Part 6

Dave woke up immediately when he heard a groan so soft that it was barely there. He had only been dozing, but his hearing had been tuned to the slightest sound that his mate made.

It was not quite two days later.

"Jennifer, honey, let me know you are awake, give me a sign," Dave almost begged, something Alphas almost never did.

JJ's eyelids begin to blink rapidly, as she struggled to open them.

"Dave…" came JJ's weak voice, but it was music to Dave ears and he struggled to not let the tears that he felt forming fall.

JJ's eyelids blinked, even more until finally they open just to slit, then more fully. JJ eyes a brilliant blue were confused.

"What… happened?"

"Don't you remember?" Dave asked carefully.

"I remember..." JJ paused. "Could I have some water please?"

"Of course, gorgeous," Dave said, as he picked up the cup off the bedside table and put the straw to his mate's lips.

"Thank you," JJ said her voice stronger.

"Now you were saying?" Dave said patiently, feeling more at peace then he had in days.

"All I really remember, is coming out of the grocery store, the one near our home. I had picked up some steaks knowing that all of us love them. I believe I was thinking at the time that we could do steaks on the grill, perhaps do some green beans, rice, fruit and a salad to go with them. I remember heading out to the car carrying a couple bags of groceries. After that though everything seems to be a blur," JJ answered honestly.

Dave listened and nodded, because he had found out that there had been a bags of groceries scattered on the ground where JJ was attacked from the police, so he had figured it had been something like that. He wouldn't have minded at all grilling steaks, since the animal in them just loved them, while JJ took care of the rest of the meal in the house. His mate had been attacked outside a place that she went regularly, when she was just picking up some steaks and a few other things for her family to eat for dinner. The likelihood of his mate's attack being a random event considering it was a good neighborhood in the middle of the afternoon were practically nil in his opinion. No, unless his instinct wrong, just as he had told Penelope this had been deliberate.

The police had already come and questioned him and he had given his statement. The detective who had done the questioning had promised to call just as soon as JJ woke up, though the doctor had warned him that JJ might not remember what had happened due to the head injury.

It seemed that Dr. Madison had been correct. Of course, right now JJ still had a lot of drugs in her system so her memory might start coming back whenever the doctor lessened the dosage. Jennifer would be on heavy pain medication for the next several weeks, but luckily, their bones healed faster than a humans. Just their bones not their flesh, which was just something unique to their species.

"I had already guessed that you had gone into the grocery store for a few things," Dave said. "Still, you shouldn't have been attacked in the middle of the afternoon in our neighborhood considering that the police presence is normally pretty heavy, with regular patrols. Whoever did so took a pretty big chance."

"You're saying it was deliberate?" JJ asked, a sharp intelligence behind her baby blue eyes despite them being clouded with the drugs the doctors were giving her through the IV. Luckily, there were some drugs that worked relatively well on Alphas and Omegas. "Who in the world would want to deliberately set me up to be mugged? I've never hurt anybody in my entire life."

"Remember what I told you about Carolyn," Dave said.

"You think that your ex-mate did this?" JJ asked catching on immediately.

JJ wasn't stupid by any stretch of imagination and she was aware that that such things had happened in the past. Carolyn might feel that she had been wronged, but as of rule Omegas tended to be patient. They could wait years even a decade before exacting their revenge. The best way to get back at someone who had done what Dave did, even if he had been in the right, would be to go after whoever their new Omega or even one of the children. JJ had never imagined it happening to her, but now she knew that she had just been naïve, because of course, Carolyn would resent the fact that Dave had taken another mate, even if it was five years after he had done what he had to her.

"Let's just say I have a strong suspicion," Dave said neither confirm an order denying.

"You're positive, you just don't want to say so until you have proof," JJ said, as that was just like Dave he didn't want to accuse anyone until he was sure. Dave was nothing if not fair.

"You know me too well," Dave smiled a little, as he kissed her bruised cheek, stroking a gentle hand through her blond hair softly. "You scared the crap out of me, you know. I know it wasn't deliberate on your part, but still... I panicked when you didn't come home and especially when I tried your cell phone and got the message that it was out of service. I knew then that something must've happened to you, so I started calling hospitals and luckily, I tried this one third."

"I'm really sorry," JJ said.

"It's not your fault, gorgeous," Dave said soothingly. "I'm hardly likely to punish you for something that you had no control over. All you did was go to the grocery store that you've been too probably several dozen times in the last year alone to pick up some things for dinner tonight. I wouldn't be surprised if somebody's been watching your routine and got to you when you would be the most vulnerable, when I wasn't with you or at least when you were alone and not with your girlfriends. There is no way anybody with any sense would have tried what they did to you if I had happened to be there as that would be suicide. You however, were an easy target as you don't have any self-defense skills other than the mace you carry in your purse and they would make sure that you didn't have a chance to get to it."

"Maybe I should start taking some classes so I can defend myself better next time. Just in case it happens again," JJ said.

"That's a possibility, because unfortunately, I can't always be with you," Dave said. "We are together a great deal of the time that's true, but we do, do things separately like you were doing today. Besides, you should have the freedom to do things by yourself without me tagging along and so should I. You should be able to the grocery store, the beauty salon or even shopping for clothes without this kind of thing happening."

"Believe me, I agree with that," JJ said. "That's one of the reasons I want to take a few classes just in case it happens again. I am not going to let what those thugs did make me afraid to go anywhere by myself, not even at night, much less in broad daylight. I'm not saying I won't be a little wary from now on whenever I'm alone, out of the house, but I suppose that's not necessarily a bad thing."

"No, it's not. I'm only sorry that you had to learn this particular lesson the hard way . It never should've happened but if it's Caro behind it she will pay, that I promise you" Dave said his voice a menacing growl, even though his expression remained unchanged. He gave her hand a gentle squeeze the one without the broken fingers while his normally warm brown eyes glowed softly with his rage.

JJ was very glad that her mate's anger wasn't directed at her and almost felt sorry for Caroline if it turned out that she was behind her attack. Then JJ remembered that she had done nothing to this Omega that Dave had been mated to before, never even met her and that Caroline had had a choice to leave matters as they were. Caroline could've left well enough alone, but her need for revenge had likely been incredibly strong.

Despite that though, Jennifer knew that Dave would show his former mate absolutely no mercy whatsoever and really she deserved none, even if she, like most omegas was usually a gentle soul at heart. She would be at least a month in healing, maybe even more and she knew very well that alphas in particular had a strong need to have regular bouts of lovemaking, as well as playing the game with they're mates. Omegas were nearly as bad, especially if they genuinely loved the person they were mated to like she did, so she and Dave were going to have to forgo weeks of their sex life all because of another omegas need to revenge.

Carolyn was in for a world of pain once Dave had evidence that she was mainly responsible for her injuries, as she had no doubt that Dave was correct on who had orchestrated the attack. Absolutely nothing would prevent his lashing out in rage at Carolyn and JJ wasn't even going to try to convince him otherwise, as she wouldn't succeed anyway. After all, Dave had showed Carolyn mercy once and then she had likely hired a couple of thugs to hurt her seriously in revenge. It was often the innocent that got injured or killed JJ knew, even if it wasn't right or fair, but then the world was hardly a fair place. Life sure did have way of kicking you in the teeth when you least expected it,

"You shouldn't let this attack make you afraid to go about your normal routine once you heal. It hurts me that I wasn't there to protect you, my mate, even if logically I know that there's nothing I could have done, because as much as I might want to be I can't be with you 24/7."

"This attack is not your fault, handsome," JJ said. "Nor is it mine. If you're right and it's Carolyn who orchestrated it then she deserves what's coming to her and so do those thugs she hired. I know Omegas are usually sweet, gentle, understanding and kind, but just because we are normally that way does not mean that we can't be as vicious as any Alpha when necessary. What you did to Carolyn was not only right, but proper, however, I doubt very much she sees it that way. She probably doesn't even think what she did was wrong and if that's the case that shows you how warped she is or has become. Just think of the whole human adage about a woman spurned."

"You're saying that Carolyn likely feels spurned, even though she's the one that betrayed me," Dave said.

"Exactly," JJ said. "Instead of being grateful that you spared her life this just shows that you should have killed her after all if she's the one behind it."

"Yeah, I should have," Dave sighed. "I didn't like the idea at the time of killing a female and I admit I still felt some affection for her, which also factored into my decision, but she's not going to get anymore chances to harm my family I promise you. I don't ever want to be so frightened again, as once was more than enough. I could have lost you." The heartbreak in Dave's voice was as obvious as the nose on your face.

"You didn't though, I'll be okay," JJ soothed, running her thumb over the back of Dave's knuckles. "I'll be awhile in healing, but I'll live."

"Carolyn's going down," Dave said his expression turning ferocious. "I might just let the cops have her because we both know that Omegas, don't do well behind bars. She'll be dead in a year, two tops and that is nearly enough to satisfy the Alpha part of me and his need for revenge. And this way, I never technically, laid a hand on her. "

"And this way you don't feel guilty about killing her," JJ suggested gently. "Basically, she brought this situation on herself and maybe she's hoping that you will kill her, end her misery. Being shunned by our own kind for nearly 7 years would have a detrimental effect on anybody and she would've been forced to live among humans. The only problem with that though is that our kind work or shop in most places that she possibly could've gotten a job, in grocery stores, malls, restaurants libraries, bookstores, hospitals, law or accounting firms, hospitals and places like the FBI or a cop shop. There's absolutely nowhere she could've gone that she wouldn't risk running into one or more of our kind and being shunned every time she did so, which could definitely have had a negative effect over years. So effectively you sentenced her to a life of being a loner as the only connection she could possibly make would be with a human and while that happens sometimes and the marriages are happy, I doubt very much that Carolyn would even consider it. At least not while she was still resentful of what she considered an injustice."

"That's a good point," Dave mused proud of his mate who could think like that, even when she was on heavy pain medication. "I should've just gone ahead and killed her as I said, but I won't make that mistake again. By the way, I wouldn't feel guilty if I do end up killing her, because it's more than deserved and the Alpha in me agrees. I'll go get the doctor now as he should know you're awake. I'll be grateful forever that you're going to be okay and that you don't have full-blown amnesia."

"How are the children? I don't believe I didn't even ask about them until now," JJ said.

"They're fine, although they know something's wrong, though Henry is the only one really aware that you've been hurt as the others are too young to really understand what's going on. Your mother as well as the Ruth are looking after them, even if both of them are also worried about you."

Ruth was the nanny that helped look after the children.

"You don't worry now, as I'll let your mother and Ruth know that you're going to be okay, though you're certainly not going to be able to do a lot of things until you're healed," Dave said.

"I suppose I should be grateful that we heal faster at least when it comes to broken bones then humans do," JJ said not looking at all happy and Dave couldn't blame her. "I'll be all healed up in half the time, but that doesn't mean I have to be grateful for the fact that I have these injuries in the first place, because I was attacked by a couple of thugs, an attack that Carolyn likely orchestrated."

"I don't think you should have to be grateful that you'll heal in half the time, as I'm certainly not," Dave said firmly. "I know I wouldn't be if I had been hurt through no fault of my own. No, I'd likely want to tear whoever had injured me limb from limb. If it turns out to be Carolyn like I suspect, well, she just signed, sealed and delivered her own death warrant. Whether that's through the fact that I kill her myself or through a prison sentence, well, I don't really care at this point, so long as she's punished. No one attacks my family and gets away with it and if Carolyn is as guilty as both of us suspect...

"Then you'll feel great satisfaction when she's finally dead," JJ said and Dave nodded. "I have to admit I agree with you and normally, I don't like to think ill of anyone, but if it does turn out to be Carolyn well...

"I think you have every right to hate her, personally. I know very well that usually you're the kindest, politest, most considerate person I've ever known, but even you can't find anything good to say about her actions because they were done for pure revenge. This is usually why the Alpha kills an Omega that committed the kind of crime that Carolyn did. We do so to prevent such things from happening," Dave said gesturing at all of JJ's injury and all the machines that she was hooked to.

"My mistake in not killing Carolyn when she betrayed me came back to bite me in the ass, as I'm positive she is the one that hurt the woman I love or at least orchestrated the attack by hiring those two thugs and that's definitely not something I'll ever forgive or forget. I can't think of anybody else, well, besides, the Alpha that Carolyn was betraying me with that would have any reason to hurt you. If it had been the Alpha though he likely would have been there himself participating in the attack and also raped you using it as a way to get back at me. I'll go find the doctor now and call your mother to let her know you're awake while I'm gone."

Dave left the room and JJ watched him go closing her eyes and drifting off to sleep.

~~~Healed Hearts~~~

"You're pregnant did you know?" Dave mentioned when he visited the next day and saw that JJ was awake.

"I am?" JJ said her expression shocked.

"Well, I see you didn't know," Dave smiled. "Doctor Madison said it was only by a few weeks and that you might not have noticed yet. It was only noticed because they did some tests on you."

"Did he tell you how many I'm having?" asked JJ.

"He said it was triplets again," Dave revealed.

"Well, I'm not really surprised, as we both knew that having triplets was a likely possibility, but now we are soon going to have eight small children," JJ said.

"I know you were hoping to not get pregnant for at least another year, but we also talked about how the females of our kind usually get pregnant every year, year and a half or so," Dave said.

"Which means it was bound to happen, if not now in a few months," JJ said and Dave nodded. "Well, we'll deal with it."

"That we will and I plan on hiring another nanny and also Henry's old enough to start having a few minor responsibilities," Dave said.

"Scientists really need to find something that will keep a female our our species from getting pregnant unless they want to," JJ sighed. "It's not that I didn't want more children with you, it's just I hoping it would be another year, preferably two before we had them."

"I know and agree," Dave said kissing JJ softly. "But remember we have discussed this before and that we will accept what comes. It would help if we had more relatives in the area, but your sister lives in California and my family is in New York. Luckily, I have plenty of cash to hire a whole platoon of nannies and they don't necessarily have to live with us, as they could only work in the daytime and go home at night. Ruth could continue to live with us and deal with any nighttime calls and she could take a nap during the day or something like that. We'll work it out in any case."

"Yeah, we will," JJ said. "Sorry I just panicked for a few seconds."

"It's okay," Dave promised kissing her on the forehead. "It's not like you had time to prepare yourself for the news. Yes, you've been expecting it to happen for at least the last couple of months, but still you weren't aware that we had actually succeeded. If things had proceeded normally you would've started experiencing morning sickness in a week or two and you would've immediately realized that you were pregnant, since we get sick so rarely due to our strong immune systems."

"Yeah, I can see that happening," JJ said rubbing her belly. "I worked so hard to get all that baby weight off and now I'm going to regain it."

"You'll lose it again I'm sure," Dave said.

"Well, it looks like you can start fixing all those fancy desserts again the ones that have a lot of calories," JJ joked. "In a few weeks I'll be eating enough food for four people."

"I'll be glad to fix you some of those desserts, the ones that you usually eat only every once in awhile because they're so full of calories," Dave said.

Dave unlike most wealthy men loved to cook and he often joined JJ in the kitchen to help prepare a meal and sometimes the nanny Ruth helped out. Also Sandy was always sending over food knowing how busy they were with so many children and both Dave and JJ appreciated it, as it relieved the pressure on them at least a little. Everybody in their family helped out as much as they could, except for those that were too young to do so. The life of the Rossis were very full, but also very fulfilling and neither would have it any other way.

"By the way I've been meaning to mention to you that there's someone I want you to meet," Dave said.

"Who?" JJ asked not at all suspicious.

"Her name is Penelope Garcia and she scared the attackers off," Dave explained. "She was shopping at the same time you were and happened to exit the store not long after you did. Instead of just turning away like a lot of people would or calling the cops from a safe distance she actually shouted at them, called out, which scared them away. I'm fairly positive that they never meant for anybody to see what they were doing, the thugs I mean. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised to learn that those thugs meant to kill you, not just beat you up and if that's the case I'm even more grateful to Penelope Garcia, because you might not be alive otherwise. If she had just called 911 and not shouted at those thugs they might not have arrived in time."

"Then why attack me in broad daylight as somebody was bound to see them," JJ pointed out, trying to sound calm, but someone trying to kill her just because they wanted revenge on Dave chilled her to the core, which Dave seemed to instinctively understand.

"It was probably their only opportunity as you usually stay home after it gets dark or if you do go out you're usually with me as we go to a movie, to dinner or to some event," Dave said and JJ nodded because he was very right.

"Alright, you have a point," JJ admitted. "I usually stay home after dark, as really that's the only time we get for just you and me because the children are in bed."

"They took the chance of attacking you in broad daylight, so they will be easier to identify. I know that you don't remember anything of the attack, but Penelope certainly saw at least one of them and she's already talked to the detective that's working the case. I already told her that I owe her a great debt, because a lot of people just would've have ignored what was going on, not wanting to get involved and she didn't," Dave said.

"I think I would very much like to meet her," JJ decided.

"I thought you would, so I got her phone number and I said I'd call as soon as you were awake. Yes, I know you woke up yesterday, but I thought that you needed more rest before having any visitors besides myself. I'll call her now and she can come and see you and you can thank her yourself," Dave said.

"I'll be happy to, because you're right not many people would have intervened by saying anything at all and likely would've tried to fade into the background so they wouldn't be noticed. They might have called 911 on their phone, but that would have been the extent of their involvement," JJ said.

"Well, I expect that the police detective will pick up at least one of those thugs shortly, if Penelope was able to identify them. If they have then he is going to be answering some serious questions. I already told the detective all about Carolyn and what happened years ago. He's supposed to ask questions about who hired him so hopefully, we'll know soon," Dave said. "I had to give a statement while you were still in a coma and I told him what I suspect. Anyway the detective seems competent and he doesn't seem like an idiot so we'll likely get some results in a few days."

"Hopefully," JJ said. "I would really sincerely hope that they have these people behind bars and soon, as I don't need one or more of them coming after me for revenge."

"I don't think that will happen, but just in case we'll go everywhere together until this is solved," Dave promised. "Actually, I doubt we'll be going much of anywhere except to the doctor, until you've healed up a lot and can move without pain every time you take a step."

"Probably not," JJ admitted, then sighed. "I know I'm going to be bored out of my skull, as I hate being inactive."

"So do I, so believe me I understand," Dave said soberly. "We'll get through it though and those thugs and Carolyn if she's behind it will be dealt with."

The menace in Dave's tone was unmistakable and JJ was once again glad that her mate's anger wasn't directed at her.

"Why don't you call this Penelope Garcia as I'd really like to meet her," JJ suggested in order to distract him.

"Alright," Dave agreed taking out his iPhone.

The number was already preset all he had to do was push a couple of buttons and he was talking to someone else. The conversation wasn't very long before Dave hung up. "She'll be here in half an hour," Dave reported.

"Good, it'll be nice to have someone to talk to, as staying in this hospital bed isn't exactly very entertaining, especially when you're not here, because you're at home with the children," JJ said. "At least it will give me something to do for a little while."

Dave nodded, because he understood that Jennifer hated boredom, but then a lot of people did including him, so it was understandable.

"You know we're not going to be able to make love until I'm healed up," JJ said looking frustrated. "For that alone I want to strangle Carolyn with my bare hands."

"Believe me, I sympathize as I'm going to have to go to quite a long dry spell until you're up to it," Dave said. "I know it's not your fault and it's not mine either, but that doesn't mean I don't want to kill Carolyn with my bare hands like you do, just as you do and I don't care if she's a woman. At least I would love to kill those thugs who caused your injuries."

"I'm glad I was able to protect my stomach, even though I didn't know I was pregnant at the time," JJ said. "I did it instinctively, so maybe I suspected I was pregnant subconsciously."

"That's possible," Dave said. "I'm glad nothing happened to the babies to, as they would be very easy to kill at this stage, since you're only a few weeks along."

"Do you think Carolyn would have cared that I'm pregnant if she knew?" JJ asked quietly. "Do you think she still would have likely paid those men to attack me?"

"I don't know," Dave admitted. "The Carolyn I knew before never would've done such a thing, but as for this new version I really don't know. I think you were right that being shunned by every Alpha and Omega she has met in the last few years has likely had a very detrimental effect on her mentally and emotionally. People who have been through such an experience will do things that they never would have done before the shunning. I'm surprised that Carolyn didn't just take her life as many who are shunned do, so she is stronger willed than I knew."

"I suppose we'll never know," JJ sighed. "I can't help but wonder so if your former mate has changed enough to hire someone to attack me if she would have done so if she knew I was pregnant."

"I wonder too, but it's something we'll likely never have the answer for, so there's no point of dwelling on it," Dave said

"I'll try not to," JJ promised, but inwardly she would wonder for a long time how someone could change so much that they were willing to harm someone they had never met just to get back at someone they felt had wronged them.

~~~Healed Hearts~~~