Chapter 17 #2
Before my body hit the ground I realized two things. The first being my body never met the earth’s surface and two Drakes shocked cry of. “Jemmy!”
η
“I don’t care how she feels. I won’t allow her on any more missions!” Jace tersely stated between clenched teeth.
My mind seemed to be wrapped in cotton, and I seemed to be in the murky state between slumber and wakefulness.
I registered that my body seemed to be in a cocoon of sorts, and I felt relaxed and warm.
Part of me wanted to slip back into rest, but yet something in the back of my mind seemed to be urging me to wake up.
It was several seconds of silence before I heard Noah slowly state. “I agree, but we can’t make her do anything she doesn’t want to do.”
I felt warm hands rubbing my feet, while some else was running large, long, fingers through my hair. I nearly sighed in contentment. If I was a cat, I would be purring it felt so good.
“We can’t risk her or the children any further,” Remy resolutely said.
Lincoln spoke up next. “I’m sure she’ll understand the direness of the situation. Maybe we shouldn’t pose it like a demand but a suggestion.”
“She’s a smart woman, she’ll realize how close she came to being injured tonight and not want any harm to come to her or the children.” Troy gruffly commented.
There were a few moments of silence before Noah said. “I still can’t believe what we saw tonight.”
“We were lucky only our closest friends saw what they did tonight. If word got back to Horatio that the babies are already manifesting, he’d be all the more determined to get to her.” Jace remarked.
Jaxson almost sounded smug as he said. “Our children are wicked strong. One of them can rebound gifts and the other can wield the weather. Even Greg said he never knew anyone that controls all the weather patterns she—they exhibited tonight. There was rain, hail, wind, tornadoes, and lightning!”
Jaxson’s words seemed to be the words to trigger my complete wakefulness.
I recalled the events of tonight. I remembered controlling the weather and it was hard to believe it was real, despite already having wielded a gift that hadn’t been mine.
It was so surreal when I thought I had nothing left in me, I seemed to have gotten possessed.
I should have attributed it to my children.
Afterall, they had already exhibited that they were special.
It made me both afraid and proud that my children were strong.
My fear came from knowing Horatio’s desire to possess them.
In the wrong hands, my babies could be used at weapons.
Not to forget, how hard it was for any children to receive their gifts this early.
My aunt and Harry were prime examples of the dangers.
Yet, a part of me was pleased that with training my children would be able to protect themselves one day.
“Can you be serious for two seconds?” Jace crossly inquired.
I blinked my eyes waiting for the room to come into focus.
I realized we were in our room back on base.
Remy sat above me, playing with my hair.
Troy was at my feet rubbing my feet. Lincoln was poised in the doorway with a low hanging pair of sweatpants, topless, and rubbing a towel over his freshly showered head.
Noah was sitting on our couch while Jaxson was on the other side.
I couldn’t see Jace but from the direction of his voice I assumed he was sitting in the wingback chair flanking the opposite side of our closet.
I could tell that they had all showered and from the way I felt my wild curls brushing my face, I knew they had showered me too.
I tried to speak but my voice seemed thick in my throat, I cleared it before stating. “Be nice, Jace.”
Honestly, I felt more like a referee lately. Jaxson seemed to be taking all the criticisms in his normal strides, but I knew he wasn’t always going to. I wondered if it would be better for everyone if he just blew up one day and put Jace in his place.
Everyone seemed to jump into action surrounding me. Noah crouched down beside the bed, so our eyes were level. He reached out and cupped my cheek. “How ya feeling, beautiful?”
I wiggled slightly as if to check my physical state. I felt good, well rested even. All in all I felt good, save for one small thing.
“Good, really good, actually. Except I’m a little hungry, starving even.” I smiled before turning my head and kissing his palm.
Then another thought struck me. “Was our mission successful tonight? Is everyone okay?”
The guys all exchanged glances and my eyes narrowed on them. I had a feeling they were hiding something from me, but what?
“Yes, and yes,” Jace took a seat beside me as I was jostled from behind me.
Jaxson’s smiling face peered over my shoulder, and I laughed at his antics despite hearing some of the others protest.
Troy stopped rubbing my feet and started massaging my legs. “We rescued over thirty people, and our interpreters worked with Pops and Greg to question them. We had a few people injured and one person still under observation, but they should be pulling through just fine.”
Noah handed me a few 3-D ultrasound pics, and I frowned in confusion.
I understood what they were seconds later when he explained.
“The babies seemed too still on the transport back. We became concerned when even Troy’s voice couldn’t get them to move, so we decided to have Dr. Branch do an ultrasound.
Their fine and their heartbeats were strong.
It seems they just needed a little extra rest, like their mama. ”
I breathed a sigh of relief, glad that they were fine.
I’m sure some women would be upset if their man took it upon themselves to have an ultrasound while they were passed out and without their consent, but I wasn’t.
They were my babies’ fathers and were within their rights to ensure my children were safe.
Any slight discomfort I could have felt was disbursed considering they could have had to wait for hours before I even woke up. I didn’t begrudge them in the least.
In fact, in a way it was a relief. I couldn’t imagine the helplessness I would have felt if I realized my babies weren’t moving.
I would have worked myself up and possibly had a panic attack until I knew for sure they were okay.
Honestly, I was thankful not to have endured that and glad my men took the initiative to do it while I was comatose.
Then a thought struck me. In the past when I had “faded,” I could be down for days. In addition, the glances that they had shared moment before were highly suspicious.
“How long have I been out?” I tentatively inquired.
Remy answered first. “Our mission was last night. You’ve been out for nearly twenty-four hours.”
I gaped. “Last night? Why wasn’t I hooked up like I normally am?”
“You were, but you started to stir so I just removed the IV and the catheter. Plus, Alex and Anna gave us the heads up.”
I frowned. I don’t remember Anna visiting me in my dreams and I hoped Alex didn’t see anything he shouldn’t have. Then I shook off my uneasy thoughts. I would have probably had them prod if the situations were reversed and one of my men laid passed out.
My whirling thoughts ceased when one of my babies decided to violently roll while the other seemed to lazily stretch. Of course, one of them inevitably bounced on my bladder and just like that I had to go.
“Well, the babies are up,” I grimaced. “Can someone help me up?”
Each of my men took their turns to feel the babies and I really wished I could bask in the moment for a while longer, but unfortunately that wasn’t possible. Plus, my stomach growled loudly reminding me of my hunger once again.
I attempted to sit up and I was definitely well rested but my limbs did feel heavy. Remy jumped up first. “I think you need to take it easy, baby girl. We can bring you some food.”
The idea did seem tempting but knew it was impossible. “I wish I could, but one of the babies is using my bladder as a trampoline and I feel like I need to stretch for a while.”
The guys chuckled and Troy inquired. “What would you like to eat?”
Remy and Lincoln helped me up while Lincoln guided me to the bathroom. I groaned in part relief and part pain. It felt good to move, but at the same time it was nearly excruciating. I wished we had masseuses on speed dial because I would be calling one asap.
“Tomato soup and a grilled cheese, peanut butter, and jelly sounds amazing,” I grinned knowing some of them would be grossed out by my choice.
As predicted, some of them made audible sounds of disgust. Lincoln sat me on the toilet and thankfully left me on my own so I could do my business.
I slightly struggled to get up to wash my hands.
It wasn’t until I was drying my hands that I realized a glaringly obvious oversight on my part.
I shuffled over to the door and threw open the door.
Jace and Remy wasn’t in the room, but the others all seemed to be patiently waiting. I confirmed my observations before asking.
“Where’s Drake?”
The guys exchanged those annoying silent looks again before Troy tentatively answered. “He’s in the medical wing with Jemmy.”