While reading the journals and discussing what they knew, Joe mentioned that Kana, Midnight, and Tiny had been infected with a virus. He also said the name of the virus and that Weiskoff had many versions it. He then mentioned that Weiskoff had mixed the virus with Dimpraline to tame it. That’s when Kashena’s head snapped up.
“That’s it!” Kashena said. “That’s the word I saw!”
“It is?” Kyle asked, looking over at her.
“That’s it,” Kashena said, standing up and starting to pace, glancing at Joe. “What is it?”
“It’s some kind of solution that he used to tame the virus a bit, so it would take longer to work. He wanted it to be a slow painful death,” Joe said, grimacing as he realized that was exactly what was happening.
“Slow and painful…” Kashena said. Her mind was telling her she was close.
“He tested it on rats?” Sierra asked. “How did he know how much to use on a human?”
“He could have calculated based on the size of rats in proportion to humans,” Jay Mark said. He was from the crime lab.
“Or he could have tested it on a human…” Kashena said, her voice trailing off as she looked over at Sierra.
Sierra’s look was perplexed.
“What?” Joe asked, knowing something was catching on here.
“How are things like anti-venom made?” Kashena asked Jay, wanting to confirm her theory before she got too excited.
“In the case of snake bites, it’s made from the blood of an animal immunized against the venom,” Jay said.
“Okay, so they have the cure for it in their bloodstream?”
“Yes, essentially,” Jay said. “But in the case of this virus, the AG and Mr. Ako haven’t been cured yet. So they cannot provide the anti-venom.”
“But I can,” Kashena said, her tone sure.
“What?” Joe asked, sounding shocked and excited at the same time.
“The fever…” Sierra said, realizing what Kashena was talking about.
Kashena nodded, then looked over at Joe and Kyle. “He tested it on me,” she said, pulling up the sleeve of her shirt, showing the thin red scar on her arm. “From the scratch I mysteriously received in the Los Angeles airport. The one I received right before I came down with a very bad fever.”
“One that didn’t break for four days, and only then with the help of a healer,” Sebastian put in.
“Healer?” Kyle asked.
“An Indian healer,” Kashena explained.
“Our doctors,” Sierra told them.
Jay Mark looked at both women, his face hopeful. “I think you might be right.”
“Kashena Marshal, can we borrow some of your blood?” Kyle asked.
“Take whatever you need,” Kashena said seriously. “I swore to protect her with my life. If I can save her with my blood, I’m more than happy to.”
It took a lot of blood, and Kashena was feeling lightheaded by the time they managed to get the serum so that Jay was happy with it. Sierra fed her orange juice to keep her strength up. Every time Sierra suggested that they allow Kashena to rest, it was Kashena who refused.
“We don’t have time, Sierra,” Kashena said, her tone as lifeless as her face.
With a lot of work, and a team of doctors working alongside Jay, an anti-serum was developed. They administered it to Midnight and Tiny.
“Is this going to work?” Rick asked the doctor as he inserted the needle into Midnight’s IV.
“The test we performed gives it a very good chance of working, yes,” the doctor said, nodding.
While everyone waited, Joe had time to question Rick.
“So how did Weiskoff end up dead?”
“Well, apparently my daughter learned a lot from you on the range, including all about the safety on a weapon.”
“Huh?” Joe asked, glancing over at Mikeyla, who was sitting with them.
“Weiskoff tried to have Keyl shoot me to save herself. The gun he gave her had the safety on—he didn’t think she’d know. She switched it and shot him. It was brilliant,” Rick said with a wicked smile.
“The red dot means it’s hot.” Mikeyla repeated something Joe had said to her over and over again at the range, her tone apathetic.
Joe’s mouth dropped open, surprised at both the statement and the way she’d said it, but then he began to nod, understanding that she’d saved her father’s life by killing someone. It was a very serious situation, and she’d handled herself well.
It was another five hours before Midnight finally woke, but her first words to Rick held her usual sense of humor.
“So what happened this time?” she asked, her voice a hoarse whisper.
“Oh, you know, the usual—people getting shot, people almost dying.” His words were light, but Midnight could see that he was very serious.
“Who? Who almost died? Is everyone okay?” she asked, worried instantly.
“You, Midnight, you almost died. We almost lost you,” he said, “and Tiny too, but he’s okay, and so are you, thank God.”
Midnight breathed a sigh of relief, nodding. She’d been more worried about one of her people almost dying than herself.
Kashena Windwalker-Marshal had saved the day in more ways than one.
***
Elizabeth slipped in and out of consciousness. When she was awake, she didn’t speak much. Cat spent a great deal of time at the hospital, sitting next to the bed. At one point, Elizabeth was sleeping, and the nurse came in to check her vitals as well as the IV in her hand. When the nurse picked up Elizabeth’s hand, Elizabeth reacted violently, letting out a strangled cry and yanking her hand away from the woman. That in turn ripped the IV out of her hand. Cat was out of her chair in an instant and at Elizabeth’s side.
“Bet! Bet!” Cat called, taking Elizabeth’s face in her hands. “It’s okay, babe, it’s okay. Relax,” she said soothingly. “You’re okay, babe. You’re okay.”
Elizabeth calmed at the sound of Cat’s voice, her blue eyes staring up into Cat’s as Cat talked to her. Her breathing was fast—it was obvious she was terrified. Cat knew she’d been having a nightmare before the nurse had touched her. There’d been a few of them, from which Elizabeth had awoken screaming. Cat had been there every time. Always calming, always soothing.
It was taking its toll on Cat’s health too. She hadn’t had a decent night’s sleep for going on four nights. Sable came to the hospital, having stayed in San Francisco to be of assistance to Cat if she needed it. Sending Jake in to get Cat, Sable waited outside in the quad. When Cat walked out, Sable was shocked at her appearance. There were dark circles under Cat’s usually bright blue eyes. She looked completely exhausted.
“My God…” Sable said, reaching out to touch Cat’s cheek, her eyes reflecting her shock.
Cat pulled out a cigarette and lit it with shaking hands. “I know, I look like shit.”
“You look tired, Cat,” Sable said, her voice concerned. “Are you sleeping at all?”
Cat shrugged. “Hard to do in a hospital room.”
“I have a full suite back at the hotel,” Sable said.
“I know,” Cat said, “but…”
“But what?” Sable asked, putting her on the spot. “Is this the part where you break it off with me, Cat? Because she was hurt?”
Cat looked back at Sable, her face reflecting the conflict going on inside her head and her heart.
“Sable, I know that this sucks,” Cat said tiredly, “and I’m not expecting you to understand. But Elizabeth is someone I was in love with for two years. Yes she screwed up, but when someone you love is hurt this badly, this traumatically, it’s impossible to abandon them.”
“That’s the thing, Catalina,” Sable said, stepping forward and cupping Cat’s cheek with her hand. “I do understand why you need to be here for Elizabeth right now.” She kissed Cat’s lips softly. “I just need to know where we stand, and if you can’t give me that right now, I’ll wait until you can. In the meantime, I’m worried about
you. You’re going to make yourself sick doing this without sleep.”
Cat looked back at Sable for a long minute, then shook her head. “I don’t know why a woman like you would put up with shit like this—”
Sable stopped Cat’s words with her lips, kissing Cat until she was breathless. Sable pulled back. “Because I’m in love with you,” she said, her tone matter-of-fact. “And because I won’t give up the idea of having you for my own simply because things happened that couldn’t have been foreseen or controlled. I’m not one to give up that easily, Catalina, so don’t expect me to. I didn’t get where I’m at in the music business by sitting back and letting things happen to me. I make things happen. I want you more than I’ve ever wanted anything in my life, so I’m willing to hang in there and fight for you.”
“I’m going to need to take care of her, Sable,” Cat said. “Susan, her sister, has a baby, and her mother lives in England. I’m all she’s really got.”
Sable nodded. “I understand that, and I know that you still love her, despite what she did. I just don’t want to lose you totally,” she said, touching Cat’s face again. “Unless you want me to leave you alone.”
Cat closed her eyes. Her head was telling her that it would be better and more fair to Sable if she let her go, but her heart didn’t like that idea at all. She opened her eyes. “I don’t want you to leave me alone,” she said softly.
She was rewarded with a smile so brilliant it was almost painful. Sable kissed her again, her hands sliding through Cat’s hair and pulling her close.
In truth, Sable had known she was taking a chance telling Cat that she loved her. It could have sent Cat running in the other direction. But Sable was always willing to take a risk when something she wanted was at stake. At eighteen, she’d left her good, stable home in Tallahassee, Florida, and gone to Los Angeles to “become somebody.” Today she was one of the richest and most successful women in the country. Sable took chances—it was her way of life.
Pulling back again, Sable slid her hands down Cat’s arms. “Please come back to the room and get some sleep,” she said. “I’m sure that Susan or her mother can sit with her long enough for you to get some rest.”
Cat breathed in deeply and let it out in a sigh.
“Cat, you’re going to make yourself sick. You’ll be no good to Elizabeth then, will you?”
“I know,” Cat said.
“Just come back to the room for a few hours,” Sable said entreatingly.
“Okay, okay, you win,” Cat said, holding up her hands in surrender. “I’ll go talk to Susan.”
“I’ll wait out here,” Sable said.
Cat gazed at the superstar for a long moment, then she put her hand to Sable’s cheek, her look tender. “You are the most incredible woman I’ve ever met,” Cat said sincerely. “Thank you for everything you’ve done for me, and for putting up with all my shit.”
Sable laughed at the last statement. “You haven’t had to deal with any of my meltdowns yet,” she said, winking. “I can be a real pain in the ass sometimes—ask Jake.”
Cat laughed. “Oh, I’m sure.”
Cat went back inside, talking to Susan and then leaving with Sable and Jake. Jake escorted them to the room, then went back to the hospital. He was doing double duty at Sable’s bidding, keeping an eye on Elizabeth until things were safer for all of them. Cat appreciated his help and told him so often. The quiet Irish bodyguard had turned out to be quite a help and a fairly nice guy too.
In the room, Cat decided she needed to take a hot shower to unwind. While she was in the shower, Sable ordered her some dinner. By the time Cat got out of the shower and dried her hair, Sable had the table set with food and wine.
“You didn’t have to do that,” Cat said, her tone pleased.
“You need to eat too,” Sable said, taking Cat’s hand and leading her to the table to sit her down. “And I know you’re not eating anything decent at that hospital. From what Jake tells me you live on bad coffee and stale donuts.”
“Jake’s been spying on me, huh?” Cat asked, raising an eyebrow at Sable but grinning too. “Didn’t know that was part of his job description.”
“Of course it is,” Sable said, chuckling as she perched on a chair, watching Cat eat. She held up her hands as if captioning words on a page. “‘Spy on Sable’s girlfriend when needed.’ It’s right at the top next to ‘Serve and protect.’”
“Is that close to ‘Go get the boss Starbucks whenever she wants it, no matter where you have to go’?” Cat asked.
“Of course!” Sable said, laughing.
Cat ate while they talked. Eventually, Sable could see that Cat was getting tired, so she pulled her up out of the chair and led her into the bedroom. Lying down, Sable pulled Cat down with her, kissing her temple as Cat settled against her. Cat fell asleep with Sable holding her.
Sable was still holding Cat two hours later when Jake came in quietly. He stood staring at his boss and her girlfriend. Sable’s mind was far away; she didn’t notice him standing in the doorway for a while. He could see that she was deep in thought and that those thoughts were troubling.
Eventually, Sable realized he was there, and she looked over at him.
“What?” she asked in response to the speculative look on his face.
“This one is very different, isn’t she?” Jake said, gesturing to the blonde lying asleep next to Sable.
Sable took a deep breath and released it slowly. “Yes she is,” she said softly.
Jake nodded, having known that was the case.
Sable saw his look. “She’s going to break my heart, isn’t she?” Sable asked, showing a weakness she rarely exhibited.
Jake grimaced slightly. “I kinda tend to think so,” he answered her honestly, his Irish brogue a little thicker because he was tired.
Sable sighed, looking down at Cat and kissing her temple. “Women always break your heart much harder than men do,” Sable said wearily.
Jake said nothing. He knew Sable had been through a few rough relationships, but she’d always had the upper hand in those. He didn’t think that was the case this time. Cat was calling the shots on this one, and that was going to be very difficult for someone like Sable, who was used to being in control, to handle.
“Then again, she could be the best thing that ever happened to you,” Jake said, seeing how hard the conversation was on Sable.
Sable smiled sadly. “She already is.”
Jake had already guessed Sable felt that way. Cat was the first woman Sable had wanted that wasn’t readily available to her. It was a challenge, and challenges were often dangerous to one’s emotional health. He knew he’d have to watch his very deeply feeling, intense superstar close over the next few months. Things could and probably would get rough.
“Well, I’m headed to bed,” Jake said, rubbing his eyes.
Sable nodded, putting her head back down to Cat’s, then she looked up again, seeing him give her one last long worried look.
“Hey Jake?” she called to him as he turned around to go into his room.
“Yeah?”
“Thanks,” she said, smiling at him. “You’ve been great with all of this, and I really appreciate it.”
He smiled, even white teeth showing against tanned skin. “You pay me well enough. I figure I can go out of my way now and again,” he said with a wink.
Sable laughed softly.
Jake left, and Sable snuggled back down next to Cat, savoring the time she had left with her.
In the end, it became a routine. Cat would get up early in the morning, and Jake would take her to the hospital. He’d bring her back to the room around ten at night. She’d take a shower, have a late dinner with Sable, and crawl into bed to sleep for a few hours. Jake also started picking up lunch and Starbucks for the beautiful blonde his boss was dating.
“So, is Elizabeth happy to hear her aunt is getting better?” Sable asked Cat the night after they’d found out Midnight was going to be okay.
> “We never told her about Midnight,” Cat said, moving her head to get more comfortable against Sable’s shoulder. “Deborah didn’t think Elizabeth could handle hearing that at this point in her recovery.”
“What if Midnight had died?” Sable asked.
“Elizabeth had no control over what was happening—it would only have worried her. If Midnight had died it would have been difficult for Elizabeth whether she knew Midnight was sick or not, but at least this way she didn’t worry herself into a worse condition in the meantime.” Cat looked up at Sable. “Does that make sense at all?”
“Yes, I guess it does,” Sable said, ever amazed by these people. “You all look out for your own, don’t you?”
Cat shrugged. “They’re the big family I never had. I feel the need to protect that.”
“They’re amazing people, Catalina,” Sable said, touching her cheek. “And so are you.”
Cat shook her head. “I’m not amazing. Midnight Chevalier, she’s amazing. Kana, Joe, Dave, Tiny, they’re amazing. That whole group. I’m just part of them by association.”
“I don’t think that’s true,” Sable said. “I don’t think they’d consider you part of their family if they didn’t feel you really were. Besides, I heard Dave Dibbins tell you that you were one of his best narcs.”
“All of Rogue Squadron are his best, as far as he’s concerned, because we’re all family to him.”
Sable sighed. There was no convincing this woman of anything she didn’t want to believe. “So, when are they releasing Elizabeth?”
“Tomorrow,” Cat said. “It looks like I’m going to drive her back down to San Diego.”
“Drive?” Sable asked.
“Yeah, the doctors don’t think she should fly just yet. Something about the pressure or something, plus she’s feeling really self-conscious about the bruises and stuff that haven’t healed yet.”
Sable did her best to clamp down on the jealousy that surged through her. Cat was going to chauffeur her ex-girlfriend, the one she was still in love with, back down to San Diego. Lovely.
Cat saw the flash of jealousy in Sable’s eyes and waited for the comments to begin. To Sable’s credit, she said nothing. For that Cat rewarded her with a lovemaking session that left them both exhausted the next morning.
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