Darkness Past

by Sherryl Hancock

  “Where are they?” Sierra asked.

  “In my bag.”

  Sierra got off the bed and went to the closet where Kashena’s suitcase was.

  “The side pocket,” Kashena told her.

  “Found it,” Sierra said, pulling out the black pouch and opening it.

  “Don’t you worry you’ll get arrested for marijuana?” Sierra asked with a grin. The herbs closely resembled the plant.

  Kashena chuckled. “I’ve been questioned before, trust me.”

  “I’ll bet,” Sierra said. “So what should I put these in? Tea?”

  Kashena smiled, liking that Sierra knew about herbs. “That’s usually how I take them, yeah.”

  Sierra walked into the bathroom and used the coffee pot there to brew the herbs. A few minutes later she knelt next to Kashena, holding a cup.

  Kashena sat up slowly, feeling her stomach lurch. Taking the cup from Sierra, she took a drink.

  “I used sugar,” Sierra said. “I figured that would help.”

  “It does,” Kashena said. “The healer never does worry about taste.”

  “If it tastes good it doesn’t work,” Sierra said with a smile.

  “Exactly,” Kashena said, laughing softly.

  When she’d finished the medicine, she handed Sierra back the cup. “Thank you,” she said, touching Sierra on the cheek gently.

  “You’re welcome.” Sierra smiled.

  Kashena lay back down, and Sierra put aside the cup then sat next to Kashena on the bed. She smoothed her hand over Kashena’s hair.

  “Mmm…” Kashena murmured. “My mother used to do that when I got these as a kid.”

  Leaning against the headboard, Sierra turned to face Kashena and continued to stroke her hair soothingly. Kashena closed her eyes, sighing softly. It felt good to have someone take care of her for a change. Kashena was always the care-taker, and for once she was being cared for.

  She reached her hand out to touch Sierra’s waist. Sierra moved down on the bed, lying next to Kashena and continuing to soothe her. Kashena dozed, feeling the effects of the herbs. When she woke half an hour later she felt better. Sierra was still lying with her, her hand on Kashena’s shoulder. Squeezing Sierra’s waist slightly, Kashena opened her eyes. Sierra smiled at her.

  “I can see that you feel better,” she said. “I was really worried about you.”

  “I know,” Kashena said, smiling, “and I appreciate that. It’s nice for a change.”

  “Your girlfriend doesn’t worry about you?” Sierra asked, surprised.

  “Linda worries about herself. She doesn’t have the capacity to worry about anyone else.”

  Sierra made a face, but she didn’t want to attack Kashena’s girlfriend, sensing it wasn’t the right thing to do at this point.

  “Do your migraines always come on so suddenly?” Sierra asked.

  Kashena hesitated, then nodded. “I used to get them all the time when I was young, and then they eased up a bit for a while. Now they seem to be back.”

  “No cause has been determined?”

  Kashena didn’t answer, her look once again hesitant.

  “What is it?” Sierra asked.

  Kashena blew her breath out slowly, making a decision in her own mind. “I get these visions…”

  Sierra’s eyes widened instantly. “You have the sight?” she asked, her voice awed.

  Kashena grinned. It figured that Sierra would know exactly what she was talking about.

  “Yeah,” she answered. “My grandmother was the tribe Seer.”

  “And you inherited her gift.”

  “Yeah,” Kashena said wryly. “Lucky me.”

  “So what did you see?” Sierra asked.

  Kashena’s face became serious. “I’m not totally sure, but it wasn’t good.”

  “What was it?” Sierra asked, worried.

  “Two eagles in a bloody battle,” Kashena said, her tone grave.

  “And what do you think it meant?”

  Kashena shrugged, doing her best to be casual. “Eagles are a symbol of pride.”

  “And strength,” Sierra added.

  “And the Marines,” Kashena countered.

  Sierra looked shocked, but then nodded. “Are your visions usually about you?”

  “Not always,” Kashena answered. “I just don’t know this time.”

  “What do you think it means?” Sierra asked, sensing that Kashena had a definite opinion on that.

  Kashena didn’t answer for a long moment, then she sighed. “I’m afraid it means I’m in for a battle.”

  Sierra nodded slowly. She didn’t want to ask if Kashena meant with another Marine. She didn’t want to push her luck. Kashena had already accepted a lot of things about her that Sierra had been sure would be a problem. She didn’t want to find out just how much Kashena could deal with.

  “What happened to Marshal?” Midnight asked Kana that afternoon at lunch.

  Sierra had been worried sick about Kashena and had insisted on skipping lunch to go up and make sure she was okay.

  “I don’t know,” Kana said. “One minute she was fine, the next she looked like she was going to throw up or pass out or both.”

  Midnight looked perplexed. “What did she tell you it was?”

  “She said it was a migraine,” Tiny put in.

  “They come on that fast?” Midnight asked.

  “Not that I know of,” Kana said, shaking her head.

  Midnight nodded, her mind churning the thought over. She always worried when one of her people was down for any reason. It was her nature. Anyone loyal to her earned her loyalty in return. Along with that came her concern.

  “K, go up and check on her, will you?” Midnight asked when they got up from lunch a little while later.

  “Chief Deputy Youngblood is up there now,” Kana said cautiously.

  “So?” Midnight asked. “What difference does that make?”

  “I, uh,” Kana stammered, then nodded. “I’ll go up.”

  “K,” Midnight said, putting her hand on Kana’s arm, “what’s going on in your head?”

  “Just a hunch,” Kana said in a mysterious tone.

  “About?”

  “About Kashena and Chief Deputy Youngblood,” Kana replied.

  Midnight looked back at her for a moment, then it occurred to her what Kana was saying. “You mean you think…”

  “I don’t know,” Kana said, unwilling to say anything at this point.

  “So go find out,” Midnight said.

  Kana’s eyes searched Midnight’s.

  “I’m curious,” Midnight said, shrugging, her eyes averted from Kana’s.

  Kana narrowed her eyes, then nodded.

  Five minutes later, Kana knocked on the door to Kashena and Sierra’s room. Sierra answered a minute later.

  “SAC Sorbinno,” she said, smiling up at Kana.

  “I was just checking on Agent Marshal,” Kana said, by way of explanation.

  “Of course,” Sierra said, opening the door wider. “Come in.”

  Kana walked into the room and noted the same thing Tiny had: only one bed was unmade; the other still looked like it hadn’t been slept in.

  Kashena caught Kana’s look at the other bed and knew that the other woman knew. Kashena had changed into her comfortable clothes and was sitting up on the bed, her knees up to her chest, her arms draped over her knees.

  “How are you feeling, Marshal?” Kana asked, nothing of what she suspected in her voice.

  “Better,” Kashena said, inclining her head. “Thanks for checking.”

  Kana’s eyes connected with Kashena’s. “Midnight wanted me to make sure you’re alright.”

  Kashena’s eyes widened a little as she nodded slowly. Kana nodded too, then turned to Sierra.

  “Chief Deputy Youngblood, will you be coming back down to the conference?”

  Sierra looked surprised by the question, then glanced at Kashena. It was all Kana needed to see. They were definitely involv
ed. Kana waited in silence for Sierra’s answer, seeing Kashena drop her head out of the corner of her eye. Kashena knew that had been telling. Sierra’s concern for her bodyguard outweighed her concern for propriety.

  “I—” Sierra stammered. “Yes, I’ll be right down.”

  Kana glanced at Kashena again.

  “I’ll wait outside for you,” Kana said, turning and walking from the room.

  Sierra stared after Kana, then looked at Kashena in askance.

  “She knows,” Kashena said.

  “How?” Sierra asked, looking shocked.

  “She’s good,” Kashena said, amazed at Kana’s instincts.

  Sierra nodded slowly.

  “Well, I guess I better get down there,” she said. “Are you okay?”

  “Yeah,” Kashena answered. “Just make sure you stay with Kana or Tiny.”

  “I will,” Sierra assured her.

  They looked at each other. Sierra wanted to touch her, to kiss her or something, but somehow she was worried Kana Sorbinno would sense that too. Somehow Sierra knew it wasn’t a good thing that Kana had figured them out. Now she was worried.

  Kana was silent on the ride down in the elevator. Sierra did her best not to appear nervous.

  That evening, Kana sat with Midnight and Tiny in Midnight’s hotel room.

  “So they’re involved?” Midnight asked.

  “Definitely,” Kana said.

  Midnight nodded, her mind working. “Think anyone else figured it out?”

  “I doubt it,” Kana said. “I just happen to know Sierra’s story, and I saw how she reacted when I said Kashena was going to protect her.”

  Midnight nodded again.

  “What are you going to do?” Kana asked, her voice even.

  Midnight canted her head to the side. “What do you think I should do?”

  Kana looked surprised at the question, then shrugged. “I guess that depends on your opinion of the situation.”

  Midnight narrowed her eyes slightly. “What’s yours?”

  “Mine doesn’t matter,” Kana said.

  “It does to me,” Midnight countered.

  “Why?”

  “Because, Kana, you understand lesbian relationships better than I do. Do you think it’s going to be a problem?”

  “Which part?” Kana asked, putting her hand on the table between them. “The part where she’s married? To a man? The part where she’s a Chief Deputy Attorney General for your criminal division, therefore very high profile? Or the fact that Kashena is her bodyguard and should therefore be objective where her charge is concerned?”

  Midnight looked surprised at Kana’s diatribe. She glanced at Tiny.

  “What about you?” she asked.

  Tiny looked pensive. “I don’t know how much we have a right to interfere.”

  “They both work for Midnight, Tiny,” Kana said.

  “True,” Tiny said, “but it’s their private lives.”

  “They’re conducting it while at a state conference.”

  “Not in the conference room, they’re not,” Tiny countered.

  Kana narrowed her eyes at him. He narrowed his back at her.

  Midnight grinned—they were like two kids sometimes.

  She sighed then. “I made Sierra my chief deputy because I trust her judgment. I’m just going to have to trust that she’ll use good judgment where Agent Marshal is concerned.”

  Kana nodded, not looking convinced.

  “We need to be extremely careful,” Kashena told Sierra that night.

  “In terms of what?” Sierra asked.

  “In terms of us,” Kashena said. “If Kana knows, you can bet the AG knows now too.”

  Sierra nodded. “Do you honestly think they’ll say something?”

  “I think if we’re not careful to be professional in public they will.”

  “I can’t imagine you ever being anything but professional in public, Kashena,” Sierra said.

  Kashena smiled. “You might make it difficult.”

  “Why?” Sierra asked, her eyes shining.

  Kashena leaned down, kissing her lips, then moved in closer to deepen the kiss. She pulled back when they were both breathless.

  “That’s why,” Kashena said.

  “Ohh…” Sierra replied, smiling brightly. “I think I like that.”

  “Having power?”

  “Having power over you,” Sierra said, her dark eyes sparkling.

  “We’ll see about that,” Kashena said, kissing her again.

  They stopped talking then, but Sierra had understood what Kashena was saying. This wasn’t something they should be public about. Both their jobs could be in danger if they were.

  Chapter 4

  Things between Cat and Elizabeth only got worse after they got back from Los Angeles. Elizabeth spent all hours at her restaurant and bar, both named after Cat. She came home later and later. Cat sensed something was going on but didn’t have the desire to fight with her about it. Cat worked more and more, taking every case she could get her hands on. Before long she was exhausted, and it showed.

  Kana and Cat had lunch one day, since they hadn’t seen each other in a couple of weeks. Kana noticed Cat’s fatigue right away.

  “What the hell are you doing to yourself?” she asked, having heard that Cat was overdoing it, and able to tell just from the way she was acting.

  “Nothing, K, I’m just working,” Cat said, leaning back on Kana’s patio and smoking.

  “Yeah,” Kana said as she lit a cigarette, “and I’m supposed to buy that, right?”

  “Yeah, you are,” Cat said, grinning.

  “Take off the shades,” Kana said seriously.

  “It’s bright out here.”

  “Take them off, Catalina.”

  Cat stared at her, shaking her head. Kana leaned forward with a menacing look, her hand pointedly placed on the table between them. Cat looked at Kana’s hand, a half grin on her lips.

  “Think you’re faster than me, K?”

  “I think if you don’t take those shades off now, we’ll find out,” Kana said ominously.

  Cat sighed. “I look like shit, okay? I know that.”

  Kana narrowed her eyes. “Why are you overworking yourself?”

  Cat shrugged. “There’s a lot of bad people out there, K.”

  “Don’t pull that shit with me,” Kana said evenly.

  Cat said nothing, merely leaning back and taking a long drag of her cigarette.

  “You and Elizabeth are still having problems?” Kana guessed accurately.

  Cat looked considering, studying her nails, then shrugged. “Everyone has problems.”

  “You know, you’re starting to piss me off,” Kana said.

  Cat stood up, dropping her cigarette and stubbing it out with a sandaled foot.

  “I’ll leave then. I don’t want to stress you out,” she said, her voice sincere.

  Kana tossed away her cigarette and reached up as Cat walked by. Grabbing Cat’s hand, she pulled her down onto her lap. Cat’s chin came up, her lips pursed in defensiveness. Kana gently took off Cat’s sunglasses. She gave Cat a pained look when she saw how tired the other woman was.

  “Ah, babe…” Kana said, shaking her head.

  Cat took her sunglasses out of Kana’s hand and put them back on.

  “It’s no big deal, K,” Cat said dismissively. “I just need some sleep.”

  “Yeah, about a week’s worth,” Kana said.

  Cat smiled weakly. “Thereabouts.”

  Kana shook her head, knowing that Cat wasn’t going to talk. Cat reminded Kana a lot of Midnight, especially when the AG was younger. If she didn’t want to talk about her feelings, she didn’t, and that was that.

  “Stay,” Kana said, reaching up to touch Cat’s cheek. “Have lunch—you look like you need it.”

  Cat grinned. “You saying I’m too thin for you now?”

  Kana’s lips quirked. “I’m saying you look like you’ve lost weight, and I want you to g
et it back.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” Cat said, her eyes sparkling.

  Fact was, Cat was losing weight. She rarely ate anymore. Nothing appealed to her. Her appetite had always centered on whether or not she was happy. Fortunately, when she was unhappy she didn’t eat, rather than the other way around. These days, if she was a depression eater she’d weigh three hundred pounds. She’d actually dropped fifteen pounds, which was considerable on her small frame.

  At the office she was a source of worry for her teammates. Christian, Stevie, Kevin, and Jeanie had all noticed her weight loss and the fact that she was working too much.

  “Think she’s even sleeping at all anymore?” Stevie asked Christian one morning, when they got in at 7 a.m. and noted Cat seemed to have been there for a long time before that.

  Christian shook his head. “Doesn’t look like it.”

  “Think Dave’s noticed?” Stevie asked.

  “Dave’s not as alert as he normally would be. I don’t think Dave junior is even sleeping through the night yet.”

  Dave Dibbins had a one-year-old son. A child that had been born at the height of a vicious winter storm the year before. Almost the entire Gang had been present for the birth, since they’d all been at Joe’s for Thanksgiving dinner at the time. As their supervisor, Dave was usually quite aware of everything going on in the two narcotics units he supervised. Christian just doubted it right now because Dave looked tired consistently these days.

  “Should we mention it?” Stevie asked, glancing across at Cat.

  “And have her pissed at us for the rest of the year?” Christian asked.

  “Good point,” Stevie said, rolling her eyes.

  “We’ll just keep an eye on her,” he said.

  “When she crashes it’s not going to be pretty.”

  “No doubt,” Christian said, his lips twitching in concern.

  Cat had become friends with Christian when they had been working on the same undercover case. Informing Christian that she was bisexual had been one of the first things she’d done. Neither of them had known the other was a cop, though, until Cat had gone to arrest him. She had worked for the San Diego Sheriff’s Department at the time. He’d shown her his San Diego Police Department badge then. The following day, Cat had gone to Christian’s house to have him sign some paperwork to finish up her case. That was when she’d met Stevie.