BEAST (36 page)

“Christopher.”

He frowned at the name. No one called him Christopher. He studied the big black man that had been much like a brother to him, just as much as he had been a friend and highly trusted cohort.

“You want to keep egging me on? This ain’t
nothing
but a game to you, to all of you; something to keep you from being bored now that the mission is over!” Christopher spat. “But this ain’t a game to me. This is my life, TK; my woman, my baby, my life! Nothing comes before that!”

TK held up his hand. “I know. Okay? I’m not…I just wanted to tell you that no one would ever disrespect the little trooper. We watch her back as much for you as we do out of respect for her. If you leave here we’re going to continue to watch her. But, none of us want to see you leave.”

Christopher sighed feeling conflicted. “I can’t be in special ops and not go on missions-”

“Maybe they can make this a fulltime position.”

“What do you mean?”

“Only a fool would want to stay in the subbasement year in and year out and miss out on all the fun of a mission—a fool or someone like you. You actually…like be
ing down here.” TK sighed. “The
guys want to keep you, even if you don’t go on special ops missions. But don’t think you’re getting full pay!” He growled.

Christopher’s brow quirked up.
“You…want to continue working with me?
Even after what I did?”

TK turned and headed back to the security room but Christopher heard him speak. “I’m acting Commander until they find a replacement for Bruce. I’ll tell command central that we need a man stationed down here permanently.” He stopped and looked at the bandaged man. “Consider that your punishment for trying to get away from us. Do it again…” TK’s expression was suddenly severe, “and we really will break your face.” The door closed behind him and Christopher stood there for a few moments just smiling.

Damn; those guys; his brothers; his family. He shook his head and quickly stabbed the button to take him to Ashleigh.

~***~

When Kendra and Lance had asked about her weekend Ashleigh hid a smile. “Christopher came home with a big surprise.”

“Bigger than the one you’re carrying in your belly?” Kendra asked.

“Wait…is this going to be TMI?”

“No!” Ashleigh laughed. “Although that was pretty damn big—”

“Ugh, Ashleigh!”
Lance said. “Nasty!”

Ashleigh laughed before growing serious. “Christopher had never gone on a mission. It was a big misunderstanding. He’d gone and had facial reconstruction surgery.”

Her friend’s were in total disbelief and kept asking questions even though she had very few answers. All she could really tell them is that she hadn’t seen any of his face with the exception of his lips which looked like giant balloons.

She grinned knowing that she still had another big revelation. “Oh guys. Christopher wants to take us out to lunch today is that cool? It’s not our regular day but-”

“Oh yeah!
I want to see him wrapped up like a mummy!” Kendra said.

“Cool,” Ashleigh tried not to beam. “We can talk about the wedding-”

Lance screamed. He fanned himself and then covered his mouth and screamed again. Kendra slapped his arm and the both of them hugged her tightly. The other people in the office ignored them, used to Lance’s extreme excitability.

“You guys are going to be my bridesmaids okay?”

“
Oooo
!
Can I wear a kilt?” Lance asked.

“Of course, Diva!”
Ashleigh said seriously.

Kendra rubbed her swollen belly. “Crap. I’m going to look like a hot air balloon. No chance of you two postponing it until after I have the baby and loose my baby weight?”

Ashleigh cocked her eye at her. “No. I want to get married while my stomach is still flat. God knows that it might never be this flat again.”

“Yes it will.” Lance said while giving her tummy a brief pat. She gave them both serious looks.

“No…it probably won’t.” she took a deep breath. “I…hid something from you guys.” Her friend’s expressions grew serious. “I’m telling you now because I’m going to need your help.”

“Oh my god,” Lance clutched her hand. “What is it?”

“I’m…bulimic.”

Lance held her hand tightly and then Kendra placed hers over it.
 
“How long?”
She asked.

Ashleigh swallowed, feeling her eyes mist.
“
Almost all
of my life.”

“God, Ash.” Lance said. “I didn’t know.”

“Does Christopher know?” Kendra asked
,
her brow furrowed in concern.

Ashleigh nodded. “We talked about it. He wants me to get help and I think I want to get professional help.”

“We love you.” Lance said while hugging her. “We’ll be your support system. Just tell us what you need.” His eyes closed momentarily as if he was coming to a decision, then he pulled back with a pained look on his face as he glanced away.

“I have something to tell you also.”

Ashleigh thought she was going to black out. She heard the words, ‘I’m HIV positive’ come out of his mouth even before his mouth opened.

“Rick and I broke up.”

Ashleigh stared, blinking. “No…Oh Lance. Oh sweetheart, what happened?”

He gave them a shaky smile. “I broke up with him because, I think I deserve more. You two are going to have babies. I want to have a baby, too.” Kendra frowned and Lance turned to her before she even opened her mouth.
“Figuratively…not literally.
I can’t have that with Rick. He is so deeply in the closet, and I understand why, but there is no way that he can come out without risking his career. You don’t play pro football as a gay man.
Period.

“I want…the happily ever after.” Lance’s eyes were glistening with unshed tears. “I want to be someone’s partner and not their dirty secret.”

Kendra placed her hands on the man’s cheeks. “You are no one’s dirty secret!”

“That’s right.” Ashleigh said. “You deserve everything that your heart desires, my friend.”

Lance lowered his head and sobbed into his hands. “I know. But why does it have to hurt so
bad
?”

Ashleigh pulled him into her arms and kissed the top of his blond head. “I know it hurts but it won’t last forever. I promise.” And Ashleigh believed with all of her heart that she was speaking the truth. She had known this pain and how desperate it made you feel. But given time the pain healed and became nothing more than a bad memory.

~***~

Christopher surprised everyone when he entered the room a few hours later, totally unannounced. There were several offices in one room and when one of the ladies saw the giant bandaged man she shrieked and dropped the file that she was carrying and sent papers scattering along the floor.

Christopher bent to help her pick them up and she gave him an embarrassed chuckle and apology. “Not a problem, Ma’am.” He said politely while handing her the papers. “Can you tell me where Miss Dalton’s office is?”

The woman pointed down a short corridor. He nodded and headed for Ashleigh’s office. He passed Lance’s first. He was leaned back in his chair and talking on the phone. He gasped when he saw Christopher and a big smile spread across his face.

“Let me call you back, Gloria. Yeah, promise.” He hung up the phone and hurried to greet Christopher who held up his finger to indicate he not mention his presence. Lance nodded and followed him to Ashleigh’s office. They passed Kendra’s office. She was absorbed in working on something on the computer. She swiveled her head at Christopher and Lance and then took a double take. They held up their fingers to their lips to indicate that she should be quiet and she joined them as they all headed to Ashleigh’s office.

Ashleigh was staring out the window with a slight smile on her face. She was obviously daydreaming and when she saw Christopher suddenly
appear
in the doorway she squealed in delight and leaped to her feet.

“Baby!
You’re early!” She dashed to him, throwing herself into his arms. Christopher caught her, wanting to kiss her so badly. He hated the bandages and his sore lips and the shooting pains in his head and face. But somehow, holding Ashleigh in his arms made it all bearable. It was all for her.

She had been daydreaming about him and how wonderful it had been to wake up in his arms, not to mention all of the things that they had done before falling asleep. Her body was humming in anticipation of tonight. She could barely wait to get home and had even contemplated leaving with him after lunch today. But that was just too pitiful…wasn’t it?

“Hi Sweetheart.
I think I might have some good news for you.” He looked around to include all of them. “I’m sure Ashleigh told you that I’ve been looking for a new job within The Marine Corps.”

“Right, so that you won’t have to go on anymore missions.” Kendra said.

“Right.
So that I can leave Special Ops.”

Ashleigh grinned in excitement. “Christopher, you found a new job!”

“Uh…well, not exactly.” Ashleigh grinned at him expectantly. “There’s a chance that I might not be going anywhere. TK is acting Commander. He wants me stationed in the subbasement permanently; no missions.”

“Oh my god.
You won’t have to leave?!” Ashleigh hugged him and Christopher laughed and swung her around once before setting her on her feet.

“It’s not set in stone, Babe. TK has got to put in a request for me to work the subbasement on a permanent basis.” He shrugged. “But truthfully, it’s something that would be a win
win
situation. They need someone with my experience,” Christopher chuckled and Ashleigh thought it was the most beautiful sound in the world, “but no one but me would want to work down there permanently.” He lifted her hand and placed it against his lips.

“I want to make sure that no one ever bothers you again when you’re working out.” Her eyes got big and then she smiled. Yes, he would surely keep an eye on her every move and
that made her feel
safe and secure. Chris would always know when she needed him.

~***~

Later in the evening, Ashleigh walked out of the Federal building and Christopher was parked right out front waiting for her. She hurried to the car and kissed his neck lightly. Lunch had been wonderful and Ashleigh was so proud of the way her friends had warmed up to her man and how easily he acted around them.

At the house Maggie hurried to her and meowed for some loving. Christopher shook his head as Ashleigh reached own to scratch the feline’s neck.

“Not sure how you won her over. She’s always been skittish around others.”

“
Mags
took care of me when you were gone.”

Christopher took her hand and pulled her up and pulled her close where he wrapped his arms around her body. “I’m going to take care of you now.”

He leaned down and lightly rubbed his bandaged lips against her cheeks.

“I want to kiss you so bad.”

“You are kissing me.” She murmured, her eyes closing.

“I want to taste you…” He whispered.

Ashleigh sighed. She slipped her hand beneath his shirt and felt him shudder. She loved that he reacted to just her touch. She unbuttoned it and he pulled it off and tossed it onto the couch. Ashleigh kissed his chest as her hands ran slowly down his back and over the swell of his ass.