Fosters: Blackhawk (20 page)

"Whatever it takes."  I tell her sitting on
the side of her.  "I was so scared I was going to lose
you.  I called for guidance and help from Nunánuk.  Felt
them with you.  Helping me hold you.  I won't let you go
CJ.  I'll do whatever it takes."  She cries.  "No
baby, no crying.  You came back to me, no tears today."
 She smiles with her tears then coughs and moans.  Fuck.
 "Tell me what to do for you CJ."  

"Hold me.  I need to feel you."  She's
so fuckin small.  I lift her as gently as I can and hold her
against my chest.  I sit on the bed so I'm not pulling the
wires out.  She kisses my chest.  

Steve comes in and smiles.  He goes to the
window.  I picture the wind in the trees and let my mind float
with it.  

Steve touches my shoulder.  "Time to move
her.  She's better."  I open my eyes, he's smiling. "Need
to put her down."  I look at her; she's watching me with a
sweet smile.  I kiss her head and lay her back on the bed
trying to be gentle.  She sucks in a breath but doesn't say
anything.  

A doctor is here.  "She doesn't need the
oxygen all the time anymore.  We'll watch her and use it as
needed."  I nod.  They take the tube from under her nose.
 "She's doing remarkable.  It's unusual but good. 
Very good."  The doctor smiles.  "Are you doing
Reiki?"

"I am Indian.  We have spirits that guide
us.  My spirits use the wind and earth to connect us to them
and each other.  The connection binds and heals where it's
needed.  For me it's my head, for CJ her body."  I watch
for his reaction. 

"Whatever works.  Keep doing that."
 He says.  Steve and the nurse laugh.  

I look at CJ, she just watches me.  I
shrug.  "Whatever it takes."  She blinks twice.
 

Three days

CJ

I'm so glad I can go home today.  The kids
come every day for an hour then Cloud goes home for a few hours to
see them.  Steve or Chase stay with me while he's gone. 
I feel bad for him at night; he sleeps on a bed that's too small
right on the side of me.  Tonight we can sleep in a real
bed.  I don't know where I'm going but it's home with my
family.  I don't really care where that is.  

Tiny comes in with a bag.  "Got your
clothes red.  Bet you're ready to be sprung from this fuckin
place huh?"  

I hold my chest and laugh, "Yeah."  I take
the bag and sit it on the bed.  

"You need to put the clothes on red."  

I hold my chest but don't laugh, "I need help,
you are not helping me get dressed so I'll leave them there until
help walks through the door."  

He laughs.  "Clouds settling the bill he'll
be right up."  

I'm confused.  "My insurance should have
covered it."  

"Don't know about insurance coverage, only know
he's settling the bill and he'll be right up."  He says
sitting in the chair flipping the tv remote. 

I already have everything packed up so I sit and
watch the remote fly through the air.  

Cloud comes in with a smile.  "You're
looking happy to be going home."  

I smile, he's so damn handsome.  "Yes, I'd
like to sleep in a real bed with you wrapped around me."  He
stops short and Tiny barks out a laugh.  I hold my chest
before I laugh.  

"Fuck that's a nice picture.  Let's get you
dressed and out of this place so I can be wrapped around you."
 He grabs my hand and the bag bringing us both into the
bathroom.  He stops and kisses me.  "I love you CJ. 
I'm glad you're coming home."  He pulls the johnny off me and
slides a t-shirt on.  

"I'm missing a bra."  I tell him.

"No bra, I like this look.  I'll be in the
shower every hour but the look is good."  He bends and kisses
me pulling a hoodie out of the bag.  "Nurse said no bra for
right now."  I nod.  He finishes dressing me and guides
me out.  I missed him doing that.  The nurse is waiting
with a smile and enough paper to cover a full wall.  Holy
shit!

"Call if you have any questions."  She
tells us as she walks on the side of the wheelchair. 

I hold my chest.  "With all that paper does
anyone ever call?"  

She thinks about it.  "I don't think I've
ever taken a call, no."  

Tiny laughs so loud people stop and stare at
him.  Cloud is laughing behind me.  "Fuckin
CJ". 

We get to the doors and Cloud stops.  A
truck pulls up then Cloud's truck.  Two motorcycles pull
behind it.  I look up at him.  "Security baby.  No
chances with precious cargo."  He bends kissing my nose and
lifts me up.  Tiny walks on the side of us.  Jake opens
the truck door.  I thank him and he smiles tipping his
imaginary hat.  Tiny gets in the driver’s seat and Cloud
slides in after me.  He buckles me in and nods to Tiny.
 

We start moving and I breathe a sigh of
relief.  No more hospital.  I'm so friggin relieved I
don't realize they're silent and tense as we're going over the
bridge to get home.  Motorcycles pull on the sides of
us.  I look at Cloud.  He's watching the mirror.
 

"What's going on?"  I look at him.  I
hear the shots and the motorcycles spin around.  Holy
Shit!  They're shooting going the wrong way on the damn
highway.  Tiny speeds up.  "Baby I need you to stay
calm.  Steve and Danny are on their way."  

"Fuckin pussies."  Tiny says.  He
slams on his brakes.  Cloud holds me so I don't go
flying.  The truck in front of us flips over. 
Motorcycles are coming up on the wrong side of the road.  More
shooting.  I duck into Cloud not wanting to hear
anymore.  My whole damn body is shaking.  

"It's ok baby, that's Danny and Steve. 
They're clearing our way, they'll get us home."  He sounds so
sure but a damn truck just flipped over in front of us.  The
motorcycles from behind us move to the front and Tiny follows
them.  We pass our exit then I remember we're not going
home.  He takes the next exit and more motorcycles line the
road.  I see police cars here and there.  Cloud lets out
a breath.  Me too!  Holy Crap I'm glad to be in our
town.  I feel safe here.  The outside world is a little
crazy.  

We drive through a neighborhood and through
gates that have a guard.  Like the Baxter's, he's armed. 
I'm seeing it but I don't believe it.  "Cloud this is not my
street but that is my house isn't it?"  I think the pain meds
messed with my friggin head.  Tiny laughs.  

"Well since your house was already perfect for
all of us, just in the wrong spot, they moved it.  We can
sleep there tomorrow night.  They're hooking up water and
sewer right now."  

"They moved it?  It's a house.  Not
one with wheels.  A big house."  I'm still not believing
my house is on a strange road.  There's a beach on the
right.  I don't live by the water.  

"Couple years ago Jess and Steve had to move,
Danny just moved their house cause it was the house Jess
wanted.  Since your house is fuckin nice and just got finished
he moved your house.  He's pretty good at it now, even moved
the playhouses and garages.  Called in three other builders to
help get it all done.  He's thorough."  I look at
him.  He's friggin serious.  

I look at Cloud.  He's smiling.
 "That's really my house on a different street."  I
whisper.  "He's thorough.  These people are friggin
crazy."  

"Red, I told you about the crazy when nimrod
here let the kid repel down a rope from a fuckin chopper. 
He's got nothin on the fuckin MC.  Fuckin Steve was in a
shootout with Little Ben on the back of his bike when he was
eleven."  

"Holy Shit.  What happened?"  My hand
is at my mouth.

He looks at me.  "What do you think; he's
still here and ain't stuttering or nothing.  Steve dropped
three fuckin Outlaws going sixty on Main Road."  

I look at Cloud.  "It's more dangerous
outside the gates than inside right?" 

He laughs like I'm telling a joke.  I'm not
laughing; I'm waiting for an answer.  He kisses my head.
 "CJ they'll protect your life with theirs.  It's only
dangerous if you're on the other side of them."  

I look at him.  I guess they just did that
on the bridge.  "Ok."  

They laugh like I told another friggin
joke.  What the hell?  Tiny pulls in a driveway and looks
at me.  "This is Danny's house.  You'll be sleeping in
Patches old room.  It gets fuckin crazy in there but it's a
good crazy."  

"Ok, thanks for the warning."  I think I
can handle the kids.  Cloud pulls me out, lowers me to the
ground and kisses me.  "I missed that."  

"Welcome close to home baby.  We need to
get you in the house, I need to check in with Pres."  He steps
back and walks me into the house.  The kids are waiting for me
in a line.  I kiss and hug every one of them.  Patches
hugs me gently.  They sit me at the table and Cloud squats in
front of me.  "I need to get to Security; I'll be back as soon
as I can."  

I lean closer and kiss his lips.  "Go, do
what you need to do.  I'm happy to be here with the kids."

"Don't do too much, Tiny will be here with your
meds and instructions."  He hugs me then stands. 
Something passes between him and Tiny and he's gone.  

The kids make me laugh with all they've been
doing.  They show me their new watches that track them and
Joey's new necklace.  Up until today they've been out and
having fun.  I thank Patches and Tiny for taking such good
care of them.  They tell me about the trucks, cranes and big
pieces of steel that the house moved on.  I just nod still not
quite believing my house is on a new road.  

Cloud

I run out the door feeling torn, I want to stay
with CJ but I need to keep them safe. Running across the street I
nod to Chris' and a different crew as I pass by and jump on my
bike.  I get to the gate and have to wait for it to
open.  I'm relieved to see two guards.  I throw chin and
lay it out going seventy through town.  

Pulling in the lot a Brother takes my bike and I
run through the building to Surveillance.  Pres is talking and
watching the boards behind Digs' station.  Geek is at Sticks
station.  Walking to him he turns.  "Thank Fuck!  We
need eyes in the fuckin city."  

Pres turns to me.  "Get to Baxter's they
have a chopper waiting for you."  I turn around and run back
out.  My bike and a helmet are waiting.  I throw chin and
ride through the reservation to the Baxter's.  Beau picks me
up and has the gate opened so I can ride through.  He tells me
to get to the hangar, Steady did my preflight checks.  Thank
Fuck.  Running to the Security chopper I nod to some of the
International Team.  Holy Fuck we’re loaded for a fight.
 

Putting my cans on I hear that we're cleared for
go.  I'm over the city in minutes.  Geek is on guiding me
to Steve and Danny.  "Permission to engage?"  I ask
Beau.

"Blackhawk you’re being patched to Pres with the
MC.  Pres you're on with Blackhawk in the Security
chopper.  The chopper is loaded and carrying four of the
International Team."  Geek tells me and Pres.  

Pres: "Blackhawk and Team Leader, Jake is on his
way to run your Ops.  Cover VP and LP1 anyway you can. 
We're hoping for someone breathing to answer question when all is
said and done."  Did he just give us permission to fire?

Me: "Permission to engage? Baxter One?"
 

Beau: "That's affirmative Blackhawk.  Keep
it clean". 

Me: "Roger Baxter One, Pres. IST Com permission
to engage."  

Zack:  IST Leader Com.  We have
permission to engage.  He gets a "Hooyah" for an answer.
  

Pres: "HS1 drive them to the
reservation. 

VP: "Roger."  Fuck He's monotone, he's red.
 

Jake: "Blackhawk you're cleared to engage let's
get our streets cleared.  Move to the lake, switch to stealth,
enemy will approach on the east road.  Fire at will."

Me: "Blackhawk Roger.  IST Leader Com, we
have a fire at will." 

Zack: "Com Roger.  IST is in position."

Pres: "HS1 peel at the top of the hill. 
You have two pussies coming up behind you." 

VP: "Roger, HS1 peel and move to the tree
line.  Let the pussies ride through then take position on the
road blocking a retreat."  

Rich: "LP2, HS1 Roger."  

VP: "Two hundred yards Blackhawk."  

Me: "Locked and Loaded VP."  I watch the
hill moving back so we're not visible at a first look.  

Zack: "Visual on enemy hold fire, wait for MC to
peel."

Jake: "IST Leader Com, control has no
visual.  You're clear for command." 

Zack: "Com Roger.  Take them in order
Team.  Fire at will." 

Me: "Roger."  I open fire at the tires of
the first truck; the outside guns hit the truck behind then the
bike right behind it."  

Zack: "Shots are fired Blackhawk, secure and
fire."   

Me: "Roger."  I turn the chopper adjust my
shot and send a fuckin missile to the truck.  We watch it go
up. "Clear."  

Danny: "Fuckin sweet!  We need a fuckin
chopper."  I hear the laughing.  

Pres: "HS1 pussies cresting the hill."

VP: "HS1 Take position when they're fifty foot
in."

Rich: "LP2 HS1 Roger."  

Pres: "VP, Blackhawk, we need answers. 
Leave me someone to get them from." 

Me: "IST Com, need a breather for
answers." 

Zack: "Com Roger.  Truck two has movement
MC Pres.  Blackhawk one fire at lock, keep it low."  

Me: "Roger Com."  I hit the tires and move
to the edge of the lake turning so Zack has the gun directly in
front of the enemy.  He fires to the side, the second vehicle
stops.  

Zack: On the loud speaker. "Come out with your
hands up, lay down on the ground."  No one moves.  Zack
fires at the second truck from earlier.  Another gun shoots
the second vehicles tires with two rounds.  The doors open,
men move to the ground.  I move over to the road and hear Zack
issuing two to repel.  "Hold it steady Blackhawk, two
hanging."