Okay.
I mean it.
I realize that. She looked at the river which had formerly been Third Avenue. The waters only a foot or so, right? No swimming required.
Hate to disagree, but six inches of moving water can carry you away if theres a current, and there does appear to be a good one.
I wont slip. I might not swim like a fish but I have good balance and Im in decent shape. Shed be in better shape if she liked exercising, but there was no need to point that out.
He was looking at her, his gray eyes revealing frustration, and fear.
For her.
In her world, she was the one in charge, the one with the answers, and all the worry and stress: at work, at home, everywhere. How long had it been since someone had acted with her safety and well-being in mind?
He was looking at her, his gray eyes revealing frustration, and fear.
For her.
In her world, she was the one in charge, the one with the answers, and all the worry and stress: at work, at home, everywhere. How long had it been since someone had acted with her safety and well-being in mind?
Long enough that she couldnt remember.
That water is really moving, he said. So were going to walk a little farther down to find a better place to cross.
If Ceces in labor-
She told you she wasnt. But even if thats changed, youve no doubt delivered babies, right? And so have I.
You have?
Two of them, actually. One in Katrina, one in Puerto Rico. Well figure it out, Lizzy.
His confidence was oddly compelling and, even better, contagious. Once again, they took each others hand and kept moving.
A QUARTER OF A MILE LATER, Jason stopped Lizzy, his gut tightening hard. They stood at another intersection facing a waterfall caused by a dam of debris more than fifteen feet high, blocking the street. Water poured over the fallen trees, house pilings, furniture, and a myriad of other crud, rushing onto Third Avenue in a crazy whirlpool, making the current hard and fast.
Deadly.
In the Guards, when he protected and served, it was for strangers, not someone embedded into his heart.
And she was embedded, crazy as that was. Once upon a time, itd taken his job to make him feel alive, and now it was Lizzy doing that-Lizzy who was now in danger.
Oh my God, she murmured at his side, clearly shocked.
Not here. We cant cross here. We keep going.
She didnt argue.
It was another half mile before the water slowed marginally. Better, he said grimly, knowing it was only slightly better, that theyd still have to backtrack to get to the condos, but his concern was the fact that things were deteriorating across the board, and deteriorating fast. He looked at Lizzy and wished like hell shed stayed in the Jeep.
Dont even think it, she said. I wouldnt have stayed.
So you reading minds now?
Yeah, well. She grabbed his hand, put it over her heart and looked into his eyes. Youre pretty transparent at the moment. Listen to me, Jason. Im not going to get hurt.
What about drown? Are you going to drown?
She eyed the water. I can do this.
Counting on it.
They waded in together, him using all of his will-power not to grab a hold of her and never let go. At his side, she sucked in a harsh breath but didnt complain. And it was that, he thought, that one thing among many which told him this was somehow going to be okay. She wasnt soft, except for where it counted. She was tough as hell, and also, incidentally, giving him a much needed kick in the ass.
Not to mention the heart.
Debris floated in the current around them. Wood, car parts, a whole variety of things, weaving and bobbing and threatening their safety. But they were managing, and doing okay, when suddenly Lizzy gasped and pointed.
Coming right at them was an old metal fishing boat, sans engine, looking as if itd seen better days. Packed in it like sardines were four men, two women and several teens. Two of the men were rowing, with the guy in the back yelling directions. Right, Lenny! Right! Jesus, your other right! When he caught sight of Jason and Lizzy, he cupped his hands around his mouth and yelled, You two need help?
The small boat wasnt meant for more than two, three people max. It was straining, seeming wobbly and unsteady in the relatively shallow water. Even if they found Cece in her condo just down the street, there was no way they could fit a nine-months-pregnant woman in that boat. Were good, he told them, waving them on.
It wasnt steady enough, he told a silent Lizzy. If shes there, well find another way to get her out-Oh, shit. He lunged after the metal boat as it headed nose-first toward the huge steel traffic light on the corner. He could hear the shocked screams of some of the occupants, including the guy still yelling, Right, Lenny! Right-
But he couldnt catch it in time. The boat hit the pole and people went flying.
Jason shoved Lizzy the rest of the way across the street, then headed for the closest two splashes, managing to snag a woman in his right hand and a teenage boy in his left before they were washed downstream. You okay?
They both stood up, gasping and coughing but nodding. Jason waited until they had their feet beneath them to let go, then turned to the others.
The guy doing the yelling had caught the boat. Everyone else scrambled back into it, still griping at one another.
Jason helped them hold it steady while the woman and her son got back in. Take it easy on the steering, he said.
We will, thank you. The woman reached out to squeeze his hand. Youre an angel.
No. He wasnt. Because he didnt catch them allAnd as he thought of Matt, and all the people he hadnt managed to save over the years, he locked eyes with Lizzy, who was holding on to a sidewalk parking post, watching him as if he was a superhero.
Too bad he was nothing close.
Yeah, he had training in survival and rescue, but that was pretty much his only claim to fame. The rest of life-the emotions, the heart, the real stuffever since Matts death, itd all eluded him.
Lizzy sent him a half smile, clearly worried, leaving him no doubt that she felt real affection for him. And when he touched and kissed her, that affection smoked and burst into a heat neither of them seemed able to resist. Just looking at her caught something deep in his chest.
Yeah. Most definitely feeling again, which was something he could think about later, after hed figured out what the hell he was going to do with himself. Leaveor stay. Leaving was easy. But for the first time in recent memory he wanted to stay right where he was. Wanted to fit in right here
He headed toward her and her expression warmed further, and hell if that didnt do something to his insides, as well, telling him that leaving might not be the easy thing after all. You okay?
Yes, I-Jason, watch out-
Thats the last thing he heard before he was plowed over by something hard and unforgiving. Before he could process anything except maybe fuck and then ouch, he was underwater and down for the count.
8
JASON. HEART in her throat, Lizzy leaped into the water toward where the fishing boat had run him over. Jason!
The occupants of the boat were an elderly couple who had no more control of the vessel than they had of the weather. The woman was staring at the water where Jason had gone down. Oh, dear! she cried, slapping her hands to her cheeks.
Jason didnt surface. Lizzy swam like hell toward where shed seen him go down.
So sorry, honey. I cant seem to steer like I used to, the man called out, dropping his oar and leaning over the edge to look for Jason.
Which was little to no help as his boat kept floating away. Do you see him? he called back. Anywhere?
No, I-
Just then, Jason surged out of the water, shook his head and whipped around to look at the boat that had just hit him. What the hell?
They cant steer like they used to, Lizzy repeated, swallowing her half-hysterical laugh as she grabbed him. Are you okay?
They cant steer like they used to, Lizzy repeated, swallowing her half-hysterical laugh as she grabbed him. Are you okay?
Im fine. His eyes narrowed on the boat as it continued its merry path down Third, mostly because neither of the occupants could stop it. Theyre going to kill someone.
It hadnt been him. Thats all Lizzy could think. It hadnt been him. Youre not okay. Her heart took a hard hit at the gash on his forehead. She slipped her arms around him to hold him upright, even though he was as steady as a rock. It was her legs shaking like a bowl of Jell-O. Come on, come here.
They waded through the water to the far side of the street. On the corner was a park. Or had been. With the rain battering the virtual sea around them, they headed straight to what looked like a wooden lean-to.
It was really a playground set, half-covered by water. They sat on what turned out to be the middle level of the jungle gym, using it as a shelter to get out of the driving rain for a minute.
Lizzy looked around the three-foot-by-three-foot area. Shed give her last penny for a space heater and dry clothes.
You must be cooked, Jason said. No sleep last night, literally running in this storm all day
Im okay. She slipped her backpack off and opened it, pulling out her first-aid kit.
Im fine, Lizzy.
I know it. She lifted the gauze shed opened and scooted closer. He was sitting, leaning against the back wall, one leg straight out in front of him, the other bent, his elbow propped on it, hand holding his head, eyes closed.
Let me see, she said.
He dropped his hand and set his head back. She kneeled at his side and pressed the gauze to his cut, applying pressure to stop the bleeding.
He sucked in a breath but said nothing.
I dont think you need stitches, she murmured.
No, I dont.
She looked at his face. His eyes were still closed and he looked pale to her. A muscle in his jaw ticked, and her heart sank. He was in great pain. Open your eyes.
He did, flashing the gray depths at her.
Not concussed, I dont think, she decided, relieved to find his pupils normal and reactive. But we should get an X-ray just in case.
Your nurse is showing.
It wasnt pain getting to him, she realized. He was pissed, and she stared at him as it sank in. Youre upset that you got taken down by that boat.
Hell, yeah. They were older than dirt and couldnt get out of their own way.