Page 4 of Flame's Fight

I frown at him. “Caitlin as in Caitlin Chambers?” I ask, glancing at Tally. She shrugs. When her pager goes off, she checks the display, frowning when she reads it. Turning, she walks away in a hurry.

“Yes. I would have thought you heard about her already. Met Flame and Shield at her house this morning. Her husband tried to kidnap Ashlyn, Flame’s sister.” He says, frowning at me. “Don’t you two talk?”

“We’ve both been busy.” I blurt out. “Is she alright?”

He nods. “She’s fine. The exam went well and we’re leaving soon. By the way, I invited Flame over for dinner. So get with him and figure out a day that works for you both. Ok?” He asks, leaning in to kiss my cheek again. He saunters off to meet a pretty and very pregnant woman sitting in a wheelchair.

“I take it your dad doesn’t know you and Flame aren’t dating anymore?” Gina asks me. I shrug.

“I haven’t told him. I’m surprised Flame didn’t say something to him.”

“Why would he?” Gina asks with a laugh. “What guy wants to tell a father that he dumped his precious daughter? Especially when that father carries a gun.”

I frown when I consider her words. Technically, Flame was the one who broke up with me, but I was the one who made the mistake. I knew he misunderstood the situation, but I let him continue to believe what he thought. Because deep down, I know Flame deserves better. He needs someone strong. Someone who will make a good Old Lady, like Tally and Evie. I’m not strong. I’m weak. I’m also not pure like Caitlin. I’d be a detriment to Flame, not an asset. No, he’s better off without me. I just wish I didn’t feel so gutted whenever I think of him with someone else.

I shake off thoughts of Flame as I review the case records for those currently in the ER. So far, we have nothing too serious. A man with chest pains who’s resting and a young woman with a broken ankle. It’s fairly quiet, but I know that can change in without warning.

I need to address the misunderstanding about Flame with my dad, and soon. I also need to talk with Tony and help him understand we will not happen.

When I hear my name over the PA calling me into surgery, I rush forward to join the paramedics pushing a gurney with Tally running alongside it. I move to the opposite side and almost lose my footing. Laying on the gurney, with his pale face turned toward me and his back covered in blood, is Flame. What the fuck happened?

CHAPTER THREE: FLAME

Will someone turn off that incessant beeping?

When it persists, I struggle to move so I can smash whatever is making that annoying sound. But my frustration turns to panic when I realize I can’t open my eyes. I also can’t move. Fuck, what the hell is going on?

I struggle to force some part of my body to work. Any part. But only my ears seem to function. Besides the beeping, I can make out voices. Forcing myself to ignore the beeping and concentrate on the voices, I finally make out what they’re saying.

“Flame.” My name, but who’s speaking? The voice is male and familiar. Finally, the haze clears a little bit more and I realize the person talking is Reaper. But how is that possible? Reaper is in Las Vegas with my sister.

I hear another voice, female, answer him, and I recognize it immediately as my sister, Ashlyn. But how is this possible?

Flashes of memory distract me from their voices. Shield and I helping a pregnant woman out of her home. Convincing her to rely on us to get her to a safe place. Shield and I talking outside a building, waiting for someone. But who? I hear Reaper say the name Deion, and that clears my head a little more. We were waiting for Deion. But why? To kill him? No, I didn’t have my gun out. But then I did. I hear a noise, a car pulling up behind us. Then pain.

Another voice and another wave of pain, but this pain isn’t physical. It cuts much deeper than that. Brooke’s voice. The woman I thought I was going to make my Old Lady until she cheated on me. I hear her talking. Why is she here? Does she just want to drive another knife into my heart? Finish the job she started weeks ago?

“Tally will be here soon to answer questions. He’ll wake up when his body is ready. His brain scans are normal.” Brooke says.

“But Tally thinks there might be nerve damage?” Ashlyn asks, and I can hear the tears in her voice. “She’s worried that he isn’t reacting to stimuli.”

“The bullet entered near his spinal column, but it didn’t damage it. However, he is dealing with swelling. That could be why his nerve endings aren’t responding. His body is still healing. Tally can answer all your questions, but there is no reason to worry. He just needs time.” I hear Brooke tell my sister.

The more she talks, the angrier I get. Someone shot me? Not only can I not move my legs or arms. I can’t feel anything. Just the pain of knowing she cheated on me. That’s the pain I focus on right now. I gather all my strength to speak. I need to say just one thing. “Get the fuck out.” I manage, but I don’t know if anyone heard me. She’s still talking. I need her to stop. I need her to go away. “Get the fuck out.” I manage, and I’m rewarded with silence. Did it work? Is she gone?

“Flame?” Ashlyn says. I can feel her breath on my face and smell her shampoo. I sense someone moving next to her.

“Flame? Are you with us?” Reaper asks. I try to nod, but can’t move my head or get the words out. There’s something on my face. I force my arm up, but someone grabs my hand. Without looking, I know it is Brooke. I’d know her touch anywhere. Fuck.

“Hold on. You have a feeding tube in. Let me remove it.” Brooke says. She’s careful when she pulls the tube out, but it hurts like hell. The pain from her touch and her scent has my eyes watering. She gently brushes those away when she finishes. “Ok, how’s that?”

I glare at her but don’t answer. I want to yell and scream for her to leave, but I can’t force out the words.

“I’m going to get Tally. She’ll want to see him now that he’s awake,” she says before leaving.

I should be happy she’s gone, but now I miss her. Fuck.

“What happened?” I try to ask.

---