Safe Harbor

by Radclyffe

  "Someone beat her, Nelson."

  He felt like he was gut shot. "I dont understand - why? How did you find her?"

  "Caroline Clark called me. She told me Bri was missing and I went to look for her. I found her in the dunes."

  Nelson looked at her in confusion. "Caroline? Why did she call you? Whats going on?"

  Reese returned his questioning gaze steadily. "Bri and Caroline are lovers. Theyve been trysting in the dunes. My guess is that someone followed Bri, forced her off the road, and dragged her up into the scrub."

  Nelson rocked back as if she had struck him. Then he leveled angry eyes on her. "You knew about them? Thats why Caroline called you?"

  "Yes. Bri told me she was going to tell -"

  All of his terror was transformed into anger. This was Reeses fault! If she had told him, he would have put a stop to this nonsense before Brianna got hurt! Nelson moved so unexpectedly Reese didnt have time to counter, had she been inclined to. He grabbed her with both hands and slammed her into the wall. "You son of a bitch! You knew my daughter was fooling around with some girl and you didnt tell me?!!" he roared. He punctuated his fury by pounding his forearm into her body. "You let it go on?!!"

  Fire tore through her side. Reese never lifted a hand, though she was well equipped to defend herself. "Nelson--" she gasped.

  When Tory came around the corner, she saw the pain in Reeses face. Nelson stood, one fist poised to strike, the other hand twisted in Reeses shirt front, pinning her to the wall. He was momentarily stunned as Torys cane cracked down on his forearm, the curved handle catching around his wrist, preventing him from swinging into Reeses unprotected face.

  "Let go of her, Nelson," Tory said in a deadly tone. "Now."

  Reese sagged slightly in Nelson's grasp as he turned to Tory in confusion. Reese coughed, one hand pressed to her side, trying to catch her breath. Every inhalation felt like a knife stab.

  Torys eyes never left Nelsons face as she shifted her weight, ready for the next strike. "Do it Nelson, or Ill break your arm."

  "Its okay, Tory," Reese gasped.

  "Hed better pray to God he didnt hurt you," was all Tory said. When Nelson finally dropped his hands to his sides, Tory relaxed slightly, but she kept her eyes on him. "The evac team is on their way. Shes stable, and intermittently conscious. Shes asking for you, Reese."

  "You stay away from her," Nelson seethed. "If you werent queer yourself this never would have happened."

  "I need a statement from her," Reese stated. And I need to see that shes all right

  "Forget about a statement - youre fired."

  Reese shrugged. "You can fire me tomorrow. Tonight Im going to catch whoever has been terrorizing the kids in this town. Tory - call Caroline, will you? I promised her -"

  "Go ahead, Reese, Ill take care of it. Then I need to look at you." Tory said these last words with a glare toward the Chief.

  Reese, smiling gently, brushed her fingers over the hand Tory clenched around the head of her cane. She drew as deep a breath as she could, determined not to reveal how much it hurt.

  "Im really okay."

  **********

  Reese pushed open the door to the procedure room. Nelson followed, halting just inside the door. He was paralyzed by the sight of his daughter. She lay naked under a thin sheet, nearly unrecognizable from her bruises, hooked up to two iv bags. He saw a clear plastic evidence bag filled with bloodied clothes on the counter, with an open rape kit beside it. He fought the sudden urge to vomit. He looked again at the stretcher, expecting to see his little girl, and he saw a battered woman, someone he didnt know. He was afraid to go near her.

  Reese pulled up a stool, taking Briannas hand in hers. She pressed the torn and bloodied fingers to her cheek. She was aware of Nelson coming to stand behind her.

  "Its Reese, Bri," she said gently. "Youre all right now. Youre safe."

  Bris eyelids fluttered, then opened. She tried to focus on Reeses face. Her throat was so dry, it was hard to form words. She found the blue eyes, and let herself be held by the tenderness in them. "Caroline?" she managed at last. "Is she -?"

  "Shes fine, Bri. Shes on her way."

  "Dont let her see me like this -please," Bri said with a struggle.

  Reese smiled in understanding, brushing a lock of hair out of Bris eyes. "Shell need to see you, Bri. Shell be more scared if she doesnt." She waited for a second, then continued with what she knew must be done. "Can you tell me who did this, Bri?"

  Bri tried to turn away as tears leaked from the corner of her eyes. Reese caught them on the backs of her fingers.

  "Did he rape me?" Bri asked.

  Nelson choked back a groan.

  Tory moved from where she had been standing in the doorway. "I dont think so, honey," she said softly. "I still have a few tests to run."

  Bri closed her eyes with a sigh. Reese waited patiently, her entire being focused on the young woman before her. She gently stroked her hair. Tory watched her lover, knowing that at this moment, Bri was the most important thing in Reeses life. How had she ever been nave enough to think this was just a job for Reese?

  "Help me, Bri," Reese whispered.

  "It was the black truck thats been following us. I dont know him, but I - I think I broke his nose. I punched him, when he was on top of me -" Bri lapsed into silence, shaking, overcome by the events too fresh yet to be memories.

  "Oh, Jesus -" Nelson moaned.

  "Give me something more, Bri -" Reese pushed. Bri gasped for breath as she tried to put words to her terror.

  "Reese," Tory warned.

  Reese ignored her. "Tell me, Bri. Help me get him."

  Tory bit her lip, vowing she would stop this if Reese didnt.

  "He hit my bike - I think it smashed his headlight," Bri said with a struggle.

  "Good girl," Reese said.

  Bri, fighting to remain conscious, looked up at her father. "Im sorry, dad. I wanted to tell you. I was scared. " Her voice trailed off as exhaustion claimed her.

  Reese moved aside so Nelson could sit with her. She needed to get back to the field. She needed to check the motorbike for evidence, and start looking for the perpetrator. Very likely he would be seeking medical attention himself if Bri had really broken his nose. As she pulled the door closed, she saw Tory forcefully interrupt Carolines headlong dash down the hall.

  "Wait a minute," Tory soothed, holding the struggling young woman. "It might be better if you see her tomorrow, Caroline. Itll be hard to see her like this -"

  Caroline fixed Tory with a contemptuous glare. "Youre just like all the rest. You think just because were young that our feelings dont matter. Last night right about now she was making love to me. Do you think that doesnt matter either?"

  "Thats not what I meant, Caroline. I know you care about her."

  "_Care_ about her?" she said coldly. "What if it were Reese in there, Tory? Just how long would you wait out here?"

  Tory stared at her, knowing that it could easily be Reese under other circumstances. Just the thought made her ill.

  "Youre right. Im sorry," Tory said softly. "Nothing on earth would keep me away."

  She watched the pretty young blond, who now seemed so much older than her years, resolutely push through the doors to her lover. She turned to her own lover, who was issuing orders into the phone.

  "Call me with anything," Reese said. "Im heading out now."

  "Not until I take a look at you," Tory said as Reese hung up the phone.

  "Five minutes," Reese conceded.

  "In here," Tory said, motioning to an empty exam room. "And Ill take as long as I need. Take off your shirt."

  Reese complied with a sigh, trying to hide the pain that pierced her side as she shrugged out of her clothes. Tory bent to examine the stitches.

  "Why didnt you stop him?" Tory asked as she cleaned the healing incision with peroxide. "You could have."

  "He didnt know what he was doing," Reese grunted as Tory probed a tender spot along her rib cage. "
Besides, hes my commanding officer."

  "Im going to pretend I didnt hear that, Reese. Because as much as I respect and admire your pigheaded dedication to your job, I cannot believe you would let him do that to you." There was a faint sensation of movement under her fingertips, and she felt Reese withdraw from the pressure.

  "He would have come to his senses in a minute. If he had really endangered me, I would have stopped him."

  Tory stepped back, her face furious. "Well, he broke your rib. Now give me your goddamned gun. Youre not working tonight."

  Reese took Tory by surprise when she caught both her hands, pulling Tory against her body. Im going to frighten her again, Reese thought. How many times can I do this to her before its too much?

  "Tory, I love you with everything in me! But I cant do what you want. Please dont ask me to."

  Reeses embrace was so tight it was almost painful. Tory pushed back in her grasp, searching the blue eyes that searched her own. There was honesty there, and shockingly, fear. Shes afraid Ill leave her!

  "Youll need them taped," Tory stated, feeling the tension in Reeses body ease. "And I want your word of honor that you wont take any chances. Not one. If you love me, you owe me that, Reese."

  Reese kissed her softly, "I promise - and thank you."

  Chapter Twentyone

  Nelson stood back against the wall watching Caroline Clark tenderly stroke his daughters swollen cheek. With her free hand Caroline brushed tears from her own face. The look she had given him when she entered the room had warned him he would have to forcibly keep her away. The steel in her gaze rendered him speechless.

  "Its me, Bri. I love you," she whispered over and over. At first Nelson was embarrassed to hear her say such things to his daughter, but after a while he found himself praying that the love of this slight blond girl would be enough to keep his only child holding on. God knows, he hadnt offered her much reason.

  Finally Bri opened her eyes as much as she could, trying to smile when she heard Caroline whisper her name.

  "Hi, babe," she said through cracked lips.

  "Hi, sweetheart," Caroline replied softly. "Tory says youll be okay."

  "You?" Bri croaked.

  "Dont worry about me," she said tremulously "Just get well."

  Bri squeezed her hand weakly. "I knew he was following me. Thats why I didnt meet you. I went the other way so he wouldnt find you-"

  Caroline was crying in earnest now. "I love you so much, Bri. I just want us to be together."

  "Soon, I promise," Bri whispered as her strength began to fade. "Be careful. I love you..."

  Nelson cleared his throat.

  "Ill look after her, Bri," he said, thinking he had finally found something he could do for his daughter. Tentatively, he placed a hand on Carolines shoulder. As Bris eyes closed, Caroline turned unexpectedly into Nelsons arms.

  "Im so scared," she cried, clinging to him like the child she would never be again. "I dont know what Ill do if something happens to her!"

  "Shell be okay, girl. Shes got her mothers grit." He led her around the table to a stool. "You sit here with her in case she wakes up. Shell need you then."

  He looked back from the door at the stranger who was his daughter, thinking what a fine, brave thing she had done. He didnt know her, but he swore that that would change.

  Tory was standing in the hall, giving a report to the team of paramedics who were there to transport Bri to the trauma center. When she finished, she looked at him coldly.

  "Wheres Conlon?" he asked, his voice gruffer than he intended.

  "Out looking for the man who assaulted your daughter."

  He nodded, intending to step past her. She moved purposely into his path.

  "I have several messages for you, Nelson. The first one is from Reese. She wants you to stay with Brianna. She said, and I quote - Thats where youre needed. Youll taint the case if youre involved in any way. She promises she wont rest until she gets him. I have no doubt she means that." She paused until she was satisfied that he agreed. "The next message is from me, and you can be sure I mean it. You broke her ribs tonight, Nelson. If you ever lay a hand on her again, youll never wear a badge in this or any other place as long as you live. Now get out of my clinic - and stay out of my sight."

  "Ill resign tomorrow," Nelson said, his face gray.

  "Reese wouldnt want you to do that," Tory said as she turned away. "Id rather you face her every day knowing that."

  He stared at her retreating back, feeling smaller than he ever had. In the last hour he had seen what love between women was made of, and he knew that he would never discount it again. He only hoped it was in him to love so well. He walked out to the ambulance holding his daughter's hand, praying she would forgive him.

  **********

  What happened that night was the thing legends were made of, and as this story was told and retold by every cop on the Cape, and every person in Provincetown, the story grew. Only the two young officers who answered Reeses call for back-up could really say for sure, and even they couldnt agree on what really transpired.

  Certain facts were indisputable. Reese waited in the dark, in her patrol car, on the edge of Route six, watching the few vehicles leaving Provincetown in the middle of the night. When a black pickup truck with a single headlight passed her, going five miles over the speed limit, she flicked on her lights and siren and chased him to the outskirts of Truro. He finally pulled over and Reese pulled her car in front of him, angling onto the shoulder so that he could not drive off. She sat in her car, looking at the fresh dent in the right front fender of his truck. She remembered her promise to Tory, and she radiod her position and requested back up. They were five minutes away. She did everything by the book, as she believed they should be done. Then she made a mistake.

  She thought about Brianna - of her brave young spirit and her beautiful face, unrecognizable now. She thought about the finger marks on Bri's neck and her breasts, the gouges on her inner thighs. She thought about Bri's terror with him battering for entrance to the places only her lover had ever touched. She thought about Bri out there alone, bleeding into the sand, because some man did not like whom she chose to love.

  She stepped from the car and unsnapped the strap that secured her gun.

  Chapter Twentytwo

  Hospitals in the dark hours of the night were places like no other. Hushed with unnatural silence, punctuated by the moans and murmurs of the ill and dying, they were places to pass through, not to linger. Lives were changed forever here, for the dead as well as the living. Tory walked down the dim hallway toward the ICU carrying her third cup of coffee of a long night that promised to be a longer day. It was just after five a.m., and she welcomed the activity she knew the morning shift would bring. Shed had too much time to think the last few hours, sitting with Caroline, waiting for word from Reese.

  At the end of the hall, Caroline stared at the closed doors of the intensive care unit, automatically wiping the tears that overflowed her eyes, waiting until seven AM when she could see Bri. Watching her, Tory reflected on the clear and simple passion between the young women. Untainted by disappointments, untarnished by the accumulated experiences of loves gone wrong, their devotion was unrestricted, their commitment complete. They were brave and fearless and so pure in their loving. They trusted in tomorrow, believing nothing could come between them. They were glorious in their innocence.

  Sadly, Tory knew there had been a time when she had loved like that. She knew too, as did all those whose first loves withered with change, that she could never love that way again. Some part of her would always be afraid. She wondered if she could ever truly give herself to love again. She wasnt sure she could, or even that she wanted to.

  She glanced into a small dark waiting room just down the hall from the harshly lit main sitting area. Reese was standing at the window, her back to the room. She was still in her uniform. The sky beyond was just beginning to lighten with the dawn. The tense stillness in Reese's figure signaled
to Tory that something was wrong. She went to her, slipping her arms around Reese's waist from behind, laying her cheek against Reeses strong back.

  "Im glad youre here," Tory murmured against her.

  "How is she?" Reese asked, folding her arms over Torys.

  "Theyre still running tests. Her head CT was clear, thank god, so shes just got a bad concussion. We should know the rest of the results within the hour."

  Reese nodded, not turning.

  "Did you get him?" Tory asked quietly.

  "Yes."

  "Are you all right?"

  "I dont know," Reese answered hollowly. She took a shaky breath. "I kept thinking about her- lying alone out there in the night, what he had done to her for no other reason than she loved another woman. Jesus! Shes just a girl!"

  Reese pulled away abruptly, sinking into a nearby chair. She stared at her hands, dangling between her knees. Tory went to her, standing between her legs, placing her hands lightly on Reese's shoulders. Reese was trembling.

  "Tell me," Tory said gently.

  "I got out of my car intending to kill him," Reese admitted in a low voice. "I knew it when I walked up to the vehicle. If it was him, I was going to kill him."

  Torys chest constricted in fear, but her voice was steady. "What happened?"

  "It was him," Reese laughed grimly. "His nose was halfway over to his ear, and he had cuts from pulling her through the brush on his face and hands. I asked him to step out of the truck. I could hear my backup coming, and so could he. He didnt put up a fight. As soon as he was out, I spun him down onto the hood. When the other patrol car pulled in I had my gun against the back of his head."

  Tory nearly stopped breathing, but she tightened her grip on Reeses shoulders. She would not leave her alone with this. "Keep talking, sweetheart," she whispered. "Its all right."

  "They just watched me. I knew theyd never say what happened. This was the Chiefs daughter. I thought about him ripping at her clothes, on top of her - oh, Jesus -" she gasped, her voice breaking. "I could hardly see him any longer. My arm ached from not pulling the trigger. Finally I holstered my weapon, and as I reached for the cuffs, he made his move. He came at me fast, but this wasnt Nelson. I broke his arm. But God, all I wanted was to kill him! I came so close, Tory, so close! What does that say about me?!!"