“Are you ready,” Aris asks before the motor in the chair has me sitting up all of the way.  That was fast.  “Yes,” I answered, “are you all so fast?”  He just smiled as an answer.  He wrapped the blanket around me more snugly and picked me up.  I can probably walk, you know.  I do not want you falling down the stairs.  He carried me out and down the staircase, then sat me down on the bottom steps.

Again Ripley lit a cigarette and handed it to me.  He lit one for himself and handed the pack and lighter to Aris.  I took a long draw off of my cigarette, “So what is the big decision?”  They all took long draws off of their cigarettes.  “I am going to be staying in a cabin not far from you and Yaris,” Ripley answered.  “The rest of us are going to headquarters,” Theo continued.  “Unless you feel like you need us to,” Antony started.  “I think it will be fine,” I cut him off, “Aris and Ripley have it covered.”

“We will also have Jax,” Aris explained.  “And Reese,” Ripley added.  “Who are Jax and Reese?”  “You will see,” Ripley answered, “and you will love them.”

We finished our cigarettes and boarded the jet.  Antony and Kale took the seats closest to the door.  Theo and Ripley took the second row of seats.  Aris put me in the seat next to his, then sat down.  “Have you flown before?” he asked.  I shook my head no.  “Would you like to watch out the window?”  I shook my head yes.  He moved me to his seat and he took mine.  He buckled my safety belt then did his own.  Are you scared?  I'm a little nervous.  Hold my hand.  I took his hand and looked out the window.  There was an instant calming effect to holding his hand.  It was actually pretty cool to watch as we took off.

I watched for a few minutes once we were up in the air.  It was still dark, so I could only see city lights.  Are you ready for  me to work on your back.  I looked at him, brought back to present, not even aware that I has been lost in thought.  Yes.  Come with  me.  I unbuckled my safety belt and stood.  He offered me his arm and I accepted.  I still walk painstakingly slow.  He's right.  I wouldn't have made it down the steps.  You have the patience of a saint.  Would you like for me to carry you.  Yes.  It's becoming hard to breathe.  He picked me up and rushed me to the mystery door at the back.  He opened the door, carried me through and shut the door behind us.  He rushed me to a large bed in the middle of the room and laid me down.  Focus on breathing.  In through your nose, then out through your mouth.  What's wrong with me?  Do not panic, just breath.  I am going to have to feel you up.  He pulled my sweatshirt up.  Can you make this disappear?  I made the sweatshirt go.  I'm glad I wore a bra.  I smiled at him, wheezing.  He smiled back.  Do not worry.  I can fix this.  Fix what?  I think a broken rib has punctured your lung.  He ran his hand over and along my left side.  This is going to be very uncomfortable.  Just try to relax and keep breathing.  Okay.

He flattened both of his hands on my left side just below my breast.  I felt an intense flash of heat and saw a flash of light at the same time.  Just as I was about to pass out from pain, it stopped.  I took in a deep unobstructed breath of air.  Aris relaxed and slumped over me.  Aris, are you okay?  I just need to rest for a minute.  You can get into bed with me.  I will cover us up.  He crawled up next to me, clearly exhausted.  I covered us up.  He wrapped his arms around me and instantly fell asleep.  Sleep alluded me though.  Maybe because I was the one comforting him instead of the other way around.  Even then, I could feel my back getting better.  He was still healing me in his sleep.  If you sleep, you will heal faster.  I will try.  I will help you.  I am not sure what he did, but I began to relax.  I felt my eyes get heavy and I dropped off into sleep.

Jade, I need you to roll over on to your stomach.  Still groggy, I do as he requests.  I feel electrifying tingles in various spots all over my back.  I think he may be kissing me.  That is because I am kissing you.  I feel him kiss a spot where I am ticklish on my side.  I giggle a little.  He does it again eliciting the same response.  He does it again.  Now you are just messing with me.  I might be.  I open my eyes.  How do you feel?  A lot better.  How is your neck?  It hurts in the back.  He gathers my hair and lifts it up off of my neck.  I hear him hiss through his teeth.  He kisses the back of my neck.  It starts to feel better.  He kisses it again and again a third time.  How is that?  A lot better.  I am going to check your lower back.  I will have to pull your pants down a little.  He does so without waiting for a response.  He kisses each side then puts my pants back into place.  He kisses the back of my neck again.  I shiver.  That feels good.  That is better.  He moves my hair back down.
Overall, do you feel better?  A lot better.  You can put your sweater back on.  It is time for the plane to land.  We need to take our seats.  I picture myself with the same sweater on and it reappears.  I get up off of the bed, still stiff and sore and he leads me back to our chairs.  Some of it will just take time.  How do you feel?  I am fine now.  I just needed to rest.  I sit by the window again.  We buckle our seatbelts and he, again, offers me his hand.  I take it and turn my attention out through the window.  I watch the airstrip get closer and closer until we touchdown.  We gradually slow down to a stop.  It is then that I realize that I have a death grip on his hand.  I loosen it, looking at him apologetically.

“Would you like a cigarette while we wait?” Ripley asked.  “Yes!” we all answered.  We all filed out of the plane and descended the stairs.  I was allowed to do it myself this time.  Ripley lit one and handed it to me, then lit his own and passed the pack around again.  Mid-cigarette a black limousine neared us and rolled to a stop.  The back driver’s side door opened and two men who resembled Theo, Ripley and the twins emerged.  That must be Jax and Reese.  Behind them two large dogs followed.  Oh, wow!  I love dogs!  They saw us and got so excited that their bodies wagged all over.  “Okay. Go,” one of the men said.  The dogs both took off at a run.  One ran to Aris, the other to Ripley.  They loved on their owners for a few minutes, then made their rounds, loving on the others.  “Jade, meet Jax,” Aris said as Jax made his way to me, “he is our guard dog and pet.”  I commenced scratching his ears, then his back and finally, the base of his tale.  He thanked me with a few big slobbery kisses on the cheek.  He moved back to Aris who ran a calming hand over his back.  “This is Reese,” Ripley introduced, “She will be your guard dog occasionally, but mostly just a pet.  She usually stays with me.”  She approached me a lot calmer than Jax.  I ran calming hands down her sides.  She thanked me with kisses on the hand and moved back to Ripley.

“So what do you think?” Aris asked, “Will you feel safe enough?”  I looked into his beautiful, stormy eyes, “I trust you.  I’ll be fine.”  He seemed to relax a little.  What are you afraid of?  He didn't answer.  He just looked at one of the newcomers, “Is Lia already there?”  “Yes,” the man answered, “she expects to be ready when you arrive.”  Who is Lia?  Ripley's sister.  Aren't they all brothers and sisters?  They look so much alike.  No, it is their race.  Like you and I are of the same race, but not siblings.  I understand now.

“You all have your orders.  We will take our leave now,” Aris took hold of my hand and led me to the limousine.  Ripley and the dogs followed.  Everyone else boarded the jet.  Jax and Reese got in first and walked to the far side of the seats.  I got in next with Aris right after me.  Ripley got in and sat in the seat facing us.  Jax laid down and put his head in my lap.  Reese did the same with Ripley.  “They're beautiful dogs.  What kind are they?”  “Cane Corso,” Ripley answered, “we have an operation that breeds them.”  “I would like to go see it sometime.”  He nodded in acknowledgment.  I went quiet, gently rubbing Jax's ears.  This proved to be therapeutic.  I noticed Ripley doing the same with Reece and wondered what he needed therapy for.  Perhaps he will tell you someday.  Do you need to pet Jax?  I can switch places with him.  No, I am fine.

We rode in the limousine for about a half an hour then came to a car rental agency.  Ripley got out of the car and entered the building.  A few minutes later he exited the building and spoke with the limo driver.  He then opened the door for us and we got out, with the dogs following.  I was led to a dark ash metallic late model Chevrolet Tahoe.  Aris opened the back driver's side door.  Jax climbed in and sat next to the back passenger side door.  I climbed in and scooted to the middle.  Aris entered after me.  Reese occupied the front passenger seat.  We waited while Ripley and the limo driver moved some items from the trunk of the limo to the back of the Tahoe.  A few minutes later the driver's door opened and Ripley climbed in.  He reached across and ruffled Reese’s fur.  She happily licked his hand.

“Soooooo, are you going to tell me where we are going this time?” I asked as we entered traffic.   I noticed that the limousine headed in the opposite direction.  “That depends on how badly you want to know,” Aris answered.  I looked up at his face.  He was smiling, testing me again.  I playfully punched him in the arm.  “You will see a road sign in a few minutes, if you pay attention.”  “The sign isn't going to tell you much, though,” Ripley interjected.  “We are going to a cabin in the mountains,” Aris stated, “in Wyoming.”  “Okay,” I shrugged, satisfied.  “You mean you are not going to ask more questions?” Ripley asked.  “Nope,” I folded my arms across my chest and sighed.  No one said anything.  What would you like to know?  A lot of things that you refuse to answer.  That is what this time in the mountains is for.  To answer all of your questions.  Okay.  I left it at that.

We drove for some time, then Ripley asked if anyone needs a bathroom break.  I said that I do but I really just needed to stretch my legs.  We stopped at a gas station.  Ripley got me a jacket out of the back of the Tahoe and offered one to Aris, who declined.  I thanked him and went to put it on.  It hurt my back too much to twist my arms around so he helped me into it.  “Would you like a smoke first?” he asked.  I nodded my head yes.  He lit me one and one for himself, then passed the pack to Aris.  He let the dogs out and we walked over to a grassy area with them.  “How much more driving do we have?” I asked.  “Not much, one to two hours depending on the weather,” Ripley answered, “it will be a little while before there is another gas station, though.”  We finished our cigarettes and put the dogs back in the Tahoe.  “I am going to pump gas.  I will go in when you come back out.”  “That is fine,” Aris replied and we went in the store.