Shady caught herself in mid-twitch, jerking straight up in the chair. Beside her, she heard a low chuckle, "You just now dozed off, Boots. You did good." Barney patted her shoulder.
She stretched in the chair, "I'm sorry."
"Don't be. I was about to relieve you anyway." He looked over at the sleeping scientist, "How'd she do?"
"She tossed and turned a bit. I expect she'll wake up soon," Boots stood as she spoke.
Christmas replied from the couch, "I think we can handle her."
Shady turned quickly, surprised that he, too, was awake. "I didn't say you couldn't handle her. I'm just warning you. When she wakes, she's going to come up swinging. Watch yourself."
Powell was about to drop down on the couch but Barney stopped her by saying, "Head on over to the other room. You can have some peace and quiet to sleep."
Before she could protest, Lee said, "Go, darling." He squeezed her hand, "Ross and me, we'll be stirring around. If you're right and Briana wakes up, you'll get no rest in here."
She returned his caress, nodded towards Barney and went across to the other room. Once inside, Shady could make out male bodies laid out in various places. Hale was on one bed, Jensen on the other. Doc was stretched out on the couch and Road was in the overstuffed chair and ottoman. She could hear the shower running, meaning Galgo had drawn the short-straw and got the bathroom last. There were two padded chaises that had apparently been moved inside the hotel room from the patio in order to spare them from the weather. Grabbing the bedspread that was pooled at the foot of Gunnar's mattress, she spread it over one of the chairs. She also took a blanket from the top of the open closest and snuggled down, staring out into the rain-darkened skies. Although she was bone weary, Shady couldn't turn off her mind. She closed her eyes but sleep eluded her.
A couple hours had passed since the guys had sent Shady off. They had talked silently, playing cards at the nearby table. However, the whimpers from the bed put both men on alert. Briana became more and more agitated, kicking and thrashing at the sheets. Lee dropped down next to her, trying to calm her.
Briana heard the masculine voice and panicked. Just exactly as Shady had warned, Fuller swung a wide left hook and was satisfactorily rewarded when she made contact. Lee jerked aside, grabbing at his eye where Briana cold-cocked him. When she started to swing again, Barney spoke sharply, "That's enough!"
The unaccented English cut through her foggy brain. Fuller's eyes opened wide and she flew straight up on the bed, clutching the covers to her chest, "Who are you?"
"We're the guys who rescued you," Ross answered.
Briana looked around the room for the first time realizing she was no longer locked in a cell. She stared at Ross, "My rescuers? But how?"
Lee smiled as he answered, "You have important friends."
She looked back at the Brit, the area around his eye red from her punch, "I'm sorry." Fuller ducked her head, "And I remember your voice."
"So, now that you're awake," Barney took over, attempting to interject normalcy in the situation, "you've got a decision to make." At her questioning look, he continued, "You can go back to sleep. You can take a hot shower or a long bath or you can eat. We'll have lunch ready in another couple hours. Or," he shrugged, "I guess you can do all three."
She glanced longingly at the bathroom, "A hot shower? Really?" Ross nodded, "But, I…I wouldn't have anything to change into," Fuller finished, the excitement of the thought crushed by the reality of the situation.
Lee grabbed a bag from the dresser and dropped it down beside her, "One of our team members is a woman. She packed some things just for you."
Briana took the satchel, holding it reverently. She looked up at the two men answering, "Shower it is." Barney and Lee smiled.
Shady heard the others begin to stir, changing clothes and moving in and about the room. She listened as they began to file out slowly, one by one. Thinking she was alone, Powell relaxed. Gunnar dropping down on the chaise to wake up Boots changed that. She spoke first, "You have a whole bed to yourself. You can't leave me my poor little couch?"
He swatted at her legs, "Smart ass. I came over here to tell you lunch is ready or you could have that whole bed."
"Why would I need your bed?"
Jensen scoffed, "Because you haven't slept since you got in here."
She sat up next to him, "You sound sure of yourself." She tried to stand up, only to have the big Swede restrain her, saying, "It's written all over your face." He ran a finger under his eyes to emphasize his comment. "And if I can see it, don't you think Lee will, too?"
She shook her head and changed the subject, "Can we go eat, please? I'm starving."
Gunnar knew he was wasting his breath. He stood up, shrugging, then with a grand gesture, responded, "Right this way."
The team had gathered in a small meeting venue that the hotel had agreed to use as a dining room for the businessmen. Shady and Gunnar entered and started making a plate. Briana Fuller was already present along with most of the other guys, including Lee. They circled Fuller's table like drones bringing pollen to the queen bee. Boots wasn't surprised when Jensen joined the rest of the men.
"So," Toll interjected, "how much do you remember of what happened?"
Briana put the fork down next to her plate, "Most…most of it, I think."
"Feel like talking about it?" This question from Hale.
The scientist nodded, "We were in Makung on Penghu Island, inspecting their energy plant. My security detail, Wren Anthony, and me, along with a few other members of the Operational Safety Review Team had just returned from lunch and were resuming our assignments when the rebels crashed in. There were gun shots, people screaming, crying out. I felt the bullet hit my shoulder and then I saw Wren fall."
From her seat at the other table, Shady listened to the woman relate the details of her experience. She watched Briana closely while playing with her food as opposed to eating it. There was something that didn't add up but Boots couldn't put her finger on it yet.
"What happened next?" Galgo encouraged her.
"I could hear the men calling my name over the din. With Wren bleeding out in front of me, I thought the best course of action was to identify myself and go with them. When they recognized me, they surrounded me, restrained me and then put a hood over my head. Next thing I remember is being in that dirty cell." She shook her head, "It's pretty hazy after that."
"Well, it's Wren you can thank for saving you," Doc said.
"Really?" Briana was shocked. "She's alive."
Gunnar added, "Very much so. She was able to detail what happened and give her bosses all they needed to find you. Those bosses made it possible to organize your rescue."
The guys asked a few more questions, keeping Briana occupied. So distracted in watching the men, Shady didn't realize that she was no longer alone. Barney Ross kicked the leg of her chair startling her. She looked up quickly but before she could say anything, he nodded towards the door and turned on his heel. Boots shoved her plate back and followed the boss out of the room. The entire scene observed by the large Brit at the other table.
Once she was outside, Barney questioned her, "Thought I gave you an order to get some rest."
"You did."
"Since when do you disobey orders?"
"Barney," she began.
He grasped her chin, tilting her face upward, "Don't Barney me. The room is empty. The guys won't bother you. March your ass upstairs and get some sleep."
Shady turned her head, slipping the Boss' grip. She started to argue but knew it would be fighting a losing battle. Instead, Boots nodded her acquiescence and returned to the spare room.
She pulled the curtains to, darkening the area even more given the rain and overcast sky. Shady changed into a tank top and jogging shorts then climbed into the bed closest to the wall. She looked towards the door, half expecting Lee to join her. He had been in the dining room; knew he'd seen her ordered out by Ross but it was obvious Barney had Christmas on security detail for Briana. Also, while the team knew they were a couple and even encouraged it, Shady and Lee tried not to flaunt it. So as she buried under the layer of sheets and blankets, Powell sighed audibly. She knew he wouldn't come. Boots closed her eyes and, finally, went to sleep.