“No, I can't let you do that.” Fletch protested.
“What if I send you a limited cash card? Send me your current address.”
“Fine. I know you'll hound me if I don’t.”
“You're right about that.” Charles let out a booming laugh
“Charles, there's something else. There's a girl, she's a member of the crew.”
“Is she a shifter?”
“No, but she's been told about them. Our boss and the rest of the crew are bears. Charles, she's being stalked by a wolf.”
Fletch explained what was going on. He told him about the attack the day before, and everything he knew about Shannon Stevens.
“Doctor Shannon Stevens?”
“Yeah, do you know her?”
“I know of her. Idaho Air Rescue has come to our aid and air lifted for us a few times. In fact, they were called at Thanksgiving when Robert was called and had to leave us. Are you sure you're alright?” Charles asked. “That sounded like a pretty nasty attack.”
“It was, but there's a retired doctor here that looks out for shifters. I'm on the mend. One last thing, this girl, I'm attracted to her.”
“Is she your mate?”
He didn't tell him that his brother Robert was attracted to Dr. Stevens once, but it didn't matter, Robert had found his true mate.
“I have no idea. I like her, but I got the impression she doesn't want to get involved. I’m sure it has to do with her past.”
“Well, you have enough going on without complicating things with a female. If she's truly your mate, things will work out. The job comes first.”
“Thanks Charles, maybe I'll see you soon. Say hello to your wife for me.”
“I will. Stay out of trouble.”
After he hung up, Charles started making inquiries into Dr. Shannon Stevens.
*****
Fletch’s phone started to ring as soon as he hung up from Charles.
“Hello?”
“Fletcher, it’s Gary. Don’t fix anything for dinner. We’re going over to the local bar for burgers. We’ll be on our way back, shortly. How are things at the shop?”
“Everything is quiet. How long before you arrive?”
“Thirty, maybe forty minutes. After everyone has gone through their post-check, we’ll go eat.”
“Okay,” he replied to dead air, Gary had already hung up. “At least he gave me a heads up.” He walked through the shop and looked out back. He really wanted to work on one of the helicopters, but he didn't have time. He checked the back gate and made sure it was secure. They had added dead bolts that went into the ground for added security. He locked the back door and went upstairs to clean up. His shoulder was almost healed, thanks to the rapid healing gene all bear shifters had. He left the dressing in place; he didn't want Dr. Stevens getting suspicious. It wasn't long before he heard the familiar whoop – whoop - whoop, of helicopter rotors. He went downstairs to help them unload.
“Hey Fletch.” Stan handed him the coffee cup carrier. “Thanks for breakfast.”
“You're welcome. What can I do to help?”
“We got this.”
“Follow me and I'll give you your first training session,” Gary told him. “First, we fuel the chopper before we put it away. Usually, I do my post check while it's fueling. Every time we return, everyone checks their gear and replaces whatever is needed. We have to be ready to take off again in a moment's notice. Show me what you know. You want to do the post check?”
“Absolutely.”
Fletch climbed aboard and grabbed the clipboard. All pilots kept it in the same place. He went through the check list and didn't miss a thing. Gary had him explain everything he did and why. When he did the walk around, he did a couple of things differently than the boss, but it was efficient, he couldn't complain.
“Excellent. Tell me again, why did you need training?” Gary joked. “Oh, that's right, they want you to stay on the ground. Idiot's.”
When everything was done, they all headed to the Runway Bar for burgers.
*****
“How's the shoulder?” Gary asked as they walked to the bar.
“It's good, almost healed. Frank put a fresh dressing on it, just in case,” he said quietly.
“Good. I'll tell Stevens you're okay, if she asks. Being an E.R. doctor, she likes to have a hand in things. How did you get on with Frank?”
“Good, nice guy. It's good to have someone like him for a friend. He's not happy with you, he thinks Shannon should be told everything.”
“There is no reason for her to know everything, not yet. Besides, she doesn't want to know.”
Shannon caught up with them.
“What are the two of you up to?
“We were discussing you, Stevens." Gary replied.
“And what were you saying about me?”
“He was just telling Fletch what a pain-in-the-ass you are,” Kenney told her.
“What!” Shannon swatted his arm. “What an awful thing to say. I'm not.”
That had them all laughing as they entered the Runway Bar.
“What are you drinking, Fletcher?” Gary asked.
“A coke would be great.”
“Sure, you won't have a beer?”
“No thanks, I don't drink.”
“Good for you, neither do I. Do you shoot pool?”
“Do I?” Fletch gave him a maniacal grin. “Why don't we find out. I'll be at a disadvantage, I'm wounded.”
“Yeah, right.”
They were finishing up their second game when the waitress told them their food was ready. When they sat down with the others, there seemed to be a debate in progress.
“I can't believe it,” Kenney looked at Shannon, “you have never gone camping, or spent any time in a forest, or in the mountains?”
“Why would I? I lived in New York City. The closest I ever got to a forest was Central park, and that was scary as hell.”
“What about when we do rescues?”
“I don't go into the forest, do I. I drop from a helicopter, pick up a patient, and I'm back in the air. Other than that, the closest I get to a forest is the top of the trees.”
“We need to take you on a camping trip sometime,” Stan added.
“Why?”
Stan was stumped, he didn't know what to say.
“What do you think, Fletch?” Stan asked.
Fletch quickly took a bite of his burger and shrugged. The last thing he wanted to do was take sides on his new job.
“Stan, tomorrow, when you service the chopper, have Fletcher give you a hand.” Gary took a sip of his drink, then continued. “Let me know if he knows as much as he says.”
“Sure, boss. Do we have a whiz kid?”
“Maybe.”
Gary downed the remains of his soda.
“What are you talking about?” Shannon asked. “What's a whiz kid?”
“Someone that knows as much about a helicopter, as you do about surgery.” Gary answered.
“Really, who?”
“Never mind, Stevens, finish your burger.”
“I’m not a blonde, just in case you didn't notice.”
That got everyone laughing again.
“Come on, Fletcher, we need to shoot one more game.”
“Who’s winning?” Shannon asked.
“I am,” both Gary and Fletch answered.
Gary won the third game, making it best two out of three. By the time they finished the game, everyone was ready to go home and hit the sack.
Later that night, after everyone else had gone to bed, Fletch sat in the office and watched the security footage. It was surreal watching the wolf attack him. Fletch had seen the man's face, but he moved and shifted so quickly, it wasn't caught on camera. Fletch watched it over and over, there had to be something. Then he remembered his friends at the FBI. He made a copy of the footage and forwarded it to one of his friends.
Chapter 19
The next couple of weeks went smoothly. Fletch w
orked hard to learn everything about running an air rescue. Gary liked him and hoped he would stay, but a new air rescue team was in the works and the chance of him staying on, was out of the question.
Fletch worked on one of his helicopters in his spare time. Kenney enjoyed helping him when he could. The best of the two was almost ready for a test run. He couldn't take it off the ground, but he could start it up and go through the pre-check list.
Spring was just around the corner. Shannon sat on the steps at the back door. She wore shorts, trying to soak up the rare sunshine while she watched Fletch and Stan work. She remembered sitting like this when she was little, watching her father work in their small yard on his days off. He was a doctor with a small neighborhood practice in NYC.
She closed her eyes and visualized her father’s familiar face, but before long, the face changed. A strange face stared back, there was something oddly familiar about it, until it morphed into a wolf's face. Shannon jumped to her feet and, forgetting where she was, slipped on the steps and fell.
“Shannon, are you okay?”
Fletch was heading for the shop when he saw Shannon jump to her feet like something had bit her. He ran to her to help her up.
“Oowww.”
Shannon sat on the ground, looking at her scraped knees and rubbing her foot.
“What happened?”
“I don't know. I think I sprained my ankle” she looked at Fletch with tears in her eyes, “I remembered something.”
“Hold that thought. Let’s get you up on your feet and get you cleaned up.”
He helped her limp inside.
“Screw this.”
He picked her up and carried her into the break room.
“What's happened?” Gary asked when he saw them.
“She fell, but she needs to tell you something,” he set her on a chair, “while I get the first aid kit.”
Fletch left the room so Shannon could tell Gary what she remembered.
“Shannon?” Gary asked.
“I was thinking about my father, remembering his face, but then it changed. Gary, I saw him. I saw his face before he changed to a wolf. There was something familiar about it. I know him. I had a dream; someone was screaming at me. It was him; I remember the voice.”
“But you said you could never see his face.”
“I know, this was different. I think I'm beginning to remember.”
Fletch came back into the room and knelt in front of Shannon. He carefully cleaned her knees. Shannon continued to talk to Gary, not giving any thought to Fletch being there.
“You mentioned he was screaming at you. Do you know what he was saying?”
She shook her head.
“Ugh! If only I could remember something.”
“And you had another dream, when was that?”
“The night Fletch was attacked.” She smiled at Fletch. “I'm sorry you were hurt.”
“It's alright, I'm okay now.” He dabbed her knee with antiseptic.
“Ooouch, that stings!”
“Sorry. I thought you were tough?” he scoffed jokingly.
“I am,” she whined and then started to laugh.
When Fletch finished, Shannon stood up.
“Oh, man, my knees are going to be a mess.”
When she took a step, she almost fell.
“Sit down, Stevens. I'd better take a look at that ankle.”
He gently maneuvered her ankle around, making her cringe and whimper.
“We better take you in and get that x-rayed.”
“I'm sure it will be fine; I just need to keep it wrapped for a few days.”
Gary gave her his, don't-question-my-authority look.
“All right.” Shannon knew this was probably going to ground her for a few days. “Damn!”
Gary paged Stan over the P.A. to come to the break room.
When he got there, he looked at Shannon's knees.
“What the hell did you do?”
“I need you to take Stevens over to Urgent care and have them check her ankle, I think it's just a sprain, but we can't take any chances.”
“Sure boss. Let's go Shannon.” Shannon didn’t move.
Fletch went to the rescue.
“Put your arms around my neck,” he picked her up. “I'm sure you can get a wheelchair when you get there,” he told Stan as he carried Shannon out to Stan's truck. He set her in the front seat.
“Good luck. I'll see you when you get back.” He gave her a smile and closed the door. She gave him a smile back, but her eyes screamed she was scared.
“Don't worry, you'll be fine. She's all set, Stan.”
Once they were on their way, Fletch walked back to the break room to talk to Gary.
“What the hell happened?” Gary asked.
“She was sitting on the steps by the back door and she suddenly jumped up, that's when she slipped and fell. I thought she'd been bitten by something. Do you think she's beginning to remember, like she said?”
“I don't know. If she could just remember a name, it would help a lot.”
“What if she doesn't know his true name, if she does remember?”
“I don't know. Have you looked at the surveillance footage again?”
“I've reviewed it so many times, I know it by heart. I've watched it in slow-mo, backwards, forwards. The only face shot is blurry.” He didn't tell him he had sent a copy to the FBI. Hopefully they could clean it up and run a face recognition.
“That's all I get, too. You put up a good fight.”
“Thanks. Are you going to show Shannon the footage?”
“Not until she's ready to accept us as shifters. What would she think if she saw you, as a bear, getting chewed up by her nemesis, the wolf?”
“You've got a point.”
“Was that Shannon I saw leaving with Stan?” Kenney asked as he came into the break room.
“Yup. Stan is taking Shannon to get an x-ray. She fell and twisted her ankle,” Gary told him.
“Poor kid, I hope she's okay. I guess one of us is cooking tonight.”
They all looked at each other.
“I cooked last night, you two can flip a coin,” Gary told them.
Fletch was just about to volunteer when the alarm sounded.
“Grab your gear Fletcher, you’re going up.”
“Yes, sir." Fletch ran to lock the back door, pulled the call sheet, then grabbed his gear. He walked out onto the tarmac just as Gary was finishing his pre-check; Kenney was right behind him.
“Hey, Fletch, what do we have.”
“Ah, Cascade Reservoir, looks like they found a missing hiker, case of hypothermia, minor abrasions, and a broken arm.”
“Accessibility?” Gary asked as they climbed aboard.
“Yes, they report there is an area to land near a visitors center.”
“Oh, boo hoo. I thought you were going to get to ride the basket.” Kenney rubbed his eye with his fist as if he were crying, then laughed.
“Sorry to disappoint you, not this time,” Fletch chuckled, then stowed his gear and buckled up. They were in the air in no time.
It didn't take long to fly to the Reservoir. Gary was able to land in the visitor center parking lot.
Kenney checked the patient and cleared him for airlift, while Fletch checked with friends and family. It wasn't long before they were back in the air, headed for the hospital in Boise.
“Fletcher, go with Kenney. You need to know what we have to do, once we drop off a rescue.” Fletch gave the boss a thumbs up and followed Kenney through the emergency doors.
Kenney showed Fletch what forms had to be filled out.
“If it's a simple rescue like today, there isn't as much paperwork. Now, if the basket has to be used, there's a whole bunch more paperwork, and you have to make sure every box is checked. If you miss something on any of the forms, the insurance companies get upset and then we don't get paid.”
“So, that's why you like it when Shannon goes in the basket. She ha
s to do the extra paperwork.?”
“You're a quick learner, kid, plus she loves it and she’s good at it.”
“What? The paperwork, or going in the basket?”
“Both.” Kenney finished up and they were on their way.
*****
Stan and Shannon had already returned when the team got back to base. Shannon was wearing a walking boot.
“Stevens, what did the doctor say about your ankle?”
“It's not broken, but I tore a ligament and sprained it really good. No work for at least a week. Sorry boss.”
Shannon was not happy about being grounded.
“How did our newbie do, scooby-doo?” she laughed at her rhyme, her pain meds were kicking in.
“He did well for his first time out,” Kenney told her. “He just has to learn the paperwork.”
“Fletch, if you need any help, let me know. I can make up a cheat sheet.”
“Thanks Shannon, that would be great.”
Shannon got butterflies in her belly when Fletch gave her a gorgeous smile. “No you don't, Shannon Stevens,” she scolded herself. Even with the medication taking over, she knew as long as the wolf was after her, she couldn't allow any attachments. She didn't want anyone getting hurt on her behalf, besides, she wasn't about to give up her job.
“Come on, Fletch, you're not done yet,” Kenney told him. “There is paperwork at this end as well.”
“Lead the way, Scooby-doo.”
Shannon giggled.
“If you know what's good for you, you won't call me that again.”
Kenney hated nick names and he knew it would stick if he didn't nip it in the bud.
“Got it.” He winked at Shannon, then followed Kenney out the door.
“Come on, Stevens,” Gary helped her up, “we better put you to bed.” He had to carry her to her room. “I'll check on you later.”
“Okay.” She was almost asleep.
He covered her with a blanket and hoped she stayed in bed and didn't try to navigate the stairs during the night. He went back downstairs, someone still had to fix dinner.
Chapter 20
Fletch finished his paperwork for the rescue, plus it was his job to finish up all the paperwork in the office. Today was a perfect example of how crazy things could get. Fletch completed the day with flying colors.
Haunted by the Wolf- Shannon Page 10