CH29

Kate spent two days and two nights in Rick's bed and loved every second of it. She had had lovers before but making love with Rick was so peaceful and exciting, not to mention that she had already had more orgasms in the time she had been his life mate than she had ever dreamed she would ever have.

It took every ounce of energy she had just to extract herself from his arms in the morning and walk into the bathroom only to have Rick fuck her while standing up in the shower.

Last night had been different though. She had brought some bath salts and oils with her and had filled his tub with nice hot water. She poured in her salts and oils then slid into the tub slowly, loving it. Once she was good and relaxed she turned on the jets and leaned back. A few of them hit all the right spots.

"Want some company?" a naked Rick standing next to the tub asked her. "Sure." And she scooted forward so he could slip in behind her. Soon she had her back pressed into his chest and he had his arms wrapped around her. It was a wet bear hug that had her melting into him yet again. That was until his hands started roaming across her body, starting with her breasts. Her nipples were hard and it felt so good as she felt a hand work its way down to her core where his fingers started exploring. "Rick?"

His fingers were just finishing bringing her to her second orgasm when he moved her so that one of the jets was striking her outer lips and soon her clitoris. The constant soft pressure soon brought her to a quick orgasm. Yet all he did was push her in closer.

She had no idea how many orgasms she had had. The next thing Kate noticed was that she was back to leaning up against him with his arms holding her tight, the water cooling. "Are you alright?" Rick demanded sounding concerned and a bit panicked. "Yeah, I think so. What happened?" she murmured. "You passed out," he stated still sounding unsettled. "I what!?" She had never had that happen before. Hell, most of the men she had had sex with barely paid attention to her.

"I stopped counting the number of orgasms you were having somewhere around 12 and a little later you passed out," he explained. "I turned off the jets and just held you."

"I passed out." Kate tried it on for size. She spun in place to look into his eyes. "Yes," she told him. Rick got a puzzled look on his face. "Yes to what?" He hadn't asked her for anything.

"Just yes. Yes, yes, yes!" And Kate kissed him.

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"Are you coming back out again?" Johanna asked Oscar as they stood just inside her front door. Rick had already taken all of his bags out to his truck. He got the duty since Kate had gone into work for her required 30 day review.

"Count on it. I just don't know when. I need to spend some time working on the next restaurant we have in the office," he told her. "New York City." The way she said it made his heart sink a little. How much she now disliked her home town amazed him. "Do you want me to come back out?" He decided to ask the big question. No matter what the answer was he would be out just as the contractor was finishing so he could walk the site and have him correct things that needed to be fixed. It was part of his contract with Rick.

Johanna buried her face into his chest before she spoke. "Yes." It was an answer that scared the shit out of her and yet part of her was soaring and wishing that day was already here. Her answer got Oscar to tilt her head up so he could kiss her and he felt her kiss him back with almost the same amount of passion. "I'll be happy to come back in a few weeks," he told her after he broke from the kiss so he could look at her.

What he saw was conflict. Conflict between himself and her deceased husband. He knew he would need to wait and he was willing to do so. However that didn't mean he wouldn't try and speed up the process a little.

"I'll be back in a few short weeks. THOR, come on boy, we have to go home," Oscar called out which earned him watching both Thor and Patch come running into the room play attacking each other. He managed to corral him and picked him up. "Say goodbye to your best friend and to Jo," he said. "Bye Thor." Johanna petted him just as Oscar kissed her again which had her leaning against him when he stopped.

Johanna waved goodbye from her door watching Oscar wave back as Rick backed up to turn around. She closed the door and leaned her back up against it. "Please don't be mad at me Jim. He really is nice and so sweet to me," Johanna said to the ceiling.

"So you and Johanna?" Rick asked finally after holding his tongue. "I'm not sure yet, but I think so. I'd like to think so," Oscar admitted. "Eileen has been gone a while now old friend. I'm happy for you if it works out. Are you still going to go through with the remodel of the second floor?" Rick questioned.

"That depends on you and Kate," he pointed out. "I guess we are pretty obvious, I suppose," Rick said wryly, which had Oscar chuckling. "Even if I was blind, which I'm not by the way, I would still see what's between you two. Besides you spent roughly $2.1 million on this family." He stated the obvious. "Has Johanna said anything about that?" Rick knew she wasn't stupid. "Not a word. You do have good medical coverage? Good enough for a life flight?" he asked joking at Rick's expense. "I'm kind of hoping Kate will help with that," Rick confessed. Oscar was still chuckling. "You better pray that that's enough."

"What are you laughing at? You're the one who's trying to get closer to that living tornado," Rick reminded him. "Yes, but if I'm lucky, she'll be my tornado," he countered, not afraid of Jo.

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"Serena! It's good to have you home again." She was found by the other 8 members of her house as they were coming back from seeing family. She hugged each of them. "It's good to be back and have you home as well," Serena told them. "I'm sure you and Joanne found something to do to occupy the time," Cadence mentioned and caught Serena starting to blush. "Don't worry everyone in this house and beyond knows that you two love each other. And in case you're worried, we all approve," Cadence told her. "How was your mission?" She changed the subject to allow Serena to lose her blush.

"Very successful thank you. We gained another $152 million," Serena informed them. "Which is likely already spent," Cadence laughed a little. "I may have spent a good portion of it already." Serena wasn't really embarrassed, it was just that her friends were relying on her to do the right things, to make the right choices. "Sarah?" Cadence asked, understanding how Serena thought. "I may have spent $80 million for an expansion for her, yes. I'll install them when they arrive," Serena conceded. "Don't worry so much Serena, we all know that Sarah is part of why we have been this successful in combating Paladin. That and your skills," Cadence told her taking hold of her arm.

"Tell that to the polar bears in Alaska," Serena countered. Losing that many shifters in one Paladin mission still haunted her. "That wasn't your fault. The intelligence simply came too late to help them," Cadence said sharply, hoping Serena would get over it and move on. They needed her mind to be focused. They were both interrupted when Joanne came running in. "Serena, Carol was just on the phone. Eric referred to his target in Wyoming as Rodgers and is sending a second observation team and has a combat team on standby. But it was what he ordered them to take with them that has her worried," Joanne told both of them.

"Rodgers, why does that name mean something to me? …You two are with me." And Serena ran for the core that was Sarah and placed her hand on the panel. "Sarah the target's name is Rodgers, there is something about that name," Serena said. "Richard Rodgers, formerly known as Richard Castle. His mother's maiden name is Martha Rodgers who is a Kodiak bear who is the lifemate of… " Serene interrupted her. "Jackson Hunt."

"The Kodiak Bear community. I thought Richard didn't live in his community," Joanne said. "Correct, he and his father do not get along," Sarah stated. "That's the understatement of the century," Serena added. "What was the other thing Carol mentioned?"

"He has ordered them to fly in several cases of Fentanyl along with several delivery systems," Joanne explained.

"Fentanyl. Fentanyl is approximately 80 to 100 times more potent than morphine and roughly 40 to 50 times more potent than pharmaceutical grade (100% pure) heroin," Sarah elucidated. "SHIT!" Cadence all but spat out. "Fentanyl is used recreationally, whereby death is common," Sarah added. "Why gas them instead of just shooting them or using mortars or some other explosive that can be delivered? They have access to combat aircraft." Cadence didn't understand.

"Fentanyl's most common side-effects (more than 10% of patients) include diarrhea, nausea, constipation, dry mouth, somnolence, confusion, asthenia (weakness), sweating, and less frequently (3 to 10% of patients) abdominal pain, headache, fatigue, anorexia and weight loss, dizziness, nervousness, hallucinations, anxiety, depression, flu-like symptoms, dyspepsia (indigestion), dyspnea (shortness of breath), hypoventilation, apnea, and urinary retention. Fentanyl use has also been associated with aphasia," Sarah added.

"OH MY GOD!" Serena had worked it out. "Don't you see?" Serena looked at them both and saw nothing. "How does Rick or anyone with him at the time fight back if they are busy with diarrhea, nausea, abdominal pain, fatigue, dizziness, or anxiety, that might be strong enough that he fears the outcome of the attack." Serena looked at them again to see if they got it now.

Serena slumped at what these two knew or in this case didn't know. "They don't want them dead, they want to capture them alive. Carol said his target had a 6-year-old girl," Serena pointed out. "Alexis Harper Rodgers," Sarah provided. "They will dissect Richard after they torture him. Run untold tests on his little girl to find out why some people are shifters and others aren't." Serena understood what Paladin intended and was terrified for both of them.

"And they call us monsters!" Joanne said, her voice seething with venom as she found herself in her lover's arms. "You are not a monster, love, and something happens to you over my dead body." Serena kissed her forehead since she was a little taller than Joanne.

"Sarah, what or who do we have in the area? And don't tell me Jackson Hunt. He might actually help them capture his own son and granddaughter," Serena demanded. "There are three bird shifter communities within the Black Hills National Forest. Golden Eagle, Red-Tailed Hawk, and the Turkey Buzzard. The Turkey Buzzard are technically the only ones located in Wyoming. The others are located in South Dakota," Sarah explained. "The same forest that Hunt and his Kodiak Bear community is located in." Serena hung her head. Could this possibly get any more complicated?

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Kate didn't know what to expect since she hadn't actually done much of anything since being hired. She was given her area to patrol at the beginning of each of her weeks. It meant she didn't need to come into the office except to pick up her schedule for the week, unless something happened that required her to come into the office. It was all very boring and a complete waste of her talent. "Sir, you wanted to see me?" Kate asked after knocking on his door frame. "Have a seat Beckett. How are you handling your assignments?" he inquired. "I'm fine sir. Took a little time to get used to being in a car all day, but I'm adapting," she told him. "This isn't New York City, Beckett. We do things differently out here," he informed her.

'Yeah but corruption is everywhere isn't it?' Kate thought to herself. "There is one more section of Weston County for you to patrol, here is your schedule for this week. I want you in there and patrol the area. All of it as usual. Every little back road that ends in some farmer's ranch," he ordered her. "Yes, sir." Kate took her map and looked it over. "Isn't this the location of the Native American Community? The last I knew we don't have jurisdiction over their area," she commented. "Then it's a good thing that your information is inaccurate. It is not an Indian Reservation and it is in our jurisdiction. Patrol the area deputy. Dismissed." He went back to looking at his paperwork. "Yes, sir."

Kate walked out to her car and found a man in a maintenance coverall walking away from it. "Is there a problem?" she asked as he walked by her. "No, no problem." He kept walking. If her hair could stand on end it would be by now. She got behind the wheel and looked around. 'Something is going on Rick. I've been ordered to patrol every back road in what you say is the Kodiak Bear area,' Kate called out to him. 'Most of it is located in South Dakota not Wyoming and if you even try, their security will stop you and tell you to turn around,' Rick warned her. 'What does he expect to gain by you driving through the little area they own that is in Wyoming?' he wondered.

'There was a man in a maintenance coverall walking away from my car as I came out,' Kate informed him. 'Force your car to break down while you are in there? Giving him cause to go in there to get you?' Rick speculated. 'Force a confrontation maybe?' she guessed. 'Making you the expendable pawn,' Rick said. 'I die and he calls in the FBI to take over the place and since the FBI won't stop at the border, they can go wherever they want.' Kate suggested. 'Don't go.' Rick said. 'I don't think that's an option. I'm betting my car has just been bugged with a locator so they know exactly where I am,' Kate replied grimly. 'Or he was checking on it because you've had it all along,' he offered.

"I'll think of something.' Play it by ear was what Kate was saying. 'I can be out by the highway waiting for you and you can take me with you,' Rick proposed. That had Kate thinking about it. If they had been following where she went, they would know she went over to Rick's to get coffee and lunch each day.

'What if this is a ploy to get you to leave Alexis alone with my mother?' Kate knew Alexis meant a lot to him. 'She has Midas and Maggie.' Rick was sure they would protect her. 'Against men armed with guns?' Midas and Maggie would stand no chance and if Alexis survived this and found out her dogs were dead… Kate could mentally hear his sigh. 'Fine, just be careful. They're up to something,' he warned her. 'I'll be fine. I've had training. Just you be careful. If they don't have eyes on you they may think you are with me and come get Alexis,' Kate cautioned him.

She started her car and headed out for her assigned patrol area with her head on a swivel looking for anything and everything. She drove and kept her eyes on each and every car that she came up from behind on because they feared she was going to pull them over for speeding, which they likely were, not that she noticed or cared. She watched every car that passed her going to other way, looking to see if they suddenly turned around and kept her eyes on the cars behind that car.

Still she made it to her turnoff and looked around as she slowly turned, paying attention to any car that followed her or was waiting for her ahead. Nothing, still she drove slowly. It was just a simple, narrow road, though it was blacktopped. Kate started to enter the wooded section of her patrol area when a pair of quads shot out of the woods, one from each side.

Each of them had a man who was heavily armed and wearing a combat vest. She was forced to hit the brakes and stopped as they got off their quads and leveled their weapons at her. Kate exited her car and waited for them with her hand on her service weapon. "Turn around and go back Deputy. This is private property and you were not invited. Unless you have a reason or a warrant, you can't enter our property," one of them told her.

"My boss says otherwise," Kate countered. "The Sheriff of Weston County is lucky he knows how to tie his own shoes," the same guy stated and shouldered his weapon. He whipped out something from behind his back too quickly for Kate's liking and she began to pull out her service weapon. "I wouldn't Deputy." The other one leveled his fully automatic weapon on her chest. "At this range your vest isn't going to save you," he warned Kate, who already knew that. Hell, it might not even help her if he was several feet beyond the quad he showed up on.

The first guy, however, waved his wand, stepped up to Kate, and heard it sound off when it reached her utility belt. "It's full of metal, so what?" she questioned. "If this was a metal detector I would agree, however this little item only detects active bugs and you have one sewn into your utility belt. Likely have one or more on your car, too." He challenged her to respond to that.

Kate's poker face didn't hold up very well as her eyes widened. She suspected the one on her car, but on her person? "I didn't…" Kate was interrupted. "Didn't know that you were being used? Didn't know you were being lied to? And you expect us to believe you?" His tone clearly suggested that he didn't. "Turn around and go home Deputy. If you are an innocent in this I suggest you quit your job and change careers," the first guy told her.

'We need to leave and quickly. As fast as possible.' The voice in the back of her head sounded insistent if not frightened. 'Can't you feel it? Our life mate is in trouble! Leave, NOW!' the voice in her head screamed at her.

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Rick was outside close to Alexis as she played on her playset while he threw a plush toy for the dogs to go get and bring back to play tug of war with, only to have him throw it again. "You ready for lunch pumpkin?" he asked as he watched her slowing down. He threw the toy and started walking for the house with Alexis next to him if not just a little behind him. Midas and Maggie however had started barking at something.

He turned his head to see what they were barking at and what he saw was a small flock of what he thought were hawks sitting on the cross piece that supported the swings. "Go inside Alexis, do it now." He motioned for her to keep walking. "Daddy?" Alexis questioned him. "Don't argue with me Alexis, go inside now! Midas, Maggie, inside. Go with Alexis," he commanded which got their attention but they didn't move though they did stop barking.

"ALEXIS! I SAID GO INSIDE! Midas, Maggie, inside, now!" Rick yelled at them. It finally had Alexis running for the house with Midas and Maggie right behind her. He turned his attention to what looked like five hawks sitting on his playset when suddenly one of them flew down to him. He turned into a naked human male, who looked to be in his early 30's maybe, and had landed on his feet just a few feet in front of Rick. Rick was just about ready to change into a bear.

"I was sent to warn you. Paladin is coming." However he got no further when he and his friends heard what Rick didn't. "They're here! We will take the planes, you need to protect your daughter." He started running and changed back into a red-tailed hawk in mid-stride just as his friends launched themselves into the air.

Rick turned and ran for the house. As he did, his clothes ripped to shreds when he changed his form into that of very large Kodiak bear, huffing and grunting as he ran on all fours as fast as he could. He let the bear inside him take charge; he just became a passenger.

If the hawk was right, he may already be too late.