Monster (26 page)

“I will, honey,” McDaniels whispered back, leaning in to kiss little Cold on the forehead.

“Dino will blast off through the roof when he sees you,” Reskova said, as the Rasheeds walked their guests to the entrance.

“From what you’ve told me, he seems to have already found a home.” McDaniels hugged Ansa and shook hands once more with Rasheed. “I can’t believe how easily you two have decided to adopt my nickname, not only for me, but for my namesake as well.”

“I saw your face, my friend, when Suraya calls the baby little Cold,” Rasheed said. “Do not pretend to be offended.”

“You are very good with babies, Cold Mountain.” Ansa laughed at the sigh she evoked from McDaniels.

Outside, the four walked toward the street where their two cars were parked - Reskova’s Honda Accord and Rutledge’s Buick.

“What are we all doing tomorrow,” Rutledge asked brightly. “How about…”

“We all won’t be doing anything, troublemaker,” Reskova cut her off.

“Okay, okay. Just make sure to stow anymore of that talk about resignations.”

“I’ll think about it,” Reskova slipped into the driver’s seat of her Honda. “I’ll see you two on Monday.”

“You coming in too, Colonel?” Barrington asked as McDaniels reached in to put the passenger seat of the Honda back as far as he could.

“I’m going up to Bethesda and Walter Reed Monday to check on the guys. Some of them are in pretty bad shape. I’ll stop over afterwards if I won’t be in the way.”

“You’ll never be in the way, Cold,” Rutledge called out. “See ya.”

“Bye guys,” McDaniels waved.

Barrington closed the passenger side door and Rutledge sped away from the curb.

After McDaniels settled into the passenger side seat he carefully put his seat belt on as Reskova watched him with amusement.

“I would have rented a van if I’d known you were coming,” Reskova patted his hand.

“I’ll survive. I don’t remember ever coming home to a better reception. I thought we had decided to keep everything on a cooler basis.”

“I think you decided.” Reskova pulled McDaniels into a fevered embrace. “It seems like years have passed since I saw you. Do you mind about my less than reserved approach today?”

“Your team seems to have minded it more than me. You really threw them for a loop with the resignation business.”

“I just don’t want to pretend I don’t know you anymore. You sidestepped my question, Cold.”

“Okay, you surprised me today,” McDaniels admitted, stroking her hair. “I didn’t expect any of you to be there. When you jumped into my arms… I… ah… oh hell, it was the best thing that ever happened to me.”

Reskova pulled away from him, trying to peer through the darkness at McDaniels’ face. “You mean that?”

“Why the heck would I lie? If I’m the cold blooded psycho you think I am I certainly wouldn’t care about sparing your feelings.”

“Good point.” Reskova started the Honda. “You had kind of a pained expression on your face all night.”

“It was all the excitement seeing the baby with Ansa and Suraya. Me and the guys never had a chance to throw down a couple of shots.”

“Oh, it was that kind of pain,” Reskova replied, concentrating on the road.

“Partly,” McDaniels said hesitatingly. “Look, don’t get mad, but…”

Reskova steered to the side of the road, braking the car. She looked at McDaniels questioningly. “Look, you can’t hide that you were turned on, Cold. I felt it. You don’t have to pretend like you’re in love with me, but don’t…”

“No, no, no, let me finish,” McDaniels said, holding up his hands in a placating manner. “I hadn’t planned on being greeted before I recuperated a little. Since you’re taking me home with more in mind than a goodnight kiss, I… well… I caught a little shrapnel this trip out and…”

“Oh my God… you big dummy,” Reskova whispered in a hushed voice, putting her hand over his. “Why didn’t you say something? Is that what feels weird under your uniform? I thought…”

“It’s not that bad,” McDaniels protested. “I just didn’t want to make a big deal about it. I could have used a couple of sips to take the edge off.”

“Didn’t they give you any pain killers?” Reskova asked, driving the Honda away from the side of the road.

“Yeah, but I didn’t want to be drugged and miss my reception. Holding the little Cold was almost like magic. The contradiction of sitting there with him in my arms, knowing I had killed his parents, and feeding him his bottle, was like an alternate reality. Even us psychos are susceptible to irony, especially something so wonderful yet so… disturbing.”

“I can understand how you must have felt. I…I thought for a moment there you were going to tell me to take a hike. If I’d known you were wounded, I would have gotten us out of there early.”

“The last thing in the world I’m going to do is tell you to take a hike,” McDaniels said with conviction. “Can we keep the wound stuff between us?”

“Sure, but I don’t see why. What makes you embarrassed about being wounded? You think it will hurt your legend, huh?”

McDaniels laughed, liking her even more for the dig. “Oh yeah, that’s it. You saw them loading up those kids for transport. Compared to them, I’m duck soup.”

“How bad are you?”

“I’m going into Walter Reed Monday to find out. There’s a fragment they’re tracking in me they think might get too near the heart.”

“When were you hit?” Reskova asked, worry plain in her voice again.

“A few weeks back. We…”

“A few weeks? What the hell is wrong with you? Why…”

“Calm down,” McDaniels cut her off. “Those guys needed me. I can’t draw, sing, or play piano. I do know something about urban warfare.”

“You do at that.” Reskova patted his leg. “I didn’t mean it to sound like an attack. Can I go with you to Walter Reed?”

“Nope. I’ll stop in to see you after I get through. By the way, all my stuff is being transferred still. We had to take a different transport. I don’t have…”

“I’ll wash your underwear for you, Cold. We’ll go get you some new stuff tomorrow. There’s a mall within walking distance of the apartment. I have some extra toiletries, including razor, toothbrush, and all that.”

“Good, thanks. I can’t take a shower until after they see me on Monday.If it feels like something’s wrong, I’m supposed to go in this weekend.”

“I’ll give you a sponge bath,” Reskova volunteered immediately.

“Okay, but no rough stuff.”

“You big weenie.”

“See, that’s why I was hoping to ship in unnoticed.”

“You big weenie,” Reskova repeated happily.

Chapter 19

C.A.I.R.

With Dino lying contentedly at his feet after a frenetic greeting and short walk McDaniels sat on Reskova’s couch letting her help him remove his uniform top. Reskova carefully pulled his undershirt off, watching his face for signs of discomfort. McDaniels smiled at her through the process, only losing eye contact when she pulled his undershirt up over his head. She gasped at the tightly wound bandages covering all of McDaniels’ midsection up to his chest. Red, scarred tissue had formed up and over his right shoulder, but was uncovered. Reskova lightly traced her fingers over his shoulder scarring.

“What about this?”

“It’s almost completely healed.”

“It looks like burn tissue.”

“Well, the stuff is hot.”

“How did it happen?”

“A blast went up under my armor. Some of it kissed my shoulder a little.”

“Tough guy, huh?”

“I probably screamed like a little girl while I played hot potato with my vest,” McDaniels answered and then changed the subject. “Do you think that short walk when we arrived was enough for Dino tonight?”

“He’ll be fine.” Reskova reached down to ruffle Dino’s head. “Besides, I have an emergency area for him, complete with a plant.”

McDaniels laughed, looking around. “You’re kidding me.”

“It’s in the extra room. I bought one of those little kids’ shallow sandbox things, and filled it with sod and a small plant. Dino uses it like a good boy. I don’t have to worry about him messing my apartment up.”

“That’s amazing.” McDaniels shook his head, trying to digest the latest wrinkle concerning Reskova.

“I have a sun lamp on it to help the little plant and moss grow,” Reskova said proudly. “I’m glad Dreyer assigned him to me. I never had a pet before. Can I get you a drink before I give you your sponge bath?”

“What have you got?”

“Just some wine actually. We can pick something up harder tomorrow.”

“I’ll take a glass of wine.”

“You didn’t eat much dinner. I could cook you up something too,” Reskova offered, standing up to get the wine.

“No, I had plenty. Just the wine will do.”

With Dino trailing her Reskova brought back two wine glasses, filled three quarters of the way up. She handed McDaniels’ one of the glasses and sat down next to him with Dino again curling up at their feet. McDaniels sipped the wine and nodded with satisfaction.

“This tastes real good.”

Reskova leaned into McDaniels, lightly kissing him around the mouth and chin. “God, you look good.”

“I look like I was dropped into a wood chipper,” McDaniels corrected her, putting his wine glass aside. “But you, lady, look very good indeed.”

“I’ll give you the sponge bath later,” Reskova said huskily as McDaniels kissed her neck. “You’ll need it.”

* * *

Reskova woke up sighing contentedly and reaching over next to her. Instead of McDaniels’ body, she felt a familiar furry presence. Sitting up quickly, she grabbed Dino’s face between her hands accusingly. She shook his head gently back and forth.

“How many times have I told you not to sneak up on the bed you disrespectful mutt?”

Dino answered her charge by licking Reskova’s face while inching up on her lap. Reskova laughed, hugging the big dog to her. She looked around for signs of McDaniels. “Did Cold already get up and run you around in the middle of the night again? I’ll bet he did, didn’t he? He gets out of bed without me noticing and you get into bed without me noticing. I’m going to tie a bell around both of your necks.”

Reskova looked at the clock. The digital readout informed her it was nearly five thirty in the morning on Monday. She remembered with regret the long weekend off was all but over. Dino accompanied her to the bathroom and then out in search of McDaniels. Having already made coffee, McDaniels sat at the kitchen table listening to someone on the high tech satellite phone he had carried with him at all times since returning. Looking up with a smile, McDaniels waved at her. Reskova smiled back, posing with hand on hip, her black silk robe open. McDaniels’ mouth dropped open momentarily in mock outrage. He said goodbye to whoever was on the phone.

“It’s a little early for phone calls, Cold,” Reskova said, walking over and sitting on McDaniels’ lap, feeling the effect she was having on him right through the jeans he was wearing they had bought while shopping on Friday.

“You look wonderful.” McDaniels put the phone aside. He enfolded her in his arms. “Did Dino sneak into bed with you again?”

“Of course. I see you have your boots on. Did you already take him out?”

“He and I went for our morning constitutional around four.”

“You could sleep in until five once in a while just for variety,” Reskova nuzzled his neck provocatively.

“It takes a little time to get used to paradise, babe. I’ll be sleeping in until ten before you know it.”

“I’ll bet. Who were you talking to?”

“Abe called me. He’s insisted on taking me to Walter Reed. I joked with him about them not allowing Marines in there but he of course insisted they’ll allow him in.”

“Those guys have sure been checking up on you. Like Tom said when we were waiting at Andrews for the flight to arrive, you seem to have made some friends.”

“It’s pretty hard not to in the situation we were in. He’ll be picking me up around seven-thirty. We’ll go over to Bethesda first, get his leg looked at, and then see the guys in his unit. He’ll take me over to Walter Reed afterwards.”

“I wish you’d let me take you.” Reskova continued her ministrations.

“I’ll take you somewhere else.” McDaniels picked her up in his arms easily and carried her toward the bedroom.

“You’ll need another sponge bath,” Reskova warned.

“Yes, it is a vicious circle.”

* * *

Reskova swiped her ID card in the slot outside the office of her special task force and then rushed in, glancing for the hundredth time at her watch. Rutledge, Barrington and Rasheed were all standing in a line next to the door, their arms folded over their chests, with disapprovingly harsh looks on all their faces. Reskova blushed before walking toward her office shaking her head.

“I swear to God I’ll resign if you three keep this up!”

“Turn that record over, will you, Diane?” Rutledge laughed.

“We have not ratted you out, Boss,” Rasheed added.