Reckless

Conclusion

The Florida morning air was crisp, despite the warm sun that was rising above the horizon.

Cassy pulled the Mustang into the hospital parking lot. Harry had been right. She had needed a good night's sleep, and while it had been a battle to attain, after some deep soul searching, the reward was finally given to her.

She awoke with one goal in mind. She needed to see Tom. She had to be with him. For the first time since knowing that she had hurt him she was ready to face him. She needed the opportunity to show him that his pain was not suffered in vain. . .that she had learned the lesson.

Confidently, she walked into the hospital and entered the elevator. Within seconds, the door opened on the ICU floor. Without hesitation, Cassy approached the nurse at the main desk. The woman smiled at the petite blond. "Good morning."

Cassy returned the greeting. "Is Sgt. Ryan awake?"

The nurse nodded. "The doctor's in with him and his parents right now."

Cassy frowned. "Is he okay?"

"Oh yes. He had a very good night. The doctor has said that she's going to transfer him out of the unit this morning."

Cassy glanced at the window of Tom's room. She could see Margaret sitting at Tom's bedside, Lyam standing behind her. They were both nodding in unison, apparently listening to the doctor.

After a few seconds, the doctor left the room. Cassy approached the doorway and knocked lightly on the frame. Lyam and Margaret turned, both looking much better than they had since arriving in Palm Beach. "Good morning, Cassy," Lyam greeted first. He approached the young woman and brought her into a hug.

"Hi, how's my partner," Cassy asked as she returned the embrace.

Tom smiled at her. "Your partner is ready to get out of here."

Cassy's eyes widened in shock. "You've got to be joking." She approached his bedside and visually examined his condition. His hazel eyes were tired, but, thankfully, responsive. He shifted his body slightly as if self-conscious because of her inspection of him and a flash a pain crossed his features. Cassy caught the expression on his face and shook her head. "Yeah, you look like you're ready to get out of here," she said flatly.

Margaret gave her son a disapproving look. "He seems to think that he's ready to go home." She turned to Cassy. "Don't worry though, the doctor nixed that idea immediately. The only place he's going is to a private room on the second floor."

"Well, at least I'll get to look at a new ceiling for awhile. I've counted all the tiles in this one. . .twice," Tom groused.

Lyam shook his head in mock disgust. "Can't believe the boy was lying at death's door only 24 hours ago."

Cassy smiled. "Yeah, he's always been a lousy patient."

Margaret nodded her agreement and then whispered, "Takes after his father."

"I heard that," Lyam muttered. He leaned over his wife's shoulder. "Let's get some coffee. I think Cassy and Tom have some talking to do."

Margaret glanced at Cassy and seemed to read that the young woman needed some time alone with her partner. She nodded to her husband and stood up. She leaned over the bed rail and kissed her son on the forehead. "We'll be back in a little while. If you behave, maybe we'll find you a Sports Illustrated that you can read."

Tom's reply was less than enthusiastic. "Oh good."

His mother gave him another disapproving look, then smiled and shook her head. "Nothing changes."

The parents exited the small room, leaving Cassy and Tom alone. Cassy, feeling suddenly uncomfortable, tried to divert her attention by examining the IV bag hanging next to Tom's bed. Tom watched her for a moment and then whispered, "Hi."

His voice caused her to look into his eyes. "Hi," she answered softly.

Tom motioned to the chair next to the bed. "Have a seat."

Cassy nodded and obediently sat down. Her confidence of a few minutes earlier had deserted her. She clasped her hands in her lap and stared at her fingers.

Tom watched his partner as she watched her hands. He could sense her dread. . .her fear. "Elizabeth Meyer and Bill Blane were here last night."

Cassy hitched her breath. She then nodded. "Yeah, I know."

"They were here to talk to me about the shooting."

"They told me what you said," Cassy blurted out before Tom could say more. Her gaze fell on Tom's face. "You lied, didn't you?"

Tom glanced away from his partner. "What makes you think that?"

"Harry said you didn't remember the shooting. You thought. . .you thought Slater had shot you."

Tom didn't respond at first. Then after a moment's silence, he muttered. "It was the medication I think. By the time Meyer and Blane decided to question me I was thinking clearer."

Cassy shook her head and stood, walking away from her partner, keeping her back to him. "That's bull."

Tom said nothing. Cassy turned back to him. "Not five minutes before they started questioning you, you told Harry that you thought Slater shot you. There's no way I'm going to believe that you suddenly found your memory."

"Miracles of modern medicine," Tom responded cockily.

A sudden surge of anger shot through Cassy. "I shot you, Tom. I made the mistake, not you."

Tom shrugged and then cringed at the movement. "I've given my statement of what happened."

"And it was a lie," Cassy muttered. "You lied to IA."

Tom shook his head. "Prove it."

"You don't have to protect me, Thomas."

"Who's protecting you?" he asked innocently. "You were firing at Slater in self-defense and I got in the way. I should have known better."

The petite blond looked at her partner. He was lying. She knew it. She could read it in those ever-expressive hazel eyes. And he had done it for one reason. . .for her.

She shook her head in slight amazement and moved next to him again. She was going to continue the protest and then looked into his tired, but stubborn eyes. Defeated, she leaned over the rail and placed a soft kiss on his cheek. "Thank you." She pulled away from him, but allowed her hand to linger on the uninjured side of his chest. "I'm so sorry," she whispered.

"I know," he responded. "It was an accident, Cass. I know that."

Cassy collapsed into the chair and sighed. "I. . .I should have listened to you."

"Yep," he grinned.

"I was just so. . .so determined to make sure that Slater didn't get away. . .that he wouldn't hurt anyone else."

Tom nodded. "Cass, I know. You don't have to explain this to me. I understood why you were going after him. It was the fact that you were alone that scared me. I knew that I couldn’t be there to watch your back."

Cassy was silent for a long while. She then raised her gaze so that her eyes met his. "I made a promise to you. . .and I intend to keep it."

Tom frowned, confused. "What promise?"

"Yesterday. . .when you were unconscious. . .I promised you that if you would just wake up, things would be different."

Tom's eyes widened. "What? You're gonna start cooking for me?"

She smiled and shook her head. "I already shot you, I think that's sufficient torture."

Tom laughed and then bit back a stab of pain. Cassy's look became apologetic. "I'm sor. . ."

Before she could complete the apology, Tom stopped her. "Cassy, that's enough. Quit apologizing. You're scaring me."

She nodded. "Tom, I mean it. I'm gonna change. No more Jane Wayne."

Tom couldn't help the laughter which came to his lips a second time. And for a second time in a few short seconds he found himself grimacing again. He took a breath, trying to recover. "Oh please. There's absolutely no way I'm going to believe that."

"What?" Cassy's voice was a mix of shock and indignation.

Tom smiled at the befuddled look. "Cass, listen, we've been partners for a long time. I know you better than you know yourself. You can't go changing things on me mid-stream."

Cassy frowned and shook her head, "But Tom, I've learned my lesson. I'm gonna really try to. . ."

Tom cut her off again. "Cassy, stop."

Cassy halted her words and then fell back in the chair, defeated. "I really was going to try to change."

Tom nodded. "I know. And I appreciate that. And I don't want you to."

They sat in silence for a long time. Cassy finally reached out and held her partner's hand. "So, how did you know?"

Tom frowned. "Know what?"

"That I shot you?"

Tom shook his head and then smiled. "I'm not stupid, Cass. I knew something was up when you and Harry were in the room yesterday. Harry was so. . .evasive when we were talking about what happened at the warehouse. Then when IA showed up. . .well, it wasn't difficult to figure out why they were here. I just made some assumptions. . .and they filled in the blanks for me." He gave her a mischievous look. "They really need to learn to stop leading a witness," he whispered.

"See, I knew you were lying," Cassy responded triumphantly.

"Like I said. . .prove it."

"I'll tell Harry," Cassy threatened.

"So," Tom shrugged, using more caution this time. "Harry can't prove it either." He let loose of her hand and reached for her face, gently cupping her chin in his hand. "You're my partner, St. John. And I'm going to do everything in my power to protect you. It's my job." He winked at her and then let his hand fall back to the mattress. He was overcome by a deep yawn. His eyes felt heavy and he realized that he was ready to succumb to sleep.

Cassy, sensing his exhaustion, let her fingers drift to his hair. She brushed back the strands in a delicate caress. "Get some rest."

Tom fought to open his eyes again. "You're going to be okay, right?"

Cassy nodded. "You've seen to that. Now go to sleep," she ordered.

He closed his eyes again and Cassy sighed. Then his eyes opened. "You're not gonna do anything stupid, right?"

Cassy grinned. "No, Thomas, now, go to sleep."

Tom closed his eyes for a moment and then opened them again. "Gonna try to change. . .what a joke," he murmured.

"Go to sleep, Thomas," she ordered, a little more harshly this time.

He opened his eyes halfway. "I think I'll go to sleep now."

She nodded, a look of mock disgust on her face. "Good idea. Wish I'd thought of that," she muttered. Tom smiled and then drifted away.

She watched him as he finally lost his battle to stay awake. "Thanks, Partner," she whispered.

Within seconds, Tom was in a healing sleep. She rose from her chair and made her way to the door thinking it would be best to leave him alone. Then she changed her mind and returned to his side. She could not leave him. . .not now. She would stay and watch over her partner. . .protect him as he had watched over and protected her.

End