the times she’d grabbed her and screamed at her and been verbally abusive.
Jake, Julie’s friend had contacted Raine, telling her that she would testify against Julie if that would help the case. She also apologized for what she’d done; explaining that she’d never meant to hurt Raine, just to scare her. Raine didn’t believe that for a minute, but she accepted the apology and asked Jake to send a letter to the DA, which she had done. The DA also read the letter in court. After that, Julie’s case looked extremely weak. She accepted a plea deal that put her in prison for life with the possibility of parole after 25 years.
With that it was over. Natalia and Raine were relieved. Natalia had worried herself nearly sick knowing she’d have to face Julie in court. In the end, it was Raine who’d gotten her through it all. She’d found that living with Raine was the easiest thing she’d ever done. They rarely if ever fought, and when they did fight, Raine never raised her voice or her hand to her. In the end, Raine showed Natalia what a healthy relationship should look like, and how respecting each other and taking what the other person felt and thought into account should always be the first thing to do in an argument. Natalia was learning a lot from this woman who’d never been in a relationship before. Natalia was convinced that all of the relationships she’d been in up until that point were just marking time until she found Raine. Now she wanted to hold onto her with both hands. She just hoped she’d be able to do that.
Four days later Kashena was sent home from the hospital. That night, Sierra was relieved to curl up next to her wife in their bed. She hadn’t realized how much she’d missed Kashena’s presence in their house until she’d come home that evening.
“Do you need anything?” Sierra asked, looking up at Kashena.
“Nope,” Kashena said, smiling, feeling very happy to be home finally.
“Are you tired?” Sierra asked, her look changing slightly.
Kashena tilted her head, one eyebrow going up slightly, “Why?” she asked, her tone suspicious.
Sierra moved to sit up, looking down at Kashena.
“Baz told me about the vision you had.” Sierra said, her tone seriou
s.
Kashena closed her eyes slowly, then opened just one, peering up at her wife, “On a scale from one to ten, how much trouble am I in right now?” She asked.
Sierra couldn’t help but laugh, not on because of the look she was getting from her wife, but for the words she’d just said.
“Let’s just say,” Sierra said, putting her hand on her wife’s stomach, “That you better not ever, and I mean ever Kashena Windwalker-Marshal, keep something like that to yourself again.”
Kashena blew her breath out, “I’m honestly hoping I never have a vision that tells me I’m going to die again, but if I do, I promise you’ll be the second to know.”
“Second?” Sierra repeated sharply.
“The life insurance salesman will still be my first call.” Kashena said, smiling beatifically.
“Oh, and that!” Sierra said, narrowing her eyes.
“Uh-oh…” Kashena muttered, knowing she’d backed into more trouble now.
“You know that was completely illegal right?” Sierra said.
“Not really, no,” Kashena said, grinning.
“You knew you were going to die!” Sierra exclaimed. “You had prior knowledge!”
“And the paperwork I signed didn’t say a damned word about premonitions.” Kashena said just as vehemently.
They stared at each other for a long moment, then started to laugh.
“Okay, you got me there.” Sierra said, moving to lay down again.
“Ha,” Kashena said, “One for the Marine.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Sierra said, grinning all the same. She grew serious then, “I’m really glad you didn’t die.”
“Technically I did,” Kashena said, her look just as serious.
“Okay, then I’m glad you didn’t stay that way.” Sierra qualified.
“Me too,” Kashena said, moving to kiss Sierra’s lips.
Sierra reached up to touch Kashena’s face, her thumb stroking Kashena’s cheek.
“I love you,” Sierra said against Kashena’s lips.
“I love you,” Kashena repeated.
“Don’t ever leave me again,” Sierra said.
“I’ll do my best,” Kashena said, grinning.
THE END
Epilogue
“Come on in,” Kashena said, grinning at the newest member of her team, Jet Mathews, noting again how light her green eyes were.
Jet walked in, smiling at Kashena, glancing around at the house nodding, impressed.
“Nice house, boss,” Jet said, her light green eyes sparkling.
“Thanks,” Kashena said, nodding toward the backyard, “Everyone’s back there. Do you need a drink?”
“Always,” Jet said, winking at Kashena, taking note of a fairly hot looking Latina in the kitchen, “Hola,” she said to the girl, her smile widening.
“That’s Natalia,” Kashena said, “Nat, this is Jet Mathews, she’s on my team.”
Natalia turned, looking at Jet and thinking she was an amazing looking woman. Her hair, like her name was jet black and cut in short layers, giving her a bad girl look. Her really light green eyes were framed with black lashes that were long and thick. She had her own light eyed girl though, so she smiled at Jet.
“Bueno conocerte,” Natalia said, testing Jet’s Spanish, saying it was good to meet her.
“Sin duda, un placer…” Jet replied in perfectly accented Spanish, saying ‘definitely a pleasure’ with enough insinuation to make Natalia’s eyes widen.
“I speak French and German too, in case you’re interested,” Jet said, winking at her, “Still working on my Arabic though.” Her very charming grin followed the last.
Natalia blew her breath out, shaking her hand to indicate heat, even as she grinned and turned to walk out of the kitchen. Jet watched her walk, tilting her head to get a better view.
“Careful,” Kashena said, next to Jet as she handed her a beer, “Her girlfriend is on Cat’s team…”
“Is she hot too?” Jet asked, grinning.
Kashena laughed out loud at that. She very much liked this young woman, she was smart, talented and definitely a player to the enth power. Leading the way outside to the backyard where the party was in full swing, Kashena let Jet circulate, walking back over to Sierra, handing her wife the wine she’d poured for her, leaning in to kiss her softly on the side of the head. Sierra, who was standing talking to Catalina and Jovina, smiled up at Kashena, reaching up to touch her cheek fondly.
Jet wandered over to where she saw Natalia go, seeing the woman that Natalia handed a bottle of water to. Checking Raine out, Jet could see the attraction. Raine was definitely a soft butch, with dark auburn hair that she wore loose, curls reached to her low back, definitely hot. Jet sighed to herself, she never went for anyone who was attached. You didn’t do that to another lesbian, not cool. Walking over to Natalia, Jet smiled, then looked at Raine.
“Hi,” she said, grinning and extending her hand to Raine, “Jet Mathews.”
“Jet?” Raine repeated.
“Asks the woman named Raine?” Jet replied.
Raine chuckled at that, nodding, “Good point,” she said, her light blue eyes amused.
“I’m on Kash’s team,” Jet said, “I hear you belong to Cat.”
“I do,” Raine said, nodding her head, “Glad to hear Kash is finally filling some of her spots.” Raine said, rubbing her neck, “The overtime was killin’ me.”
“Well, I’m here to save the day,” Jet said, grinning.
“Tengo mi chicha de vuelta,” Natalia said, winking at Raine, saying she would get her girl back.
“Hare mi mejor esfuerzo,” Jet replied, saying she would do her best, surprising Raine with not only the fact that she spoke Spanish, but also the fact that she did so with a perfect accent.
“Wow,” Raine said her tone impressed.
“She knows French and German too,” Natalia said, grinning.
“She also knows Arabic,” Skyler said, walking over.
“Hey!” Jet’s face lit up as she looked over.
“Hey yourself!” Skyler said, moving to hug the other woman.
When they parted Jet looked back at Skyler shaking her head in surprise, “Damn! How the hell are ya, Sky?”
“I’m good,” Skyler said, turning to gesture to the woman with her, “Jet Mathews, this is my fiancée Devin James.”
Jet’s intense smile was back then as she checked out the diminutive, but beautiful Devin, “It is my pleasure…” She said, taking Devin’s hand, her light green eyes staring directly into Devin’s.
“Easy…” Skyler said, grinning even as she did.
Jet’s eyes left Devin’s for a moment, looking at Skyler, “What?” She asked, innocently.
“Oh fuck that!” Skyler said, laughing, “I know you, and I know that routine.”
“What routine?” Devin asked, looking between the two.
Skyler and Jet’s eyes were locked, both of them grinning, “The one where she disconcerts everyone with that direct eye to eye contact…” Skyler said, her eyes sparkling as Jet started to grin.
Finally Jet broke the stare laughing and shaking her head, “Damnit!” She said lifting her beer to her lips and taking a long swig.
“It is really a pleasure to meet you,” Jet told Devin, “Anyone that can catch that one,” she said poking a finger in Skyler’s direction, “Deserves a medal.”
“Gee thanks,” Skyler said, shaking her head.
“So how do you two know each other?” Devin asked, looking curious.
“We were in the middle east together,” Skyler told Devin.
Jet nodded, her eyes sparkling mischievously.
“Why do I know there’s more?” Devin asked, her tone suspicious.
Jet looked at Skyler and shrugging walked away.
Devin continued to stare at Skyler, her look expectant. Skyler watched Jet walk away shaking her head, the woman was a trouble maker. The she caught Devin’s look, then noticed that both Raine and Natalia were lookin
g at her too.
“Christ!” she said, grinning, “Okay, we were… well, FWBs for a while.”
“FWBs?” Raine repeated, not understanding.
“Friends with benefits,” Devin explained her eyes on Skyler, her grin still in place, “Interesting…”
“I need another beer,” Skyler said, moving toward the kitchen and in the exact opposite direction that Jet had gone in.
Devin watched Skyler go, chuckling to herself.
Jet walked over to the barbecue area, seeing the only man in evidence standing by it, cussing at the coals.
“Does that usually work?” Jet asked, conversationally.
Sebastian glanced over his shoulder, taking in the good looking butch standing behind him.
“You’re Jet,” he said, his green eyes narrowing slightly.
“I know,” she responded, “I’ve been Jet my whole life.” She said, with a wink.
Sebastian chuckled, Kashena was right, the girl was quick.
“Kash tells me you spent some time in the Middle East,” he said, reaching over to push a coal over with the tongs he held.
“You are?” Jet asked, her tone expectant.
“Sebastian Bach,” he said, wiping his hand on his jeans before extending it to her.
“Kash’s partner,” Jet said, nodding, “Good to meet you, she has a lot of good things to say about you.”
“Yeah, secretly she loves me and wants to stop being a lesbian for me.” He said, grinning.
“Hope you’re not holding your breath on that one,” Jet said, grinning as she glanced over to where Kashena and Sierra stood.
Kashena was standing behind Sierra, her arms wrapped around her wife’s shoulders, her head bent, whispering in Sierra’s ear, while Sierra smiled and nodded.
Sebastian grinned, seeing how happy his partner was, he knew he was seeing relief and it felt good to know that. The last Marine who’d been helping Jason had been captured and sentenced to twenty five years to life for being an accomplice to the attempted murder of a police officer. As had the other three men who’d attacked Sebastian and Sierra at the house that night; It was finally over.
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