American Heroes Series - 01 - Resurrection (38 page)

Tyler watched as Cydney’s head lowered and she buried it against his father’s chest. He could see the silent tears flowing.  He felt as bad and confused as a fourteen year old could.

“Dad?” he asked.

Ethan looked at him, his hands caressing Cydney’s head. “What, buddy?”

“You could get shot, right?”

“I’m a federal agent, Ty. There’s always that chance no matter what.”

“Have you done this kind of thing before?”

“I have.”

“And you came out all right?”

“I’m here, aren’t I?”

Tyler sighed faintly, trying to be a man about it but still struggling with that scared kid inside of him. He looked at Cydney, her face pressed into Ethan’s chest.

“Don’t worry, Cydney,” he told her. “My dad’s really good at what he does. I know he is.”

Cydney, head still against Ethan’s chest, turned to look at him. She wiped her eyes and tried to smile. “I know he is, too,” she sniffled. “I’m not really worried. I just want this all to be over. I miss Olivia.”

Cydney’s cell phone suddenly rang.  Ethan, cupping her face, kissed her on the cheek as she rose to go get it.  Wiping at her nose, she pulled it out of her purse and recognized the number. Quickly, she answered.

“Stu?” she asked, surprised.

A familiar voice was on the other end. “Hey, Cyd,” Stu sounded very glad to hear her voice. “How’s Paris?”

Cydney laughed softly, stunned at the call. “What in the hell are you calling me for?  This is an international cell call - it’s going to cost a fortune.”

“Eh, who cares? I haven’t talked to you in days.”

“That’s true, but you’re still in the hospital. You need to take it easy.”

“Nope,” Stu said triumphantly. “They let me go home last night. I’m off work for a month. Can you believe it? Milt is having a fit. First you and now me. He says he feels like he’s being deserted.”

Cydney chuckled.  “Perish the thought,” she said. “Now he might actually have to do his job without the rest of us there to cover for him.”

Stu laughed loudly on the other end.  As Cydney settled in to the conversation, Ethan and Tyler stood up and made their way out of the bedroom.  Ethan grasped her by the shoulders, kissed her head, and whispered in her free ear that he was going to get Tyler some breakfast.  Cydney waved at him.

“So how’s Olivia?” Stu wanted to know. “We haven’t heard anything. What’s going on?”

Cydney shook her head. “You won’t believe it,” she said. “Look, I really can’t get into everything right now but believe me when I say it’s been crazy. Like something out of a movie plot.”

“Really?” Stu was interested. “What about the Robe? I think Milt’s been updated about it but he wouldn’t tell me anything. What’s going on?”

Cydney suddenly felt very weary, thinking of her most recent conversation with Ethan.

“God, Stu,” she groaned. “You just wouldn’t believe it. Somehow the Robe and Olivia go hand in hand and… well, I can’t get into it over the phone. I’ll fill you in when I get back.”

“When is that?”

“I don’t really know,” she said honestly.

“Oh,” Stu fell quiet for a moment. “Hey, Cyd… you know, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking while in the hospital. I had a lot of time on my hands.”

“Thinking about what?”

“Life,” he said. “When I got shot, my life flashed in front of my eyes. I know that sounds corny, but it’s true. I saw that guy point the gun at you and all I could think about was protecting you. My own life didn’t even matter at that moment.”

Cydney sighed faintly. “I really appreciate it,” she said quietly. “You saved my life, I think. I never had the chance to thank you, so thanks. More than you know, thanks.”

“You’re welcome,” he replied, then paused. “But I guess the real reason why I called was to say that I’ve been thinking a lot about you.”

“Why?”

He grunted, suddenly uncomfortable. “Well, I guess because we’ve known each other a long time. The first time I met you, I thought you were the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen. And we get along really well. I guess what I’m trying to say is that all of this stuff with the Robe made me realize that you mean more to me than just a friend. I want us to be more than just friends.”

Cydney felt very sorry for Stu; she knew his admission had been a big one. Frankly, she had been waiting for it for years and was surprised that it had taken him this long.
What rotten timing
, she thought.

“I’m flattered,” she said hesitantly. “But what about your dreams of marrying a virgin Catholic girl?”

Stu snorted. “I don’t think they exist,” he said. “All this time I’ve been looking for that, I’ve completely overlooked you when it was you I really wanted.”

On the other end of the line, Cydney made a face of regret. Clapping a hand to her forehead, she shook her head with the irony of Stu’s declaration. She had to be very careful with her answer if there was any hope of salvaging their friendship.

“Stu, you are one of my dearest friends,” she said gently. “You have made my job worth going to every day and I don’t want to lose you for the world. But you and I… it just can’t be.”

“Why not?”

“Oh, Stu,” she murmured. “I love you dearly, I really do. But not as a lover or a husband. That’s something I never thought I would feel again after Brad died.”

“I know,” he said, unsure where she was going with this. “I’m not trying to take Brad’s place, Cyd. But I swear I would make a good husband; I don’t drink or smoke. I don’t do drugs. And I love Olivia; she’s a great kid. And I promise I would love you the rest of your life.”

Cydney sighed heavily. “I know how hard this is for you to say,” she said. “I know it takes a lot of courage and I really do love you dearly. I would never do anything to jeopardize that. But you and I being together just isn’t possible.”

“Why not?”

“Because I’ve gone for years convincing myself that I’d never marry again. I didn’t want another husband because Brad’s death just hurt too much. I couldn’t open myself up like that again.”

“I know.”

“I know you do. But what you don’t know is that someone else has changed my mind about never getting married again. I’ve fallen in love, Stu, and I’m so happy I can’t even put it into words.”

Stu was quiet a moment. “Oh, I get it,” he finally said, his voice dull. “It’s that FBI guy, right?”

“What makes you say that?”

“Because I saw the way he looked at you and the way you looked at him. There was something there; even I could see it.”

Cydney nodded. “Your instincts are right,” she said. “Stu, he’s the most amazing man I’ve ever met. I’m so lucky to have such a great friend like you and also to have met someone like Ethan.  As flattered and touched as I am by your proposal, you need to understand that I love Ethan very much. We’re getting married.”

There was a long pause as Stu absorbed her words. “Stu?” Cydney asked gently. “Are you still there?”

“Yeah,” he said. “I’m still here.”

“Please don’t be upset. I need for you to be happy for me. It means a lot to me to have your blessing.”

He grunted and groaned for a moment before answering. “I guess you have it,” he finally muttered. “I know how hard the last few years have been for you. I guess I really am glad you’ve finally found someone. I was just hoping that someone could be me.”

She smiled. “I love you, Stu, I really do. Thanks for being such a rock for me. I know you’ll like Ethan a lot when you get to know him.”

“Maybe,” Stu said, now seemingly restless and slightly embarrassed that he had put himself out there and she had essentially rejected him. “Hey, this call is costing me a small fortune. I’d better cut it off now.”

“I know.”

“I just wanted to make sure you and Olivia are all right.”

“We’re fine.  Thanks for asking. I’ll see you soon, okay?”

“Okay.”

Stu hung up the phone and Cydney stood there a moment before shutting her phone down. She was hurting for Stu yet she knew without a doubt she was making the right choice. Her heart belonged to Ethan. There had never been any question.

Ethan came back into the room a short while later to find Cydney in the bathroom applying makeup. He had a bagel in a Styrofoam container and set it on the counter beside her.  He kissed her on the side of the head as he set it down.

“I thought you might be hungry,” he said. “I need to head out of here soon.”

She ran a lip gloss wand across her lower lip. “Thanks for the food,” she said, glancing at him in the mirror. “What’s going to happen now?”

He leaned back against the counter, watching her as she applied her makeup. “To Rome Police headquarters,” he replied. “J.D. is having a briefing in a half hour.”

Her expression grew serious and she stopped putting powder on. “Then what?”

“Then we go get Olivia.”

“Do you know where she is?”

He thought about his answer and what he had to do to get that vital bit of information. “Yes.”

He didn’t say anymore and she lifted her eyebrows expectantly. “Are you going to tell me?”

“Does it matter?”

“I guess not,” she set the makeup down and wrapped her arms around his waist, embracing him tightly. Ethan swallowed her up in his big arms.

“Please,” she begged softly. “Please tell me this is going to be all right. Please tell me that no one is going to get hurt and you’ll be back, safe, with my daughter in a few hours.”

“It will be all right,” he murmured, his cheek on the top of her head. “Olivia and I will be back in a little bit.”

“Is this going to get crazy?”

“Possibly.”

She sighed heavily. “Please watch out for my baby,” she whispered. “And please watch out for yourself. Stay away from flying bullets.”

“I have so far.”

She looked up at him, studying his exquisite face. “Thank you,” she murmured after a moment. “For everything you’ve done for me and Olivia, thank you.”

He smiled and kissed her on the forehead. “I would do anything for my future wife and step-daughter,” he paused a moment as he brushed some hair from her eyes. “I was thinking something the other day but I don’t want you to be offended by it.”

“What?”

“I was thinking… well, what would you say if I wanted to adopt Olivia?”

Cydney blinked with surprise. “
Adopt
her?” She thought about it briefly. “I don’t know. It never even occurred to me.”

“It’s not like she would lose the Hetherington name,” he said. “We could hyphenate her name to Hetherington-Serreaux.  I told you I’d love her as if she was my own flesh and blood. I meant it.”

Cydney smiled faintly. “That’s very sweet,” she said, touching his cheek. “I suppose I don’t have any problem with it. But let’s let Olivia make that decision, okay?”

“Sure.”

He leaned down and kissed her deeply, completely wiping off her lip gloss. Tyler chose that moment to enter the bedroom at that moment and he slapped a hand over his eyes at the sight of his father and Cydney lip-locked.

“Geez, you guys,” he said, walking blindly into the bed and tripping over it. “Get a room.”

Ethan cocked a dark eyebrow as Cydney tried not to let Tyler see her laugh. “What do you know about getting a room?” Ethan wanted to know.

“Nothing,” Tyler said innocently as he sprawled out over the bed. “Dad, can Cydney and I walk go around while you’re out?”

“I’d prefer you didn’t,” Ethan said quietly. “I’d like you both here where I can get a hold of you if I need to.”

Cydney looked up at him. “I’ll take him out for a little while after you leave. Then we’ll head back here and stay here until you call.”

He shrugged. “All right,” he said. “But don’t be out too long. Just an hour or so, okay?”

“Okay,” Cydney pulled herself from his arms and turned to Tyler, now with his head hanging off the bed and looking at them up-side down. “Where do you want to go, young man?”

He was suddenly right-side up. “Really?” he was excited. “Can we go to the Vatican?”

“No,” Ethan said flatly. “Just walk around here. I’m sure there are things to see. Go buy something for your mom.”

“Cool!” Tyler leapt off the bed and held his hand out to his father, who begrudgingly gave him a few Euros.                

“You’re expensive, dude,” Ethan grumbled. ”When are you going to get a job?”

“When my band starts getting gigs. Then I’ll be rich.”

“Good,” Ethan snorted. “You can support me in my old age.”

“No way. You’ll be my roadie and I’ll pay you minimum wage.”

Ethan rolled his eyes to let his son know what he thought of that idea and collected his suit coat off the other bed. His gaze moved between Cydney and Tyler as he pulled on the jacket; he was glad that Tyler wasn’t lingering on the potentially violent job his father was about to undertake but he could tell that Cydney was very apprehensive. He didn’t blame her.  Fixing his tie, he bent down and kissed her again.

“I’ll see you for dinner, I hope,” he said softly. “Do you have your cell phone with you?”

She nodded. “I do.”

“Good,” he moved to the door as he finished fidgeting with his tie. “By the way, what did your ex-Marine security chief have to say?”

Cydney looked at him, wondering if she should tell him the real reason for Stu’s call. She opted not to; she didn’t want anything to distract him right now.  Later, she would tell him, but not now. 

“He’s fine,” she said. “He was bored. Just released from the hospital.”

“Oh,” Ethan was successfully satisfied with her explanation and looked pointedly at his son. “I’m out of here. But you listen to Cydney, okay? Don’t stay out too long.”

“I won’t,” Tyler assured him.

Ethan paused by the door leading to the hall as his gaze moved to Cydney once more. They exchanged heady, meaningful glances; there was emotion in the air, thick, the fear and anticipation of what was to come. For Cydney, it was a double-whammy; not only was her daughter’s life at stake, but so was Ethan’s.  Ethan doubted she had the strength to lose another husband.

He went back over to her and took her in his arms one last time. Cydney squeezed him tightly.

“Good luck,” she whispered.

“Thanks,” he kissed her again, looking her in the eye. “I’ll get her back, Cyd. I promise.”