Page 83 of Shielding Aubree

At least in the hospital.

She hadn't planned on being back in the hospital again.

And certainly not with injuries from a serial killer.

Aubree saw her mother and father sitting in the corner of her room on some kind of bench that had enough room for both of them to sit, with their arms around each other. Pablo was in a chair with his head tipped back and his jaw slack.

They weren't doing anything to upset her.

She just felt like she was back in prison, and it was killing her to be nice when all she wanted to do was throw things at the wall.

When the door opened, Aubree started to paste a grin on her face.

And then she let it fall away into an honest-to-goodness smile when she saw the woman walk through the door.

"Alara."

The FBI agent walked straight over to her bed. "I leave for a day, no... not even a day and you're kidnapped, dragged into the great unknown, and tossed into the hospital."

Alara shook her head. "You really need to take better care of yourself."

Aubree nodded, hearing the wisdom in those words. "I'm all for that, sister." She sagged back against the pillows. "Right now I'd like to take a nap for the next... oh, two years of so."

Alara reached out and touched her hand gently. "I hear you. I feel like I have jet lag, but I barely went anywhere. It was hell when I found out that you'd been taken so I turned right back around to come here."

Chuckling softly so it didn't hurt her ribs and back, Aubree smiled. "Have you thought about how you're going to say a big 'I told you so' and still manage to keep your job?"

Alara shrugged. "I'll let you know when I stop seething inside."

"I'll go with you and tell them where to stick their decisions."

Alara laughed softly. "Deal. But until then, I think you need some rest, I'm not even going to bug you about the debrief until you and I can do that interview and go out for a whole damn pitcher of margaritas afterward."

Aubree leaned back against the cushions and reached out her hand. "Deal. Want to shake on it?"

Alara put her hand out and shook and then turned her hand, holding out her pink. "Pinky swear."

"Pinky swear." Aubree turned her hand, and they hooked their pinkies together.

She opened her mouth to speak again and ended up yawning.

"Ohhkay." Alara got up and made an announcement. "Okay, people. FBI here. Let's give the patient some quiet."

Aubree saw the look on her father's face and almost laughed out loud.

He didn't like to be told to do anything, but instead of balking at the idea, he got up on his feet and helped his wife put away the foot containers they'd brought when someone suggested that they should grab a bite to eat.

Aubree saw her mother wake Pablo up and waved at her younger brother as he dragged his feet out the door.

Her mother blew her a kiss.

But it was her father who really touched her heart.

He walked over to the side of the hospital bed and leaned in to press a kiss to the crown of her head. "Stay safe, Aubree. We all love you like crazy and we can't..."

"Don't worry, Dad. I have no intention of putting a target on my back."

He kissed her forehead and gave Alara a small wave before leaving the room.

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