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“Tangoes secured. Jethro, you read?” he asked.
“In the cover behind the building. Got all three out but they’re injured.”
“Chopper is enroute,” said Grayson.
The other men moved around the building to where Jethro was and began delivering first aid to the women. Jethro, Sonny, and Brunson pulled a spare t-shirt from their packs and handed them to the women. They were swimming in them but it didn’t matter.
“What’s your name?” Jethro asked the woman he was working on.
“Auro-Aurora,” she said beginning to shake.
“Take a deep breath pretty Aurora. You’re starting to go into shock. You’re safe now and you’ll be home soon.” She nodded, staring at him as he wrapped the ankle, then cleaned the obvious cuts.
“You’re not going to ask what they did?” she whispered.
“No. If you want to talk about it, that’s fine. If not, I’m just here to make sure you’re okay now.” That’s when she started to cry. The other women were already crying. Jethro hadn’t even noticed. They were suddenly all sobbing, no doubt each suffering from levels of shock.
When they heard the rotors of the chopper, they knew the women would soon be in good care. Jethro lifted Aurora into his arms and carried her forward explaining to the medic what they’d done for her.
“You’re gonna be okay now, Aurora.”
“Will I see you again?” she asked.
“No telling what the universe might bring,” he smiled.
The men stood on the ridge as the three women and two dead victims were taken away. They piled the abusers into the house and then set explosives. As they walked away, the building disappeared, leaving only a deep hole. Exactly where they needed to be.
Present day…
“Aurora? Aurora?” said Jethro. “Are you okay?” He patted her face, rubbing her forehead with a damp cloth. When she finally opened those huge blue eyes of hers, he smiled.
“You.”
“Yep, it’s me. I know I’m not pretty but I’ve never had a woman faint at the sight of me,” he smiled.
“I-I never expected to see you again,” she whispered. “That. What. The incident.” She stammered looking for the words. No one knew what she’d gone through. Not even Jethro knew the whole story.
“Yes. The incident,” he said calmly.
Mike nodded at him pushing the other firefighters back. He knew only a little of Aurora’s incident. She had shared during interviews that she’d been a hostage after volunteering in a war zone. It showed gumption and stupidity all at the same time.
“I-I’m okay now,” she said attempting to stand. Jethro held her steady, one hand holding hers, the other secure beneath her elbow. “I just didn’t expect to see you. The memories, the memories came rushing back.”
“I understand,” he frowned. “I can leave if you’ll feel better.”
“No. No, it’s fine. I don’t know why I reacted that way. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry. You went through a traumatic event,” he said softly so the others wouldn’t hear. Sonny and Brunson stood nearby, almost acting as a wall between the two people and the rest of the squad.
“Do you remember Sonny and Brunson?” he asked. She rubbed her forehead.
“Sort of. I mean, I remember other faces but you were the one with me the whole time.” He nodded, smiling down at her. She’d been thin, starving, dirty, and only wearing undergarments when he’d seen her last. She’d put on a good ten or fifteen pounds and it looked amazing on her. Her hair was secured in a topknot, her face devoid of make-up and not needing it.
“Well, I’m here for a few shifts, so we’ll see more of each other if that’s okay with you.” She nodded and Jethro finally released her arm. Aurora felt the chill where his warm fingers had once been and frowned.
How in the hell was she supposed to make it the next two weeks working side-by-side with the man who had literally invaded her dreams for ten months?
CHAPTER FOUR
