Bobby Meets His Match- Chapter 29
This is kind of a slow paced chapter, but, I like it. Only a couple chapters to go! Please leave reviews, as I really love reading them.
The center of the white lines inside the rifle scope were lined exactly on the back of the kidnapper's head. Bobby's eye was lined up with the site, his finger lightly resting on the trigger, where it had been for the last few hours. His breathing was slow and deep, his giant arm muscles contracting to hold the rifle steady for so long. The earpiece in his ear crackled and he listened, his attention still laser focused on the head in his rifle sights. Bobby actually felt comfortable in this position, unmoving, barely breathing, waiting, and then having to move with lightning speed after waiting for hours.
Bobby was in the " The Hollows" where one Henry Tobin, a former Rangeman skip, was now holed up in an old cabin with a little boy- his own son as his hostage. Tobin was actually out on bail for domestic violence- literally JUST out on bail, when he grabbed his girlfriend's son and held him hostage in a cabin. Bobby was working with members of Trenton PD, who were surrounding the structure. Since Rangeman had rounded up Tobin twice before when he jumped bail, Trenton PD had called Rangeman in to help apprehend him now. Besides, Bobby was a better sniper than anyone Trenton PD had to offer, and they knew it. So they sometimes asked for help in these types of situations. The real questions was: Why did judges keep giving this fucker bail? Was a question Bobby didn't even ask. Now Bobby was perched, huddled in a fucking tree with a bead on Tobin in case the "negotiations " failed.
He barely blinked as his eye remained to the sight, the crosshairs trained on Tobin's head. Snipers had the unique ability to remain completely laser focused on their targets, finger feeling relaxed, at home on the trigger, attention never wavering, while another part of their mind could be somewhere else. Part of Bobby was afraid that holding a rifle in his hand ready to possibly take out a violent criminal might stir up another flashback. Part of him relished the opportunity to get rid of some of the pain and numbness inside him, but pulling the trigger and feeling the gun recoil in his arms. Twice now, Tobin's blonde profile had mysteriously turned dark haired with a beard as images from other sniper missions- ones where missing a shot meant his death or his men's deaths- flashed into his head, but he held them off. As he sat, poised, ready to possibly blow Tobin's head off, he thought of Cathy. What would she think if she knew he was here ready to kill someone else- another bad guy? Would she really understand? Still love him? What if she knew he was glad he could kill the motherfucker before he hurt any other women- or his son?
His eyes burned not from the amazingly long periods of gazing through the scope without blinking, but from the realization that he had given her the power to destroy him- and she had. The crisp voice on his earpiece drew him out of his reverie. " Sniper 1- stand by." "standing by, " he acknowledged. He tightened his grip on the rifle and then released it to ease the muscle, making sure Tobin's head was in the crosshairs. In front and slightly below Tobin's head was his little son, who that fucker Tobin was now threatening to kill. His own fucking son. He knew from the chatter that the cops had decided that negotiations with this asshole were over and they decided to storm the cabin and liberate the son.
"Team A go" , he heard. Then " Sniper 1- fire," The command was not even completely finished when Bobby saw cops break down the cabin door- Tobin was holding his son, yelling, waving the gun at his little son's head. Bobby's finger squeezed gently on the trigger, and the woods echoed with the sound of his single shot . Seconds later, he watched with satisfaction as Tobin fell from his bullet, the impact causing him to release his son. Bobby was supposed to have given him a headshot, but he pulled it at the last minute, shooting Tobin in the chest instead. Equally fatal and this way the boy wouldn't have the memories of his father's head exploding to add to the other traumas he would have from this event. He sure as hell didn't want an innocent little boy enduring the hellish nightmares he did. Once again Bobby had taken a life to save one. He jumped down from the tree and had almost finished dissembling his sniper rifle when his cell phone vibrated in his pants. "Fuck," he whispered, reading the text- "911 Rangeman."
"Cathy, comeon honey, wake up, " Lester whispered to the unconscious woman he cradled in his arms, worriedly stroking her face. Fuck propriety, he had gone ballistic when he heard the waitress's shout and barrelled into the ladies room, gun drawn. He holstered it immediately when he saw the redhead slumped on the floor.
Joan was hovering, " I fainted too once, with my first, plus I think the poor thing just lost her lunch..." Lester knew Cathy had been shaky, and hadn't been eating, but what the hell was happening here? He whispered to her and stroked her face, his fingers stopping to feel the rapid pulse in her neck. She didn't appear to be in life threatening condition. He hugged her to his chest, shaking her gently.
"Poor thing..." Joan babbled. " It will get better after a few months..." First one? Months? What the fuck was she talking about? Months? Lester thought.
"I called 911," Joan said, as Lester felt Cathy start to stir in his arms and pulled her closer. " No hospital," Lester said. He pulled out his phone and with his arms still wrapped around Cathy, he started typing into it. He saw her beautiful green eyes flutter open and meet the bewilderment in his as he finally made sense of Joan's words. Holy shit! He swooped Cathy up in his arms and carried her out to his truck.
Whenever Bobby got a Rangeman 911 text, it meant that one of the guys was hurt and being brought to Rangeman for treatment. He didn't know who it was, but if they were bringing him here instead of having Bobby go there it couldn't be THAT bad?
He turned at a slight sound in the doorway , feeling his jaw actually drop. Instantly the pain and emptiness that had filled him, that threatened to overwhelm him for the last week, evaporated, to be replaced by heart pounding fear as Lester came into the suite carrying Bobby's heart and soul- Cathy.
He snapped out of his state of surprise and into medic mode. "What the hell? Baby..." he ran to her, his eyes scanning her for blood or wounds. The harsh, set frown he had been wearing for the past week softened, and was replaced by a look of vulnerability and fear. He tried to keep himself calm despite the utter panic inside of him at the sight of her red eyes, her trembling. She looked like shit. What the fuck happened? Thank God, he didn't see any blood. "What the fuck did you do to her?" he demanded of Lester.
Lester had seen Bobby in action many times, but he was still amazed at the speed with which Bobby morphed from killer to healer. By the time Les had set her down on the gurney, Bobby had a blood pressure cuff on her and listened intently through the stethoscope, then frowned, and released the pressure on the cuff, leaving it on her arm.
"I ran into her at a restaurant. Lester lied. He was NOT telling Bobby why he was really with her. Not ever. "She was shaky and then after we ate she got sick and then passed out, " Lester explained. He looked pointedly at Cathy, then back to Bobby. " Oh, fuck. Lester had pretty much figured out what was wrong with her, but he shouldn't be the one to tell Bobby.
Bobby was cradling her head against his shoulder, kissing the top of her head, with his other hand on her wrist, probably trying to keep her still while he took her pulse. Lester's tone made Bobby look up and he shared a look. " She said its the flu, but the waitress at the diner said she felt this way for a few months, too, vomiting, and weakness..." Lester was raising one brow at Bobby, silently urging Bobby to use his damn brain and figure it out, but his usually smart friend was so dumbfounded at seeing Cathy again that he was oblivious. Lester decided to give the, some " alone time."
" I'm ok, " Cathy kept whispering, softly her trembling hand threading through her hair, trying to reassure herself. Physically, she was shaky, but her mind was spinning at Bobby's touch. She never thought she'd see him again, and now here he was. She wanted him so much, but they still had the same issue. And now, if she was pregnant... oh, my God, she panicked , what the hell was she going to do. She felt Bobby's hand in her hair, his strong fingers touching her, his lips kissing the top of her head.
Shit! She was going to have a baby. What the hell would she do with a baby? late night feedings and crying, and she couldn't do this... Oh, God, she felt herself panic and suddenly she was breathing in short little gasps , and she couldn't get air, having a panic attack at the thought of being pregnant. How could she tell Bobby. what if he didn't want a baby? She felt breathing get faster, and shallower, felt herself gasping so she couldn't get any air. " I can't breathe," she whispered between gasps.
Bobby pulled back quickly at the sound of her rapid breathing and cupped one hand gently over her mouth to keep her from hyperventilating. "Easy, baby, you can breathe just fine," he said, " Just slow it down, nice, deep breaths," he told her, he repeated the calm words over and over in his deep, soothing medic voice. Somehow, just being cradled against Bobby's chest calmed her and after a minute or so she felt she felt her breathing start to even out, and Bobby removed his hand.
He tilted her head up to look at him and his chocolate brown eyes enveloped her in warmth. " Baby, what have you done to yourself? when is the last time that you ate?" She felt defensive. She had TRIED to eat. If her suspicions were right, it was HIS child that had done this to her. But she couldn't tell him now. "Well, I tried to eat, but I kept getting sick."
He stroked her face with his thumb. It ripped his heart out to see her like this. See what happens when you don't let me take care of you, he thought, trying to stifle his anger. He eased her back gently to the upright side of the gurney. " You are dehydrated, baby, and your blood pressure is really low. We have to get some fluids into you," he said, pricking her finger with a glucose monitor and then gently sticking a needle in her wrist to start an IV.
He gave her a ginger ale, steadying her trembling hand while she drank. " Your blood sugar is really low, too. That and the low blood pressure is probably why you fainted. This will get your blood sugar up and settle your stomach. " His warm , strong hand steadied hers as she drank the ginger ale, and a box of grape juice. Seeing the cartoons on the box and the silly straw made her grin. These big huge testosterone laden badasses run around drinking grape juice from little boxes with straws?
By the time she had eaten the fruit and the granola bar he had coaxed her into eating, and the IV bag had drained, she felt a little less shaky. Bobby had stood next to her, his fingers slowly stroking the inside of her wrist, watching her intently as she ate. She just stared at Bobby's massive frame as he stood watching her. She loved him so much, but now it was all ruined. He didn't trust her, and now... she didn't think he'd want a baby. Suddenly the emotion overcame her and she burst out crying.
What the hell? Bobby thought. She's been sitting there fine and then suddenly she burst into tears? He didn't know what the hell was going on here, but he fucking hated to see her cry. " Hey, come here," he said, pulling her to his chest and holding her tightly. Was she crying because she was sick, or because she missed him? " Shh.. please stop crying," he whispered. She didn't listen to him, and he could hear her sniffing , although she didn't have a lot of tears. He tried another tack. " Baby, I just got some fluids back into you. You cry them all out again and I'll have to give you another IV." They both laughed at that and he stood there for a moment, just kissing her face.
He jumped and whirled around at a sudden sound behind him, putting himself between Cathy and the potential threat. Steph stood there, smiling. " Ooh, I love it when a merry man is unaware of his surroundings, " she teased. It was obvious the mood needed lightened. " Hey, Steph," he hugged her briefly then went to prick Cathy's finger with the glucose monitor again and take her blood pressure, that serious, intent look back on his face. " A little better, but not great" he told Cathy firmly as he let the pressure out of the cuff again and handed her a banana."
Steph smiled and walked over to hug Cathy. " well, at least I am not the only one that he bosses around and makes eat healthy food," she joked. Then her face got serious as she noted Cathy's red eyes and the IV. " Are you sick? Les told me he had seen you at a restaurant and then you got sick and then fainted. Cathy looked embarrassed so Steph made a joke of it. "Its usually me who does that kind of embarrassing stuff. You wouldn't believe the garbage I get covered with."
Cathy looked down at the floor then at Steph. "Yeah, I have had the flu for about a week now. Can't keep anything down. I guess I just got too weak, and Bobby says I'm dehydrated." Flu , huh? ," Steph thought. Les had told her about what the waitress in the restaurant had said, and if Bobby was even half as passionate as Ranger, and she'd bet he was, there were probably lots of times they hadn't used protection. Soo... She looked at Bobby, but the otherwise bright medic seemed oblivious to the possibility.
Cathy looked up at Bobby, suddenly fearful and wanting to be somewhere that she could think, try to straighten it all out in her mind. " I feel better now, Bobby," she lied. Do you mind taking me home? I just need some time to rest and think,"
Bobby stiffened, stifling the urge to tell her hell no she wasn't going home. She was a terrible liar, she couldn't be feeling THAT much better. But he saw the same look in her eye that Ranger usually got from Steph when HE tried to force her to do something. THAT never turned out well.
Fortunately, Bobby considered himself was smart enough to learn from Ranger's mistakes. He grinned, knowing he could still get Cathy exactly where he wanted her. " Baby, I am glad you feel better. But you aren't going anywhere alone until I can get you stabilized. So you have a few choices. I can take you back to your place and stay with you there, or you can stay in this room or in my apartment here. But staying home alone is not an option."
Cathy's green gaze met his serious one and she knew she wouldn't get the better of Bobby when he was in alpha- male protective mode, so she gave in to the thought of being in those amazingly strong arms. " Well, if those are my ONLY choices she said, " with a slight grin, " I will choose to stay with you in your apartment."
Steph's heart lurched as Bobby's stern face instantly break into his adorable smile. She sighed. She missed that smile and she hadn't thought she'd ever see again after this past week.
" Good choice," she told Cathy. While Bobby took out the IV needle, Cathy beckoned Steph closer. She waited till Bobby had moved across the room to throw the needle in the sharps bag, then she whispered, " I need you to do me a favour."
Bobby came back to find the two most important women in his life huddled together , whispering conspiratorially. They looked up when he came over, and instantly got silent. THAT was never good. He heard Steph say, ' Sure. I'll do it tomorrow." Steph straightened up, gave Bobby a huge smile, hugged him, and then left the room. What the hell was that all about? He didn't really care. All he cared about was getting Cathy back where she belonged- in his bed.