by River Savage
“How are you, boys?” Mom steps into the room and walks around to all of them, offering a hug and kiss on the cheek. They all take it with a quick, “Hi Mrs. Hetcherson.” Kota hangs back, her eyes moving between Sterling and me, while Liberty comes straight to me.
“Hey, sorry I wasn’t here when you woke up. I had to organize some things for the boys at Haven. Sue called just as we made it to the coffee shop. Your mom and Kota sat down with me.” She offers me a quick kiss.
“It’s okay. I’m good here. Do you need to go in?”
“No, just trying to delegate some things. Then Mitch wanted to talk. He’s been on my case about coming up to see you. I told him I’d talk to you about it.” I can tell she’s unsure about the prospect of bringing Mitch in, but I don’t want to ask her about her reservations while we have a room full of people.
“I’d like that,” I tell her, and it’s the truth. Mitch and Liberty are cut from the same cloth. They wear their heart on their sleeves. Until he sees for himself that I’m okay, he’s going to be taking it hard. Besides, I need to talk to him about Dominic. Detective Marsh might think she’s done a good thing by making this deal, but if Mitch doesn’t want this, then I’m not going to let it happen. I need to figure out if he’s in the right head space for it. Mitch is a good kid. If Dominic is going to be coming back into his life again, he’s going to need someone who has his back. I’m his person. I’ve grown attached to him, and I hope I’m making a difference in his life. He is without a doubt, making one in mine.
Forty
Liberty
“So you’re saying I have no say in this?” Mitch stands and paces the length of Hetch’s hospital room. It’s been three days since Hetch woke up and after coordinating with Sue the last two days, she was finally able to drop him off at the hospital for a visit.
“We’re not saying that, Mitch. We’re just telling you what we know. So you’re prepared.” Hetch tries to calm him, but I can see Mitch starting to work himself up.
The pacing.
The way his hands clench, opening and closing tightly.
The panic in his eyes, the quick rise and fall of his chest.
He's not taking this the way I thought he would at all.
“Well, I don’t want to see him.” He stops his pacing and turns to face us, his cheeks holding a red flush. “I refuse to.”
“You don’t want to at least try, Mitch? You won’t be alone. The visitation will be monitored.” I try to reason with him. When Hetch told me about Dominic and his involvement in The Disciples, I suspected Mitch would be confused, but the last thing I expected was for him to be this angry about it.
“The last time I saw him, he almost broke my nose, and one of his crew put you in the hospital, Liberty. I don’t care if he was playing a part. He put you in the hospital.” My heart warms at his loyalty, but I try not to let it show. Instead, I look to Hetch, hoping for some kind of help.
“What? He has a point, sweetheart.” My eyes grow wide in a silent are-you-kidding-me stare. I told Hetch this morning we should wait to tell Mitch, but he said something about him being his person, and it would be better coming from him. He went on about how we shouldn't keep this from him a moment longer.
“Well, you don’t have to make any decisions right away. We still have some time before we have to set something up. Maybe you should think it over.” I try a different tactic.
“I’m not changing my mind. I’m not seeing him. I don’t trust him. You can go back and tell them no.” I understand where he’s coming from, and don’t blame him. But the last thing I want for him is to make such a rash decision without thinking about it. “No one asked me what I wanted.” It's the change in his tone, the vulnerability in his voice that has Hetch speaking up.
“Well, tell us. What do you want, Mitch?” His eyes lock onto Hetch's as he finally chimes in on my side. The room fills with even more tension as they stare one another down. Like this moment is too important to be spoken, so instead of using words, they're talking with their eyes. “Because the only thing B and I want is for you to be happy. Remember the day I said sometimes family is in here?” I watch as he pats his chest with his hand right over his heart. Mitch's stare drops down to Hetch's hand with a slight nod. It's so slight I almost don't catch it. “We're always gonna be your family. Rebuilding a relationship with him won't change that. You don't have to choose between us because we aren't going anywhere.” I see the realization of Hetch's words as they hit Mitch. How the tension all but evaporates.
Did he think we wouldn't be there for him if he wanted to see Dominic?
Before I can dwell on the question, Mitch steps toward Hetch and wraps his arms around him. But it's not what pulls me out of my own head. It's the fact there is no uneasiness in Hetch, no hesitation at all as he wraps his arms around Mitch.
A few seconds pass us by before they finally release one another and Mitch's eyes land on me. His silent words wrap themselves around me.
Please don't make me.
I don't want this.
And it's the raw honesty that has me relenting.
“Okay, Mitch,” I tell him. It’s for the best anyway. There won’t be any getting through to him today. The whole ordeal has too many wild emotions spiraling around all of us to be settled in one day. “I’ll talk to your caseworker. We’ll set a meeting up for you two so you can explain everything you're feeling and what you want, even if it's nothing at all.” I don’t know how that conversation is going to go down. But it is what it is. At least it gives Mitch a chance to get some things off his chest to the people who can actually change this outcome.
Happy with my stance on the matter, Mitch takes a seat back beside Hetch’s bed and reaches for his backpack. “I brought the board. You want a game?” He pulls out his chess set and starts setting it up on the small table in front of Hetch.
“Only if you let me win. I am at a disadvantage here, you know?” He points to the bandage on his neck.
“Sorry, not going to work on me. I don’t do special treatment.” He doesn’t seem as affected as everyone else who has walked through the door these last few days, but I see it. I see the slight flash of panic in his eyes every time they land on Hetch’s bandage. The way he’s been quietly regarding him. He’s been just as scared. But unlike the rest of us, he's kept himself together.
“Harsh.” Hetch lets out a gurgle for a cough. I’m starting to get used to the sound and am no longer panicked at hearing it. I reach for the water and hand it to him.
“Okay, well I'm gonna head down and get a coffee, leave you boys to it.” I stand, wanting to give them some space.
“You don’t want to stay and watch me kick his butt?” Mitch looks up, his teasing tone much easier to hear than the panicked one.
“Nah, you boys have fun. I'll be back in a few. You need me to get you two anything?”
“We're good.” Hetch reaches for my hand and squeezes briefly. I squeeze back before pulling away with one thing on my mind.
We are good.
And nothing will change that.
Forty-One
Hetch
“You two like to break the rules, huh?” The nurse I’ve come to know as Liberty’s favorite, whispers across a sleeping Liberty as she checks my blood pressure and vitals.
“Don’t blame her. I made her climb on up,” I whisper back, careful not to wake her. It’s been seven days since I woke up and not only did Liberty not leave my side the three days I was out of it, she hasn’t left me since.
“I think she loves you.” She continues to write in my chart, not looking up. I see why she’s Liberty favorite. Even though she may be a little too chatty and maybe a bit too nosy, she does have a way of putting you at ease.
“I don’t know. She still hasn’t said it.” I feel Liberty tense beside me, but she doesn’t stir or wake. We haven’t had much alone time these last seven days. Between my mom, my sister, and my teammates, my room has been a revolving door for visitors. Doesn’t
mean I don’t think she does. I’m just waiting to hear where we stand.
“The fact she hasn’t left your side since you’ve been in here says a lot.”
“You picked up on that? Here I was thinking she was sneaking past you nurses every night.” I give her a wink then watch her hide her blush.
“You’re a very lucky man, you know?” She takes off the blood pressure cuff and writes down the results.
Lucky. The one word I’ve been hearing over and over for the last seven days. Lucky I survived the gunshot. Lucky I woke up. Lucky I have such a supportive family.
While I am still trying to work through everything that happened to me, I still feel like luck had nothing to do with it.
More like fate.
“Well, I’ll feel a lot luckier when they let me get out of this place.” As much as I appreciate the whole “saving my life” thing. I’m ready to go home. The visitors, the food, the poking and prodding every other hour, I’m done. Although my neck is still stiff, the pain has diminished to a dull ache, my dizziness and nausea gone, and after no longer dreaming about my father, it’s safe to say my brain is in good working order.
“Well, there you go, getting lucky again. A little birdy tells me you might get your discharge papers today.” She replaces my chart at the end of the bed and starts walking out.
“You’re saying he gets to go home?” Liberty sits up, her sudden alertness way too bright to have only just woken up. The earlier tension I picked up on when the nurse mentioned love, runs through my mind. The little witch has been listening in on our conversation the entire time.
“Morning, Liberty.” Avery laughs at her eagerness but doesn’t comment on it.
“Don’t morning me, Avery. Does he get to go home today?” Liberty turns her puppy dog eyes up at her, her excitement spilling onto me.
Seriously, I love this woman. Not only does she know everyone who comes into my room by first name, she’s become fast friends with most of them.
“Put it this way, if all goes well on Dr. Fenteir’s rounds this morning, you should be able to sleep in your own bed tonight. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have other patients to attend to.” She offers us a brief wave before leaving us alone.
“Oh, my God, honey. You’re going home!” She wraps her arms around my waist, careful to keep away from my neck, and presses her lips to my cheek.
“So you heard, you little faker.” I pinch her side, watching her face light up with a shy smile.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to eavesdrop. I was waiting for her to leave.” Without hesitation, I lean forward and press my mouth to hers.
“Liar.” My lips move against hers in a chaste kiss. The room slips away when her mouth parts and her tongue meets mine first, surprising me and exciting me. I take over the kiss. I devour and savor the first burst of her taste; nothing has ever tasted as good.
This is what I’ve missed the most. These quiet moments where we can just connect again.
“Oh, God, not this again.” My sister’s voice interrupts our morning make-out session, but I don’t pull back, not even when Sterling adds in his two cents.
“Leave them alone, Dakota. They’re like teenagers who’ve been grounded for a month. They have a lot to catch up on.” I might not be able to see them, but I’m betting his grin is as big as my sister’s. It’s all my family and friends seem to do around us lately. Grin.
“Yeah, leave us alone,” I moan against Liberty’s mouth, still caught up in her sweet taste. Who needs pain meds when I have her kisses to give me a high?
“Sorry, can’t do. Mom is outside the door talking with your doctor, and apparently, you might get to go home today. So I’d take your tongue out soon, or you might find yourself grounded again.”
It’s all Liberty needs to pull back and end the kiss.
Seriously, if I'm not released today, I’m going to lose it.
“Can I get you anything else before I leave?” My mom fusses with a throw pillow after tidying up the living room and fidgeting with the remote controls.
“Mom. I told you, I’m in good hands,” I reassure her, but we both know it’s not happening tonight.
“Come on, Mom. We need to go, leave him be. Liberty will look after him.” Kota steps in, trying to move things along.
It’s my first night home in ten days, and after a long, dragged-out day of waiting around for my discharge papers, I’m ready to fall into my bed with Liberty by my side, and finally have some peace and quiet.
“I know she will, darling. I’m just making sure you’re settled.” She fusses some more, tidying up things that don’t need to be tidied.
“Mom.” I step in front of her. “I know you’re worried, but I’m fine. Even if Liberty wasn’t here looking after me, I can handle it.” Me being home is what everyone has been waiting for. Now I’ve been discharged, they’re all starting to hover.
“I thought I lost you, Liam.” Her lip wobbles and her voice shakes. “You’re my son, and I thought you were gone.”
“Mom….”
“No, don’t ‘Mom’ me. You know I worry.” I cut her off with a hug before she starts breaking down in front of me and I never get her to leave. She’s been okay the last week. I think having me in the hospital helped. Now I’m home, I think the reality of the entire situation is hitting her hard.
“I know you do, Mom. I’m sorry I scared you. But I’m good. And tomorrow when you drop by unannounced, you’ll see I survived.” I give her my best comforting smile and a wink for good measure. “Now go, before Kota loses her cool and drags you out.” I carefully lean forward and give her cheek a kiss. She doesn’t release her grip on me right away, holding on a little tighter than normal.
“Are you sure I can’t get you anything else before I go?” I know she doesn’t want to leave me, but if I let her stay one moment longer, she’ll never leave.
“I think B has it under control.” My eyes find Kota’s and silently ask her to wrap this up.
“Okay, let’s go. Let’s go.” Kota’s impatient tone eventually breaks Mom’s reluctance. Herding Mom toward the door, she blows me a kiss and tells me they’ll be back tomorrow.
“You will call me if you need anything?” Mom starts pestering Liberty next.
“I promise.” She accepts my mom’s hug then my sister’s.
“Love you, son,” she calls out as Kota pushes her out the door.
“Love you, too, Mom.” I lock up behind them and turn to find Liberty standing there, carefully regarding me.
“You’re not going to fuss over me like my mother and sister just did, are you?” I step in front of her and pull her close. While I was given the all clear to head home, I’m still a little tender and for the next few weeks, I’m meant to be taking it easy.
“Depends.” She rises to her toes and offers me her soft, warm lips. It doesn’t get old. The touch of them. The taste of them.
“On what?” I smile against her, but she doesn’t open like I want her to.
“If you behave.”
“Well, you know that’s not happening.” I try harder to deepen the kiss, to ignore the throb in my neck as I lean in closer to get a better taste. She doesn’t let it progress. Pulling back before I can get too far, she takes my hand and walks down the hall to my room.
“I’m serious. You heard the doctor. Nothing too strenuous for the next few weeks.”
“So you’re saying no sex?” I follow her down to my room, only a tad disappointed. As much as I want to take her, I know we have a lot to talk about first.
“No sex, Hetch.”
“Okay, fine. But are you opposed to sleeping naked?” We clear the doorway to my room as I play with her some more, and like every time I do, that cute blush of hers kisses her cheeks.
“Seriously, who would have thought you were shot eleven days ago?” Her words tell me she finds me charming, but the drop in her smile shows me she’s still a little shaken up by it.
“Come here, baby.” I climb into bed and m
ove over to make room for her.
“Hetch, I still have a few things I need to do before bed.” Her reluctance doesn’t concern me. She’s fought me every step of the way in this relationship. Why would she stop now?
“Sweetheart, it’s my first night out of the hospital, and I just want to hold my woman, in my bed, with no interruptions.” I pat the bed, encouraging her up. It only takes a couple of pats before she eventually gives in and climbs in with me, resting her cheek on my chest.
“Thank you,” I whisper when she settles in and makes herself comfortable.
“For what?” She doesn’t look up, but I can still picture the confused look on her face.
“For not leaving me. For not leaving Kota and Mom, and the team alone in all of this.” I know we have some issues we need to work through, but she was there when I needed her, when my family needed her, and that alone tells me more than what hasn’t been said between us.
“Ahh, I don’t know if you’ve noticed or not, but I was kind of a mess. If it weren’t for your mom and sister, and the guys, I might have been committed.” Her forced laugh does nothing to take away from the fact she isn’t exaggerating. Both Kota and Fox have filled me in on how hard she took it. Imagining her broken and lost, hurts my heart, so I shake the image away.
“I know I can’t take it away, but I’m sorry I put you through it, Lib.” It’s barely enough, but it’s all I can offer.
“Don’t you dare apologize to me. You were doing your job. You have nothing to be sorry for.” Her voice is steady, but I don’t miss the shake in her hand as she brings it to rest on my stomach. Yeah, it’s my job. I’m a police officer, but we weren’t in a good place when I was shot. The last thing she needed was the extra stress of not knowing where we were at.
“Does my job frighten you?”
She doesn’t answer right away, but I don’t panic. The concern isn’t if my job frightens her; it’s if she can handle it or not.