Blackness Takes Over & Blackness Awaits (73 page)

“Kid, stop worryin’ about us. We’re good. Havin’ him around is not an imposition. I feel like we’ve gone back in time thirteen years,” Cal says shoving a frustrated hand through his hair.

“What?” Kellerman asks confused.

“When we were tryin’ to get her to move in with us back in the day she always acted like she was an imposition. Drove us nuts,” O’Sullivan fills Kellerman in. Kid grins.

“Sounds like her,” Kellerman says smiling at his woman. “Always thinkin’ about everyone else.”

“Somebody’s gotta think about these idiots, they sure as shit don’t,” Kid huffs.

The nurse walks in halting our conversation.

“How’s he doin’?” she asks.

“He latched on great and he’s taken a few deep draws. I didn’t get him weighed or changed yet.” Kid tells her. “My brother was holdin’ him and needed a quick reprieve when Johnny started fussin’.”

“Boob in the mouth shuts me up too,” O’Sullivan says under his breath. Making all the men in the room snicker while the ladies roll their eyes.

“Like father, like son,” Kellerman says confidently. That makes everyone laugh. When we got here yesterday I didn’t know what to expect so I prepared for the worst and hoped for the best. Sitting in a room laughing while Kid nurses her son…better than anything I hoped for.

Shannon

June 15, 2014

We get to take Johnny home today! He has met all of his discharge requirements including a pulmonary exam clearing him to fly home (private jet). I am ecstatic and freaked the fuck out in equal measure. Maggie and Mary are with us so it’s not like Kel and I are on our own, but still we’re first time parents. My boys have also stayed here with us despite me trying to convince them to go back home. And of course Thomas has stayed dutifully watchful in the waiting room every day. The man knows no bounds and I love him for it. The media have tried to come up here twice and met his giant scary enforcement. I think the hospital wants to hire him at this point. Rodger has also stayed with us, driving my brood around Seattle. The level of commitment the people in my life have to me is unreal. I’ll take it and then some right now because I feel like a damn basket case!

“What is that?” Kel asks as Maggie and Mary enter the room.

“It’s called a stroller, Dylan. I didn’t think you were this ill informed,” Maggie explains shocked by Kel’s question.

“I know what a stroller is Ma,” he chides. “That’s a damn tank. Who bought that?”

“I did. It’s an Emmaljunga. It Swedish and safe. And you’re right, it’s pretty much a tank,” I inform him moving over to check it out.

“It’s a what?” Kel looks at me like I’m speaking a foreign language (I guess I am). He’s holding Johnny in one hand which has become his thing. I don’t think we ever put the baby down between him and me and the rest of the family.

“It’s an em-uhl-young-uh,” I enunciate the name to help him out.

“Okay,” he stretches the word out. “Where’s the seat? That just looks like a bed.”

“This is a bassinet. We have the seat at home for when he can sit up better.”

“Ooh, nice stroller,” Kate compliments as she comes in the room. I lift an eyebrow at Kel and he smirks back. “European?”

“Swedish. I imported it,” I say moving to Kel to hold my baby. It’s my turn.

“You imported it?” Kel repeats.

“Yes. Is that a problem?” I ask warningly.

“You never cease to amaze me, Kiddo,” he responds placing Johnny on my chest and a quick kiss on my lips. We need to have sex. The tension between us is completely sex based. Good thing we’ll be home by tonight.

“All right guys. You’re all set to head out. Any last questions before you go?” Kate asks.

“Will you come home with us?” I ask seriously. She laughs and wraps Johnny and me in a sweet embrace. She pulls back and looks me in the eye.

“You don’t have any need for me. You’re just fine. But if you feel it necessary don’t hesitate to call.”

“Okay,” I say meekly feeling like a wimp. “Thanks for everything, Kate.”

She nods as I walk over to the stroller, lay Johnny down and swaddle him like a burrito which he loves. Kel pushes a cart full of our hospital stuff behind me as we walk through the hospital. I know the media are here, but Thomas has assured me he’s got Rodger waiting somewhere safe. Cassie’s parents have been put in protective custody until their trial. The Yates’ empire is crumbling further daily and the media is having a field day with it. The Yates’ have lost their freedom, their daughter and their grandson all because they were greedy.

The meeting Cassie had the day she died was to check on new product from Mexico. Nicky’s been able to track down some of the cartel she was dealing with and may be able to shut down some of their operations. Cassie could have killed my son…I don’t know how to get beyond that, other than to be thankful that she made me a mother. Kel is convinced she did cocaine the day her and her father had that meeting but we have no proof of that. He won’t really talk about her…he’s too mad. He’s also gone a bit primitive since Johnny was born. He speaks in grunts and single word sentences a lot. It’ll be good to get home and away from the media for all of us.

We end up walking out an ambulance bay where no one but hospital staff is allowed. There’s Rodger beaming from ear to ear. I climb into the SUV and Kel hands me the baby. I strap him in to the car seat securely making sure he’s breathing and comfortable. He’s swallowed up in this thing. He’s able to ride in a normal car seat instead of a preemie car seat because he’s so tall (long). He’s the longest baby born at thirty-four weeks gestation the hospital has ever had. He’s going to be big like his daddy. I take the seat next to the baby while everyone else piles in. Kel sits behind Johnny able to keep a watchful eye.

“I dropped the guys at the plane already. We’ll be to the airport shortly, Shannon,” Rodger says as he eases the SUV into traffic. It’s the most careful he’s ever driven me and I smile at the back of his head in thanks. Johnny’s eyes are open and he’s staring at his daddy. They do this a lot. While Johnny sometimes looks at me, I seem to put him to sleep more often than not. I watch Kel reach his hand over the seat and place one giant rough finger in his son’s grasp. Johnny grasps it and keeps staring.

“We’re goin’ home bud,” Kel beams. “I get to eat home cooked food for the first time in months and work out on a regular basis again.”

“Lord knows you need it,” Maggie snarks watching Kel and her grandson with a grin.

“Gotta look good for Momma,” Kel says to Johnny. I snort and shake my head.

“Don’t think that’s a problem, Dylan,” Maggie says looking at me with a knowing smile. Yeah that’s definitely not a problem. The man is simply gorgeous and fatherhood agrees with him. Johnny yawns, bored with his father’s conversation.

We pull up to the tarmac and climb out. Kel carries Johnny in his car seat onto the jet while my boys, Thomas and Rodger unload the SUV. Tanner and the other pilot are there to greet us. I wave at them and climb onto the jet.

“That dude can’t be old enough to fly this plane,” Kel says removing Johnny from his car seat before flopping down into a leather seat. I climb into the seat next to them and buckle myself in before reaching for the baby. Kel hands him to me one-handed. I scoop him up and lay him on my chest. Everyone gets in the plane and takes their seats. My guys take the long couch next to Kel and I, everyone else heads behind us. I hope Thomas is okay.

We taxi and quickly take off. I can’t wait to be home. Johnny starts to fuss so I pull my boob out and let him nurse. I was able to produce enough milk to nurse him exclusively for now. Everyone in the hospital was quite impressed with that feat. I don’t think he’s hungry but the doctors said it would help his ears if he suckled.

“I’ll never get used to that,” Kavy says motioning at my boob.

“I figured that’s why you need so many randoms. Tryin’ to find a good pair,” I snark.

“Uh, it’s the pussy I’m after not the tits. But starin’ at yours and not getting’ a semi is new,” Kavy says in a low grunt.

“Sorry to ruin your fun,” I snark back.

“I’m not,” Kel huffs and we all chuckle.

Johnny settles and falls asleep still latched on. He does this all the time. I cover myself with my shirt and lean my head back to nap. The cockpit door opens pulling me from my nap attempt. Tanner walks out and brings sandwich trays and drinks. When he approaches us I give him a megawatt smile.

“Best group yet,” he says as a blush covers his face and neck.

“Thank you,” I respond sweetly. I can’t help but flirt a little. He’s too responsive. Though, I do have my boob out and my boyfriend next to me. I’m a classy broad.

He smiles nervously before returning to the cockpit.

“Really?” Kel says. I turn to look at him and catch my boys looking at me too. They all look perturbed.

“What?” I scoff, feigning innocence.

“You need to get your woman on a tighter leash,” Sully instructs Kel.

“I see that,” Kel responds darkly.

“Oh please. I smiled at the kid and said thank you. I didn’t offer to blow him in the bathroom.”

“Shannon!” Mary scolds. Oops, forgot about the parentals. I stretch the corners of my mouth down making the uh-oh face.

“Don’t smile at the pilot, Shannon,” Thomas demands.

“Jesus Christ people,” I huff. “I’ve been cooped up in a hospital ten days. I was just bein’ nice. You could learn that skill.”

I pull Johnny up to my chest and right my clothing before unbuckling my seat belt. I stand up and move away from the guys and Kel who are still glaring at me. I hand Johnny to Mary who beams at the offer. I gift her a small smile before heading to the bathroom at the back of the plane.

If it’s possible the guys and Kel are more annoying than they were before Johnny was born. Protective, possessive, overbearing and every other caveman characteristic you can imagine is what they are. I roll my shoulders, thumb Kel’s pendant and try not to be annoyed as I sit on the toilet. I know they’re being this way because they love us and they’re scared something is going to happen to us, but a smile and a thank you does not make me a villain. I’m washing my hands when the bathroom door slides open. I’m met with the most stunning stern face and hard teal eyes. Kellerman.

Kellerman

I’m pissed. I have absolutely no reason to be pissed, but I’m pissed. She smiled and said thank you in her sweet soft voice to Tanner the twelve-year-old who turned an abnormal shade of red. Not to mention her tit was out (not that he could see anything because she was completely covered). Kid gets up and leaves, handing the baby to an excited Mary, before going into the bathroom. She’s pissed that I’m pissed. Perfect.

“She’s pissed at us now,” O’Sullivan says sheepishly.

“Can’t help it. I feel like a fuckin’ caveman or something,” Kav says.

“Imagine how I feel,” I grumble running a hand through my hair.

“You better go get us outta trouble,” Cal instructs. Nobody wants to be in trouble with Kid.

I stand up to take his advice because I sure as shit don’t want to be in trouble. I move down the plane checking on Johnny as I pass. He’s out cold on his grandmother’s chest. I walk up to the bathroom, flip up the panel hiding the locking mechanism and unlock the door. I slide it open to find Kid washing her hands with a scowl on her stunning face.

“What?” she seethes looking back down at her hands. “Did I not breathe correctly? Or maybe I need assistance washin’ my fuckin’ hands.”

I slide the door closed and lock it before stalking over to her.

“You smiled at him,” I growl in her personal space.

“Forgive me, I didn’t know smiling had become a sin,” she snarks. She shuts off the water and turns toward me glaring into my face. “Move.”

“No,” I growl.

“You better get outta my fuckin’ way or I’m gonna kick your ass.” I take a step into her and she takes a step back.

“No.”

“Kel, we’ve had a rough few months. You really wanna end it gettin’ your ass handed to you by a girl? I swear on everything that’s holy if you don’t move I’m movin’ your ass,” she seethes. Okay I’m supposed to be in here making shit better and I’m clearly making it worse. I take another step toward her and she doesn’t budge. She narrows her glare even more warning me that I’m entering dangerous territory.