Chapter 4

Sorry ladies, it just didn't want to come out of my head right. Hope it worked out like I wanted it to*

Max stared out the window of the plane as they touched down.

Why did you kiss her?! What good did that do?? Now you have to live with her, not touch her, not think about how she felt against you… fuck!

This summer was going to be torture.

He figured he could get her into his bed without too much of a hassle, but he couldn’t use her like that. It wasn’t right. And no matter how good she tasted, no matter how much he wanted to feel her lips on the rest of his body… with what she’d been through, seducing her was not on the top of the list of things that he should be doing with her.

No, he should be helping her. Physical therapy, emotional therapy, making her smile. Making those nightmares stop. That was the first thing he hoped to do. That was the second time he’d been there to wake her from whatever dreams plagued her. He wanted the horrific images to erase from her brain.

Helping Juliet from the descending staircase, he led her into the back of a sedan and nodded to the guys that placed their suitcases in the trunk. Well… his suitcases. Tomorrow he’d go shopping and get her something to wear other than a Pens t-shirt and sweatpants that were entirely too big for her. It did give him a little roll of satisfaction that she was wearing his clothes instead of the scrubs that the hospital had given to her.

“So… do you live with your parents when you’re here?”

It was the first time she’d said anything to him since he’d gently woken her from the darkness that seemed to want to swallow her whole.

“Non. I have my own place. It’s not far from them, but it’s enough for now. I definitely need my privacy and independence. Juniors, the minors and now the NHL have made me crave that bit of ‘me’ time.”

The drive to his house didn’t take as long as he thought. Either there was no traffic or he just wasn’t paying any attention. If he had to choose, he’d guess it was the latter option. There was always traffic. He watched her as she stared out the window.

“I’m still sorry that you feel like you have to do this. I’ll be stealing your ‘me’ time.”

“I don’t feel… obli… oblique… obligated?”

“But I…”

“Would you like to see some of the city while you’re here?”

Max decided that he wasn’t going to let her try and make him feel bad for offering to do this. He really wanted to help her, and learn all about her. Try and figure out what made her want to do this for a living. What her family thought about it?

“Am I allowed to leave the house a lot?”

“Well, not a lot. But you can’t just pretend like you don’t exist.”

“That’s what they did though. They made it seem like everyone was dead.”

“No… they just didn’t report that anyone had survived. But no one expect for you and that other guy, and Mac, know the truth. So you can pretend to be my cousin or something. You don’t have to be my wife. That would be a lot of explain to my family. But around my friends, just be a visiting cousin. I’ll tell my parents and my brothers a fairly true story to cover our tracks.”

“This is precisely why I didn’t want to involve you.”

“Too late. I am involved.”

“You’re masochistic.”

“No I’m… Well, maybe I am. Now, here’s what I was thinking.”

He outlined his plan. They would get settled into his place tonight, maybe just order some take-out since he probably didn’t have any food in his house. And they could make a shopping list, multiple lists really, and go out the next day for clothes, necessities and food.

When they pulled up to the house he paid the driver, put his bags upstairs and came back down, falling onto the couch. He patted the cushion next to him and was pleased when Juliet came over and plopped down beside him. He phone buzzed and he looked at the screen, FLEUR, and made a note to text him later tonight.

He had already planned on letting his teammate know what was going on. Well, not everything. But he knew that he could trust Marc-Andre not to blab about him having some strange woman at his place. And Marc’s girlfriend Veronique was like the nicest girl ever. She could make you fall in love with her in a heartbeat, and she would be a great companion for Juliet.

“We’ll have dinner with Marc-Andre and Vero tomorrow night, okay?”

“Who are they?”

“Marc is the goalie for the Pens. He’s a great friend, and a great guy. And his girlfriend will definitely be a blessing for you. She’s amazing and it will give you someone to hang out with.”

“O-okay… Max… never mind.”

“What is it?”

“It’s nothing… don’t worry about it.”

“Juliet… it’s mostly going to be the two of us. Day in, day out. We have to be able to communicate.”

“You kissed me.”

That was not where he thought she was going to go right now. He had no explanation for it. Nothing other than the fact that she had looked so beautiful and helpless and his weak mind had made him lean forward to stop her incessant rambling. And then she had moaned against his lips. What man could stop from tasting her after that?

But he wouldn’t act on it. He was strong, he could control himself.

“Max?”

“I didn’t mean to do that.”

“You said that before. I think you did though.”

He turned an incredulous face toward her and realized that she was sitting a lot closer than she had been before. She was almost on top of him actually.

What is she doing?!

“I think you kissed me because you felt that little spark when we first met. You felt the same thing I did.”

“You had a gun. The only thing I was feeling at the moment was the urge to shit myself.”

Instead of backing away, getting indignant like he expected her to, Juliet just chuckled and sidled up against him. She slipped her left leg over his lap, using her good arm to stabilize herself, and then she was staring at him. He swallowed audibly.

“Juliet, this isn’t smart. This isn’t what you want.”

“Oh… I want this. Trust me.”

“Okay, maybe you want this now. But it’s wrong. You need to take time to relax and grieve.”

She needed to get the hell off his lap before he picked her up and carried her to his bed.

Focus Maxime. Be a good man. Take her to her room.

“I need to forget everything. Help me forget. Help me make it through the night. Even if it’s just this night.”

Her hand came up, stroking his cheek, igniting a slow burn in his chest. The simplest touch set him on fire.

You can do this. Just take her upstairs, and then walk away.

“What you need is to get a good night’s sleep. Come, I will take you upstairs.”

Before she could disagree or come up with something else that would try his patience, and his will, Max twisted her as gently as possible and wrapped her up in his arms. Standing, he ignored the comfortable feel of her arm around his neck and her fingers twirling in the hair at the base of his skull. She curled into him and he listened to her sigh as she breathed him in.

“Stop that Juliet.”

“Stop what?”

“It cannot happen.”

“Why?”

“I’m supposed to be taking care of you.”

“And sex doesn’t fall under that category?”

He snorted and started up the steps. On the second floor he had two options. He could turn left and take her into the room that she would be staying in while she was with him… or he could turn right and love her six ways from Sunday and complicate this all the way to Hell and back. She shifted slightly and Max looked down to ask her if she was uncomfortable. Her eyes were closed.

Thank goodness. Now I don’t have to decide.

He stepped into her room and walked over to the bed. Placing her gently onto the mattress, he pulled the afghan from the chair near the bed and laid it over her body. She sighed and a small smile played on her lips. His heart clenched and he had to force himself to walk away after covering her. Leaning down, he pressed a kiss to her forehead.

“Bonne nuit ma chère,” Max whispered against her skin.

He slid quietly from her room and pulled the door around, leaving it cracked in case she needed something in the middle of the night. He was in his bathroom, getting ready for bed, when he heard her cry out.

Not stopping to think, he dropped his toothbrush and booked it across the hallway and into the semi-darkness. He knew his house well, even though he wasn’t there that often. He side-stepped the desk and hurried to the side of the bed where Juliet’s voice cracked as she cried out ‘No Frenchie Nooo!’ and her arms flailed as if she were lashing out at something or someone.

“Réveillez-vous Juliet! C’mon, come back to me! Wake up!”

She jerked once more in his arms and then her eyes opened. She instantly wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her tear-stained face into his neck.

“Please don’t leave me,” she whispered.

“I won’t… I won’t.”

Max started to tuck her back on the bed but she refused to let him go. He reached up and unclasped her hands, speaking softly and promising to come right back. He jogged into his bathroom and grabbed his shirt. It was one thing to torture himself in bed with her… it was another thing altogether to lie next to her in nothing but sweatpants.

When he got back to the room, he turned on her bathroom light and pulled the door almost shut, noticing that she had maneuvered herself under the blankets. Then he stood at the edge of the bed, warring in his mind over whether or not he could, and should, crawl in there with her. He’d almost made up his mind to just sprawl out in the chair when she turned over and patted the mattress.

“Come to bed. I promise not to attack you,” Juliet joked.

Max chuckled and pulled the blankets back, settling in beside her. She was propped on her side, facing him, and biting her lip. He told her to go to bed and then flipped over, facing away from her.

Maybe if I don’t look at her, don’t touch her, I’ll forget she’s right here.

It worked. Until morning.

Then he woke up with his hand groping her breast, his leg thrown over her calf in a possessive way, morning wood pressed against her ass and no idea on how to move without waking her up and embarrassing himself. He’d just lifted his leg when she snuggled herself against him. He held his breath, praying that she stayed asleep. When she gasped, he knew he was found out.

“I know you’re awake Max.”

Shit.

Chapter 3

This is insane. He doesn’t understand. How could he? Why would Mac think this is a good idea?!

Max had left her about an hour ago. He was going to finish packing the things he needed to take to Montreal… Montreal. A beautiful, old city. She’d never been there. Jennings had talked about it all the…

Tears flooded her vision as she thought about the goofy guy from the Canadian province who had been the techie of their team. It was how he’d earned the name Frenchie. He wasn’t even supposed to be with them this time. But instead of him going to the temporary headquarters, he had asked just to stay with them since it was supposed to be an Intel op. and then they’d arrived at the old house and…

“I’m so sorry you guys. I should’ve known,” she whispered as the tears fell. After the first one slid down her cheek, she couldn’t stop them. Couldn’t hold back the anguish and rage she felt. Her entire team, those she had been closest to, had been wiped out in a matter of seconds.

They’d swept the area, no explosives. Since Jennings had accompanied them there hadn’t been a way to be completely sure that there weren’t possible problems surrounding them. But her instincts hadn’t gone off, nothing had seemed wrong. Only upon opening the door had she realized how costly her mistake in trusting their team leader had been.

She hit the morphine button twice and as the pain in her shoulder lessened, her sense of reality did as well. She hated the way the drugs made her feel but at the same time she relished her escape from the both types of pain.

Sleep came then. A restless state where only images of what had happened replayed in her mind. They left Frenchie in the van and entered the house. She watched Crawford go into the kitchen. She heard the pressure release of the flash bomb. The shouts of her teammates. The cries as the first one got hit. Then another, and another. He was saving her for last. He, or they, as she later found out.

She didn’t know why. She called out to see who was still with her. No reply. Escape was the only thought after that. She ran toward the door, heard a gurgled cry as well as maniacal laughter. She couldn’t stop though. Flinging back the wooden block, she sprinted toward the van, yelling for Frenchie to start the engine. But he was gone too. Blood poured from the slash across his throat.

The snap of twigs made her turn. Three guys in camouflage were canvassing the area. Before they could fire, she ran. She had no idea where she’d go, but she ran away from them, and away from the traitor… and her friends. It was at that moment that the booming voice called out.

But unlike the reality, in her dream the bullet that hit her was enough to stop her. Juliet heard them coming. Heard them standing over her, but she couldn’t move. Then she heard his voice. He told them to have a little fun with her, but not too much. He needed her alive and able to talk.

She didn’t know what he thought she knew… what he didn’t already know, but when the first hand touched her, she scrambled to try and get away. She thrashed about trying to get free of the grip. A voice, a soothing voice, told her to relax. Told her that she was safe. It sounded familiar. Why would one of these mercenaries be so kind? They were going to torture her, kill her later, toy with her now. All she wanted was to break free, to get away and…

“Juliet! Chere, wake up… Wake up!”

Opening her eyes, she stared into the blue oceans of Max’s gaze. He was leaning down, his face a mask of concern. His hair fell down in his eyes. It really didn’t suit him to have long hair. That, coupled with the scruffy beard, made him look sleazy. And of course, only she would find ‘sleazy’ attractive at this time.

“What are you doing back here so soon?”

“It’s been five hours.”

“No more morphine drip then.”

“Actually, that’s why I came back.”

Juliet waited for him to elaborate. He didn’t. He just sat on the side of her bed.

“Are you going to explain?”

“The doctor said that when you woke up, if you felt like it… he could release you. Please don’ lie to me… how do you feel?”

“Aside from the pull of the stitches, and a slight headache from my… dream… I feel as healthy as to be expected.”

“And mentally?”

“Can we just go on physically right now… please?”

“Are you going to go willingly to Montreal?”

She nodded. She didn’t like it. Didn’t like that Mac was using this man. But Mac was the one person in the world now that she trusted completely. If this is what he wanted her to do… she could swallow her pride and make this concession.

“I don’t have anything but what I was wearing and my gun.”

“Mac has taken care of that. And we discussed your… weapon. I’m not thrilled, but I know that you feel the need to have that.”

She didn’t know how he thought she could function properly now without it. Just being here, in a hospital… she was twitching with the need to have her piece by her side. Juliet bit her lip, trying not to let the constant worry seep into her brain. It was hard to do when she knew that she was a marked woman.

The tumble down the hill that then led her to Max… that would throw them off her trail for only a short time. Especially if they tracked the blood she’d lost. They’d be able to see where she stopped for help and then…

“GENO!”

Max jumped at her sudden outburst.

“What?”

“You can’t let him go back! If he does and there’s any evidence that I was there… Then he could be in serious danger and then he could get hurt and I don’t want that to happen again and…”

“Shhhh, it’s alright Jules. Don’t worry.”

She wanted to laugh at him. Don’t worry. He said it like by just murmuring the words to her, he could magically make her forget the things that had happened.

“But... these guys won’t play around. They’re better than some CSI teams! I need to call Mac and get protective custody for him, and you, and… everyone! You’re all risking your lives and you don’t know what you’re up against! Hell, I don’t even know what I’m up against! But I know it’s bad and if I could just get to a secure line and talk to Mac then we could probably figure something out and then I wouldn’t feel like I was abandoning the memory of my fallen comr…”

She didn’t get to finish the rant she was on because before her sentence was completed Max was holding her against him, his arm wrapped around her waist, while his other hand tilted her head up and his lips crashed down on hers.

For a second or two she was so stunned that she couldn’t move, much less fathom why on earth he was kissing her. But then his teeth sunk into her bottom lip, nipping at it gently, and she let out a moan of satisfaction.

He took that as a sign to continue and his tongue swept into her mouth. He tasted fruity, maybe like an orange… something citrusy… and he didn’t give her a moment to think about what was happening. He just kept her pressed against him as he ran his fingers through her hair, pulling lightly to keep her mouth under his as he changed his angle on the bed.

Why are you kissing him?! This is crazy! You’re insane… He’s insane… God he tastes delicious.

No matter what her brain was telling her, mixed signals or not, Juliet was ready to pull him down on top of her and let him have his wicked way. No man that kissed like that could be bad. But the moment she twisted to drag him down, the sharp pain in her shoulder made her yelp into his mouth. Lightening fast, Max pulled away and stood by her bedside.

“I’m sorry… that shouldn’t have happened. Are you hurt?”

“N-no… Just pinched my muscle is all. It’s okay.”

“It’s not. I didn’t mean to take advantage of you. I’ll... I will go get the doctor and he can see how you’re doing and see if it’s alright for you to leave.”

He was almost to the door when she called out to him.

“Max… Max wait!”

He stopped, but he didn’t turn around.

“I don’t know if I’ve thanked you yet for saving my life. I’m sure Mac has told you repeatedly… but I just wanted you to know that I personally thank you. You don’t have to do all of this though. You’re uprooting your life by taking me on. I’ll never be able to repay you.”

He turned at that. His eyes were so bright that she thought maybe there was a light behind them, something making them glow. He marched back over to where she was now lying. That little burst of adrenaline had zapped her strength and she felt weak not being able to look at him face to face.

“Let’s just take it one day at a time chère.”

“I’ll keep you safe while I’m in your care Max.”

“Yes, I’m sure you will. But while you’re healing and still trying to play G.I. Jane… who do you think will be watching your back?”

Quick as a flash, he leaned down and pressed his lips to her forehead. Then he spun around and went in search of the doctor. She couldn’t help the pleasure that washed over her as she let his words sink in.

Three hours later she was on a private jet, flying high and wondering what she would do while he was training. It wasn’t like she could leave the house. Mac had made her a set of false documents using her fake name. But she knew that going out could be bad. In essence, she would disappear. They were already reporting that everyone from the team had been taken out.

For once she was glad that she had no family. No one to mourn a loss that didn’t happen.

Looking up, she caught Max’s intense stare. He wanted her to talk about it. To talk about the things that had gone down the day before. If she was back on base, the military shrink would be asking her all the same questions. It would be clinical. It would be cold. Max would be gentle. She couldn’t handle gentle right now, maybe never.

Finally breaking his gaze, she moved gingerly and attempted to relax and sleep for the final thirty minutes. It worked out perfectly. Until she was woken once again by Max because she was crying out and tears were pouring down her face.

“Let me help you,” he whispered.

She wanted to. But she figured it would be a long time until the nightmare went away, and before she was able to utter any words about it.

Chapter 2

Sorry peeps, promised you regular updates.

The Pens have me a little down in the dumps though...

I'll work on it though!

*~****~*

“Merde!”

“What’s wrong,” the voice came through the speakerphone. He hit the button again and put the cell to his ear as he laid the woman back down onto the table.

“She’s lost consciousness. We need to leave. I don’t know how much blood she lost before she got here.”

“Grab all her gear and get on your car. Your boss should be calling you any moment. And please Max, call me later.”

“I will.”

He snapped the phone shut and ran back to Gonch’s living room to get the gun. Then, after putting it and the phone back into her bag, he slung it over his shoulder and picked her up in his arms once more. She didn’t make a noise this time, so she must really be out of it. He grabbed his keys and hurried out to his car. Placing her in the passenger seat, he buckled her in, tossed her bag in the backseat and got behind the wheel.

He had just pulled out of the driveway when his phone rang. MARIO flashed on the screen and he flipped open the phone.

“Max, I don’t know what you got yourself mixed up in, but Geno’s here and mumbling about some woman with a gun?! Tell me you’re safe!”

“Some guy named Mac hasn’t called you yet?”

“Mac?? No, I haven’t heard from him in… hold on!”

He heard the click of being put on hold and wondered if he should start to drive or wait. If she was right and people were following her, he should go. But where was he going to be driving to? The hospital? He figured that was a safe bet and threw the car into third gear, winding around the roads to get to the highway. He was about to turn onto the main road when Mario came back on the phone.

“UPMC Max. Get there. Fast as you can. When you check her in, give her your last name.”

“Okay.”

He hung up and switched gears again, feeling the car come to life as he swerved in and out of lanes. They made it to the hospital in record time and he carried her through the sliding doors. A nurse looked up at him from the front desk, took one look at the two of them, and immediately called for a gurney. He figured Mario must’ve warned them or something because they whisked her away and he stood there, not knowing what to do.

He sat down and pulled her phone out, dialing Mac again. He told him what was going on and asked what his wife’s first name was. After learning a few more things and made plans that she probably wouldn’t like, he hung up and leaned back in the uncomfortable waiting room chairs. He thought that losing to the Senators would mean a boring summer. Two hours later he was approached by a man in green scrubs.

“Mr. Talbot?”

“Oui?”

“Hi, I’m Dr. Jackson. Your wife went through surgery just fine. There was no serious damage done, no fragments that we had to clean out, and the tissues should heal nicely. She’ll have a scar, on both sides, but she should be okay.”

“Can I see her?”

“Yes. They just moved her from recovery. She should be in her own room now. Fifth floor, room two-nineteen.”

Max shook the man’s hand, thanked him, and hurried off toward the elevator. He punched the ‘up’ button repeatedly until the doors finally opened. He was practically running as he stepped off on his floor and headed over to the nurse’s station to get directions. After thanking them, he turned and tried not to look to anxious. As he stepped through the doorway, he was taken aback by the way she looked.

They had cleaned her up. Her face and neck were no longer covered in dirt. There wasn’t any grass and leaves stuck in her hair. She was beautiful. Slightly tanned skin. A mane of dark brown hair. Long lashes that sat on her cheeks as she slept. He didn’t even take note of the fact that there were a couple bruises and scratches on her face, or that there was an IV in her arm… she looked so peaceful.

He sat down in the chair next to her bed and gently took her hand in his. As he rubbed slow circles over her wrist, he watched as her eyes fluttered open. She looked at him, vibrant green eyes staring at him with clarity. At least they hadn’t doped her up on pain meds.

“Max,” she said in a raspy voice. He stood and grabbed the glass of water that seemed to have been waiting for her. He held it to her lips and let her drink through the straw. As her lips wrapped around the plastic he felt perverted but she looked sexy to him.

God I need to get laid. Or get therapy.

He set the glass back on the table and she smiled up at him. He broke out into a grin as well and resumed holding her hand as he plopped back into the chair.

“You don’t have to stay. I’ll be okay. Did you call Mac? I can’t stay here. I need to leave. Did he say if he was coming to get me? Sending in a team? What did he say?”

“Calm down chere. You need to just lie back and relax. No one is going to know you’re even here. You aren’t checked in under Juliet Forbes.” He watched her eyes widen as he used her name. “As far as anyone here is concerned, you are Mariette Talbot.”

“Mariette?”

“Oui. It means ‘little rebel’ so I thought it was rather appropriate.”

She smiled at him.

“I like it. Now, no more beating around the bush. What did Mac say?”

“Well, it’s like this. You need to be somewhere that these guys won’t think to look. You’ll wanna go after them I bet. And you can’t. Not until you’re healed. And you won’t heal unless you’re hidden from them. You’d probably go off, guns blazing, right now and get yourself killed during some revenge mission.”

“You don’t understand,” she choked out. He could tell she was trying not to cry. But from what Mac told him, she was the last man… woman… standing out of a group of six. He’d said that they found the others. From the look of things, it had been a set-up.

“Tell me. Help me understand.”

“Why are you doing this? You don’t even know me.”

“I want to.”

“You want to know me?”

“Oui,” he said at almost a whisper. It wasn’t a lie. He did. He’d met her about six hours ago and he’d already volunteered to play ‘babysitter’ until she was healthy again. And why not? He lived in Montreal in the summers. No one would know her. No one would bother them. And he would be training, so she could work on getting her strength back as well. It was a win-win situation.

“Why?! I mean, no offense… but I did hold you at gunpoint when we first met.”

“No, dat was Geno. You just stared at me. And I know you feel something between us. Your pulse is jumping like crazy right now.”

“Don’t you have some hockey game to go play or practice for?”

“No. We were kicked out of the playoffs race. I was actually planning on heading back home for the summer. I was just spending time with my teammate before I went back to Montreal.”

“Jennings was from Montreal.”

“You need to talk about it.”

“I don’t want to.”

“It does not matter what you want… it’s what you need. You know I’m right.”

“I’d like to rest right now.” She didn’t pull her hand away, but Max could feel her shift into a shut down mode. She was tense and pale. He sighed and patted her hand before standing.

“Well, you will have plenty of time to take me up on the offer to use me as a shoulder when we get to my house. It will help you…”

“Your house? What on earth are you talking about?”

“Mac said you need to be hidden while you’re healing. And I thought what better place to hide you than with me. We’ll be out of the country. And no one knows that you and I are together.”

“Did Mac put you up to this?”

“No… I volunteered.”

“You… are you crazy?!”

“It’ll be over by the time I have to come back for training camp. You’ll be safe.”

“I won’t be safe until every last one of them is dead.”

Chapter 1

Okay, here you go.

This is the first chapter.

And I feel like I should explain something first... This story starts in the past.

I hope I get things close to being correct*

Love the comments as always*

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

April 27, 2007

Her lungs burned. , the muscles in her right side were cramping up like nobody’s business and the bullet hole in her shoulder hurt like a bitch. It seemed like a clean through-and-through. But it was still bleeding some. It wasn’t pumping out though, so hopefully there was no arterial damage. Pausing against the trunk of a tree with her good arm, she could feel the slow, sticky drip of her life’s essence fall down her arm.

Can’t stop. Keep moving. Get to safety.

Stumbling through the edge of the tree-line, she stared at the options in front of her. There were a few houses sporadically placed in a large clearing, looked like a ritzy little neighborhood. To her right was a new section of woods and to the far left was a gravel road… it looked more like a private driveway than a street. While she stood there debating, she noticed that the house closest to her had a sliding back door. An open, sliding back door. Behind her, she thought she heard a low buzz of ATVs that could be following her by now.

Please don’t be a house full of people.

Being as careful and as stealthy as possible, she side-stepped through the grass in the backyard, all the while praying that no nosy neighbors were staring out there windows. Stopping at the door, she stayed flat against the frame of the house and pulled her gun out of her shoulder holster with a barely audible gasp of pain.

It had been awhile since she’d actually held weapon, aside from those times at the range for target practice, but the piece felt like an extension of her arm. Hopefully she wouldn’t have to use it though.

Fucking lucky that they shot my holster shoulder and not my left one.

Taking a deep breath, she entered the house. It smelled like popcorn. Not a good sign that it was currently empty.

Strike one.

Stepping through the kitchen and taking in her surroundings, she listened carefully, hearing the buzz of a television coming from the front of the house. She tiptoed over the tile and stifled a groan as her bag tilted and pressed against her wound. Walking lightly down the hallway, she could hear voices along with the sounds of some sort of sporting event.

Strike two.

The initial sense of clam that had come over her after stepping through the back door was draining her energy. Or maybe it was all the blood she’d lost so far. Either way, she could feel her adrenaline high come crashing down. She needed to get this over with. Quickly. She took a deep breath, cringed as the movement pulled at the stitch in her side, steadied her gun and stepped into the room.

Taking a quick inventory, she noted the two guys sitting in matching leather, over-stuffed recliners. They were the only two people she saw. Each one had a bowl of popcorn in their lap and she noted the longneck bottles on the coffee table in front of them. Their eyes were glued to the TV and she looked up as well, watching as a bunch of guys skated around a rink, smashing into one another. Bringing her focus back to the men, she leveled her gaze at the closest man. He was tall and lanky, a slight curl to hair that looked like it needed cut, and he was chewing on his lip.

The second one… he sent a shock of awareness through her body as she drank in the sight of him. He looked to be shorter than the first guy, closer to her height, and he had dark hair and a killer smile. It lit up his entire face as he laughed about someone falling to the ice. She could’ve stared at him forever but her moment was cut short when the bigger one stood and turned her way.

Strike three. I’m out.

He hollered something in a language she didn’t know and a look of surprise flew across his face before he glanced at the other man. She wished she knew what he had said, but languages weren’t her forte. No, that was Crawford’s line of… she blinked back the threat of tears and leveled her gun at the big guy. Later… later she would mourn the loss of her team. After she got the bastard responsible.

“English Geno! I don’t under… TABERNAK!”

The second guy stood quickly. His popcorn fell to the floor, spilling everywhere, and the smile she’d just been mesmerized by was gone from his lips. In its place was a fierce expression that she figured was meant to intimidate her. He obviously didn’t know who he was dealing with. Then again, neither did she.

Keeping her gun trained on the giant’s chest, she stared at this second man. His eyes were blue, bright blue. Like the glaciers she’d seen up north on her last mission or the water she’d been able to swim in during her first undercover-op in Bora Bora. She wanted to look away, but couldn’t.

“Who are you? What do you want??”

His accent was thick, but it was distinctly French, maybe French-Canadian. She’d been sent to Pittsburgh and it was full of hockey players. Maybe these were two of them. It would explain the house. And could cause a potential problem… as if the day could get much worse.

She continued to stare at him, not answering his questions. The magnet pull she felt toward him almost brought her to her knees as she tried to keep from stepping closer to him. Maybe it was that loss of blood again, but she felt like she was going to pass out.

“Listen, I don’t want to hurt you. I came in here for help.”

“You ‘ave a gun pointed at my friend. You broke in here… and you want our help?! Are you crazy??”

He didn’t sound scared, just extremely pissed off. She could understand that. She’d be pissed too. Her gun wavered slightly as she fought not to black out and she wondered if they noticed.

“Listen to me. I’m a ‘good guy.’ U.S. military… I’m just having a very, very bad day. Look, I’m going to put my gun away.”

Making a big show of un-cocking her gun and throwing on the safety, she tried to tuck it back into its holster. The twisting movement pulled at her wound though and she bit back a whimper of pain. As the light-headed feeling came back at full force, she pitched forward, her gun dropping at her feet. Not a classy move for a person in her position.

Blue Eyes jumped in to keep her from hitting the floor. As he reached to keep her upright though, his fingers squeezed where the bullet had passed through and the whimper she’d held back before came out, this time as a cry of pain and a curse. He kept one hand around her waist but the other one was held up between them, covered in red. Obviously the blood had soaked through her coat.

“What the… fuck, you’re hurt! Is this blood?! It looks like blood! Why are you bleeding??”

“Like I said,” she gasped, “bad day. Now, if you want me to prove who I am, you’re gonna need to help me get my identification out of my bag. I don’t think I can get it off. Not without cutting the strap… and I really don’t want to do that. Will you help me… please?”

She didn’t know why she’d said please, but it had come out easily. And the plea must’ve made up his mind because he started to tell the tall one to go grab towels and hot water but then he must’ve thought better of it.

“Wait Geno… just get out of here. Is that alright if he leaves?”

She nodded her head and listened as the two of them fought about ‘Geno’ leaving. He didn’t want to but Blue Eyes finally talked him into it. They were talking quietly and she didn’t know what he told him, but the big guy nodded and headed out of the room at last.

“Don’t… don’t call the police. I need to call my boss first. He’ll know what to do. I’m trusting you to keep that guy from running straight to the station.”

“He’s not going to any police building. He’s going to… our boss I guess you could say. Let’s go look at this injury. What happened?”

“Who’s you boss? Are you in the mob?”

“No. And he’s a pretty big deal around here. He can help.”

“Is his name Lemieux?”

“How did you know that…”

“He’s a friend of my boss.”

They turned to go back the way they came, back toward the kitchen. A wave of dizziness hit her and she stumbled toward the wall. When she would’ve hit it though, she found that the wall felt strangely soft and smelled delicious. Strong arms picked her up, cradling her in an embrace that was soothing and jarring at the same time. Ever mindful of the throb in her right shoulder, she snuggled against the expanse of his chest. He sighed.

“Look, I’m trusting that you are who you say you are. A ‘good guy’ as you put it. If you want my help, the least you can do is tell me what the hell happened.”

When they got to the kitchen he set her down on the edge of the table. He coaxed her bag from her shoulders, apologizing when the release of pressure caused her to try and stifle a groan of pain. The coat was easier to get off and she noticed that he didn’t get squeamish at the sight of the hole she was sporting. Before he could continue his perusal of her injury, she placed a hand on his arm.

“Listen to me. I n-need you to do something for me. There’s a satellite phone in the pocket of my bag. Get it, hold down the ‘SEND’ button. It’ll connect you to my boss. When he answers… when he answers, tell him…”

Her brain grew fuzzy and her vision blurred. Mac needed to know what had happened though. Hell, he might find out before she called him if what Blue Eyes said was true.

“Tell him what,” he insisted.

“Fuck… tell him ‘Team Alpha is in trouble. All gone but the Bard. And Benedict Arnold is on the loose.’ Repeat that to me, okay?”

She listened, enthralled by his voice as he repeated it twice. She nodded at him and he pushed her back onto the table to relax as he pulled her phone out.

“Blue Eyes… listen… once you tell him that.. Take my stuff and get out of here. Leave me my gun, but take the rest. The possibility of men following me is too great for you to stay here too.”

“I can’t just leave and let someone kidnap you!”

“Kidnapping isn’t what they’ll have in mind. They would just want to finish what they started.”

She watched his eyes flash as he comprehended what she’d just said. She was the last piece of the puzzle that stood in the way of their plan. Looking up into those eyes, she tried to stay alert enough to make sure he did what she asked.

“Call… him…”

He nodded gravely and put the phone to his ear. Mac should be expecting her to call and check in. as she fought to stay awake she heard the man relay her message. She held up her hand for the phone after he’d finished but he stepped back, ignoring her request. He stared at her as he listened to something Mac was saying.

“Yes sir… no, she’s got a hole in her shoulder. I don’t know. Per'aps she was shot. She’s pretty out of it right now. I refuse to leave her with the possibility that someone is after her as we speak!”

She tried to tell him that he had to get out, had to get to safety before trouble came their way, but her tongue didn’t want to move properly.

“I can get her the help she needs. My boss is pretty important around here… Mario Lemieux…”

She shook her head no, gasping at the pain. He needed to go. Mac had to understand that even a friendship wouldn’t be enough to get her to safety right now.

“Mac,” she yelled, “Mac you know we can’t ask that of him. Tell him to get out of here!”

Blue Eyes glared at her and listened to whatever her boss was saying. He leaned down and pulled the neck of her shirt up. The material pulled at the dried blood and she hissed a breath through her teeth.

“She needs a doctor… now. I can get her out of here.”

Once again he tried to move the fabric but this time he pressed against the wound itself. Tears swam in her eyes as she tried to stay conscious. If she fainted then she wouldn’t be able to talk any sense into him.

“Y-you… you don’t know what you’re getting yourself into. Mac, I know you can hear me! Make. Him. Leave.”

He took the phone from his ear and hit a button. She tried to sit up and then leaned against him as Mac’s voice boomed in the silence of the kitchen.

“You listen to me Forbes. You’re the last one, and if he can get you out of there, I’m letting him! I’m going to call in a favor. His boss will call him with instructions. Frenchie, when you get her to wherever Mario says to go, you call me back. Understand?”

“Oui. I will call you.”

“Good. You hang in there Forbes. I haven’t been able to get rid of you before, don’t start wimping out on me now. That’s an order, you got it?”

“Yes sir,” she said with as much force as she could. The blackness was taking over and she could feel herself slipping.

“Good. Now I just have one question… who is this that I’m talking to?”

“Maxime Talbot of the Pittsburgh Penguins, at your service.”

She fainted in his arms.

Hello loyal followers!!

So, I believe that this is going to be the name of my new story!

I've been looking at different songs, and this one seems to mesh nicely with how I'm going to go with the writing...

And as a bonus for you guys coming on here and starting to follow it now... I'd like to give you a little, very little though, taste of what's to come!

Here's the first paragraph of the first chapter!

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Her lungs burned, the muscles in her right side were cramping up like nobody's business and the bullet hole in her shoulder hurt like a bitch. it seemed like a clean through-and-through. but it was still bleeding some. It wasn't pumping out though, so hopefully there was no arterial damage. Pausing against the trunk of a tree with her good arm, she could feel the slow, sticky essence drip down her arm.

Can't stop. Keep moving. Get to safety.

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I know, I'm a bitch to only give you that much!

But I'm going to try and get a lot more of it copied from my notebook and onto my laptop so I can post chapters steadily!

Hope that a lot of you who read the Sid story will enjoy this one as well!

I believe it's going to be different from A Lucky Shot, but I think you'll like it!

Rebel Heart out