Parker lost track how many people asked him the same questions over and over again, but he understood the reasoning. They had to get everything exactly right. If they let even one terrorist or unexplored connection fall through their fingers it could mean more deaths, and no one wanted that.

Ali al Fareq was transported to the hospital, and his son Ibrahim was carted off by the coroner. Parker's weapon was logged into evidence, after they allowed him to make the weapon safe. He sighed as he watched the tech carry it away. Hopefully he would get it back soon. He really liked that gun.

Andromeda disappeared for a few minutes and when she returned she had changed clothes. She looked warmer and more secure in herself, and she didn't sag once as she repeated the same details he had about what had happened. Andromeda stood with Roz as she was interviewed, holding her hand tightly. When the detective interviewing her asked Andromeda to step away she told him he could go suck a dick, because it wasn't happening. She wasn't leaving her best friend.

Mac's story was the only one that changed. It wasn't until the coroner was leaving that Mac mentioned the other body in the office. The responding cop turned red because he hadn't known about the third assailant, and it made him look like a putz. Mac had shrugged when asked and explained that after he'd struck the man's gun hand away, he slammed a fist into the man's chest. He explained rather clinically that it had apparently stopped the man's heart. He'd read about the technique but had never actually tried it himself.

Parker snorted. Mac actually sounded impressed that it had worked. He was very thankful for the man's big hands tonight.

Okay, that sounded weird.

Mac now sat on the couch, holding Roz against his side. He seemed to be willing to do anything for her, and it made Parker’s heart happy.

Andromeda was talking something over with Mike, their heads bent over her computer, which had thankfully been out here. The chief had pulled some strings and let the techs give him his cellphone.

"There's nothing you need it for," the man had growled when one of them had argued.

It rang in his pocket now, and Parker knew who it would be before he even looked at the screen.

"Yes, Commander."

Lambert chuckled on the other end of the line. "How did you know it was me? You didn't even look at it."

Damn this guy was spooky. Parker glanced out the lightening wall of windows looking out over the Scioto River. "You always call me at the worst times."

Lambert chuckled. "Why is it the worst time? You're one of the heroes of the hour. I saw some of the crime scene photos. That was a hell of a shot. Right through the heart. There was no saving him. And the punch that Ranger gave the old man actually left divots in his skull. They're not sure if al Fareq is going to make it or not."

"Hm," Parker responded. "No loss if he doesn't."

"Well, I hope he does. We have a place we can take a man like him to get answers." He paused. "You did a good job, Parker. Better than I expected."

Parker snorted. "Gee, thanks for the compliment."

"I mean it. You took out a huge cell of terrorists. ISIS will feel this. It's one less foothold they have in America."

"Yes," Parker sighed, "I suppose you're right."

Suddenly he felt tired. Bone deep weary. And there was no end to this mess in sight. They needed to come up with a place to stay tonight for the four of them. And they needed clothing and all the other little stupid stuff they couldn't get to.

"Is that all you needed, Lambert? I'm pretty tired. Gonna get my girl and find us a place to chill for a few days."

"Already done. That's why I called. I rented you a couple of rooms at the Westin Columbus, just a few blocks away. Presidential suite and a junior suite right next door. They're awaiting your arrival. There's even a car downstairs to take you all there. I assume Ms. White and Mr. Mackenzie will be going with you."

Rather than fight the inevitable, Parker decided to accept the gift graciously. "I appreciate that, Lambert. That's very human of you."

Lambert chuckled. "Enjoy yourself, Parker. You've earned it. I'll be in touch."

Parker was sure he would.

Andromeda seemed relieved to have a place to go, but she didn't want to take the car provided. She wanted to take her own Range Rover. Parker didn't blame her. Her apartment would be off limits indefinitely and it was hard to tell when they would allow her to get anything from it.

Mike went down in the elevator with them as they left. There was a police officer in the monitor on the elevator.

"I need to check on Hampton," Andromeda murmured.

"I'm sure he's fine."

She didn't seem convinced. She and Parker got into the Range Rover, and Mac took the keys from Roz for her vehicle.

"It's just at the Westin, Mac,” Andromeda told him. “Directly east."

He saluted and helped Roz up into her truck. The woman still seemed dazed, but she would rally.

When Parker went to the front desk of the Westin, they were greeted like rock stars and shown upstairs almost immediately. Mac escorted Roz into the suite beside theirs. "Let's chill out for a couple of hours and meet for a late breakfast."

"Sounds good," Parker told him.

Lambert hadn't been lying when he'd said they'd taken care of everything. Inside the suite there were clothes and toiletries, snacks and beverages, alcohol, everything imaginable for a traveler in need. Andromeda looked at the stuff scattered around and shook her head. "How?"

"My former boss," Parker said simply. "He's trying to make our life easier."

"That's awful nice of him," she murmured. "Your former SEAL boss?"

Parker sighed. "Well, kinda. He's actually working for the CIA right now."

Her dark brows shot into her hairline. "CIA?"

Parker nodded grimly, and Andromeda laughed.

"Did the FBI know you were working for the CIA?"

Parker chuckled with her. "Hell, no."

"Hm."

Crossing the room, she dropped down onto the long, overstuffed gray couch, then dragged a blanket down over top of her. Parker sat down beside her and she rested her head on his shoulder. "I'm emotionally wrought," she murmured. "I want all this to go away but I know it's not going to."

He stroked his hand through her hair. "You've done an excellent job, with everything. I meant to tell you that earlier. The gun in your back waistband was inspired. If Mac hadn't have intervened I would have had to, and it may not have turned out as well. I'm a good shot, but that would have been difficult. It's been a while since I was in a situation like that."

"You did just as well. I had no idea what to do but you kept everything controlled. And you saved my life." She pulled back to look at him. "I never thanked you for that."

Parker pulled her to him, pressing a kiss to upturned mouth. "I had to save you. We have a lot of unfinished business."

A slow smile spread across her lips, then a shadow slid across her expression. "I kind of don't want it all to end."

He pulled back in surprise. "What?"

She heaved a breath.

"I don't want you to leave," she admitted finally.

Parker's throat tightened, and it was all he could do to swallow. "I know what you mean," he whispered. "I want us to make do with what we have now. I'm not leaving tomorrow. I'll stay at least a week, even if I have to take vacation from my other job. It may take that long for a lot of things to happen. We'll know more about al Fareq's condition, all of the warrants will have been served by then, hopefully. I have a feeling I have a lot more work to do before I can get out of here."

She nodded, giving him a playful smile. "Then I suggest we take advantage of it. I've been looking at your half naked body all week and I haven't been able to do anything about it. Can we make something beautiful come out of this morning?"

Damn, she really knew where to hit Parker where it hurt. Right in the heart. "I think that's a wonderful idea, but..."

"No buts, damn it. I've been waiting patiently while you recovered, and then you were tired, and then we had to kill people. We're as secure as we're going to get, aren't we? And I'm too amped up to do anything else."

Parker laughed as she shivered, but the smile abruptly faded from his face as she went to her knees before him. She braced her arms over his thighs as she began to push the t-shirt up his abs. Parker shifted and tugged the shirt over his head, tossing it away. His side hurt, but less than it did the day before. He was getting stronger with every hour and he wanted to be everything he could be for her.

"I have to warn you," he said eventually as her fingers stroked down his center line. "I'm not as pretty as I used to be."

Andromeda grinned up at him. "Pretty, huh? You weren't handsome?"

"I was both of those things, but that was before Yemen. I'm serious, Andromeda. He fucked me up everywhere, not just where you can see."

For a moment her eyes hardened with anger, then she smiled at him. "It won't bother me, Parker. I'm just glad you're here. You have to know that."

"Yeah," he sighed. "I know."

And honestly, he was glad he was here too, even though he was feeling very exposed. Even as the thought registered, he reached for the remote on the table beside him and closed the blinds, sealing off the view of the city. Andromeda would probably think it was because of his scars, but it was more because of Lambert. It was hard to tell what the man would spy on if he thought it would serve a purpose.

Andromeda sat back on her heels to untie his boots. She tugged them off and tossed them away, then moved up to the zipper of his BDUs. Before he could delay her any more she had unzipped his pants and was working to pull them down his legs.

Parker lifted his butt to help her out, then watched as she tossed those away as well. He hadn't time to pull on underwear in the midst of the attack, so he was bare to her and the world. Before he could cover himself with a hand, she'd parked herself in the same pose as before, arms over his thighs and her leaning between them. Her eyes rested on the mass of scars on his lower belly, then down his length.

“Even here?” she whispered.

Parker sighed as she stroked a finger over the faint tracing of white lines down the most sensitive part of him. “Yes. Those healed well, though.” He rested a hand on his lower belly. “These took longer because they got infected.”

She cupped Parker's hard length in her hand and leaned forward to press kisses along the length, smiling slightly as he hardened even more in her hand.

"He's still happy to see me,” she murmured.

"Of course, he's happy to see you. Plus, well… it's been a long time."

Her golden eyes looked up at him, considering. "How long has it been?"

Parker made a face. "Well, I hadn't been with anyone for a while before Yemen, so it's been at least five years."

He shivered as she pressed her lips to the thick vein running up the underside. "Oh, babe. No wonder why you are so hard."

Parker let his head fall back against the couch cushion as she explored him. He knew he wasn't as visually pleasing as before, and it worried him. Andromeda was a beautiful woman and she deserved to have someone at her side equally as beautiful, but there was no way he was going to give up this time with her. He would fight through his embarrassment and give her all of the pleasure he possibly could before he had to leave.

She did something with her mouth and he jerked, pleasure roaring through him. His side twinged but it was a distant pain. This wasn't fair to her but fuck, it felt good. He would indulge just for a minute.

Parker squeezed his legs around her and reached down to cup her head in his hands. She looked up at him, her brilliant eyes shining in pleasure. Looking down the line of her body he knew she was aroused. Her hips shifted suggestively, as if she wanted to touch herself.

Gripping her arms, Parker pulled her up toward him. Andromeda made a sad sound as he pulled her away from his hardness, but he didn't allow her to sway him. "Take off your clothes."

Her eyes glowing with excitement, she stood before him and began to undress. She should have looked ridiculous pulling the sweatshirt over her head, but he focused on her breasts. Andromeda had always been long and lean, but she'd had the prettiest little natural breasts. He was very glad she didn't appear to have changed that. As she peeled every layer over her head, her breasts became more visible, until he was holding his breath as she pulled the plain beige bra away from her chest. Oh, yes, there they were. Perfectly proportioned, perfectly shaped, just enough to fill his hand. Parker wanted her to move closer, but she wouldn't until she'd taken everything off.

The pants were tight, but they reminded him of being a kid in junior high and seeing all the girls in their skintight stonewashed jeans walking down the hallways. He'd had an appreciation for the female shape ever since then. Andromeda's gently rounded hips aroused him like no other.

She knew it, too. Slowly, seductively, she bent over as she pushed the jeans down over her hips then down the length of her legs. Her lace panties followed the same path, then got tossed with his own clothes somewhere across the room.

For a moment she stood before him perfectly exposed, her body drawing him in like it always did. Parker's dick bounced, needing her. Her eyes flicked down and that smile spread across her lips. Her eyes damn near luminous, she moved toward him.

Parker shifted down on the couch and held a hand out to her. "Straddle me."

She grinned as she went to one knee beside him, lifted the other over his lap and reached down to angle him into her. Parker knew he was walking on the edge and there was a very real chance he would explode as soon as he felt her hot, wet heat around him, but he wanted her this way the first time. It had been so long since he'd seen her body. He just wanted to look at her for a while.

Andromeda began to lower herself onto him, but she stilled just as he breached her outer labia. Parker groaned, his hands going to her hips, but she held firm above him. Bracing a hand on his chest, she looked him in the eye. "I’ve missed you, Parker."

Then, with a gentle bounce, she began working him inside herself. Parker gritted his teeth, fighting off his orgasm. Then she slid all the way down his length and they both groaned. Sinuously, seductively, Andromeda began to move her body. Parker tweaked her nipples, making her gasp and tighten around him. Wrapping his hands down over her ass cheeks, he started dragging her forward on the down stroke. Andromeda cried out and started moving more aggressively, riding him hard. Again, Parker knew there would be pain later, but he couldn't help but move beneath her, shoving himself as deep as he could.

Andromeda began to pant and jerk, then she cupped her own breasts and arched back. Parker reached for the dark cloud of hair that blended into his and stroked. Her clit was so swollen and hungry for attention. Angling his hand to fit against her, he probed with a finger. He felt his own hardness, as well as the silken glide of her body. Then he flicked her clit with his fingertip.

It was almost like she'd been waiting for that single touch. Gasping, Andromeda cried out, her body straining in his lap. Parker held onto her as the orgasm caused her skin to shudder and ripple with gooseflesh. Internally, her sheath clutched at his cock and he couldn't keep his orgasm back in the face of her pleasure. Groaning, Parker emptied himself into her, hands clutching at her hips spasmodically.

Andromeda rolled her head to look at him and braced her arms against his shoulders, her eyes heavy-lidded. "As always, you were amazing, but you make me want more."

She leaned down and kissed him on the lips, her fingers running over his jaw. Parker blinked up at her, loving the look on her face. "Well, let me recover from this one first," he laughed.

Andromeda slipped off of his lap and the aches began to settle in, but he wasn't going to let it tarnish the experience. Sitting up, he took her offered hand. "Let's go take a shower."