Chapter 70
Four months later...
Austin
Nana Sue, as I was now required to call her, told me my cane made me look refined and mysterious.
“Thank you, Nana Sue,” I said before leaning down and kissing her cheek. “You’re one good looking cop.”
She’d insisted on dressing as a policewoman for the Wyatt Foundation’s annual fundraiser.
Nina and I didn’t have a choice; we were both voluntold we’d be helping at the event. We’d enlisted Gibson to help take care of Nana Sue, who likely wouldn’t make it to next year’s event, and she was beyond ecstatic.
“When will my date get here?” she asked.
As if summoned, Gibson rang the doorbell.
“I’ll get it,” Nina called as she hustled from the hall to the front door.
“Stop staring, Austin,” Nana said while smacking my arm.
I couldn’t help it. Nina looked absolutely amazing in her Grannie’s issued cowgirl costume.
The short skirt showed off her sexy legs, and the gingham button up she wore over a tank-top was tied at her waist and displayed her already tempting chest in ways that made me tent my pants and want to bail on our plans.
Turns out losing half a leg didn’t diminish my desire for Nina, and we’d found creative ways to satisfy our needs.
Gibson wasted no time crossing the distance to the kitchen after hugging Nina.
“Looking good, Winchester,” G said, blocking my view of the woman I loved more every day.
“Thanks, G, you look good too.” Like the good date he was, and at Nana’s insistence, he’d also dressed as a cop. Only his gun is real.
Mine was too. My Glock messed with the cowboy aesthetic, but I didn’t care.
G bent down and kissed Nana on the cheek. “You look fabulous, my dear.”
She blushed and patted her short, gray hair.
“Do you mind if I steal Austin for a minute?”
“No, dear, you boys go talk.”
Gibson walked me outside, which meant he didn’t want Nina or Nana Sue overhearing.
“What’s up?”
“Nothing’s up. I wanted to ask how you’re doing.”
We didn’t need privacy for that.
He added, “And I want you to be honest.”
There it was, he thought I’d lie to save the girls from hearing the truth.
“Most days I’m good. Still adjusting to my temporary fake leg.” I knocked my cane against the metal that represented a calf. I was now at least partly a robot, much to Bryce’s amusement.
“And the nightmares?”
“Less frequent.” Knowing he’d ask, I added, “Nina’s are too. She’s a trooper.” Dr. Lassiter, the team doctor Rogers had mentioned, had recommended PTSD specialists in the area and Nina and I still went regularly.
“Tell me something I don’t know.” His smiled showed off his white teeth.
Nina and I had frequently woken each other up when we tossed and turned from our nightmares, but thankfully, we were sleeping better now.
I always sleep better at her side. The three nights a week I stayed in Dallas, while I worked part time, were the worst.
My retirement couldn’t come fast enough, and I counted down the days until I lived in Weatherford full time.
It wasn’t just about Nina; I’d grown a lot closer to my family during my medical leave. They’d stayed by my side while I recovered, encouraging and teasing me in equal measure as I relearned how to walk.
Except Ethan. We called and video chatted, but his baseball schedule kept him away from home. But the season was ending soon, and I looked forward to reconnecting in person.
“Any news on the internal affairs investigation?” I asked. We expected to hear any day, but I hadn’t checked my emails since leaving the office on Wednesday.
He laughed, “It’s good to hear that you’re checking out during your time off.”
I laughed with him. There was a time I’d be glued to my laptop twenty-four seven. And while I wanted to know the results of the investigation, I trusted that my continued employment meant we weren’t in too much trouble.
“So?”
“You do know it's not really about us, right?"
I did, but I'd worry until they released the final report.
"They sent the official announcement Friday afternoon. We’ve been cleared of all wrong doings and there’ll be no disciplinary action. They’ve closed all the related cases.”
“Shepherd have anything to do with that?” Gibson knew I didn’t mean John because he didn’t have that kind of clout.
He shrugged. “Sorry, I can’t indulge that information to a civilian.”
“Fuck you. I’m not a civilian yet.” I’d handed in my resignation, but it wasn’t effective until the end of the year.
The director encouraged my delayed departure so I could wrap up my cases and take advantage of the extensive medical benefits.
She’d whispered that last part after telling me the Singers had been cleared of all suspicion and had been posthumously awarded Distinguished Intelligence Crosses—the highest honor the CIA issued—for their courage and sacrifice.
Nina cried through most of the ceremony.
I had the awards and certificates framed as a gift for Nina. She wanted to hang them in her bedroom, but Nana Sue insisted she hang them in the living room for all the world to see.
I still catch Nina tearing up when she looks at the display.
Gibson’s voice brought me back to the porch. “No, but you have one foot out the door.”
We laughed. It wasn’t the first time one of us made a one-leg joke, and it wouldn’t be the last.
“How’s Nina adjusting to having money?”
“She’s using it to pay for your date’s home care nurse.”
“Still won’t spend any of it on herself?”
“Nope, but I spend my money on her, so it works out.” I laughed. “We should get going.”
“I’ll go get our dates,” he said, clapping my shoulder.
“Thanks again for doing this.”
“I’m just schmoozing so I have an in with the Sheppards if I decide to leave the CIA.”
“They’d hire you in a heartbeat.”
“Of course they would. They hired you and I’m a better, two-legged version of you.”
I couldn’t officially start at SSI until January, but that didn’t stop me from unofficially consulting once in a while.
He jumped out of the way before my cane could strike his thigh.