Thread: Bodyguard

The Cabin Two more days, said Draven, softly, as Abbie nestled against him. He had no idea what theyd do, but he was sure it would be fun. You wanna take a walk? He added, after a few more seconds. It might be a little chilly outside, but it was a reasonably nice day, the two of them could take a walk through the woods and, maybe, if they were lucky, they could make believe that they were just like any other young couple in love. When Draven said that she was driving him crazy and was a teenage girl she was glad he took steps back because Abbie was tempted to slug him in the stomach. Lovingly of course. What she did do was mouth I know where you sleep! at him. The grin she got back from Draven told her what he thought of her threats. Afterwards, as they sat on the couch... I can understand why mom and dad are probably still on the road. Its something to do, something to keep their minds off of it, she said as she snuggled next to him. Id love to say that I could tell them about you and they would be thrilled and give their blessing and all that but they wouldnt. I dont think it would be so much the age difference. Abbie smiled at his reaction to that statement. No, honestly I think there would shock at first but.... Mostly because of my moms mom. Moms from western Virginia and the family is only a generation from being up in the hills. My granny was....15 when she married my grandfather and he was in the early 30s, widowed with a couple of kids. How were they able to do that? Draven asked, quite surprised. Isnt age of consent like 16? Yep so what they did was have a quiet church wedding and just not bother the state about it until she turned 16. Not right on her birthday though because she was pregnant with one of my uncles.Getting back to the subject... she smiled. Their main issue would be that youre a cop and they wouldnt want me to have to get that 2am phone call. Except that Id know what I was getting into and....I would rather spend the time we had together being in love then worrying. It all seemed so simple and so easy for them to be together but both knew it wouldnt be. Even if her parents somehow agreed the publicity would be nightmarish. The media would would never leave them, especially Draven, alone. The sad truth was that, and so many other things, would keep them separate.. Before they, especially Abbie, could fall into a funk Draven suggested a walk in the wood. She gave a nod and a smile before getting Tabbys coat that was loaned to her. It wasnt a true outdoor jacket but it would do nicely. The trail they found in the wood looked like it hadnt been used or cleared in a while but was easy enough to walk on. The pines kept a lot of the sunlight out so it was still a bit chilly . They found enough opening that kept them warm enough though. The vegetation was just beginning to wake up to spring and if the hints they gave came true there would be a riot of colors in a few months. They didnt talk much, they just enjoyed being together. As they started back and were just in sight of the cabin Draven stopped suddenly. Abbie hadnt noticed and only stopped when she began tugging on his arm. Just as she was about to ask him what was wrong he held up a finger to be silent. The quietness that she had noted earlier made it easier for them to hear the crunch of wheel moving on gravel. The only gravel was the driveway that led to the cabin. Draven pulled them back into the forest to hide behind some brush as they listened. Abbie kept down while he peeked up. The noise stopped and then there was another metallic sound that stopped as well. One van, he whispered in her ear after ducking down. Four to give men. Abbies eyes went wide and a wave of fear rushed over her. Just as quickly she tamped it down and looked at him. What do we do? she whsipered back. The emphasis on we. We arent going to do anything, he answered her question, as they knelt in the brush for cover. As quietly as he could he unzipped his jacket, slid a hand inside to touch the grips of his Colt, but he didnt draw it yet. We stay here, watch, observe, they could be lost, looking for directions, he added, although he knew that wasnt the case. They could see a couple of the men, the way they moved told him they were looking for something, or, more likely, some one. We both know why theyre here, she whispered, after a few seconds. They watched as the two they could see spread out, one heading across to the mustang and placed a hand on the hood, checking to see if the engine was warm. A third man came into view, emerging from the rear of the cabin. Place is empty, no one home, he announced, before he reached into a pocket and pulled out a pair of black, lacy panties. I did find these though, he added, with a grin towards one of his friends. Shes definitely got a great rack, you think the boss will began another, before he was cut off, sharply, as a fourth and then a fifth man came around the corner of the cabin. Cut that shit out, you know the rules. No one, and I mean no one, touches the girl, said the man, glaring at the rest of his gang. He went across to the man who held up the panties, yanked them from his hand and then slapped him hard across the face. Spread out, they cant be that far, he added. Cars cold, they have to still be here, said the man by the mustang, before he turned back towards the man whod been holding the panties. Did you look, or did you just grab her panties and beat off? Fuck you, snarled the man. Spread out, they must be in the woods, or the garage. Jake, began the one who, apparently, appeared to be their leader. Jake, stay close to the house, just in case we missed something. Well search the surrounding area, meet back here in ten minutes, if we find anything, fire a shot, he added, pointing towards the man closest to the house. The five men drew their weapons, before they began to spread out and move away from the cabin, none of them coming even close to where Abbie and Draven knelt. Draven saw the man holding Abbies underwear, sensed the anger broiling beside him and clamped a hand across her face before she could yell out indignantly. He heard the conversation, had no illusions of what might happen if their leader lost control and they found Abbie. He moved slightly, which was when he felt the weight in his pocket. Of course, he still had the burner phone. He took it out, was about to call the chief when he paused. Only one person could possibly know where they were, which meant that for whatever reason they chief had sold them out, they had been betrayed. So, if he couldnt make that call, who could he trust? The answer came almost instinctively, Tabby Michaels had been a marine, too. Quickly he typed in a quick message Fire mission, 3508N 2971E, Semper Fi, he sent the message to Tabby. Hopefully she would realize it meant they were in trouble and gave her the coordinates for the cabin. If they were lucky, they could hold out until she arrived, if not, then theyd be SOL. But, at least she would be there to rescue Abbie. Now what? Hissed Abbie, from beside him. Now, we fuck with them. Stay put, do not move unless I go down. Then you run, into the woods, Tabby will be here soon, if something happens to me, you hide until she arrives, he told her, placing a finger to her lips to cut off any protest she might make. He was no longer a cop, he was a marine again. Ill be back, I promise, he added, after a few more seconds. Without waiting for a response, he slipped his jacket off and began to move away from her, starting to circle around the cabin even as he worked his way closer. He made almost no sound as he moved, his Marine Force Recon training kicking in and he approached the cabin and the single man left to guard it. He came up behind him, grabbed him and pulled him down into cover. One hand wrapped around his chest, holding tight, the other was clamped tight across his mouth to stifle any scream, before he twisted his grip sharply and felt, as well as heard, the mans neck snap. Still holding the lifeless body, he paused for a few seconds before he shoved the corpse away. He stood, beckoned Abbie over, and then waited. He was shaking, hed never liked killing, but sometimes he knew it was necessary. It was easier with a gun, the distance made it less personal, but close quarters was something else and he knew that hed have nightmares. If he, they, survived. She hadnt seen what hed done, and he kicked the body into cover before she reached him. Taking her hand, he led her into the cabin. Take this, safety off, if you have to use it you dont hesitate, got it, he told her, as he handed her the Beretta. Find a place, hide, he added. She hesitated as he gave her the gun, before her fingers closed around the grip. I mean it, Abbie, if you have to use that dont hesitate and you shoot to kill. Shooting to wound only stops the bad guy in the movies, he continued. She looked scared, terrified, which was more than understandable. He kissed her forehead, gave her a grin, before he added. Were gonna get through this, I promise, he said, Trust me, Im a marine. She nodded, although she looked more than a little pale, before she turned and went to hide. They weren't 'professionals', they were pigs. That was the first impression Abbie got as she listened to the men talking. At hearing that she wasn't to be 'touched' her eyes widened for a moment but then narrowed because her anger at all of this happened steadily increased. Draven slapping his hand over her mouth was more of a surprise because she wasn't about to do anything to reveal their position. She wasn't that stupid! While he was fiddling with the phone, Abbie kept her eyes facing front as she considered their options. That was Draven's job but she could do it too. Making a break for the car was out because even if they could get to it, the van blocked the driveway. They could go deeper into the wood but the issue there was that they didn't know the terrain and could easily get lost. That, combined with being hunted and the weather could be fatal. The other was that they could fight but it would have to be a 'hunt peck' type. If they could get into the basement armory Draven could get well armed. Abbie didn't think of any firearms herself because she would shoot her foot with one.The odds were not good... Now what? she asked her lover when he was done with the phone. His answer of Now, we fuck with them. Made her smile a little and say Mon centre cde, ma droite recule, situation excellente, j'attaque. My centre is giving way, my right is retreating, situation excellent, I am attacking. That got her a smile. Then Draven explained the plan and Abbie got shut up before she could say a word. As she waited, Abbie kept glancing from side to side and listening for any sounds that someone was approaching from behind. Draven sign to come was a tiny bit of relief. They had made it a little further down the road... She looked for a moment and didnt see the thug that was left behind. He should be around here... Right then Abbie caught sight of a boot sticking out from cover. She didnt have to guess that the owner was the thug and that he would no longer be moving. When her eyes turned to Draven she found that she didnt...couldnt see him as a killer. He was a warrior in something that was not a game. This was very real and very deadly. Maybe Abbie would be sick later or not. Right now those feelings were a liability. The gun she had had earlier was back in her hand and it felt like it weighed a thousand pounds. This was for real. Could she actually fire upon a human being and very possibly kill them? That was a question Abbie couldnt answer until the actual time came. All she could do was hope it didnt. For all the bravado that she had felt earlier, there was still a strong element of fear that was peaking through the mask she had on. As she took a deep breath and racked the slide back to put the first round in the chamber before sticking it in her waistband for a moment. Stay safe, she whispered and gave Draven a quick hug. Then she ran into the master bedroom, making a slight detour into the kitchen to get a couple of things, before going into the bathroom. The room had no windows and was pitch dark. Abbie turned the light on for a moment so she could pour the contents of the bleach jug into a bowl. Her nose wrinkled at the strong fumes but that was a good thing because it meant the liquid was strong. Before she shut the lights off, she pulled the porcelain of the toilet off and set it in an easy to reach position. Abbie wasnt much of a school athlete but she loved baseball. As she waited in the dark, she thought she heard movement or things outside the room. It was hard to put those thoughts aside so she wouldnt start using her imagination. For the moment, she kept herself focused on the matters at hand.... Then Abbie heard the doorknob rattle as someone tried to open it. The lock was engaged so they couldnt. Then it stopped. If it had been Draven, he would have said something to her but there was only silence. Abbie lifted the bowl up just as the door was kicked open! The sudden light blinded her for a second but she tossed the bowl anyways. There was a splash and then a howl of pains from the bleach getting into eyes, nose, and mouth. Abbie grabbed the toilet lid and swung it as hard as she could. There was a CRACK that was either the porcelain breaking or his jaw or both. In anycase the thug was down and as Abbie ran over him as she pulled out the gun and went to make a break for the trees.... He waited until Abbie had slipped away, wherever she went to hide he hoped she had the sense to lock the door, before he drew his colt and took a few precious seconds to evaluate the situation and what options he had. The second part was easy enough, if only because he had two. Win, or die! And as far as he was concerned, the second was not an option. Tactically, the situation wasnt great. He was outnumbered, outgunned and he had Abbie to worry about. But it wasnt all bad news. He had the element of surprise, he knew the enemy was here and roughly where they were, they could not say the same. He was armed and he was a marine, the bad guys didnt stand a chance. Keeping low, below the level of the windows, he headed for the room hed originally slept in, he found his bag and took an extra couple of magazines for the colt out of them, before he made his way back to the lounge. It was central, would give him the best cover and hed be able to get to any part of the cabin quickly. Outside he heard voices, as the men came back from their search of the woods. Jake! Called out one voice, a pause. Jake! He repeated, as his eyes scanned the area around the front of the cabin, searching for the man hed left behind. There was no answer, and the man moved closer to the mustang, searching for his missing man. Maybe he saw something, went to check it out, suggested one of the others, who held a shotgun. He could have gone inside for a piss, added another, after a few seconds. He better not have, snapped the leader, although he didnt think either suggestion was likely. Even if he had wandered off, Jake would have heard them come back, heard him calling. He started to get a slightly uneasy feeling, something wasnt right. It felt wrong. Spread out, stay in sight, search the area, he has to be here somewhere, he finished. The men spread out, starting to move cautiously as they searched for their missing friend. They knew he couldnt be far. The leader turned to one of the others, Ben, check the cabin. If that sonovabitch is in there taking a piss Ill make sure its the last one he ever takes, ordered the leader. The man turned and headed towards the cabin, pausing at the door before he disappeared inside. Suddenly one of the men gave a startled cry, as his foot touch something. He looked down, saw the body at his feet, hidden in the brush, the head twisted at an unnatural angle that clearly showed the neck was broken. Oh fuck, he cursed, before he raised his weapon and fired a shot into the air. I found Jake, boss, he called out, as the other two came running. What the fuck? Exclaimed the leader, as he knelt beside the body. He rolled it onto its back, tried not to stare at the wide open eyes or flinch as the head rolled loosely to the side on its snapped neck. No cop could have done this, no way, which meant the boss had lied to them. And that meant all bets were off. If the boss wanted the girl alive and unharmed, he was going to have to pay. Hed already lost one man. Whoever did this, theyre no cop, said one of his men, staring at the corpse. Theyre Special Forces, Army Ranger, or marine, theyre the only ones trained to kill like this, he added, after a few seconds. Fuck this, I didnt sign up for this, said the other, starting to panic. Shut the fuck up and let me think! Snarled the leader, as he turned away from the corpse. The body was still warm, which meant that whoever was responsible had to be somewhere nearby. They could be in the woods, but he doubted that. The cabin was the most logical place, it was easy to defend. Turning towards the cabin, he, belatedly, realized that the man hed sent in there hadnt returned yet. Fuck, he cursed, to himself. Whoever this guy was, he was good. In less than fifteen minutes hed taken out two men. Wheres Ben? Asked one of the others, as he too realized the other man hadnt come back. Still looking for Jake, obviously, snapped the leader. He stood up, turned back towards the cabin. You two, take the back, Im going in the front, he paused, then added. They have to be in there, well make that bastard pay for what he did to Jake, and thenwell, if the boss doesnt want to pay extra you get to have some fun with the girl before we kill her, he finished. Draven heard the man enter, and he moved to hide behind the couch as he stuck his head through the open doorway and stared into the lounge. He remained in the doorway for almost a minute, almost as if he could sense something was there, before he finally turned away and Draven almost started to relax. Before he heard the crash of a door being kicked in, followed by howls of pain and then a loud crack that sounded as if God himself had just taken the mother of all home run swings. The crack was followed by the sound of running footsteps, Abbie was, presumably, making a break for it. There was a pause, followed by startled yells, presumably as the men saw her break from the cabin and run for the woods. Leave her, well track her down once weve dealt with him, he heard the leader snap at his men. Suddenly the rattle of automatic gunfire rang out, as someone poured a burst into the kitchen area. Barely had the gunfire faded, before he could barely make out the sound of footsteps and then a voice. Clear, called out the voice. Draven moved to the doorway, took a position so he could cover the hallway that led from the kitchen to the lounge whilst he was covered by a good portion of the wall. A shadow fell across the opening of the kitchen doorway and he raised the colt, finger tensing on the trigger a fraction of a second before one of the men appeared in the opening. The shot was loud, the bullet striking the doorframe and sending splinters of wood flying in all directions. The answer was a stream of rifle fire from the kitchen, the bullets sending shards of plaster and wood flying all around him as Draven dropped and rolled into the open doorway. He fired as fast as the colt would let him, seven rounds ripping through the gunman who stood in the opening. The man went down, didnt move again, as another gunman took his place, firing on Draven even as he rolled back into cover and reloaded. He tried to move into the open again, to return fire, but the bullets whizzing through the open doorway kept him pinned in place. Sticking his pistol around the edge of the door frame he opened fire, squeezing off seven shots more in the hope of keeping the gunman back than of hitting anything. He knew the chances of hitting the gunman were practically zero, but still Reloading again, he rolled away from the door as more bullets ripped through the wall hed been hiding behind. The shooter paused, presumably to reload, and Draven moved to kneel in the open doorway. It was a risk, he knew, the gunman could be trying to trick him into exposing himself, but somehow he knew the gunman wasnt that smart. The gunman appeared again, framed in the open doorway that led from the hall to the kitchen. Draven fired. Travelling at eight hundred and seventy five feet per second, two hundred and thirty grains of copper jacketed lead crossed the thirty feet from muzzle to gunman in a little over three one hundredths of a second. The bullet slammed into the gunmans head, snapping it back, with the impact energy of a small truck, exiting from the back in a shower of blood, brains and bone fragments. Draven kept firing until the slide locked open on an empty magazine, just in case, although the first round had been more than enough. As he lowered the pistol he heard the brush of footsteps behind him, before he heard the gunshot and felt the bullet as it ripped through him. He slumped against the wall, the empty colt falling from his limp fingers. The bullet had passed through, clipping two ribs on its passage, but otherwise missing anything else. He rolled along the wall, so he was facing his assailant, trying to ignore the burning sensation in his side. He knew hed got lucky, if you could call it that, although that luck wasnt going to last much longer, the bullet had missed everything vital. How much did he pay you? He asked, fighting back the pain. Not enough, obviously, answered the man, his gun never moving from the center of Dravens chest. Youre gonna die, anyway, tell me what I want to know and Ill make it quick. Wheres the girl? He added. Fuck you, answered Draven, trying to ignore the warmth of the blood that dribbled from the wound and down his side. Give it up, back up is on the way and even if I knew where the girl was, I wouldnt tell you, he added. Behind the gunman he saw the flicker of a shadow. Ill find her, anyway, said the gunman, pausing before he added. Too bad, all youll be is a dead hero, he added, before a gunshot rang out. A blossom of red appeared on his chest, spreading rapidly, before the hand that held the gun began to droop, as if the weight had suddenly become too much. His knees began to buckle as he began to fall, the pistol finally falling from his grip as he slumped to his knees and then finally fell face first onto the carpet. Draven looked up, behind the gunman, smoking Beretta held in both hands, he saw Abbie. He wanted to stand, to go and take her in his arms, but he couldnt. What took you so long? He asked her, with a grin, before he slumped onto his side. There was shouting but Abbie ignored it and just focused on the forest. The tiny advantage she had was that they didnt want her dead just yet. When it got darker, she realized she was in the forest and immediately veered off to a side to get off of the trail. A tree appeared in her way so Abbie stopped, turned, and held the pistol up in a two hand grip like Draven had taught her. Safety was off and she was ready to shoot at....nothing. Nobody had followed her and from the lack of noise, no one even trying to. Her shoulders slumped as she lowered the gun. What the hell was going on! Abbie kept listening as she both caught her breath and thought. They did come after me because... she whispered. Because Im not a threat. Dravens the threat! The ripping sound of a machine gun carried faintly to where she was standing. Without even thinking about it, Abbie started to make her way back to the cabin. Draven had told her, no...ordered her to hide out until Tabby could get there. He would hold them off so she would be saved. Thats what warriors and protectors and friends and lovers do. Her feet picked up the pace as her love for him made Abbie want to be at Dravens side. It was stupid but she couldnt help it! More gunshots, louder as she got closer. Ducking behind the mustang Abbie peered over the edge at the cabin. There were suddenly series of bangs that she recognized as coming from Dravens .45, then a machine gun, silence, then the .45 again. That was him! He was alive! With one dead outside, the one she took care of, and he had to have taken at least one more there had to be just 1 or 2 left. With the lack of firing now, Abbie was betting.... Bang! Her head jerked up. That wasnt Dravens and there was no response. Slipping the safety off, she crept towards the open door... The cabin smelled of gunpowder, or whatever they used today, and a new smell that she hadnt never smelled before. The copperish smell of spilled blood. Then she caught sight of one body and then another with a hole in it. That explained the brain matter on the wall. Abbie wanted to gag but swallowed hard and moved towards the sounds of voices. Peeking around the corner, her eyes widened at seeing Draven on the floor, hurt. In front of him was a thug with a gun. A gun pointed at her lover. Abbie didnt even think as she brought the pistol up in the proper grip and stance and pulled the trigger. It bucked in her hand as the noise nearly deafened her. As taught, she had aimed for center mass which caused the 9mm slug to miss the spine by a hair and then rip through the heart as it continued on its way out of the body. When the thug fell forward, Abbie stood there with a stunned expression on her face from what had just happened. Then she saw the blood coming from Draven and ran over to kneel next to him. Without knowing it, her fingers set the safety on the pistol before setting it down. Oh my gods! Draven! The bloody shirt made her panic as she slapped her hands against him to try and stop the blood. That caused him jump a little and gasp from the pain. Sorry! Sorry! There were two holes? That meant the bullet was not in him. He was bleeding but it wasnt gushing? Was that good or bad? First...aid kit, he groaned. Without a word, Abbie ran into the other room where they had but put the box. She also got towels and a scissors too. A while a go, she had taken an advanced first aid course at school. Hopefully she could remember at least some of it. Just stay still. You will not die on me Draven! Ill kill you if you do! Her voice had the edge of panic but Abbies hands were steady enough to cut away the shirt from the wound and gently, but firmly press towel against both holes.. Its...its not gushing. Is that good? she asked, looking at him. What should I do? He felt the scissors brush against his skin as she cut away his shirt, felt the cool air against his skin and the stickiness of blood drying. The blood had already started to congeal a little, sticking the shirt to his body, and he winced a little as she pulled the bloody fabric away from his skin. Not gushing, that can be good or bad, he said, softly, once she had the shirt cut away. You see two wounds, entry and exit? He added, she nodded. Then its good, he continued. Apply pressure to both wounds, until the blood stops, he added, in answer to her last question. He felt her press folded towels to both wounds, her fingers applying pressure through the fabric. It hurt like a sonovabitch, but he kept a smile on his face so he wouldnt alarm her. Well, you could try and kill me, but Im Marine Force Recon and we are not that easy to kill, he said, lightly, as he reached for her arm and placed a bloody hand on her wrist. Im not gonna die on you, I promise, he added, giving her a sly grin. You better not, she said, although she suddenly didnt look quite so worried. He waited until he could sense that the blood had stopped flowing from the wound, it wasnt serious although hed be in hospital for a few days once they made it back to civilization. The bullet had missed everything vital, he had a couple of chipped ribs, but aside from that it was nothing. In the kit, theres some brass sutures, use them to pull the wounds closed, he said, once she had relaxed the pressure. He watched as Abbie removed the towels, they were bloody but not as much as they could have been. She set the towels aside, reached for the brass sutures and he searched with his free hand for something to grab hold of. His fingers closed around one of the empty mags for his colt, and he clenched his fist around it. He knew this next part was going to HURT a lot. Maybe more than actually getting shot. Sonova-fucking-bitch, he cursed, mentally, as she began to apply the brass sutures to the wound, pulling it closed. The barbs on the sutures dug into his skin, pulling the edges of the wounds closed as she applied three to each side, front and back. Now, tape gauze pads over them, he said, as he relaxed his grip on the mag. Now, wrap a bandage around me, there should be a long one in there, just keep wrapping it until you get to the end, then use another couple of the sutures to hold it together, he finished. He tried not to show any signs of pain or discomfort as she wrapped the bandage around him, waiting until shed finished before he took her hand gently in his. Im not gonna die, trust me, he said, softly, as he gently turned her head until she was looking at him. Ive had a lot worse, he added, as he felt her fingers move to the scar on his shoulder. Now what? She asked, as she settled onto the floor beside him and nestled in close. She was careful to keep her weight off his injured side, but she nestled her head gently against his shoulder. Now, we wait for Tabby, he answered her, before he kissed her forehead. He was tired, and he held her gently, fighting the feeling of nausea and lightheadedness he knew was just a side effect of the blood loss and the fact that hed killed three men. The lightheadedness would pass, he knew, the nausea too, although that would be transferred to his dreams. I love you, my Abbie, he said, softly, as he closed his eyes. He felt Abbie nestle closer, before he dozed off. Well, aint this cozy, said a familiar voice, which jerked Draven into wakefulness. He opened his eyes, realized that at some point he and Abbie had fallen asleep and curled up close together on the floor. He looked up, blinking as his brain fought to recover from sleep, to find Tabby standing over them. You want me to do what? she asked when told about putting in sutures. It was necessary given the type of wounds he had. Just covering them up could cause them to bleed if Draven tried to move. Abbie looked at him and shook her head slightly. You do know I am horrible at sewing? Last thing I tried ended up looking like Frankensteins monster. Okay...if were going to do this, were going to do this right. She stood up from where she had knelt but gave him a quick kiss first. Keep smiling my love, Ill be right back. She ran into the master bedroom and saw the man she had hit was groaning in pain. His jaw was obviously broken in several places. Abbie didnt want to spend the time on him but she didnt have the choice. First, she used several glasses of water to rinse the bleach from his eyes and face. Then, using the zip ties she found in a pocket, securely tied his hands feet. Finally she took his weapons and placed them outside. With all that done, Abbie washed her hands and poured a mix of bleach and water into the bowl before closing the door to the bedroom. Okay, Im back, she said as she knelt next to her love again. Had to secure the guy I took care of in the bathroom. Hes still alive? Darven said, suddenly concerned. Yes but he wont be eating solid food for awhile. I kinda....broke his jaw in 3 or 5 places. I tied him up just to be sure. As she was saying this Abbie was pulling on the surgical gloves found in the kits and then setting out the things she thought she might need. Then, taking a breath, pulled the towels away to expose the wounds. With a tweezers that was dipped in the bleach solution, she pulled out a few pieces of shirt that had gotten in the wound. Every time she did so, Dravens body twitched. Where...did you...learn to..do...this? he said through gritted teeth. Abbie was doing a debridement of the wounds, to make sure no foreign material got caught in it to cause infections. When she was done, she wiped the area down with iodine swabs. No Country for Old Men Ive watched it a like a million times. Especially when Chigurh does the self-surgery. Now hold still.... Abbie gritted her her teeth as she tried to follow the directions that had been printed a sheet that came with the sutures. That she was hurting the man she loved didnt help matters! Before putting the gauze on, she pulled off the gloves and put a fresh set on and squirted a little antibiotic gel on the gauze. When she was done and all the items put away, Abbie was exhausted. She and Draven talked for a few minutes before both fell asleep. She didnt want to because someone should keep watch but couldnt keep her eyes open. Detective Tabitha Michaels, no relation to the mayors family, didnt know Draven Darius too well. She did know his namesake but had quickly learned never to mention that subject. So when she got the text from him she was mildly surprised but what it had said got her rolling fast. She was one of Uncle Sams Misguided Children and knew what the codewords meant. The only thing she stopped to get was her Mini 30 rifle. A little extra firepower might be welcome. By the time she reached the location, it was starting to get dark. The rumble of her Impala died away as she sat there for a moment. By rights, she should have called the locals to go in with her but Tabby hadnt. Something about this whole thing with the mayors daughter smelled to high heaven. No one was saying anything publicly, but she had heard that the FBI, along with the agencies who werent suppose to be operating in the US, hadnt found a single clue to any conspiracy. Also a whisper that the Feds had pushed their way in to examine the communication system that had been leaked. With all of that thought she grabbed the rifle and carefully made her way up the driveway. There was a van, same color as one of the one used in the original attack, blocking things but no one was nearby. As she got near the cabin, it was quiet. Way too quiet. The door was open and she could see some bullet holes and then the leg of body. Oh yes....there had been some action here. A quick check showed that the two were dead and it looked like there were trying to go into another room.... Seeing Draven, Abbie, and another body all on the floor and motionless brought Tabby up short. Then she the remains of the aid kit and then breathing. More like snoring coming from Abbie. The way she and Draven were snuggled up together.... They hadnt..... Well, aint this cozy, she said loudly enough to wake them. Abbie woke with a start and grabbed for her pistol before seeing who it was. Tabby! she all but yelled and jumped up to hug her former bodyguard. It was so NICE to see someone she knew. The near tackle by Abbie nearly knocked Tabby over but then she laughed and wrapped her free arm around the girl. Thank gods you're alright! What happen to him? He not duck fast enough? she nodded at Draven. Heh... Draven groaned as he sat up. Five attackers. Four dead and one with a broken jaw if Abbie is to be believed and what took you so long? The last was said without a smile but Tabby could tell it was in jest. Tabby just looked at Draven, then at the body on the floor, then at Abbie, and backed to Draven. It was easily to make out that the wound on the body was the entry and that they had fallen on the exit. It was just as easy to see that there was no way Draven could have made the shot so.... You did all four of the kills Draven? she asked quietly. If he wanted to cover up the fact that Abbie had killed this attacker Tabby wouldnt have an issue with it. Before anyone could say anything else, Abbie spoke up. No, I shot and....killed him and that is the way it will be told, she said firmly. She was going to have to deal with the fact that she took a mans life but she didnt think it would be too much a problem. He had been about to kill the man she loved and then here. Dad always said that the lie and the coverup makes something simple into something so much worse. She thought for a moment and nodded. Yeah that sounds like your old man. What about the truth between you two? Just guessing here but.... Tabby shrugged. She had been around Abbie long enough to know the girl couldnt be seduced, not after that near fiasco, and that Draven wouldnt try it. Something happened here and it wasnt any of her business. Whatever you want to say or not say Im cool with it. Nobodys business but your own. As the time passed and the burner phone didnt ring the he got more and more worried. While the men he had hired werent the team of professionals that he had hoped for they werent a bunch of idiots. Five of them could certainly handle one cop and a young girl. When he had met with the boss of them and explained what he wanted the man said it was a piece of cake. In order for the plan to work, he had to betray the trust that had been given him. It was only a little bit and was for a good cause. He would not cause the nightmare that the Brian Jones case had caused a few years ago. A serial killer who was a police captain who had kidnapped a fellow officer. They were lucky that Jones was killed so they could avoid the spectacle of a trial. Still, the blackeye that the police force got was a long time in healing... Again he looked at the photo of his late wife and son. Family. That had been drummed into his head since he was a child by his grandmother If you were without family then you were nothing. If you had no heirs to carry on the family line or name you were a failure. She raised him after his parents died when he was a child. Her only child, his father, was the last of the line and so the burden of carrying it on fell to him. What was so important about family he had always asked and most of the time received a Because it is! and maybe a rap on the head. Finally one day his grandmother showed him a small box with a wood inlay that he later learned was a tea caddy. Inside were a series of very old documents. Some were paper and others made of some other material that he later learned was parchment. The writing on most looked like English letters but wasnt. The paper documents were in written English and mentioned something about Kalash and an agreement. His grandmother explained that over two hundred years ago an ancestor and his friend had made their way from British India to what is today Afghanistan Pakistan to seek their fortunes. Over a decade later he stumbled, half dead, back to India with a pack full of these papers. He lived long enough to be reunited with his wife to tell her the tale. An incredible story of meeting various unknown peoples until they reached the legendary kingdom of Kafiristan. It was under siege from various tribes but the pair led the kingdom to victory. They stayed for years but decided to go back home. Before they left they secured an agreement that would give them a sizable share of the vast gold and jewels in the treasury. The ancestor died soon after but not before fathering a child. The legacy was handed down generation after generation. Ones who tried to go claim it were stopped by one thing or another. Scholars who looked at documents labeled them as fakes. That the Kalash writing and the English were made by the same hand and that no one had ever heard of Kafiristan other than as a childrens tale. That never stopped the family from believing it. Now the only two left was his grandmother and he. Eventually, just him. He graduated college, became a police officer, married, and fathered a son. They wanted more children but suffered testicular cancer that made him infertile. A car accident claimed the lives of his wife and son. There was no one left. The bloodline would die with him. All of this he suffered in silence. No one knew the emotional traumas that he was going through. Not just the loss of his wife and son but that he had failed the family. Perhaps he wouldve committed suicide but he couldnt do it. Then one day he met the mayor and his family at a social gathering for his announcement of the presidential campaign. He normally never went to those things but decided to just this once. He knew the mayor had a daughter and had seen pictures of her but this was the first time he had seen her in the flesh. She was quiet but friendly enough. When he shook her hand, he happened to look in her eyes and nearly lost his composure. It took supreme will for him act as if nothing had happened. What had happened was that he saw himself in those eyes! At that instant, he KNEW that Abigail Michaels was HIS daughter. He cornered Cynthia Michaels as soon as he could and demanded the truth from her. Before he had married his wife he and Cynthia had shared a brief moment. Literally a quick fuck in a bathroom when her husband was the DA of Williamsburg and he was an up and coming detective. It was just a moment of lust that never happened again. Cynthia looked at him and then laughed in his face. It was impossible for him to be Abbies father. She had been between cycles so was not fertile at that moment. Yes, Abbie was born nine months after their liaison but that was because she was a month premature. Nothing else. Cynthia patted his shoulder and told that he shouldnt flatter himself. She would never have taken the chance at having a child with the likes of him. From then on a rage burned in him. He knew Cynthia was lying to him. Perhaps she had found out about the legacy and wanted it for herself. In any case he saw how treated their...his daughter. All the traveling, leaving her alone. The publicity. Finally one day he picked up the phone and contacted someone he knew from long ago. He outlined a plan and provided the money. He would make his daughter safe. It might take a little while to defeat the brainwashing that had been inflicted on her but he would. The family and the legacy would be safe.