When the Hunters Become the Hunted
Chapter 4
Roy and Johnny worked at clearing the dishes and putting everything away. The house was quiet, except for the sounds of Jenny and Chris playing in one room or another. Their energy was still at an all time high; in actuality it never really lessened to any other level.
"You know Junior; I think this is the longest both of them have been away from us." There was times where Jo went to see family for a few days but not that she was usually away on any kind of vacation with out him.
"Yah, I know, it really seems odd." His voice was not in his usual lively tone.
"What is Johnny? What's bothering you? You don't know what it's like to be by yourself anymore?" Roy was teasing him but knew something was off. After all these years of running together and being friends, he could read his partner fairly well.
"No, that's not it. I guess I'm just a worry wart. I worry about them, her. I suppose that I want to protect her from…..oh, I don't know. Their only going camping, it's not like she's going off to war." There was something he just couldn't explain, sitting deep in his gut. Was it just him being the caveman again, wanting to be her white knight, even when she didn't need one?
"Come on Junior, they're all going to have a great time! They can spend their time, hiking, bird watching and talking about how the men in their lives are so perfect in everyway!" Roy chuckled.
"I know Roy, it's probably just me. I know that part of it at least goes back to when I watched her die, you know literally die. In those few minutes, I thought my world had ended." The memory of that day would be etched in his mind for all eternity.
Suddenly somber, Roy placed his hand on his best friend's back. "I remember every second of those days too. From the moment we heard her gasping for breath over the HT, to when Brackett pronounced time of death." Obviously not the same level but he and the rest of the guys had felt the exact same way, when Brackett had come out to tell them she had died.
"Besides, can you imagine the idiot who would be dumb enough to try anything with her, especially all of them together?" Johnny's dread was beginning to worry him a little. There was more the one occasion where his intuitions had merit.
"It's just that she has been through, experienced so much. This is just me being a mother hen, I guess. She knows more about fighting and self defense than me! You remember when she flipped that biker into the wall at Rampart?" That brought a slight smile to his face, it was a much more amusing memory that he held onto.
"How could I forget? I doubt Brackett ever will either! She laid him right out, like it was a walk in the park!" They had only just gotten to know her; it was during her probation period. Even then it was clear that she was unlike any other woman that any of them had encountered before.
"You are right, Roy! The weather is supposed to be sunny and mild, no storms in sight. If any of them have any boo boos, isn't like Dixie and her couldn't handle it!" If he was being honest about it, he was actually a little jealous. He had never been to that particular forest but had heard great things about it.
Then again watching the game in a couple of days, at his house, with his close friends; was going to be great too. Besides Jenny and Chris there was going to be two other kids there. Most likely they were going to be more than happy to explore around the house and property for most of the time. A good portion of the yard was completely fenced in and they could be watched from the living room the entire time. Plus the dogs would no doubt be running around as much as the kids. Hopefully, they would tire each other out.
"Uncle Johnny, when are we going to go to your house?" Chris asked, running into the room.
"Oh, in a couple of days, then you two can play with Skittles and Taffy!" He smiled down at the little boy peering up at him.
Jenny had just walked in, joining her brother. "Kit Kat and Midnight, like to play too!" She loved all of their animals; the dogs would run around and play with them. The cats liked to be held and snuggled too. When they took naps, they would all curl up together with them.
"Also remember guys, Alex and Stacey Stanley is coming over with their Daddy." He had told his Captain to bring them, it only made sense, the kids were already friends with them and they were only a few years older than Roy's children.
"Daddy, what are we gonna do for the rest of the time till Momma and Aunt A.J. get back?" Chris loved it when Daddy had days off, they would do all kinds of cool thing together.
"Well, if you guys want I was thinking that Uncle Johnny could spend some time with us till then. Today he could help us finish working on your doll house Jenny. That is unless you would like him to go home." He already knew what their reaction would be; they loved him too, which was no secret.
"NO!! Uncle Johnny, you stay here with us!" They shouted in unison, grabbing his long legs in a bear hug.
"Well if I am going to keep getting hugs like that, then I guess I have on choice!" His grin broadened, the kids could always make things seem a little bit brighter, no matter what.