Chp03 stroke of dawn.
cg=16 as=13
Christmas morning at the Grey's
Dawn creeps across the lawn, merging into the lapping wavelet of the lake. Shallow sparkles light the winter morn. The house awakes in fits and spasms of humanity. The rumble of adults, the squeals of girls. I stare out the great window, lost in thoughts not my own.
The world will soon remember this day's purpose. I wait the screams and trampled feet into the room. The first shriek of Mia and Elliot loud laugh. A herd of bison would hang their heads in ashamed that their stampeded was so tame and silent compared to the Grey's.
I turn to bright eyes and bushy tails piling into the room. The adults follow with coffee in cup held in gleeful hands. I take my place under the window my normal Christmas seat. Anna comes a sit with me to the horror of the adults. I worry this will cause us harm.
The room calms as Dad shuffles and hands out the gifts. We all have a neat pile, even Ray and Anna. Lastly the Grand's make their regal entry. Grandma T hands each child a small present. Grandpa T commands the day is open. As wrapping paper flies thru the Air like confetti.
My gifts are based around school; pen set, a new graphing Calculator. Gift cards at office depot and book stores. I spy sideways. Anna has almost the same stuff. She opens Grand's gift, a sparkling emerald choker necklace. Very expense, I open mine to a Rolex with emerald studded band. They seem a matching pair. We both blush.
Soon the presents are unleashed and the room a mess. The ladies retire to the kitchen, while we mortal men clean the room. Bag the trash and make the space livable for mom. I stare out the window, watching the brave yachtsmen brave the becalmed morning.
Later, I steal a minute with Anna in my room. Meaningful kisses and touches steel my body and mind to the desire and needs of being her man. Soon I will have a car and the ability to go where ever we please.
I watch her leave, I will not see her till New Year Eve at the country club. I wander to the dock, kneeling watching the waves beat the piling, with age the water will win this fight, but for decades to come, it loses.
"Christian? You will grow up and recognize love, caring and god I pray meet your soulmate. But Anna not it." Grandpa T proclaims next to me.
I rise and face him, looking deep into his weathered eyes. "Don't let her age blind you to the beautiful soul in her. The wit and brutal experiences that has aged her spirit. She is young, and in time will grow up and recognize love. But right now, right here. She will be my wife one day. You have no-idea what she means and is to me. Grandpa I love you, but keep this to yourself. I would hate to lose you and grandma over this difference of opinion." I stare hard, sure and let the monster peek out of his cage.
Grandpa T nods and retreats. I stare as his shaken form head around the house, buying time to find his bearings.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Two days till anna
I fly down the slope of the Whistler expert run, a controlled wreck on the edge of disaster. Sliding around the last bend, I tuck and drop like a missile down the finish slope. Sliding into the fence, bracing my legs for the impact, the sudden halt of mass and momentum. Laying in the powdery snow, heaving to breath and calm my heart beat. Elated at the clock above the window blinking of my mastery of time and willpower, couple with skill and god given natural talent.
I see a hawk float by the clouds, as pain and panic seize my body. Deep down I know something has happened to Anna. I break free from my skis and run for my room, the cell phone is there. I try her number, Rays, eventually getting her neighbor. The Steele left last night in a limo. A moving Van just left having stripped their house in Belridge.
I chase down dad and demand answers to question he doesn't understand. Hours later he will tell me they fell off the world. No one can find them. I must wait for Anna to contact me.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The school year end without a word or message. I am the monster again to any who try my patience. I get in my car and drive to the WSU student union hall. Checking the email bulletin board. Still no message. Driving away, I see a car tailing me. I take a short cut, looping around. I slam my new car into their old one. I grab the passenger, dragging him to my car, and away I go. A quiet part of the woods.
He's been hired by some corporation to tail me, why he doesn't know. The Texas based company is watching all of us. I leave him in the woods behind a rest stop. I steal Dad's old Indian motorcycle and head into the rainy night.
Arriving in San Antonio, I hit the local library. Study the recluse company. I watch the company offices. Moving about them at night. As week three ends of my stalk, I get a break, A rising star in the company is wine-ing and dining her current lover at a local rock concert.
The red head is laying in her car's back seat, waking to the cold Texas dawn in the Prairie-dog city on the edge of nowhere. She doesn't know anything either. I nearly lose it and beat the crap out of her to relieve my stress. But I show her a picture of Anna. She goes pale as a sheet. She knows something.
The question is what and how much pain will it take. Instead she cuts a deal. Anna is being held in a compound ranch near the New Mexico Border up near Oklahoma. She can get me into the compound but not out. She doesn't know why Anna's being held. A picture of Ray draws a blank.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The hot summer winds blow across the prairie landscape of the panhandle of Texas. I stare thru binoculars at the ranch building. I can see the guards and security. Roz as give me a layout and security basics.
Moving camouflaged as best I can, I crawl deep into the brush, merging with the ground. Crawling, I cover the last three hundred yards before midnight. I've made the house, moving along I come to the windows with bars. I tap the window quiet as I can. Anna looks down at me. Happiness and love in her eyes. I hand her three cell phones and chargers, a pen light, a letter I wrote to her. I retreat back to the camp three miles from the ranch, down an Arroyo.
At one pm, my cell rings. "Anna"
"thank God you found me. Is Ray with you?"
"no, we thought he was with you." what is going on and where is Ray.
"I can get you out tonight. Be at the window at 1am"
"No, you need to find Ray, the guards have orders to shoot me if I escape. They talk about some Lawyer owning me. something about a Company in the Alamo. I can't get any information." She sounds worried and afraid.
"The company is called Petroglyphic Lambda, it's a private company owned by a reclusive widow named Sarah Bennet. She is holding you hostage. No one knows why. I can't find any link to you."
"Ray would have to be in prison, listen! in the book I gave you, call and talk to my godfather. Tell him what is going on. Then get me out. I love you. no further contact till new moon."
"Anna are you sure? I mean Ray can take care of himself. Let me get you out. babe" I beg and plead. She stays firm.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxx
White Sands Missile Range: Donna Anna range camp. two days later:
Laying within a crossroads in the middle of no-where, a cluster of aging Quonset Huts, tin side shacks and fenced compounds heralds the U.S. Army Field Camp 4 White Sand Missile Range and Desert Warfare staging area. I sit my Indian, at the rusted hulk of derelict remains of the NASA Tracking Telescope silo looking thing. At least that what the sign next to it says. Now caved in, a rusting pillar of long forgotten fame.
A Humvee rolls around a fenced compound buzzing with young faces and old Noncoms; fresh from Ft. Sill. To test their MLRS launchers. Big boxy looking track vehicles that rumble past me. I stick out like a purple duck. I conned the Captain that challenged my being here, with my bike's overheated, I have to let it cool down. The West Point wonder bought it. I bet, I could have sold him his own car.
The Humvee rolls up stopping, an old man, stares at me. A bird on his shoulder, tells me he will not buy my bullshit.
"Christian Grey?" I nod.
"Leave the bike, get in." I step off as a Sergeant gets out and drives my bike off. Sitting in the loud Humvee we drive deep into the chaparrals and sand dunes of the missile range. Lucky, I have a compass or I'd be really screwed.
We pull into a camouflages camp site. We walk under a sun tarp to a pair of seats. "I verified your story. I found Ray. He's in a jail in Cleo, Texas on route 2291, off of highway 10, north of San Antonio. The charges and prisoner file are bogus, but as soon as I spring him, they'll move on Anna. Vice versa." I wonder how I can save both.
"I have two teams assembled. I will get Ray and Sergeant Taylor there will help you get Anna. We move in two weeks." Pointing behind himself to a tall crew cut no-nonsenses guy with a stone face.
"You got into the compound, can Anna warn us if you've been found out?" he asks
"Yes, Anna will wear a colored shirt she owns but hates. Place a book in the window, Bronte. Or if all else fails hang her lace bra in view." I blush slightly at the last.
"How did you guys work out such depth and scope of signal?"
"We didn't work it out for this shit, we worked out for Ray and my parents." I stare hard and brutal.
"What is she to you, this is way more than friendship?"
"She's my world, future. My fiancée. In a short bit of time, we are getting married." I state the fact and hear the beauty and conviction of my words. Sanity returns to me.
"You two just met in school, how.(the colonel stare nearly to my nose into my face) Can you? (pulling back he takes my whole demeanor in) believe that?"
"We didn't meet in school. We been together a long time before any adults found out. Now the rescues!" I demand ready to fight anyone, anywhere, to save my girl.
"We will move to a over-watch position, I have a guy watching. He's reported all this signal?" Taylor says
"They don't mean anything till the week before the new moon. She seeding the ground, making the signals seem normal. When she wants to make them mean something, they will never know." I proudly speak of my girl's genius.
"Smart, I'll have my guy back off to not spoil the ground. We're moving, let's go." I shake the Colonels hand. He drags me close, whispering in my ear. "Ray would rather die, then see Annie hurt. I think you two will make a great couple. Good luck." He releases me.
Taylor drives us into the fading sunset over the mystic white dunes and chaparral of the desert. I work on the problems of the ranch, Anna and above all why.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
One week later. The ranch.
We three low crawl thru the brush, and weeds. Taylor has trained me the whole waiting time. Snaking closer to the house and Anna. I texted her a" fuck I hate you" message to her cells as soon as Taylor set in motion the plan. She'll know the week has started. No signals we're blown have appeared.
Making the wall, Taylor checks the window. Very basic alarm. Bars are 5/8 chrome-steel. No cutting thru this. Parks begins laying breaching charge on the wall. I tap the window.
Long seconds slip by till she smiles at me. I beam in my face paint. She gives me the middle finger. I stand and thru the bars touch her lips, heaven. Taylor looks confused. Whispering "if she was lovey-dovey, then we're blown; in a trap. The finger means were golden and ready to leave." he nods thumb up. he pushes a cell phone number. The clock is ticking. I tell Anna to hide on the other side of the room, pulling the mattress over herself. She blows me a kiss and scampers away.
We hear the thump of the rotors, Jason thumbs up to Parks. The wall explodes as the helicopter touches down on the infrared beacon we placed earlier. Jason is thru the breach as we provide security. The compound is waking to the assault. I grip the MP-3 submachine gun, it has only rubber bullets. But we will extract Anna, even if it cost me my life. Jason exits with Anna and book bag. We race to the Chopper. We fly away, Anna in my arms. I feel her lite kisses in my neck. We are free.
The dawn breaks the behind us, as the mountains of New Mexico surrounds us. We are headed to a private landing pad deep in the Apache reservation, the pilot calls home. Anna sleeps in my arms.
The drive is long back into Texas, the documents Anna obtained are gold. I somehow understand them, it's like math, I just get it. The company is fighting another company for control of a third company. Which Anna is the key person? Once she matriculates to legal adult hood: she's s dead as soon as she signs over her rights.
I call my godfather, the DA in Seattle. Asking what and where we can go to safeguard her. His information is grim and brutal. As long as Anna's alone and underage she's vulnerable. I ask about emancipation, she worse off. I kernel of thought runs through my mind.
I call Roz, asking how the company is reacting. So far nothing. Good. I pace a second and know the answer to the puzzle. We will need Ray.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
A seedy hotel on the gulf coast, long past its glory days. I walk Anna down the beach and talk. The plan is set. Ray arrives tonight, we head for South Carolina. The colonel, her godfather is unhappy with the plan, but recognizes it's the only way. Ray is going to blow his top. But will see the reason and need.
I find a sand dollar in the surf, handing it to my girl. kissing her, like I dream of kissing her. We slumber to the ground, lost in the passion of our love. Till sand kicks over us. Looking up at Taylor. I ignore him and go back to Anna. He kicks me off her.
"What!" I demand.
"R rated only. Casanova! Rays here. we're pulling out." Taylor laughs at us.
"Fine." Standing up, hauling my girl into my arms we wander back to the hotel.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
ten minutes later On the beach:
Ray throws a round house to take my head off. I duck, punching for his knee. We dance about the sand. Circling, striking, defending. We are two mad bulls in a fight for the fair Anna. I sweep his legs. Receiving a back fist for my effort. Till we lay on the sand exhausted and spent.
Anna drops down between us. "Done with the testosterone contest. Because Dad! I'm marring Christian in the morning. Chris your mine forever, no going back. Let's get on the road after you two showers." She smirks at us, each getting a peck on the cheek.
The drive thru the dark back roads of Alabama and western forest and farms of South Carolina. Arriving at Colombia, the capital, home to Fort Jackson Army base. Arriving at the post chapel, several ladies spirit Anna away to prepare. The Chaplin reads me the riot act of young love and all the warning and bullshit about fidelity and such.
I stand at the Alter alone, till Jason stands with me. takes my shoulder and whisper how lucky I am to have a great girl like Anna. I smile "You have no idea, how frigging lucky I am." Visions of Lost lake flash before my eyes. How do you claim an angel who saved your life and then gave you the reason to live.
The music starts as the Colonel, and several Generals enter and take their seats. A old gaunt nearly pencil thin but still regal gentleman walks up shaking badly, he shakes my hand. Retired General Howell, Ray sponsor to VMI, his godfather is happy to see Anastasia married, In love and happy. He hands me an envelope stuffed with cash. For the honeymoon, he smirks. Petting my check. Jason tells me he'll be dead in a month, last stage cancer. He walked out of hospice to be here.
I hear a tempo change and look up to a vision from my mind that is pale and colorless to the reality walking down the aisle to me. Ray in his officer uniform, Anna is a simple white dress with blue flowers in hand. Everything blurs from her smile at me till she says "I DO"
The wedding is over, the lawyers are going hog wild. Our hand ache from the papers and everything tying us together. The Texas and Ohio companies are now defunct. Marriage has made Anna a legal adult and split her estate between us. Their worst nightmare has just happened.
At the Airport, we leave most of the people, Ray, Taylor, Parks are coming with us. We say our goodbyes to new friends and old ones. Anna hugs her godfather the Colonel. I shake his hand. "When you retire, please come work for us as head of security. Take care Colonel Welch. Hope to see you soon."
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
On the plane, we cuddle into the night. We will arrive before dawn. I carry my bride to a waiting car, then into my parents' house, laying her in my bed. I lay down with her, feeling her love and compassion. She is mine, now and forever.
I watch a cardinal play along the tree branch outside my window. Twilight is breaking to dawns rainy vestiges. The peaceful world is ripped by Mom's scream and Dad's shouts. Good thing I braced the door with a chair. The frame nearly buckles, "All right we're up! give up thirty minutes to get down stairs. For Pete-sakes it's our honeymoon."
"I told you we should have gone to Paris!" Anna throws fuel on the fire. I hear the adults demanding as we pad to the bathroom ignoring them. Morning needs and a shower.
In my shower, correction our shower. We touch and explode unshackled by society and family. She is my wife. I stroke her body to need and desires. She demands and takes me. Our first time is in my shower at Grey Manor.
Her body response to me, I taste her, loving her. Marking my lady with soft bites and lavish tongue. I never dreamed we would be here so soon. Our first real moment in our new life.
The noise from below is frightening and calming. We smell the food, know that there no going back to room. It's close to an hour by the time we descent the stairs to the inquisition.
the WSU scene is part of AS and CG secret messaging system, CG is still in high school. computer student union e-bulletin boards are very open and easy to plant messages, the modern equiv of newspaper personal ads.