Insight

by Jennis Slaughter

  Raelin sagged in relief, hanging her head while holding onto her lover’s hand. “Don’t you ever scare me like that again, do you understand?” her voice was getting weaker.

  Del finally opened her eyes to regard the group of women hovering over her. “I should say the same for you. I just needed to get him off you. Your lips were blue.”

  Rori leaned over his newest human. “Thank you from the bottom of my heart for what you did.”

  Del reached up to rub his chin. “You’re welcome. Now where is Sumners?”

  Jenny leaned down so that she could look into the blonde’s face. “He’s over there handcuffed and bleeding. Kasey shot him. She didn’t have a choice, he had the gun pointed at Rae, and then he started to point it at her. Shouldn’t we call Jasper or someone?”

  “Yes, Kasey call Jasper, have him come out here. Jenny, go get a first aid kit from the house. I’ll go take care of Sumners. I want him alive,” Del said trying to sit up. She groaned as she moved, her head spinning.

  Kasey had already moved to Sumners when she knew Del was okay and shook her head. “I’ve already got Sumners. Jenny, grab my cell out my pocket and call Jasper while you get the first aid kit. Delaney, you just lie there a few minutes and get yourself sorted. You took a nasty hit to the head just now.”

  “I’m fine; it’s just a couple of cuts. I can’t just lie here all day. We still have a Chief to take in and a Reverend to talk to,” Del muttered, struggling to her good elbow. “You okay Raelin?”

  Raelin was still on her knees, next to the blonde with her head hanging down. “I’m okay. Just trying to catch my breath. You need to sit still until Jenny can put some pressure on those wounds.”

  “They aren’t that bad. The bullet just nicked my shoulder a bit. Probably won’t need anything more than a Band-Aid. I’m more worried about keeping Sumners alive. I have a whole lotta questions I want answered.”

  “Sumners is going to be fine Del, I just caught him in the upper shoulder. Didn’t hit anything important and it’s a through and through. The bleeding is already slowing down. I have some surgical glue in my kit for times like this that will fix him right up.”

  Raelin laid the gun next to the blonde. “I guess that you need to teach me to shoot. I missed him and hit the house instead.”

  Del looked at the witch, knowing her discomfort with guns. “If you had wanted to hit him you would have. It’s not in you to kill someone Raelin and I would never ask that of you. I can teach you to shoot, if you really want me to, but I know you don’t like them.”

  “Then I’ll pass then.” The witch wanted to touch her detective, but wasn’t sure if she could. Her energy level was so low that she wasn’t sure what her body would do automatically. “I’m sorry; I didn’t mean to make him go off like that. He was talking about God and I just responded.” Breathing heavily, she was disgusted with herself, just knowing that she may have endangered more women.

  “Raelin there was no way you could have known he would go off like that. I’m not sure what happened, but there is no excuse for him grabbing a defenseless woman and choking her. Now, I’m going to pull your head down and rest it on my chest so you can get some energy back. Don’t argue with me either, I know that you draw from me and I can see your worry. You need to start trusting in my strength. You can’t always do everything alone. Let me help you for a change. You always hold me at arm’s length when you get like this, but I’m your equal in this Raelin. Just like I let you help me, you need to let me help you too. Now come here,” she said pointing to her chest as she sprawled back onto her back, giving her arm a rest.

  Shaking her head, the witch for once did as she was told. “Bossy when you are hurt, aren’t you?”

  Del breathed deep, wrapping the witch in her good arm. “Yes, I’m a terrible patient. You’ll learn that soon enough. Now, let’s just rest here until you are feeling a little stronger and my head stops spinning.”

  j

  Kasey sighed in relief when she saw Jasper run around the corner of the house. Jenny had returned with the kit and she’d worked on Sumners in silence, allowing Del and Raelin some time to even out a little.

  “Jasper quick. Do me a favor and take a look at Del for me. Once we get everyone into the house, we’ll figure out what happened and fill you in. Sumners is stable.”

  The older man skidded to a halt alongside Raelin and Delaney, and his jaw dropped. It wasn’t because the detective was holding the brunette in a tender embrace; it was because she had a gunshot wound and a gash on her forehead. “What in the Sam Hill happened here?”

  “Took you long enough old man.” Del smiled. “Your agent went off the deep end. I’m not sure what all happened, you’ll have to get it from Rae, but when I came out Sumners had Raelin against a tree throttling her. I grabbed him, we struggled, he tried to shoot me and missed, and then I’m not sure what happened. I woke up with a hell of a headache.”

  “He cracked her in the head with his gun.” Kasey supplied. “When I came out, he had his gun pointed at Raelin, and then he swung around at me so I shot him. He’s been out since it happened, but I’ve got him stable.”

  Shaking his head, the retired agent went over to look at the unconscious Agent. “I should have figured that something was wrong with this guy the last time he was out here. I am sorry Delaney.”

  “Don’t worry about it. Most of this I could have chalked up to a conservative upbringing. Now, we’re a man short so I need to help Kasey take in the Chief. Looks like me staying away for the arrest is out of the question. So Jasper, you help me get Raelin inside to rest, call your Boss, and have ‘em pick up Sumners and Kasey and I will head into town,” Del replied, running her fingers through Raelin’s hair.

  “Hey Jasper...” Raelin’s voice drifted up. “You missed all the fun.”

  Kasey just sat there looking as Raelin, Del, and Jasper, all chuckled to themselves. “How can you guys lay there laughing? Delaney, you are in no shape to help me arrest anyone so don’t even think about it,” she scolded.

  “Agent Spaulding, I don’t think that you’re gonna be able to keep Missy away from it, unless you want me to break cover and give you a hand,” Jasper stated.

  Del turned her head and fired a victorious grin at the young agent. “Listen to your elders Kasey. I promise I’ll be real good if you let me come.”

  Kasey sighed, looking up to the heavens and pleading for patience. “Fine, but we are going to wait a bit before we go anywhere. I want to get you cleaned up and figure out what to do with this jackass.”

  Jasper leaned down and quickly scooped up Raelin out of Delaney’s embrace. He stood patiently waiting as the blonde made it to her feet before making their way into the house.

  After depositing the brunette onto the sofa, the older man straightened up and turned to return outside to help Kasey bring in Sumners.

  “Hey Rookie, you want some help?” Jasper came back around the corner as Kasey was struggling to get Sumners to his feet. Jenny was a few feet away as Kasey wouldn’t let the auburn haired woman near the man.

  “Oh uh yeah, if you don’t mind. I’m not sure where in the house to put him though?” she asked thankfully when the older man took half of Sumners’ weight.

  “Well, we could lock him in the trunk of his car or in the back seat. I’ve already called for reinforcements and they should be here within the hour. I don’t think that Rae or Missy will want him in the house.” The older man took a little enjoyment in grasping the man’s arm in a tight hold.

  Kasey smiled in satisfaction at the groan the now weak Sumners managed. “Back seat of his car is fine. Just pop the hood and disconnect the battery so he doesn’t hotwire it. Rae and Del notwithstanding, I don’t want him anywhere near the house.”

  They put him in the back of the car, and Jasper was not careful enough to make sure that Sumners didn’t hit his head on the way in. “Oops...sorry about that.”

  “You can’t treat me like this. I’m a Federal Agent. I’ll ha
ve both your badges for this!” he snapped from the seat, trying to get his balance without the use of his hands.

  Kasey finished disconnecting the battery and closed the hood of the black car. “He’s going to plead insanity you know,” she stated to Jasper, the three of them walked into the house.

  “He had to pass a psychology test to get into the Bureau and there are regular tests every two years. If he’s crazy, he’s either is a damn good actor, which I doubt or he bribed or blackmailed the doctor.” Jasper shook his head as they headed inside.

  “Do me a favor and look into it for me? I don’t want him getting off easy.” Kasey headed into the kitchen and straight for the sink, hoping to get the blood off her hands. “Jenny, can you do me a favor and find me something to change into?” she asked pointing to her ruined shirt.

  Jenny shook her head and took a step forward to grasp Kasey still damp hands. “Come with me,” she led the Agent upstairs to Raelin’s room. Knowing where Rae hung her button down shirts, she opened the closet and quickly chose a shirt, before she turned around and started unbuttoning Kasey’s ruined shirt. “You did good protecting Raelin and Del. Thank you.”

  Kasey swallowed hard as Jenny started working the buttons on her shirt. “I just did what needed to be done. It’s what any good agent would do. We are trained for these kinds of situations and stuff,” the agent trailed off. “You sure Raelin won’t mind me taking a shirt?”

  Stripping off the shirt, Jenny paused for a moment, gazing at the mounds of flesh in front of her. “Umm, you saved her life so she won’t mind you taking a shirt.”

  Kasey felt incredibly exposed under Jenny’s stare and hoped more than anything the young girl found her acceptable. “Actually, I think it was Del who saved her life.”

  “Sumners would have shot her if it wasn’t for you. Delaney was out for the count.” The younger woman let her hand come up and her fingers graze against the top of Kasey’s breast. It was so soft, and Jenny liked how the older woman hissed in a breath.

  Jenny wasn’t the first girl to see her naked or touch her in this way, but Kasey knew she was the first woman to make her feel warm with just a glance, and grounded with just a touch. She let Jenny do as she wanted, curious to see where this would go. “Are you okay? You’ve been so quiet. I don’t imagine you see too many people getting shot around here.”

  Letting her fingers roam over the silky skin, Jenny whispered, “It will probably hit me tonight, but I expect you to be holding me when it happens.”

  “If you want me to. I’ll do it, err hold you. I’ll hold you, not do it,” Kasey stuttered as Jenny’s hands continued to wander. She groaned inwardly, she’d been doing so well up to this point.

  “Hmm, we’ll see about the doing it another time, but thank you for holding me.” Jenny gave the woman a break, dropping her hand to rest lightly on her hips.

  “Anytime you need it. I’d like to be there for you, whenever you need me. I want to be that person for you,” she said quietly. Kasey looked away shyly; totally aware that what she’d just said was the corniest thing to ever leave her mouth, but meaning every word.

  Leaning forward, Jenny placed a gentle kiss between Kasey’s breasts. “I think I’ll keep you.

  “I think I’d like that. It just, it’s hard. The thought of you going all the way to New York. I’m a little scared to keep letting you in,” Kasey admitted before she had a chance to censor herself. She froze, her whole body bracing for rejection. She knew she was getting ahead of herself. It was entirely possible that Jenny only intended for this to be a short fling while the agent was in town.

  “Well, about that. I was thinking of staying closer to home now since Leroy is going to need all the help it can get to rebuild after this. What do you think?” Jenny looked shyly up at the Agent.

  “I think you should do what you think is best. I’m stationed in New Orleans. I don’t know what’s going to happen. I’d like to keep seeing you after all of this is over if you think that’s okay. I mean, I know I’m not exactly a big tough smooth talker or a badass like Del is, but I can try if that’s what you want. I’d do that for you,” Kasey answered, letting her dark gaze catch and hold the hazel gaze of the shorter woman.

  “You are exactly what I have been looking for. Someone who knows her job, gets tongue tied when I touch her and someone that will stand up for what they think is right instead of what everyone else thinks is popular. Like I said, I think I’ll keep you.” Jenny smiled up into dark shiny eyes.

  “Can I kiss you?” Kasey blurted out ungracefully.

  “I’d thought you’d never ask.” Jenny stepped against the Agent.

  Kasey smiled shyly and dropped her head to brush her lips against Jenny’s, her hands resting gently on the girl’s slim waist.

  Draping her arms over Kasey’s shoulders, Jenny moaned against the tender assault.

  Finally pulling away, Kasey looked down into Jenny’s smiling face. “We should get downstairs. Before we go, can I ask you kind of a personal question?”

  “Ask me anything you want.” Jenny grinned up at the towering Agent.

  “I know you are okay with the whole, Fed part, but you alright with the whole, she part?” Kasey babbled. Things had not ended well after her last girlfriend had decided she didn’t like women so much after all. Kasey really didn’t want to walk that path again.

  “I’m fine with the she part as long as the she is you. Are you okay with the she part?” Jenny teased.

  “Well I didn’t mean the physical she parts; I mean you’re a she and all. I just meant that, well, I don’t want to let you in, and then have you run off with a man I could never live up to,” Kasey whispered looking away.

  Reaching up to caress the face of her Agent, Jenny smiled. “You just stood up to a higher ranking Agent because you thought you were right. You accept that Rae’s a witch and can talk to Rori. You put yourself in front of me when Sumners drew his gun in the kitchen. You don’t have to live up to anyone; they have to live up to you.”

  “Thank you,” Kasey whispered burying her face in Jenny’s neck as they hugged. “Let’s go downstairs. Someone needs to keep Del and Jasper out of trouble.”

  She started for the door, completely forgetting she hadn’t put on a new shirt.

  “Uh, sweetheart...you might want to put that on before you go downstairs. I don’t like you advertising what you got to everyone.” Jenny grinned.

  Kasey turned in confusion followed Jenny’s gaze to the shirt lying on the end of the bed. She blushed a bright red as she grabbed it buttoning it quickly. “Let’s try this again shall we?” she joked, turning back to the door and holding it open for the young woman.

  “Thank you ma’am.” Jenny walked out of the bedroom, holding out her hand for the agent to take.

  Kasey and Jenny walked into the living room to find Del nearly passed out on the floor next to a sleeping Raelin sprawled on the couch. “How long has Del been out?” she asked Jasper, setting her kit next to the detective and kneeling down to look at her cuts.

  “Just a few minutes...I checked the wounds and they’re not bleeding so I’m thinking that Raelin may have drained her a bit too much.” Jasper stood over the two women.

  Kasey pulled some swabs and alcohol out of her kit and set them in reach. “Del, wake up for me. I need you to unbutton your shirt so I can look at your arm.”

  The detective blinked blearily at the agent, but complied clumsily. “It’s the stingy stuff for me, isn’t it?

  “Afraid so detective,” Kasey replied, pulling the bloodied shirt off Del’s shoulder and taking her arm out of the sleeve. She looked at Jasper. “What do you mean drained?” she asked, looking at the cut closely.

  Jenny piped up. “Rae was so low on energy that she may have taken some from Del. If she hadn’t, I think Raelin would have died. She used her magic again when she woke Del up out there. Didn’t you feel something when you put her hand on her back?”

  Kasey looked up from Del’s flesh and c
aught Jenny’s eye. “I did yeah, but I didn’t know what was happening. I just wanted her to know I was there for her. It was a weird tingle. Interesting,” she returned her gaze back Del’s wounds, wiping gently with one of the alcohol coated swabs.

  “Ow, Jesus, easy will you?” Del snapped hissing at the sting.

  Raelin turned her head, and saw Kasey leaning over her lover who had her shirt off, and who was swearing up a blue storm. Reaching over, she laid her hand over Del’s shoulder. “Hey! Just tell it to stop hurting, and it will.”

  Del turned and gave her witch a hard look. “That’s just about enough out of you. What did I say about using more magic? I’ll be fine; I’m just being a baby. Don’t think I don’t know how close you were to killing yourself earlier? We’re going to talk about that once you’re feeling better.”

  “I’m not using magic. This house is filled with it. Just tell your cuts to quit hurting, and they will stop,” she closed her eyes and listened to the goings on in the room.

  Kasey bit her lip to keep from laughing at the stubborn look on Del’s face. She continued to clean it, happy that it wasn’t going to need any stitches. “I think we should put off the Chief a bit Del, you’re in no condition to make any arrests and I don’t feel comfortable leaving you guys here at the house with no back up.”

  “Nothing doing. I’ll be fine as soon as you finish bandaging this up. I’ll be good to go. We can leave as soon as the backup arrives to take Sumners away,” Del said, nodding to herself.

  Kasey looked over at Jenny, seeing the worry in even her eyes. “I don’t think it’s a good idea Del. You took a nasty blow to the head; we can’t risk you having a serious head injury. “

  “Jasper...what’s the feeling in town? Any one talking?” Raelin asked, even though she didn’t open her eyes.

  “No, it’s pretty quiet actually. Brito was over at the diner this morning, watching me replace the glass on the front door.”