Ironing Out Differences CH 11
Karla curtly informed them later that night that she'd made arrangements for them to meet her at her house before they left and that she would be picking Dan up herself and bringing them home before they left. She didn't ask, she told, silently daring Bobby to argue with her. Alex had been giving him the cool treatment all night and he was ready for more of that from Karla.
To his surprise she was smiling when they arrived. She greeted them in the driveway. "Park it around behind the barn, please."
"Behind…." Alex asked.
"We have to load some things up." Karla explained, frowning slightly at them.
Alex drove around and Karla opened the back door. She motioned for Alex to back it in.
The shadows hid the sight of a second vehicle inside. Karla closed the door and flipped on the overhead lights. The newcomers got out and looked over at the vehicle next to theirs. It was identical. "What's going on, Karla?" Alex asked.
"Dan and I talked it over. I don't want to take any chances that we're being tracked so we're taking this one."
"It's identical and the lab has been over this one thoroughly." Bobby said.
"I have my experts too. Transfer whatever you brought with you and I'll change the plates. Don't touch the paint. It's borrowed."
The zip of an electric drill sounded behind the vehicle and they were changed. Karla put the drill in the back of the vehicle and went into the house. "What do you suppose she has in mind?" Bobby asked.
Alex glanced at him. "I don't know, but I intend to find out. She's not running this show the entire way to California."
"You two aren't going to battle it out, are you?"
"It could be." Alex shrugged. "It would serve the two of you right."
Karla and Dan came out of the house. She had her arm around his waist, but they could see that he was walking gingerly. For all appearances it was just a stroll, except they knew better. "I'd like him to sit in the front seat to begin with. It reclines, if no one has any objection."
"I don't. Good to see you, Captain." Bobby said.
"Hello, Bobby, Alex. Thank you for agreeing to come with us."
"Yeah, thanks." Karla said sharply.
"Karla, knock it off. It's going to be a long enough trip without you being that way the entire way." Dan told her. Karla shut up, but she glared at Bobby anyway. "Are we all loaded?" Dan asked.
"I have everything you suggested already loaded." Karla assured him. "All we have to do is take off."
"You called Nancy and let her know?"
"I did. She said we should bring something back for the boys. I told her we'd see. We have a few days to find something suitable before we get there."
"Karla." He scolded.
'You're too suspicious. Get in the car, Dan." She scolded him back.
He gently climbed in and glared at her when she handed him the seatbelt. "I can buckle my own seatbelt." He said crossly.
"Then do it. It was going to get caught in the door. I can't close it if you don't." she shot back.
Alex and Bobby exchanged looks. Karla closed the door and turned to face them. She winked at them. "So who's driving first?"
"You are." Alex said immediately. She got into the SUV behind the captain, leaving Karla and Bobby to go around to the drivers side.
"Karla, is he going to be okay for this trip?" Bobby asked.
"I don't know. It's kind of late to ask that, isn't it?"
He sighed and reached for the door handle. "I intend to make sure he'll be okay even if I have to handcuff you two together and leave you on the side of the road somewhere." She said sharply quietly and got into the SUV.
He settled himself behind her, she opened the door, got into the drivers seat and pulled out of the building. She drove toward the back of the property. Alex wanted to point out the obvious that the driveway was rough, but the frown on Karlas face was enough to keep her silent. They came to a grove of trees and Karla turned into them and doubled back. She drove out onto a dirt road and sped up.
"We're in the back of your property." Bobby said.
"It's a hay road, initially. I used to use it so I wouldn't piss off the neighbors with big loads. Now I don't care. It's not like I'm hauling in manure."
Bobby was tall enough to see Dan reach over and take Karlas hand. She shot him a quick glance and her face softened. She relaxed her posture and settled back for a drive. "Karla, why didn't you want us to touch the outside of the car?" Alex asked.
"Because the paint'll rub off. As soon as we're far enough away, we can go through a car wash and we'll be another color. I'm also going to change the license plate that this thing is registered to and it's not any of us."
"You been watching spy movies while I've been away?" Dan teased.
"Absolutely. Lethal Weapon 1-4 and Die Hard 1, two and three."
"Maybe you shouldn't be driving. Are you Danny Glover or Mel Gibson?"
"I am Mel Gibson. You are Danny Glover. The voice of reason."
"Good. He was the handsome one."
"Mel would look better in a jogging suit." Alex put in from the back seat.
"Hey. Since when did you notice things like that?" Bobby demanded.
"It's just a fact." Alex shrugged with a smile.
"Right on, Alex." Karla cheered.
"Never mind, you. Just drive." Dan smiled.
"Don't worry. My chances of meeting Mel Gibson are slim and none and slim just left town. Besides I have all I need. I have the real thing." Karla said.
Alex touched Bobbys hand and he smiled at her. They had all they needed as well. "So tell me what's going on at the precinct." Dan said to Bobby and Alex.
"Um,…."
"Don't worry, Alex, I won't listen." Karla said.
"It's okay, Alex. Go ahead." Dan said. He leaned his seat back with a groan and tried to get comfortable.
Karla drove steadily onto the expressway and headed west. Bobby and Alex chatted with Dan about work and Karla was singing softly to herself. About 10:30, Karla glanced over at her fiancé. "Is anyone ready for a rest stop? I brought some coffee, and some Danish, or snacks so you can take your medicine. You aren't supposed to take it on an empty stomach."
"Is that what's in that cooler you lugged out here? I thought you were bringing the whole refrigerator."
"Well there isn't much left in there." she teased.
"I could use a stop." Bobby admitted. He'd been feeling antsy for the last half hour or so, but he'd controlled it for Alexs sake.
"Sounds like a plan. There should be one up ahead just a little bit. I'm ready to take a break from driving if someone else wants to take over."
"I'll do it." Alex said.
"We'll switch places. We can ride in back awhile." Dan said.
"I thought you'd be needing to lay down soon." Bobby said. "Even leaning back is hard on the side."
"Let me check your bandages?" Karla asked.
"I should be alright." Dan said.
"I just want to check. If we catch it early, there'd be less damage if it is draining." Karla said.
"Are you a nurse, too?" he asked with a grimace.
"Nope."
"Just leave it for now then."
"Okay."
She slowed down and glanced over to check for traffic, smoothly merging into the right lane so they could pull in at the rest stop. She parked as close to the facilities as possible with it being so busy. Everyone got out and she locked the doors. She gave Alex the keys and went around to Dan. "Do you want to put the back seat down before we leave? Then you can stretch out all the way?"
"No, I'll just lay across the back seat for awhile. Don't fuss, Karla. It doesn't look good for my image."
"As if they don't know that you're hurting. Like they haven't been shot before. Okay, okay, but I'm going to keep an eye on you whether you want me to or not."
"My own private dragon." Dan teased.
"Growl!" Karla said, smiling.
"Was this really a good idea?" Alex asked her husband. "He's not taking this well."
"No, it's not a good idea. It's more like the best one out of a whole bunch of bad ones. If we're careful, there shouldn't been any lasting effects. Karla is not going to let him do anything stupid or us either. Not where he's concerned."
"She doesn't have a lot of options with us here."
"Do you honestly think so? She seems to be pretty resourceful and so far she's gone along with this but its not impossible for her to take him and disappear when we're not watching if she thinks he's in danger or being forced too hard. It's exactly what she'd do. Did you think the handcuffs she was referring to was an idle threat?"
"She's a cop same as us. She'd…." Alex began.
"She's a cop, alright. But she's not a team player and never has been. Not like we are. She doesn't trust people, even Dan, to do what she thinks is right. She's not above doing something no one expects."
"You just described an unstable person." Alex said.
"Unstable? Maybe not. As long as Dan is alright, so will she be. Unpredictable, absolutely. And all the reassurance in the world from us isn't going to make one bit of difference. We have to show her, not tell her. Just act normal and I hope everything will be okay."
"But you don't think so?"
"Who's to tell? I understand her, how she thinks, but I can't predict how she will react. Her only established pattern so far is unpredictability."
"I understand her. It's something we have in common. We take care of our men, because they don't take care of themselves. Except I try to do it inside the confines of the department."
"You grew up with the stability of a loving family and the idea that the department is safety net with a big family mentality good or bad. I didn't and neither did she. To her, the department is another kind of group that she has to watch. She doesn't really trust them yet to do what is right, maybe she never will. She trusts us more, you and I. We are the only shot we have to get her and the Captain to San Diego in time for the trial. We have to take care that we don't spook her."
"I feel like I'm transporting a criminal."
"Don't let that feeling take hold. She isn't the enemy, she just doesn't trust us yet. I hope that this trip will show her that we can be trusted."
"So we have to build that trust."
"My guess is that she's had people tell her for years that they were going to do things and they haven't. She doesn't believe. Sometimes I don't think she even trusts Dan, not entirely."
"So we have no hope?" Alex said wryly.
"I didn't say that. Once she sees that he can be trusted and he trusts us it will get easier. It's going to be a step by step process."
"You're giving me the willies." Alex complained.
Bobby pulled her into his arms and gave her a big kiss. "Together, we'll get by." He said with a smile.
They all used the facilities and headed back out. Karla sat with Dans head in her lap and they dozed. Alex drove until 12:30 before they stopped for lunch. After lunch, Bobby took over the driving and drove until 4:00 when Dan was feeling up to driving for a bit. He felt good, being out in the open, and driving. Bobby and Alex were having a quiet private conversation in the back seat. He reached over and took Karlas hand.
"How are you doing?" he asked.
"I'm okay. These seats are not that great on long trips. I'm getting TB."
"Tuberculosis?" he asked even though he knew the answer.
"Tired butt." She laughed.
"I hear you. We'll stop for the night, in a little while. So what did you tell Nancy and the boys?"
"The truth. We had to be in San Diego for police business and we'd let them know when we got back. I didn't give them any more information than that. I suppose she's used to it by now."
"Some things you never get used to. She was never happy with me gone. She's good now that she has Todd. He doesn't go on trips as long often as I did."
"I'm glad you don't have to either. You can get into enough trouble without leaving New York."
"You're in a playful mood."
"I had a nap. Have you ever been to San Diego?"
"A couple of times. There's no big difference between it and New York. They're both big cities and they have the same problems. Except we don't have the earthquakes."
"I just wondered."
"You don't just wonder. Do you want to tell me what's bothering you?"
"No."
"Yes you do." He said. "Otherwise you wouldn't have brought it up."
"I'm scared. No matter how much I say I'm not, I am. I'm worried about you and your stitches, I'm worried about being in this new city, and I'm worried about the testimony in front of the judge. I've never done that before."
"You'll be fine. I'm okay, a city is just a city and all you have to do is tell the truth. I'll be with you, so will Bobby and Alex. You aren't going to be alone, ever."
"I wish we were home. We could snuggle up on the couch or something."
"Scoot over here. We have seatbelts in the center."
"I'll bump your side."
"Then be careful."
"What about them?" she asked quietly.
Dan glanced into the back seat. "I think the secrets out." He said back.
She pulled off her seatbelt and slid over next to him., finding the belt in the center of the seat. She buckled it and reached over to put a hand on his leg. He smiled at her and would have kissed her except he was driving. She reached up and kissed his cheek. "I love you." She said softly.
"I love you, too." He said with a smile. "Guys, do you mind if we stop early tonight? I'm tired." He said.
"That sounds like a good idea." Bobby said.
He pulled in at the next off ramp that said food and lodging. It didn't matter what it was to eat. He was tired and uncomfortable. He wanted to stretch out on a bed and rest. They had a good meal and found a motel. Karla took the key from Bobby and opened the door. Dan walked in and went immediately to lay down. Karla helped him take off his jacket and took his weapon so he could get comfortable. He groaned.
"Damn it. I told Bobby this was too much." Karla said angrily.
"Don't start please. I'll be okay. I just need to rest."
"When you've rested I'm going to look at your ribs. Don't think I'm going to give up on it this time. Let me get you some medicine."
"Whatever you say." He said wearily. He jumped when he felt a pin prick on his arm. Karla had given him a shot. "What did you do?"
"I talked to the doctor. I told him that I was worried about it being too much for you and that you might need more than a pill. He gave me some pain medicine that you don't have to take orally just in case you needed it. Lay still and let it take effect. It'll take effect faster than the pill."
"Will you lay down with me?"
Karla crawled into bed beside him and he snuggled up against her back. He breathed a sigh of relief. In a few minutes he was asleep. She got up and went out to find Bobby and Alex. They were in the middle of something, she could tell. "I need to go to a drug store. Can you listen for him if he wakes up? I gave him a shot of painkiller and he's asleep."
"I'll go with you." Bobby offered.
"No. Right now being with you is the very last thing I want to do. I'll be back in a bit. He probably won't even know I was gone. I just wanted you to know."
"I'll go with you." Alex said.
"No, stay. You guys were busy. I'll be back soon."
"You really shouldn't be wandering around a strange town by yourself." Bobby tried again.
Karla scowled at him. "Your advice is suspect right now."
She left. "She shouldn't have said that." Alex told Bobby angrily.
"She thinks I don't care about Dan. I couldn't, not as much as she does, but I think she's just angry and worried about him."
"I'm not going to have her speaking to you like that. I don't care what her motivation is."
"Let it go, Alex, please. You are protective of me, too. And you know we haven't had the easiest relationship. If it continues, I'll let you talk to her."
"Alright, but I won't put up with it for long."
"Come on back in."
Karla was back within half an hour. Alex had to admit after her talk with Bobby earlier she was nervous about her coming back, though she knew Karla wouldn't leave without Dan. She let herself into the room. He had not moved while she was gone. She set her paper bag down as quietly as she could.
She went into the bathroom and took a shower. When she came back out he was awake, but groggy. "Hi." She said. "Feeling any better?"
"Some. You look better."
"It's alright. Can I get you something?"
"I'm a little thirsty. Do we have any water?"
"I brought some of the bottled you like."
"You take good care of me."
"What little I can. Do you need help sitting up?"
"Just an arm would be nice." She came over and gave him a hand up sitting down next to him and gave him his water. He drained it. "Thanks."
"Let me see your ribs."
"No."
"Dan Ross, let me see your ribs. I'm not taking no for an answer."
"If I do will you give it a rest?"
"Unless you've done something stupid to it." She said drily.
He raised his shirt and she looked at it. "There's some draining, but not too bad." She said from under his arm. "I need to change it. Let's get you into one of the chairs so you'll be more level."
"Do you know how to treat it?"
"Yes. I asked the nurses before you left the hospital."
She helped him to his feet and they walked over to the chair. She helped him pull his shirt all the way off before he sat down. He winced when she pulled the bandage off. She tended it as gently as one of the nurses in the hospital had. She 'hmm'ed once."
"What?" he asked.
"It pulled a little on the stitches. We're going to have to watch that. She probed gently around the wound. Does anything hurt more than anyplace else?"
"Just where you've been probing it." He complained.
"Grumpy. That's a good sign. Tomorrow, I'm checking it when we stop for lunch, not arguments. If it's still pulling, I'm going to have to wrap your ribs for support. Doctors orders."
"Yes, Doctor sweetheart." He teased.
She scrunched her nose at him. "Don't flirt with the medical help."
She made a bandage. She used some ointment to cover the wound. There was a knock on the door. "Who is it?" she called.
"It's us." Alex said.
"Help me get my shirt on." Dan said, urgently.
"Just a minute. I'm not decent." Karla called. She helped him get his shirt on and she skinned into a T-Shirt and shorts then called "Come in."
She knelt back down and fastened the bandage in place. She stood up and casually scooped up the old one and put it in the bag from the drugstore. Bobby and Alex noticed the bandage, but neither said anything. Dan casually buttoned up his shirt. "What can I do for you?" he asked trying for normality.
"We just wanted to see how you were doing." Alex said.
"My doctor here, says I'm doing fine. How about you two?"
"We're fine. We wanted to talk to you about what time you'd like to leave in the morning." Bobby asked.
"Let's get an early start. The sooner we leave the sooner we get there." Dan said. "Say 8:00? We'll grab something to eat on the way down the road. Is that okay with everyone?"
"Fine by me." Karla said evenly.
"It's okay by us." Alex said, eyeing Karla. "We just wanted to see if you are comfortable or if you need anything."
"We're pretty much set, but thanks." Karla said. She returned Alex's steely look. It was like watching two cats ready to fight.
Bobby shifted uneasily. Dan looked from one woman to the other, "What's going on?"
"Nothing." Karla said.
"Right, nothing." Alex agreed.
"Do not try to protect me." Dan said sharply.
"We aren't. It's nothing to be concerned about." Karla told him. "I'm ready for some tv and a nice long nap."
"We'll let you get some rest, then." Bobby said.
"Yeah, have a good night." Alex said with a smile and they left.
"Now that they're gone, care to tell me what just happened?" Dan asked Karla.
"You're too suspicious." Karla told him. "Nothing happened. Want to stretch out with me and see what's on tv?"
"In a minute."
He went into the bathroom and splashed water on his face. He stayed for a minute to try to gather himself. He didn't want Karla to see how drained he really was. For a few minutes he wanted to cry, but he couldn't. She would notice. This was hard on him, even as much as they were trying to make it easier on him. He had an idea of what that look between Alex and Karla had been about, but Karla wouldn't tell him if it was true or not. He'd have to wait until he had either Alex or Bobby alone and demand an answer.
He heard the tv on and went back out. Karla had turned on a movie channel but she was stretched out on the bed, fast asleep. He smiled tenderly at her. She was exhausted. She looked so young when she was asleep. He stretched out cautiously next to her. She sighed and rolled toward him in her sleep. She put her head next to his arm so her forehead rested against his upper arm and her hand sought out his. All when she was asleep.
He watched the television for half an hour or so then turned it off and went back to sleep.
In the middle of the night he woke up in pain. He got himself his own pain pill and came back. He pulled blankets off the other bed, covered Karla up and crawled back in next to her. As soon as the medicine took effect he went back to sleep too.
TBC