Elijah

I woke up with a pounding headache, my face smashed up against the steering wheel, and a blood smeared air bag. I heard sirens off in the distance, but no other sounds. It was too quiet in the car.

Slowly, I pushed myself so I was sitting, trying to figure out what had happened and where I was.

I could feel warm blood dripping down my arm where glass cut into my skin. A sweet-smelling odor from the engine reached me.

I needed to move.

Now.

Looking over to the passenger seat, I saw the door was open and Dawn was nowhere in sight. It had to have been opened from the outside as it was caved inward from the impact. The glass was completely shattered, sharp pieces sticking up where it used to be in the frame.

Surprisingly, the car had landed on its deflated tires after doing a full roll. My body felt sore from the impact already. Steam was rising out of the engine, and I forced myself to unbuckle and crawl out the open door. I could feel the small pieces of glass cutting into my palms and knees.

“Dawn!” I yelled. My head began to pound more, but I ignored it. I kept yelling for Dawn.

I don’t know how long I screamed for her, but once my brain realized she wasn’t here, I collapsed, gasping for breath as the sirens grew louder, before voices and movement reached my senses. I couldn’t move as tears poured down my face, crouching there on the ground. I kneeled, hunched over, gasping for breath, still calling for my girl as loud as I could, my voice growing hoarse. I think I puked, as the sour smell reached my nose.

“I’ll get him; check the car.” I heard Kaleb’s voice as he pushed his way to me. “Elijah?” he said, drawing my attention to him.

“She’s gone,” I cried out, looking at him. “I have to find her.” I went to stand, but my legs gave out. Kaleb caught me and helped me walk to the ambulance before he said anything. I couldn’t think of anything but finding my girl.

“I’ll find her,” he said, helping me to lay back on the cot so the medics could strap me in. “I’ll meet you at the hospital, okay?”

Everything seemed to be fog covered and I didn’t know what to do. I had never panicked before. Not when Dawn was taken the first time. Not when I had lost my mentor to another. Not when I couldn’t get a case right at work.

“Kaleb,” I managed to say, before I blacked out in panic, letting the darkness be a promise for hope, for calm.

* * *

Beep. Beep. Beep.

Slowly, I came back to consciousness. I could feel each bruise, each cut and mark on my body. I could feel the IV in my right hand, pushing fluids into my sore body. My eyes refused to open. Now I had an idea of how Dawn must have felt when she first came to me.

It was pure hell.

I knew I was in a hospital. It wasn’t often I ended up in one, so I knew it must be pretty bad. I remembered why I was here and grimaced at the thought.

Groaning, I forced my heavy eyes open, but shut them instantly. The light above me was too bright. Way too fucking bright.

“Elijah?” I heard my mother whisper out softly, and a soft touch on my other hand. I squeezed, letting her know I was awake.

“Oh, Elijah,” she cried out, laying her head over our hands.

“Mom?” I blinked my eyes open, expecting the extremely bright light this time. I had to blink a few times to clear my vision.

“I was so worried about you,” she said, but it came out muffled. “You’ve been asleep for hours.”

“Where’s . . . Where’s . . .?” I managed to get out before the beeping of the heart monitor began to rise, showing my panic.

“Shh. Lizzy’s with Kelly,” Mom said.

“Dawn?” I breathed out in panic. I could see the black dots in my vision. “Where is she?” I could feel my heartbeat through my entire body, racing. Faster. Faster.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

“You have to calm down, please,” my mom begged as a nurse flew in the room with a needle. She inserted whatever drug into my system through the IV, and I felt the effects almost immediately. They calmed me, relaxing me, making me fall asleep.

“Get Kaleb,” I managed to mumble out before darkness covered me once again. I tried to fight it, but it was useless.

* * *

Kaleb

I was seething. Beyond seething, if it was possible. I couldn’t believe that little dick got an up on us, yet again. He was going to meet my fist—and more—when I tracked the fucker down this time. I wasn’t the reasonable FBI Chief now; I should have killed that bastard on site. I still might, anyway—consequences be damned.

I knew I should have moved Elijah and Dawn to a different location. It was plain as day that Morgan was watching their every move. I didn't know what he had planned, but I was pretty dang sure he was after the girl who was like a baby sister to me.

She had changed Elijah for the better. Elijah had always thrown himself into his work, even at such a young age. He wasn’t ever really happy with how his life was going, but he did the best he could. He was lonely and angry most of the time—until Dawn came back into his life.

When I first met him, he was alone, sitting at the bar looking around. That had been a few years ago. I couldn’t help but reach out to him—in more than one way. I’ve always swung both ways, and I found him to be attractive, in a bad boy kind of way.

He wore all black, including a leather jacket. He seemed lost, not sure of anything. His body was stiff, but he was searching for something, most likely a one-night stand. He was new to this area, or at least to this bar.

“Hey, cowboy,” I greeted, as I walked up next to him, ordering a stiff drink.

“Oh, uh, hey?” he said, confused. His bright blue eyes were clouded with indecision. His dark blond hair touched his chin. I couldn’t wait to run my fingers through it.

“Come to let some steam off tonight?” I asked, letting my eyes roam up and down. He wasn’t the usual type I’d try to hit on, but I could see he wasn’t sure about what he liked. Why not give it shot, right?

Normally, I’d never go for someone who had no clue about my lifestyle. I liked the easy prey who seemed to always be lining up for me.

“I guess so,” he simply shrugged, turning back around to ask for a water. I looked him over, wondering his age. If I had to take a guess, I would say he was about twenty, maybe.

“Girl trouble?” I couldn’t help but ask, wanting to know what was going on inside that head of his. I had to make sure that he, in fact, was single.

“I wish,” he sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I can’t stand any of the girls I’ve met lately.”

“Then what has you so stressed?” I asked, leaning into his personal space just a tad.

“Life,” he sighed.

“So, what are you planning to do here tonight, then?” I asked, indicating his water. “You not of drinking age?”

“I can try to find a nice person older than me to order my drinks,” he winked with a laugh. “Then hope to get laid.”

“Well, I can help you with both,” I winked back, watching as his face freeze before he turned bright red.

“What?” he stuttered, once he got his thoughts back in order. “I . . . I don’t. . . do guys,” he said, but I could hear and see the idea was almost appealing to him. His voice wasn’t as deep as some men I’d had relations with. Plus, I’m pretty sure he’d just tried to flirt with me.

“Are you sure about that?” I asked with a sweet smile his way. “You seem the type to be up for trying new things.”

It didn’t take him long to find out what he wanted. I was easy on him that first time, giving him a wonderful blow job and getting one in return. That was the night we became good friends—and more. But what we had wasn’t love; it was a way for him to grow, to figure out what he wanted and needed out of life.

I knew I should have been there with him in the hospital since he was so distraught after the crash, and with Dawn missing again for the second time in his life. I couldn’t blame him. She was the light of his life.

I was at the station, trying to track her phone, but it didn’t seem to be giving us a signal. I knew time was not on our side, and I had no idea where Morgan had taken her. I just hoped she’d find a way to get a message to us, or to try to run. We had many of our guys out looking every single place we possibly could.

Joslyn called later the next morning, saying that Elijah had woken up in a panic again and that I needed to be there the next time he did. She didn’t know what to do. He needed to be calm so I could get him out of there and to a safe house in case Morgan came back and tried to finish him off.

When I had got to him, he had been covered in blood, with a few deep cuts from the glass. He had a good bruise across his forehead and down his face. I was sure Morgan would have taken him out if given the choice, but since Dawn was there, he took her instead.

The car hit Dawn’s side—hard. It had been stolen, and the driver was nowhere to be found. I was worried about what sort of state she would be in, and hoped she could get away from Morgan sooner rather than later, or that we could figure out where he was.

I was tired but knew I couldn’t go home. I called Kelly, letting her know I was going to wait for Elijah to wake up again at the hospital, since he was sedated. I hoped he wouldn't panic as much if I was there.

Once I got to the hospital, I nodded to the police officer standing outside his room before entering. Joslyn sat in what looked like the most uncomfortable white chair next to the bed, looking around the room as she tried to stay awake.

Elijah lay in the hospital bed, eyes closed as he slept. A white blanket covered him up to his armpits, with his arms laid out over the top. The blood had been cleaned off him, and the cuts were stitched. I’m sure he hurt like a bitch.

“Go home,” I said, patting her shoulder. “Or at least go rest in Vence’s office and lie down. I’ll call you when he wakes.”

“Thanks, Kaleb,” she said, standing up and giving me a strong hug. She was worn out and worried. We all were.

I took a seat in her chair and stretched out, waiting for my best friend, once lover, to wake up. I had once promised him I would take care of him no matter what. I wasn’t going to break my promise now.