Kasey woke to the sounds of hospital life, the whoosh of the floor polisher, the clunk of bedpans and the soft swishing sounds of the nurse’s uniforms as they moved from patient to patient.  She was still tired and just wanted to go to sleep so she pulled a pillow over her head and concentrated on trying to go back to sleep.

It didn’t work and in the end she tried to sit up causing herself pain in the process.  Daniel heard her whimper and was at her side in an instant. “Be still little one, I’ll help you to a sitting position.”  Then he lifted her helping her to sit and placed the pillows around her so she’d be comfortable.

“Thanks Danny,” she said and smiled at him trying to hide the pain she still felt.  Daniel was so attuned to Kasey now that he felt her discomfort and sent a message out to Braedon letting him know that she was awake and in pain.

Braedon arrived shortly afterward with Sister Benson at his side, he was smiling but Kasey could see that he was concerned about her.  Kasey looked at Daniel and scowled, letting him know she was aware that he’d let Braedon know she was awake and probably in pain.

Sister Benson moved in front of Braedon and shooed both men out of the room, she raised a brow and waited until they left and closed the door behind them.  “Thank you,” said Kasey, “umm…”

“It’s alright sweetie, I’ll help you with the IV so you can go to the bathroom.  If we go slow you should be fine, just let me know if you’re in too much pain and we can stop for a minute okay.”  Sister Benson helped Kasey off the bed and brought the IV bag on its little trolley with her.  She got Kasey to the bathroom and told her to call out when she was done so she could help her back to bed.

By the time Kasey got back to bed her breakfast had arrived and when she lifted the lid she screwed up her nose and pushed it aside.  Sister Benson gave her a look that said ‘you are going to eat that whether you like it or not’.  She took Kasey’s temperature and checked her blood pressure then jotted down some notes on Kasey’s chart.

Kasey looked at her hopefully, “Am I gonna be okay?”

“You’ll be fine sweetie, but you do need to keep up your strength,” she looked at the tray and smiled, letting her know that she wanted Kasey to eat her breakfast.

Kasey shook her head slowly, “I’m not that hungry!”

Sister Benson was about to reply when Braedon piped up, “I’m sure we can find you something a little more appetizing,” then he sent Daniel a message to go get his mate something edible and a moment later Daniel slipped out to do just that.

Sister Benson shook her head and left them both alone, but as she reached the doorway she called back, “The doctor will be in shortly to see how you’re doing, so no getting out of bed until then.” Then she too disappeared.

Braedon sat on the side of the bed and smiled down at Kasey, “How are you feeling kitten and don’t say fine, I need to know how you are really doing?”

Kasey looked at Braedon and saw deep concern in his eyes, he truly cared about her and she had the feeling he’d do anything and everything to get her well again.  “I hurt, it’s difficult to use my hand and arm and it’s easier having it strapped to my body.  I’m tired, not sleepy tired, but… like all the energy has been sucked out of me.  I’m guessing that’s because of the blood loss huh?”

Braedon nodded confirming that it was indeed the blood loss that was making her feel so tired.  “But I’m doing a lot better than I should be.  You had Shallana do a healing on me didn’t you?”

“Yes,” he replied, I want you whole again as soon as possible.  There are things we need to discuss Kasey and I want you to be well when we do so.”

Kasey was about to tell him she agreed, that she was not up to any major discussions at the moment, when she tried to bring both hands up to her ears to cover them and protect them from the cat like cries she was hearing.  But in the process she pulled on the tubes she had attached to her and almost did herself more damage.

Braedon grabbed her as gently as he could and held her down on the bed, “Look at me kitten, look me straight in the eye and open your mind to me.”  Kasey did as he said and Braedon was able to access her mind and pick up on what had happened.

It took a minute or two to calm her enough so he could release her from his hold and when he did he noticed that she held his gaze, somehow knowing exactly what he’d just done.  “We are mates Kasey that bond, that connection gives me the ability to connect with your mind and see or hear what you do.”

 He waited for her to take that in, to process it and perhaps comment… or he thought yell at him for being so invasive, but she surprised him with her reply.  “He knows I’m hurt and he needs to be near me, he needs to know that I’m alright… that there is no more danger to me.”

Tears streamed down her face as the realisation of what she’d said, what she’d heard and what she’d felt came to her.  “Braedon, I need to get to the Quay so he can see that I’m okay, if I don’t someone is going to get hurt.”

Braedon could hear the seriousness in her voice and knew that no matter what he said, she’d try to get to the Quay to connect with the shadow creature that had watched over her.  “Who or what exactly is your shadow friend?  I know you believe you can trust this creature, but I will not have you in harm’s way again.”

Kasey stared at him, “I… I… I’m not exactly sure what he is, but when I was a kid I had a cat that used to stay with me when we were on the streets.  He was big… huge!  He kept me warm if I was cold by curling around me when I slept and he made me feel safe.   I called him Trace because he could be there one minute and the next he was gone without a trace.

Kasey seemed to be concentrating, trying to remember, “I don’t know if he’s Trace, but he could be and I owe him this Braedon.  He kept me safe when my mother couldn’t, I don’t want anything to happen to him… please,”  she looked up at him with big pleading eyes and he knew he was done for, knew she had won his heart and his soul. 

Braedon knew in that instant that he would do whatever he had to do to make Kasey happy and if getting her to the Quay so her shadow friend could see that she was alright would make her happy, then so be it.  All they had to do was get Kasey past Sister Benson!

“This is not going to be easy!” he said to her a stern look on his face, then he sent out a silent message to everyone waiting nearby, letting them know that once Kasey had seen the doctor they needed to get her out of the hospital without Sister Benson’s knowledge.

Kasey smiled sweetly and Braedon burst out laughing.  He sat on the side of the bed on Kasey’s good side and wrapped a protective arm around her, “This will take a bit of doing, but as soon as you have seen the doctor and I’m satisfied that you are truly on the mend, then we will… umm attempt to sneak you out of here.”

Kasey giggled and reached up to give him a kiss on the cheek in thanks.  This put a smile on Braedon’s face and they sat quietly snuggled close to each other until Daniel returned with a Mac Donald’s food bag in one hand and a tray with three wonderfully smelling coffees in the other.

Daniel saw Kasey’s face light up as he moved closer to her and he placed the coffees on the table over the bed.  She waited expectantly and squealed happily when he opened up the bag and pulled out enough hash browns and hotcakes to keep all three of them going for a while.

No sooner had they finished eating and gotten rid of the evidence than the doctor came in with Sister Benson following him.  His name was Dr Pearson and he looked somewhat familiar, so Kasey figured he’d be one of the doctors working on her in emergency.  He seemed nice enough; he checked her chart, asked all the right questions and was as gentle as possible when he checked her wound.

“Well?” asked Braedon

Dr Pearson looked at Kasey then Braedon, “She’s doing as well as can be expected.”

Kasey didn’t like that the doctor was talking to Braedon and not her, after all they were talking about her, “So when can I go home then?  I’ve got things I to do and a job to get back to.”  She saw the shocked look on the doctor’s face and her heart sank, if he had his way she wouldn’t be going anywhere any time soon.

“Young lady, you have just been shot and had surgery to remove the bullet, you’ve lost a great deal of blood and need bed rest or you will not heal well.  You will need to be with us for at least a week and then you can leave as long as you have someone to care for you.”

Braedon could see Kasey about to tell the doctor exactly what she thought of what he’d said so cut her off, “I have my own physician Dr Pearson and I would like to arrange for Kasey to be taken to my home where she will both be cared for and have a doctor close by at all times.”  He smiled at the doctor ignoring Sister Benson as he could hear her thoughts on the subject.  “Will that be a problem?”

The doctor looked somewhat shocked but answered Braedon’s question, “That will be fine, just make sure all the correct papers are signed.”  Then he turned and left the room leaving an angry Sister Benson with them.

“If you think for one minute I’m letter this young woman out of my hospital in her condition you’re crazy!”  She stood straight and tall hands on hips and Braedon knew he’d been right when he assumed she’d be a problem.

Jacob strolled in at that moment and Jacob being Jacob assessed the situation and took control as no one else could, “Ah, sweetness, I was wondering where you’d gotten too.  I leave for two minutes and you disappear.”  He fained disappointment and wrapped an arm around Sister Benson’s shoulder as he led her out of the room.

“Bloody hell!  You should hire him out Braedon,” she giggled then, “You’d make a fortune.”

“Ah yes, but the problem there would be, no one would be able to live with his big head.” Kasey grinned and Daniel burst out laughing setting both her and Braedon off as well.

A couple of minutes later Eli strolled in shaking his head and trying not to laugh, “We’ve got about ten minutes before that woman gets the gist of what Jacob is doing,” then he came over to the bed and started to unravel Kasey from the tubes and machinery she was hooked up to.

In record time Kasey was smuggled out of the hospital and into a waiting car.  They’d even remembered to bring her some clothes, so she slipped them on while the three big men stood with their backs to her giving her privacy.

When she yelped slightly Braedon turned and helped her finish dressing, it was strange, Kasey thought, she should have felt angry or at least embarrassed by what he’d done… but what she felt was comfort.  Two minutes later they were on the road and headed for Circular Quay!

Braedon could sense that Kasey was in pain, but also saw that she was trying her best to push through it.  She needed to do this, to find her shadow creature and ensure he too was safe.

What she’d told him about a large cat got him thinking and he knew there was more to it, something he knew from past memories, something he couldn’t quite put his finger on.  He only hoped that whatever it was it was something good and something that would not cause his little mate pain.

As they pulled up in front of Gerry’s bar Kasey looked at the place and knew she’d probably never spend time in there again… at least not in the same way that she had in the past.  Braedon opened the door for her and as she stepped out she could feel a sense of anger… of fear.  She turned to Braedon and he scooped her up and rushed across the street heading for the area that she’s been in the last time she’s been here.  Cars beeped their horns and people shouted as they ran between them, Daniel trailing them and Eli waiting in the car.

As they got to the other side of the street a police car pulled up and the Officer wanted to know what the hell Eli thought he was doing parked in a no standing zone.  Eli looked at the Officer and nodded towards the park, “My boss Braedon Romanoff is in the park with Kasey Drew.  There’s something she needs to do and since she is still ‘officially’ in hospital I figured you guys would cut her some slack and let me wait as close as possible to her.”

The Officer nodded, “Is she okay, I mean hell she was shot…”

“Yeah, she’s doing well, better than expected or there’s no way Braedon would have let her talk him into bringing her here so soon after being injured.”  Eli looked the Officer up and down and decided he was worth taking a chance, “Kasey doesn’t want it known that she’s here, we’ll get her back to the hospital as soon as we can, but it would be appreciated if…”

“Don’t worry,” the Officer said, “I’m the only one in this section this morning and I didn’t actually see Kasey, so I can’t go telling Jax that she’s running around some park the day after being shot now can I.  He’d think I was crazy!”  They nodded to each other in the way men do when they have a connection and the Officer got back into his car and drove off leaving a smiling Eli to wait for the others.

In the meantime Braedon had gotten Kasey down by the water so she could take a minute to get her bearings.  Kasey looked around and sensed something; she closed her eyes and pushed her mind out trying to sense more, trying to find her shadow friend.  “Hamburger,” she said and Daniel ran to a fast food venue nearby returning with a burger, fries and a coke just in case.

Kasey indicated a bench that she wanted to sit on and they all headed towards it.  She sat down and Daniel placed the food beside her and stepped back.  Braedon was loath to leave her here alone, she was so vulnerable, so innocent looking and he wanted her safe not facing whatever the hell this creature was.

“I’ll be okay Braedon.  He won’t hurt me.  I feel him nearby and he wants to come to me, I think he needs me as much as I’ve needed him.  Please,” she said and though it went against all his instincts, Braedon kissed her on the cheek and backed away, but not before telling her he’d be close by watching.

Kasey sat quietly waiting; she could sense Trace getting closer… ever so slowly like he was checking out the area as he moved.  Kasey picked up the burger and opened the wrapping; she held it in her hand a little away from her body.  She started talking softly hoping Trace would get curious and come closer.

“I remember you now Trace, you used to play with me when I was a little girl.  We had lots of fun playing in the little lanes and alleys here.” Kasey smiled as the memories began drifting back to her. 

“You watched over me too Trace, me and my mother.  You kept us both safe when there were bad people about and I started to forget after my mother died and they took me away.”  She could sense him getting closer, so kept talking hoping he’d come right up to her.

“I remember the day they found me Trace.  It was you… you led me to Jax so he would make sure I was safe, because without my mother, you couldn’t do it and you needed to know that I was going to okay.”

Kasey held out the burger in front of her as she could feel Trace closing in on her, she sensed Braedon and Daniel tense as they realised from her movements that he must be close.  She ignored them, needing to focus on Trace, needing to make sure he knew she was there for him, that he could trust her enough to at least take food from her hand.

Then it happened!  Kasey felt fur run smooth and gently along her arm and heard the purr of a big cat.  She opened her hand leaving the burger sitting on her palm and within moments it disappeared.  She smiled to herself and spoke to him again, “Hello my old friend.  Will you let me see you now that you are so close?” Then she felt him nuzzle up against her leg and rest his head on her lap.

Kasey smiled and stroked him with her free hand.  Trace relaxed against her and she laughed softly when she heard him start to purr.  She slid off the bench and sat on the ground next to her invisible friend.  She patted him a while longer then wrapped her arm around him and pulling him close to her she whispered, “You used to let me ride on your back when I was little Trace,  you always made me feel safe my friend and now that I’m all grown up and I want to do the same for you.”

As Kasey sat on the ground holding him, Trace started to shimmer into visibility.  He looked like a big cat, the size of a large leopard and was as black and shiny as a piece of polished onyx.  His eyes were amazing, the colour of bright crystal green.  When he opened his mouth and purr, she saw teeth that could rip a man to shreds… teeth that would kill to keep her safe.  His whole body was sleek but muscular… strong and she wanted him with her again, just as he had been when she was a child.

She kissed the top of his head and laughed again.  “Trace I want you to meet some friends of mine,” She kept patting him hoping he’d trust her enough to let Braedon and Daniel get close to them both.

Trace sat down next to Kasey and placed a big furry paw on her lap.  She nodded to Braedon, but when he stepped forward both Kasey and Trace disappeared.  Braedon froze!  Daniel came up beside him looking confused and when Kasey looked at them she called out asking them what was wrong, “What is it?  What’s wrong?”

“Kasey,” Braedon replied, “We can’t see you kitten, where are you?”

“Oh my goodness, that’s how you did it Trace.  That’s how you kept me safe.”  Kasey grinned and hugged Trace to her again. “We’re right where you last saw us Braedon; Trace just shielded us from everyone else.”

Braedon stood staring at where he’d last seen Kasey, “Kitten, do you think you can get him to lift the shield, I’d like to be able to see you both.  Talk to him as you’ve been doing; let him know we won’t hurt him… or you.”

Kasey stroked Trace along his back, firm but gentle, she loved the feel of his fur; it was thick but so silky soft she laid her cheek against it just to feel it.  “Trace, Braedon and Daniel are my friends; they’ve been trying to keep me safe too. They brought me here so I could see you… so you could see that I’m okay.  We can’t stay long, I have to get back to the hospital and I want you to come with us.”

Daniel looked at Braedon and waited, Braedon remained silent and crouched down on his knees to give the impression that he was much smaller than he actually was and also to show that he was willing to put himself in a submissive position, letting Trace know that he was no threat to him.

Daniel watched in surprised but followed his Alpha’s lead.  He’d never before seen him like this; Braedon was an Alpha and acted accordingly, so to see him kneel before some unknown creature disturbed Daniel somewhat.  But Daniel trusted Braedon and knew if he did this it was because he knew it was what was need to get this creature to trust them.

Braedon knew that if he was to get Kasey’s friend to trust him he needed to show the creature that he meant him no harm.  He knelt down on one knee and put a hand out for Trace to sniff; he was surprised to feel a wet tongue lick across the top of his hand, but remained still.  In the next moment he felt fur in his palm as if Trace was moving his body under his hand.  He smiled to himself then gasped as the shield disappeared and both Kasey and Trace became visible once more.

Kasey grinned at both men and Braedon stroked Trace along his back and spoke quietly to him, “It would seem we both wish to watch over Kasey.  As you have probably sensed, she has been injured.  We weren’t quick enough to save her from that,” Trace growled at Braedon, but settled again when Kasey shushed him.

Braedon took hold of Traces jaw a hand either side and held him so he could look him square in the eye.  “I will not fail her again my friend but I will need your help to make that so.”  Then he scratched Trace behind the ear and let him go.

Trace walked away from Braedon and circled them all twice before raising his shield and hiding them all from the world.  Both men stood and Braedon helped Kasey to her feet as well.  Then Trace shifted into the form of a man, he wasn’t quite as tall as Braedon and was leaner, but there was strength in him.  His hair was as black as his fur and Kasey couldn’t help wondering if it felt as soft.

His eyes were green, not quite as bright as in his cat shape, but a beautiful shade none the less.  His face was that of an angel, young with promise of the man to come, but there was age in his eyes and she realised that he was far older than she’d imagined he could be.

Kasey reached up and touched his face and he took it in his own, she smiled up and him then he shocked the hell out of her by kneeling in front of her and kissing the back of her hand, “Lady,” he began, “it is so good to finally speak with you once more.”