Chapter 7 - Thunderstorm

Mary walked into her bedroom with two mugs of cocoa which she placed on the bedside table. George was sitting up in bed reading some reports, he laid them down, took off his glasses, put his arms round his wife and pulled her close. "I'm sorry we didn't look after the kids, thank God Rainey was here."

Mary looked fondly at her husband. "Yes, he's a good kid. Craig trusts him with his life, Sandy and I love him, and Katie thinks the world of him. Trish seems smitten too."

George looked up in surprise. "Trish? Interested in a man? Hell truly has frozen over!"

Mary nodded. "I know, I think Rainey likes her a lot as well. They remind me of us, I thought you were pretty special too my General."

They exchanged looks and smiled. "Do you remember Santiago?" she asked.

"Trish's crazy mustang at your mother's ranch? Yeah, how can I forget him, that was eight hundred pounds of mean horse, I've still got the scar on my ass from when he took a bite out of me. He was her horse, he wouldn't let anyone but her ride him."

Mary smiled as she reminisced about her daughter's favourite horse. "Remember how he saved Trish when that cougar attacked? He could have run away but he just stood there and defied it to come closer."

George hugged her. "It nearly killed him too. The only reason I liked that damn animal."

"Rainey reminds me of Santiago, they're both wild and dangerous but they'll defend the people they love to the death. Rainey's proven his loyalty to Craig time and time again and today he saved the kids and asked for nothing in return. I know what he's done for our son, now I've met him and got to know him I'd like to do something in return."

George smiled as he picked up his drink. "I don't think you're planning on feeding him a carrot are you honey?"

Mary hugged her husband. "Craig told me that Rainey doesn't know his real name or date of birth, although he's given him an unofficial one, he's got no-one to call family. Mary cuddled into him and told him her plan. "Could we? I've been planning this ever since Craig told us what Rainey did for him, now I've met him and know more about him I'm more determined than ever, I got the paperwork in Southampton earlier today. Sandy and Trish are all for it"

George looked lovingly at his wife. "I know better than to go against three Garrison women. Honey you can do anything you want, I'm right behind you."

Mary drew her husband's head down and kissed him. "We'll do it tomorrow."

GG-GG-GG

Rainey stretched out on his bed, watched the lightning playing outside his window and listened to the thunder rolling over the Hampshire countryside. He thought about what had just happened, he never thought he could fall in love with anyone again after Christine. He'd naively assumed she'd wait for him while he was in prison and was devastated when he found out she'd married someone else. She'd been his first, chaste love, someone he'd never forget but he'd had to let her go into the past along with all his hopes and dreams. A life sentence in prison made sure there were no more opportunities to find someone and he'd resigned himself to being alone for the rest of his days.

Everything had changed when Craig turned up in Warden Finch's office and took him away from the living hell that was Attica to join his team and fight by his side. There'd been no shortage of women round the army camp in Colchester or on their trips to London and Actor, Goniff and Casino hadn't hesitated in taking advantage of the situation but he hadn't been interested in meaningless, casual relationships. Apart from shying away from physical contact, he now knew he'd been looking for something more, someone who'd give him the sense of family and belonging he'd yearned for since his grandfather died leaving him alone. Given the fact he could be killed, taken prisoner or sent back to prison, he'd decided to wait until after the war was over and, if he survived and remained free, look around for that one special person. With that in mind he kept to himself, put his full attention into his work with Garrison and training the Navajos, he'd built what he'd thought was an impenetrable wall around him. Then, from out of nowhere, a little five year old girl crept into his life and wove flowers in his hair, she'd put the first chink in his armour, after that a pair of hazel/green eyes, a gentle touch and a kiss demolished his remaining defences. Trish had looked at him and treated him as a person, it didn't seem to matter to her that he was a con or an Indian, he could still feel the warmth of her body as she nestled against him and the touch of her lips on his. His heart had been stormed and conquered and no longer belonged to him, the only thing wrong was that she was Craig's little sister. He threw his arm over his eyes. "Warden's gonna kill me!" he groaned.

Rainey was jolted awake by two blinding flashes of lightning accompanied immediately by huge blasts of thunder. At first he thought he was back behind enemy lines and under fire, he looked wildly around, took in his surroundings, lay back on his pillow and calmed his breathing. He sat up quickly when he heard his bedroom door open, there was the sound of bare feet, he looked at the small figure illuminated in the doorway. "Yázhí? What's wrong?"

A small, frightened voice sobbed. "Uncle Rainey, I'm scared. Can I sleep with you?"

"Sorry little one, you can't sleep here," he said gently. "Go to your parents they'll look after you."

"No, you look after me! You keep me safe! I want to stay with you!" Katie climbed determinedly onto his bed.

Rainey panicked as he realised he was naked under the sheets, he turned away quickly, grabbed his fatigue pants and dragged them on. Craig would definitely kill him if he found the little girl in his room like this! "You wearing no clothes again Uncle Rainey?" Katie commented as he pulled a vest over his head.

There was a huge flash of lightning and roar of thunder. Katie cried out, dived under the covers and started sobbing again. Rainey gave in, he was beginning to learn you couldn't fight a Garrison woman once she'd made up her mind, however old she was, he pulled a chair up next to the bed and sat down. "Give me your hand Yázhí, I'll watch over you." A small hand crept out from under the blankets and reached out, he took hold and squeezed it gently. "Go to sleep little one, I promise I'll be here when you wake up."

A small, muffled voice came out from under the blankets. "Love you Uncle Rainey."

Rainey looked at the quivering lump in his bed. "Love you too Yázhí."

GG-GG-GG

There was general confusion the next morning when Katie couldn't be found, everyone thought she was with someone else, they looked everywhere but there was no sign of her. Sandy noticed someone else was missing, she thought about the thunderstorm, Katie's trust in Rainey and his protective attitude towards her, she smiled as she put two and two together. "She's safe, I know where she is." She lead the way up the stairs and stopped outside Rainey's room, Trish was right behind her. Sandy put a finger to her lips, knocked quietly on the door and whispered. "Rainey can we come in?"

An equally quiet "Uh huh," came from the room. Sandy opened the door, walked in and smiled as she surveyed the scene. Rainey was still sitting by the bed, he hadn't let go of Katie's hand all night and his eyes had never left her slumbering form.

Craig leaned against the doorway and crossed his arms. "Still on guard Chief? You're supposed to be off duty."

Rainey looked at Sandy. "She was frightened by the storm, told her to go to you but she wouldn't. Promised I'd keep her safe." He felt Katie stir and a small mumble came out from under the sheets. "Hey Yázhí, wake up. Your mother 'n Aunt Trish are here. Come on little one."

A small tousled head appeared, followed by a big yawn and a grin. "Uncle Rainey!"

Rainey looked at the little girl fondly. "Said I'd be here when you woke up."

Katie threw back the blankets, jumped onto his lap and threw her arms round his neck. "The storm's gone, I'm not scared any more."

Rainey stood up and carried the little girl over to her mother. "Sorry if you were worried Sandy. I'd never do anythin' to hurt her."

"I know that Rainey." Sandy nodded her thanks and carried her daughter to the door. Katie called Trish over and whispered something in her ear before they all left.

Trish's eyes opened wide and her mouth formed a silent "O". She turned, closed the door behind her, walked over swaying her hips coquettishly, grabbed Rainey's hands and pulled them behind her as she snuggled up to him. "So Uncle Rainey, I have it on good authority that not only do you go skinny dipping but you sleep naked as well." She placed a finger on the tip of his nose and smiled. "I hope there's another big thunderstorm tonight, I get scared too!" She stepped back and watched delightedly as he blushed.

"Who's Chief?" she asked.

"Me. That's what they called me in prison, it's what Craig and the team call me now."

"I prefer Rainey." She gave him a quick kiss on the lips. "Ma's cooking breakfast, let's go downstairs."