His fists clenched trying to stop the shake, but it wasn’t frustration, it was the delayed reaction of fear from seeing the car’s destruction on the passenger side before he saw Kayla. As usual, his mouth was going to take it out on her. “Woman, you’re going to the fucking hospital,” he roared. Kayla’s ears grew longer, and her skin grayed with the mule showing itself.

“Why can’t Caleb fix this?”

“Because we’re not in the middle of the desert. There’s a perfectly good hospital five minutes away.”

“Caleb,” she pleaded.

“No way.” He raised his hands and stepped back.

“Come on, Snow White,” Lieutenant Cobbs said in a gruff voice. “Move it.” When she didn’t budge, his silver-gray eyes set on her. “Now.” He didn’t shout at her, but there was no option in his expression or the way he said, “Now.”

Kayla’s nose twitched, and one stubborn foot became unglued from the pavement. “Fine.”

Thane watched Mace and Cobbs guide her away. How the hell did Pat do that? His brow curled tight, and he darted a look at Nathan.

Nathan shrugged. “Hell if I know.”

Caleb smirked. “Married,” he explained.

Thane scratched his neck. “But—”

“There’s a fine unspoken line, Captain,” Caleb explained. “The Lieutenant drew it. Kayla knew it.”

He shook his head, astounded. “He’s going to have to teach me that,” he said, watching the three of them reach the ambulance.

Walking into the hospital, Thane slowed his step seeing Mace and Pat halfway down the long row of beds on emergency alley.

The doc had Kayla’s arm in an ‘L’ formation. “This is going to hurt. Take a big breath and…”

She tilted her head at him. “Just do it, would ya.” Mace and Cobbs screwed up their faces with the crunch and snap of bone falling into place. Kayla barely reflected a thing on hers, except maybe relief. She sighed. “Thank you.” Covering herself with the thin sheet, the doc helped her lay back.

Mace leaned over, and gave her a kiss on her cheek. “Good girl,” he teased.

“I can still hit you with my good arm,” she warned.

Pat saw him and waved. “Hi, Doc, how is she?” he asked, stepping around his lieutenant.

“Thane, hey man, how goes it?” Markus Letterman said, grinning up at him. “Keeping our country safe?”

He and Markus had done senior year together, both of them on the football team. “See any terrorists in your back yard?”

Markus laughed. “Is she one of yours? Didn’t think they let ladies into the SEALs.”

He leaned over her, and pursed his lips. Kayla’s expression was all sorts of mad. “Yup, she’s mine. Aren’t you, sweetheart?” he teased.

“Kiss me, and I promise I will bite you,” she hissed under her breath.

He chuckled, raising his head to grin at Markus. “Got a cranky pill handy, Doc?” The smack on his arm felt like butterfly wings.

Markus crossed his arms, and gave him an inquiring tilt of his head. “We gave her a good dose of morphine, but it hasn’t kicked in yet. She’s got amazing resistance to pain, and to the opiates, but it should start working in a couple seconds. She’s going to be fine.”

“Good, I’ve kinda gotten used to her being around. Think I’ll keep her,” he said, seeing her gaze soften.

“Think again, Captain Asshat,” she answered, laughing at her own joke.

He chuckled, and ran his finger across her collarbone. “Feeling better, sweetheart?”

“Uh, Thane, this is a G-rated hospital,” Markus said, interrupting his thoughts.

“Huh?” He looked up, “Oh, yeah.” He held his hand out. “Thanks for taking care of her Markus. Appreciate it.”

Markus stepped up to the bed and said, “Kayla, remember you need to be diligent with the physio to strengthen the ligaments and muscles then it won’t be as easily displaced again.”

“Physio?” He ran a comforting stroke across her shoulder. “What kind of physio?”

“Never mind,” she cut in, her words moseying out of her mouth.

“Sweetheart, can you keep those beautiful lips shut, and let me take care of things just once?”

Mace flapped a mitt full of paper. “Got it here, Captain. She’s looking forward to an entire year of strengthening exercises. I’d be glad to torture her.”

“Not,” she grumbled.

“Oh, yes you are. Let’s see those, Mace.” He handed them over.

“Can I leave now?” she said, her words beginning to slur. “I’m hungry, and no one cares.”

He gave a jerk of his head so Mace and Pat would give them some privacy, and pulled the curtain. “I care,” he growled into her neck, and kissed her pulse. A small purr escaped her. As usual, her reaction quickened his pulse, leaving little room in his pants.

“Thane, stop. This is a….”

“Mm-hmm.” He brushed her peaked nipple through the thin gown, giving it the attention it deserved. The ache in his pants was just about killing him as he kissed the pillowy edge of her breast, and then devoured her full lips, taking advantage of her weakness. “I’m going to take you home. You can sleep in my arms.”

“Aren’t you forgetting someone?” Her eyes closed briefly, and then popped open.

“The cops put out an APB for the damaged truck, but I doubt they’ll find it.”

She gave him a little nudge to make him back off. “Do you think it was the Shark?”

“No, I don’t. I think it was just an accident. Maybe the guy was drunk or high. He didn’t want to get a DUI, and took off.”

“Why’d he speed up?”

“I don’t know. Mace said you had a solid green light.” He kissed her forehead. “It was an accident, sweetheart, nothing else. Come on sit up. I’ll help you dress.” Instead of sitting up, she nestled into the pillow, her eyes wandering. “Pain killers are doing their job, huh?” Her lids blinked lazily, and she gave him a sweet little smile. Sweeping his knuckles across her cheek, he released the fear clogging his heart, and sat down next to her. “You scared the hell out of me.”