Family, page 9
She looked up, but instead of EMTs or even someone with a decent first aid kit, three police officers rushed in, guns drawn. Snorting she returned to Carina.
~We're back at the house. Cass and JD are staying with the kids. They'll keep them safe. We'll be to you in a minute or two.~
~Kay,~ her response distracted as she finished the assessment on Carina and felt panic bubbling up in her chest. The hard kicks had broken at least three ribs, and from her labored breathing Toni feared at least one or more had punctured her lungs. A huge knot on the back of her head indicated brain injury, while her stomach was ridged and hard to the touch. Only the fact that her legs twitched and she’d been able to release Nam gave Toni hope her back hadn't been badly damaged.
"What is going on here?" someone behind her demanded. Toni ignored them and laid Carina out carefully. The blood bubbling up from her mouth had her throat tight, but she breathed, and her heart was still beating, so anything else she did would make it worse. With no open wounds there wasn't anything Toni could do.
A hand grabbed her left shoulder, pulling her away from Carina. Muscle memory from lessons she'd never learned reacted. She clamped down on the hand with her right hand, rose and spun, driving her elbow into the person's stomach. As her elbow hit, the blue uniform registered but she really didn't care. At some point her claws had receded, so when she decked him it was with just her fist, but she hit him with more power than her body should have held.
His jaw broke in an audible crack that had people gasping. The man buckled and went down in a boneless heap even as the other two cops started yelling at her, their guns drawn.
Rage, fear, frustration all fought for priority in her mind. Grabbing onto her patience, learned after years of being a parent, she looked at them. "Don't touch me. I'm not armed and obviously tending a wounded woman. Get the paramedics here now." Each word came out ice cold.
"Down on your knees, hands in the air. Do it now!" Once of them screamed, even as the other went for their radio calling for two buses.
Toni ignored all of them trying hard not to shift and left the rage and fear out. She dropped to her knees and focused on the girl who was all but a sister to her children. She leaned down and felt her pulse at the base of her neck and moaned. It was getting erratic and her breathing was more labored.
"I told you to get your hands in the air. Get away from that woman." One of the cops still shouted even as people were screaming and cowering. Toni didn't know what she was about to do, but the portal opened behind the cops and McKenna, Perc walked out looking like normal humans. Then Rarz followed them in warrior form, which distracted everyone. Rarz had put on his wings and the effect rocked you back on your heels. Something about him screamed majesty. An effect he hadn't used much around them the last few days. But it pulled all eyes off her.
"I think everyone needs to calm down. Officers, we understand you're doing your job, but no one needs to be shot today." Perc's reasonable tone and huge size had everyone pausing, at least when you could look away from Rarz.
Everyone stood frozen for long heartbeats, when the sound of wheels and running disrupted the tableau.
"What is going on here?" An older man, with short black hair, traces of sliver on the edges, and yellow brown skin came racing in followed by a pair of paramedics with a gurney.
"Finally! Over here. Now!" Toni gestured them to Carina. The cops were all waving their hands and yelling, but Toni tuned them all out and moved out of the way of people. The only chance Carina had.
The man and woman did their own assessment and Toni hated how their faces tightened. With quick efficient moves they slipped Carina onto a back board and got her up on the gurney.
They got the information from Toni. While Carina was too old to need a legal guardian, Toni was listed as her emergency contact and medical power of attorney. Knowing her blood type and being able to provide details of what happened helped.
"Got it. We need to get her into the ER stat," the man said, even as they strapped Carina in. The other paramedic putting in an IV.
"Where are you taking her?"
"ER at Mercy Medical. You coming with us?"
"No. I'll be there shortly though. Might beat you there."
They cast her a look but didn't say anything as they pushed the bed out of the store, their speed telling Toni how serious it was. She followed them with her gaze, then let it go and moved her focus back to the cops and her family.
Another set of paramedics were coming through the door and one of the cops directed them to the cop on the floor. Toni reached for the wave of guilt she expected at hurting someone, hurting a cop. And nothing was there.
Knowing she'd probably be arrested and refusing to feel guilty, she headed over to where it looked like McKenna and the others had calmed things down. Or at least all the guns were holstered, and no one looked ready to shoot anyone.
"That's her. She's the one that decked Jules. Broke his jaw. We heard it break," one of the younger cops, the one who been shouting at her said, though at least it sounded more like a statement than an accusation. That had to be progress.
The older man, a sergeant from his insignia, waved at the paramedics and sent them over to the now moaning police officer. He kept glancing at Rarz, who stood there like a bodyguard—imposing and silent. But he managed to face her and talk to her.
"Can you explain what happened here? And why you hit my officer?"
"He grabbed me. I was tending my -" she hesitated then lied without much compunction, "cousin. Who'd been attacked by multiple men. One of whom I threw off her. When he grabbed me, I reacted. I already had reason to believe people were attacking without provocation." She shrugged. "At that point I didn't care if you shot me, I didn't trust anyone."
He sighed and looked over at the security guard who stood there, still pale, but calmer. "Does that match what you saw?"
"Yes, sir. Though no one expected her to walk out of a shiny swirl in the air. But what those men were doing weren't right, but… " he shrugged in helplessness and Toni wanted to sneer. He outweighed Carina by at least fifty pounds, and he looked like he would have been about four inches taller than her as with heels on she'd barely hit five feet eight inches.
"And the man she attacked?"
"I stopped him from assaulting a woman protecting a child." Toni ground out.
"Protecting an animal," muttered one of the cops.
Toni bristled and felt the jaguar come to the surface again, wanting to lash out, but she didn't have time.
"Look, my cousin is being taken to Mercy. I need to get there now. Am I'm being charged?" she demanded. Toni was done asking for anything. Right now, the only thing that mattered was Carina.
The sergeant looked at all the people involved, the fuming officers, the man being carted away by the EMTs, the people ranting and raving, and then the dragon that had everyone cringing. "Please leave contact information. We may need to talk to you about this."
"Fine." Toni wasted far too long giving her contact info to the surly cop. He grudgingly admitted he didn't need anything more but warned her not to leave the area. She almost, almost, snarked back asking about leaving the planet but kept her mouth shut and turned to Rarz. "Can you take me to Carina now?" Portals were faster, so a portal would get her there before the ambulance and then Toni would figure out how to help the woman who'd always been there for her. A friend, a confidant.
"I'm going too." McKenna said, and Toni just nodded. She didn't care if the whole group came now, but she needed to get in there.
"Rarz, please?" She would beg if it helped, but for now she just asked, ignoring the rest of the world.
"I would take you there gladly, but I do not know where she is." Even in the dragon warrior form he seemed kind. He said these words as if it hurt to tell her this.
"But you've gone to other places?" She felt her control fraying; she should have gone with her. "You found Cass and JD," a note of panic in her voice.
"Yes. I knew them, could talk to them. I do not know Carina, nor is she part of your mind group."
"But the spaceships!" Frantic stress ate at her and she fought her desire to grab him and shake him.
"Were objects above a planet I could sense and almost see. They were independent and distinguished from everything else." His voice calm though his wings twitched in time with her pounding heart.
"Damnit." She fumbled for her phone. Where was Mercy General? And where were they? It took her a moment to figure it out, then it snapped into place. "Take us back to the house. It's closer to Mercy. NOW!" Toni didn't know if she could be any more terrified if her own kids had been in that ambulance. This was Carina. She'd been there since the kids were two. And she had left her alone with strangers. Hurt and maybe dying. Alone. All because of stupid rules and because she had assumed.
Assuming makes an ass of you and me.
The old phrase ran through her head. It didn't help.
Rarz didn't even argue, he just opened the portal. Toni was running through as it finished forming, stumbling into the house. Righting herself she dived for her keys and purse before heading towards the door at a dead run. JD and Cass standing back, worry writ large on their faces.
"Mom? Where's Carina? Mom?" Jessi's wail almost stopped her, but she could talk and drive.
~They had to take her to the hospital. I'm going there now. No, you can't come. I'll let you know what’s happening. I promise.~ The words were said while she slid into the driver's seat and started up the car. Before she could pull out, McKenna and Perc slid in too.
"We aren't letting you go alone." McKenna's voice was fierce, and Toni just nodded as she slammed the car into reverse.
She caught sight of Rarz in her rear-view mirror. He stood in the doorway watching them, a look on his draconian face she couldn't interpret.
~Mom?~ Jamie this time. ~Tell her we love her.~ Worry and grief coated his thoughts.
~I will. She knows.~ That much Toni knew for sure.
The drive there passed in a blur of pushing the laws to the limits and not caring how many she broke. She pulled into the parking lot for the ER. Resenting the time to get her seatbelt off and the car shut off before she took off running towards the sliding doors.
Too long. It took too long to get here. Where is she?
Toni headed to the front desk ignoring everyone and everything else. The nurse in charge there, a large black man looked up at her. He didn't have a chance to say anything before Toni blurted out her question.
"Carina Watkins was brought in, assault victim. I'm her emergency contact. Where is she?"
He pulled back a bit from her, eyes widening as he flicked to behind her. Toni knew it was McKenna and Perc and that meant she didn't need to worry about anything. The man glanced down and looked at his list. "The doctors are with her now. They were asking for you. Consult room 1." He pointed to a small room off to the side. I'll let the doctors know you're here."
The three of them barely fit into the small room. None of them even bothered with the available chairs. McKenna and Perc leaned against the wall letting Toni pace. She needed to move and every second that went by made it worse.
A soft tap at the door and she spun, looking at it as it opened. An older woman, hair going steel grey, skin the color of toast, and eyes that were the same gold brown as McKenna's pelt stepped in, shutting the door behind her. The room which had felt so close and tight before seemed huge, and the space between her and the doctor impossible to cross.
"You are Toni Diaz? Ms. Watkins had your name in her wallet, and you talked to the paramedics on the scene?" Her voice had a soft lilt to it that didn't disguise the sharp intellect or the news that Toni knew was coming.
"Yes," her voice cracked as she said the world and she clenched her fists, feeling sharp claws digging into skin.
"My name is Doctor Saluda. I am sorry to tell you this. Her heart and lungs were punctured multiple times. One rib shattered completely and sent shards into multiple organs. She coded on the way here and the efforts to revive her made the damage worse. I am sorry." Toni heard genuine grief in the words, but it didn't matter. She wanted to scream, to beg. But she'd been here before. This wasn't the place to rage.
Ma-" her throat grabbed the word, ate it and she had to fight to swallow over the arid landscape of her heart. "I'd like to see her." It wasn't a request and apparently the doctor knew it.
"If you'd follow me?" Nothing else was spoken as the woman led them through a busy emergency department to a back room. The efforts they had gone through to try and save her were obvious from the blood and medical detritus on the floor. Toni didn't care. She moved over to the still figure. Carina lay there, her skin with a grey undertone she'd never had in life.
"I am so sorry. This is all my fault. I should have left you with the kids in California. You should have never been here with us. I should have never been here. Damn them, damn them all." The words for all the weight they carried came out as a tender whisper.
Toni brushed the braid off her forehead. "I'll let your mom know you died a hero. She should know you were the bravest and kindest person I've ever known." Everything locked down inside her, Toni leaned over and kissed the still warm forehead.
She longed to take deep cleansing breaths, but the hospital stank of fear, illness, and blood. With a shallow breath Toni turned to the doctor. "I'll provide the information. Can you hold her until I set up the arrangements?"
"Of course." The doctor handed her a small card. "This is the contact for our morgue. They'll help with anything you need. Again, my sympathies."
Toni nodded absently took the card and headed out, away from the chaos and points of failure. McKenna reached out and gently took the keys from her hands.
"I'll drive."
Toni didn't even bother to fight, just sat down in the passenger seat and shut down. This she refused to tell the kids via Speech. She would damn well be hugging them when she told them.
The silence in the car didn't feel heavy or fragile, it felt supportive. Her family would be there for her and they would help. In the end that was all that mattered.
Walking into the house everyone there turned to look at her. She didn't have to say a word.
"NO!" Jessi and Jamie collapsed in tears and Toni pulled them to her cradling her children as death impacted them in a way their father’s never could have. Before long she was in a pile of kids and they cried over the loss of a woman they loved.
I'll make it right, Carina. I swear. I'll not let your sacrifice be in vain. They will regret taking you from us.
12
Goodbyes
The newest twist of viral imagery after the invasion has appeared. A lizard-like being, with wings that call forth mythological dragons was taped at the scene of another Shifter-centered attack. Even the people around are obviously scared of this being. Here you can see him cowing cops at the scene. Reports are that the woman who threw one of our citizens across the store won't be facing charges. Are officials being lax on Shifters now? The last thing we need is special treatment to a group that already has so many advantages. ~ Harvey Klein Talk Show
* * *
"Toni?" The quavering voice had Toni turning and opening her arms wide.
"Mama Watkins," she murmured even as she pulled the older woman into a tight hug. With long braids like her grand-daughter’s, Marissa Watkins held Toni tight.
After a lifetime of grief, she pulled back and looked Ton straight in the eye. "My daughter is a bit upset at you. But I know you loved Carina like you loved your own children. She will come around, eventually. My Lorina holds a grudge like some people hold secrets. But come, tell me how my grand-daughter died."
"With honor and protecting a child," Toni assured her then guided the older woman to a couch and began to explain the entire story. She explained about the dragons, the ship, and how instrumental Carina had been in making sure they could focus on trying to do what they could. "And I should never have let her go. I didn't realize the atmosphere had become deadly. I swear."
"Now you stop it. You didn't attack her. You didn't even put her in danger. She took two little girls shopping. That should never be a crime. But thank you for bringing her home and letting her friends fly out here." Marissa's voice held compassion and Toni hugged her again. In her lifetime the elder Watkins had buried a husband, a son, two, now three grandchildren, and one brother. She knew about loss.
"Thank the government. They owe us a bit, so they arranged all the flights and paid for her cremation." Toni sniffed, wiping her eyes from the tears welling there.
"Politicians doing something worth offering thanks for?" Marissa cast her a skeptical glance.
Toni choked back a laugh. "Maybe not the elected ones. These were the ones we had worked with. They made sure it was done."
"Then pass my thanks on to them. Now, let's go say goodbye to my granddaughter. The hero."
"That she was," Toni whispered as they stood and joined the others. All of them had come, dressed in nice clothes. Even Rarz had a suit made that met funeral protocol. Christopher was there as a representative of the others. He and Burby had made sure all the charges against Toni had been dropped and manslaughter charged against the three men. After that she blocked out all the discussions focusing only on this funeral and her kids. Calling Marissa and Lorina had been the hardest thing she'd ever done, but she wouldn't let anyone else make the call. Carina had been her responsibility.
It had been decided Christopher would come with them, and he hovered, trying to keep tabs on everything. The news had blown the story up. Some channels painting Toni as a vicious monster, others as a protective mother. Either way, they wanted comments and pictures, and Toni had started to feel hunted. Something that drove the cat side of her slightly crazy.
They had hoped moving the funeral to Texas, mainly for Carina's family, would help to deter people from causing a fuss. It hadn't worked.
Leaving Mama Watkins talking to Carina’s friends that had come out for the funeral, Toni went to check on Rarz. Partially to make sure he was okay, but mostly to avoid Lorina. She knew Carina's mom wanted to start a fight, wanted to lash out at the only people she could. Toni really didn't want that to happen, but she understood Lorina's rage and grief. All too well.
