39. Dane
Chapter 39
Dane
I hurt everywhere.
Even breathing was uncomfortable.
As I drifted in and out of consciousness, the recognizable smell of antiseptic and rhythmic beeping brought back the reality of what had happened.
We’d lived every pilot’s worst nightmare. The pain told me I was alive, but I didn’t know about Javy. I didn’t know about anything. And that made me restless.
As I drew in a deeper breath, I welcomed the discomfort. But my brain picked up on another familiar scent I recognized immediately.
Was it me?
I’d used his shampoo earlier, but wouldn’t the salt water wash away the fragrance?
I stirred, searching out the scent, but groaned.
That's when I heard him.
“Baby, I’m here. Dane, can you hear me?”
I opened my eyes to find the man I loved looking down at me. Tears welled in my eyes and matched his that were red and swollen.
“Why are you bugging me? Can’t you see I’m busy trying to die?”
Lennox dropped his forehead to where he held my hand. As his shoulders shook, I wasn’t sure I’d said the right thing. But this was who we were. We weren’t sappy-sweet to one another, like Evan and Hudson. We were more the ‘bust each other’s balls’ couple. Even when we felt like dying.
“I fucking hate you.” His bottom lip trembled as he stared at me.
There we go. That’s the Lennox I knew and loved.
“I know. How did you get here?”
“Camile. She phoned a friend. Now she’s in the waiting room making calls.”
“Does Daniel know?”
Lennox shook his head. “No. Susan had him and is under strict instructions not to turn on the television.”
“Good. He wouldn’t handle it well.”
He sniffled. “I didn’t handle it well.”
A knock at the door interrupted our conversation as a nurse came in with another bag of IV fluid. Her smile changed into an empathetic expression when she saw Lennox’s puffy red eyes and the way he clung to me.
“Sorry to interrupt. How are you feeling, Lieutenant?”
Like I’d been thrown from a plane. “It all hurts. Even my hair.”
Lennox snorted out a little laugh but didn’t reply. If she recognized him, she didn’t acknowledge it.
“That’s to be expected. You had quite a morning.”
Lennox looked from me to her. “How bad are his injuries?”
She glanced at me for permission.
“He’s my partner,” I informed her.
“Oh, okay. As the doctor told Lieutenant Calloway, the CT scan came back normal with no fractures or abnormalities. Minor abrasions and bruising, and some whiplash. Other than that, you’re part of the 90% who survive, Lieutenant.”
Lennox wiped his free hand over his mouth, then looked at me sternly. He wasn’t used to this type of thing.
“Lieutenant Cruz has been asking about you. I told him we’d wheel him in to see you later.”
A wave of relief flooded me. “Javy’s okay, then?”
She smiled. “Yes, sir. His mobility is a little better than yours. But we’re going to keep the two of you a couple of days.”
I’d lost track of him after we evacuated the plane. The wind had carried us so far apart that we’d been on different rescue ships.
“Thank you. I’m glad he’s okay.”
“We are too,” she said. “I’ll be back in a little while to check on you.”
When she walked out, I picked up my arm to run my fingers through his hair. He was visibly shaken, and that was the only way I had to soothe him.
“Fuck,” I muttered as a pain shot through me.
Lennox’s eyes went wide. He read my face and the shuddered breath then scowled. “You know pain is your body’s way of telling you to fucking stop it.”
I smiled, even though that hurt too.“Stop fucking you?”
“Not what I said.”
He held my left hand in his right and brought it to his mouth. Pressing my hand to his lips, he broke down again.
“I was so afraid I’d lost you.”
I squeezed his hand. “I was afraid of that too. But you heard her. 90% survive.”
He stared at me for a moment, and I knew he wanted to know.
“I don’t know what happened. The NTSB and Navy will go through it. But wind sheer and turbulence can be a big problem. And this area is known for it.”
Anger filled his face. “Then why the fuck would they send you to train where it’s dangerous?”
“My job is the definition of dangerous. We train in the simulator for this exact thing. But conditions change. It could be mechanical for all we know. And there’s a possibility we never will.”
That didn’t seem to satisfy him, but he let it go. I’m sure we’d be talking about it for a long damn time.
“I think you need a new job.”
He was cute. “Really? Like what?”
He let out a shuddered breath. “Something on the damn ground.”
I chuckled, but he didn’t take that well. “And another thing. You’re moving into my house whether you like it or not. If I have to tie you to my bed and get all the rookies to move all your shit, I’ll do it.”
I grinned. “Okay.”
“Don’t argue with me, Calloway. I’ll do it.”
I loved this side of him. “Okay. I believe you.”
Lennox looked confused. “Did you just agree?”
I laughed, and it hurt. But it was worth it.
“Come here, QB.”
He stood and leaned down closer to my face. I could smell the shampoo.
“Kiss me, and I’ll move in. No rookies necessary.”
He smiled and lowered his lips to mine. But right before his lips met mine, he upped the ante.
“I’m going to get you to marry me, Calloway.”
I smiled. “Don’t press your luck.”
I had my own plans for that.
Camile walked into my room and came straight for my bed. Her eyes were puffy and red, just like Lennox’s.
“Hey, lady,” I said.
She reached down and kissed my cheek, then took my hand.
“Thank god for superior technology. Always hoped you’d never have to do that.”
I smiled. “Me too. But it worked just like it was designed to.”
She glanced at Lennox before looking back at me. “Do you know what happened?”
I sighed. “I have an idea, but I don’t want to speculate. It could be months, if not a year, until we know.”
“Yeah,” she said quietly. “Are you up to talking to your parents? They’re losing their shit. Your mom wanted to get on a plane, but I told her to wait to talk to you.”
I chuckled. “Yeah. Get them on the phone. Mine is in the Pacific.”
Lennox squeezed my hand. “I’ll get you a new one.”
He was so cute. I knew letting something would calm his nerves.
“Thanks, babe. Are you by chance planning to add it to your plan?”
He scoffed. “Of course. How else am I gonna keep up with you?”
I rolled my eyes, but that hurt.
Camile spoke quietly into her phone, then handed it to me. “Here you go.”
I took her phone and brought it to my ear. “Hey. I’m okay.”
My mother broke into sobs at the sound of my voice, making me tear up. Must be the medicine.
“It’s okay, Mama. I’m gonna be fine. No broken bone or anything.”
“Son,” my father choked. I could detect the emotion in his voice. “We’ve been so scared. How did this happen?”
I chuckled. “I’ll tell you as soon as I find out. Gonna be a while. The Navy has to fish the jet out of the ocean.”
“Can I come to take care of you? I can stay as long as you need me,” my mother added. “Elle is trying to get a flight home.”
“Mom, that’s not necessary. I’m going to be fine.”
I looked over at Lennox who hung onto every word. “I’m in good hands. Hold on, and I’ll let you talk to my home nurse.”
“You have a nurse?” she asked.
I handed the phone to Lennox. “Here. She wants to talk to you.”
His eyes narrowed, then he mouthed asshole before bringing the phone to his ear.
“Hey. I’ve got everything….”
His side of the conversation was cut off abruptly as he talked to my parents. It was funny as hell because she didn’t allow him but a word or two.
He stared at me as I tried to piece together the other side of the conversation. But my headache made that difficult. So I just listened.
“Yes…”
“I can…”
“No, Elle doesn’t…”
He glared at me, but I saw the love in his eyes. He’d take her heart in his big hands and soothe her concerns. For someone who received minimal love from his family, he sure knew how to show love to people he cared about. And it just made me fall for him even more.
“I promise. Let me get him home, and I’ll call you.”
The first complete sentence was a good sign. But I couldn’t take my eyes off him.
“Uh-huh. Just like high school, but…”
“I love you too,” he finally said to her.
“Yes, I’ll take him to the ER if he shows any signs of brain damage.”
I chuckled.
When he finally got off the phone with her, he handed the phone to Camile, then looked at me. “You owe me big.”
Shifting to get comfortable, I looked into his green eyes. “Sorry about that. Got any ideas for a repayment plan?”
His eyes sparkled as he leaned down to press a kiss to my lips. “I’ve got a lifetime of plans.”
And I wanted to hear all of them.