He takes a step toward her and she steps back. I lean against the window crossing my ankles. This ought to be interesting.
“Were you told they were unstable?” She barely nods. “Were you told not to startle them in any way?” She glares at him and I smile. “You did both. You come here with your fuckin’ entitled attitude and push it on everyone saying it's your fuckin’ right. It's not your right! It's a fuckin’ privilege and that man fought for you to have it. You think his lunch would be sitting cold on a tray if you didn't decide you know fuckin’ everything and caused that whole fuckin’ episode he just went through. He's barely holding on and you not only pushed him into an episode, but now want to complain because you had to see it. Every fuckin’ day he lives it. Every fuckin’ day he makes it to another and every fuckin’ day we'll show for him or anyone else that needs it. Here, people like Gus earned those rights you think you can throw at everyone. You took away his right to have a nice lunch and forced him into a place he's working to get out of. It is you that is wrong. You have no fuckin’ business reporting on PTSD if you can't even tell right from wrong.”
“That was the bomb!” I look at the stairs and the pussy with the camera has a smaller one pointed at Jessie. Dakota is smiling behind him. Fuck.
Jessie starts growling. I look at the reporter. “Did you get the information from Lily?” She nods. “I'm Taylor Blackhawk. You tell whatever station you're from I'll talk to anyone that gets PTSD. I won't talk to a reporter that's clueless.” I look at Jessie. “Ready?”
“I need the camera.” He starts walking to the pussy.
Dakota steps in front of him. “I think he needs it Brother. It has a purpose.” I laugh walking by.
“Did Dakota tell you Beth is pregnant?”
Jessie stops staring down the reporter and looks at me. “Fuckin’ nice Brother. Congratulations. Jess is too. We don't tell anyone for another month.”
“Congrats to you too. This is fuckin’ awesome. They'll be the same age. Beth didn't say I couldn't tell.” Why can't you tell? It must be a woman thing.
“How far is she?”
“Three months.” I look back, but Dakota isn't following.
“That's when it's okay to tell, when they’re past three months.” I look at him. He's serious. Women are fuckin’ crazy.
Back at Security we walk into Ops. Jessie is yelling at the reporter on speaker and some man is standing by Prez and Darren. “Shit.”
Prez looks back. “Glad you're here Taylor. This is the reporter I told you about. The one Jessie is yelling at is trying for a scoop or some shit.”
The guy turns and I smile. I've seen him on the news. “Glad she's not doing the story.” I shake his hand.
He laughs. “They came out with a teaser this morning about it.” He looks at Prez and gets a nod. “If you don't mind walking, we can talk first then get to the questions.”
I look at Prez. 'He gets it,' he says in my head. “Sounds good.”
“Mr. Knight said you weren't supposed to see the other reporter. I can stay over and do this tomorrow when this all calms down. Are you okay after all that?”
I laugh. “I'm good. We normally have people shoot at us. It's not a trigger for me.” He relaxes and I open the door. Delta follows. “This is Delta. He watches my six.” I start toward the back door. “I need to walk him.” He follows and we talk about triggers. He doesn't want to ask me about them on camera. I'm relieved and I'm glad we talked. He's real.
I answer his questions with just me and him in Prez's meeting room. The camera is set up, but no one is behind it. He starts with the speech I did for the fundraiser. They'll use what they can so I don't have to do it again. I answer his questions and explain what I can. I don't know everything and I tell him that I'm not really in my head when it happens. He doesn't push for me to remember shit. We talk about Delta and how feeling his fur calms me.
When we're finished, he thanks me and tells me I can see it before it airs. I shake his hand and call Prez. As soon as Prez shows I'm out. At the house, I make a bag of snacks and drop it at the door. My Precious Beth is giving me a baby. All that energy is running through me so me and Delta play Frisbee while we wait for my Precious and baby to get home.
It's another good fuckin’ day. A baby.
Epilogue
Taylor
We make the Activity Center with plenty of time and I get my Precious a plate. When I sit, she's smiling. “You can't drag me around when I'm dazed and confused. After you knock my socks off I need time to think.”
I kiss her sunshine smile. “I like you barefoot and pregnant.” She hits me and I laugh. “I wanted to make sure you ate Precious. My boy needs his food.”
She laughs. “He does. The way he's growing I won't be able to walk soon.”
I lean in. “I don't think that's a baby thing. You keep yelling harder and I give my girl what she wants.” She laughs.
The screen comes down and people are moving. “Oh no, we were late?”
“No Precious, go ahead and eat. This is just them getting good seats. Ours are reserved.”
My dad sits. “Everyone showed. I don't think Prez expected this many.”
I smile. I'm glad they did. “Maybe it will be seen by more that can make a difference.” He nods smiling at me. When Beth's done eating I clear our plates and move us to the front. All the Officers from the MC and Princes are here. I'm excited they showed.
The lights go down and the board lights up. The reporter shows and tells about the impact in different cities around the US. He follows four military men showing what they live through. I'm holding Beth's hand and running my other down Delta's back. It's not easy watching. The people around the men talk about them not getting services and the help they need. There is nothing good in what I've seen so far.
The reporter is back and tells of hope for PTSD and the way it's perceived and treated. Lily comes on and I look over at her smiling. She explains what we did and how we did it. It's so fuckin’ easy, I'm shaking my head. She's amazing. Beth shows and my eyes swing to hers. She's smiling. She tells of the day of calls she made and the need to stop the suicide rate from rising when the solution is so easy.
They show my speech and statistics. Then they show Prez's meeting room with the table full. Prez talks about the net of friends and family that kept everyone up to date with my problems and progress. Uncle Danny tells about me being honest and talking about everything that was happening. Christian tells about the episode in New York and my dad tells about me bouncing back. I have tears in my eyes and swallow the lump in my throat. “They're incredible,” I whisper. Beth squeezes my hand.
The reporter asks about me going back to work. Darren tells him at first I was watched by Uncle Danny then VP. I smile shaking my head. I had no idea they were watching me. Jessie says he was surprised that I could function normally with all the shit going on, but he asked for help making that decision. The uncles tell of me in the classes and on the HS jobs. We're seeing video of it while they're talking. I laugh. Uncle Steve says nothing is wrong with my job performance.
Prez is back on and explains that all they did was take fifteen or twenty minutes out of their days to check on me. They spent time when I needed it, but for the most part it was just check-ins. They always gave me a positive word and let me handle what I could. They only stepped in when I couldn't.
When I come on I answer his questions and it's basically the same as they said. Everyone laughs when I show him the ChapStick. He asks about the arm band and I explain that Jeremy made them. They show when I leave and Delta follows me out.
Prez comes back on and shows the cost of my care to the Princes and the community. With my normal insurance, I see a therapist that's covered. The support groups are free and run by Jessie and Beth with the Women's Center overseeing them. The actual dollar amount is less than two thousand dollars and that was mostly the hotel room. He says the dog was donated and I buy my own ChapStick. Everyone cracks up.
He s
hows two others in our town and the impact they had then the cost. It's still less than two thousand dollars.
The reporter comes on telling about the other reporter and her causing an episode then we hear Jessie yelling at her and see my body cam shot of them. Shit.
When the reporter is back on he has the numbers on the side of him. “If a group of young bikers can feed the hungry, shelter the homeless and provide support for PTSD and do it economically and effectively—what can the rest of America do?”
He holds up a book with the Princes logo and everyone cheers. “This is how they did it. The book is free. They're telling us how. Go to our website and download it.”
“We tested the program and it’s working here in New York. I'm told it can work anywhere that Badass runs deep.”
The whole room explodes. All I can do is laugh.
Taylor and Beth Blackhawk
10/27/2016
Party Rock Anthem - Taylor, Beth
Never Gonna Be Alone - Beth
Soldiers Lullaby - Mitch
Boys are Back in Town - Zack, Jake, Jamie, Kevin
Back in Black - Ben, Rayne
When I See You Smile - Taylor
Slow Ride - Pres, Tiny, Geek
It’s My Life - Prez to Blackhawks
We Weren’t Born to Follow- Prez, Pres
Paradise City - Kaleb, Jared
Mississippi Queen - Ricky, Chet
For Those About to Rock (We Salute You) - Rayne, Dakota, Zack
Sweet Home Alabama - Aaron, Chet, Hyde
I Love Rock and Roll - Sheila, Amanda
Jump - Brantley, Christian
Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap - Jessie, VP
Waiting for the World to Change - Jess and MC Jess
Born to Be Wild - Aaron, Billy, José
Let’s Ride - Cade, Chris, Lee
My Generation - Pres, Uncle Danny,
High on You - Penny, Tess
Who Says You Can’t Go Home - Jamie, Mitch
Bad Boys - Jess, CJ, Lily
Bad Company - Rich, Bob
Anyway You Want It - Ben, Mitch, Kevin
Fat Bottomed Girls - Jason, Billy, Jose
Raise Your Glass - Sheila
Lady Marmalade - Jess, Lily, Holly, Beth
Hit Me With Your Best Shot - Eliza
Jessie’s Girl - Dakota
Hanging by a Moment - Jax
Fall Into Me - Digs
Someday - CJ, Mase Joey
Slow Ride - Victor, Aaron
Summer of 69 - Bull, Jake
So What - Sheila, Ally, Elizabeth, Aubrey
Two Princes - Jose, Billy
Like a Rock - Rich, Alex
Hall of Fame - Jared, Prez, Kaleb
Higher - Ricky, Lee
Kryptonite - Lily, Jess,
Good Life - Jacob, Christian,
When We Stand Together - Rich, Patches, Bob
I Can’t Drive 55 – Jared, Nick
Calling All Angels - Lily, Mitch
You and Me - Aleena, Chase
Just the Way You Are - Josiah, Sebastian
Mack the Knife - Driscoll
Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door - Lee, Chris
Crash And Burn
Artist: Savage Garden
Album: Affirmation
Genre: Rock
When you feel all alone
And the world has turned it's back on you
Give me a moment please to tame your wild wild heart
I know you feel like the walls are closing in on you
It's hard to find relief and people can be so cold
When darkness is upon your door and
You feel like you can't take anymore
Let me be the one you call
If you jump I'll break your fall
Lift you up and fly away with you into the night
If you need to fall apart
I can mend a broken heart
If you need to crash then crash and burn
You're not alone
When you feel all alone
And a loyal friend is hard to find
You're caught in a one way street
With the monsters in your head
When hopes and dreams are far away and
You feel you can't face the day
Let me be the one you call
If you jump I'll break your fall
Lift you up and fly away with you into the night
If you need to fall apart
I can mend a broken heart
If you need to crash then crash and burn
You're not alone
Because there has always been heartache and pain
And when it's over you'll breathe again
You'll breathe again
When you feel all alone
And the world has turned its back on you
Give me a moment please
To tame your wild wild heart
Let me be the one you call
If you jump I'll break your fall
Lift you up and fly away with you into the night
If you need to fall apart
I can mend a broken heart
If you need to crash then crash and burn
You're not alone
About the Author
L. Ann started with the Baxters and is working on her fourth series, The Protectors. While her books feature ex-SEALs and Badass Bikers, L. Ann is writing about the strong women that these men need in their life to help right the world’s wrongs and help keep their small part of the world safe. The women are extraordinary, strong and determined to make a difference.
The men fight for right in every book. Yes they kill people. Yes they shoot at the bad guy’s feet to cause them pain. Yes they throw tampons at each other regularly.
L. Ann has made the perfect Club, tackled the taboo subjects and made it easy to imagine living in a world where your protection comes from the SEALS and Bikers.
With readers writing about rereading the series over and over, she feels like she's told her characters stories in a way that would make them proud.
Every book will make you laugh, every book will make you angry for the wrong that happens in the world. Every book will make you cry for the pain that a character feels.
Author contact links:
Connect via email: mailto:l_ann_marie@aol.com
Connect with me on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/author.l.annmarie/
and
https://www.facebook.com/lann.marie.3
Check out my website: http://www.lannmarie.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LAnnMarie1
Other books by L. Ann Marie
The Baxters Series
She Found Us: myBook.to/shefoundus1 Free
Our Wife: myBook.to/ourwife2
Our Angel: myBook.to/ourangel3
Jake: myBook.to/jakebook4
Rayne: myBook.to/Raynebook5
.★.═══════.★.═══════.★.═══════.★.
The MC
Knight: http://myBook.to/MC-Knight1 FREE
LaPonte: myBook.to/MC-LaPonte2
LaPonte-Karr: myBook.to/MC-LaPonte-Karr3
Pres: myBook.to/MC-Pres4
Blackhawk: myBook.to/MC_Blackhawk5
Tailley: myBook.to/MC-Tailley6
Callahan: myBook.to/MC-Callahan7
Brighton: myBook.to/MC-Brighton8
Moniz: myBook.to/MC-Moniz9
Behind The Scenes: myBook.to/MC-Series0
.★.══════
═.★.═══════.★.═══════.★.
Stand-alone
Spying Eyes: myBook.to/spying_eyes $.99
.★.═══════.★.═══════.★.═══════.★.
Princes of Prophecy
Book 1: Prophet: myBook.to/prophetbook1 $.99
Book 2: Reader: myBook.to/readerbook2
Book 3: Leader: myBook.to/leaderbook3
Book 4: Enforcer: myBook.to/enforcerbook4
Book 5: Coder: myBook.to/coderbook5
Book 6: Sniper:
.★.═══════.★.═══════.★.═══════.★.