Page 52 of Liaising Kai

They cooled their heels in the emergency room waiting area until they told them that Davis had been stabilized and moved to a regular room. The nurse informed her the doctor was waiting for them. When they got to his room, a man with sharp blue eyes who was going over a tablet looked up.

“Special Agent Talbot?”

“Yes.”

He nodded. “Your man was very lucky. From what I can see, he’s reoxygenating very well.”

Her panic, fear, and relief at the doctor’s words came dangerously close to the surface. Her voice breaking badly, she asked, “Can we see him?”

“I’m afraid not,” he said briskly. “I’ve sent him for several tests, but as soon as he’s back in his room, you can visit with him.”

“Thank you.”

He smiled his encouragement and turned and left.

Kai closed her eyes against the sudden welling of tears, clenching her jaw, feeling as if she were about to shatter.

Jason gently led her to a chair and pushed her down into the seat. When she looked at him, he’d crouched in front of her. “He’s going to be all right. He’s a stubborn bastard,” Jason said, the anxiety she’d seen there fading. She had to remember that he, too, had lost a colleague, and she was sure he had been worried as hell he would lose another. “I’m going to get us some coffee. Okay?”

She nodded. “Thank you so much. I appreciate everything you’ve done.”

He rose and squeezed her shoulder briefly and she was comforted by his assurance that warmed her to the soul. “I’ll be right back.” He stopped and turned. “Oh, black? Sugar? Cream?”

“Just cream.”

Hours later she was jerked awake by Jason’s hand. “Davis is back in his room, and the doctor said you can see him.”

She jumped up and made a beeline for his door. Once inside, she saw that the room was dimmed, and he was in the bed with his eyes closed. He was sleeping and she didn’t want to disturb him. He had an IV in one arm attached to a bag of fluid and a pulse monitor with an oxygen mask over his nose and mouth. He was breathing rhythmically, his breath slow, deep, and easy.

She settled in the comfortable chair, and the next thing she knew, she stirred awake. She opened her eyes and saw soft light spilling over Davis. He was still in bed, his hands flat on the bedcovers. She simply watched him sleep as her gaze traveled over the tanned skin any woman would envy and the sexy stubble dusting his jaw. Her eyes moved down his body, remembering every muscle, his big hands and the familiar feel of them on her skin, yet it wasn’t just her body that responded to him, it was her soul.

As if sensing her, he opened his eyes. The smoky darkness sent a jolt of something sweet through her. She rose and approached the bed. “The next time you go for a swim, maybe you should bring one of those little animal floaties…maybe a bunny rabbit or a unicorn?”

He chuckled and then coughed for a few seconds. “I’ll make sure I put that in my kit,” he said.

Her face contorted for a moment and Davis cupped her jaw. “Ah, don’t, babe,” he whispered gruffly. “I’m okay. I’ll be out of here probably tomorrow.”

She looked at him, her eyes awash with tears, and Davis brushed his knuckles across her cheek, then tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. His expression etched with strain, he wrapped another strand around his finger, then swallowed hard and looked at her, his eyes dark and tormented.

He lifted her wrist, his eyes flashing. “What happened here?”

She shrugged. “Freddy refused to go quietly. She did all the talking with her knife.”

“You got her, though?” he asked flatly.

“Oh, yes. She’s at NCIS right now.” Kai said coldly. “She’s not going anywhere.”

“You should wrap up this case, then take the time you need.” The honest emotion reverberating in his voice grabbed at her.

“What?” A little cry escaped her, and she cradled his face in her hands, shaking her head. Regret and despair spiraled through her. “No, Davis. I want to be here for you.”

“And I want that, too, Kai. Forever. But until we can get to that place, you need time to think.”

She tried to push down the mind-numbing fear lurking just below the surface.

“Don’t you think I know what it must have been like for you while they were reviving me, bringing everything back?” He released a long, shaky sigh, shifting to pull her against him in a tight embrace.

Kai sagged against him, unable to hold in all the raw and turbulent feelings that surged through her. She resisted leaving him, even when she knew he was right. The miracle of being held by him, of having someone to share her fear with, of finally getting to the end of this terrible and debilitating grief that was holding her back from a full life, was too much to handle, and she huddled in his arms, pressing her wet face into the curve of his neck. On a day when her ongoing fear had once again resurrected itself, it drove home to her how much she needed peace.

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