Stitch by Jaime Lewis

Chapter Ten

“Mia, are you sure I can’t take you to the hospital to have a doctor examine you?”  The Sheriff asked as he glanced over at her before returning his eyes to the road. Mia already had the same discussion with him before they even left the bus station’s parking lot. He was very adamant about taking her to the hospital. She wouldn’t have argued in any other situation, but it was too risky in her case.  If she went to the hospital, her identity would be placed into the computer system, and any smart computer junkie could find her in a heartbeat. She couldn’t have that. Stitch’s cabin was the safest bet right now. The cabin had no connection to her family, so those looking for her would have to dig really deep to put the connection together to even think about heading this way.

When the Sheriff had told her he had spoken to Stitch and that they were on their way, she felt relieved. She was nervous as to how her brother and Stitch would react to seeing her injuries. Judging by the pain in her body, it could take weeks before returning to her normal self.  Before she got into the truck, she had taken one of the pain pills. Hopefully, she’d make it up to the cabin before it took effect.

She looked in the Sheriff’s direction. “I’ll be fine once I get to the cabin and can lay down. But thank you.”

She noticed the way his hands gripped the steering wheel, and he clenched his teeth. He wasn’t happy, but it was her decision, so the remainder of the drive was in silence.

Her eyes had just started to close when she felt the truck pull off the smooth asphalt and onto a more rugged road.  She became alarmed at how dark the area was. The only lights came from the headlights of the truck. It was creepy and eerie. She couldn’t even see lights from any nearby houses. She wished she hadn’t watched so many scary movies over the years because the imagery was like she was driving into one.

“Where are we?” She asked, trying to see through the darkness.

“This is a private road that leads to the cabin. Not many neighbors up this way. I’m sure that’s why Stitch bought the place.”

She looked back out the window into the darkness and was relieved that the Sheriff had been adamant about driving her. There was no way in hell she would have been comfortable here alone, especially with the circumstances surrounding her. Stitch’s place was far from civilization. As if the Sheriff knew the crazy thoughts floating through her head, he said, “If you’re not familiar with the area, it can get kind of creepy.  Especially at night.”

Yeah, no shit. She swallowed hard.  Right before she answered, the truck came around a bend and merged onto a smooth, paved driveway that was lit up like a runway at a busy international airport. Her eyes followed the path of lights leading to a gorgeous two-story log cabin. She pressed her face against the glass as they pulled up and parked in front of the steps that led to the inviting wraparound porch complete with rocking chairs, potted plants, and even a porch swing. She hadn’t even seen the inside and was already in awe. The porch swing had her name written all over it.

“This is beautiful. Are you sure we’re at the right cabin? With all of the lights on, it looks as if someone is home.”

The Sheriff put the truck in park and turned off the ignition. “Wait until you see it in the daytime. I’m jealous I didn’t buy it when Old Man Larkin put it up for sale. Stitch has done a lot of work to the place to bring it back to its former glory. Starting with all the solar outdoor lighting he installed. Since he doesn’t get up here as often as he would like, he wanted the property to appear as if someone lived here all year round.”

She opened the door wanting to get a better look, but when she twisted to slide out of the truck, the pain that tore through her mid-section made her pause. She bit down on her lip to stop herself from crying out. How in the hell was she going to get out of this monstrosity of a truck? The damn thing was so high that the Sheriff had to lift her and set her in it. She tried to position herself differently, but the muscles still pulled and caused tremendous pain no matter what she did. She prayed she had no broken ribs. However, she had heard that bruised ribs felt almost as bad as broken ones.  If she wanted to get into the house, she would have to suck it up.

She held her breath and counted to three. When she got to three, she pushed off, but a set of hands on her thighs stopped her.

“Whoa, easy does it.”

She glanced to her left and was met with a set of angry and concerned eyes of the Sheriff.

“Honey, let me help you out and into the house.” She nodded, but then a thought hit her. And it was a crazy thought. She wondered if it was the medicine making her looney. But what did she know about this Sheriff?  Sure, the townspeople seemed to fawn over him, but that could just be an act. She’d read in the news about individuals like him and how they use their power to manipulate people.

Once he helped her down, she stepped to the side, and in doing so, she tripped over her feet and almost fell. If it weren’t for the Sheriff’s quick reflexes, she probably would’ve ended up flat on her face. Not that it would matter because her face was already messed up.

She steadied herself before her gaze landed on his hard, penetrating stare with his hand resting on the butt of his gun attached to his hip. She swallowed hard.

“Are you okay?” He asked.

“Yes, I’m sorry.” Oh geez, how could she explain to him what her thoughts were without either insulting him or pissing him off more than what he already seemed to be? He probably thought she was some nut case and wishing he hadn’t offered to give her a lift.  She took a painful breath.

“Let me start by saying I think my pain medicine is affecting my rational thinking. It’s just that I don’t really know you, and here I am getting into your truck and letting you drive me out into the boonies, in the dark. I’m mean, you could be a serial killer for all I know.”

She was expecting some type of lecture, but instead, she was thrown for a loop when the big man threw his head back and roared with laughter.

“If it helps settle your nerves, I’m happily married to the love of my life, and we have two amazing little girls.” He pulled a picture from his wallet and showed it to her.

“They’re beautiful.” She looked up at him and gave her shoulder a slight shrug. “I’m sorry. That was a ridiculous thought. Here you are being nice, and I’m acting ungrateful and so disrespectful.”

“Don’t be sorry. It’s actually nice to see you are aware of your surroundings.  Although it is a little late in the game, considering I already have you at the cabin.” He raised an eyebrow at her, and she lowered her head. She felt so stupid.

She went to reach for her bags, but he waved her off, telling her he would get them. He followed, keeping his hand at her back as she walked up the steps to the porch. Jesus, just walking up five steps was like trying to climb a mountain. Her legs shook as they started to cramp. The Sheriff helped her with the last step. She inserted the key, unlocked the door, then disarmed the alarm with the code that Stitch had given her.  She turned toward the Sheriff as he set her bag down next to the couch.

“Stitch and your brother should be here in about thirty minutes.”

“I know it’s Thanksgiving, and you probably want to spend it with your family, but would it be a terrible inconvenience if you stayed until they got here?”

“Not in the least,” he nodded his head toward the couch. “Why don’t you get yourself comfortable and get that leg up? I’ll grab you some ice.  Do you need anything else?”

“I think I’m good. Thank you again for everything.”

“It was my pleasure. Go on and lie down.”

She made herself comfortable and laid her head on one of the many throw pillows, then pulled a blanket draped over the back of the couch onto her. The chill she had was forgotten as soon as she got a whiff of the blanket’s scent. It smelled like the cologne that Stitch wore. She inhaled the woodsy, spicy scent, and damn, did it smell good. She needed to find out what brand he wore and buy him a lifetime supply of it. Her eyeslids began to droop, and within seconds she was overcome with darkness as sleep took over.

◆◆◆

Sheriff Prescott pulled an ice pack from the freezer and wrapped it in a dishtowel. He was angry. Actually, angry put it mildly. He was downright pissed off like no tomorrow. He wanted answers—to know the circumstances surrounding her injuries. Mia seemed like a sweet woman, and it upset him that someone had laid a hand on her. He knew Stitch and her brother well, and both were going to lose their shit when they saw the damage inflicted upon her. He almost went against her and drove her to the hospital. Granted, he wasn’t a doctor, but anyone in their right mind could see she needed medical attention. His lips tilted upward. If she wouldn’t go to the hospital, he’d have the hospital come to her.He pulled his cell phone out and sent a text to Doc O’Neal, the local town physician.

He walked back into the living room with the ice in hand and wasn’t surprised to see she had fallen asleep. He couldn’t help the small smile hearing her soft snores. The poor thing had to be exhausted. Traveling from New York by bus in the condition she was in was miraculous. He situated the ice pack on her ankle before fixing the blanket so it covered her whole body.  His phone chimed with an incoming text from Stitch, letting him know they were fifteen minutes out. One of his deputies had met the group at the landing site and would bring them up to the cabin. He planned on sticking around because he wanted to hear Mia’s story. Being the Sheriff, he was responsible for the town and its residents' safety, and if there could be trouble coming this way, he wanted to know so he could prepare.

While he waited for the cavalry to arrive, he made use of the time building a fire in the fireplace. After the fireplace glowed from the orange and purplish flame, he strode back into the kitchen and made a pot of coffee.  He had a feeling they were going to need it. Once the coffee was brewed, he poured himself a cup, checked on Mia again, then went outside to wait.  As he sat there on the porch, he scanned the darkness beyond Stitch’s property for any sign of movement.

Stitch was a quiet guy, liked his space, so the Sheriff had to wonder just how important Mia was to Stitch. Stitch’s cabin was his haven. He didn’t allow just anyone up here. Granted, she was Ace’s sister and probably knew him, but for him to hand over a key to her, she must mean something. Stitch was a hell of a guy. He was a loyal friend, respected SEAL, and shit, he deserved a good woman. He didn’t know a lot about the woman currently sleeping inside, but he was a good judge of character. In his opinion, Mia seemed like a sweet, caring lady, maybe had a little stubborn streak in her, but obviously, she got caught up in a really bad situation. He hoped like hell that Stitch and the guys could get through to her.

Moments later, a set of headlights appeared in the distance. He stood and stepped down off the porch as the SUV came to a stop. Stitch was the first one out.

“Sheriff.” Stitch said before glancing towards the house.  The others got out, and everyone greeted each other. “She’s inside?”

“Sound asleep on the couch. I texted Doc O’Neal. He should be here within the hour.” The Sheriff could see the anxiousness in Stitch, and he couldn’t blame him. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to stick around until she wakes up and you guys talk to her. If there is a chance that trouble could be following her, I’d like to know and help where I can.”

“Absolutely.”

Ace then stepped forward, “I can’t thank you enough for sensing she was feeding you a line of bullshit. Mia can be stubborn.”

The Sheriff grinned, “No thanks needed. Your sister is a tough cookie. Exhausted, but to make it here in the condition she is in, she is tough. You guys can buy me a beer later.”

◆◆◆

Every step closer Stitch got to the front door, the more nervous he became. His body was practically shaking from the adrenalin surging through him. For the last hour, he had so many different thoughts and images of Mia running through his brain that it made his head spin.

He wiped his sweaty hands on his pants before opening the door.  It was quiet except for the sound of the crackling fire. He looked over at Ace, who nodded his head for him to go first.

They made their way into the living room and came around the couch, and Stitch fell to his knees next to the sofa the moment his eyes landed on Mia’s bruised face. Jesus, her eyes, cheek, and lip were all swollen and discolored. The blanket covered the rest of her frame, and quite frankly, he was afraid to see the rest of the damage to her body. Stitch took a couple of deep breaths to calm himself down. Ace, on the other hand, wasn’t fairing too well. His eyes looked like they were about to pop out of his head, and his jaw appeared to tick.

“Jesus Christ.”  Ace spoke in a low voice, and Stitch could hear the pain and anguish. Stitch pushed a couple of stray hairs from her face.  His fingers traced the bruising over her cheek. Whoever the fuck did this to her was a dead man.

“My God,” Derek stated, followed by Tink’s comment, “Car accident my ass. Those are fucking finger marks on her neck.”

Stitch looked at the Sheriff, who stood behind the couch looking down at Mia.

“Were you able to get anything from her? Who may have done this?”

“No.”

“She definitely needs to go to the hospital.”

“I think so too, but she was very adamant about not going.”

Stitch ran his hand through his hair. Mia was stubborn. She inherited that trait from her brother.

“Stitch, we need to wake her up.” Ace told him, but part of Stitch didn’t want to. She looked so peaceful lying there, but Ace was right; they needed answers, especially if there was a chance that someone could be looking for her. But more importantly to get a better understanding of what her injuries were.

Stitch gently rubbed her shoulder, and she moaned, causing him to pull his hand back. Christ, he was afraid to touch her. “Hey, Mia, come on, you need to wake up. It’s me, Stitch. Ace is here too.”

She started to stir a bit. “Stitch…Ace…” She said, and Stitch wasn’t sure if her voice sounded froggy from her sleep or if her throat was injured.

Ace squatted down next to the couch, and Stitch gave him a little room. This had to be so difficult for Ace to see his sister battered and bruised.

Suddenly, Mia let out an earsplitting scream as her eyes popped open. She shot up off the couch and stumbled over the coffee table. Her unexpected movement had caught Ace off guard, and he fell backward. If it weren’t for Derek standing nearby and able to steady her, she might have fallen into the fireplace.

“No! Let me go!” She shouted, trying to wriggler out of Derek’s grasp.

She was stuck in a flashback or something, but before she hurt herself any further, Stitch called out to her in a loud, stern tone. “Mia, stop!”

Mia froze, and her teary eyes widened, then darted around the room.  Nobody moved a muscle waiting to see what her next move would be. It wasn’t until she locked gazes with Stitch that she realized her surroundings. She blinked rapidly then burst into tears as she sunk to her knees.

Stitch stepped over Ace and rushed to Mia’s side. She grabbed onto him, clutching the front of his shirt.

“Your safe, baby. We’re here now.” He cooed to her as he rubbed her back. She buried her face in his chest, and he held her while her hot tears soaked through his shirt.  He glanced around the room and met Ace’s gaze. Stitch couldn’t read his expression. He’d never talked to Ace about his feelings for Mia, and now was not the time to do so, but soon he would.

“Let’s get you back on the couch.” He said to her. She started to stand then yelped as her leg gave out, almost making them both fall. Thankfully, Stitch caught them both. He swung her up into his arms and walked to the couch.

Her body trembled as he held her. She had her eyes closed.

“It hurts too much to move.” She cried, and his temper flared, seeing her like this.  Knowing that some piece of shit with no respect for a human life did this to her pissed him off seven ways to Sunday.

◆◆◆

Not only was Mia in extreme pain, but she was embarrassed. She couldn’t believe she had totally flipped out the way she had. But between the pain medicine and anxiety, the guys’ presence had caught her off guard. She was on edge, and on the verge of passing out.

After several tense and silent moments, Mia’s tears turned into hiccups as she tried to get herself under control. Now that her adrenalin rush had subsided, the pain seemed to spike to a level she could no longer tolerate. It made her sick to her stomach.

She laid her head against Stitch’s shoulder.

“I don’t feel well.”

Stitch pulled her a little closer to him, and she wanted to melt into him.  He caressed her back lightly, sending a feeling of warmth throughout her body.

He adjusted her on his lap, and the slight jostle caused enormous pain to hit her ribs, and she let out another yelp.

Stitch froze and looked down at her. “Jesus, Mia, where else are you hurt?”

All eyes were on her waiting for her to answer. She looked down at her hands that were clasped in her lap.  Stitch lifted her chin, so she was looking at him.  His eyes were so focused and intense, but beautiful at the same time.

“Be honest, Mia.  Where else are you hurt?” He asked again.

The tears hit her eyes.

“Mia?” Ace started in on her.

“All over.” She sniffled and tried to fight back the tears, but she couldn’t.  “They beat me all over.”

Stitch hugged her to him, and she buried her face in the crook of his neck and cried. He slowly and gently caressed her back.

“I know this is hard for you, but we need to ask you a few questions.”  Stitch whispered into her hair.

She wiped her eyes and looked up at Stitch who brushed a stray hair off her bruised cheek. “I don’t know who they were.  They knocked me out once they threw me in the van.”

“You don’t know who they were? What did they look like?” Ace asked as he crossed his arms in front of his chest. Her brother was fired up.

“I don’t. I was finishing up my run when two guys pulled me off the street. They were wearing masks, and when I woke up in the warehouse, I was blindfolded.”

They asked her more questions, and she answered them as best she could. She explained how she managed to escape and then how someone, a stranger, came to her rescue, but at the same time offered her a warning.

She looked at her brother.

“I’m sorry, Ace. I tried to do what I thought was right. I didn’t want to take the chance and put everyone in danger.”

“I was so pissed off when I saw your text this morning.”

Mia’s head snapped up, and she looked at her brother with her eyebrows scrunched together.

“You got my text?”

“Yeah, it came through around three-thirty or so in the morning, but I didn’t actually read it until later.”

“That’s interesting because I lost my phone during the scuffle with the men. I tried to send the text from my watch once I was back in my apartment, but it didn’t go through because I wasn’t in range.”

“When you left and went to catch a cab, you must have been within the range of where you dropped it because I got it.”

“Mia, can you describe the warehouse you were in? Or anything you can remember?” Derek asked.

“No, like I told you, the blindfold they had tied around my head was super tight and double-knotted. I was lucky it had slid up just a smidge so I could somewhat see what I was doing.”

“What about the men? Anything descriptive about their voice, or build, maybe?”

“From what I could tell, there were three men. One of them came later, and he is the one who had stopped the one guy from beating me. I didn’t catch any names, but again, they had drugged me with something, so my mind was a little slow and fuzzy. I did detect New York accents. The guy who grabbed me was really big; bulky, but not all muscle either. The other guy had a much smaller build. That’s about it.”

“What about the stranger you spoke of? The one who rescued you on the street. Anything descriptive about him?”

“He had an English accent. He was kind, but at the same time didn’t want to reveal himself. I’m assuming he was the person who left the note.”

Ace sat down on the coffee table in front of Mia.  He took her hand.

“Do you have any idea what these guys wanted with you?”

She shook her head, and her emotions came flooding back, remembering they had plans to kill her.

“I don’t know for sure, but I think I was targeted.”

“You’re positive you weren’t just in the wrong place at the wrong time?  That this wasn’t a mugging or random assault gone bad?” Ace asked, and again she shook her head.

“I remember one of the guys mentioned that I was the one who their boss had his eyes on. He also said that it would be a shame to not fuck me before they had to off me.”

The vein on the side of Ace’s head pulsated, and his jaw became tense.

“They said they were going to kill you?”

“That’s what they said.”

Ace’s eyes darkened, and his grip tightened on her hand. His nostrils flared, and she knew he was trying not to show his anger in front of her.

“Ace…”

He leaned forward and kissed her forehead. “All that matters is that you are safe now.”

She was exhausted and in a lot of pain. She tried to relax her body against Stitch, but she couldn’t fight the agony any longer. She hadn’t even realized that tears were flowing down her cheeks until Stitch wiped them away. She felt so numb and confused. Why her?

“What is your pain level, on a scale of one to ten?” Stitch asked.

She closed her eyes and leaned against his muscular frame. “Twenty.”  She started to second guess her decision not to get checked out at the hospital.  Before she could conjure another thought, Stitch stood with her in his arms and started walking. He said something to the guys, but she wasn’t paying any attention. The only thing she wanted was another pain pill to knock her out.

◆◆◆

Stitch could feel how tense Mia was and knew she was in pain.

“Please don’t let them find me again.” She whispered. She was breathing heavily, and then her body started to tremble.

Stitch looked at Ace and could see the effect this situation was having on him. His eyes were glassy. There had been only one other time he’d seen his team leader come close to crying, and that was when they had found Alex beaten and shot in Afghanistan.

Stitch turned to the Sheriff. “When did Doc say he’d be here?”

“Should be here in about ten to fifteen minutes.”

“Let’s move her upstairs to the bedroom. At least there, she’d be more comfortable.  I have some mild pain killers, but I would rather the doc check her out first.”

Ace nodded his head and gave Stitch room as he started toward the staircase. Mia whimpered, burying her face in the crook of his neck and shoulder.

He felt terrible for causing her more pain, but it was important to get her comfortable, and it would give the doctor room to examine her.

Ace went up the stairs first.

“Which room?” He asked, and Stitch nodded to the left that led to his bedroom. It was the only room with a made bed, and the only room he wanted Mia staying in.

Ace opened the door and turned on the table lamp sitting on the dresser.  He hurried over to the bed and pulled back the covers. Stitch then laid Mia down, but Mia wouldn't let go of him.

“Mia, drop your arms for me, please. We need to get your jacket off.” She did as he asked, but she kept her eyes closed and turned her head. He looked at Ace.

“Help me get this off of her.”

The two of them maneuvered the light jacket off of her.

“Oh, Jesus!” Stitch whispered as they raised her shirt to look at her midsection. She was bruised all over. Her beautiful olive skin was marred with black, blue, and reddish welts.

“Fuck! Do we take her to the hospital? This shit is bad.” Ace admitted taking in the sight of Mia’s immense bruising.

Stitch shook his head. “Let’s see what doc says first. If he thinks she should go, then we’ll work it out.”

◆◆◆

Ace looked on as Stitch cared for Mia. His heart was heavy, and he was full of emotions—sadness, anger, and helplessness. This was different from what he was used to dealing with. In his line of work, he rescued and protected people, but those individuals weren’t his family. This ordeal brought back memories from when Alex had been kidnapped in Afghanistan. He never wanted to go through the worry of finding or protecting a loved one against the enemy again. Unfortunately, the world was filled with sick people who preyed on others, and there were no guarantees.

He knew Mia was scared, in pain, and he would move heaven and earth to take it all away from her.

He helped Stitch get Mia’s foot propped up to try and help with the swelling.

“Ace, would you mind running down to get some ice, and then grab her bag on your way back?”

With a nod of his head, he exited the room and headed down the stairs. When he got to the bottom, Tink and Derek were still in the living room talking. When they saw him, Derek asked, “How is she?”

Ace blew out a deep breath and took a seat in the chair.

“I don’t know how in the hell she functioned enough to make it here. If she doesn’t have any broken ribs, it would be a fucking miracle.”

“She was running on adrenalin.”

“Where do we go from here? Do we contact the NYPD and file a report?”

“Actually, Tink and I were just discussing that. If what Mia said is true and she was targeted…” Derek paused and took a breath. “Ace, your sister could’ve been targeted for human trafficking.”

“But Mia said one of the guys mentioned ‘offing’ her.”

Tink shrugged his shoulders. “He could’ve been referring to as ‘offing’ her onto someone else.”

“Shit!” Ace didn’t even want to think about the possibility of Mia being pulled into a human trafficking ring.

“If she was picked out because of her looks like a specific order, it’s possible these guys could still be looking for her. My company has worked many jobs taking down these types of people. They are sick individuals, but men and even women will pay top dollar to get what they want.”

“She is tired, in pain, and on edge right now.  My opinion is to let her get some sleep tonight. Maybe with some rest, she can think a little clearer and possibly remember any details she may have forgotten.”  Derek said.

Ace nodded his head. His commander was a hard man and took his job seriously, but Ace knew the older SEAL hated seeing one of the women close to the team put in danger.

“As much as I want to take her home with me and protect her, I think she made a wise decision in heading up here. This is a safe place for her for now. If these people are still looking for her and can connect her to her family, they could come to town looking around. I think the best course of action is to act as if we haven’t seen her. Do either of you have any contacts at the NYPD?”

“I do,” Tink said. “What do you have mind?”

“I think we should file a missing person’s report.” Both Tink and Derek gave him a questionable look. “Hear me out. By doing so, if someone is watching, they are going to see that and believe that we truly don’t know where she is. This can also give the police some room to work. They’ll have cause to interview people. Maybe, co-workers and others she hung out with. You never know, maybe it could lead us to the stranger who warned her.”

Sheriff Prescott walked back into the room, and at the same time, Stitch made his way back downstairs.

Ace stood up and looked toward the stairs. “Shit, sorry. I got sidetracked talking with Derek and Tink. Is Mia okay?” He was paranoid about her being alone, even though they were all in the house with her.

“I think she passed out. I’ll take up the ice in a minute.” Stitch walked further into the room.  “What were you guys talking about?”

“You got any beer?”

Stitch smirked. “Yeah, there should be a case in the fridge.”

Ace nodded, and they all moved to the kitchen. Once the beers were passed around, the Sheriff started the conversation.

“I spoke with Doc O’Neal. He’s about five minutes out. He apologized, but he got a call from the hospital and had to make a quick stop there first. I wanted to give him an update on the situation and how his assistance needed to be on the down-low.”

“Her ankle is the size of a grapefruit. I didn’t realize how swollen it was until Ace and I helped her get it elevated,” Stitch said as he leaned against the counter with his arms crossed, looking worried and pissed off.

“I know, Stitch. I tried to convince her to let me take her to the hospital to get checked out, but she was very adamant about coming straight here.  Hell, every time she moved, you could see the pain etched on her face.” Sheriff Prescott stated.

Ace, Tink, and Derek explained to Stitch and Blake what the three of them talked about, and both men agreed that it was a good idea to keep Mia hidden at the cabin and treat her absence as a disappearance.

Ace ran his hand through his hair. “I don’t understand why she won’t just go to the hospital.” Ace exclaimed and started pacing again. At the rate he was going, he was going to wear a hole in the floor.

“She didn’t want her name entered in a computer system,” Tink said.

Derek whistled and shook his head. “Smart girl.  If someone is after her, that is the first place they’re going to look considering they know she was injured.”

“Dammit!”  Ace shouted, slamming his fist down on the counter. “I can’t believe this is happening. My mother is worried sick about her. I have to at least let her know that Mia is safe.” He looked at Derek. “Do you mind calling the Colonel and giving him an update on the situation? Ask him not to give my mom any details about Mia’s injuries yet. It will at least put her worry at ease.”

“I can do that. We’ll get to the bottom of this, Ace. Be thankful we know she’s safe here.” Derek turned his attention to Stitch. “You are officially assigned to Mia for the time being.  She doesn’t leave this cabin without you.”

“What about the team?” Stitch asked.

“I’ll handle your absence. Plus we can shift some teams around to facilitate any deployments should they arise. Your job is to keep Mia safe until we get a handle on the situation.”

Stitch nodded his head and then looked at Ace. “Are you okay with this?”

“If I weren’t, I wouldn’t let it happen,” Ace stated firmly. “Keep her safe.”

“She won’t leave my sight. I’m going to go get an ice pack on her ankle and let her know that the doc will be here soon.”

Ace took a deep breath as Stitch walked out of the room. He did not doubt that Stitch would protect his sister to the fullest. Then a thought hit him, and he wondered why he didn’t think to ask Stitch earlier. Why did Mia even have a key to the cabin?

◆◆◆

Stitch made his way back up the stairs. He knocked on the door. He didn’t want to barge in there like an overprotective caveman.  He wanted to hold her and make her feel safe and protected.  Though he wasn’t happy with the circumstances, he couldn’t deny that he loved how she curled up in his lap earlier.

Getting no response, he cracked the door, “Mia?”

He heard a sniffle before she answered. “You can come in.”

He pushed the door open, and was surprised to find her sitting on the window seat, looking out toward the woods at the back of the property. It was one of the best views in the house during the day, and he sometimes found himself sitting in the spot just staring and thinking.

Her back was turned, and he noted she had managed to change into her pajamas. With her hair pulled off her neck and wearing a tight camisole type sleep shirt, he could see the dark bruising along her shoulder blades. Christ, was she bruised everywhere? He walked over and placed a hand on her back. She tensed up and pulled away as if his touch burned her.

“Mia?” He questioned.

She turned her head, and the tears that ran down her cheeks nearly brought him to his knees.

He sat down next to her and carefully pulled her into his side. She came willingly, and wrapped her arms around him, then buried her face in his shirt.

“Everything hurts so bad.” She used her shirt to wipe her face. “I can’t take the pain anymore; I feel so weak.”

The dark circles under her eyes indicated she hadn’t slept. She looked exhausted.

“You’ve been running on adrenalin, and now your body is coming down from that high. It’s expected that you would feel worse.” He kissed her forehead. Even with all of the bruises, she was still as beautiful as ever.  They held each other’s gaze, and as much as Stitch was trying to resist, he couldn’t. With Mia still in his arms, he slowly lowered his head, and he knew when she realized he would kiss her because she closed her eyes. He pressed his lips lightly against the corner of her mouth, being careful not to press too hard. It was quick, although now that he had a tiny taste of her, he craved more.

Her eyes fluttered open, and he saw the sadness and hurt in those brown orbs. “Stitch…”

Before he could say anything, a knock sounded at the door, breaking the tension in the room.  She jumped, and he gave her a serious look.

“That would be the doctor.”

“Doctor?” She asked, looking a little unsure. “Aren’t you pretty well trained in medicine and injuries? Can’t you look over my injuries?” She asked him, her voice full of hope. He would have loved to look over her body, but for different reasons.

“Mia, you need real medical attention.  I’m trained for combat injuries when we don’t have the luxury of professional doctors and nurses at our sides. The Sheriff called the town doctor as a favor. Once he heard the situation, he came right over. Let him look at you, please. You can trust him.”

He thought she would try and resist, but surprisingly she just nodded her head in acceptance or defeat.  He wasn’t exactly sure which one.

The doctor stepped in, and Stitch gave her an assuring hug before excusing himself and joining the others downstairs.