Radclyffe - Safe Harbor

"Theres no where for us to go," Bri muttered, knowing the truth of Reeses words. "Thats why I need to learn to fight."

Reese crossed the kitchen into the hallway beyond and returned with a folded bundle which she handed to Brianna.

"This is your uniform, your gi . It is only to be worn in the dojo , when we train. I leave for work at seven. If you are here at five forty-five, any morning, we will train for an hour. It will take time, and patience, and work, but I will teach you to defend yourself. Is that still what you want?"

Bri reached for the uniform. For her it represented her first steps toward self-determination. "Yes."

"Then lets get started."

After Bri changed into the uniform Reese had provided her, she followed Reese through the breezeway to the garage. She copied Reeses actions, bowing at the threshold before entering the thirty by forty-foot space, then removing her shoes and placing them beside the expanse of mat covered floor. She waited uncertainly as Reese crossed to the center of the mat and knelt, her hands resting gently on her thighs.

"Kneel and face me," Reese said. When Bri complied, Reese continued, "It is customary for the student to bow to the teacher, or sensei , at the beginning and end of each class. This is not to show obeisance, but to convey respect and to offer thanks for the opportunity to train. I will also bow to you, to honor your commitment to learn."

After the initial ceremony was completed, Reese stood and motioned Bri to her feet. "Basics first. You need to learn how to fall before I can teach you to throw; you need to learn how to block before I can teach you to punch and kick; you need to learn to move out of the line of attack before I can teach you how to counter an attack. These are the foundation for all that you will learn in the months, and hopefully the years, to come."

Bri nodded her understanding, eager to begin, and anxious to prove her serious desire to learn. In the hour that followed, Reese introduced her to the fundamentals of jujitsu, demonstrating forward and backward rolls, proper fighting stances, blocking drills, and the first joint locking technique. Bri was young, supple, and athletic. She made good progress. She concentrated on Reeses every move, trying to imitate the way her teacher stood, turned, and rolled. It seemed impossible to her that she would ever be able to attain the grace and power that Reese manifest with every move, but she was determined to try.

"Grab my lapel," Reese instructed. As Bri complied, Reese said, " Kata dori ," indicating the Japanese term for the attack. Reaching up, she trapped Bris hand against her shoulder, turned her wrist, and with both hands applied a wristlock. Bri gasped slightly at the pain in her stretched wrist, but held on wordlessly. As Reese leaned slowly toward her, the pressure in her wrist forced Brianna to her knees.

" Kata dorinikkyo ," Reese named the defensive maneuver.

When Bri stood, Reese grasped her jacket. "Now you."

Bri repeated the movements exactly as she remembered Reese had done, and was awestruck as Reese went to her knees before her.

"Very nice," Reese commented. Bri flushed with pride. "These techniques are powerful, and potentially devastating. They are only to be used here, in the dojo , or on the street when you have no other choice but to use them."

"Yes, sensei ," Bri answered quietly.

Reese turned away with a smile. She sensed that Brianna would be a good student, and she had enjoyed the chance to teach her.

After they had bowed to each other, and Reese had knelt to carefully fold her hakama , the black skirt-like garment worn by experienced practitioners, Bri lingered uncertainly at the door. Reese looked over to her, a question in her eyes.

"Can I come tomorrow?" Bri asked softly.

"I am here every morning at quarter to six. If you come, we will train."

Bri smiled and bowed slightly, naturally. "Thank you."

Reese smiled and bowed back, watching as Bri walked away down the drive. She remembered how she had felt, when she first began nearly twenty years before, and how her life had been enriched by her training. She hoped she could provide that, in some small way, to this young woman. At the moment, however, there were more pressing things to consider. And more that she herself needed to learn.

Chapter Ten

"Morning Chief," Reese said when she entered the station an hour later.

"What are you doing here?" Parker asked abruptly.

"Sir?" Reese questioned in surprise, halting halfway to her desk.

"Didnt you just finish the night shift two hours ago?"

"Yes, sir, but Im scheduled to work today -"

"Conlon," the Sheriff said with a sigh, "youre a civilian now. I know I told you that you needed to be available twenty-four hours a day if I needed you, but I didnt mean that you actually had to work twenty-four hours a day!"

"I know that, Chiefbut I offered to take Smiths shift without asking you, and I fully expected to work today. Im fineI slept last night between shifts. Im used to sleeping at odd hours."

He looked at her in exasperation, but he wasnt angry. She didnt have any idea how unusual she wasany other officer, no matter how good they might be, would have jumped at the chance to be relieved of a shift. She seemed to actually want to take hers. He knew she didnt have a family, and probably hadnt had much of an opportunity to make friends, but at the rate she was going, she never would. That she seemed perfectly content with her solitary life, and her work, perplexed him. It would have been odd, even in a man, but in a young woman like herhe was at a loss to figure it.

"Okay, okaybut no more doubles unless I approve it." He caught the flicker of unease in her usually impenetrable gaze. "What?"

She faced him, squaring her shoulders, unconsciously coming to attention. "I told Smith I would take the last half of the night shift until his baby is born. It shouldnt be more than a few days. I didnt clear it with you because you told me that as Deputy Sheriff I had clearance to reorganize the shifts as needed."

"I was thinking more along the lines of an emergency when I told you that, Conlon although having a baby certainly feels like an emergency at the time. With any luck his wont be two weeks late like mine was."

He shrugged in defeat, leaning back in his swivel chair to gaze up at his tall second-in-command. "Go ahead, Reesebut take time off during the day if you need it. Im depending on you to keep things organized around here this summer. Weve got a small force, compared to the crowds well have to deal with, and Smith probably wont be worth a fart in a wind storm once his kid is born."

"Yes, sir. Thank you," Reese replied.

"Speaking of kidsdid mine show up at your place for her class this morning?"

"Yes, she did."

"On time?"

"She was early."

"Good. I thought she must either have been up and out early, or that she slept through it. She didnt answer when I knocked on her door this morning."

Reese was pretty sure that Brianna hadnt been home at all the night before, and she was uncomfortable keeping that from her boss, a man she was coming to like. On the other hand, Brianna wasnt exactly a child, and Reese felt she owed her the chance to work things out with her father in her own way. At least for the time being she had given her word to keep silent. Besides, she was fairly certain she could keep an eye on Briannas nighttime excursions, now that she was aware of them. She said nothing.

"She do okay?" he asked gruffly. He felt like he knew less and less about his daughter with each passing day. They didnt talk as they used to when she was small, when he seemed to have all the answers to her endless questions. Now he didnt have a clue as to what motivated his only child, or what might make her happy. He couldnt help but think that if his wife were still alive, she would know what to do with his headstrong offspring.