A/N: So I'm not sorry for the mega dump of chapters. I planned to stretch it out into nice bite size updates but then I ate some sugar and well things changed... I will apologise for any wrong information about Military stuff as I made that up and for the end of Chapter 33... Anways hope you all enjoy and also huge thank yous to all those gorgeous souls who take the time to review! I love them! :-D
Chapter 29
Tom was about to head home when Mason raced to him like a kid ran after an ice cream truck. He inwardly smiled as the man came to an abrupt stop infront of him and donned a professional exterior like it would take away the image of him running.
"Sir, I'm glad I caught you. Lt. Burk and his team have made contact." Mason said a little breathless.
"They still on the line?" Tom asked, the young man nodded.
"Yes, and they need to speak to you." Mason told him. Tom nodded as he turned on his feet and headed back into the building. He picked up his pace and headed towards their command centre. It was technically the Air Force's base but they were graciously sharing with them. He walked into the room and couldn't help but notice Val sitting at the main table meant for meetings with her laptop out.
He moved to the station set up with radio system and took the radio receiver from the ensign posted there, he looked to Val as she held up her hand signalling him.
"You can't talk long, your encryption channel is being hacked." Val informed him.
"Lieutenant Burk, report." Tom said, he listened to the heavy static on the line waiting for a response from Burk. He looked to the comms officer and Mason. "Can we clear the static?" he asked them.
"No sir, the interference is coming from our end not there. I haven't sourced from where exactly but I'm working on it." Mason said as he looked at his computer. Tom was about to ask more questions but stopped as Burk's voice came over the comm.
"Sir, it's good to hear your voice. We got out, all three alive and accounted for. We're transmitting a file to you via Valkyrie network. Wolf has a request." Burk said but his voice was garbled in parts and the line heavy with static which only told Tom that they did indeed need to keep this short.
"Go ahead." Tom said, letting go of the lack of decorum but he knew it was rare for Wolf to have a request. In fact he barely asked for anything.
"Sir, I need -" he started but the static was so heavy it was chewing up the channel."eva- sis-in- to- folk." Wolf's message came out with heavy static to the point his message was incomprehensible.
"Say again. Your last transmission was garbled." Tom said into the radio.
"What's going on?" Wolf asked the comms officer, all they were getting was static. He barely made out a word the Captain said. He felt his gut twist into knots as he could only think of his sister and getting her out of St Louis.
"Signal's been jammed." Comms officer said as he changed channels and tried several different locations not just St Louis. No one replied vocally but Wolf didn't miss the pronounced clicks coming over the speakers.
"From where?" Wolf asked him.
"Has to be from their side as we're still receiving from other operators and Norfolk." he told him as it sounded like a bunch of cicardas to him of all varying tones over the radio for a few minutes before going quiet.
"That's the clicking noises?" Wolf asked him for clarification, the man nodded.
"Yeah, we have a program that can distinguish between the tones. So we know who's checking in. The scavengers can hear what we do but can't locate their signals or who it really is. We use military and local channels. It's not perfect system as the scavengers can replicate it. We also have certain code phrases when we need to identify our people." The comms officer told them.
"What about Valkyrie Network? Is that still safe?" Burk asked.
"I doubt it but we'll find out when your girlfriend doesn't call us back." the comms officer said looking to Alisha.
"She's not my girlfriend and she'll figure it out." Alisha assured him, she and Wolf shared a look as much as they appreciated the efficiency of the base here in Chicago. They really wanted to get back to St Louis and get their friends out.
"We should have put a message in there to get Larrin out." Wolf said.
"You never said your sister's name was Larrin." Cameron said speaking up as he'd let Burk and the others run the show knowing he was a stranger to Captain Chandler.
"Yeah, what of it?" Wolf asked wondering what the man was withholding.
"They'll know when they open the files to get her out." Cameron promised him, which gave Wolf a sinking feeling in his gut.
"What do you mean they'll know?" Wolf demanded in a careful tone.
"Hey." Kara said Danny in a soft tone as he slowly woke up, he gave her a dopey smile thanks to the pain meds coursing through his system. She had been sitting by his bedside waiting for him to wake up from surgery. Today was a day she didn't need and it was barely over.
She needed to get home and tell Tex what was going on. They needed to think of a plan to keep Larrin safe. She hated to admit it but this whole situation was outside of wheelhouse. She needed Tex's outside the box thinking and experience as an operator and Army Ranger. But for now she needed to feel she had control over one situation and right now Danny was it. He was home, injured; yes but safe.
"Hey." he replied, she gingerly sat on the edge of his bed careful not to jostle him as she took his hand in hers.
"How you feeling?" She asked him, she knew it was selfish but she was happy he was back in St Louis, happy that he'd definitely be there for the ultrasound even if the circumstances of him coming back were awful.
"Pretty good." He told her, he looked at Kara and felt his heart fill with love as he could and wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. She was dressed in civilian clothing her hair out loose around her shoulders. He really needed get her to church and put a ring on her finger.
"Do you remember what happened?" she asked him, he gave a nod.
"Yeah, Miller's Mom told me not to be a baby." Danny said with a frown as he didn't really like that part of the day. But he remembered the attack and being hit in the vest and leg. Even if it was all a little blurry around the edges thanks to the drugs. That and well Kara was distracting him just by breathing.
"The wound to your leg is through and through and you have 4 broken ribs. So the docs have patched you up, you'll be in hospital for a couple of days but after that medical leave for 8 weeks minimum." she informed him, she added a couple more weeks on for her own peace of mind but knew when he wasn't drunk on pain meds he'd push for five but now he was a little pliable so she'd enjoy it a little while it lasted.
"Aye, aye." Danny said with a smile.
"I'm sorry you didn't get to find your family." Kara told him, turning serious for a moment. Danny just gave her a soft closed lip smile.
"It's ok, my family is here. I love you Kara." Danny told her.
"I love you too." Kara replied with a smile.
"You can take my room." Miller told his Mom.
"Nonsense, I'm sure Wolf won't mind me sleeping-oh wow he certainly has unusual tastes in decor." Barbara remarked as they opened the door to Wolf's room. It had definitely had changed in the few days of Miller's absence.
"This is probably Larrin's doing. Sibling joke." Miller offered as he couldn't help but smile as Wolf's bed had the cobalt blue fur doona cover with matching pillow and dog pouf with it's face looking at the door as if waiting for its owner to come home.
If it hadn't been creepy enough it seemed Larrin had taken the liberty of placing all the lizards they'd removed from Kara and Danny's place in the room too. It looked like Wolf had a bad infestation but the lizards were placed so perfectly that the door could easily swing open and all their heads were direct much like the pouf. As if they were all waiting patiently for Wolf to come home.
"I think I will take your room after all but where will you sleep?" Barbara asked as she felt her son's plain room was more welcoming.
"In here. Doesn't bother me." Miller said with a shrug.
"Do you really believe she's a murderer?" Barbara asked him referring to what the police told them. They still had a vehicle out the front of the house to 'help' them feel safe. Miller had a feeling they'd bugged the house and were there for surveillance not their protection. He just needed to find a working handheld AM/FM radio as it'd pick up any electrical interference from a bug. He figured Kara and Danny's place would be a good bet for that given how it seemed to have a lot of old technology.
"I don't but then we don't have all the facts either." Miller said just in case someone was listening. "But don't worry, you're safe here." he assured her.
"I'm not worried. I have a gun." She assured him with a smile.
Andrea moved to Larrin's sleeping form and just barely adjusted the blanket when Larrin's eyes snapped open and she jerked up like she'd stuck her finger in an electric socket. she immediately lifted her arm in a defensive measure but Andrea's quick reflexes came in as she gently touched the arm pushing it down.
"Sorry" Larrin said to her, feeling a little disorientated as she forgot for a moment where she was. Then the pain of injuries made themselves known and throbbed from her sudden movement. She looked to Andrea immediately embarrassed by how she looked.
"It's ok, you're safe. I didn't mean to wake you. I was adjusting the blanket." Andrea said in a soothing manner to her as she sat down on the coffee table and looked to Larrin with concern. She wasn't going to say it but the fact that Larrin work up in a defensive posture spoke volumes to her.
"I- I'm a light sleeper." Larrin told her, if she were honest she didn't know what kind of sleeper she was anymore as she'd slept like a rock in the hotel and at the house with Tex and the others. But now after seeing Julian, she just expected herself to wake up and find herself back in the forests of Colorado.
"It's ok and it looks like you'll be staying here for the night. I have a spare room if you want to get a proper sleep than doze on the couch. But since I have you awake right now. I think you need to eat something. So come on," Andrea told Larrin as she motioned for her to follow. Larrin got up from the lounge and followed her to the kitchen table. The smell of pumpkin soup and toasted bread filled the air ; the delicious aroma made her stomach rumble.
"Here." Andrea said as she placed a mug filled with pumpkin soup and a plate with two slices of buttered toast cut into soldiers. She went back to the kitchen and pulled open a drawer that seemed to be the previous owner's drug drawer. She pulled out a bottle of Tylenol and uncapped it. She made sure it Tylenol in the bottle before she placed it open on the table giving the Larrin the option of pain management.
"Thank you." Larrin said lifting the mug up and taking a small sip. She wanted to make sure it wasn't scolding hot, what she learnt was that it was delicious and not too hot after all. So she took a healthier sip of the soup needing the stuffing to be put back into herself.
"I figure with your face it'd be easier to drink your meal." Andrea said to her in a wry manner as she too drank her own soup from a mug.
"It's really good." Larrin told her.
"So Wolf's little sister." Andrea said with a smile.
"Yeah." Larrin said with a tired nod but smiled nonetheless as she imagined people figured she'd be a 6ft 1' Amazonian type of woman instead of the weakling she appeared to be.
"I have to assume you got all the brains and the looks." Andrea commented in a light and teasing manner, Larrin gave a closed lip smile.
"Yeah, he's all the brawn." Larrin said in agreement, a knock at the door sounded that made Larrin flinch and Andrea quirk an eyebrow in curiosity as she wasn't expecting anyone.
"Stay here and eat." Andrea told her, she rose from her chair and headed to the front door. She looked through the peep hole grateful not to see the police on the other side as she knew Larrin was in no state to run.
"Mike," Andrea said as she opened to door to the man. He was dressed in his BDU's looking world weary. "Where's your partner in crime?" she asked referring to Tom. She knew she should show him some deference but then they were the same rank and not on the ship. So she was allowed some leeway.
"Parking the car. This place is impossibly crowded." Mike told her, Andrea felt a little twinge of disappointment Tom was here as that meant it was business. "Heard you had a guest." he said cutting straight to the point.
"I do and we're not up for visitors." Andrea informed him, feeling protective of Larrin.
"This isn't a social call. Something is going on and we really need to talk to her." Mike said in a serious but also slightly pleading manner that said he needed Andrea to give him some latitude.
"You going to make her cry?" Andrea asked him.
"When have I ever made anyone cry?" Mike asked her with an amused smile.
"I can think of a few instances." Andrea said, she saw Tom walk up the small path to her bungalow. He was carrying a manilla folder with him but he too was dressed in BDU's. Definitely not a good sign. "Tom." she said in greeting.
"Andrea, you know someone's blocking your driveway?" Tom told her.
"My neighbours are assholes." Andrea said with a shrug as if to say 'What can you do?'.
"Mike tell you why we're here?" Tom asked her.
"Yeah, you two eat anything yet?" she asked as she knew better than to stand her ground. Something was going on and she had the feeling it was best to find out sooner than let it go for another 12 hours.
"Depends, did you cook from scratch?" Tom asked in a cautious tone.
"I have a couple cans of beef stew. I am capable of warming food up without it being a disaster." She remarked in a snide manner as it was no secret her husband Andrew was the cook.
Well, he was the typical 50's housewife as he had his work outside the house but he managed to keep their house in Norfolk a beautiful home and cook a delicious meal fit for the President while Andrea was a complete disaster in everything domestic. But in her defence she could do all the house and car maintenance in her sleep which was something Andrew was completely clueless about.
"Sounds alright to me." Mike said.
"Come on in." Andrea said waving them in. She just hoped she didn't regret it later.
