Authors: L. Ann Marie
“Thank you Jeremy.” My voice cracks, but I don’t give a fuck. “We wouldn’t have this if it weren’t for you. I love you Little Brother.” His whole body gives a burst of heat and he laughs hugging me. Fuckin’ kids. Tess is watching with tears. God help me.
She hasn’t let me go since she called me mommy. I can’t believe he did it. He got her to look at me and love me all in a minute. I watch him with Jeremy. He shows the same love to him as Aubrey. There’s a gentleness that he uses just for them. For such a rough guy he knows how to handle everyone. He looks at me as if knowing I’m thinking of him. “Feeling better?”
I smile, ‘Yes the other universe invaded my body.’
He laughs. “I’m well acquainted with that realm.”
Danny comes in smiling. “Heard you got your girl back today. Good to see.” I thank him. He looks at Geek. “This is going to be complicated, but it’s all good. When you have questions ask. No one gets this shit completely so we may not have the answers, but we usually know where to look for them. Yeah?”
Geek looks relieved. “Yeah. Thank Brother.”
Food is delivered and Danny looks around. Little Ben comes in with a bag. “I didn’t forget you.” He smiles and takes the bag. Geek is laughing and I take a guess that they forget Danny’s food regularly. Jeremy laughs. “No he gets called at meal times and doesn’t get to eat then he bitches until his stomach is fed,” Little Ben says making us all laugh. I have a hard time picturing Danny bitching.
We eat and everyone but Geek leaves while the doctor checks me. He says I can go home and I’m relieved. I want to hold Aubrey and listen to everything she has to say. To me. She has words for me now and I get teary eyed thinking about it.
“For fucks sake. Don’t start with the tears again. It’s a good day,” Geek says surprising me.
I nod. ‘It is, because Aubrey’s going to talk to me. I was just thinking she has words for me and I’ll get to hear every one of them while she’s calling me mommy.’ He walks out the door and I smile at the doctor. He looks shocked and I laugh.
When he leaves, Geek comes in and I look for Aubrey. She’s not with him. I look at his face with the serious expression and wonder what happened now. “Half Pint is off with Little Ben, Jeremy and Tess. Little Ben said if he doesn’t take him upstairs he’ll nag CJ all day to bring him back. He likes to help the patients in ICU or the kid’s floor.” These kids are incredible. I don’t have anything to say so I nod.
He sits on the bed and bends to kiss me. “I asked everyone to give me a minute. They all know why, but I need this just with you.” He watches me and I’m afraid of what he’s going to say next. We’re too much for him is the first thing I think. “Whatever put that look on your face lose it. This isn’t about anything but me and you. When I got home and saw Pres at the hospital I knew. My heart sunk and I pushed it away to think about what the right thing to do was. There was no way I was letting you wake up alone. You climbed in my heart with Half Pint and I’m not letting you out. You are mine to protect, to love and to cherish. I hope you’ve had enough time because I don’t need any more. I love you Marty. You make everything in my world better. You’ve made me better just seeing how hard you worked to get Aubrey back. You never gave up. I want that for me, for us. Marry me Marty.”
I’m lightheaded and realize I stopped breathing at some point. Oh my God! He’s not getting rid of us he’s keeping us. I breathe and cry but I nod my head so he gets his answer. He pulls me to him so fast the IV catches. I hit his arm and move it. “Fuck! Jesus, I didn’t see that. Are you okay?” He went from that relieved look to nervous in a second and I laugh nodding my head. He wants to marry me. I can live with the pull of the IV. “You said yes right?”
I wipe my eyes laughing. ‘Yes,’ I sign.
“Thank fuck!”
He makes me laugh more. I sign, ‘I love you Geek. You changed our lives too. Thank you.’
He pulls me to his chest again. Danny comes in. “So that’s a yes right?”
I laugh, he’s funny when he’s not trying to be but I can’t help laughing. Thank God he can’t hear it. Geek doesn’t let me go. “Get the fuck out Brother.”
I laugh more and he looks down with a smile on his face. “Fuckin’ Brothers. Be prepared, they’re always like this.” I nod matching his smile.
“So it
was
a yes.” Danny says and I bury my face in Geeks chest.
“Brother, seriously, get the fuck out!” He’s pissed and I wonder why he doesn’t just tell him. Since he doesn’t I’m not going to. Whatever his reason it must be a good one.
I hear him laugh. “I would, but the nurse is waiting with discharge papers.”
I look and he opens the door for her. “Now you can get the fuck out!”
“Fuckin’ Brother you’re as bad as Bob.” He walks out mumbling and I have to wipe the tears out of my eyes from laughing so hard.
“With that smile I’d say you’re laughing. No pain?” The nurse asks. ‘Not at all.’ Geek tells her for me. She smiles then unhooks me and has me sign a million papers. Geek takes the paperwork and gets my clothes for me. I’m embarrassed as he helps me dress.
I don’t really need the help because all I have is a little pull on my belly button but it feels good being taken care of. That is until he makes a noise from his chest. I look up at him. He’s looking at my chest. I have a bra on but it might as well not be there by the look in his eye. “The fuckin’ old ladies are killing me.” He turns me and helps from behind. I have the biggest smile on my face. I’m glad he’s behind me and can’t see it.
Aubrey comes running in as he’s putting my shoe on. “Mommy, Daddy the boy can play with his friends now. Jeremy said he’s doing good.” Geek catches her, kisses her head and sits her beside me in one fluid motion. He’s tying my shoe as if it didn’t happen. It’s like Jeremy flying over Aubrey earlier. No one reacted to it. I think it’s more than just the kids that show weird shit.
‘That’s awesome Aubrey. I’m glad you had a chance to do that with Jeremy. I bet the boy’s parents are going to be happy they can take their boy home.’
“Are you happy you can take me home?”
Geek looks at her. ‘Of course I am.’ What a question.
“Even with the weird shit.” She says it with no embarrassment. Geek is doubled over laughing. Jerk.
‘Shit isn’t a word kids use–and yes even with the weird shit.’ She nods and hugs me while Geek is still laughing. I glare at him and he stops making me smile.
‘Nice save,’ he signs smiling. ‘Jerk,’ I sign back. We’re still smiling at each other when Little Ben comes in with Jeremy.
“Don’t you dare tell him. The school is having trouble making ends meet because of fuckin’ budget cuts. I told Dave we’d find the money for the signing course after school. They were going to start charging. We can use the money to pay for that. We have another reason to keep that open to everyone.”
Little Ben does a handshake only guys know and Jeremy fist bumps him. ‘He’s betting on my answer?’ I ask.
“They bet on everything but Uncle Danny is the best to get the money from. He’s willing to give it up just for the win. The Clinic gets free breakfast every morning. The daycare just got all new outside toys and the seniors went on the ferry dinner cruise. He always gives it up,” Little Ben says and I laugh.
‘Maybe he knows you’ll use it for good and just likes helping people,’ I sign.
They stop and look at me. “She’s right he already knows and is just fuckin’ with you,” Aubrey says sending everyone into a fit of laughter. Oh shit. Jeremy touches her catching his breath. She looks at me embarrassed. “Sorry Mommy, it’s another one of
those
words.”
I grab the bed trying to control myself and look serious.
“It is and you shouldn’t be saying it,”
I think.
She nods so serious. Geek stands straight then walks out. Little Ben follows. Jerks. “Is that one of those words too?”
Jeremy cracks up. ‘No baby, but it is a middle school word. You don’t get to say it until you’re in school with boys that are jerks.’
Jeremy signs, ‘NO!’
“He said I’m going to the Center school where I’m protected and can learn everything I’ll need to become who I’m going to be.”
I look from her to him and he nods. I’m all for protecting her so I sign, ‘OK,’ and wonder what universe I’m in now.
“We can go home now. Everyone is ready.” She puts her arms up. Jeremy lifts her and sets her down gently then holds her hand. He looks at me then Aubrey’s other hand and I take it. We walk out and I have tears in my eyes with my baby’s hand in mine.
Marty is on the side of me and all I can think is I need to get out of here. “I’m going to work out of Security.” She looks hurt. Fuck.
‘Am I bothering you? I can come back later and finish this up.’
“Your perfume is driving me fuckin’ nuts.” I stand up and start pacing. She’s been in my bed since she got home from the hospital. I have no place to get away to. She stands in front of me.
‘I told you I am ready. Am I doing something that is a turn off?’
“Jesus no! It’s taking everything in me not to touch you.” How the hell can she think that? She’s in the bed every morning and has to see it’s just the opposite.
‘Take me to bed Geek. If you don’t then I’m sleeping in my own room and will take care of myself tonight.’ She’s fuckin’ serious.
“Not fuckin’ likely.” I pull her out of the office and to the stairs. Picking her up I carry her to my room. She’s fuckin’ smiling when I put her down. “No one gets that but me. When you come it’s for me.”
‘Maybe you need to do something to earn that because I’m ready and you’re talking.’
I take her smart mouth with a growl. I don’t so much
take
her shirt off as I rip it off. Fuckin’ old ladies have her in another lacy bra and I want in. I rip that too. She slaps my arm and I look at her. “I’m done talking Marty. If you want me to stop you need to say it right the fuck now.”
She smiles, ‘Carry on.’
Fuckin’ woman. I drop to my knees taking her shoes off and sliding her skirt down. “You are killing me here.” She’s got the matching panties on, all lace, and she’s bare underneath. “Oh I want in.” Her panties fall and I can smell her. I look at her face. The doctor said she needs time but I can’t wait. She nods with her hands on my shoulders. I don’t need more than that and move her back so she sits on the bed then push her down. My mouth is on her and I throw her legs over my shoulders. Fuckin’ heaven. When I look up her body I can’t see her face past her perfect tits. This is not going to do. I stand and her hands start moving but I’m on a mission and gather the pillows so when she comes I see her face. Pulling her up I put the pillows down so she high enough for me to watch. I kiss her and move my way back down her body to where I want to be. She’s smiling until my tongue hits her again then I see it. I move to the side and slide my fingers in while my tongue teases the fuck out of her. The ecstasy I see on her face makes every fuckin’ minute I waited worth it. Fuck she’s beautiful. Her back arches throwing those tits out and I’m doing everything I can to make it good for her and not blow my load in my jeans. Holy shit! Code is running through my head as I’m focusing on touching every bit of her pussy. Her hands are pulling my hair and I’m losing it. When she’s ready again I grab her tits and squeeze her nipples getting her back arching in the most erotic picture that’s ever been in my head. Her body is bucking all over the place and I can’t wait. I move up her body taking a nipple in my mouth. Her hands stay in my hair. I fuckin’ love it. I move to her neck then her lips. I’ve never kissed anyone just to kiss them but she makes everything new and fuckin’ erotic. I love how her tongue dances with mine and growl again.
“I need to be in you babe. I can’t wait but I don’t want to hurt you.” She’s catching her breath and looks a little dazed. She nods and rolls toward me. She’s unbuckling my belt and I groan.
I help her get my clothes off and watch her. ‘I am clean the doctor checked.’
“Me too. Condom?” She looks sad. “I’m asking if you care if you get pregnant right away.” She shakes her head no and I’m growling again. Since I know she came twice I don’t worry about her sliding down. “Take what you can. It will all feel good to me.” She looks at me and nods as she’s straddling me. Her hands are on me and I stop her. “My dick in your hand isn’t going to work for me.” She looks confused. “Slide me in Marty.” She looks relieved and slides down as I hold her waist. My arms move her up and down until she’s taking almost all of me. My whole body is shaking with the need to slam her down. She pulls one hand off her waist and puts it on her tit. I sit up putting my mouth on her and she starts moving. “Holy fuck that feels good babe.” My mouth goes right back and I feel her pussy tightening around me. Fuck I’m going to lose it.
She moves my head out and signs, ‘Please harder.’ I look at her eyes and see no pain.
Watching her I move her up and down harder. “Fuck if that’s not perfect. My beautiful girl; take what you want.” She bends her face toward me and bites my lip. Moaning I pull her down harder. She sits up with her hands on her tits and that beautiful fuckin’ look on her face. I’m gone. “Fuckin’ beautiful Marty.” I moan out. Her body shudders drawing everything out of me. She falls forward and I hold her until I can breathe.
“My beautiful girl that was better than the fantasy.” She barely signs, ‘I love you,’ and her hand drops. I hold her close. “Let me get you cleaned up and you can take a nap.” She nods but doesn’t move. I did good and smile. Patches said if she can walk I didn’t do it right. Since I never paid attention before I don’t give a shit about then. Right now she can’t walk so I carry her into the shower and wash her making sure she knows it’s me and I love her just like the list says. I dry her and lay her on the bed the right way pulling the covers up. Kissing her head I tell her I’m in the office. I don’t know why I say it she’s already out.
I clear my list of shit for the day and pull the ring out. Getting my tools I take the stone out and put tracking on it then put the stone back. I’ve done so many of these it takes minutes. I enter the code and see it pop on the jewelry tracking screen. Every Club kid and old lady is tracked on this screen. It only goes to Security if I open the link because of a problem. I get a weird feeling seeing my girls on it. I roll my eyes at my Neanderthal thinking, but I still want to stand up and beat my chest telling everyone they’re mine. I shake my head and close the program down. Danny is sending the money to the school. We ended up with a whole year from the fuckin’ crazy Brothers. Next is the wedding day, but I’m holding out for more.
VP pops on my screen. I put him on video chat. “Get to Security.”
“On my way VP.” I close everything down and bag my laptop. Two minutes later I’m in the room sliding the ring on Marty’s finger. “It’s all set babe.” She smiles and thanks me. “I need to get to Security.”
‘Can’t be me this time I just woke up.’ She signs smiling.
I love seeing that smile when she wakes up. I kiss her. “Nope. VP called in, something is up. Gotta go. Love ya babe.” She’s laughing as she signs ‘love and bye.’
I make Security in less than ten minutes. No one fucks with the bikes so we fly through town unchecked. The Prospect on the desk is new and alone. He stops me as I walk in so I point my gun at him. “You don’t know your Officers or how to read a cut you’ve got no business behind the desk.” Danny laughs behind me. Fuckin’ Brother. I walk into HS Surveillance and right to my console flipping everything on as I sit. Once my screens are set I look at the feeds and see HS gearing up.
VP and Danny come over to me. “Baxters have trouble. Need a path cleared for Sally and Amanda goin’ right to the Clinic. Cloud’s headin’ to the hangar.” I throw him chin and look at my HS and Security Brothers on tracking. I look around and don’t see Brantley or any of the Little Brothers. What the fuck is going on?
“Got picked up in Dartmouth. Beat the fuck outta a pussy tryin’ to shake ‘em down.”
“For casino money again?” I ask wondering why no one told me.
He nods pissed. “Was busy. Pres got ‘em out. On their way back now.”
Thank fuck. “You were too busy to pop on the chat?”
He smiles. “No, you were.” He walks away with Danny laughing beside him. Fuckin’ LaPontes.
I get the women to the Clinic with HS escorts. Jessie and Darren are already at the Baxters so Danny, Little Ben and Digs meet them up there. I run HS Ops and Security until Pres and Brantley come in. Brantley is pissed, but he jumps on his console and I transfer Security to him. Pres runs with him. Jake and VP make an awesome fuckin’ team. Everything is cleared within a couple of hours. Working with Ian is like running with Digs; we can read each other and know without saying much what the other is doing. He’s good and watches out for his guys. Since we were their eyes he was running blind but knows their compound so well he guided the bikes on the trails by time.
When everyone is in and VP is transferred to Jamie I pull the headset and go to Brantley. “You okay?”
“No. Fuckin’ PD pulls me in when they had the assholes standing right there. Because there were two, and they’re bigger than me, this was somehow my fault. Witnesses came to the station to write out a report. When the fuck does that happen? They still held me. Assholes. It’s because I look Indian and the pussies fuckin’ knew it.” I pull him toward me in a headlock.
“Tiny is going to walk in here and start throwing tampons at you. Calm the fuck down and tell me how we’re fixing it.”
His body relaxes and I let him go. “Could fuck with them. If I scalp them Pres will be pissed, he already said that’s not Badass, it’s promoting negative racial profiling. We could always shoot their feet, but that’s what the old guys do.” I’m laughing at the old guys comment.
“You want fresh ideas ask the Little Brothers. They had Trekkies at the Outlaw Club,” I tell him with a smile.
He laughs nodding. “I will, thanks Brother.”
Everyone is heading to the Club. I ride home hoping my little Half Pint is still up. When the garage door opens I smile. She’s bouncing at the house door. I shut the bike off and she runs. “Daddy, I was waiting for you!”
I laugh catching her when she jumps. “I see that baby. I’m glad. On my ride home I wondered if you’d still be up.”
“Mommy said I could stay up if I get up good tomorrow so I will.” I sit her in front of me on the bike and she wants to know what everything is. She listens and asks questions as if she understands everything I say. Marty is smiling at the door just happy to be watching.
“Watch the pipes Half Pint. They’re hot,” I tell her as I put her down.
She bends with her hand a couple of inches away from the pipes. “That is hot. I won’t touch them.” I think back. Not one kid has been burned by pipes. Considering how many kids we have and they all ride that strikes me as odd for the first time. She knew enough to put her hand out testing the heat before touching it. I look at Marty.
‘Smart little girl you got there,’ she signs smiling.
I laugh, ‘Takes after her mother.’ She laughs. I love to see that look on her. I pick up Aubrey and carry her in dropping a kiss on Marty as we walk by. As soon as we’re in and I stop she puts her hands on my face. I keep her eyes until she’s done. “I love you Half Pint. You don’t have to keep checking.”
She flashes white and I lean on the counter. Jesus! She giggles. “I know Daddy. I was telling you.”
‘Tell Daddy what you did today,’ Marty signs but it’s for me. Aubrey reads her.
‘I learned how to sign so I can talk to everyone like you and Mommy.’
Holy fuck! I look at Marty and she’s laughing. “How many words do you know?”
‘Three hundred and eight and the alphabet. I get to learn the rest tomorrow. I’m gonna be smart like you and Mommy.’ The fuckin’ kid signs everything right. I just shake my head.
“You already beat me Half Pint. It took me a month to learn and the kids worked with me every day.”
She laughs like I told her a joke. I kiss her head. ‘Time for bed little Miss,’ Marty tells her.
‘I have to go to bed now, but I’ll tell you my numbers tomorrow. Night Daddy.’
I laugh and kiss her head. “Love you baby.” I sign to Marty. ‘Shower.’ She nods and I watch Aubrey walk with her up the stairs. She learned sign language today. I shake my head and go into our room. I stop at the door and look around; I need to tell Marty to move her stuff in here so it really is our room.
I shower and pull on a pair of bed pants then get a beer. Marty isn’t down so I go up looking for her. I hear Aubrey singing and smile before I hit the door. Marty is signing the song and Aubrey’s singing it. When she’s done I clap. “Daddy I learned a new song. Mommy sings it perfect just like the iPod at school.” This strikes me as odd but I smile. “I hear her regular,” she tells me.
I have no idea what to say so I nod as I lean in to kiss her goodnight. “Night Half Pint.”
She hugs Marty and closes her eyes. Her hands come up signing, ‘I love you,’ she peeks at us with one eye and smiles. Fuckin’ kids. She giggles and I pull Marty out.
Downstairs I grab the beer and walk her out the door. I sit her on my lap and kiss her before I hand her the beer. ‘I don’t really like the beer. This is different than the other and I just barely got through the other one.’
“Why didn’t you tell me?” She’s had a beer with me every night.
‘I like sitting with you every night. The other beer wasn’t so bad but this one is awful.’ She makes a face.
“Do you want wine or something?” I can’t believe she drank the beer just to sit with me. She says wine would be fine she liked the one we had at CJ and Clouds. “I’ll get some for you tomorrow.”
She puts her head on my chest and I see her smile. So fuckin’ easy. “Were you okay when you got up? You’re not sore or in pain?”
‘Not at all. I’ve never felt like that before thank you.’