Page 100 of The Flame of Carson
Chapter 23
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Stacey groaned as shesat up blinking in confusion.Wait, why was she in her bed?She noticed the fading light that filtered in through the windows.Frowning, she threw off the sheets and comforter.Absentmindedly, she plucked her robe from the foot of her bed and threw it on.Still confused, she made her way downstairs.The last thing she remembered, she and Gage had been at the federal building giving their statements.Why could she not remember coming home?Or apparently getting a shower and laying down, seeing as her hair was still damp.
She had just stepped through the doorway into the kitchen when it came slamming back at her.The explosion.The shaking of the building.Stacey suddenly could not catch her breath.She remembered the smell of smoke, the far away sound of Gage’s voice telling her they were safe.They were outside of the building.Stumbling, Stacey made it to one of her breakfast barstools.She tried to steady her breathing as more came back.
Gage, holding her, as someone drove them home.Gage, just talking to her calmly and soothingly, as he gently and lovingly bathed her.She had been like a child, unable to bathe herself.Finally, her chest lightened, and her breath returned to normal.She held the lapels of her robe tightly and carefully stood from the barstool.She wanted Gage.No, she NEEDED Gage.NOW.Barefoot and still trembling a little, she went off in search of him, knowing he was somewhere in the house.He would not have left her alone.
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“Were the bomb and crimetechs able to find anything?”Gage sighed, pacing Stacey’s office.
“Yeah surprisingly.The explosive device was hidden in the chip bag.Half the casing survived the blast.It’s almost like...”Grant’s voice faded off.
“Like whoever did this WANTED us to find it?”Gage finished.
“Yes.We know Anderson wasn’t working alone.If those messages Tony and Eli found are real, there’s another target out there.This target is for the unknown brother.They were each targeting someone.Anderson was going after you and his brother is targeting someone else.But why?”Grant agreed.
“Well, Anderson thought I had robbed him of MARSOC.Could be this other target was picked for the same reason.Except, the wronged party is Anderson’s partner.”Gage sighed, pacing now, a hand threading through his hair.
“Tony and Eli are still working on Anderson’s laptop they found where he took Stacey.Speaking of Stacey, how is she?”Grant asked.
“She was sleeping when I came downstairs to take your call.I don’t want to leave her for too...”Gage broke off when the office door slammed open.“Grant, I’ll call you back.”
“Take care of your woman.”Grant said then hung up.
“Stacey, babe are you all right?”
“Oh Gage.”Stacey sighed, rushing to him, and throwing her arms around him.
“Hey, hey.Easy baby.Christ, you’re trembling, and your hands are like ice.”
“I woke up confused.Then...in the kitchen it all came back.The explosion.The smoke...”
Gage sighed and held her a little tighter.“Oh Stacey, babe, I’m sorry.I wanted to be there when you woke up, but Grant called.I’m here babe, just hang on to me now.”
He picked her up and moved to the small two-seater sofa Stacey had by one of the windows and sat down.He felt her slowly relax in his arms, as he stroked her back and her head rested against his shoulder.For several long minutes neither said a word.Gage kissed the top of her head before finally speaking.Yet, he was still hesitant about asking what he wanted to.
“Stace, earlier today, was that the first time you reacted like that?Frozen I mean.”He questioned softly.
Stacey remained silent for a few moments, then she answered, “Y...yes.I...I’ve never actually been inside a building that was on fire.It’s funny,” she paused and gave a mirthless chuckle, “I always thought that I would be strong enough to deal with it if I was ever in that situation.Guess I know now.”
Gage shifted and cupped her face, tilting it so she was looking into his eyes.“Stacey, listen to me.You are no coward.You hear me?What happened yesterday was something new to you.You told me you had witnessed what happened in New York all those years ago but weren’t actually amid that situation.No one ever knows truly how they will react in a situation if they have never been in it.”
“But I froze Gage!I...”
“This time yes, but that doesn’t make you a coward of any kind.You hear me?I watched many grown men freeze in the heat of battle for one reason or another.Do you want me to call Grant?Or one of the others?”
