Radclyffe - Safe Harbor

Reese pulled up a stool, taking Briannas hand in hers. She pressed the torn and bloodied fingers to her cheek. She was aware of Nelson coming to stand behind her.

"Its Reese, Bri," she said gently. "Youre all right now. Youre safe."

Bris eyelids fluttered, then opened. She tried to focus on Reeses face. Her throat was so dry, it was hard to form words. She found the blue eyes, and let herself be held by the tenderness in them. "Caroline?" she managed at last. "Is she -?"

"Shes fine, Bri. Shes on her way."

"Dont let her see me like this -please," Bri said with a struggle.

Reese smiled in understanding, brushing a lock of hair out of Bris eyes. "Shell need to see you, Bri. Shell be more scared if she doesnt." She waited for a second, then continued with what she knew must be done. "Can you tell me who did this, Bri?"

Bri tried to turn away as tears leaked from the corner of her eyes. Reese caught them on the backs of her fingers.

"Did he rape me?" Bri asked.

Nelson choked back a groan.

Tory moved from where she had been standing in the doorway. "I dont think so, honey," she said softly. "I still have a few tests to run."

Bri closed her eyes with a sigh. Reese waited patiently, her entire being focused on the young woman before her. She gently stroked her hair. Tory watched her lover, knowing that at this moment, Bri was the most important thing in Reeses life. How had she ever been nave enough to think this was just a job for Reese?

"Help me, Bri," Reese whispered.

"It was the black truck thats been following us. I dont know him, but I - I think I broke his nose. I punched him, when he was on top of me -" Bri lapsed into silence, shaking, overcome by the events too fresh yet to be memories.

"Oh, Jesus -" Nelson moaned.

"Give me something more, Bri -" Reese pushed. Bri gasped for breath as she tried to put words to her terror.

"Reese," Tory warned.

Reese ignored her. "Tell me, Bri. Help me get him."

Tory bit her lip, vowing she would stop this if Reese didnt.

"He hit my bike - I think it smashed his headlight," Bri said with a struggle.

"Good girl," Reese said.

Bri, fighting to remain conscious, looked up at her father. "Im sorry, dad. I wanted to tell you. I was scared. " Her voice trailed off as exhaustion claimed her.

Reese moved aside so Nelson could sit with her. She needed to get back to the field. She needed to check the motorbike for evidence, and start looking for the perpetrator. Very likely he would be seeking medical attention himself if Bri had really broken his nose. As she pulled the door closed, she saw Tory forcefully interrupt Carolines headlong dash down the hall.

"Wait a minute," Tory soothed, holding the struggling young woman. "It might be better if you see her tomorrow, Caroline. Itll be hard to see her like this -"

Caroline fixed Tory with a contemptuous glare. "Youre just like all the rest. You think just because were young that our feelings dont matter. Last night right about now she was making love to me. Do you think that doesnt matter either?"

"Thats not what I meant, Caroline. I know you care about her."

"_Care_ about her?" she said coldly. "What if it were Reese in there, Tory? Just how long would you wait out here?"

Tory stared at her, knowing that it could easily be Reese under other circumstances. Just the thought made her ill.

"Youre right. Im sorry," Tory said softly. "Nothing on earth would keep me away."

She watched the pretty young blond, who now seemed so much older than her years, resolutely push through the doors to her lover. She turned to her own lover, who was issuing orders into the phone.

"Call me with anything," Reese said. "Im heading out now."

"Not until I take a look at you," Tory said as Reese hung up the phone.

"Five minutes," Reese conceded.

"In here," Tory said, motioning to an empty exam room. "And Ill take as long as I need. Take off your shirt."

Reese complied with a sigh, trying to hide the pain that pierced her side as she shrugged out of her clothes. Tory bent to examine the stitches.

"Why didnt you stop him?" Tory asked as she cleaned the healing incision with peroxide. "You could have."

"He didnt know what he was doing," Reese grunted as Tory probed a tender spot along her rib cage. "Besides, hes my commanding officer."

"Im going to pretend I didnt hear that, Reese. Because as much as I respect and admire your pigheaded dedication to your job, I cannot believe you would let him do that to you." There was a faint sensation of movement under her fingertips, and she felt Reese withdraw from the pressure.

"He would have come to his senses in a minute. If he had really endangered me, I would have stopped him."

Tory stepped back, her face furious. "Well, he broke your rib. Now give me your goddamned gun. Youre not working tonight."

Reese took Tory by surprise when she caught both her hands, pulling Tory against her body. Im going to frighten her again, Reese thought. How many times can I do this to her before its too much?

"Tory, I love you with everything in me! But I cant do what you want. Please dont ask me to."

Reeses embrace was so tight it was almost painful. Tory pushed back in her grasp, searching the blue eyes that searched her own. There was honesty there, and shockingly, fear. Shes afraid Ill leave her!

"Youll need them taped," Tory stated, feeling the tension in Reeses body ease. "And I want your word of honor that you wont take any chances. Not one. If you love me, you owe me that, Reese."

Reese kissed her softly, "I promise - and thank you."

Chapter Twentyone

Nelson stood back against the wall watching Caroline Clark tenderly stroke his daughters swollen cheek. With her free hand Caroline brushed tears from her own face. The look she had given him when she entered the room had warned him he would have to forcibly keep her away. The steel in her gaze rendered him speechless.

"Its me, Bri. I love you," she whispered over and over. At first Nelson was embarrassed to hear her say such things to his daughter, but after a while he found himself praying that the love of this slight blond girl would be enough to keep his only child holding on. God knows, he hadnt offered her much reason.

Finally Bri opened her eyes as much as she could, trying to smile when she heard Caroline whisper her name.

"Hi, babe," she said through cracked lips.

"Hi, sweetheart," Caroline replied softly. "Tory says youll be okay."

"You?" Bri croaked.

"Dont worry about me," she said tremulously "Just get well."

Bri squeezed her hand weakly. "I knew he was following me. Thats why I didnt meet you. I went the other way so he wouldnt find you-"

Caroline was crying in earnest now. "I love you so much, Bri. I just want us to be together."

"Soon, I promise," Bri whispered as her strength began to fade. "Be careful. I love you..."

Nelson cleared his throat.

"Ill look after her, Bri," he said, thinking he had finally found something he could do for his daughter. Tentatively, he placed a hand on Carolines shoulder. As Bris eyes closed, Caroline turned unexpectedly into Nelsons arms.

"Im so scared," she cried, clinging to him like the child she would never be again. "I dont know what Ill do if something happens to her!"

"Shell be okay, girl. Shes got her mothers grit." He led her around the table to a stool. "You sit here with her in case she wakes up. Shell need you then."

He looked back from the door at the stranger who was his daughter, thinking what a fine, brave thing she had done. He didnt know her, but he swore that that would change.

Tory was standing in the hall, giving a report to the team of paramedics who were there to transport Bri to the trauma center. When she finished, she looked at him coldly.