Days of Darkness

Chapter 41

We moved out of the house, scanning the grounds for trouble. Victor moved ahead, and we followed. I wasn't sure we should trust him, but I deferred to Natalie, who seemed to have confidence in him. If she trusted him, then I would follow.

"Open the gate, Raphael," Victor called out to the confused guard. He was alone on the gate, standing near what looked like a control box. The helicopter was landing beyond the trees, in the front of the mansion as Victor had foretold.

"No one is it leave, Mr. Robertson," Raphael called back. He had an Italian look about him but lacked the confidence you would expect in tall, dark Italians. It may be the number of people coming up on him.

"Orders have changed," Victor said again, "open the gate." Raphael reached for a radio that was clipped to his belt. "Don't," Victor added, "it's not worth it." Thomas raised his g*n to emphasize Victor's words. Raphael raised his palms and stepped away from the controls. Victor sighed and moved forward quickly and engaged the mechanism that pulled the iron gates open.

"Go," Victor said, shooing the guard away. Raphael looked at us and decided it was best to get out of the way. He took a few steps backward, watching Thomas' g*n, then turned and jogged away.

"Thank you," Natalie said as she neared Victor. Teegan smiled as always which seemed to brighten Victor's eyes, "you did the right thing."

"He shouldn't have hurt you," Victor said, then looked at me, "the bond doesn't require touch?"

"Not for us," I replied, "family seems to break the rules." Victor eye's seemed to laugh.

"You were bonding together all those times," Victor said to Natalie, "I knew something was wrong. Or maybe something was right." He looked down at the ground and shook his head. "Corbett never understood." Teegan leaned forward toward Victor. He was startled and took a step back like she might have a disease.

"She wants you to understand," Natalie said as she shifted her hold to make sure Teegan didn't fall.

"May I?" Victor asked, looking at the both of us. Natalie and I nodded. Victor reached up hesitantly and lightly took Teegan's hands in his. It looked like he thought she might be too hot to touch. I watched his expression change and relax. His apprehension was replaced by a confident smile.

"Angel," Victor decided, "definitely an angel." For a moment, I thought he was going to snatch Teegan out of Natalie's arms and run away with her. Instead, he let go and looked at me. "Why in hell does she love you so much?"

"I have no idea," I replied, "I suspect she feels sorry for me."

"No," Victor said, shaking his head, "she loves you both, but for some reason there is something extra for you, and it has nothing negative about it."

"It's what first attracted me to Sam," Natalie added. I smiled at her and silently thanked Teegan for her matchmaking skills. The gate slid open and rattled to a halt. Betty pulled up in the rented SUV.

"We have to leave," I said, holding out my hand to Victor, "thank you." He took my hand and shook it. Natalie moved close and kissed him on the cheek. Teegan kicked her legs like she thought everything was wonderful and she should be allowed to run around. Victor laughed at her antics and whispered something in Natalie's ear that made her smile.

We left Victor and piled into the SUV. It was cramped, but it was a short trip to where we had left the motorcycles. Abigal was still out, seemingly hugging Devilin while she sat in his lap. I was ready to pass out myself but held on until the SUV emptied.

"Where are we going," Betty asked, once it was only the five of us. Abigal was laid out in the third row of seats and Natalie, Teegan and I were in the middle row.

"138 North Packard," I said. Natalie looked at me with surprise. "We need some time and someone who understands. It's not like they don't know we're here anyway." I added. Betty typed the address into the GPS system, and it calculated a twenty-minute drive. We drove off with the cycles following.

My strength finally faltered and I laid my head in Natalie's lap. She shifted Teegan to give me room and smiled down at me. She leaned down and kissed my ear with her bruised lips.

"What did Victor say?" I asked as sleep started taking over.

"That you love me as much as Teegan loves you," Natalie whispered in my ear, "but I already knew that." Her hand caressed some of my hair off my face. "you called me your wife you know."

"Sorry, girlfriend didn't seem right at the time," I said, remembering my threat to Corbett. I felt her lips near my ear again.

"I want a proper proposal," Natalie said, "I'll only say yes if you're on your knee with a ring." I could feel her smile as she lightly kissed me again. "hell, you can skip the ring, but the knee is a must." I drifted into a warm darkness with a smile on my lips. Dreams of Natalie saying yes filled my mind.

.28 - Captain Hodges

"No, Sir," I responded into to the phone, "we were misinformed. He has combat training, and he didn't come alone." I wasn't sure how to tell the General what I saw.

"He's not in any military database, Captain," the General said, "are you sure he's not just lucky?"

"Not from what I saw, Sir," I said, hoping the General didn't think I was losing it, "he did a Spiderman up the wall and ran directly into point-blank fire. Sir, I've never seen someone move so fast." I paused a moment, trying to settle my words. "There were others I didn't see, snipers who dropped three of the guards as he approached the house. He has tactical knowledge."

"That's certainly a new wrinkle. He's exiting now?" the General asked.

"Yes, Sir, I replied, "He took a beating inside the house. His face is a mess, and he could barely move." I moved the scope on my rifle from the child to the man. It was a wonder he could walk at all with that kind of blood loss.

"He has the child?"

"And the woman, sir," I replied, "I can see them moving toward the vehicle now. I have a clean line of fire." There was silence on the other end. I moved the crosshairs of the scope back to the child. There was a high chance I would drop the woman as well. She was holding the child too close. "Do you wish me to engage?" I asked. I prayed the answer was negative.

"Stand down," the General said. I re-engaged the safety and started breathing normally again. The relief felt good. "Drop all contact with Corbett and his people. We are going to try a different tactic."

"Yes, Sir," I acknowledged.

"Contact Dr. Gunderson," the General continued, "let's see if we do this without shooting Americans." I heard the relief in his voice as well.

"You expect him to cooperate, Sir?" I asked.

"I think we've been making deals with the wrong people, Captain," the General said, "our goals are containment and study. Maybe a simple please will work where force does not."

"They protect the child, Sir," I reminded the General, "I'm not sure they will see it as in her best interest."

"Then the deal will have to be in her best interest," the General said.

.29 - Sam

Waking was a delightful experience. The bed, I had no idea how got into, was warm, the pillow soft, and the nibbling on my ear exciting. The light of the day was sneaking through the edges of the curtains, and soft breasts were pushing into my back. Natalie's hand was roaming freely across my chest and abdomen. I feigned sleep as I absorbed the luxury of it all.

"Welcome back, lover," Natalie whispered as her hand dropped between my legs. It was evident I was awake. Her hand wrapped around my arousal as I turned toward her.

"I missed our mornings," I whispered. Natalie's bruises had a green tinge on the outside. I caressed the side of her face, trying not to put pressure on what looked so sore. I guessed we were at Hank's house, but I left that discussion for later. I kissed her lightly, trying not to damage her already swollen lips.

"Teegan's with Betty and Abigal," Natalie whispered.

"So we have some free time." I smiled.

"Only if you're strong enough," Natalie teased.

"I hear pregnant women are pretty horny," I countered. My hand found her breast, my finger drawing teasing circles around the n****e. Her hips shifted toward me, encouraging my exploration. I loved when she was amorous. That she crawled into bed n***d and woke me, left no question as to her current level of desire.

"This one is," Natalie verified, her eyes confirming it as well. My hand roamed between her legs. Her smile grew when I found her more than willing. She had no idea what it did to me to find her so desirous. I always found her a thing of beauty, but somewhere deep, there was that stupid feeling that I was merely tolerated. To know that she curled up into my sleeping form and got excited about waking me up shredded that ignorant feeling.

"I love you," I said as I shifted between her legs. I loved her eyes when I said those words. They shifted back and forth, looking first at my left eye and then the right, finding the truth of my words. I smiled as her hand guided me to her entrance.

"I love you too," Natalie said. I entered her, sending a shiver through my body. Her body seemed to sigh, accepting all of me as if I belonged nowhere else. I settled deep as her legs wrapped around my thighs.

"I think of you as my wife," I said, remembering my comment from the day before. Being trapped by her felt so good, I didn't move. She pulled more of my weight onto her. I found the pressure of her breasts even more wonderful.

"No proposal," Natalie laughed, "no wife." She pulled me in deeper and held me there. Her eyes were glued to mine. She squeezed me inside, and I returned an involuntary twitch in response.

"Will you marry me?" I asked.