Fosters: Blackhawk (7 page)

"Please stop her.  Help her, the
baby.  This can't be good for her."  I'm crying begging
him.

"Come back to us Tess.  You got us
everything we need sweet girl."  He puts his hand on her face
and speaks softly.  

She leans into him crying.  I feel so
bad.  This can't be good.  "I'm so sorry.  I don't
know what to say."  

Sally takes my hand.  "It's like this when
someone she loves hurts.  That's what Max is for.  He
calms her.  You didn't do anything wrong.  You need to
remember her words.  It's important that she didn't go through
this for nothing.  Safeguard yourself for tomorrow at
nine.  Danny will tell you about security."  She looks at
Danny. 

"Let me get Tess comfortable and I'll go through
that with you CJ."  He lifts her up and carries her to the
living room.  Max follows, Sally follows Max.  I don't
know what to do, I'm shocked by what she just went through.  I
stay sitting thinking about everything she said.  

Danny comes in and looks at the ceiling.
 "Digs email me that whole thing, copy CJ on it."  I look
up wondering who the hell he's talking to.  "Security. 
You have cameras in your common rooms.  Digs is the head of
computer surveillance, while you have a threat against you, the
surveillance team will keep watch.  The bedrooms, bathrooms
and your office are not on camera.  If there is a threat, you
need get to a common room and signal the camera.  Yeah?"
 

"Yes.  I'll remember.  Is Tess going
to be ok?"  My tears stopped but my concern hasn't.

He smiles and his face softens.  "She's
going to be fine.  Her sleep right after helps her.  She
hasn't met Christian yet but she loves him.  Tess is
special.  She knows in a minute that she loves you.  When
she sees her friends or family, it affects her more.  Max
helps with that.  Sally is a comfort as well."  

"Can I do anything for her?"  

"Digs will send the video.  Play it back,
remember what she says, find ways to keep yourself safe. 
Anything that strikes you as unusual is probably where the danger
lies.  Tess has saved almost every member of our family
because we were aware of the danger.  Don't disregard
anything, Christian doesn't understand because it's too grown up
she said.  To me that means a sexual threat.  Your danger
is with a man.  Because he doesn't understand, it must be
someone you know that doesn't or wouldn't normally hurt you. 
Be vigilante with all men but especially anything that strikes you
as odd.  Yeah?"  He's watching me closely.  I swear
his eye is seeing into my brain.  

"Yeah.  Thank you.  I'll do everything
I can to keep safe.  Should I do something about the kids?"
This is so bizarre but eerily comforting.  I get a warning
that something bad is going to happen and I can change that.

"She doesn't say anything about the kids. 
I'll show them their safe rooms and make sure they understand how
to use them.  I'd like to bring my boys with me later. 
They can help in ways adults don't understand."  

"Thank you any help is good.  Knowing
they're safe will help me stay calm."  

He nods and smiles with that soft look.
 "You're like the old ladies CJ.  I'm happy to see
it.  You're special; we'll do everything we can to keep you
safe.  We can't outright interfere with a vision but we can be
prepared.  That's what this is about.  We were going to
wait until tomorrow to bring you home but Baxter's had cameras
installed early this morning so you're covered.  The Prospects
cleared your rooms at the hotel and have everything here."
 

I take that all in and nod.  Tess and Sally
come back in.  Max follows.  Tess looks tired but she has
a smile on her face.  "Sally said we did good.  All
through the pregnancy I don't remember much.  But I feel
pretty good.  Are you ok?"  

I can't help but smile at her.  "You are
too sweet.  I'm good, thank you for all the information. 
I will be prepared and do my best to stay safe."  

She smiles so big.  She's beautiful. 
Sally laughs.  "Let's get you home big mamma."  

Danny laughs.  "Thank you Tess and Sally."
 He bends to Max and pets his whole body.  "Good boy
Max."  He pulls a treat from his vest and feeds it to the
dog.  Tess is smiling the whole time.  She's so damn
cute.  

I give her and Sally a hug and pet Max.  He
helps calm her.  He deserves a pet.  "Thank you again
Tess.  I can't wait until you meet Christian.  He's going
to love you."  She's beaming.  I laugh.  So friggin
cute!

Sally pulls her to the door, "I love your
house."  She says as she's being pulled out the door.
 

Danny laughs.  "She's so fuckin cute. 
My boys are lucky men."  

"Boys?"  As in more than one.  Like
Mitch?

He looks at me and smiles.  "Yeah. 
She's married to both of them, one's biological the other adopted
us.  Me and the President of the MC are married to my
wife.  It's in the water or something."  

I laugh.  "I have enough trouble navigating
with one man, I can't imagine two.  I'd screw it up for sure."
 

He looks like he's debating something.
 "Some people need protection and love in different ways, I'm
going to guess Christian will be one of those.  We have a
whole Club that protects what's precious to us but some of our
women and men are special like Tess.  They need extra."
 He's watching me.

"My aunt taught me about the Indigo and Crystal
people.  I've never talked to anyone about it before and I've
done it twice within the last twenty four hours.  I understand
about the warriors and seers.  I never realized there were so
many in our town."  I can't help but smile.  

"Your aunt must have been special too."  He
says as he walks to the door.  "Your alarm code is your aunts
old phone number.  The last five digits.  Everything I
told you today is on your computer desktop, the file is called
'house'.  I need to pick up the boys from school.  I'll
meet you back here in an hour."  He walks out.  Wow.

I look at my watch.  I have a half an hour
to get to the middle school.  I walk through the first
floor.  Stopping at Joey's room I cry.  She's going to
love it.  She deserves this.  Christian will be so happy
for her.  I go out to my brand new van and find the keys in
it.  It's beautiful like everything else.  We need to
send thank you's to everyone.  

I get to the school and park.  The kids
won't know the van so I walk to the pickup area and get them. 
We walk out to the van and Joey screams, Brantley and Taylor are
jumping around.  I laugh.  "Come on my little people;
let's go see our new house.  You're going to love it."
 Joey gets the ramp down, then up in no time.  She laughs
the whole time.  God I love her.  

I pull into the garage and watch Joey get
herself out of the van.  Brantley and Taylor watch with big
smiles.  They are great kids.  I make them use the front
door.  Joey cries all the way across the porch.  Brantley
hugs her, "They made it good just for you Joey."  I hear him
say softly.  I have my own tears falling.  He's a special
boy.  I can't believe how much I love my kids; it always hits
me when they're lifting each other up. 

I turn watching Danny pull in.  The boys
come running out.  Three boys from soccer walk over to us
smiling.  I sign 'hello' and 'welcome' to Darren.  He
smiles signing back. 

"We're always surprised how many people sign."
 Jessie says.  

"It's important to make everyone feel special,
even if it's just to talk.  I had a deaf girl for a
while.  We all learned to sign so she could be an important
part of our family.  It matters."  I tell them.

Little Ben nods, he's always very intense but
today he seems more so.  Darren thanks me for including
him.  Danny laughs.  "Let's get them into the house so
they don't die from anticipation."  Jessie signs to
Darren.  He smiles nodding.  

Christian comes over and hugs me then Joey.
 "Are you ready Joey?  You'll finally have the room of
your dreams.  It's better than what you drew.  It's going
to make you stronger.  Let's go see it."  I look around
at everyone.  I can't believe he's talking to her like that
with everyone around.  Danny smiles and opens the door. 
He keys the alarm and walks right to Joey's room.  The boys
look around but follow her.  At the door they stop. 
Jacob and Jeremy move closer to her.  Jeremy holds her hand,
Jacob gets her a tissue.  I have my hand over my mouth,
friggin tears falling again.  Christian pushes her closer to
her bed.  "A room fit for a princess Joey.  A room made
for you, our princess."  She leans forward and touches the
bed.  Danny shows her how to get in on the other side and how
the controls work.  Christian pushes her to the bathroom, she
screams thank you.  I laugh.  I hear the boys laugh
behind me, I move over so they can see.  

Danny tells his boys to bring me and the boys
upstairs to their room and he'll be up soon.  Little Ben goes
to Joey and holds her hand.  "You're one of ours now
Joey.  We take care of our girls.  When you need help you
just need to call us.  We're all here for you now."  I
cry.  Jessie takes my hand and leads me up the stairs. 
Friggin kids.  

The boys go wild.  Jessie and Darren stand
back and watch with smiles.  Brantley runs to me and hugs me
so tight.  "I love you CJ."  He runs back to his
bed.  I just now realize their houses are in their favorite
colors.  I laugh with tears falling down my face.  I look
in at Jacob and Jeremy.  They're lying on the beds with arms
stretched out holding each other's hand, their blankets are on
them.

I move around the room.  Christian is on
his bed watching everyone.  I kiss his cheek.  "Fit for a
prince my little man?"  

He laughs.  "It's the best gift we could
have gotten CJ.  If it weren't for you we wouldn't have this
very moment.  Thank you CJ."  

I cry again.  Damn friggin kids!  "I
love you Christian."  I kiss his head and walk to Taylor's
bed.  He's so happy with his new bed and sheets I laugh. 
Brantley shows me the pictures in his boat.  You can only see
them if your laying down.  He has a picture of all of
us.  Jessie and Darren walk in and point out the toy bins and
dressers.  Taylor opens a drawer and yells.  We all
laugh.  He has pj's.  He's so excited.  Jeremy and
Jacob are running over the planks from bed to bed.  Then
everyone but Christian is running.  

Danny comes in laughing.  "This is just how
I thought they'd react."  

Little Ben laughs, he signs while he talks.
 "It's just what we did Uncle Danny."  Jessie and Darren
nod.  

"Yep.  CJ you have to leave now.  We
have important top secret stuff to deal with."   He says
looking so serious I laugh.  

I go down to see Joey.  She's in her
closet, the racks are like a dry cleaners.  They move and
lower at the front.  I notice the clothes aren't any I
recognize, they bought her clothes.  I laugh. 
Unfrigginbelievable!  "I can do everything myself CJ!  He
even put my meds and machine in my bathroom."  She's so happy.
 

"This is going to be so good for you Joey. 
I'm so excited for you."  I hug her and kiss her cheek.

I leave her to discover all the little surprises
in her room and go into the kitchen to look for the snacks the kids
will be looking for shortly.  There are HA counters for
Joey.  One has a small sink.  As I'm hunting I discover
all the little surprises they hid in here.  I finally find the
food.  They moved the pantry and made it behind cabinet
doors.  All the food is on shelving that's two foot
wide.  I love it.  Nothing will get missed on the back of
a shelf.  They stocked the whole damn thing.  I'm
laughing when Mo comes in.  

"Looks like I got back just in time.  What
the heck happened here?  The whole house got a makeover?"
 He hugs me.  He went home for his parent’s anniversary
so he has no idea about what happened.  

"It's a long story, I'll tell you over dinner if
you’re here or later when you get back."  I go back to my
search.  He's not working until tomorrow so he's not obligated
to stay.  I find granola bars on a shelf of a ton of boxes in
the next cabinet.  I laugh and pull out everyone's
favorites.  I put extras in the middle of the table and hunt
for some fruit.  I have two refrigerators!  

Mo tells me about his parent’s party.  I
listen and make noise but I'm distracted.  "I'm sorry Mo this
is the first time that I'm seeing this.  I'm so distracted and
I really want to hear about your parents but I can't focus right
now.  You have to see the kids’ rooms; you'll understand when
you do."  I get a bowl and put some fruit from the massive
amount I find in the second fridge then put it in the center of the
counter.  Mo waves and walks out.  I smile.  He's
going to freak.  

I look around trying to decide on dinner. 
Danny comes in.  "Sam is sending over a special dinner. 
Your first night should be special."  I nod.  "Once a
week Sam expects to see you, it can be for any meal but it needs to
be once a week.  It's his way of checking in with you. 
The MC will cover the bill.  If we don't get the bill from
your meal, Jess will hunt you down and demand answers."  He's
smiling but his eye isn't.  "No one messes with Jess'
receipts.  She's already got a spreadsheet waiting for
you.  If she doesn't get to use it you're in trouble."  I
laugh.  

"He's not kidding."  My head snaps to Rob.
 "Mo let me in."  He says.  

I don't know why he's here.  "Ok.  Hi
Rob."  I'm not sure what to do.  I don't really want him
here.  

"Did you need something Rob?"  Danny says,
he doesn't sound happy.  

"Just came to see the house and how the boys
were doing."  He doesn't look happy now.  What the
heck?

"The boys are extremely happy.  The safe
rooms and new rooms will do wonders for them."  I tell
him.  Thinking now he can leave.