All recognized Burn Notice characters are not mine. I do own Lotus.
I still hadn't figured out how I was gonna tell her that the job we got was gonna potentially cross paths with Micheal Weston.
It's been years since they had even been in the same state and now I had to tell her it was possible they were gonna be in the same city.
Sighing quietly I look over, she had lasted an hour before finally falling asleep on the way to the hotel. The tarmac had been in a secluded area a state over and we were nearing our hotel.
Years of training had it ingrained to be close enough to get where we needed to be but far enough to be out of the immediate suspect area.
She had been on the job for her birthday and what we considered our anniversary. So I splurged on the room. It was the honeymoon suite and had a private back entrance. A surprise. Considering how the Cairo trip turned out I'm glad I did.
My anger had finally disapated now all I was stuck with was a revolving cycle of elation of her being back and enormous grief at what she went through. She hasn't given me a debrief but going from her appearance and how quickly she went to sleep I know it wasn't good.
This could've all been prevented if Card had just let us go together. Fucking asshole.
Pulling up to the back entrance I put the Jeep in park. She still hasn't woken just another telling side effect from the trip. Normally, until we get situated she's wide awake OR wakes as soon as we stop.
I take a moment to look at her.
Her dark purple hair had fallen to frame her face. It contrasted with her paler than normal coloring but somehow blended with the different levels of brusing on her face.
Up close the split lip has been reopened.
The black eyes are yellow and green.
There's a fresh bruise on her jaw.
She shifts and suddenly I see it.
I don't know HOW I missed it all this time.
There on her neck. Handprints.
Someone choked her, severely.
The anger is back and fueled by vengeance.
They would pay.
Every last person involved in her injuries.
I will blow their brains out.
They'll be dead before the bullet reports.
I'll have 3 seconds to bug out too.
I get outof the car and slam the door.
I wince expecting her to be glaring.
She isn't. Fuck she's really exhausted.
I grab our go bags and secure them to my body. I run to her side and gently open the door. I'm unnerved by how unresponsive she's been.
I lean in to wake her when she startles.
Eyes wide, pulling a knife from her thigh and leveling it out in front of her. She's shouting No and Get Back in Arabic. I take a step back. Hands up to give her a moment to check her surroundings.
"Fuck- I'm sor" I cut her apology off. "It's okay, baby. It's expected. Can you walk?"
She nods and attempts to get out and as I expected her knee buckles and I'm right there lifting her into a bridal carry.
What I didn't expect was the sharp inhale of breath and the slow "Shit that hurts" to come out of her mouth. I pause to access if I need to put her down, she replies "I forgot about the rest, I'm okay now. I can bear it till we get to our room."
I still haven't moved.
I'm contemplating how fast I should walk.
She tightens her hold, nods her head.
Gives the side of my neck a kiss.
"Take me to our bed. You'll patch me up"
I give her a small smile "Always."
The elevator ride seems to take forever but it's a private one that leads directly into the suite. She lets out a whistle. "Fancy Spancy digs. All this? If this is about getting laid, that was happening anyway. It's been a long dry 4 weeks. Don't need all this to get my thighs parted."
I sit her down on the bed and can't help to laugh at her statement. "Well it's nice to see Cairo has ruined your wonderdul sense of humor Lotus. Let me get the bath ready."
Quickly I get the bath started adding in Epsom salt to help with any smaller cuts.
I light her favorite candles to help her mentally realize she's actually not in Cairo.
"Do you want to keep that shirt?" She shakes her head so with my K-Bar I quickly slice the seams letting it fall to the side. I check and she's gesturing to cut the jeans too. Thank all for go bags.
She's on our bed and she's still the most beautiful woman I've ever seen even if her body has seen better days. She stares at me while I access her injuries and mentally triage her.
She's had worse that's for sure.
Doesn't mean I like it either way.
Knife slash on her left side, weeping blood.
Bruising on her right ribs- 2 cracked.
Bruises up and down her shins.
Second degree burn to her right back.
I look at her and I feel responsible.
I should've fought Card harder.
Made him send me- snuck aboard with her.
Flew out after the fact.
She's my partner.
The love of my life.
My best fuckin friend.
She needed me and I was nowhere.
I take my frustration out on the supplies.
Ripping open stuff left and right.
Blowing gently to sooth the skin I clean.
I pause suddenly. Anger renewed.
More bruises.
Bruises in the shape of hands.
On her hips, her thighs.
Places that I bruise with her permission.
The rage is consuming- I stand.
Then suddenly glass is shattering.
One punch.
I've broken the hallway closet mirror.
She doesn't startle, doesn't cower in fear.
I didn't even think about possible triggers.
How she could've reacted.
I'm worthless and before I can form a word.
She's talking quietly, evenly, with conviction.
Calming me when I'm supposed to help her.
"They didn't. They tried. They were stopped.
Brusing will heal. I'm not broken. Not like before. I survived and stopped it because of you. You made sure I was never in that position again. They wanted to rape me to show that I was weak. I'm not weak and after I dispatched the 3rd one they stopped sending people. That was when I was able to finally get enough isolation to plan a way out. Which ended up being unnecessary. Ahmed had been in a neighboring area, he heard word about a Amethyst beauty being held for trafficking to sell to the highest bidder and figured it was me. He sends his regards, he took a couple rounds nothing serious. We owe him sushi next time we're with him."
She looks at me and shrugs and then grimaces when it pulls on the burn and bruises. "I've had worse, maybe not for a long time while alone but I've had worse. I'm here and I'm alive. Right now can you just take a breath and take me to the bath?"
Taking a deep breath to calm my nerves.
I nod and as gently as I can pick her up.
Kissing her lips, her hair, her forehead. Silently vowing to never work alone again.
