(A/N- This is the conclusion of Bestial. Thank you so much for reading. Please comment and let me know what you think. ~ Ripley)
Part 11
Chapter 25
"It's straight-up breeding drug?" Justice asked. "No extra ovulation boost or what-have-you?"
Darkness, the head of NSO interrogation examined the sheaf of papers in front of him. "It had higher-than-normal levels of amphetamine and adrenaline," he answered. "It had serophene, so yes, it did cause ovulation."
"Is it the same thing used on Leo's mate?" Justice wondered.
Darkness picked up another paper, and shook his head. "This one is just more. More of everything… It's a fucking miracle she's survived. The patch couldn't have been more precisely placed. It quickly dispersed the drug into the bloodstream. It's like it was designed to kill her."
"Where do we stand with the man we suspect did this?" Justice asked.
Tim Oberto, the head of the human Task Force cleared his throat. His group of humans extended NSO law into the out world; finding and arresting former Mercile employees or humans that assaulted New Species. In this case, the Task Force would be searching for the man who assaulted Low. "He disappeared during the goat-fuck at the gates. Low's mom slipped away, but we found her. I've got men in place doing surveillance and we're ready to grab and dash as soon as you give the go-ahead."
Justice nodded. "Do it."
Tim smiled wickedly, and nodded, pulling out his phone and talking as he left. He would want to be there when they got her.
Justice waited until Tim had left before pulling the elastic from his long hair. He looked tired.
"Was it Werner?" he asked Darkness.
Darkness' face tightened. Roger Werner, the psychologist employed by Mercile, had used a similar patch on Petra, a human mate of one of the Wild Zone residents, Leo. Werner had a hard-on for Leo, and was obsessed with continuing his experiments, if not on Leo, then on the babies Petra now carried.
"Inconclusive," Darkness growled. "We had Leo examine it. He couldn't scent anything except the breeding drug. We brought it out to the Wild Zone where there are other New Species who had prolonged contact with Werner. They became too agitated to tell. And they tried…" Darkness trailed off, his dark brows drawing together as if something had just occurred to him.
"I never asked Bestial. Bestial knew Werner," Darkness' voice slashed through the room like a knife.
Justice knew Darkness well enough that he could tell Darkness was mortified he hadn't thought to ask Bestial.
"Ask him," Justice ordered.
Darkness stood, walking quickly to the door before stopping. "I want to be there when her mother is brought in. Let Snow start it, but I'll step in if I have to."
Justice nodded. It was not an offer that Darkness made lightly. He'd trained Snow to be lead interrogator, preferring to be an instructor rather than an active participant. Darkness' past was littered with the bodies of humans he'd been made to torture and kill. He'd distanced himself from that role in order to keep his sanity. It was no small gesture that he made to Justice.
"Thank you," Justice said gratefully.
Darkness nodded before leaving.
Sitting alone in the conference room, Justice let himself feel the emotions he'd been holding at bay. Anger, guilt, frustration; he let all of them wash over him. He gave them their due, but only for a moment. It was his job to lead and give his people hope. Low's assault was reverberating throughout Homeland, and all the way to Reservation. New Species were holding their mates close, fighting the instincts that made them want to hide them away and keep them safe from the world. They were angry. No. They were incensed. Homeland and Reservation were supposed to be bastions of safety. The place where New Species could just be. And yet not one New Species had blamed him. If anything, they'd tried to comfort him. He was their figurehead, but he was not their scapegoat.
It was quite different from the reaction in the human world. Newspapers had been scathing; his ability to lead questioned. They wondered if New Species would ever be safe. They theorized that by allowing Homeland to exist, the United States was breeding it's own brand of terrorists; ones who cared only about who was here first.
Justice heard a light tread in the hallway and smiled despite himself. When the door opened and his mate's scent wafted to him, he was already standing and striding forward.
"You read my mind," Justice said quietly.
"I missed you," Jessie replied, wrapping her arms around his waist and laying her head on his broad chest. She tipped her head back and looked up at him, her smile sweet but sad.
"I love you," Justice ground out, seeing Low's broken body transposed with Jessie's face.
"I love you, too," she answered huskily just as Justice locked his mouth on hers.
She groaned, her small body pressing into his. He deepened the kiss, pressing his tongue into her mouth and tasting her. She responded immediately, nibbling on his lip and curling her fingers into the waistband of his pants.
"Come home," she whispered.
Justice curled his tongue around hers, lingering in her warm mouth before pulling away. Jessie could tell he had given in and she trailed her fingers down his arms until she could reach his hands, pulling him toward the door. Justice let her, needing to surround himself in the familiar scents and sounds of home before shit hit the fan.
Chapter 26
Tim Oberto watched the light flicker on in crummy motel. Whatever money Kim Jacobs had been paid hadn't been enough for her to stay at one of the moderately better hotels in the area around Homeland. A form passed in front of the window, and a toneless voice spoke in his ear.
"Target confirmed. Adjacent rooms empty. Go ahead."
Tim clicked in. "Keep it silent."
He watched the shadows of his team converge on the motel room, opening the door quickly and subduing Kim with barely a sound. She wasn't struggling, which surprised him. Her form was slumped, one of the team carrying her over his shoulder. She looked like a rag doll, hanging limply.
"We need a medic," Shane, the Task Force team leader said.
Shit, Tim thought, as he followed behind the van. "Report."
Shane's voice came through the radio. "Pupils fixed and dialated. Unresponsive to stimulus. We're found syringes. Administering Narcan."
Tim waited, pissed. If the woman died, it would be that much harder to find the source of the drug given to Low. And Tim had every confidence that the source was Roger Werner. He'd gotten away from them too many times, and the damage he had caused in that time was immeasurable.
"Heartbeat erratic, but she's coming around."
Groans sounded through the radio before Shane's dry voice came through again. "She's awake. We'll bring her to Medical."
"Roger," Tim said, shaking his head and pulling off his headset. He didn't like the idea of Low's mother being in the same building as Low, but all signs pointed to a potential overdose, and he needed her alive. He just hoped that Bestial didn't learn of her presence. Otherwise, she may not live long enough to give them all the information he needed.
Chapter 27
Bestial wasn't sure how long he'd been awake. The lights in the ICU were always on, and he didn't pay attention to much besides the nurses coming in and taking Low's vitals.
No change.
Not better. Not worse.
They were keeping her heavily sedated, but the one time they'd tried to take her off the ventilator she'd stopped breathing. Terrance had stepped out for coffee and for that Bestial was grateful. He almost wished he'd stepped out as well because the utter terror he felt in those few seconds still made his body shake. They'd hooked her right back up, and the machines had beeped reassuringly.
Bestial rubbed his forehead against Low's hand, transferring his scent to her, and hers to his face. Her scent was still there. Beneath the antiseptic and the bleach, the smell of adhesive tape and the underlying scent of dried blood, she smelled like Low. He lifted her hand to his nose, breathing deeply.
He heard the whoosh of the door as Terrance came back inside. He had a bag of food, the smell wafting to Bestial and making his stomach roll.
"Hungry?" he asked.
Bestial shook his head. "No," his voice cracked. "Thanks."
His voice still hadn't returned to normal. It was still a hoarse whisper that broke when he tried to speak for longer than a minute. He took a sip of the water he had nearby, and watched Terrance shove his body into the too-small recliner. The plastic squeaked and groaned at his girth.
"Doctor been by?" he asked.
"No," Bestial answered, and took another sip of water. "Just the nurse."
"They gonna try to take her off the ventilator again?"
Bestial shrugged. He opened his mouth to speak, but started coughing at the tickle it caused in his throat.
Terrance opened the paper covering a gigantic sub, taking a huge bite and wiping his mouth with a napkin. His eyes watched each beep on the monitor. Bestial could see him taking stock of Low's appearance. Bestial did the same. He noticed when her skin seemed papery, and when her cheeks looked sunken. He listened for the push/pull of the ventilator and watched her chest rise and fall.
"Hey." The door opened again and Low's best friend, Bethany, walked in, sitting in an uncomfortable folding chair that had been brought in for her.
She'd arrived at Homeland a day ago, worried sick about Low since she hadn't been returning her calls and texts. She'd taken her personal days and headed to Homeland, only to be given the worst possible news when she arrived.
Terrance stood quickly when Bethany came in, wiping his mouth hastily with the napkin.
"You can sit here," he told her.
"I'll sit on your lap," she offered, smiling wickedly.
Terrance's face flushed and Bethany laughed before she waved him off. "I'm fine," she told him. "Stay where you are."
The nurse popped her head in as well. "It's getting crowded in here," she warned, a dimple appearing in one cheek.
Bethany waved her off as well. "I'm leaving at five, don't get your panties in a bunch."
Nurse Maggie laughed, but she tapped her watch. "Seriously, the doctor will be in soon and he'll need room to maneuver."
"I know," Bethany sighed. "Geez, lighten up."
Nurse Maggie made the universal I'm watching you gesture which just made Bethany laugh.
"I'm going to change her bandages after the doctor takes a look at the incision, so we'll need space for that."
Bethany nodded, serious suddenly and reached out a hand to Terrance, gripping his huge hand in hers reassuringly. He sent her a grateful look that Bestial would have interpreted had he cared. He didn't. He wouldn't care about anything until Low woke up.
They sat in silence until a group of doctors in white coats appeared outside of the room. Terrance stood up and Bethany did as well.
"I'll see you guys later?" she asked, directing the question more at Terrance than Bestial.
Terrance nodded, his eyes tracking the doctors. Bestial watched them just as intently, not noticing when she made her way out.
One of the things Bestial noticed about the doctor was that he had eyes only for Low. He came in, looked over her vitals, examined her, and spoke confidently and calmly about her condition. With Nurse Maggie's help, he removed the surgical tape and gauze that covered the torso-length incision. Bestial watched unblinkingly, keeping his teeth ground together to hold back the howl. The wound was red, puffy, and weeping. Bestial didn't need to be a doctor to know it was infected.
"Increase antibiotics," the doctor noted, pressing gloved fingertips to the skin around the cut.
Bestial clenched his fist, quickly telling himself that it was necessarily for the doctor to touch Low. The doctor looked at him for the first time since entering, and Bestial realized that he had growled softly.
"I'm not hurting her," he explained, blinking at Bestial. "I am looking to see if the skin has started to necrotize, but I see that we still have good blood flow. The tissue is fine for now."
He turned back to Low, leaving Bestial to repeat for now over and over in his head. The doctor cleared his throat and looked over at Bestial again.
"I can't do this with you growling at me. Pull yourself together or leave. This is a hospital. Not a kennel."
Nurse Maggie sucked in a shocked breath, and Terrance stepped forward, looking ready to lay the man out. Bestial stopped him.
"It doesn't matter. He's the best. He can say whatever he wants as long as Low recovers."
He didn't bother to say aloud what would happen if she didn't.
"It does matter," Nurse Maggie interjected. "Have some respect. This is her mate. And you are on Homeland. If you want to leave here with a job, and not be blacklisted from every hospital in the country, you'll watch the mouth."
The doctor's face pinkened, but he shrugged off Maggie's threat. "Sorry," he mumbled under his breath.
"I want to remove the breathing tube," he said to Maggie.
Bestial reached for the wall, clenching the wood molding with his fingers, preparing himself for the moment of terror that was bound to come.
Maggie went over to the machine, flipping switches and turning off alarms that were bound to go off. The doctor moved to the tube, and pulled it so only the tube leading into her mouth was visible. Maggie stood ready with the handheld ventilator.
Bestial leaned forward, watching Low. The room was eerily silent. He hadn't realized just how noisy the machines were. He heard the stray conversation from the hallway, but in Low's room, there was only the sound of their breathing.
And then there was Low's.
Bestial saw Low's chest rise and fall, as if she was just sleeping next to him. He gave a choked cry of relief, and heard Terrance echo it. The doctor drew out his stethoscope, listening to Low's chest and heart. He watched the pulse oxygen monitor and then turned to Bestial, smiling. "I think we're on the mend."
"Thank God," Terrance got out.
Bestial couldn't say a word, he just nodded, eyes burning and stepped closer to Low. He heard the doctor giving directions to Maggie, but he'd heard the most important thing. She was mending, healing, and soon, hopefully, waking.
Chapter 28
Darkness crossed his arms over his chest, watching Snow through the two-way mirror. Kim Jacobs was very forthcoming once they'd made it clear that New Species justice was quite different from the kind she was used to. There were no paroles for good behavior, no lawyers. If she cooperated, maybe they'd send her to Fuller for less time, or maybe they'd turn her over to the state authorities. It depended on what she told them.
And she told them everything.
"I called Leo and Jericho," Fury said, stepping through the door. "Security at Reservation is heightened. Leo is choosing to go into the Wild Zone for the time being. Petra's still got a while to go before she delivers their twins, and he feels safer there."
Darkness nodded. Snow looked up, staring into the mirror in a way that told Darkness he was needed.
"Be right back," he told Fury, going into the interrogation room.
Kim's face blanched when she saw Darkness. Good. Darkness had scared the piss out of tougher characters than her.
"Ms. Jacobs was informing me that she had Low's best interest at heart," Snow said drily. "Something about 'young eggs,' am I right?"
Kim narrowed her eyes at Snow, but nodded. "Sort of." She reminded Darkness of a surly teenager.
"And that was important to the doctor who'd approached you?"
Kim gritted her teeth. "Yes," she allowed. "He approached me and Ron, that's the producer, and my boyfriend, about how much more popular our show would be if there was a surprise pregnancy. Said that cameras could follow the kid while it grew up. He's smart." Kim shrugged. "Guess that's why he's a doctor." She laughed at her own joke.
"Continue," Darkness interrupted.
Kim's face darkened angrily and she opened her mouth as if to respond tartly, but thought better of it.
"He just had a good point's all," Kim went on. "People eat that shit up. No matter how crappy or messed up the family. They don't care as long as they're entertained. Low was such a pretty baby… she'd have a wicked cute puppy baby or whatever you call them."
Darkness shook his head. And they called New Species inhuman.
"She identify the doctor?" he asked Snow.
Snow opened a file, flipping through pictures and handing it to him. It was Dr. Roger Werner, just as they'd all suspected.
"He gave you the drug?"
Kim nodded again. "I already told the cat this…" She looked pointedly at Snow.
"Do you know where he is?" Darkness asked.
"No. We have a phone number. I gave it to him. I don't know anything else."
Darkness looked to Snow for confirmation. That was it then.
"Call the Federal Marshalls. She jumped counties and she's broken parole."
Darkness turned to leave when Kim called out. "Is Low okay?"
Snow hissed, and Darkness turned around, stalking toward her.
"You don't deserve to know. Let your conscience eat away at you."
"I'm her mother!"
"That makes it worse."
"Tell me!" the woman cried out, her voice breaking.
Darkness looked at her carefully, schooling his features. "She went into massive cardiac arrest, what do you think happened?"
Kim's eyes filled up with tears, and Darkness had to look away, disgusted at the scene. Now she cared. After everything she'd done to her daughter.
"Are they going to charge me with her death?" she asked.
Ah, Darkness thought, that's the concern.
"You would have been responsible, wouldn't you?" he said, opening the door and walking through. Snow followed a moment later, closing up his file and shaking his head.
"That woman…"
"I'll send the number to Oberto, but I expect that Werner will be long gone, or he'll have used a burner."
Snow made a sound of agreement. "I still have Ron Bernardo, the producer, in a holding cell. I'm planning on sending him to Fuller for assaulting Low. Want to see what he knows?"
Darkness nodded. Bernardo was just the kind of guy that Werner would work with. He had money and connections. "I'd like to speak with him," Darkness said ominously.
Snow handed him the file. "Be my guest."
In the glaring yellow light, Ron Bernardo's tan looked jaundice. He had dark circles under his eyes and his clothes were rumpled, but somehow he managed to retain an air of superiority.
"I hope you know you're going to jail for this," he started as soon as he saw Darkness. "I'm an American citizen, you can't just keep me here. I want a lawyer."
Bernardo didn't yell. He seemed to think that stating the thing would make it so. It was clear to Darkness that this was a man used to getting what he wanted.
"But that's the thing, Mr. Bernardo," Darkness said, sitting across from him. "You are not technically in America anymore. Homeland and Reservation are part of the NSO, and we are a sovereign government. You have no rights here, except the ones we accord you."
The man swallowed, but straightened his shoulders. "You have no reason to keep me here."
Darkness opened the file folder as if it contained a list of the man's crimes. It was an effective movement. The man clearly believed the cop shows he'd produced.
"Assault," Darkness began. "Lying to NSO officers. Hiding drugs. Should I continue?"
"You have no proof of those things."
"Come come, Mr. Bernardo. You don't believe that we can't operate a camera as well as you? We may not be from Hollywood, but I assure you, we are quite technologically developed."
"I didn't do anything wrong."
Darkness raised an eyebrow. "Tell me about Dr. Roger Werner."
Bernardo's face went from jaundice to green. "I don't know who you're talking about."
Darkness took a photo out of the folder, turning it to face him. "This man. Right here? You have never seen him before."
"That's right," Bernardo said, not even looking at the picture.
"You want to take a look and be sure?"
Bernardo appeared to steel himself and looked at the photo and then away quickly.
"Never saw him."
"That is odd," Darkness said, turning the photo back to face him and clucking his tongue. "Because Ms. Jacobs has assured us repeatedly that you introduced them."
"She's a liar. A piece of trash. I'd never introduce her to anyone."
Darkness screwed up his mouth and nodded his head as if he believed him. "Not part of the same social strata as you, Mr. Bernardo…"
"Social whata…? Yeah. No. We don't run in the same circles. I'm important. She's no one."
"And Low?"
"Who?"
Darkness found that place within himself that went calm and quiet. He stayed there for a moment before speaking again.
"Loretta Jacobs," Darkness informed him. "The woman you drugged. The one you caused to have a heart attack."
"What about her?" Bernardo asked, genuinely confused.
"Is she no one?"
Darkness could smell the man's fear now. He was no longer looking at Darkness as if he was a bug, something he could squash with the right amount of money and influence. He saw Darkness for what he truly was. A predator.
"No." His voice shook.
"I want a list," Darkness said abruptly, changing the subject. He watched the man's face morph from panic to confusion.
"A list?"
"Everyone who has contact with Werner. Everyone you think might have contact with Werner. Everyone who has something in common with the man. I want a list. I want names."
Bernardo shook his head. "I can't do that. I'll lose everything. My house, my car, my reputation. I'll be no one."
Darkness stood, and looked over at the mirror. "Get Bestial."
Bernardo shot to his feet, the metal chair clattering to the floor. "What? Why?"
"I think you may be more amenable to his questions than mine," Darkness explained. "He's been waiting." Darkness leaned forward. "Waiting for a moment alone with you. You hurt his mate, took her from him. Are you humans not familiar with revenge?"
Bernardo shook his head desperately. "Don't bring him here. Don't let him hurt me!" His voice trembled and he broke down, big ugly tears pouring down his face. He wiped his nose on the cuff of his expensive shirt. Darkness could smell the stink of sweat pouring off the man.
"I'll tell you," he said. "I'll tell you."
The door opened and Snow handed him a pad of paper and a pen. Darkness tossed them on the table in front of Bernardo.
"I don't think I have to tell you what will happen if you lie to me."
Bernardo took the pen in his hand, it slipped through his fingers and he scrambled to grasp it. Darkness caught it easily as it rolled off the table and handed it back to him.
"No," the man answered. "You don't."
Chapter 29
Low had been breathing on her own for two hours now, and with each breath something loosened in Bestial's chest. Terrance snored in a desk chair, his hand resting on Bethany's head where she slept in the room's one recliner. Bestial had found a roller chair at the nurses station and brought it in. It let him get closer to Low. He rested his face on his hand, stroking her hair back from her face with the other. Every once in a while he would look at the monitors, checking the drips, her oxygen levels, her strong steady heartbeat. Nurse Maggie had given him a stethoscope when she'd noticed he often put his hand on her chest, just to feel it beating.
He yawned widely before leaning forward and kissing her on the cheek. The door opened to the room and Bestial turned around, surprised to see Snow. He stood, reluctantly leaving Low to talk to Snow in the hall.
"We have a lead."
It took Bestial a long moment to realize what he was talking about.
"Where?"
"The Task Force is headed out momentarily, but we need more bodies. We're hitting everywhere at once. We don't want him to get away again. Tim is calling it 'shock and awe.' It's some kind of military strategy."
Bestial looked over his shoulder at Low. He knew why Snow was telling him, but he also knew no one would ever ask him outright to go. He was a good fighter. If he was honest with himself, he was one of the best fighters. But leaving Low didn't feel like an option. Bestial rubbed his forehead, and it reminded him that she often made a similar gesture when she was overwhelmed.
"How long?"
"Teams are heading out within the hour. You'd go with the best lead."
Bestial imagined tearing apart the man who'd done this to Low.
"What's going on?"
Snow looked over at Terrance who was letting the door shut behind him with a soft "snick."
"They have a strong lead on the doctor behind Low's assault."
"Is that right?" Terrance asked. "Would anyone object if I came along?"
Snow shook his head. "I'm sorry Mr. Jacobs, we couldn't let a civilian on the teams. It's too dangerous."
Terrance laughed, reaching his back pocket and pulled out a wallet. He took out a small gold pin, holding it on the palm of his huge hand. "You know what this is?"
Bestial and Snow looked at the pin. It was an eagle resting on an anchor while gripping a trident in one talon and a pistol in the other. Bestial shook his head and Snow looked equally clueless.
"It's a Budweiser. It's the pin given to SEALS."
Snow laughed. "Seals?"
"Sea, air, land teams. SEALS. We're a special operations unit of the Navy."
Snow's face got serious. "SEALS," he said, a look of awe coming over his face. "You're a SEAL?"
Terrance nodded. "I'm a Chief. It's not something I broadcast, and it's not something Low knows about. I'm telling you because it's relevant."
"Then consider yourself part of the NSO team," Snow said.
"I will stay with Low," Bestial said to Terrance, who nodded understandingly. "But I want you to kill the bastard if you find him."
Terrance smiled. "Nobody hurts my baby girl." He looked over his shoulder back at the room. "Tell Bethany I'll be back, okay?"
Bestial felt his lips lift in a smile. "Sure."
Terrance followed Snow out of the ICU. Bestial watched them go and then went back inside to Low. He settled in his chair, resting his hand on her hand and putting his head on her pillow.
Chapter 29
Low reached to slap her alarm, the incessant beeping pulling her from what must have been one hell of a deep sleep. Where she expected to find her phone, she instead found soft hair and a strong arm. Her eyes opened, and she looked around in confusion. She took in the machines, the light glaring from a window, Bethany sleeping in a plastic-looking recliner, and Bestial, who was blinking at her with dark green eyes. She opened her mouth to speak, but started coughing. It felt like someone had put a fan directly in her mouth and dried every bit of moisture.
"Hold on," Bestial asked, his voice gruff.
He hit a button behind her bed and a moment later a dimpled, smiling nurse entered the room.
"You're awake!" she said happily. "Feeling pretty dry?"
Low nodded, and the nurse went out and came back, rattling a cup with ice.
"Just ice for a bit," she told Low. "I need the doctor's approval for you to start drinking."
Bestial took the cup from the nurse, placing an ice chip on Low's tongue. Her eyes closed as the tissues in her mouth soaked up the needed water. When she opened her eyes, Bestial's were serious.
"Hey." Low heard Bethany say.
Bestial had put another ice chip in her mouth, so Low just lifted her hand in greeting. When Low finished chewing the ice, she swallowed, and cleared her throat.
"Are you okay?" she asked Bestial.
His eyes widened, and he opened his mouth to answer when the door opened.
"Miss Jacobs," a voice said. "You decided to join us in the land of the living."
Bestial growled, but the doctor ignored him. "Let's take a look at you, shall we?"
Low held onto Bestial's hand as the doctor came closer. "What's going on?" she asked, her body felt stiff and at the same time, weirdly loose, like she'd lost the ability to control her limbs, and was just sort of flopping around.
The doctor shone a light in her pupils and began explaining. "You had a severe cardiac event as a result of a combination of drugs that were administered to you through a skin patch."
Low's eyes widened, her free hand going to her chest. She felt the padding and tape under the hospital blanket.
"You suffered severe side effects," the doctor continued, "including a tear in your aorta. In all honesty, when I saw you on the operating table, I did not expect you to live. Lucky for you, the NSO has drugs on hand that work miraculously. The tear healed, and you are healing. I am happy to report that you will not need a heart transplant despite the damage resulting from the event."
"A transplant?" Low breathed, the seriousness of her condition overwhelming her.
"You will be fine," Bestial reassured her quickly. "Our healing drugs worked. You will be healthy. You are healing well and will be fine."
If the doctor had summed things up like that, it would have been much easier for Low to take. As it was, his description of her injuries, expected death, and unexpected recovery seemed unbelievable. Like they'd happened to some other person. From the look on Bestial's face, his tired, rapidly-aged eyes, and tense jaw, Low knew it was real. Low remembered the prick she felt, the panic on Sunshine and Field's faces. What had they called it? Her head was starting to feel swimmy and her eyes heavy.
"Rest, Low," Bestial said, his face filling her vision. His hand swept over her head, calming her. "I'll be here when you wake up."
Chapter 30
Terrance Jacobs decided that New Species were dudes not to be fucked with. He was angry. He was out for blood. But his anger, and his thirst, was nothing compared to the New Species currently holding Dr. Roger Werner with his face planted against the fancy marble floor of this foyer.
Werner's companion, a small, dark man with a mustache and a sweaty forehead, sat huddled in the corner, his ankles and wrist secured with plastic zip ties, whimpering as he watched the New Species.
Terrance himself had done a double-take when introduced to a few of them before the flight, so he understood the man's surprise.
Terrance's team was the one given the most likely location. They flew in fast, some, like Terrance, belaying to the ground from the chopper, while the New Species had easily dropped the two stories, landing lightly on their feet. He was reminded throughout the whole endeavor that New Species had been created to be perfect soldiers. He had to admit, watching them communicate, hunt, and track, a certain pang of jealousy that he couldn't have them on his SpecOps team. Once they were all on the ground, they'd separated into units, some climbing the walls of the huge mansion like it was a kid's jungle gym, and others going to more traditional entrances. Like the door.
Terrance hadn't expected anyone to be in the house. It was too quiet, there were no guards, no voices. Even with the late hour, if Werner was as important as Terrance believed he was, he had shit for security. But maybe his guards were waiting for him somewhere, because he was clearly ready to leave, standing in the foyer, phone and bag in hand when the first officer had emerged from the shadows and nailed him in the face.
The New Species officer had been calm and remote. Terrance thought he'd had some sort of night vision glasses attached to his face, but as he'd stepped into the bright light, and his pupils shrunk to pinpricks, his irises looked as crimson as blood. His fist was the first to connect with Werner's face, laying him out flat, and breaking his nose. Werner had just laughed.
"Good to see you, too," he choked, adding a number after his greeting. Terrance couldn't remember what it had been, but it had only seemed to incense the officer.
Terrance didn't move, didn't interfere. He held his gun at the low ready position, content with providing support to the team that moved seamlessly. His own team couldn't have done the job better.
The second New Species got a reaction out of Roger Werner that was more in line with what Terrance had expected. Leo, a feline New Species who Terrance had met on the chopper, had emerged from the basement holding the now-cowering man.
"We need a female," Leo had hissed. "I found a Gift."
Terrance didn't know what a Gift was, but it had caused a ripple of upset among each of the officers.
Werner had been laughing, full of sarcasm and taunts, but seeing the Leo, he'd shut up real quick. Leo had hissed at him, and Terrance had seem the white gleam of fangs in his mouth.
You fucked with the wrong male, Terrance thought.
After delivering his news, Leo had stalked forward, shoulders slumped, feet silent.
Werner began talking quickly. "I can tell you things. I know where there are other doctors. Other employees. I can tell you."
Leo had continued walking, his tail swiping side to side, reminding Terrance of a lion about to pounce on his prey. Werner saw the same thing, and when Leo leapt, no one made a move to stop him. With fingers curled and teeth bared, Leo had launched onto Werner, and in one swift move, tore out his throat.
The man gurgled and choked. His hands going to his ruined neck, trying to staunch the bleeding. He'd fallen backwards, his feet kicking. His last moments hadn't been pretty, but Terrance was without sympathy. This man had hurt more people than just his baby girl. He recognized the personal nature of the anger those New Species held. He didn't begrudge them their revenge, he was just happy he'd been able to witness it.
Things moved quickly after that. A female officer, Sunshine, arrived out of breath. He watched her center herself, breathing deeply and calmly before entering the basement. She'd been followed by a two other male officers, and emerged with her arm wrapped around the waist of a tiny form, smaller even than his girl. They'd hustled her past him, but not before Terrance caught sight of terrified golden eyes, and the flash of tiny white fangs.
"We'll wait here," the team lead, Shane, told him. "They'll take her out on the chopper with Sunshine, if it's not too stressful. They'll send another one for us. The Gifts are usually pretty fragile, we try not to stress them too much when we first find them."
Terrance nodded.
"We've got a menagerie," one of the officers called to Shane. "Call Torrent, he needs room for three."
"What are they?"
"Lion, tiger, and no shit, a bear."
Shane shook his head, pulling out his phone and speaking quickly.
"He's coming from Reservation, it's going to be a while."
Terrance was fine with that. "What about that?" He tilted his chin toward the body bag and then the man, owner of the house.
Shane gave him a tight smile. "Fuller Prison for disposal."
The man whimpered, and Shane made a sound of disgust. "You'll be treated better than you treated them," Shane told him.
The man hung his head, not in shame, but defeat, making Terrance wonder if he envied Werner.
Chapter 31
It was another two days before Low was alert and well enough to be moved out of the ICU. They'd given her a big room, because she came with an entourage: Bethany, her father, Bestial. And she had visitors coming and going, though Bestial didn't allow them to stay long. As soon as she'd made the move, the nurses had her walking up and down the hall. That had hurt, if she was honest. Every step jarred her incision, but they'd ensured her that she'd heal faster if she walked, oxygenate her blood or something. And her incision wasn't all that bad, she'd seen it once in the ICU and it had still been ugly. Ugly ugly ugly. She'd looked at it horrified, and then quickly looked at Bestial to see if he was as grossed out as she was.
He didn't look disgusted, just pained.
"It looks better," he eventually said.
Low raised her eyebrows. This was better?
"It's not infected anymore."
Nurse Maggie had nodded enthusiastically. "The wonders of modern medicine."
Bestial had grimaced, and Low was reminded, it was because of his pain, and the torture of other New Species, that they had a drug to heal her so quickly. It made her feel guilty.
As if he could read her mood, he'd wrapped his arm around her.
"Okay?"
She shrugged, glad she was alive, so glad she had him, but pretty freaked out by the realization that he could have been killed all those years in captivity and then she'd never have met him. She was embarrassed that his time at Mercile had never seemed so real to her as when she was benefitting from it.
"I love you," she whispered, pressing a kiss wherever she could reach, his shoulder, his throat, his hand.
Nurse Maggie had giggled; except when Maggie giggled, it sounded throaty, like a 1940's movie star. She just needed a cigarette in one of those holders to punctuate her statements. It was a strange dichotomy. Maggie was gigglier and sillier than anyone Low knew, but as soon as she spoke, she sounded worldly and jaded.
So now, after a week of in-patient care, she was hobbling around the hallways, a hospital gown slung around her back like a robe so her ass wasn't hanging out for everyone to see while Bethany sauntered along side her.
Bestial had reluctantly left her to attend a briefing about what had gone down. Low understood her mother was in jail, turned over to Federal Marshalls, and would likely spend an extra long time there. The doctor who'd given her mother the drug was dead, and the producer was in a prison called Fuller, where he would spend an undetermined amount of time. Bethany told her that her dad had been part of the take-down.
That's what Bethany called it. A take-down. He would be headed out in a day or two, but Low had a feeling he'd be returning as soon as he was able, maybe even retiring from the Navy. He could have done it years ago, Low knew, but he needed to stay busy, feel like he was doing something.
Bethany suspected he'd be recruited by the NSO, and Low thought she was right. It would be nice to be closer. Bethany was thinking of moving up to Reservation as well. She was a teacher, and Justice had mentioned there being an opportunity for her to be part of the NSO's new school. She'd like that idea, said she needed a break from the idiots where she worked.
Low's dad also liked the idea of Bethany being closer to Low. He'd asked her earlier if she'd mind him asking her out. Low had been shocked for a moment, but smiled.
"As long as you're planning on being around," she'd said. "Bethany deserves someone who's not going to be taking off all the time."
She thought about it for a moment. "Actually, maybe this will be perfect. She can get a little antsy when people are too clingy."
"She sounds perfect," her dad said, dreamily.
Dreamily?
"Mmhm," Low teased.
Her dad still had a far-off look in his eyes; Low's teasing had gone right over his head.
"When are you going out with my dad?" Low asked, her memory jogged.
Bethany raised her eyebrows. "I wanted to talk to you about that…"
"You don't have to if you don't want to," Low said quickly.
"Have you seen your dad?" Bethany asked. "That big hunk of…"
"Still my dad," Low said quickly, wishing she could plug her ears, but afraid she'd go ass over teakettle if she let go of the nurse's arm.
"I just don't want there to be any weirdness between us."
Low stopped, making sure Bethany was watching her. "You're my best friend," she said. "Always will be."
Bethany smiled, taking a deep breath before looking down the hall. "Race you?"
Low rolled her eyes. "Oh yeah, sure. Sounds great. I'll give you a head start."
Bethany laughed, stuffing her hands in the front pocket of her hoodie as they continued down the hall and into Low's room. When they got inside, Low pressed her hand to her heart. She could feel her heart thumping, just like it always had.
"You okay?" Bethany asked seriously.
Low nodded, edging onto the bed and slowly lifting her feet up before settling back against the pillows.
"I'm good. It's weird, knowing I almost died, and having no memory of it. It's like I went to sleep but didn't dream. It's freaky to think about just winking out like that."
Bethany grabbed the afghan at the bottom of Low's bed. It was from Bestial's room, and one of Low's. She shook it out and put it over Low before sitting in the chair next to her.
"I can't imagine," she said. "You need to take extra care of yourself. I was afraid Bestial was going to go all Romeo and Juliet."
Low's hands wrapped into the afghan. "That's not funny."
Bethany wasn't laughing. "I didn't say it to be funny. I've never seen someone as hollowed out as he looked."
Low swallowed, wishing he was here so she could hold him. She knew how she'd feel if something happened to him.
"I'm surprised he left you today," Bethany went on. "I think that's good, though. He can tell you're getting better."
"I am," Low agreed. "I can't wait to get out of here."
"You'll stay as long as you need to," Bestial's voice came from the doorway.
Low smiled, holding out her hand, needing to hold him desperately. He came to her quickly. Carefully sitting on her bed and wrapping his arm around her.
"Well, I'm headed out, since my shift is up," Bethany said, gathering her purse and heading to the door.
"I'll see you tomorrow."
"See you," Low said, her eyes on Bestial.
"How was your walk?" he asked.
"Fine," Low answered honestly. "I'm getting better, but I'm still kind of hobbling. Even without stitches I feel like I'm pulling on my skin."
"Has the doctor been in?" he asked, smoothing her hair back and making Low close her eyes.
Low nodded. "I want to go home."
Bestial's hand stilled. She opened her eyes and saw Bestial clenching his jaw.
"I want that too."
"But…"
"But," Bestial allowed, "not until you're better. Like I said yesterday, and the day before that, and the day before that…"
Low sighed. "I know you'll take good care of me. Just scoop me up and run me out. I'll have Bethany come back and distract them."
Bestial chuckled, leaning forward and kissing her gently on the mouth. "I have no doubt she'd do that for you if you asked."
Low nodded. "She would."
Low captured the back of his neck with her hand. "Don't go yet," she whispered, pulling him back down for a kiss.
His lips were soft as he moved them against hers. Low could feel him holding back, and she slipped her tongue between them, running them along his teeth until he growled and opened his mouth, touching her tongue in return. Low moaned, dizzy with the taste of him. She'd missed this. He'd held her like spun glass, only giving her gentle kisses, and while she could still feel him holding back, there was more strength and aggression in his kiss. It was what she missed.
His mouth pulled away from hers, dropping to her neck where he breathed in deeply before licking along the cord of her neck. Low turned her head to give him better access. He trailed hot, wet kisses along her skin, dipping into the hollow of her throat before resting his head against her chest.
Low stilled; she knew what he was doing. She threaded her fingers in his soft hair, brushing it back from his face and lifting her head to kiss his.
"I'm going to be fine," she said.
"You're heart is racing," he growled.
"It's okay, Bestial," she assured him. "It's supposed to do that."
He sat up, his green eyes slamming into hers. "It scares me."
Low bit her lip, tugging his shirt and pulling his face close to hers. "I'm not going anywhere, Bestial. You're stuck with me for life."
He smiled, a small, tentative smile. "Good."
Low let her head fall back and shuffled to the edge of the bed. "Will you hold me?" she asked.
He nodded quickly, toeing off his shoes and situating himself on the slightly larger than normal hospital bed. He lifted his arm, and Low ducked beneath it, lifting the afghan over both their forms and tucking herself into him. Her hand rested on his chest and she slowly stroked his chest.
"I love you."
He kissed her head, pressing her hair back from her face before lifting her chin with his fingers. "I love you."
Low laid her head on him, closing her eyes. Her walk had wiped her out, and now that she was safe and comfortable, she could relax. As long as she was in Bestial's arms, everything was just as it should be.
Epilogue
Low stuffed the blankets into the gift bags along with the tiny hats and sweaters, booties and mittens. She grabbed the two lions she'd crocheted and then her sweatshirt.
"I'm ready!" she yelled, racing down the stairs, her feet pounding on the wood.
Bestial stared up at her and she jumped at him. He caught her out of the air like she weighed nothing.
"What did I tell you about that?" he growled.
Low sighed, nuzzling his chest with her nose. "You smell good."
He chuckled but gripped her shoulders, pulling her back so he could see her. "Low."
"Warn you," she intoned.
He leaned down, swiping his tongue across her lips and kissing her deeply. "You get rewarded for good behavior."
"Reinforcement?" she giggled.
"Exactly," he said huskily, before diving back into her mouth, running his tongue along hers and then standing up straight.
Low hopped from one foot to the other, looking up at him with bright shining eyes.
Bestial barked out a laugh. "Excited much?"
She hit him in the arm with her gift bag, and he pretended to be hurt, rubbing it.
"Come on!" she said. "I want to see the babies! We need practice, and I want to see what these cuties look like before we have one of our own."
Bestial's smile disappeared and he was filled with sudden, intense longing. He could see her pregnant with their baby. Low stood next to the golf cart, looking at her feet before turning big eyes to him. "I want a baby, Bestial."
He wrapped his arms around her. "I know you do. But we need to wait a little longer, Low."
Low nodded against his chest. The doctor had advised Low not to put her body under any undue pressure. Pregnancy was one of those stressors, but luckily sex was not.
Low stepped back, wiping under her eyes and Bestial wished suddenly that Roger Werner was alive so he could kill him all over again.
"Soon," she said, and stood up on tip-toe, kissing his chin.
She lowered herself to her heels and got in the cart, bouncing in the seat and pointing to the road. "To the babies!" she directed, making Bestial laugh again.
Bestial got in the cart, driving them to the Wild Zone and then helping Low down. Petra and Leo lived at the edge of the woods, but were firmly ensconced in the Wild Zone. Their house was a newly built cottage where Leo was waiting for them on the porch, his grin wide, but his posture tight.
"I have to warn you," he said, "I am a little protective right now. Please do not take offense at my snarling."
Bestial put an arm around Low. "Perhaps we should drop off their gifts and leave."
Low looked up at him, nodding slightly, but Bestial could see her disappointment.
"No!" a voice said from the porch. Petra's golden head popped around the corner. She was wearing a sling, and two fuzzy heads were visible near each arm. Petra bounced from foot to foot, smiling at them widely.
"Leo is fine," Petra reiterated in her accented voice. "This is good practice for us."
Low smiled, looking at Bestial for confirmation. He nodded, and slowly began toward the house. "Please do not snarl at Low," he said to Leo. "Feel free to snarl at me."
Leo nodded, watching them both unblinkingly. They stopped, waiting for Petra to approach them. She came over quickly, turning her body to the side so they could see the twin's sleeping faces.
"What are their names?" Low asked.
"Heart," Petra said, showing them the baby on her right. "And Pride," she indicated the baby on the left.
"I love them," Low breathed, her face wonderstruck.
Bestial breathed in, sensing her happiness tinged with sadness. Leo stepped forward, wrapping an arm around Petra's shoulders before nuzzling into her hair.
"It is the best thing in the world," Leo said, looking at his family with shining, grateful eyes.
"Now-" Leo took a deep breath as if steeling himself. "Come inside. You can hold them."
Low clasped her hands together, and Bestial saw tears spill from her eyes. "Are you sure?" she asked.
Bestial could see she was holding herself together, and Leo could see it clearly as well.
"Yes," Leo answered. "You too, Bestial."
Bestial nodded, amazed by the trust that Leo was showing them.
"Thank you," he said.
Leo nodded in return. "You're family."
Bestial felt his throat tighten. He looked at Low. It was true. Here was his family. He had everything he never thought he'd have. His heart was filled with gratitude and wonder at life.
Low leaned against his shoulder, waiting for him. Petra opened the door and went inside.
"Let's go." she said, "These babies aren't going to hold themselves!"
Low laughed, following her inside. Leo clapped Bestial on the shoulder, understanding written all over his face, and after a moment, they followed.
