Healed (The Found Book 3) (16 page)

“Sierra, get Max on the phone now, it’s time he started being upfront.” The phone in her hand began to vibrate with an incoming call. They all stared at the phone.

“Give me that.”

Fuck, he hated this whoo-whoo
found
shit.

Sierra didn’t even look down, she handed him the phone.

“Hello,” he answered.

“I was calling for Sierra Edwards, this is Max Lawrence.”

“What, you couldn’t tell it was me, Nate Goodman?”

“Now I hear the welcoming tone, yes I recognize you. Look, I’m sorry you think I haven’t been upfront with you,” Nate winced when Max used his exact words. “Gabriella Guttierez and I would like to fly out and assist with your operation. She thinks her link to Maricel can be a great assistance to you.”

“And you? What will your happy ass be to the party?”

“I think you’ll find I have my uses. We’re at Dallas Fort-Worth airport now. We should be there in four and a half hours.” The line went dead.

“I take it Max is coming?” Cyrus asked.

“Yep, he’s bringing Gabriella too.”

“Great, a civilian,” Sierra glared at him as she snatched back her phone.

“Actually two civilians,” Nate grumbled to anyone who would listen.

“Nate, if you think Max is nothing more than a civilian, then you need to be fitted for some glasses.” Cyrus chuckled.

Nate rubbed the back of his neck. He wanted to rant it was getting too complicated, but he actually felt some of the stress easing. Having Max around to help him sort through the
found
aspects of this mission would be a help, but he’d be damned if he would admit that now.

****

As soon as he saw Sarah’s injured wrist, Kota was pretty sure this was coming. Hopefully his plan would work and they could call in the troops and get the hell out of here.

“So no dinner and no breakfast?”

“If you perform you get breakfast,” Stovers said. He was flanked by a new orderly and a small woman they introduced as Dr. Simms. Maybe this was the fucking orderly that injured Sarah.

“What kind of hospital is this?”

“You were taken from your post for a specific reason. Let’s cut the crap. We both know you’re
found
, and you have the ability to heal. We just want to test how strong your gifts are.” Lee Stovers sounded like a snake oil salesman. How in the hell did he end up a VP in a corporation?

“Mr. Blackthorne…” the woman began.

“Chief Petty Officer, ma’am,” Kota interrupted.

She scowled at him and started again. “Alright, Chief Blackthorne…”

“Chief Petty Officer Blackthorne, ma’am.”

“Dakota, cut the shit,” Stovers said. “We’re taking you to the woman who healed you. She’s been injured. Now you can return the favor.” So much for the salespitch.

“Fine. Let’s see how this works out when I’ve just been sliced open, given no blood transfusion and haven’t even been fed. I’m sure this will be a walk in the park.” Dr. Simm’s gave Stovers a look of concern and he just waved his hand.

“Silas, get the wheelchair. Kathy, let’s see what Dakota has to show us. Blackthorne, it’s in your best interest to give it the old Navy try.”

Kota wanted to wave the orderly away and get into the wheelchair by himself, but it was best for his plan if he took the offered help. They wheeled him down the short hall to Sarah’s room.

The woman who called herself Dr. Simm’s hurried ahead and went into Sarah’s room first. When they got there she was already talking to Sarah.

“He’s really not a dream,” Sarah said when he was wheeled into the room.

“That’s what I was telling you. Some of your dreams are actually memories, and I wanted to introduce you to them when the time was right.” Kota watched Sarah carefully, trying to determine if she was acting or truly having trouble remembering things.

“I still can’t believe it’s real. Can I see?” Sarah’s hand trembled as she reached out, and looked over to the other woman for approval.

“Yes Sarah, you can.”

“Dakota, can you please remove your shirt.”

Kota shrugged out of his shirt and turned to show his side and back.

“That must have been so painful and then it must have really stung and itched when it was healing.”

“It itched like a son of a bitch,” Kota agreed, thankful she remembered.

“Okay, you know you can heal and it wasn’t a dream. Now I want to know if he can heal your arm.” Seeing her forearm and wrist bruised and swollen made his gut churn and want to hit somebody.

“How did this happen?” Kota demanded.

“It doesn’t matter,” Stovers answered.

“It matters,” he glared at Stovers who eyed him warily.

“Heal her.”

“Not until you tell me how this happened,” he got up out of the wheelchair and looked at Stovers, who took a step backwards.

“It was the night nurse, we fired him, it’s been taken care of. Now we need to see if you can do what was advertised.”

“Look, I don’t know how you discovered who I am. You’re correct, I’m one of the
found
. I do have some ability to heal, but I have no strength right now. The only way I could get this done is with another
found
magnifying my gifts.” Kota crossed his arms and waited to see what they would say. He didn’t have to wait long.

“Fine, use Sarah.”

“Won’t work, she’s the injured one. It’s been tried before and it doesn’t work.”

“Tell me with who,” Stovers pounced. “Who else is out there?”

“Look you fuck. I’m not just Navy, I’m special ops. You think you can get me to name names? Just try it.” He watched as Simms scurried out of the room. He was unsurprised when she came back with two more orderlies.

“I’m not asking for names, at least not yet. I’m asking you to heal another member of the
found
. She’s injured and in pain. Are you denying her help after she saved your life?”

“I would be happy to if I could. I’m saying I can’t. If you gave me two or three days I could. Or if there were another member of the
found
to help me, no matter what their talents, I could do this.”

“So even if they weren’t that strong of a healer, they could magnify your powers?” Simms asked excitedly.

“Exactly.”

“Excuse us,” Simms gave Stovers a significant look and they both walked outside. After a moment or two, Stovers shouted for Silas to come out into the hall. Both of the other orderlies stayed in the room watching Kota.

Kota was careful not to look at Sarah, he didn’t want to give the game away. Fifteen long minutes later Simms and Stovers returned with a woman. Her long stringy black hair hung about her face and shoulders were hunched over as if trying to get away from the touch of the two people guiding her into the room.

“Maricel, these are the two people we were telling you about,” Simms said as if talking to a child. There was no reaction.

Stovers pushed her further into the room, the woman caught herself before falling, but she still didn’t look up.

“Maricel, we need you to help heal this woman. We know you can do it. If you do, we’ll let you spend time with Alma.” Her head came up slowly, her big brown eyes both hopeful and unbelieving.

“Bring her here now,” Maricel’s voice was hoarse from lack of use.

“You know you have to go to her, it’s not safe for her to be out of the lab.” Maricel’s shoulders drooped even further.

“I know.”

“You can spend the afternoon with her,” Simm’s voice was coaxing.

“I want to spend a week with her. I want a cot brought into her room. I want that before I try to heal her,” Maricel sounded more desperate than demanding.

“Look bitch,” Stovers hand sank into Maricel’s hair near her scalp and yanked her head back so she was forced to look into his face. “You will do this now or you will have no time to spend with your kid. You got that?”

She spit at him. Kota watched as the spittle dripped down the arrogant ass’s face. He slapped her hard across the face and it was only because he was holding her she didn’t fall.

Kota slammed Stovers up against the wall of the hospital room and punched him in the jaw. “How does that feel big man?” Kota was able to elbow one of the orderlies in the larynx before the second took him down to the ground. He hated being weak.

“Stop,” Stovers yelled as the orderly pulled back Kota’s head to slam it into the floor. “I need him conscious.” As Kota was pulled up he saw Simm’s was helping Maricel from where she had fallen.

“Now you will both do as I say and heal Sarah Johnson.”

“Sure, both of your healers bloody and beaten should be able to do a fine job.”

“That’s not my problem. You better prove your value to me, or it will just be Sarah who gets to move forward in my little program.” Kota cast a sideways glance to Sarah who had been looking on at the violence, she gave him the slightest nod. God, he hoped she was right, and this would work.

“Fine. Let’s give this a try, okay Maricel?” He looked at the woman, girl really, whose face was swelling up. She didn’t acknowledge him.

“Maricel, if you want to spend any time with your daughter, you better pray you can help Dakota heal Sarah’s arm.” She gave the fake doctor a sullen look and then turned to Kota.

“I’ll try.” It was then he noticed her distinct Spanish accent. She moved forward. “How do we work together, I’ve only ever tried this by myself.” Dammit, he couldn’t have her putting her hand on top of his, because he didn’t have any power, but she was supposed to be
helping
him. He had a vague recollection of Sarah lacing her fingers together the night she was knitting his flesh back together, they could try that.

“Maricel, give me your left hand.” She held it out tentatively. He tangled his fingers with hers. “We’re going to lay our hands down on Sarah’s bruised arm, okay?” Wide eyed, she nodded. He guided them downwards as he said a quick prayer.

Sarah’s flesh was purpled, mottled and hot to the touch. She winced at their light touch and he wanted to stop, but Maricel kept their hands in place.

“Wait.” Where their fingers joined he felt a slight vibration. He looked to see if she was moving her hand, or if Sarah was moving her arm. He couldn’t see anything, but he definitely felt something. Then there was a tingling. He looked from Maricel’s face to Sarah’s. Her lips were no longer pursed together.

“Sarah?”

“You’re doing it Kota.” Fuck, she’d called him by the wrong name, he hoped nobody noticed.

****

Dammit, she’d called him by the wrong name, she hoped nobody noticed. She looked at Kota, and did her best not to wince at the shape he was in. He could barely stand. She’d bet anything they hadn’t given him a blood transfusion to make up for all he’d lost. Then there he was fighting after the son of a bitch slapped Maricel. She’d expect nothing less from any of Nate’s team, including Sierra.

Maricel had obviously been through the breeding program and they’d taken away her babyto use her daughter as leverage. A lab, her baby was growing up in a lab. The harsh sob that escaped Sarah was immediately echoed by Maricel, as if both of them thought of the little soul being raised in a sterile environment.

“Easy Ladies. Steady. It’s going to be all right.” Kota continued to murmur comforting words, and eventually they got themselves under control. Sarah closed her eyes and focused on Maricel’s fingers and hands connected to Kota, and resting on her bruised arm. Maricel had power but it was still so new, unfocused and untried. Sarah understood she couldn’t heal herself, but she could definitely push power into Maricel, who could then use her abilities to heal Sarah.

Maricel’s energy was different than her other
found
brethren. They had lighter souls, whereas Maricel was defeated and mired in hatred. Sarah worked hard to tap into the loving energy the woman had for her child, knowing the spirit was needed to assist in a successful healing. Maricel gasped.

“What are you doing?”

“He’s pulling your healing powers to the surface, to combine with his.” Sarah answered.

“No, he is…”

“Thank you for helping me.” Kota interrupted her. Sarah felt where Kota was squeezing Maricel’s fingers. Sarah gave her a meaningful glance and she blinked her eyes slowly in response.

“You are welcome.”

“The bruising is almost all gone,” Stovers said leaning around Maricel.

“Stand back, the bone still needs to be repaired.” Sarah didn’t know how Kota knew, but he was right. She watched as the two of them closed their eyes again, and she did as well. She tried to see if she could sense anything from Kota, to see if there was a reason he knew her wrist was still fractured. However, she only sensed what she always got from him—a big blank wall of nothing. That in and of itself was odd she always picked up something from everyone she came into contact. She moved her focus back to Maricel, and worked to pull positive energy from her, into her hand. The vibration turned to deep pulses of heat.

“Are they done?”

Sarah was bereft as the hands were yanked away, her eyes snapped open and she saw the orderlies pulled Kota and Maricel back so Simms and Stovers could inspect her arm.

“It seems the information is good. The
found
can amplify one another’s powers.” Stovers picked up Sarah’s arms and gave a brutal squeeze. “See, she only gasped, she didn’t scream. All healed up.”

“Can I see my daughter now?” Maricel asked in a defeated tone, knowing the answer.

“After spitting in my face? I don’t think so. Take her back to her room, and I want her put into a straightjacket for the night.”

“Nooooooooo…” Maricel lunged for Stovers but the orderly picked her up like she was nothing and took her out of the room. Simms followed and came back in with the two men who brought Kota into Sarah’s room.

“Now for you Dakota, it seems you are everything we hoped for as well. I think you underestimated yourself.” Stovers smile made Sarah’s skin crawl, and she knew it would soon be directed towards her.

“It seems I did. Imagine what I could accomplish at full strength. So what plans do you have for me? A straightjacket? Your breeding program? Who do I need to heal next?” Kota asked pleasantly.