Cassandra's Challenge (26 page)

“Anywhere on the ship?” Cassandra’s mind starts
to race.

“Yes.”

“Would there be any reason she’d have to shut it
off?” Lucas looks at his father.

“She wouldn’t chance it if my security screen
was down on the bridge. The security would trigger an alarm.” The
Admiral informs her.

“Then that’s your answer.” Cassandra stares
William in the eye. Quinn and Lucas look at each other.

“It could work.” Quinn finally breaks the tense
silence. “But she just came off a twelve hour shift. She’s off for
the next twenty-four.”

“I don’t think we can wait that long.” Lucas
states.

“What do you do if the on duty navigator gets
sick?” Cassandra asks still looking at William.

“She still wouldn’t be up.” Quinn replies.

“Even if it’s a personal request from the
Admiral? That with all the crap going on he needs his most trusted
navigator on duty.” The tension between William and Cassandra is
growing. Both men notice it.

“That could work. The Admiral only has to ask
her to engage the security screen then we can go in.” Quinn likes
the plan.

“Anything else you’d like to
add
?” The
Admiral asks in a cold voice.

“Many things
Admira
l, but now isn’t the
time.” Cassandra replies in a voice as cold as his.

“Get started making it happen Colonel. Lucas you
need to take Victoria back to your quarters until this is
over.”

“No.” Cassandra interrupts. “Victoria’s safer
here.” William says nothing for a moment.

“Fine, Lucas you’re with Quinn. Let me know when
things are set. Dismissed.” As the two men leave William follows
securing the hatch.

Turning he finds Cassandra has risen to lean
against the front of his desk. Saying nothing he stops in front of
her, his violet eyes intensely staring into her unguarded blue,
trying to find answers.

“You went to Lucas.”

“I told you why.”

“I can understand, after everything that’s
happened.”

“What that supposed to mean?” William starts to
turn away but Cassandra puts a hand on his arm stopping him, both
knowing he could have pulled away if he’d wanted too.

“William…” Cassandra’s eyes questioning.

“I haven’t protected you very well. You had
every right to turn to Lucas for help.” She realizes Bliant is
right.

“Why would you think that!?! William.” Cassandra
frames his face with her hands. “You’ve done nothing but protect
me. Me and Victoria.”

“Right, she gets poisoned and you nearly blown
up.”

“Neither of those is your fault! You couldn’t
have known they were going to happen. I’ve never doubted you!” She
stretches to kiss him but he pulls away.

“You didn’t trust me, Cassandra, you should have
told
me
about your concerns.”

“I did!” She fires back. “That first night I
told you.
You
didn’t trust
my
instincts.” She lets
her hands fall away at his rejection. “You didn’t tell me you
believed the poison was meant for me. You told Lucas. Who
else?”

The shuttered look that’s come into Cassandra’s
eyes has William realizing he’s hurt her. The fatigue in her voice
reminding him that less then twenty-four hours ago she’d nearly
died.

“Cassandra….”

“Who!” The sting of his rejection nearly steals
her voice.

“Quinn, Hutu, Bliant.”

“So everyone but me, you
trusted
everyone
but me.” Her voice is flat and unemotional. “I’m not Salish,
William. I haven’t lied and deceived you. I’ve trusted you from the
first moment on the Raptor. Everything that’s happened since has
only strengthened that trust, for me, but then I’m just some stupid
refugee.” She uses Falco’s term as she turns to walk away. William
can’t seem to move. Cassandra’s words, what she said, as much as
the tone telling him how badly his hurt her.

He trusts her. His experience with his past wife
isn’t influencing him. Is it? Didn’t he keep looking for something
she’s lied to him about? The way he did with her birthmark? Now
Falco. Yesterday he’d nearly lost her, today he’s pushing her away.
It’s no wonder she told Lucas of her concerns.

Turning to follow her, he finds she’s stopped at
the still closed connecting door. The pain revealed in her eyes
staggers him.

“You should have let go William. It would have
been better for everyone.” Entering what for less than a day she’d
considered home, she closes the door.

On the other side William can’t breathe, it
feels like his heart’s been ripped out of his chest. Had he done
that to her? Made her wish she hadn’t returned to him. His life
mate. Had
his
lack of trust in her destroyed what they were
building? She’s accepted him from the very beginning. She’s been
open and honest with what she was feeling even if it embarrassed
her. Has he done the same without being pushed? He has to fix
this.

Opening the connecting door, he finds Tori
sitting in a chair reading. She watches him with eyes much too old
for such a young girl. Cassandra is lying on the couch with her
eyes closed.

“Shhhh…” Tori tells him in a quiet voice. “Aunt
Cassie’s tired.”

William squats down next to the couch, taking in
how pale her skin is, the bruising under her eyes that has nothing
to do with the explosion. Caressing her cheek he tucks a strand
behind her ear. Rising he goes to the bed pulling off the blanket
he gently covers her.

“Will you be okay here? I’m going to need to
leave.”

“Sure. Aunt Cassie and I, we take care of each
other.”

“You both do a good job too.” Rising William
looks at the clock. “When you get hungry call Hutu, he’ll bring you
second meal.”

“I’ll have to wait until Aunt Cassie wakes up, I
can’t let him in.” Realizing she’s right William holds out his
hand.

“Come on we’ll take care of that.” Leading her
to his ready room consul William has her put her thumb on the
security panel. “Say your full name.”

“Victoria Lynn Chamberlain.”

“There you go, now you can let Hutu in, no one
else Tori.”

“Okay.” Tori watches him with those serious
eyes. “Admiral.”

“Yes.”

“Aunt Cassie’s hurt.” Her voice wobbles. William
sits down, setting her on his knees so he can look her in the
eyes.

“I know she is Tori. But she’s going to get
better. Her body just needs time to heal.”

“That’s not the only thing hurting her.”

“I know.”

“You’re the Admiral. You’re going to stop what’s
hurting her aren’t you? Aunt Cassie told me that’s what you do. You
make it safe so no one can hurt us, that I need to trust you like
she does.”

“You can trust me Tori.” William voice is tight.
“I’ll make sure nothing else hurts her.” Tori’s green eyes stare
into his.

“Okay.” Putting her arms around his neck she
hugs him. Hugging her back William closes his eyes. This is what
Cassandra has given him simple trust. No doubts, even when he’s
given her cause. It’s time he lived up to it. Setting Tori on her
feet the Admiral stands up.

“You’d better go back to Cassandra. Remember
what I said about only opening the hatch to Hutu. Okay?”

“Yes Admiral.”

Securing the hatch from the outside the Admiral
nods to the guards and heads to the bridge. It’s time to deal with
this problem so he can come home and concentrate on the one he’s
created.

Entering the bridge he finds Falco at her post.
Giving her a nod he enters his command center. Sitting in his
chair, Quinn enters.

“Here are today’s reports Admiral.” Quinn
starts. “We didn’t contact you yet Will.” He says quietly.

“Did I ask your opinion Colonel?” The Admiral
announces in a loud voice. “When it’s done Quinn get back here and
get her out of my command center.” William says in equally quiet
voice. “If you don’t have answers get off my bridge!” The Admiral
orders.

“Yes sir!” Quinn leaves the bridge.

“Falco!”

“Yes sir.”

“My Command center. Bring your charts!”

“Yes sir.” Falco is feeling very smug. The
Admiral has personally asked for her to come back on duty and now
wants her in the command center. Entering she sets down her
charts.

“Engage the security screen Falco.” The Admiral
orders.

“Sir?”

“Engage the screen!” William turns away to allow
her to disengage her remote detection device.

As the security system within the Admiral
Command center records Falco’s hand slipping into her pocket
disengaging her detection system, Falco engages the security
screen.

The Admiral turns back around and while he’s
thinking ‘Let’s play bitch’, his face showing nothing.

“I want to see your charts for where the fleet
was twenty-four days ago. Where was the Regulian fleet?”

“Yes sir.” As Falco arranges her charts Tar and
Falco override her security.

“Ready sir.” Falco shows the Admiral the
locations moving closer to him. He doesn’t move away. Taking his
time William pretends to study the charts.

“Now twenty-two days ago.” William allows Falco
to move even closer with her charts.

At first glance Falco’s quarters appear normal.
But closer inspection finds nothing normal. A drawer in the
bathroom reveals empty bottles labeled Xyphrine. Hidden under her
pillow was the missing detonator. The DC-48 is found in her
closet.

“None of this is hidden very well.” Tar
comments.

“I don’t think she ever thought she’d be
suspected.” Lucas answers. “Let’s go get the bitch!”

“Am I going to have a problem with you Lucas?”
Quinn asks. “I’m already contending with the Admiral.”

“I’ll be fine. But if he takes a swing at her I
won’t stop him.”

“Then you’re no help to me. Stay here, make sure
everything is done by the regs, we’re going to nail this bitch to
the wall.” The Colonel leaves taking several guards with him.

“Admiral, here are the last set of charts you
wanted. As you can see the fleet was here.” Falco points to a spot
on the chart with one hand as she touches the Admiral with the
other. There is a buzzing outside the security shield. Looking up
Falco sees Colonel Tar with several security guards outside the
shield.

“Lower the shield Falco.”

“Excuse me sir.”

“Lower the shield.”

“Yes sir.”

“Quinn?”

“Senior Chief Falco, you are under arrest. You
are charged with two counts of attempted murder, and one count of
sabotage of a Coalition vessel.”

“What? William?” Her eyes shoot to him.

“Get her out of here.” The Admiral’s voice is
icy.

As the guards try to take her, she lunges for
him. He simply steps aside, letting her fall to the deck.

“You’re mine!
Mine
! That
bitch
is
dead
!” She rants as the guards pick her up.

Tar stiffens when the Admiral’s eyes turn
deadly. Stepping towards her he tells her in a dangerously quiet
voice that has the guards stiffening.

“Come near my
life mate
again and you’ll
be the one dead.
Tar!
Get her out of here! NOW!”

“Yes sir.” Relieved that Will hasn’t touched
her, Quinn helps as the guards manhandle her out of the command
center. “You okay Will?”

“I’ll be in my quarters.” The Admiral leaves not
answering.

Entering his ready room William hears children’s
laughter. They have visitors. William takes it as a good sign.
Standing in the doorway he sees Tori and Amina sitting on the floor
playing while Cassandra and Javiera sit on the couch talking. This
is home. He’s going to do whatever it took to keep it. Javiera is
the first to see him.

“Admiral.” She smiles. Tori runs over to
him.

“So?” William squats down so they are at eye
level.

“Taken care of.” He taps her nose.

“Yes!” Tori says with a fist pump. “Did you hear
Aunt Cassie?” William straightens to find Cassandra’s flat blue
eyes watching him.

“I sure did sweetie, that’s great.” She forces
herself to smile at Tori. Javiera is avidly watching the entire
exchange. Cassandra’s change in tone tells her there’s something
major going on between the two.

“That is great.” Javiera says. “How about if I
take the girls to Deck F let them run off some energy, then we’ll
have that make up sleep over?” Both girls squeal as they hug each
other, jumping up and down.

“Javiera...” Cassandra starts.

“You’ll get more rest this way too.” She
pushes.

“That would be great Javiera, thank you.”
William answers for Cassandra.

“Wonderful, so girls you ready?”

“Yes!”

Turning back to Cassandra, Javiera gives her a
quick, careful hug. “Don’t worry, everything will be fine. I’ll get
clothes for Tori to replace what was lost, it’ll work out.”
Standing she looks at the Admiral.

“I’ll call before we come back.”

“Bye Aunt Cassie. I’ll see you tomorrow.” Tori
gives her a quick hug and kiss.

“Bye sweetie, have fun.” The room is silent once
their gone.

“Did you eat?” William asks breaking the
silence.

“Yeah, Hutu already picked up the dishes.” When
Cassandra eases up from the couch William sees the bag.

“What’s that?” She looks down.

“Javiera brought me some clothes.” William rubs
his neck in frustration.

“I’m not doing many things right here am I?” He
watches her take a few stiff steps.

“You’ve had more important things to deal with
then my clothes.”

“Nothing’s more important then you.” William
moves behind her. “Cassandra…”

“Is it safe for Tori to be without guards?”
Cassandra turns, deciding it’s time to face the situation. William
looks into the deep sapphire blue eyes he loves that reveal none of
her thoughts or feelings.