The Last Thing He Thought Of

Chapter Two

Kenna sat curled up on the chair at the end of the waiting room. She knew the two men talking to Nate were detectives with the Boston police department. She's seen them at a few calls. Closing her eyes she thought about the way things went and how Eliot had always told her the closest thing to the truth is the best lie. She had left his PI license in his jacket pocket and knew the background backward and forward. Still if she got it wrong they could all end up in jail.

"Ms. Hawks?" Kenna opened her eyes.

"Detective." She smiled a small smile and pulled out all the southern charm she could muster.

"I'm sorry about your boyfriend." There it was again. That word. Boyfriend. Eliot was no boy and he was certainly more than a friend. Did thirty one year old woman have boyfriends?

"Thank you." She looked at Nate and he smiled at her, giving her the courage she needed to get though this and everything else that was headed her way.

"What exactly happened out there today?"

"Eliot was looking around the front of the diner. I told Sarah that he might be able to help find out what happened. I know it's the police department's job but she was so distraught I thought if Eliot could be of some help. He knows a few things about the way things blow up."

"So he was looking around the Honda in front of the diner?"

"Yeah. He had just gotten there as I was pulling into the bay. I got out and started stocking the rig. I glanced his direction and I saw him fall. I grabbed my bag and jumped out of the rig. By the time I got to him he had been hit three times." Kenna shifted and looked the detective in the eye. "I took Eliot gun off his belt when I heard the magazine hit the roof I figured the shooter was reloading. I turned and fired."

"That was a shot of over sixty yards Ms. Hawks."

"And your point being?" She glared at the man.

"Sorry, I didn't mean anything by it." The man sat across from her. "What did you do with his gun?" Kenna didn't blink as she reached down and pulled out the gun from the side pocket of her bag. She ejected the clip and took the bullet out of the chamber, then she slid it into the evidence bag the detective held open. "Military training?"

"Five years Army recon." She watched the door behind the detective hoping the doctor would come in and tell her she could go see Eliot. "I took the shot and I figured I either got him or scared him. I threw the gun in my bag and started working on Eliot."

"You weren't afraid of getting shot?" Kenna pulled her shirt back to reveal the bullet proof vest Eliot had given her just last week.

(FLASHBACK)

Kenna lay on the couch with Topher. She heard the door but she was too comfortable to get up. She heard his key's hit the counter and his bag hit the floor. Keeping her eyes closed she waited for him to come to her. She felt his lips on her neck and her hand on her stomach.

"I thought you would never get home." Kenna pulled his arm and he came over the back of the couch and Topher jumped for cover. She wrapped her legs around his waist and kissed him deep.

"I brought you a present." He reached over the couch and handed her a box. He pulled away just enough so she could open the package.

"I know this is serious. Nothing says take me to bed like Kevlar." She laughed. Eliot didn't.

"We were in Dallas, a paramedic was taking care of a GSW and the guy shot her. She was trying to save the bastards life and he shot her." Eliot pushed the hair out of her face. "I don't want that to happen to you Kenna." Kenna nodded.

"You can't get rid of me that easily." He kissed her hard then. Not letting her say another word. Not letting her catch her breath. It was a long time before either of them left that couch.

(Present)

"He was on a job and saw a paramedic get gunned down."

"You would have run out there even if you weren't wearing that, wouldn't you of?"

"Damn straight." The detective looked at her.

"If you think of anything else, you know where to find me." The detective handed Kenna his card.

"Thank you, I will." The detective stood and left. Nate came to sit in front of her.

"You did good kid." Kenna looked at the older man.

"Thanks." The nurse came to them.

"He's out of recovery Kenna." The nurse had worked the ER for extra cash and Kenna knew her well.

"Thanks Kate." Kenna stood. She looked at Nate. "I won't be long."

"Take your time." Nate watched Kenna go into the room. Sophie came up behind him.

"She will make it though Nate."

"Eliot would kill us all if we didn't see that she does."

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Kenna looked at Eliot lying motionless on the bed with the tubes and wires connected to him. She swallowed hard and took a step forward. Taking his hand in hers she sat on the edge of the bed.

"Eliot…I'm here." She whispered and rubbed his hand. His knuckles were red and bruised from the last job he had worked. He also had a scrape down his left arm and black and blue mark on his collar bone. She had kissed all those spots last night when he had gotten home. "I need you so much. I never thought I would need anyone and now…if you think about giving up I will kick your ass." She lifted his hand and kissed it. Tears feel from her cheeks. She closed her eyes.

(Flashback)

"Why haven't you told Eliot you loved him?" Parker sat on the kitchen counter, legs pretzeled with a bowl of cereal.

"How do you know I haven't?"

"Because."

"Because? I'm supposed to spill my guts because…"

"I know. He's still so angry. If you told him you loved him he would be happy, at least when he wasn't getting beaten on." Kenna laughed.

"You have a point. At least I hopped he would be happy about that." She looked at the young thief. "After you get back from London I'll start feeling the water to see if he's susceptible to it." Parker smiled.

"You better tell him or I will." She returned.

(Present)

"It can't be too late." She stroked his cheek. "I should never have let you go this long without letting you know." Parker came up behind her.

"You were supposed to do it last night." She said.

"We got busy." That was no excuse. When you're laying next to each other after 'I missed you so much sex' would have been the perfect time to tell the man you love that you love him. But she thought she had more time. They had more time together.

"I learned a lot of things in foster care and the most important thing was that time is not on your side." Kenna looked at the younger woman.

"Yeah, you would have thought I learned that by now." Kenna leaned over and kissed Eliot's cheek. "I'll be back later." She stood up. The room began to spin and if Parker hadn't of been next to her she would have hit the floor hard.

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"When was the last time you ate?" Nate was next to her when she finally was able to open her eyes.

"Lunch…yesterday."

"Are you nuts?" Parker looked at her. "Even I don't forget to eat." Nate helped Kenna sit up.

"Parker go downstairs and get Kenna a sandwich." He said. Parker left and Kenna had to answer to Nate and Sophie. "You need to eat."

"I was busy."

"Do you take care of yourself when we're out of town?" Kenna laughed.

"I haven't had a father for my entire life Nate, I don't need one now." She stood up still a little woozy. Nate grabbed her arm.

"No one is trying to be your parent Kenna, though you are acting like a child. We are friends and, well. friends care about what happens to friends." She looked at him.

"I'm sorry Nate." She sat back down. "I don't…I never…I'm not equipped to deal with life without…

"Whoa…just hold that thought. Eliot is not going anywhere. He's a fighter and he will not give up, so don't give up on him." Kenna wanted to shut down and find a hole to crawl into. Nate wasn't going to let her.

"I guess I'm not used to having people to lean on Nate. I haven't had anyone but Eliot…" Nate pulled her into his arms.

"We're all here for you Kenna…and for him." Kenna knew that now. She had always known that and she wished it didn't take Eliot getting shot for her to figure it out.