Fosters: Blackhawk (2 page)

The first giant that I kicked walks up to
us.  Shit.  "Sorry about the kick earlier.  My boys
get nervous around loud noises."  I say trying to look
sorry.

"CJ kicked you?"  Brantley asks.  I
work to keep the smile off my face.

"CJ you're not afraid of anything!  Way to
go!"  Taylor says.  Our giant laughs.

The first giant doesn't look happy. 
"You're CJ?"  He asks me.  I nod.  "These your
kids?"  I nod again.  The boys look proud, I never say
'foster'.

"The girl ok?"  Another giant asks.  I
just look at him.  Holy crap some of these guys are
handsome.

"Once CJ got me up I was fine.  The towel
hit my face and I hit a hole.  It was no biggie."  Joey
says.  I smile at her.  She's so friggin resilient,
nothing gets to her.

"Sorry about that little lady.  I didn't
see the clothes flying until I was landing.  I saw you go over
but couldn't get to you.  I was called into the house to get
the two little ones out."  Our Indian giant says.

"So you saw her fall over and went into the
house but didn't see if she got back up?"  Christian yells at
him.  Shit!

"I saw your mom pick her up.  I was called
into the house to get the two boys out before they got hurt." 
Our giant says still gentle but his eyes are flashing like green
emeralds.  He's amused.  

"If CJ didn't pick her up would you have helped
her?"  Christian asks in a normal voice.

"Yes.  I wouldn't have left her.  Your
mom was running to her before I touched down, I saw her lift her up
and she was laughing."  He smiles at Christian.  Joey
laughs saying it's true.  I laugh with them, I thought she was
crying.  Only Joey would think all this craziness was funny
while she's face planted into the grass.

"Thank you."  Christian says.  He
looks at me and nods letting me know it's the truth.

The Indian giant looks surprised but
smiles.  "We take care of our own and treat our women and kids
with respect."

"That's what the Little Brothers say." 
Brantley says.  The giants laugh and nod.

A group of men come toward us, Jeremy climbs up
me.  I shift him around so I can hold him.  The group
slows seeing his reaction.  Jacob turns away and Joey puts her
arms around him.  "You have to stay back, our brothers get
nervous."  Christian says to the group.  The men nod
surprising the shit out of me.  They don't move closer.

One man comes over standing by our Indian giant,
he's big, has a scar across his cheek and a patch on his eye. 
"My name is Danny.  I'm the Building Super for the MC. 
We have a crew coming to repair your house.  I was hoping we
could buy you dinner at the Diner and put you up at the hotel for a
couple of days while we take care of that?"  He smiles making
me want to smile.

The kids yell 'yeah' and I'm thinking what a
relief.  "I'm not sure how much more my little guys can handle
so I'm saying yes.  I'll need to get them some toys and
clothes and Joey's machine and meds."

"CJ we need our blankets."  Jacob says.

"And blankets."  I tell Danny.

He nods smiling.  "I have a guy that can
help you get all that put together and you won't have to lift or
move a thing."

"I like the sound of that.  Can we go in
the house to at least point to what we need?"

He laughs but looks at our giant.  "It's
pretty messy in there, if you and the oldest boy can do that it
would be better than all of the kids going in."

"I can stay with the kids right here."  Our
giant says.

I look at Joey, she nods.  Brantley comes
over to me.  "CJ, I can keep Jeremy while you and Christian go
in.  That way you can make sure they get the blankets." 
Jeremy slides down and holds Brantley's hand.  I wink at my
smart little man and thank him.

"Before I leave my kids with you I need to know
your name."  I say to our giant.

"Cloud, nice to meet you CJ, Jacob, Jeremy,
Joey, Christian, Brantley and I'm sorry but I didn't get your
name."  He says to Taylor.  I'm floored.

"Taylor."  Christian says smiling. 
The kids have huge grins on their faces.

"Now that you know everyone, you're not quite
strangers.  Cloud, I'm going to collect what we need and I'll
be right out.  Thank you for keeping watch."  He smiles
and nods as he sits down on the grass.  Brantley, Jeremy, and
Taylor sit with him.

I take Christian's hand and walk into the
house.  Men are still walking around.  They're all in
cargo pants and black t shirts with the MC logo on the back; this
must be a uniform for them.

"Don't be alarmed by what you see.  It will
be fixed before you come back.  I think we can get this done
in three days."  Danny says from behind me.

I spin around surprised he's right behind
me.  I hold my heart and nod at him.  "Christian get what
you need for three days, put it in front of your door and get
Brantley and Taylor's stuff."  He nods and runs up the
stairs.  A man follows him up.

"CJ what can I help you get for Joey?" 
Danny asks.

I don't know why I'm surprised by him again but
I am.  I turn toward the kitchen, "I need her machine and
medicines.  We'll need a handicapped room at the hotel she
likes to take care of herself.  She has a wheelchair in the
bathroom for the shower."  I point to the bathroom door. 
He nods to another guy and keeps following me.  I pull our
meds travel bag from the cabinet and fill it with the daily
meds.

"Do you need special food or drinks for the
kids?"  He asks.

"We drink Gatorade, fruit juices and
water.  Granola bars, popcorn or fruit for snacks.  I try
to keep sugar to a minimum; I have two ADHD boys that go off the
charts with too much sugar."

He nods watching me.  Now that he's asked I
pull a box of granola bars from the pantry.  We may need
them.  "I'll have the snacks brought to your room."  He
says distracted.  He's typing on his iPad.  I leave the
meds, the machine and snacks on the table and start up the back
stairs.  Christian has piles of stuff in front of the
doors.  Opening the hallway closet door I pull duffle bags and
drop them at the doors.  I'll get to them after I get the
twins bags filled.  Christian helps with their toys while I
get their clothes; I put their blankets on top.

Back in the hall I notice the piles are
bagged.  I like this; I don't see anyone around so I drop the
bags with the others and go downstairs to Joey's room.  I pack
her two bags getting her a couple of books and her laptop.  I
put it in front of her door and go to my own room and pack for
me.  I throw in my own technology and think of the boys. 
Walking to the living room I grab the basket that has the Gameboys
and tablets.

Christian comes downstairs carrying a bag
followed by a giant that has the rest of them.  "I got
everything I could think of, the bathroom stuff is in the
backpack."

"The backpacks."  We say at the same
time.  He runs to the mud room and pulls them off the
hooks.  A giant picks them up and carries them out of the
house.  Wow this is service.  Christian smiles at me and
nods.

Danny comes down the stairs, he doesn't look
happy.  "It may be more like a week.  They made a mess of
the rooms up there.  We will cover you for as long as it
takes.  I'm sorry for the inconvenience CJ, I'll make sure it
is done and done right before you come back home."

"I didn't even look at anything but the kids’
rooms so I'll take your word for it.  Do you think someone can
get the clothes rounded up?  I just got Taylor a couple of
days ago.  Most of the clothes on the line were his; he didn't
have much to begin with."  I'm a little embarrassed because I
saw my panties hanging from a tree out there.

"I'll make sure everything is taken care of and
put back where it belongs.  Thanks for being so
understanding.  Christian can you take Bob to the car so he
can help get the kids in it?"  He looks at Christian with a
smile.

"Yep, come on Bob."  He's standing straight
looking amused, he probably already knows what Danny is going to
say.  Damn kid.  I smile as he walks out, I love that
boy.

Danny waits until he's out the door.  "The
man that we tracked here was a convicted rapist.  He made it
here from the state penitentiary that he escaped from three days
ago.  Baxter Security and the MC worked together, this is the
first time that happened and we didn't expect him to be holed up in
a house with so many kids.  If there was another way we would
have done that.  Because of the kids we couldn't wait to clear
the house first, he was armed and we had to make sure he wouldn't
have the chance to take a hostage.  We have a therapist that
will meet you at the Diner, he can help the kids deal with what
happened here.  If you need anything, call the number on the
card."  He hands me a card with the MC logo.  "Keith has
been instructed to get you any help you need.  The old ladies
will keep you in supplies until you're home.  Is there
anything we need to know or help with since you won't be home?"

Wow, they're going to make this easy. 
"Case workers stop by, that may happen while we're gone.  You
can just let the guys know to have them call me.  There are a
couple of bathrooms that don't work; you might want to mention that
to the workers.  Other than getting the kids to school, I
should be fine.  Thank God it's Friday, life is easier on the
weekends."  I say smiling.
He laughs.  "I'm glad you're not pissed.  We can help get
everyone to school.  I'll have Rob coordinate that with you
while he's at the Diner.  Your bags will be brought to the
hotel.  Call if you need anything."

"Thanks Danny.  I will."  I'm smiling
as I walk out the door.  An armed rapist was in my house with
my kids and we all made it out unscathed.  I can live with
this.  Cloud is waiting by the van with Bob.  They have
the kids laughing; even Jeremy has a smile on his face. 
"Thanks guys.  Looks like we're all set to go have dinner at
the Diner."  The kids all yell.  Oh Brother.

"It's not even the second Saturday!"  Joey
yells so excited.

"Nope, we'll be eating out all weekend."  I
tell her.  They yell again.  Bob is just watching but
Cloud laughs.  "Thank you for keeping watch Cloud."

"It was my pleasure CJ.  I'll check on you
at the hotel tomorrow."  He says with a smile.  Damn he
is handsome with that smile.  I feel the heat working its way
up my face so I turn quick and get in the van.

I let out my breath and start it up.  The
kids are yelling and waving to the guys as we pass by them. 
We pass trucks and a trailer with wood on it.  Holy cow they
work fast.  I'm smiling the whole damn way.

Cloud

Fuck I hope she's not married, she's not wearing
a ring.  She treats every one of those kids as her own, she
got away from both Bull and Chet.  The Brothers won't let them
live that one down.  Her red hair and green eyes suit her
personality.  She's sweet as pie but don't get her riled
up.  I flip my ear piece back on.  "Ops one, Blackhawk
requesting to stay and help the work crew."

Beau comes back.  "Blackhawk, Steady is on
his way with your truck.  He'll bring your bird home. 
Have a good weekend.  Ops one out."  Fuckin Beau is
laughing.  I pull my shirt off and jog to the chopper. 
Pulling my flight bag I pull on a t-shirt and make it back when the
crew and supply trucks pull in.

Walking in I go right to the office and pull the
books I saw earlier.  Each kid has a book with their name on
it, she fosters every one of them.  I smile, there's something
here that is causing me to want find out everything about
her.  I call Geek, "Cloud Brother, you have CJ Lescault, can
you copy me on that?"

He laughs, "I can but Beau already has it. 
He just sent it to me."
I smile, Mitch must be in the big batcave.  "I'd rather not
ask him for this."  My phone pings I got the file.

"Done.  Have a good weekend Cloud." 
He laughs.  Fuck but they're all the same, I think with a
smile.  I sit and read about CJ and then I read about the
kids.  The books have all the court documents and vital
records.  I look around the room and see the board with
activities, menus, appointments and incident reports.  I read
everything I see and file it away.  These fuckin kids have
been through hell and back.  Christian and Joey have been with
her the longest; she's had them for four years.  Brantley got
here two years ago and the twins last year.  Taylor just got
here a few days ago, he replaced Keisha.

Walking through the first floor I see Danny in a
doorway.  I look in; this must be Joey's room.  "What
have you got Cloud?"  He asks.  Fuckin guy sees more with
one eye than most people do with two.

I smile.  "Fosters all of them.  Joey
and Christian four years, Brantley two, the twins last year and
Taylor a couple of days ago.  He replaced Keisha, she was here
a year.  She has two houses, this one opened when her aunt
died and left it to her.  Her other house takes female teens,
this one siblings and singles with special need or emotional
issues.  Husband walked with the older kids’ caseworker two
years ago.  Didn't seem to slow her down.  Good credit
but not much cash, she seems to put it all into the houses. 
Biggest expense, food and clothes.  She pays out of pocket for
some of Joey's needs.  She bought the new wheelchair for her
last year.  She has a chart in the office marking money she's
raised so far for new beds.  They eat out once a month but
have planned free activities all month long.  It's a good home
for these kids Brother.  I want to make it easier for
them."

He looks at me.  "Ok, see if the roll of
paper came in yet, I'll need it at the table.  I've got Chris
working in the day and the Brothers at night."  He walks away
pulling his phone.  I smile walking through the kitchen. 
The paper is on the counter with pencils, fuckin Brothers know how
to get it done.  I smile delivering the paper to Danny. 
I climb the stairs and check out the other rooms.  There's a
room with men's clothes.  I look through it, college kid,
third year, I type his name in my phone and send it to Geek. 
The other rooms are in different stages of being updated.  The
kids’ rooms are lived in and bright.  They have everything
they would need but it's old and patched furniture.  Danny
will fix that.  I can't wait to see what he comes up with.