Slim To None (Cedar Tree #1) (10 page)

Dialing his office number in Grand Junction, he got a hold of Dana, his office manager.

"It's me. I need a team over here, Dana. Can you call the motel where you had me booked, just outside Cedar Tree, and book a bunch of rooms? Get Neil to gather up his laptop and gadgets, call Caleb and see if he can do a couple of days on a job with me... oh, and get in touch with Katie as well. See if she is scheduled on a detail, ‘cause I could use her help too. And, Dana? How would you feel about running command center from here?" Listening to his manager read back all his instructions and confirming she will head out with Neil as soon as she has her cats taken care of, made him feel a little more in control already. Good. He was being pro-active, which felt a shitload better than being a sitting duck. Or rather, have Emma be a sitting duck. This way he could always have someone covering Emma, so he could react immediately when a lead popped up.

Gus turned to Joe. "Wheels are turning."

"Good." Turning to face him, Joe threw back the last dregs of what passed for coffee in this office and got up. "Let's go pick up your truck in town, since I presume you'll want to get back to the hospital?" He said, quirking his eyebrow.

"Have to run back to Emma's to pick up some stuff for her; they're keeping her for the night. She'll need meds and her things."

"Oh, and you get to pick out her undies? How domesticated."  Joe grinned.

"Fuck off. You're a pain in my ass, deputy, and while we're on the subject - what's with you and the pretty doc? You seemed, how shall I put it - familiar?" He flung back at his friend.

"Old news, and none of your business." Was the retort.

"Fair enough, but let's remember that goes both ways!"

*****

O
n his way to Emma's bungalow, Gus stopped in at the diner to grab something to eat and see if Seb needed anything while he was round out and about. Busy in the kitchen with an extra server helping out and a decent lunch crowd on the go, Seb was still more than happy to put something together for him to bring back for the girls. In the meantime he grabbed a burger. 

"Our Ems doing okay?" Seb wanted to know.

"She'll be fine. Was lucky, could've been a lot worse. I don't know how much you've been told about the mess she is in, but some nasty character is after her for information they think she has. Be much obliged if you could keep eyes and ears open for anything unusual."

"Anything for Arlene's friend and the best baker in town.” Seb stated solemnly. Strange way to put it, but whatever. As long as he kept an eye on things, Gus was happy.

Belly full and a cooler filled with cold sandwiches and salads to take back to Cortez, Gus headed over to the house to pick up some things Emma might need for tonight and tomorrow.  It didn't take him long to grab whatever medication he could find; some toiletries, a change of comfortable clothes. Tossing everything in a bag he found in her closet and he made sure to leave the odd light on, so as not to alert anyone the house would be empty tonight. Less than fifteen minutes later he was back in his truck.      

Next stop would be the Walgreens in Cortez where he needed to get something before going back to see Emma.

*****

"O
h. My. God." She exclaimed, as Gus came walking in the door, pushing a bright purple walker, loaded up with bags, in front of him. "Where did you find that awesome color!" She couldn't believe that was the first thing out of her mouth, but she was so excited and touched he had brought her a new walker - and a cool purple one to boot - she didn't know what else to say. Gus chuckled at Emma's exuberance and left the walker by the door. He said hi to Arlene, who was lounging in a chair, and walked straight over to the bed. She couldn't look away from the smug look on his face, the smile lines at the corners of his eyes and the pleased little twinkle she saw reflected there. He walked right up, cupped her face in his rough hands and without a howdy, fitted his lips over hers in a proprietary manner. His tongue demanded entrance, leaving her no choice but to open her still smiling mouth.

"Well, Hello!" That was Arlene, observing the lip lock with keen interest from the edge of her seat. "Somebody got some - and it sure as hell wasn't me!"

Emma could feel Gus's shoulders shaking in laughter, as his smiling lips slowly detached from hers. "Subtle, girlfriend."

"Me, subtle? Hells bells, if I didn't know any better, I'd swear you were trying to give each other an endoscopy by tongue." Arlene grinned.

Oh my, Arlene was on a roll.

"Gross." She wrinkled her nose, as she looked back up at Gus, who still had both hands loosely on her face. Gah, that man did funny things to her insides. She felt sixteen - fine, eighteen. Tops!

"How are you doing?" Gus prompted her, stroking her cheek with his thumb before sliding his hands down to her shoulders and stepping away to grab the stool next to her bed.

"You went and got me a walker?"

"You always answer a question with a question?" He smiled.

"You got me a purple walker. That is the best gift ever!" She couldn't help it, part knock on the head, part medication, and a huge part stunned pleasure at the his thoughtfulness. It had her acting stupid and non-responsive.

"Okay, I'm getting a coffee. I feel a sudden need to ... leave." Arlene quipped as she got up. "How long has it been? Already you guys are nauseating! Anybody want something?"

"Oh, wait," Gus jumped up, "I whipped by the diner and Seb made you guys some food, so don't get anything to eat. They’re in the bags on the walker."

That had Arlene silent for a minute.

"Oh, wow. Nice of Seb." She murmured, turning to head out the door. "Be right back."

"Yes, I got you a purple walker. I saw it, it was vivid, and colorful, and unique... and it looked like it was made for you."

Emma had to swallow a few times at that. The man was just too much. "Thank you." She managed to squeeze by the frog in her throat. Always a little uncomfortable with intense moments, she fiddled with the edges of her blanket, trying hard not to look at Gus, but aware of every hair that moved on his head. "I uhmm... I really appreciate it."

"My pleasure." Gus said firmly, making clear that subject was closed, before pulling the chair Arlene had vacated closer to the bed.

"Now, I wasn't going to ask, because I want you to understand it makes no difference to me. You are simply Emma, but I realized coming in here with you earlier that I still have no real grasp on your condition, or conditions. It scared the shit out of me, thinking that I might not have the right information to pass on for them to help you - to do the right things for you. I'd like to know.

Emma struggled to keep the tears that were forming from spilling over. Other than Arlene, who mostly fussed because that's what Arlene did, there really wasn't anyone who had ever made such an effort, or taken such care to treat her right. Even Kara, her own daughter, was so used to having 'mom' be capable and self-sufficient; she hardly ever asked how she was doing. But this... this is something on a whole different level. 

Frankly, she didn't quite know what to do with it. So tempting to hand yourself over to someone and say 'here, you drive for a while', but not all that easy to do when your butt's been stuck behind the wheel most of your adult life.

"Is it that bad?" Gus joked, as he leaned in and used his thumb to wipe away the stray tear that managed to escape, making Emma snort.

"Hardly. Nothing lethal anyway. Just very annoying, and debilitating and painful. And generally progressive." She sighed with a slump of her shoulders.

"Hmmm." Gus rumbled, grabbing both her hands in his. "Go on." 

"It's not just one single illness, or condition - whatever. It's a combination of a few problems. I have some forms of arthritis that have wreaked havoc with my spine, causing damage. I've had a few corrective surgeries, but there is only so much that can be done and in the meantime, my spinal cord and nerve roots are slowly affected. Then there is the rheumatoid arthritis, which causes inflammations in the big joints. Hence all my meds. It's how I try to keep on top of the inflammation and minimize pain, so other than that, I'm just peachy!"

Emma tried to lighten the mood with a chuckle when she saw the serious look on Gus's face. He hadn't stopped using his right thumb to massage the palm of her hand while his other hand would incrementally increase its pressure as she went down her list.

"You are that. Appreciate you telling me. It helps me to know, but it changes nothing." Gus bent toward her to lightly kiss her mouth. "But I'm still not done with you." He mumbled, smiling against her lips.

A
fter spending a fairly restless night in a hospital chair next to Emma's bed,  and being woken every two hours by a nurse checking Emma's vitals, Gus was glad to stretch his legs as he left the room to chase down a cup of coffee for himself. Emma had one with her breakfast, but apparently hospitality didn't stretch to include anyone but the patient. Besides, he had a feeling he hadn't missed much, judging by the grimace on Emma's face after her first gulp. She still drank it,  and he smiled, recalling her face with every sip she downed. It obviously hadn't stopped her from her apparent need for caffeine, even though she didn't want another one...he couldn’t help but offer her another one.

Stopping at the nurses station, he asked the charge nurse if she had any idea when Dr. Waters would be in to discharge Emma.

"She does her rounds after 10 AM." Was the answer.

"Thanks." He said, looking at his watch and continuing on his quest for sustenance. Only 7:30 AM now ...still a ways to go, but not enough to get anything substantial done. Maybe he should check with Arlene to see what her plans were. He might as well stay around,  and maybe call Dana to see how she was making out gathering his team. With any luck, she was already on her way.

Armed with his coffee and a couple of bagels from the coffee shop in the hospital lobby, Gus returned to the room to find Dr. Waters already there. 

"Hey, you're here already. The nurse just told me you would be by after 10."

"That's when I normally do my rounds, but I was up most of the night anyway, so I thought I'd pop in now."

"Sounds like no one got much sleep." Emma piped up. "I can't wait to sleep in my own bed and not be interrupted every couple of hours to see if I'm alive."

Dr. Waters grinned, "Well, let's see if we can get you out of here."

*****

L
ess than an hour later, he pulled up to Emma's bungalow, finding Neil's van parked out front. Emma grabbed his arm.

"Somebody's at my house!"

"Yeah, I know." He said calmly, making Emma narrow her eyes at him. "Shit. I forgot to tell you, I had my office manager pull together a team to come and assist out here."

"Here? As in, at... my house? I have no room. Hello - only one bedroom. Where the hell am I going to put a 'team'?" Emma rambled as she nervously grabbed for the door handle.

"Stop. I'll get you out, and no, they are not staying here. My assistant Dana has booked a block of rooms at the motel. Look, I talked to Joe, and they don't have the manpower to secure you twenty-four seven. Also, I figured I wouldn't be able to get you away from here with a tow truck, so until we have our guy, you are not to be left alone."

At that last sentence, Emma scoffed. "Pffft. I'm not a child. I don't need someone telling me what I can and can't do." Crossing her arms over her chest, she tried to stare him down.

He dipped his head down, bringing his face closer. "Trust me, babe. No one, and I mean no one is going to mistake you for a child." That earned him a full out eye-roll. He got why she would get a little defensive about her life being invaded, so he was straight with her and filled her in on his discussions with Joe. Hearing that the hit and run was deliberate, she was obviously disturbed. Although Emma nodded her grasp of the situation, her face had drained of color.

"Now, let's get out of the car and I'll introduce you to my team. They're probably just here to let us know they've arrived, and then they'll be off to the motel."

"Great." Emma grumbled, "I have to meet your friends when I haven't showered and look like I was hit by a truck. Just what I wanted after a night of no sleep."

Grabbing her bag from the back of the truck, he had to smile at her sour mood. Putting his arm around her and placing a kiss on her head, he tells her, "You could sleep in a dumpster for a week and still look great."

"And you lie for shit." She countered, making him laugh.

*****

"S
o how long have you worked for Gus?" Emma asked his manager, Dana. A spark-plug of a woman, not much taller than Emma herself, with a cherubic appearance, but the demeanor of a drill-sergeant. Dana had taken it on herself to 'mother' her a little, while Gus and Neil were discussing hard drives at the kitchen table. Apparently, there were two more to the team scheduled to arrive, but they were coming from other jobs. Neil was the computer and technical specialist and Dana not only ran Gus's office, but seemed to 'run' Neil as well. If she hadn't been told differently, she would've sworn they were mother and son.

"I've worked for Gus for about six years now? When my youngest was done at University and I was pretty sure none of the kids were going to come back home again, I wanted something to do. Good thing too, since my husband passed away unexpectedly just two years after that." She smiled sadly.

"Lord, I'm so sorry. He must have been so young still."

"Yeah, he had only just turned sixty when he was hit with a massive heart attack. Didn't see  it coming either ...Healthy as a horse - always. But it happened so fast, and he was gone instantly." She shook her head. "Figure it was harder on the kids. He was about to become a grandfather."

What do you say to that? Getting older didn't particularly bother Emma much, but that blissful illusion of immortality did start disappearing and that scared her.

"Gus tells me you have a daughter in her twenties already? You hardly look old enough. Where is she?" Dana prompted.