by Laura Day
After the debrief Ryker and Ronnie sit in the infirmary as the nurses fuss over them, the doctors still busy with the more seriously wounded. “What’s an IED?” Ronnie suddenly asks—the first words she has spoken in over an hour.
“What?” Ryker asks, surprised to hear her speak. He has been worrying about her since they made their escape. He has spoken to her several times, trying to draw her out, but she has either ignored him or given him terse, monosyllabic responses.
“You kept talking about an IED in the meeting. I want to know what that is.”
“Improvised Explosive Device. A homemade bomb.”
Ronnie grunts, then sits quietly for a time as the nurse cleans her wounds, occasionally picking out a shard of glass or stone. It stings, but she barely notices. “How can a guy walk right up with a bomb like that?”
“He was probably wearing it.”
Ronnie slowly turns her head to look at Ryker, her eyes haunted. “A suicide bomber?”
“That’s my guess.”
“Why?”
“Why what, Ronnie?” Ryker asks softly.
“Why would someone do that?”
“Tactically, for the diversion. And it worked. They waited until you were at a safe distance, then someone walked in and set off the bomb. They very nearly got away with you. We were lucky today. Besides tactics… I can’t say what makes a man strap a bomb to himself and blow it up.”
Ronnie turns from him and stares straight ahead again. Ryker knows they are lucky. Very lucky. Other than a few scrapes and cuts—none serious—he and Ronnie got away clean. He’s going to be sore as hell the next day from the jump to the ground, but that is a small price to pay. He had nearly lost her today.
“I’ve brought you some clothes,” a young woman says, stepping into the infirmary and setting the pile of clothes down beside Ronnie.
Ronnie stares at the clothes for a moment before her eyes come up to meet the woman’s. “Thank you,” she murmurs softly.
“You’re done,” the nurse says after sticking a large bandage over Ronnie’s left palm. “You’re going to be hurting for a few days, but you’re going to be just fine. I recommend you take a couple of Tylenol for the pain,” she adds, handing her a small paper cup with two pills inside. “You may not be feeling it right now, but you will.”
“Thank you,” Ronnie says, sliding off the table, taking the cup. She looks at the pile of clothing again for a moment then picks them up. “Where can I change?”
“Over behind the curtain,” the nurse says, pointing before leaving to attend to other duties.
Ryker starts to hop off the table as well. “Nuh-uh,” the second nurse says, putting her hand firmly in Ryker’s chest. “You’re not going anywhere. The doc wants to run some x-rays on you.”
“For what?”
The nurse looks at Ryker in exasperation. “Petty Officer Evans… did you or did you not jump off a two-story building today?”
“I’m fine!” Ryker protests.
“So... where did you earn your medical degree?” the nurse asks coolly as she finishes cleaning a nasty cut on his cheek. Two inches higher and the piece of glass would have gone right in his eye.
“But, Ronnie...” Ryker says, looking around the nurse to watch Ronnie swallow the pills and wash them down with some water, then step behind the curtain.
The nurse looks over her shoulder before leaning in close and lowering her voice. “She’s still in shock. We have a counselor waiting to see her. She will be okay.”
“But…”
“No buts,” the nurse says firmly, cutting him off. “I’ll have the Marines come and restrain you if I have to. So sit tight and we will have you out of here a few minutes.”
“But…” Ryker tries again, causing the nurse to raise her finger in warning and glare at him playfully.
“Don’t you move,” the nurse warns, pointing a finger at him, then steps away to Ronnie. “Dr. Baker, right this way please,” she says, escorting Ronnie to the door.
Ryker leans forward so he can see around the door as the nurse gently hands Ronnie off to a kind-looking man standing in the hall. Ronnie nods, then follows the man as the door swings shut.
CHAPTER NINE
Ryker is pacing in the hall outside of Dr. Pate’s office, where he had been for the past half hour. He had been x-rayed, then released, the nurse telling him where he could find Ronnie. Part of it is nerves as he worries about Ronnie, but he can also feel himself getting sore and stiffening up from his fall. He is going to hurt like hell tomorrow and he wants to keep moving, trying to walk it off.
“Petty Officer Evans,” the nurse says quietly behind him.
Lost in his own thoughts, he starts and whirls to face the same nurse that had patched him up earlier.
“Sorry. Didn’t mean to startle you,” the nurse says.
“It’s okay. I’m just jumpy.”
“I have the results of your x-rays.”
“Thank you nurse… Uhhh…”
“Hughes. Sandra Hughes.”
“Sorry,” he says, slightly embarrassed that he didn’t know her name. “What have you got for me?”
“You have a near clean bill of health. You have small stress fracture in the fibula just above the ankle on your right leg. That’s the big bone. But so long as you don’t jump off any more buildings for a while you should be okay.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” Ryker says wryly. “How are the two Marines?”
Sandra’s face becomes serious. “We couldn’t save one. The other is hanging on but he has such massive internal injuries…”
“Marines are tough,” Ryker states quietly, and he can see Sandra’s face scrunch as she fights her tears.
“Yeah. But I don’t know if he is that tough. I hope you get the bastards that did this.”
“Don’t worry. We will.”
Sandra offers Ryker a half-hearted smile. “See that you do.” She pauses for a moment before adding, “I have to get back to the infirmary.”
“Thank you for letting me know,” he says. “I may be back around later for some more aspirin or something. I’m starting to feel that fall.”
Sandra offers him a weak grin. “If think you’re sore now, just wait until tomorrow.”
Sandra isn’t even out of sight when Ryker hears the door to Dr. Pate’s office open. Ronnie steps out, the doctor right behind her.
“Feel free to call on me anytime, my dear,” Doctor Pate says with a kindly smile.
“Thank you Doctor Pate…” Ronnie begins, but is interrupted by the doctor making an ah-ah-ah noise and giving her a meaningful look. “Sorry, Jim,” she amends. “I’ll be fine.”
“Yes. I know you will, Veronica. But if you need someone to talk to, you know where I am,” the doctor says, then looks at Ryker and smiles. “She’s still a little shaken up, but she’s tough. She’ll be fine.”
Ryker isn’t entirely sure he is able to keep his relief off his face. “That’s good news. Thank you, doctor.”
Jim smiles again and nods. “Go home. Get some sleep. You will feel much better in the morning,” he says, looking at Ronnie.
Ronnie smiles. Dr. Pate hadn’t told her anything earth shattering, but talking with him has made her feel a little better. She is exhausted and a good night’s sleep feels like just what she needs.
“How are you?” she asks. Ryker is still in the same dirty and torn clothes he has been wearing. “Why haven’t you changed?”
“I’ve been waiting on you. I wanted to make sure you are okay.”
What Ryker says hits her hard. She can feel the tears coming, and despite her best efforts to stop them, she can’t.
Ryker watches Ronnie’s face twist in anguish before she collapses into his chest, sobbing softly. He wraps her in his arms and holds her tight, one hand on her head, saying nothing, just allowing her to weep.
“I was so scared today,” she gasps out between sobs.
“I know. So was I.”
She gat
hers herself. “You? I thought you didn’t get scared.”
“I was afraid today.”
“Of what?”
“Of losing you. Of you being shot or killed.”
Ryker’s words start the tears all over again. She doesn’t know what to think. Twice Ryker has saved her. He had saved her in the parking garage almost a week ago. Today he had jumped off a three-story building to save her from being kidnapped.
He was going to run out into the open, to draw the gunman’s attention, so she could live. And die in the process. The only reason he is alive now is in her panic she had delayed him long enough for help to arrive. And even then, when all had seemed lost, he tried to protect her with his own body.
Why would he do that? Why would he throw his life away to save hers? To throw it away without even the guarantee that she would live. She has to know. “Why? Why were you going to throw your life away like that?”
“What?” Ryker asks, not understanding.
“Today. Behind the red car. You were going to run out there and get shot. Why?” she asks, after a shuddering breath, trying to control her tears.
He doesn’t know what to say. It’s a simple question, but he doesn’t have a simple answer. How can he explain the protectiveness he feels for her? He knows exactly why he did it… but can’t articulate it. “Because…you need to live,” he finally says.
“But why? Why me instead of you?”
“Because I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I didn’t do everything possible to keep you safe.”
Ronnie pulls out of Ryker’s gentle embrace. “I don’t understand,” she says, sniffing and wiping her eyes.
Ryker isn’t sure he understands either. “I just couldn’t stand by and let you be killed. Not if there was any way to prevent it.”
“But…if the car hadn’t shown up when it did, how would your being killed have helped me? What would have prevented the guy from shooting you then coming down there and shooting me?”
“Either way, I would be dead,” Ryker says. “But at least that way, it would have bought you some more time. More time for the car to get there. Besides, I’m not that easy to kill.”
Maybe that is what a search and rescue guy does. She doesn’t know. But his willingness to protect her, to die for her if necessary, affects her deeply. Kenneth bitches if she makes him go to a Chinese restaurant, yet Ryker was willing to lay down his life for her.
“Stay with me tonight.”
“Ronnie… are you sure that is what you want? You have been through a lot today.”
“Yes. I don’t want to be alone tonight. I will sleep better knowing you are there. Please.”
Ryker pauses. This is so not a good idea… but Ronnie isn’t his charge, and he does want to spend the night with her. He wants to hold her and make her feel safe. “I’ll sleep in the chair,” he offers.
“No. I want you to hold me. Just hold me.”
He gently pulls her back into his embrace as he smiles. “United States Navy… at your service.”
It is just before midnight when Ronnie opens the door using the tips of her fingers, the palms of her hands having become very sore from falling, or being thrown, to ground several times today. But worse than her hands are her knees, and she winces as she steps back, silently inviting Ryker to enter.
Even though he took three Advil, Ryker is becoming so sore even walking hurts… and Ronnie doesn’t seem to be in much better shape, moving gingerly about her room. “We’re quite the pair, aren’t we?” he teases.
She smiles slightly. “Yeah. I’m sore and my hands and knees are killing me. But considering the alternative…”
“Yeah. I’m not all scraped up like you are, but every muscle and bone in my body hurts.”
Ronnie eases into the bed with a groan.
“Ronnie… are you sure about this?” Ryker frets. He is worrying that this is some kind of test, a test he doesn’t want to fail.
“Yes. I just want to feel safe. Even though I am in this building surrounded by Marines, I only feel really safe when you are around.” She looks at him and she can see the doubt on his face. “If you are uncomfortable with this, you don’t have to stay.”
He desperately wants to stay but he doesn’t want to take advantage of her. He’s afraid that if he stays now he will ruin any chance of winning her in the future. Afraid she will feel like he has taken advantage of her. But if he refuses to stay…
“Ryker,” Ronnie says gently. “I know what you are thinking. I know what I’m doing. Please. Just stay with me.”
He lowers himself gingerly into the bed. He’s too beat-up to do anything right now, so he isn’t worried anything will happen. The bed isn’t large, just a full-size, but as he moves to the middle she snuggles in tight, putting them in the spooning position with her back in his chest. He gently slides a hand under her head and pillow, taking her into a loose embrace.
The minute Ryker’s arms close around her, Ronnie can feel her tears start again, silently running down her cheeks. What she said is true. The only time she feels completely safe is when he is near. She sniffs once, then gasps. “I’m sorry,” she says softly.
“Shhhh…” he says softly. “It’s okay. I’m right here.” His heart rends for her, unable to do anything to take away her fear and pain.
“I know,” Ronnie sniffs again. “Thank you for staying.”
Ryker smiles into her hair. If he were to have his way, he would never leave.
CHAPTER TEN
Ronnie wakes the next morning and sighs softly. She looks at the bedside clock, its glowing red numbers indicating that it’s a few minutes after nine. Nine hours of solid sleep has done her much good and her world has turned right side up again.
“Good morning,” Ryker’s voice whispers softly in her ear.
Ronnie feels her smile widen but she doesn’t move. “Good morning,” she replies. “How did you sleep?”
“Not well,” Ryker admits. “I am so sore it is unbelievable.” Having Ronnie so near didn’t help either, but he keeps that part to himself.
“So no workout this morning?”
Ryker chuckles softly. “Oh, there will be one. It’s called getting out of the bed.”
Ronnie smiles as she lies still, thinking. It’s too bad they are so sore. No matter what happens, she and Kenneth are done. She doesn’t love him and never has. He was safe, comfortable, and convenient—nothing more. But now she wants more. Ryker has stirred feeling in her like no other man. These feelings may only be the result of what they have gone through together this week and amount to nothing. Either way, though, there are going to be some changes in her life. Life is too short to be content with safe, comfortable, and convenient.
“Ryker… may I ask you something?” Ronnie asks. Win or lose, she’s going for broke.
“Sure.”
“Do you want me?”
He is shocked into silence by her question. How does he answer that? Tell her the truth that she is the most desirable woman he has ever met? Or should he play the gentleman and deny his true feelings because he suspects her judgment is clouded by recent events. “Yes,” he finally whispers.
Ronnie feels herself relax. It took him so long to answer she had been afraid that he was trying to find a way to let her down easy. But she still can’t get past why he would want her. “Why? I’m almost ten years older than you.”
“You are not!” he protests.
“Didn’t you say you joined the Navy right out of high school in 2002?”
“Yeah, so?”
“Ryker, I graduation high school in 1994. You do the math.”
Ryker is silent. He figured she was a couple of years older than him, but he would have never guessed eight. “So?” he asks, punctuating the question with a lingering kiss to her shoulder.
“So… I don’t know what is happening to me. But after yesterday, I am ready to make some changes,” she says turning in the bed to face him. “Starting with Kenneth. I have realized that I
want more out a relationship than stability. I want passion. I want heat. I want to live a little. And I don’t understand why you are interested in me. I’m flattered, but I don’t understand.”
Ryker stares into her hazel eyes. “What are you telling me, Ronnie?”
“What I’m telling you, Petty Officer First Class Ryker Evans, that if I weren’t so damn sore I would be tearing your clothes off of you right now. Life is too short. I don’t know if the attraction I feel toward you is because you are the most gorgeous man I have ever met, the fact that you have saved me from certain death twice, the fact that you were willing to die to try to protect me... or what. But whatever the reason, I can’t go back to the life I had. Not the way it was. I want more than to just sit in a chair and read while Kenneth prepares his lecture notes for the next day. I want more than a quick peck on the cheek when I leave for the lab in the morning. I nearly died yesterday and I realize that I haven’t even lived yet.”