MONDAY CAME TOO quickly for Kaylan as she began her rotation at a relief organization, learning the foods to plan in case of a natural disaster. Fortunately for the organization, and unfortunately for her, she was all too familiar with this dire scenario.
As she met with the manager and learned more about what the next month would look like, Kaylan struggled not to flash back to the days following the quake. People stood in line for days with buckets hoping for water or food. The deaf or impaired were thrown out of line so that the “normal” could survive. People trampled others in their pursuit of survival.
More than the proper food, Kaylan knew they needed proper planning to get food to people as quickly as possible, with people on both ends ensuring the supplies reached the final destination. As she formulated a proposal and plans, the hole in her life that Sarah Beth once filled seemed bigger than ever. And in those moments her fear Nick wouldn’t come home magnified irrationally. Everything seemed out of control. “See you tomorrow, Bill,” she waved as she left for the day. Already the weekend felt like it had never happened.
Megan’s car was parked out front when she got to Nick and Micah’s. Kaylan hoped things had ended with the guy of the week. As much as she loved her brother and boyfriend, she would love a girl around, especially one who would make light of a situation that kept Kaylan up at night.
“Hey, babe,” Nick met her in the kitchen and bestowed a quick peck on her lips. “Can you come in here for a second?” Twining his fingers through hers, he led her into the living area where Megan waited with Micah in what seemed like a silent standoff.
Kaylan almost laughed. “What’s going on?”
“Sidekick over here called and said I needed to come over.” Kaylan could tell her roommate was uncomfortable being anywhere near a military base. No wonder she hadn’t wanted to stay with the guys.
Kaylan sank down on the edge of the couch and looked at her brother and boyfriend. “All right, spill it. What’s going on?” She fought to keep the panic at bay but could tell nothing from their calm demeanors.
“Micah and I both have training out of town for about a month. And we need to talk about living arrangements.”
“Okay, well, I’ll just move out of Micah’s room and back into my house.”
“Kayles, I’m not sure about that.”
“You aren’t going to be at your place. Clearly whoever this is knows your address as well as mine. Megan and I will be better back at our place. The FBI can watch us there just as well as here. Just let me know which of the guys will be in town so we can call if we need to.” She shot an apologetic glance in Megan’s direction. “I’m so sorry about this, Megan.”
Megan grimaced, then shrugged. “It was starting to get a little boring around our house anyway with you being Miss Perfect and all.” A glimmer of a smile graced her mouth, and Kaylan silently cheered for Megan’s grudging support.
“Kaylan.”
Kaylan’s eyes shot back to Nick. “Nick, you can’t control your training schedule. I can’t live in fear, and I really can’t do anything if you won’t tell me what or who I’m watching out for.”
“You know I can’t tell you.”
“Babe, I need to move on with life right now unless you have another idea.”
“We figured you would pull the tough act on us. So we do in fact have another idea.” The front door opened, and Colt and Jay filed into the room.
“How’s it going, ladies? We’re your new body guards.” Jay grinned, winking at Megan, who blushed before rolling her eyes.
“You have got to be kidding me. I can take care of myself, thank you very much.” Megan stood but tumbled back on the couch to avoid running into Jay. “Seriously? Can’t you take your six pack somewhere else?”
“You know you like it.” Jay stalked closer.
Megan glared at Kaylan. “Do military boys ever leave high school?”
“Boys? I am all man, baby.”
“Jay, knock it off,” Colt cut in. He looked at Kaylan and smiled. “We won’t get in your way. The Feds have y’all covered right now anyway. We’ll be around and available for our group’s peace of mind. Since Jay, Titus, and I are on a different team from Logan, Hawk, Bulldog, and X, we aren’t on the same training schedule.”
“So we are at your beck and call.” Jay flashed his most charming smile at Megan.
Megan’s smile bordered on wicked. “You may regret that.”
Kaylan sensed trouble ahead. She shot a look at Micah, who rolled his eyes.
“Jay, behave yourself while we’re gone,” Micah lectured. “She’s off limits.”
“I don’t see you making a move.”
“Jay, I mean it.”
Jay waved a hand in Micah’s direction. Colt grabbed Jay’s arm and shoved him out the door. “Kayles, call us if you need us.”
Kaylan released a breath, admitting defeat but comforted that she had someone she knew close at hand if necessary. “Thanks, Colt. I’ll add you to speed dial.” He flashed a pearly white smile as he closed the door behind him.
The room grew silent. Megan glanced between the three of them. “Well, I’ll go first. I personally think this is overkill. But”—her voice quieted—“I admit I have no clue what is going on, and as long as those bozos stay out of my way, I can handle protection. And you said the Feds are still around?”
Micah nodded. “Keeping a low profile but there if something happens.”
Megan stood and rubbed her hands together. “Well, that means I’m going home to sleep in my own bed tonight.” She looked at Kaylan. “See you in a bit?”
“I’ll be there soon.”
As Megan left, Micah slipped from the room and Kaylan stood. “Guess I better go pack.”
“Babe, wait. Talk to me.”
Kaylan turned on Nick, eyes flashing. “I feel controlled and helpless. But worse than that, I’m scared.”
“Kayles, I’m so sorry. I promise, we are ending this soon. Please bear with me a little longer. I’m not trying to control you. I just want to protect you.”
He pulled her into his arms and lowered his lips inches from hers. Her frustration warred with her affection for him. “If anything, anything ever happened to you, Kaylan, I couldn’t handle it. Especially if it was because of me.” He tightened his arms around her until her anger lessened, and she leaned into him, responding to his desperation, needing comfort, wanting to support.
“You won’t lose me.”
His lips found hers, soft at first, then became more intense—as if kissing her enough could make the danger and everything else evaporate until nothing existed but the two of them. After a few moments she pulled back to rest in his arms. “You can’t kiss this away. I’m fine.”
He chuckled and rested his forehead on hers. She felt his chest rise and fall with a heavy sigh as if he carried the weight of the world. “Let’s keep it that way, okay?” She nodded as he kissed her forehead. Despite his strength, she sensed an emotion he fought to keep at bay. She stroked his back, waiting for him to relax.
“Will you go with me to the hospital?” Nick mumbled against her hair.
“Oh, babe, Logan’s surgery!” She pulled back to study his face. “How’d it go?”
“It’s finished. I wish they had found an antibiotic that worked, but it is what it is. He’s back in his room. I called Kim. She said it’s okay if we drop in over the next couple days. He wants to see us.”
Kaylan had never seen Nick so lost. The famous fixer couldn’t fix anything, and lives were at stake. It terrified him.
She wrapped her arms around his neck. “I would love to go with you. Who has the kids tonight?”
“Logan’s mom flew in to stay with them for a few weeks. I think Kim’s mom will come out after that.”
A low growl sounded behind them. “All right, you two, break it up.” Micah used his arms to pry them apart and walked between them on the way to the living room. “I’m going to record the game tonight, and then I’m ready to hit the road.”
Thirty minutes later they arrived at the hospital. Micah turned the car off and sat still. “I’m not ready for this.”
Nick shook his head. “I still can’t believe it came down to this. I thought the antibiotics would clear the infection, and after some therapy, he’d be back with us.” The two exchanged a look, and Kaylan could feel their pain from her seat in the back.
Kaylan stuck her head between the seats. “Once a SEAL, always a SEAL. It’s still Logan. You didn’t lose the man, just some of the motor skills. Focus on him and all you can help him overcome now. This is your next mission as a team.”
Nick met her eyes in the rearview mirror, and she saw a measure of peace mixed with the pain. “Now I remember why I’m dating you.”
Kaylan snorted. “You forgot? I guess I need to remind you more often.”
“Let’s go, you two.” Micah climbed from the car and slammed the door, Nick and Kaylan following suit.
Kaylan wove her fingers between Nick’s, and he squeezed tight. After all he did to stand beside her after Sarah Beth passed away, she could and would do this and more for him.
She leaned in close as they walked to whisper, “I love you. You are not alone in this.”
He stopped before they entered the doors and kissed her. “When can I marry you?”
She smiled. “Ask me later.”
Within a few minutes they stood outside Logan’s door, Micah joking with Kim and Logan inside. She squeezed Nick’s hand as he took a deep breath. Ever the protector, it killed him when someone he loved was in pain and he couldn’t change it.
They entered the room, and Kaylan struggled to keep her gaze from drifting to the end of the bed where two legs should lie under the sheets. Now one leg stopped short, the sheets abnormally flat next to his other leg. She focused on Kim’s face and the beep of Logan’s monitors.
Nick approached Logan’s outstretched hand and clasped it tight. “Hey, man, how are you feeling?”
“Ready for another Hell Week. I could take on the world right now,” he slurred, but his eyes held the humor they all knew and loved. Kaylan continued to be amazed by the strength of the SEALs and their occasional daredevil bents. Very little stopped them. If they couldn’t accomplish a goal one way, they would try a million other options until they achieved success. To Logan and Kim, this surgery just became a challenge to conquer, not a hill to die on. Life remained to be lived.
“Does it hurt?” Micah asked as he came to stand at Logan’s other side.
“It’s weird. I still feel like the rest of my leg should be there, but it’s not. I hear phantom pains are a possible issue. But so far I’m too drugged to care. I got to thinking though.” His smile turned mischievous as his eyes drooped. “I need a new nickname: The Triple Threat, Tripod, Trey, something with three.”
Micah chuckled. “How about you let us choose something less lame? Let’s face it. You’ve never been good at choosing the nicknames.”
Nick grinned. “I don’t know. I kinda like Tripod. Or we could just go with something like Terminator.”
“Oh, that’s a good one. Even without a limb I can still whip most of the team.”
Kaylan and Kim joined the laughter.
Logan’s tired eyes turned serious. “How am I going to do this?”
Kaylan stepped forward to the end of the bed. “Did Nick ever tell you I was in Haiti during the earthquake?”
“He never shared details.”
“Many lost limbs in the earthquake. Doctors volunteered and have fit many Haitians with prosthetics. This isn’t over. If the Haitians can do it, I’m confident you can overcome this. One step at a time. And we’re here to help with whatever you and Kim need. Besides”—she looped her arm through Kim’s—“I’ve fallen in love with your kids.”
Kim laughed. “You were an instant hit the moment you gave them ice cream.”
“I might possibly have intended that to be a bribe. Apparently it worked.”
Logan’s eyes drooped more.
“I think we need to go. Don’t worry about anything, Logan. We’re here every step of the way.” Nick reached for Kaylan’s hand as they turned to follow Micah out the door. Nick kissed Kim’s cheek. “Call when you need us.”
“Thank you. All three of you. I can’t tell you how much it means to know you are a call away.” Kim teared up despite her smile. “We’re going to get through this just fine.”
Kaylan squeezed her hand. “Yes, you will. We’re praying.”
“She’s a keeper, Hawk. Don’t you mess this up, or I will climb out of this bed and beat you with my old leg,” Logan croaked from the bed.
Nick’s eyes twinkled. “Save your energy, Pops. I’m never letting this one go.”
As they left the hospital, Kaylan thanked the Lord that their relationship hadn’t been normal. In more ways than one they’d had to support one another in the darkest of times and learned to treasure the sweet moments. Life included the rough moments, and she knew with Nick by her side they could laugh or cry together, no matter the circumstance.