Shocked (8 page)

If the van is bad before it’s three million times worse now. The bounce of the large army truck over the landscape luckily masks most of my frantic movements. To say I’m nervous is the understatement of the year.
I’m flipping freaking out!

The tall walls of what can only be the camp come into view and my movements cease. Now I’m just scared—too scared to move even. Inside these walls lay so many answers and I’m not even sure if I’m ready for some of them…for any of them really.

This camp appears much more permanent than the last one; more of a compound really. We drive through a massive set of steel doors (maybe twenty feet high or more) only to find ourselves in an enclosure with yet another set of massive doors. They stay shut tight until the ones behind us are fully secure. The second set of doors opens and my heart drops into my ass. This is it. We’re here.

The truck rolls to a stop and the head soldier guy is by my side. Before anything else can happen I grab Lucas’ hand. With my promise and all we have been through I’m not letting go until I’m sure everything’s okay. He’s kind of like a walking security blanket right now.

Soldier-guy starts talking: something about our stuff being taken somewhere. I know that I should probably pay attention, but I can’t even if I want to right now. Everything sounds like I’m underwater. My vision keeps getting blurry and doubling. I momentarily wonder if this is what a panic attack feels like.

They lead us into the main building and I get a serious case of Deja-vu. The inside looks identical to the building on our last camp (not like our government has a generic standard or anything.) Same scuffed white walls, tiled or generic carpet flooring and crappy-looking drop-ceiling tiles. Don’t forget the harsh fluorescent lights. None of this helps my possible panic attack.

Our convoy stops outside a door and I take a deep breath in. No turning back now.

The door opens and inside I can see Captain Jennings and Dr. Ford both smiling from ear to ear. Lucas squeezes my hand and I realize I’m probably hurting him, so I relinquish his hand. We’re ushered through the door and I look around. Immediately I feel disappointment and fear that there’s no one else in the office.

It’s Dr. Ford who notices first—always so perceptive. He gives me a quick hug and whispers in my ear, “Don’t worry, they’re all fine and on their way down. We didn’t know when you were coming.”

It feels like a gazillion pounds lifts from my chest and shoulders. ‘Okay’ and ‘on their way’ keep spinning over and over while I briefly embrace the captain, too. Both gentlemen commend Lucas on his involvement while I stare at the door.

“Oh, for Pete’s sake Jennings let her do this later. Look at her, she’s not listening.” Dr. Ford says.

The Captain looks at me. I know he’s always had a soft spot for me. He sighs. “I expect you back here in one hour to be debriefed. Go down the hall, hang a left and then keep going straight. Stop on the outside if you don’t catch them on the way.”

My thank you gushes quickly while I bolt from the door. Lucas stays behind shaking hands so I just run faster. At the end of the hall I make a sharp left. I trip over my feet and catch myself on the wall. Someone races through the door before I can burst through. We both just stop and stare.

His hair’s longer. He’s sporting a goatee that’s new—but he’s real.
He’s right in front of me
. A sob escapes as this sinks in.
Mason
.

He walks towards me and the world seems to stop when he places a hand on my face. “Kat?” He asks. His voice is full of disbelief.

I swallow hard. My love and relief is overwhelming. “Mason.” My voice is thick with emotion.

He drops to his knees and wraps his arms around me, his head almost reaching my chest. “Oh, thank God.” He says. I stroke his hair gently. “I thought I’d lost you.” He stands back up and embraces me so tightly it may break a rib, but I don’t care. It feels so good to be in his arms again.

“I thought I’d lost you, too.” I wipe a tear that runs down my face away and catch site of a shadow in the door. “Is that…?”

Mason nods and releases me. He continues to hold my hand tight, like if he let’s go I’ll disappear. It’s a good thing he does because before we can move out the door a large bundle of fur almost takes my legs out. My heart almost explodes in joy.

“B! Look at how big you got!” It takes some doing because he sure has grown, but I scoop him up in my arms and snuggle him close. “I missed you, B.” His nose rubs mine and his tongue licks my cheek. He must have missed me too.

There’s no choice but to put him down. He’s not fully grown yet but he’s certainly on his way. I finally make it through the door to see Brie. She’s anxiously biting her nails. She looks good: healthy and…
big
? Whatever, it’s no matter. Mason releases my hand and I rush over to Brie and embrace her.

It’s now I notice Jared next to her. I offer him a smile and half wave because most of my arms are around Brie. Who really is big…what’s going-oh?
Oh!

I pull back. “Missed you.”

She smiles through tears that mirror mine. “Missed you more.”

Now that’s over and I really have to point out the huge pink elephant between us. I look down with a somewhat knowing expression on my face. She laughs.

“Yes, you’re not imagining it.”

“Phew!” I joke, “I didn’t want to have to point out that you’ve gotten bigger.”

She releases me to smack my upper arm. “I’m preggers, dork.” Jared manages to look both proud and uncomfortable at once. Then she leans in closer. “I’ll tell you all about it later.”

“Definitely.” I give Jared a quick hug, too. “Congratulations to both of you. We’ll catch up later. I think I have to go back inside and face the inquisition.” I roll my eyes and motion towards the door when movement catches my eye.
Lucas!

I walk over and grab him before he has a chance to disappear again. Mason’s eyes zone right into our clasped hands and he stiffens a little. I ignore his reaction and continue to pull Lucas forward.

“Lucas,” I point at everyone as I go, “this is Mason, Brie, Jared and B, short for Baby Bear. Guys, Lucas helped me get here. I never would’ve made it without him.”

I release Lucas so he can shake hands with everyone. Mason surprises me by going first. “Thanks for getting her back safely.” I hear the sincerity in Mason’s words. Still the two of them size each other up. They’re about the same height, but where Mason’s all sinewy muscles Lucas has more bulk. I actually have to clear my throat to keep them from seeing who can squeeze whose hand harder.

Jared blessedly comes to the rescue and claps a hand on Mason’s back (sort of pushing him out of the way.) “Nice to meet you, man. Thanks for all of your help.” His smile breaks the ice and Lucas returns it.

“Thanks. Nice to meet you all, too.” Lucas gives Brie a small wave, “And don’t let her fool you. Getting here was a team effort. If it wasn’t for Kat, the infection would’ve got me for sure.”

Brie pipes up. “We’re glad you guys are here, no matter who did what. Has anyone showed you around yet?”

“Not yet,” Lucas says lightly. “But I think we’re expected back inside soon.”

Mason grabs my hand again. I never doubt he’ll come with me. This time his grasp almost feels possessive rather than comforting. Something tells me a long talk lingers in our very near future.

“Yeah, we’d better get going, but we’ll find you as soon as we’re done inside.” I give my best friend a big smile and a half a hug. “And I want details, missy.” I whisper in her ear.

Brie’s grin is the last thing I see before we return into the building. B follows too now, seemingly sticking to my leg. I reach down and barely have to bend my legs to pat his head.

Mason’s grip is relaxing now that he seems to comprehend that Lucas knows he’s my boyfriend. There’s no confusion. Lucas seems his typical self except for his rigid posture. I can’t tell if it’s because of Mason or because he’s back in a military setting. I hope it’s the latter because I really want everyone to get along.

Dinnertime arrives quickly. Captain Jennings and Dr. Ford hear our story and ask a bazillion questions before they’re satisfied (for today at least.) We report back to the captain’s office bright and early tomorrow morning. Just as we’re about to leave for the mess hall Dr. Ford pulls me aside.

“Kat, if you wouldn’t mind I’d like to give you a quick once over.” He looks uncomfortable. “It’s just right down the hall.”

“Sure, no problem.” Honestly, I’m surprised he lasts this long.

Mason moves to come with us, but Dr. Ford places a hand on his shoulder. “I’ll bring her to you in the mess hall, promise. This is more of an exam. It’s silly for you to wait outside.”

“Are you okay with that?” Mason asks me.

“Yeah,” I plant a quick kiss on his lips. “I’ll catch up with you soon.”

His eyes are reluctant but he gives me another kiss and walks slowly in the opposite direction Dr. Ford leads me in. B follows loyally. I figure there’s surely no harm if he tags along. Dr. Ford doesn’t protest. Soon the three of us step into Dr. Ford’s lab and he shuts the door.

Dr. Ford takes off his glasses and cleans them. This is a sure indication that whatever’s on his mind makes him uncomfortable. “I don’t really know how to say this…” He starts, confirming my suspicions. “Kat, you look like crap.”

Something about the way he says it makes me lose it. I begin laughing:
really
laughing—you know, the kind that hurts your stomach and makes you collapse on the floor. Within minutes he’s laughing right along with me and B’s having a good time running between the two of us who lie on the floor.

Once I semi-recover, I sit up and cross my legs. I pull B into my lap and he doesn’t fit that well anymore. “I know. Thanks for being honest.” I wipe away the last of the tears from my eyes with the back of my hand.

Dr. Ford grows serious now. He knows I downplay my time at the medical facility earlier. No need for Mason to hear what went on there. “How bad was it?”

I flinch and know exactly what he means. It takes a lot to make a healthy teenage girl look so different in less than a year. “Bad.” I pull up the sleeve of my shirt. I’m in freaking Southern California and I have to wear long-sleeves. “They weren’t very gentle.”

He winces when he sees my arm. First sympathy then anger flashes across his face. “Are you in pain?”

“Not anymore.” I debate telling him about the tissue samples. I’ve never been anything but honest with the good doctor before. There’s no use in starting now. Besides, only he’ll know if they actually get anything out of one. “But there’s more.”

I can’t roll my jeans up enough to show him from the ankles. He gives me an extra lab coat and turns around until I’m ready. I’m not ready for his reaction to the scars on my leg and the stories behind them. He actually throws a clipboard across the room. (Normally Dr. Ford’s the picture of composure, so it’s no wonder I jump at his outburst.)

“Sorry,” he says. “Kat, I’m so sorry.” I know he means because of what I went through, not the clipboard incident.

“It’s not your fault, doc.” I give him a weak smile. “It was my own choice to go. Sort of.”

There’s a quick knock on the door before it opens. B looks up with one eye before going back to sleep and Mason walks in. “Hey, sorry. I had to save you a plate, Kat. You guys missed dinner.”

“Thanks,” I look down, realizing I’m still half-dressed.

Mason looks from me to Dr. Ford and takes in my expression and his obvious angst. Immediately Mason’s face goes white. I cringe mentally. I don’t plan on hiding any of this from Mason, but if Dr. Ford’s reaction was that bad Mason’s is bound to be far worse.

“What’s wrong?” It’s more of a demand than a question and he stares down Dr. Ford.

“Relax, Mason. She’s fine. It’s what they put her through that’s upsetting.”

When we explain he insists on seeing the scars. I show him first my arms, then my thighs. They’re by far the worst: scarred in some places and plainly missing chunks of flesh in others. Mason gets up and leaves the room before I can even say anything.

Dr. Ford looks at me as tears fill my eyes. “It’s not you he’s upset with.”