I Think I Got It!

I think I figured out what to do next.  Reordering some of my stories and changing them to fit.  Hope I don’t confuse myself more than I already am. LOL  Doesn’t help that so many of them were originally written out of order, does it?  And egads, I’ve been working on this for two years now…

Ummm… What Next?

LOL

When I wrote all this, I hadn’t ever thought of having to put it all together.  And now, I’m stuck.  Not sure what comes next, or what should.  Been trying to patch things together as I go and hopefully it’s been working.  ROFL.

Guess I’m going to have to go back and figure that one out, huh?  I know I’m going to have to do some repair work and make a connection between where I left off today and what will most likely come next.  SO, if you find something that doesn’t make sense, be sure to holler at me.  :)

Code Red 2: Life Sentence ~ Chapter 7

Mika’s Note: Can ya tell that Eric Chruch’s song had just come out? LOL

Two Pink Lines

“Oh… my… god…” Ali groaned, rolling over into the sunlight.

“Whatsa matter?” Blake mumbled sleepily.

“I think the phone’s ringing…”

“Ignore it, babe…” he murmured, attempting to pull her back into his arms.

“Can’t Cowboy.” She placed a light kiss on his cheek and sat up. “The friends I’ve got? If I don’t answer the phone, they come find me.” Stretching, she shrugged on Blake’s discarded flannel and barefooted it down the hall.

“This had better be worth dragging me out of my warm bed,” she announced.

“Don’t you mean ‘away from the warm body I was snuggling’?” Albert’s laughter filled her ears and she gave in and smiled.

“Yeah, somethin’ like that, I guess.”

“Glad to hear it. I was afraid he’d bail on you and then I’d have to kill him.” He paused, trying to phrase what he had to ask next. “So, what’s new?”

“Um, I’ve discovered that there is such a thing as ‘almost too much sex’.”

“Almost?”

“Yeah, because although I’m sure I’m getting there, I haven’t quite reached the ‘too much’ part yet.”

“Oh gods… and you wonder how you got into this situation.” He tried and failed to stifle his laughter. “Sooo… anything else I should know?”

“Subtle, Rogan. Very subtle. The rabbit didn’t die, if that’s what you’re asking.”

Albie breathed a sigh of relief. “That’s good news.” He paused. “Or is it?”

“I think so, although I got the distinct impression Blake was disappointed. I could’ve been misreading him but I dunno…”

“Well, I guess its better that he’s disappointed that you’re not than angry because you are.” He coughed out a short laugh. “Did that make sense?”

“Only coming from you it did.”

“Oh, shut up and go back to bed. Lemme know if you actually make it to that point of ‘too much’.”

“Not sure if I’ll make it, but I’m sure we’ll try our best. Bye-bye and thanks for checkin’ up on me, Pop.”

“No problem.”

Ali hung up the phone and laughed.

“Oh, this isn’t good.”

“Hey hot stuff! What are you doing out of bed?”

“Looking for you.”

“Oh well, here I am! Now, what isn’t good?”

“The fact that you were laughing when you saw me nekkid.”

“Ooooh… that!” She covered her mouth to catch an escaping chuckle. “I was actually laughing at Albie. He was calling to check in.”

“Check in? Is he looking to come home already?”

“Maybe, but he was more concerned with whether he was gonna have to shoot you or not.”

“Me? What have I done?”

“Nothing… yet. He was afraid you were going to freak out and bail on me, with last night’s issue.”

“Ahh,” he mumbled, lips against her neck. “Never in a million years.”

She wrapped her arms around his waist and smiled. “Glad to hear it. So, so glad.”

Code Red 2: Life Sentence ~ Interlude

Mika’s Note: Just when you thought the Interludes were a thing of the past… LOL

E-mail from Hell

From: crazyalirae

To: scarlettfire

Subject: Dodging Bullets

…and I’m not even on assignment. Imagine that. Not that *I* would ever get myself into any kind of trouble. Nope, not innocent, well-behaved lil’ ol’ me.

Yeah, right!

I can’t really go into details right now because if Blake catches me up again, I think he’s going to tie me to the bed… Hey, now there’s an idea…

Um, sorry? But seriously, I dodged a serious bullet this time. I need someone to smack me a time or two to get my head back on straight. I think it’s off its track again. *Sigh*

What are we gonna do with me?

Aw, crap… I think I hear footsteps.

BYE!

Ali

Code Red 2: Life Sentence ~ Chapter 6A

Mika’s Note: I had written the original chapter entitled Some Beach and then, about six months later, I got a writing challenge to write an entry in a father’s journal. I thought that taking this chapter and re-writing it from Blake’s point-of-view would be interesting.  And I discovered that I do love writing in his voice.  So much fun.  :)  This picks up right after Ali has snuck out of bed, leaving Blake without his heating pad. LOL

Some Beach Flipside

“Ali?” Blake rolled onto his side and stared at the empty half of the bed. “Where could she have gone?”

Groaning, he forced himself out of the warm bed and onto the floor. Stretching, he looked towards the bathroom. Nope, not in there, the door was open. Kitchen? It was empty too. Scratching his head, Blake started back to the bedroom when he noticed Albie’s door partway open.

What could she be doing in there?

Yawning, he opened Albert’s door and glanced in. Not seeing Ali, he started to go back out, stopping when he heard a sob. Looking around again, he noticed a light on in the bathroom. The door was halfway open and he approached carefully, not wanting to scare her. And if she was crying…?

Ali stood in her brother’s bathroom, clad in a plain white Hanes t-shirt, holding a long thin box, crying. Squinting, he tried to read the box when the sudden reality of the situation dawned on him. Very brightly. Oh my god…

“Care to explain that to me?” Blake asked from behind her, motioning to the box in her hand. How the hell did this happen?

“What? I mean, I thought you were asleep.”

“I was. Then I got cold and you weren’t there anymore. What’s going on?” Crap. Please let me be dreaming. I’m not ready to be a daddy yet. Please, not yet.

Ali sighed, resigned to the fact of the matter at hand. She lifted the box up and showed him. She watched him turn even paler as his suspicions were confirmed. “Blake…”

“How long have you known? Or suspected, I guess?” And why the fuck haven’t you told me yet?

“Just a couple days.”

“And you were gonna tell me when?”

“As soon as I was able to use this damn thing!”

“Sorry. Sheesh.” He turned to walk out of the doorway. Damn her anyway. I don’t need this right now.

Ali reached out and grabbed his arm, watching how the muscles played under the taut skin. “I’m sorry. I’ve been really stressed these last few days. I could lose my job, you know.”

“No, I didn’t know. You’d get booted from the military for being pregnant?” How the heck do they expect to get more soldiers?

“Not exactly. It’s more like HOW and WHEN and with WHOM it all happened.” She paused a moment and frowned. “I doubt it’d even matter that it’s been months since that assignment ended. I can hear Caleb now, ‘It’s the principle of the matter, Lieutenant’.” She shook her head sadly.

“Mmm… I see. So, why didn’t you call? Even if you didn’t know, and you were worried, you could have called me.” He held out his arms and hugged her hard. “I need you. I care about you. I want to help you. And I don’t give a damn that your general ordered us to stay apart. If you’re having my baby, I am here. End of story.”  Please don’t let me break down and cry. She doesn’t need that right now.

“I know. You’re just… you, I guess. Superstar and all that crap. I didn’t want you to panic and foul things up for yourself. I certainly didn’t want to screw up your career. I’ve done enough of that to my own lately.” She sighed heavily and kissed his chest. “Besides, I knew Albie would be home in a day or two and he’d smack me around and make me do the right thing.”

He flashed instantly to a memory of meeting Albert in the driveway earlier. Blake started to laugh suddenly. “Sorry,” he mumbled, laughing even harder. No wonder he retreated so quickly.

“What’s so funny?”

“When I met him in the driveway, he said he’d gone to get aspirin for your headache. Couldn’t even go get your own test?”

“Too dizzy to drive.”

Blake looked down at her and smiled. “Too ditzy to drive maybe. Now, are you gonna use that thing or do I need to hold it for you?”

Growling, she pushed his naked body out of the bathroom and slammed the door in his face.

~*~

His smile faltered and faded as soon as she closed the door. He heard her sigh loudly, followed by the ripping of the box. The sounds coming from inside the bathroom were making him nuts. Crumpling paper. The sound of the box hitting the floor. The next three minutes would be the hardest he’d ever waited out.

He glanced at his watch and started the countdown. Then he started pacing. Wondering. Thinking. Praying.

I’m not ready to be a daddy. Not yet. I’m still too much of a child myself. He laughed at that thought. No shit, Blake? You can barely take care of yourself. A wife and a baby? No freakin’ way.

He shook his head roughly, clearing the negative thoughts from his mind. Glancing back at his watch, he noted only forty seconds had passed. Blake looked at the closed door and bit his bottom lip. Am I in love enough to marry her if she’s pregnant? Hell, will she even let me marry her? Will she let her brother beat my ass for this?

Just past a minute fifteen. Blake forced one hand through his unruly curls and sighed. There were so many things to consider. And so much of it had nothing to do with the maybe-baby. What if it was a false alarm? Would she still want to be with him? Would their relationship still be the same? Better? Worse? Stronger? He didn’t know.  And how would this affect the ban on their being together?  Would she even tell her general asshole if she was?

How will I tell my mother if she is? She won’t care how much in love I may be, all she’ll see is that I’ve screwed up. Again. She’ll never forgive me. And if this ruins her career?

Panic set in with that thought. Holy crap. What if she gets into serious trouble over this? I can’t raise a baby by myself. Damn!

He forced himself to take several slow, deep breaths. You’re overreacting. Take it one step at a time. Looking at his watch again, he was both relieved and frightened to see they’d hit the two-minute mark.

One minute to go. He paced, hands tangled in his dark hair, heart pounding. God, I love her. There. He’d said it. Admitted it to himself. And there ain’t a chance in hell that I’m going to let her go no matter what the outcome of this damn test! Finally, he was ready to face whatever fate had in store for him, and damn his parents, his job and her job too. All that revelation and fifteen seconds to spare.

Taking a deep breath, and saying a silent prayer, he raised his fist to knock on the bathroom door.

~*~

“Okay, Cookie. It’s been three minutes. Come out, come out wherever you are…” And please God let this all be okay…

Ali looked at the white stick sitting on the bathroom sink. “Crap.” Sighing, she let him in. “There,” she pointed to the offending object. “Go look.”

Blake took a deep breath and steeled his nerves to what he was about to see. What was it going to reveal? Baby? No baby? Would this tear them apart either way? He knew one thing for certain: he couldn’t let anything ever come between them now. Not ever. No matter what it took, he was on a mission to get her back for good. He closed his eyes as he stepped to the edge of the sink. He swallowed his heart back down into his chest, looked down, and opened his eyes.

“Aw, crap, Ali.” He stared in disbelief at the negative sign on the little plastic stick and sighed. Looking up and meeting her relieved gaze, he gave her a weak smile. “I guess it’s all going to be okay then, huh?”

“Yeah,” she smiled back.

So why do I suddenly feel so empty? And why does it hurt so much?

Mika’s end note: And why the hell am I suddenly crying when I knew how this was all gonna end?  *sniff sniff*

Code Red 2: Life Sentence ~ Chapter 6

Mika’s Note: When I originally wrote this, I was anxious for a baby.  A good friend of mine screamed NOOOOOOOOO!  Ali’s not ready!  Assuming, of course, that Shana would follow right behind.  I was still undecided at the time I finished this chapter.

Some Beach

Ali stood at the sink, head hanging, fingers grasping the countertop desperately. She stared at her haggard reflection in the stainless steel. “Please, just shoot me now,” she muttered. After another week of attitude, Stone had forced her to take a week off. Or else. She often wondered if he thought she would murder someone in the hall for looking at her wrong. He might not have been far off the mark.

She’d opted to come home to Nevada for those few days after reading online that Blake had a concert scheduled in Baltimore during her time off. She figured that was when he’d wanted to see her. Better that she just not be there at all and remove the temptation. For both of them. Another wave of nausea hit her hard and she gripped the sink tightly.

“Ali?” came a familiar, and welcome, voice from the hallway. “Are you here somewhere?”

“Yeah, I’m in here, Albie.”

Albert pushed open the door to the kitchen and just looked at his long-time friend. Frowning, he came up behind her and put his hand on her back. “Babe, are you okay?”

“No. I’m dying. Leave me in peace. And why are you here?”

“I’m still worried about you and don’t give me any of that ‘I’m fine’ crap, because I know you’re not. And, after talking to Blake the other day, I know he’s not either.” He gently turned her until she was facing him. “After listening to him cry, I figured I owed it to the both of you to come after you.” Lifting her chin to meet her gaze, he smiled and looked into her worried eyes. “I also doubt you’re dying. Now, spill it.”

“I’m pregnant.”

“WHAT?”

“You heard me.”

“How late are you?”

“Just about two weeks. But…”

“But, it’s only two weeks. You’ve never been very predictable in that area, you know. And you have been later.”

“Yeah, I know, but then, I’ve never felt like this either.” She gripped her stomach and made a face.

“Like what?”

“Sick. Dizzy. Headachy. Weepy. Too tired to give a…”

“Shit.”

“Well, I was going for a different ending, but close enough.” She’d have laughed, but her tummy would have revolted on her.

He waved one hand in the air. “No, I didn’t mean that. I just meant, ‘Shit, you probably are then’. That’s all.”

“That’s all, he says. Shoot me before Lockhart finds out. Please.”

Albie shook his head and pulled her into a hug. “Caleb’s not gonna find out. Have you taken a test yet?”

Ali shook her head. “Woke up too sick these last few days to do much of anything. Been too dizzy to try and drive.”

“Okay then,” he began. “First order of business is to go get a test. Go lay down. I shouldn’t be too long.”

“You don’t have to…”

“Of course I do. Besides, I need to know if I should take some of my leave time to do some ‘hunting’ of my own.”

“Albert Rogan!”

Laughing, he kissed her cheek. “I’m only teasing. But, have you talked to him lately?”

“No. Not since I gave him the bad news. Not sure what I’d say even if I had.” She paused and caught her friend’s gaze. “You do realize that this could be my ass. Getting preggo is one thing, but doing it with a man I knew I shouldn’t have been involved with? Stone’ll hang me by my toes.”

“I know, but we’ll worry about that when we know for sure, okay?” She nodded and flopped onto the couch. “Until then, try not to freak out on me, okay? It’s my first day back home. You coulda waited until tomorrow to do this to me.” He kissed her forehead and pulled a blanket over her prone form. “Be right back, babe.”

Ali adjusted the pillow and promptly fell asleep.

*~*~

Grabbing the Walgreens bag, Albert climbed out of the Jeep and locked the door. He was halfway up the drive when he heard his name. Turning, he stumbled when he saw who was coming up behind him.

“Hey Albie, wasn’t expecting you here. Thought you were gonna be gone for a month?”

Shit! “Hey Blake, got things done and over with sooner than expected. That always makes the uppity-ups happy.”

“Yup, sure does. Is she home?”

“Yeah, she was just flopping on the couch when I was leaving. How’d you know she was here?”

“Shana told me when I called the apartment. Told me she was alone and unsupervised.” He laughed an evil laugh. “Whatcha got?”

“Um, aspirin. She had a headache.”

“Ah. Lacking something in her diet, maybe?” He gave the other man a grin to match his evil laugh.

Despite everything, Albie couldn’t help but laugh. “Mmm… could be.”

Blake clapped him on the back and let himself into the house. Albie hid the pregnancy test behind his back and escaped to his bathroom to hide the incriminating evidence.

*~*~

“Hey Cookie,” Blake murmured, kneeling down beside her.

“Later, Albie. I don’t wanna think ‘bout it now.”

“Huh?”

“Ignore her,” Albie interrupted. “She talks crazy when she’s half-asleep.”

“Ah, gotcha.” He placed a gentle kiss on her nose and let her sleep.

“Care for a grilled cheese? It’s about the extent of my culinary skills.”

“Sure. That’s about as gourmet as I get.”

*~*~

Ali awoke to the smell of grilled cheese and dill pickles. Forcing her eyes open, she threw off the blanket and staggered into the kitchen. “You are SO gonna make me like, I dunno, five of them things. Now.”

Almost choking on his sandwich, Albie looked up and grinned. “Sure thing, babe.” He pulled the skillet out of the sink and began buttering bread.

“So,” Blake began, “does this mean I’m in the doghouse?” He affected a pathetic pout.

“Huh?” she asked, startled. “Shit! Where’d you come from?”

“Oklahoma. Where’d you come from?” Flashing that grin at her, he got up from his seat at the kitchen counter. Blake reached out to pull her towards him and she took a step back. “Crap. I really am in the doghouse. First you ignore me, now you’re not letting me near you.” He looked hurt. “What’d I do?” he asked quietly. “I know that this is like, an illicit meeting and all, but I thought you’d be happy to see me at least.”

Get it together! She scolded herself quietly. “I’m sorry, Cowboy. I honestly didn’t see you sitting there when I came in. And for the rest, I’m just not awake yet and all that survival crap sticks with you.” She forced herself to go to him and let him hold her. It took all she had to not panic in his arms. “I am happy to see you, though, even if it could cost me my rank.” She tried to laugh her fear and anguish off.

“Mmm… I see,” he mumbled, burying his face in her neck. “I suppose I forgive you.” Relieved, he let her go.

“Here,” Albie handed over three grilled cheese and a handful of dill pickle chips. “I’ve gotta go pack.”

“Pack?” Ali and Blake looked at each other.

“Jinx!” Albie yelled and rushed off to his room.

Ali watched him run off down the hall. Blake watched Ali put away all three sandwiches without pausing.

“I love a woman with an appetite,” he reminded her lovingly.

Horrified, she realized all three sandwiches and the pickles were gone. “Whoops! Hungrier than I thought.”

“Apparently.”

Albert appeared back in the kitchen, a small olive green duffle bag in one hand. Blake eyed him and the duffel warily. “Where are you going? You just got home.”

“Um,” he flicked his gaze towards the tall cowboy beside her. “Gotta mini-job to do. Just remembered it.”

“You are so full of…”

“Blake, please,” she laughed. “Are you going to the base to crash?”

“Yeah.”

“Why?” Blake looked him over, worried he’d done something else wrong.

“Because, Cowboy, he’s afraid you’re gonna stay.”

“Is that a problem?”

“Not for me. You, Albie?”

“Not if I’m not here, it isn’t.” He grinned and kissed her cheek. “Just call me and let me know when the ‘code red’ has ended. ‘Kay?”

Trying to hide the blush creeping up her cheeks, Ali muttered, “Sure.”

Albie shook hands with Blake and wished him luck. “What’s a ‘code red’ and why do I need luck?”

“A ‘code red’ is the prospect of a well, a really good evening. Or weekend. Or well, you get the idea.” She was blushing so furiously now; she couldn’t even look him in the eye.

“Mmm… nice. So why’d he wish me luck then?”

“Probably since I almost killed my last boyfriend on a long weekend.” He’d also turned out to be a traitor, trying to gather sensitive intelligence at her expense, but she wasn’t about to tell him that.

“Ahh… what a way to go, though!” Blake laughed and pulled her into his arms. “So, what do you say? We’re both fed. You’ve had a nap. Should we start the interrogation now?” He nipped at her earlobe, sighing his hot breath along her neck.

Ali shivered at the expectation of an unplanned romp with the hottest man she’s ever known. “Absolutely!” Taking his face in her hands, she pressed her lips against his and forced her tongue into his mouth. He willingly allowed her in, meeting her tongue with his. Ali was just beginning to melt when she felt a vibration at her hip.

“Dammit!” She pulled her phone out of its holster and glared at the caller ID. “Go on back, I’ll be right there.” She pecked him on the cheek and swatted his backside.

“Yes ma’am!” he mock saluted, pulling his shirt off as he headed towards her room.

Ali shook her head and answered her cell. “This better be good.”

Laughter. “Could it get any better? I put the thing in my medicine cabinet. Don’t forget to use it!”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Thanks.”

“Love ya, babe.”

“Love ya too, ya nut.”

Albie disconnected and Ali left her phone ‘accidentally’ on the kitchen counter.

*~*~

Ali snuggled deeper into the covers and closer to her lover. He pillowed her head on his shoulder and held her close with his free arm. Content and satisfied, they were both on the brink of sleep.

“I’ve missed you, Cookie.”

“I’ve missed you, too, Cowboy.”

Within minutes, he was breathing deeply. Ali resisted the urge to let his slow, even breathing lull her to sleep. She still had one very important thing she needed to do.

As soon as she was certain he was asleep, she eased his arm off her, and slipped out of bed. She padded down the hall to her brother’s bedroom. Taking a deep breath, she opened his door and let herself inside. Snagging a freshly laundered T-shirt off his dresser, she pulled it over her head and attempted to cover something of herself.

She opened the bathroom door and rooted in the medicine cabinet until she found what she was looking for. Staring at the box, she began to cry.

“Care to explain that to me?” Blake asked from behind her, motioning to the box in her hand.

“What? I mean, I thought you were asleep.” Nice recovery there, Hart.

“I was. Then I got cold and you weren’t there anymore. What’s going on?” Worry creased his forehead and laced his seductive blue eyes.

Ali sighed, resigned to the fact of the matter at hand. She lifted the box up and showed him. She watched him turn even paler as his suspicions were confirmed. “Blake…”

“How long have you known? Or suspected, I guess?”

“Just a couple days.”

“And you were gonna tell me when?”

“As soon as I was able to use this damn thing!” She hadn’t meant to shout, but her nerves were more frayed than ever.

“Sorry. Sheesh.” He turned to walk out of the doorway.

Ali reached out and grabbed his arm, watching how the muscles played under the taut skin. “I’m sorry. I’ve been really stressed these last few days. I could lose my job, you know.”

“No, I didn’t know. You’d get booted from the military for being pregnant?”

“Not exactly. It’s more like HOW and WHEN and with WHOM it all happened.” She paused a moment and frowned. “I doubt it’d even matter that it’s been months since that assignment ended. I can hear Caleb now, ‘It’s the principle of the matter, Lieutenant’.” She shook her head sadly.

“Mmm… I see. So, why didn’t you call? Even if you didn’t know, and you were worried, you could have called me.” He held out his arms and hugged her hard. “I need you. I care about you. I want to help you. And I don’t give a damn that your general ordered us to stay apart. If you’re having my baby, I am here. End of story.”

“I know. You’re just… you, I guess. Superstar and all that crap. I didn’t want you to panic and foul things up for yourself. I certainly didn’t want to screw up your career. I’ve done enough of that to my own lately.” She sighed heavily and kissed his chest. “Besides, I knew Albie would be home in a day or two and he’d smack me around and make me do the right thing.”

Blake started to laugh suddenly. “Sorry,” he mumbled, laughing even harder.

“What’s so funny?”

“When I met him in the driveway, he said he’d gone to get aspirin for your headache. Couldn’t even go get your own test?”

“Too dizzy to drive.”

Blake looked down at her and smiled. “Too ditzy to drive maybe. Now, are you gonna use that thing or do I need to hold it for you?”

Growling, she pushed his naked body out of the bathroom and slammed the door in his face.

*~*~

“Okay, Cookie. It’s been three minutes. Come out, come out wherever you are…”

Ali looked at the white stick sitting on the bathroom sink. “Crap.” Sighing, she let him in. “There,” she pointed to the offending object. “Go look.”

Blake took a deep breath and steeled his nerves to what he was about to see. What was it going to reveal? Baby? No baby? Would this tear them apart either way? He knew one thing for certain: he couldn’t let anything ever come between them now. Not ever. No matter what it took, he was on a mission to get her back for good. He closed his eyes as he stepped to the edge of the sink. He swallowed his heart back down into his chest, looked down, and opened his eyes.

“Aw, crap, Ali.”

Code Red 2: Life Sentence ~ Chapter 5

The Hardest Part

Pulling herself off the floor, she leaned against the bathroom sink and stared at her pale reflection. “This just can’t be happening to me,” she muttered. Closing her eyes, she allowed herself the luxury of a few self-indulgent tears.

The tinkling of music snapped her eyes open. Her cell phone was ringing. Grasping her robe more tightly around her, she abandoned the bathroom for her bedroom. Rustling around in the mess she’d left on her nightstand, she finally found it and answered, somewhat breathless. “Hello? Lt. Hart.”

A soft chuckle filtered over the line. “Morning, Cookie. Did I disturb you?”

Blake. “No, Cowboy, not at all. I was… just getting out of the shower. Sorry I took so long.” Please God, don’t let him hear that I’ve been crying.

The earlier chuckle became a throaty, all-male laugh. “Nice visual there, I think I like it.”

“You are a pig,” she teased.

“And it’s why you like me so much, isn’t it?”

He knew her too well. “But of course!” She felt her heart fall into her stomach at this easy banter. She still hadn’t been able to break the bad news to him and now, now… this. “So, why are you calling me so early in the morning? Or are you just coming home?”

“Yeah, just got in,” he muttered, sounding slightly embarrassed. “Two shows tonight.” He paused, thinking quickly and deciding to move forward. “I am going to be near you soon and I wanted to see you again.”

Her heart plummeted even farther. “Can’t do that,” she whispered, dreading the next words out of his mouth.

“Busy?”

“No,” she hedged, “not quite.”

“What’s ‘not quite’ mean, Cookie?” His voice had taken on a hard edge.

“Forgive me, but I don’t know how to say this without hurting you.”

“Then just say it,” he spat angrily.

Ali bit her trembling bottom lip, angrily forcing the tears back into their ducts. “I’ve been ordered to stay away from you.”

“What the fuck?” he screamed. “Why? What the hell is it now? It’s not like you’re still my baby sitter or anything!”

“No, I’m not, and I almost wish I was.” The tears had fought back and won, streaming steadily down her cheeks now.

“What’s wrong? Why this, why now?” At least he didn’t sound like he wanted to rip her throat out any longer.

“General Stone. Or, rather, Bryan and his best pal, Caleb.”

He understood now. Her ex and his upper level best friend were out to not just break them up, but keep them apart as well. “Why are they doing this to us? I only just found you and now I have to let you go? I won’t. I can’t. Cookie?”

“I’m sorry, Blake, but I don’t have any choice. Bryan’s jealous, and he’s involving Caleb because he knows I’m encouraging Shana to break away. And Stone…” the tears were close to choking her now. “Stone at least makes sense. Your life is very high profile. By the nature of my job, I have to stay very low profile. A relationship with someone like you is sure to blow my cover. I don’t like it…”

He sighed. “But it does make sense. I never meant to jeopardize your job, or you. I’m sorry.” Blake could feel the tightness closing in on his throat suddenly.

“But it sucks.”

“Yeah, it does. Do I at least get to say good-bye?”

“You’re giving up, just like that?” She was incredulous; he would let her go without a fight?

“I don’t want to, but I’ve met that general of yours. He’d toss me in the pokey without a second thought if I did anything other than what he says. He told me so and I believe him.” The invisible hand clenching at his throat moved lower and squeezed at his heart. “Is there anything either of us can do?”

She shook her head and laughed.

“What’s so funny?”

“Other than me shaking my head at the phone? Nothing.” The sound of his laughter eased the ached in her soul just a bit. “Sadly, once General Michael E. Stone makes up his mind, there’s no changing it.”

“So, no good-bye then.” It was a statement, not a question.

“No,” she whispered. “Our last night together was our good-bye.”

“If I’d known that, I wouldn’t have ever left.”

“I know, Cowboy, and I’m sorry.” And you don’t know just how sorry, either. “I’m going to miss you.”

He looked out the kitchen window and stared absently into his back yard. “I’m going to miss you, too. “

“Good-bye, Blake.”

“Good-bye, Allyson. Thank you for not allowing the bad guys to fill me full of holes.”

The corner of her mouth quirked up at that. “Anytime you need a bodyguard,” she teased and hung up.

~*~

“General, I’m worried about my sister. “

“It’s a bit of heartache, Rogan, she’ll get over it,” Caleb Lockhart spat out. “And probably not even heartache at that.”

“Yeah,” Bryan snorted, “more like a loin ache, I’d guess.”

“Lockhart,” General Stone growled, “and Tracey, that will be enough!” Looking at Lt. Rogan, he glared. “And why are you so worried about her. She’s a grown woman.”

“I know that,” he replied indignantly. “But, she’s not eating, she’s not sleeping, and Shana says she’s been physically ill these last few days. She won’t talk to me or to Shana.”

He stared hard at his lieutenant while considering his options. If he didn’t at least agree to talk to her, there’d be hell from both Rogan and the irrepressible redhead. “I’ll talk to her. Go back to work.”

Albert saluted. “Yes sir.”

~*~

“You requested my presence, sir?” she tried to joke, but without any real heart in it.

“Yes, Lieutenant, I did. Have a seat.”

Allyson sat, worried about was was coming next. “I have been doing as you requested.”

General Stone gazed at her, not understanding at first, and then the realization hit him. “For once, he is not the reason you’re here.” She visibly relaxed and he wondered at that briefly. “No, rather, this time it is because of your brother.

She groaned and rolled her eyes. “What did he and Bazooka do this time?”

Stone gave a belly laugh that shook the small office. “Oh, no, nothing like that. Not today anyway. However, he is concerned for your wellbeing.”

Ali blinked. “Huh?”

“He and Shana are concerned about your health. She says you’ve been ill and your brother concurs.”

Aw, hell. “I feel fine, General.”

“And emotionally? How are you there?”

Double hell. “As well as can be expected, considering.”

“Considering what?”

Considering the fact that I’m almost positive I’m pregnant with the baby of a man I’m not even allowed to see? “Considering you took one of my best friends away from me and insisted I never see him again.”

“You barely knew him!”

“Yeah, and sometimes you just click with someone. Sometimes, General, it’s just right. May I go now?”

“Yes. Dismissed. And shape up or there will be trouble.”

She rolled her eyes inwardly. “Yes. Sir.”

~*~

“Albie?” Ali poked her head into the rec room and looked around for her brother. “You in here?”

“Over here, cutie,” called Bazooka, head down over a foosball table.

“Hey sis,” Albie greeted her, not taking his eyes from the heated match he was sharing with his friend. “How are… OUCH!” He looked up at her then. “Why’d you just hit me?”

She frowned hard at him. “I know you mean well, but please, stop trying to help. I do not need to be grilled by General Stone over my current emotional state. It’s fragile enough as it is.”

“I’m sorry,” he told her honestly, leaving the game half finished to hug her. “He said he was just going to talk to you.”

“I know,” she reassured him, “but you know how he is, especially where Blake is concerned.”

Albie looked at his feet. “If I hadn’t…”

“Shana would. I know. And I’m thankful you beat her to the punch. She’d have made a mess of things. But now? Just leave it alone, okay? I’m fine.”

“You don’t look fine.”

“Bazooka? You stay out of it too.”

“Sorry,” he muttered.

“Don’t be, but you are all causing me grief with your well-meaning help. Got me?” They both nodded, not happy, but knowing she was right. “Now , someone call Red so we can get some dinner. I’m starved.”

Code Red 2: Life Sentence ~ Chapter 4

Mika’s Note: Yeah, so I was gone for more than a few days.  Sorry. LOL

Coming Clean

The plate of food sat on the table in front of her, untouched. She hadn’t eaten all day and yet, she couldn’t bring herself to eat this, either. Her stomach was in knots.

“Ali?” her brother asked concerned, “Are you okay?”

She shook her head. “No, not really.”

“You’ve been acting weird all week, wanna talk about it?”

She frowned. “Not really, but I suppose I should.” She picked up a tortilla chip and sighed. Crunching on the cheese and sour cream covered bit of chip, she chewed and thought how to break the news to her brother. “I’ve been ordered to break off my relationship with Blake.”

“What?” The shrill response startled both Ali and Albert.

“Hey Shana,” Albie called out once his heart had started beating again.

“Geez, you scared me.”

“Well, you just scared me too, chickie,” the redhead informed her, plopping down next to her and reaching for her roommate’s nachos. “I thought you just said you were dumping Mr.. HotStuff Cowboy.”

Ali sighed again. “I have to.”

“What the fuck for?” Albert. Never one to mince words.

“No choice. Stone’s afraid that his um, fame will blow my cover and thus ruin every possible future mission.”

“And thus dooming the free world to a fate worse than death,” Shana finished for her, quoting one of their general’s favorite scenarios.

“Something like that,” she mumbled. “More like ruining any chance I had to be happy for a change, that’s for sure.”

Taking her hand, Albie gave it a squeeze. “Have you talked to him yet?”

She shook her head. “Not yet, I don’t even know what to tell him.”

“How about your C.O. is a dumbass?” Shana looked at her two friends and their frowns. “What? Works for me.”

A smile quirked up one half of Ali’s mouth. “Works for me too, but I doubt Blake will accept that.”

“So, what then?”

“I don’t know, Red, but I do know it won’t be easy. He and Leslie had a big row after the awards show. She admitted to her infidelities and he walked away. I don’t know what to say that’s not going to make him feel just as betrayed.”

“Try him, sis,” Albie assured her. “You might be surprised.”

She shrugged. It was possible, although she wasn’t ready to admit it. The possibility that Blake might go along with the dissolution of their almost-relationship hurt more than the idea she had to give him up. After all, didn’t that mean the relationship was that easy to let go of? “Maybe,” she admitted.

“I think that, for once, Albie might be right, Ali.” She squeezed her friend’s arm, wishing there was more she could do. “Hopefully he’ll at least understand, even if he doesn’t like it.”

Ali nodded, fighting back the sudden onslaught of tears forming behind her eyes. What the hell was wrong with her these days? Ever since her last visit with Blake, she’d become more and more prone to tears. And she never cried. Never. “Doesn’t look like I have much choice, wish me luck.”

“Luck,” they chimed in unison.

“Thanks, and I better get going. Lots to do and more piling up all the time.” She shrugged, trying to act unconcerned and failing miserably. “I think Bryan is bound and determined to keep me buried under a mountain of paperwork until I agree to date him again.”

“God help us all,” Shana replied, watching her best friend walk away.

“Amen,” Ali called back over her shoulder. “See you at home later.”

“I’ll have the tequila ready!” she shouted encouragingly. As soon as Ali had disappeared from sight, she caught Albert’s gaze. “Is she really okay?”

He looked from where his sister had disappeared over to the redhead sharing the table. “I think so. I know she’s upset, but she’s not one to dump her feelings on anyone, you know.”

“Yeah, I know, but she’s been acting oddly. And she’s pale. And not sleeping. I’m worried.”

Sighing, Albie took Shana’s hand and gave it a quick squeeze. “She’s in pain. She’s been alone way too long and now she’s having to give up the one thing that’s making her happy. Give her some time, okay?”

Shana nodded. “Okay. Thanks.”

“Anytime.”