God, everything hurts, Julia thought.
She knew she'd been shot, but she had no idea where she was. All she knew was that she was in a lot of pain.
She tried to talk to someone, but there was something in her mouth and her left arm was pinned to her chest. She couldn't even feel her right arm.
"Hello, Mrs. Summers," a doctor said when she saw that Julia was conscious. She removed the gauze from Julia's mouth so she could speak.
"Where am I?" asked Julia. "Where are my kids? Where's Jack?"
"Mrs. Summers, you're in Denver, Colorado, at the VA Hospital," the doctor said. "You're here under an assumed name by order of Darren Dixon."
"The CIA director?"
"The same."
"I was shot," Julia said; "How bad is the damage?"
"Some muscle damage and a broken collar bone," the doctor said; "You were very lucky."
"Does my family know I'm here?" asked Julia.
"We've sent word to John Christofferson about where you are," said the doctor. "Any other information you'll have to get from Director Dixon yourself when he comes to visit. He's due any time now."
Julia just laid in the bed, wondering how the kids were taking this. Who else knows about this? she thought. Nik and Jeremiah? Her parents? If Dixon is coming to visit, then Natasha knows, Julia said to herself.
"How long am I going to be here?" she asked the doctor.
"We hope to have you back in Wyoming by the middle of next week," said the doctor.
The doctor then left, leaving Julia alone.
I'm going to give Darren Dixon a piece of my mind, Julia thought; I can't protect my family if I can't defend myself. I don't care if he is sleeping with Natasha, I'm going to say my peace.
Julia only wished her shoulder didn't hurt so damn much. "I'd rather go through labor again than go through getting shot again," she said aloud to no one.
Patience, Julia, she thought she heard Kiera say in her soft, reassuring voice; You are the protector of your pack.
Some protector I am, thought Julia; I got shot.
Then she realized that's exactly what she had done. She protected Rachel from being murdered before her eyes, and saved Jack and the other children as well.
I need to talk to my mom, she thought; and Jacob. But how can I do that if I'm supposed to be hiding.
"No more hiding," she said aloud; "I'm going to fight. I am a Disturbed One. I do not fail."
The message came through Nik's phone immediately: Julia shot. In Denver. Non life threatening injury.
"Shit!" he said angrily; "I'd take a bullet for my sister anytime! This hiding shit has to end."
A second message arrived, from Jeremiah: Julia shot, Nik. Just heard from Dixon. He's on his way to Denver now.
Great, Nik thought; Julia gets sent into hiding when she's capable of defending herself, and she gets shot anyway. If she had stayed here, she might not have had to go through this.
His phone rang. It was Dixon.
"San Marco. Talk to me, Director."
"I'm on my way to Denver," Darren said. "You got my message about Julia?"
"Yes, Director," Nik said; "If Julia wasn't in hiding this may not have had to happen. I'm more than a little pissed off."
"I understand, Nik," Darren said. "I'm not really happy about the situation either. Julia seems to be doing well, and her injuries are serious but not life threatening."
"With all due respect, Director," said Nik, barely able to keep his anger in check; "if these people are as bad as everyone says they are, why don't we just take out the leaders and get it over with?"
"Because even if we do take out the leaders, there are still rank and file members who will do their thing on their own," Darren said.
"Great, rogue operatives," Nik said sarcastically; "My 14 year old can pick them off in his sleep."
"I understand that it was your 15 year old who shot the intruders in your home in August," Darren said.
"It was, but Danny can do it too," said Nik. "All my kids are good with firearms, Director."
"I know that," Darren said; "I've seen your daughter shoot first hand."
"Just as long as you don't get a wild hair up your ass about sending her into hiding as well," Nik said; "I'd rather that she get her education without all these damn distractions."
"We're working on that, Major," Darren said.
"Good," said Nik; "Now go check on my sister and let me know when she'll be back in Chicago. Wherever she's hiding, the Movement knows where she is now."
"I'll send you a report as soon as I speak with her," Darren said. "I may come back through Chicago on my way back to Washington. I'd like to meet with you and Jeremiah if I may."
"Sure, that can be arranged, Director; just let me know when you'll be here so both Jere and I can arrange to meet with you," Nik said.
"Very good, Major," Darren said; "I must get going. I have a plane to catch."
Nik said his goodbyes and closed the connection. For the first time, he wondered if working for the CIA was such a wise idea.
"Your brother isn't exactly happy with me or the situation at the moment, Natasha," Darren said as he got his overnight case and headed for the door of Natasha's house.
"Do you blame him, Darren?" asked Natasha; "He only grew up with Julia, that's all. Of course he's going to be concerned. Hell, I'm concerned about her! She's never been shot, she's that good. But she'd take a bullet for her child."
"And that's what I understand she did, Tash," Darren said; "And I know you'd do the same for your children, too."
"Damn right," Natasha said; "Those children are my life."
Darren took Natasha into his arms. "I know baby," he said; "and I would, too, because they're part of you."
"You better get to Denver, then, baby," Natasha said; "I have a feeling that Nik isn't the only one who's going to give you a piece of their mind."
"I'm going to go to Chicago to get Nik and Jeremiah up to speed on all this shit," Darren said; "Julia will want to come back when she's healed up, and I'm going to let her. She's more valuable to us when she's got use of both arms; though I'm sure she could shoot just as well with one hand."
"This is Julia we're talking about, Darren," Natasha said; "I don't doubt that for a second. I watched her plan the demise of the Committee and Sarah Kathryn Hope. If anyone can compensate for an injury, Julia would be the one."
Natasha drove Darren to the airport terminal that government employees used for official business. After he was on the plane, but before it left the gate, Natasha looked out the window, trying to see if she could see Darren on the plane.
I love you, Darren, she thought; please come home safe to me.
After all the children had gone to bed for the night, Jack stayed up, thinking about the phone call he got from the Veteran's Administration Hosptial in Denver.
Julia was going to be fine, her injuries not as serious as they could have been. The man who had shot her was transferred to a local hosptial, where he later died; but not until he told the Feds who had sent him to Wyoming to assassinate Julia.
A man named Clayton Pollard.
Jack wanted to find this Pollard jerkoff and eliminate him. No one comes onto my property and hurts the people who live here without feeling my wrath, Jack thought.
He had gotten a bit of good news; since what Sarge did to the man didn't lead to his demise, the bull's life was spared. Even the Feebees who came to investigate said that the bull played a part in saving both Julia's and Rachel's lives. Not even the arrow that pierced his thigh from Zach's crossbow led to the man's death, as it didn't hit any major arteries. No, the stalker died of a heart attack. An autopsy showed the man had serious heart disease that had been left untreated and most likely led to his death.
Rachel, however, was more determined than ever to perfect her weapons skills. As she had told Jack that evening before she went to bed, "People are going to think because I'm a little girl that I can't defend myself. Mom says that I'll probably be small like her, and that the more I train, the better I'll get."
"That's probably true, Rachel," Jack told her; "but that will have to wait until your mother comes home and can guide you."
"Can't you guide me?" she asked Jack.
He laughed; "Your mother is probably better trained, and has better skills than the entire U.S. Army! Since I was an Army guy, she can shoot rings around me. I'm good, but not nearly as good as your mom. She was trained by a Marine, after all."
"Marines are bad ass," Rachel said; it was the first time Jack had ever heard the eight year old use profanity. He didn't even correct her on it.
"That they are," Jack agreed; "Now, young lady, it's off to bed with you."
"Night, Jack," she had said, and went to the room she shared with Jaime.
Jack looked out the window now at the darkness that had enveloped the ranch. It would be getting cold soon. There was already snow forecast for later that week. The kids will like that, he thought.
He only wanted one thing; for Julia to come back to him. He knew that his time with her and her family was going to end soon. But, please Lord, he thought; not until after the first of the New Year.
Jack saw Julia's file of her children's homeschooling progress reports laying on the desk. Please come home to me, sweet Julia, he thought.
Before Darren could even get out a hello, Julia jumped all over him verbally.
"When I am healed from this injury, Director, I'm taking my family and going back to Chicago. I am perfectly capable of defending me and mine without hiding like a scared rabbit. My daughter was right, we are running from a fight. No more running, Director. I'm going back home, and I'm going to fight these second Occupation jerks tooth and nail. They will rue the day they ever fucked with me!"
"Natasha warned me you'd tear me a new one, and she was right," Darren said.
Julia wasn't smiling. She was still extremely pissed off.
"I want out of my agreement with CIA, Director," she said; "All that it's done for me is send me into hiding, and instead of protecting me and my family from A.R.M., it's made me a sitting duck."
"You agreed to a two year term, Julia," Darren said; "I have to hold you to that."
"As long as I work for you, Director," Julia said; "I'm going to call the shots. Got that? I have the same information available to me as you do. For the love of God let me use the skills I learned from childhood on to do my fucking job for you. I have a better chance of getting these bastards on my own with Nik and Jeremiah's help, than I have working for you."
"You will keep me apprised of any situations you encounter that you need the Agency's assistance on, Julia," Darren said; "I'll let you work independently, but I'm still your boss. You'll still report to me when I request it."
"And I'll report to you when I'm damn good and ready, Director," Julia said; "You do your job there in Langley, and I'll do my job wherever I'm needed. My first priority is to my family. They trump everything. Even being employed by the United States Government."
Darren sighed silently. Julia Summers might only be five-three and a little over one hundred pounds, but no one crosses her. His agency needed to respect her skills. His regret is that even though he did admire Julia's skills and her reputation, he and the Agency severely underestimated her. And, he suspected, San Marco and Donovan as well.
"All right, Julia, you win this battle," Darren said; "We should have known better than to mess with success."
"You should have just let us live our lives and trained snipers to take care of your dirty work," Julia said; "I was done with this shit when I was 19 years old. I'm 34 now. When do I get to live my life?"
Darren had no answer for her, and Julia knew that she had stumped him.
"In other words, Julia, don't fuck with you," he said.
"Precisely," Julia said; "Mess with me and mine, and you will not win."
Don't I know it, Darren thought.
II
After surgery to repair the damage to her muscles and to set the broken collar bone, Julia was told that she would be back in Wyoming by November first.
"I want to see you for a check up after the first of the year," her doctor told her. "You're in excellent physical shape, so your recovery should go smoothly, but I want to take a look at whether the muscles have healed completely before I clear you for your usual physical training routine."
"That's fine," Julia said; "Would I be coming back here to Denver, or do you go to where I am?"
"You'll need to come here to Denver," the doctor said. "I'll have an appointment set up for you through the CIA."
"Okay, that's what I wanted to know," Julia said; "And I can go back to Wyoming next week?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Good, because I need to get back to my family," said Julia; "They're in the care of a family friend, and even his patience can wear thin after a while."
After the doctor left, Julia just stared at the ceiling.
She didn't regret the tongue lashing she gave Darren Dixon, because that was how she felt and she had no trouble telling him so. Even Natasha would back her up, Julia was sure, being a mother herself.
And that was Dixon's problem as far as Julia was concerned. He wasn't a parent, and didn't really know the extent of how far mothers would go to protect their children. Maybe his being with Natasha will show him why I am so angry at this whole situation.
Julia sighed. She hated being sick or injured. All of her pregnancies required bed rest for one reason or another, and being unable to do what she needed to do frustrated her. So being in a hospital at the mercy of doctors and nurses really ground her gears, as Ryan had been fond of saying.
I can't even call Jack and tell him things are okay with me, she thought. I doubt that Dixon would do it.
Or, would he?
The entire time Darren was on the plane heading to Chicago, he was on the phone. His first call was to his office to arrange that a message be sent to John Christofferson updating him on Julia's condition.
"Yes, make sure that he gets the information he needs about Mrs. Summers," Darren told his secretary back at Langley; "Her children are currently in his care until her release from the hospital."
He then called Nik in Chicago, informing him that Darren would be in the city that afternoon to meet with Nik and Jeremiah. A meeting time of 5pm was set in Nik's office at home.
He then called Natasha and let her know that he would be in Chicago overnight, and he planned to return the next day to Washington's Reagan Airport.
Darren then took a call from the President, asking about CIA's plans now that Julia was temporarily out of commission.
"Whoever this Clayton Pollard is, Mr. President," Darren said, "he needs to be stopped at all costs. I suspect that he's an agent for Chastity Edwards, since she is not doing the day to day operations of the Movement due to a medical issue....yes that's what we've been told, that Ms. Edwards is dealing with medical issues that needed to be addressed immediately...No, I have no idea what her medical issues are, Mr. President. That's what her press liaison, Krysta Banks, is telling anyone who asks. That Chastity Edwards would be unavailable for an indeterminate amount of time due to health concerns."
It seemed like it was no time from the time he took off from Denver until he landed in Chicago. Once he had deplaned and retrieved his bag, he hailed a cab to Nik San Marco's residence, where he'd receive a chilly reception from the Major's two youngest sons.
But Dixon didn't know that yet.
"Well, shit!" Pollard said when informed of his Wyoming operative's death from a heart attack; "Had I known the man was a fucking walking timebomb, I might not have sent him to assassinate Julia Summers."
Krysta sat in Pollard's makeshift office and said nothing. She despised the man who was temporarily taking Chastity's place while Kathryn Marie tried to integrate her back into her persona. He was just as bad as Chastity in the pursuit of power, Krysta observed. And just as sick when it came to sexual favors.
"Aren't you going to say anything, Ms. Banks?" Pollard thundered at her.
"There is nothing I have to add to your observation, Mr. Pollard," Krysta said. "You sent the man there, not me. Personally, I'm glad that he's dead. He wasn't much of an assassin anyway."
"He was one of the best at one time, bitch," Pollard said nastily.
"You're just pissed off that Summers survived the attempt," Krysta said; "Anyone with two eyes and half a brain can see that."
"I'm going to tell Chastity to fire your ass when she returns from her medical leave," Pollard said; "You're nothing but a disagreeable whore."
"And you're an incompetent jerkoff, Pollard," Krysta shot back at him. "I wouldn't have let a couple of 17 year old girls get the better of me. One of them shot you, didn't they?"
"So? I ain't dead, so she must have not had that much of a desire to kill me," said Pollard.
"I'd shoot you too if you tried to rape me," said Krysta. "Did you honestly think they'd just roll over and let you have their way with them? You forget who you're dealing with."
"I'm very well aware of who we're dealing with, Ms. Banks," said Pollard. "The children of The Triad. I'd wipe them all out if I could get away with it."
"You don't have the ability, nor the manpower, to do that, Pollard," Krysta said. "Once you realize what your limitations are, you'll be better prepared to deal with The Triad."
Pollard ignored that last remark. How dare this bitch tell me how to do my job! he fumed to himself. I'll do this job better than Edwards ever could.
And that would be his downfall. A 19 year old college student would make sure of that.
"What? Were all the limos taken?" Peter said sarcastically when Dixon's cab pulled up to the house.
"Maybe he just wants us to see he's just regular folks like us," Danny said.
"Boys, that's not very nice," KateLynn admonished her two youngest sons. "He's got a job to do just like your father and I do."
"He's the one who got Aunt Jules shot, Mom," Peter said.
"You don't know that, Peter Steven," said KateLynn. "Danny, go tell your father that Mr. Dixon is here."
"Yes, Mom," Danny said as he disappeared around the corner to his dad's home office.
A moment later, Nik was in the kitchen with KateLynn and the boys when Dixon rang the doorbell.
"Good Afternoon, Mr. Director," KateLynn said as she greeted Dixon in the entry hall; "Welcome to our home."
"Thank you, Mrs. San Marco," Dixon said.
"Call me Kate, please," KateLynn said. To Nik, she said, "Honey, the Director is here."
Nik appeared at the door as KateLynn took Dixon's overcoat and umbrella and placed them over the back of the couch.
"Director," Nik said, "you've met my wife. These are our two youngest sons, Peter and Daniel."
Dixon extended his hand towards the teenagers, and they each took it and shook firmly. "It's nice to meet you both. Sandrina speaks highly of both of you."
"How do you know our sister?" Danny asked.
KateLynn rolled her eyes. She knew that Danny would be the hardest one to befriend. The 14 year old blamed Dixon for everything from making his father work for the CIA and rejoin the Army, to the men who came to the house three months before with the intent to kill them.
"I work in Washington, and I'm friends with your Aunt Natasha," Dixon said; "I've met your cousin Danica, too. They're both doing well at Georgetown from what Natasha tells me."
"Oh," Danny said.
Nik decided he was going to prevent his youngest son from saying something stupid by telling Dixon, "Let's go back to my office and wait for Jeremiah to arrive. He's still working on a story and has a 6pm deadline."
"That's fine, Major," Dixon said.
"I'm home now, Director, so I'm just Nik," said Nik.
"Then I'll just be Darren," said Dixon.
"Sounds good to me," Nik said as they headed down the hall to the office.
Once they were out of earshot, Danny said, "What a prick. Friends with Aunt Natasha. They're practically engaged from what Sandy says."
"Daniel, that is uncalled for," his mother said; "I know you're all kinds of pissed off because of everything that's been going on the last several months, but you need to keep your mouth in check. No matter your feelings for the man, he's still a guest in our home. You got that, boy?"
"Yes, Mom," Danny said; "But I don't have to like it."
"That's your prerogative, son," KateLynn said; "but you will be nice while he's here. And, yes, he just might be your uncle one day, but for right now, just keep your feelings in check. I'm sure he's heard enough crap for one day from Aunt Julia."
"How come Aunt Julia can tell him what she thinks of him but we can't?" asked Peter.
"Because Aunt Julia's an adult, and you two are not," said KateLynn. "Now get washed up for dinner."
"Yes, ma'am," both boys said as they headed to the bathroom to do as their mother asked.
While they were gone, KateLynn thought, I'm not your biggest fan either, Darren Dixon, but if you make Natasha happy, then who am I to say otherwise? She's needed to feel loved her whole life, and if you love her, then maybe I can overlook the fact that you backed Nik into a corner to work for you.
"Those boys of yours didn't seem especially happy to meet me," Darren said. "Especially the younger one."
Nik sighed, saying, "I apologize for that, Darren. Danny's always been the sensitive one, and like Julia has no trouble telling people what he thinks. When I was doing my first go round in the Army, my being gone was hardest on him. He gave me an earful of what he thought when he was five years old."
"And Peter," Darren said; "he's made remarkable progress in his recovery from his accident."
"Indeed he has," Nik said in agreement; "Since he has been out of the back brace, he's had a mini growth spurt. I think he just might pass me up height wise. He's six-three now and he's only 15."
"Isn't your oldest son something like six-eight?" asked Darren.
"Yeah, Matt's pretty tall," Nik said, "but he has a bigger build than I do. I suspect that my biological father was built the same way. Natasha says she doesn't remember those kind of details. And I have little memory of my birth parents, as they died when I was not quite four."
"Your wife is pretty tall as well," Darren said.
"To hear her tell it, she had to be tall to match with me," Nik said, laughing and remembering that first night they met at the retreat for children orphaned by the Occupation when she was 18, and he, not yet 17. But, he had something to ask Darren that didn't have to do with the older man's visit.
"Darren, please forgive me for what I'm about to ask you," Nik began, "but what, exactly, are your intentions towards my sister?"
Darren couldn't say he was surprised at Nik's question. Natasha had pretty much warned him that Nik would probably ask. "He's been really protective of me the last few years, and he just wants me to be happy," she told Darren one night he spent the night with her at her home.
"Nik, I'm not surprised that you've asked me this," Darren said; "I would like you to know that I have cared for Natasha for a very long time. She was resistant to allow me into her heart because of her past. I told her that her past didn't matter to me, but that she did. I had those records sealed when she came to work for the Agency fifteen years ago. I just wanted her to know that I cared deeply for her, and that if she could see her way past her fears, that I'd be waiting. It was a long wait, but she is worth every year, every month, every moment."
Nik saw the emotion that Darren tried to conceal on his face. Natasha made him wait years for her? Nik thought; and he didn't run? He didn't see other women? He waited willingly for her? Mister, you're a stonger man than I gave you credit for.
Darren continued; "My intentions, Nik, are to marry Natasha and help her raise her children. To love her like she deserves; to be there when she needs me; Maybe have children with her. I fell for her the first time I saw her; not because she's a stunningly beautiful woman, but because she was confident and sure of herself. It was only later I learned how vulnerable she really was."
Nik, for the first time since meeting Darren, was impressed with him. Not just any man would wait a decade and a half for a woman to be ready to open up her heart to him. Nik knew his sister was a special person, but he didn't know how special until Darren sat in front of him to make his case as to what his intentions were.
"Darren," said Nik, "if you want to marry my sister, then you have my blessing. You didn't come here for that, I know. I kind of came out of left field with that question."
"You're her only living sibling, Nik," Darren said; "I wouldn't have expected anything less."
By that time, Nik could hear Jeremiah's voice in the front of the house. Time to get this started, he thought.
III
"Damn, Pete, you're going to pass me up, boy!" Jeremiah said when he walked into the San Marco's house.
"Sorry, Uncle Jere," the boy said, "someone has to be taller than you!"
"My own son, perhaps?" asked Jeremiah, laughing. "He's getting there. He's six-one at 14."
"Nik and the Director are in his office, Jere," KateLynn said; "Go on back. I'm sure they've not started talking about anything important that should be aware of."
"I know Nik was planning to ask Dixon what his intentions towards Natasha were," Jeremiah said; "I'd probably do that too if it were my sister. Then again, she's been married a long time."
"How are Amber, Drew and the kids?" asked KateLynn.
"Shit, Kate, the kids are all grown now!" Jeremiah said; "Amber and Drew just became grandparents not too long ago!"
"Wow!" KateLynn said; "I had no idea. I'm assuming it's Antonia who just had a baby."
"Yes, it's Antonia," Jeremiah said; "She got married right after she graduated from Yale, and her son is four months old. His name is Braden."
Jeremiah then disappeared down the hall, then arrived at Nik's office, where his brother and Darren Dixon sat.
"Hey, Jere!" Nik said, shaking his brother's hand and giving him a hug; "Story get out on time?"
"It did, Nik, but I had to make a stop at home first," Jeremiah said; "Aaliyah had heard that Julia had gotten shot and was really upset about it."
"She okay?" asked Nik.
"She will be," Jeremiah said; "But I want to hear about what's going to happen next." Jeremiah sat down in a chair directly opposite of Darren. "So, Director, what's the plan? Julia coming home or what?"
Dixon let out a long breath before he spoke, then, "Julia is planning on returning here to Chicago when her injuries are healed. Until then, she's staying put where she is. She told me in no uncertain terms that she's going to do things her way."
"That doesn't surprise me one bit," Jeremiah said; "Had she been allowed to stay here, maybe she wouldn't have gotten shot, and I wouldn't have an extremely upset eight year old at home."
"You three will still be working for me, but you're going to be calling the shots," Dixon said; "Julia made that clear to me as well. One of her daughters accused her mother of running from a fight, and sadly, that's exactly what it's turned out to be. Julia knows what's good for her, and for her family. If Julia Summers wants to fight, I think I better let her. She knows her strengths and weaknesses better than I or anyone in the government does."
"She knows those better than Nik or I do, too," Jeremiah said; "And I don't even have to ask which daughter it was who made that accusation. I already know it was Miri."
"You think that Pete and Danny aren't friendly toward you, Director," Nik said, "then don't even piss off Mirielle Summers. That girl, like her mother, speaks her mind and doesn't care if she offends you. If looks could kill, then Jere, her mother and I would be six feet under by now."
"I'll remember that in the event I get to meet her," Dixon said. "But you gentlemen agree that the threat against Julia has been neutralized, and that if she wants to bring her family home, she's going to do it whether I think it's okay or not."
"You seriously underestimated her, you know," Jeremiah said; "Don't let that little gal fool you, Director. Nik and I have always said that good things come in small packages, but so does dynamite. Fuck with Julia, and you're playing with fire. And we all know what happens when you play with fire, don't we?"
"Miri, when's Mom coming home?" asked Jaime.
"In a few days from what Jack has been able to find out," Miri said.
"Are we going back to Chicago after that?" asked Zach.
"I don't know," Miri said. "I guess it depends on how fast Mom's injuries heal and how she feels."
"I like it here," Jaime said; "I like working with the animals. Sarge is a hoot, and the cows pretty much let me do what I want to get them milked. Tripod is the craziest dog I've ever seen!"
"You like animals, period, James," Miri said; "Maybe you could be a vet when you get older."
"I'd like that," Jaime said; "As long as I can work with farm animals."
"You've always been good in science and biology," Miri said; "You've got a natural way with animals. I know those goats love it when you come to visit."
"The goats are silly," Jaime said; "They're always looking to increase the goat population on this ranch!"
"The goats are just plain horny," Miri said; "It doesn't take much to get them going. They're almost like people..."
"When is Jack going to be back from town?" asked Rachel, who had just awoke from an unintended nap.
"After he takes care of his business there," Miri said; "He was going to get groceries and stuff to help Mom feel better when she gets home."
"I want to go back to Chicago, Miri," said Rachel, yawning; "I miss Aaliyah and everybody."
"I know you do, little sister," Miri said; "Life is filled with hellos and goodbyes."
"Has that Army guy written you anymore?" asked Rachel.
"Yes; I get a letter from him about every two weeks or so," Miri said; "We have a lot in common. We both like to read, and we both like art, and we both like traveling."
"You like him, don't you?" asked Jaime.
"I do like him, as a friend, Jaime," Miri said; "He's too old for me and Mom won't let me date before I'm sixteen."
"Not like Mom and Jack, though," Jaime said. "I'll bet the Army guy isn't nearly as much older than you than Jack is to Mom."
"Well, no," Miri said; "He's about 5 years older than me. And by the way, James, the 'Army guy' has a name. It's John, just like Jack's given name."
"Oh, sorry," Jaime said. "My bad," she added, laughing.
"Your bad my ass," Miri said.
The front door opened, and the kids knew that Jack had returned from town. "Let's go see if he needs any help with stuff," Miri said.
Kimber was pissed off.
She wondered why she was the last to know about anything that went on in her family.
She had learned from Jeremiah that Julia had been shot and taken to a hospital in another state. "Were you planning to tell me this, or were you going to let me find out once Julia got home?" she asked Jeremiah.
"Julia didn't want it to be a big production, Kimber," Jeremiah said; "She's still supposed to be in hiding, and the less people who knew about it, the better. No one in Texas knows yet, and since you talk to Niki every week, we didn't want your mom to find out and totally freak out."
"Mom is good at freaking out," Kimber said; "And she doesn't need that kind of stress. She has enough stress with Niki's illness and sending Sam and John to college."
"That's why I didn't tell you when I first found out," Jeremiah said; "Even if I asked you not to say anything, you do tell your sister everything. Your parents would have found out that way."
"So when's Julia and the kids going to be home?"
"We don't know that yet," said Jeremiah. "When Julia's doctors tell her she's all healed up. She broke her collarbone, so that has to mend."
"How are the kids taking it?" asked Kimber.
"Pretty well, but Julia's not even home yet," Jeremiah said; "That may or may not change when she does return to where she's hiding."
"The government has to make a big production out of everything, doesn't it?" asked Kimber. "They should have let Julia do her thing, her way."
"It was all an attempt to protect her and the kids. Julia's no good to anyone if she's dead, now is she?"
"I don't even want to think about Julia in terms of being dead, if you don't mind," Kimber said. "I'm having a hard enough time with Niki's illness killing her."
"Fair enough," Jeremiah said; "By the way, I love the series you've written so far about Niki's cancer. The pictures of the two of you in the latest story were really good."
"Dad took those," Kimber said. "It got him out of his office and away from writing that damn book of his. I really liked the pictures of Niki and Drake together. They're so damn cute! I'm jealous as hell!"
"There are guys here who would kill to date you, Kimber," Jeremiah said; "I know you're not trying to out do Niki right now with school and everything."
"The guys who want to date me are pretty much starstuck," Kimber said; "They grew up listening to post-Occupation Disturbed, and think that dating me would be a notch on their belt. I'm wise to that game; I watched Niki play it in high school. It usually doesn't have a happy ending."
"You're a smart girl for recognizing that," Jeremiah said; "Maybe the right guy hasn't come along yet."
"I hope I know the right guy when I meet him, though," Kimber said.
A showdown was brewing, but neither of the participants in that showdown knew it yet.
Clayton Pollard was trying to run the American Republic Movement like Chastity Edwards did, but was frustrated at every turn. He wanted The Triad dead at all costs and wondered why Chastity didn't take care of them long ago.
What Pollard didn't know is that Chastity, for all her faults, knew one thing; to bring down The Triad would take time, careful planning, and the right people in place to make it happen. So far, Chastity's frustration were people like Pollard who wanted to take care of the problem in their own way, and usually ended up failing. And failure was not something that Chastity accepted. Pollard failed to recognize that.
All he cared about was eliminating the enemy, but not the planning it took to accomplish that goal.
Meanwhile, nearly two-thousand miles away in Charlottesville, Virginia, Matthias San Marco was preparing to turn nineteen years old.
He and Lisa were being normal college students, studying, participating in outside activities and occasionally travelling to Washington, D.C. to see his sister.
Lisa was still receiving therapy to deal with her anxiety over the apartment break in during finals of the spring semester. She was doing well, so her appointments were at first cut down to once every two weeks, then to once a month.
Matt was reeling from the information that his brother Peter was deliberately injured and, in the back of the almost 19 year old's mind, wanted revenge. He kept thinking that he should be helping his father protect the family back in Chicago.
He thought that was stupid, because both his parents, and the two brothers still at home, were perfectly capable of defending themselves.
But it would be a second assault attempt against his sister that would bring Matt and the man who tried to kill his 15 year old brother together in a battle of wills; whose will was strongest would win the day. One man would be a hero. One man would die.
There would be a winner and a loser. Neither man planned to lose. Only one would win. One was taught to fight, survive, and perservere; the other only had his wits and would be easily overpowered by his opponent.
One would live. One would die.
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