Epilogue
Jane sat with her back straight and her hands clasped in her lap as she faced the highest-ranking officials on the base. She was there to tell her side of what had happened a month ago with Carlin Sandburg. The investigation was finally being wrapped up, after many interviews with various people.
Rear Admiral Creasy was there, along with several other officers. There was even a vice admiral in attendance who’d flown in to hear the official findings of the investigation.
Jane learned that Bubba had shot at Carlin to try to stop her so she wouldn’t be able to set off the bomb, but he’d been a fraction of a second too late. She’d already detonated the explosive in her lap.
The deceased Navy spouse hadn’t lied about what was in the box. But fortunately, while it had been a deadly blast, it hadn’t been powerful enough to take out the police and other innocent people standing nearby.
If Jane had been sitting next to her, though, she certainly would’ve been blown to pieces like Carlin had.
Storm had suffered from a bruised kidney, and he had a few nails imbedded in his legs and his lower back and one shoulder, but miraculously, he wasn’t hurt any worse than that.
Jane had felt guilty that he’d gotten hurt protecting her, but Storm had made it more than clear he’d do exactly the same thing again in a heartbeat, and he had no regrets at all at being the one hurt instead of her.
Former Lieutenant Sandburg had been thoroughly investigated and interviewed by NCIS, and they’d determined that he’d had no involvement or knowledge of his wife’s plans. He also hadn’t known she’d been responsible for the CS gas bomb and that she’d had plans to assassinate the rear admiral.
He wasn’t at the final hearing today because he’d moved out of California to hopefully get his shit together and to separate himself from what his wife had done.
“Can you tell us in your own words what happened that morning?” the lead investigator from the NCIS asked.
Jane nodded. She’d already told her story over and over again to others.
At first it had been hard, and she’d had nightmares.
But over the last month, with each retelling, the hold Carlin had over her nightmares had lessened.
Jane no longer woke up with a scream, thinking the bomb had gone off when she was still in the car.
She no longer had nightmares where Storm was blown to pieces as he tried to save her.
She was getting on with her life, and it had a hell of a lot to do with the man sitting next to her.
She felt a hand land on her thigh and squeeze softly. Glancing over at Storm, she saw him give her an almost undetectable little chin lift, and it made her feel stronger. With him by her side, she could do anything.
So she told the story of when she’d been hit by the tear gas bomb Carlin had sent, and everything she could remember between the time the woman had gotten in her car to when Storm had pulled her out of the vehicle to the dubious safety of the other side of the guard shack at the base’s gate.
She answered all their questions honestly.
No, she hadn’t met Carlin Sandburg before that morning.
No, she hadn’t been aware that Dag had court-martialed her husband, Simon Sandburg.
Yes, she’d been afraid for her life.
No, she hadn’t known what Storm had planned to do.
No, she didn’t hear the shot Bubba had taken.
Jane patiently answered each and every question thrown at her, and didn’t even feel irritation that some were asked twice.
She understood that something of this magnitude happening at the entrance to the base was a huge deal.
Every security measure was being examined with a fine-tooth comb, and they were even rethinking the way cars were funneled through the gate as a result of what had happened.
And then, finally, the questions stopped.
“Rear Admiral,” the lead investigator said, “we’ve concluded that the decision you made to court-martial Lieutenant Sandburg was appropriate and not excessive.
Ms. Hamilton, you are to be commended for staying calm in a less-than-ideal situation.
Admiral North, your actions, along with those of your men, were brave and surely kept more people from being injured.
Thank you all for your assistance in the investigation, and if you have any questions about these proceedings or the outcome, you’re more than welcome to discuss it with me and my team.
The full written report will be available to those who have the proper security clearance. Have a good day.”
And just like that, it was over.
Storm didn’t wait around. He immediately stood, took her hand, and headed for the door.
“North?” the vice admiral called out, and Jane wanted to laugh at the look of impatience that crossed her man’s face. He obviously wanted to ignore the hailing but knew it wasn’t a good idea to dismiss someone with a rank as high as the vice admiral’s.
He turned. “Yes, Sir?”
The other man was grinning, as if he knew how impatient Storm was to get the hell out of there. “I’m glad you’re all right. I see great things in your future as a naval officer.”
Storm nodded respectfully. “Thank you. I’m glad I’m all right too, but more importantly, Jane is okay.
I didn’t do what I did for accolades, or for anyone else standing around that car.
I did it for Jane, and Jane alone. And as far as my career goes, I appreciate the kudos, but I wouldn’t count on me being around forever. ”
He turned to glance at Jane, and she almost melted at the look in his eyes. It was a look of love and devotion she’d only fantasized about late at night in her dreams. And it was aimed at her. Plain Jane Hamilton. It was almost unreal.
Storm turned his attention back to the vice admiral.
“I love the Navy. I’m proud to have served my country, and I wouldn’t change a moment of my career.
But I’ve learned what’s important. I’m looking forward to spending my retirement with Jane at my side and seeing what the world has to offer…
as a tourist this time, and not a SEAL.”
The vice admiral nodded. “You’re a lucky man.”
“Yes, I am,” Storm agreed. He saluted the admiral, who returned the gesture, and then Storm was pulling her out of the room once more.
“In a hurry?” Jane asked in bewilderment.
“Yup,” Storm said but didn’t elaborate.
“Want to tell me why?”
He pulled her through the door and into the parking lot toward her brand-new XC90. It was a high-end SUV comparable to a Toyota Highlander. Jane had tried to protest, insisting it was too expensive, too new, too fancy, but he was having none of it.
She’d continued to explain why she didn’t need it until he’d turned to her right there in the middle of the dealership, took her face in his hands, and told her in a tone of voice she’d never heard from him before, “I need you to be safe. And while I might not be able to be by your side every second of the day, I can get you the safest vehicle I can find. One that, with a touch of your thumb, lets you silently call for help with their advanced security features.”
How could she continue to say no when he put it like that? So she’d given in and allowed him to get the car for her.
He’d purchased his own new vehicle too. A Hummer. It was over the top, but Storm didn’t care. He’d said that if she ever got into a situation like she’d been in again, he’d just run over anyone who dared to hurt her and carry her off like a Viking of old.
It was ridiculous, but since he mostly drove her Camry and hadn’t really left her side except for during the workday, it didn’t bother her much.
“You’ll see,” Storm told her in response to her question about why he was in such a hurry.
Jane wanted to roll her eyes, but secretly she loved Storm’s surprises.
He was generous, and with every day that passed, she loved him more and more.
It was almost scary how much he’d come to mean to her in such a short time, but she was learning to embrace each moment, and life with Storm was beautiful in a way hers had never been before.
He stood on the passenger side of her SUV and waited until she was buckled in safely, then right before he shut the door, she watched him flick the lock mechanism.
She’d called him out the first time he’d done that, but when he’d explained that never again was someone going to slip into the car when she wasn’t aware, she’d shut up about it.
Storm drove them toward his townhouse, and they made small talk.
Jane was relieved the whole issue with Carlin and the bombs was over and done with.
Dag and Brenae were safe, as were everyone else.
There was no guarantee someone in the future wouldn’t take offense to something a superior officer did, but she hoped it wouldn’t happen while she was still working. Twice had been more than enough.
Storm pulled into the parking spot he’d arranged for her to have permanently at his complex, and she waited until he came around to her side of the car.
That was another change in their routine.
She didn’t need him to help her out of a vehicle, but she knew for his peace of mind, he needed to do it.
And it wasn’t exactly a hardship to have him hold her hand as soon as she exited the car.
He led her up to his door and inside.
“So, what’s my surprise?” she asked impatiently.
Storm held up a finger. “Hang on just a bit longer,” he told her. “I’ll be right back.” Then he headed for the front door they’d just come through.
Jane was confused. They’d just gotten home. “But—”
“Wait,” he interrupted, then closed the door behind him.