Author's note: See end of story, but no peeking until you read through it okay?
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Max Connor was dead. The thought ran through Harley's mind as he sat back in the chair beside the hospital bed and watched Keni sleep. Max was dead and now all he had to worry about was the woman who lay sleeping beside him. It had been three weeks that she had lain here, wired to all kinds of machines and little more then a sleeping child.
No one knew what had happened in that cabin except her, and to be honest, no one really cared. Even the FBI had the attitude that the case was closed. He was glad that everyone felt that way, because he sure didn't. He wouldn't feel like it was over until she woke up and told him she loved him. God, he wanted her to wake up in the worse way, he missed her something awful. Nothing else mattered to him but having her back as she had been. Smiling, laughing, loving him.
"I talked to your mom today, her and your dad are doing okay, they'll be back in a week or so, after they take care of the house and do the things they want to do. Janie figures they can move into the old Harrison place around the middle of March, that's when the repairs will be done. And our place is all ready, just waiting for you to come home."
He talked as if she could hear him, which the doctor's said she might. It was hard to tell, because except for her sleeping her body was just going on like it did when she was awake. A guy from the FBI said she was probably suffering from PTSS. Some kind of Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome. He had heard of it, it was what the soldiers suffered when they came home from war.
"I'm hoping you can hear me baby, because if you can I want you to know how bad I want you to wake up and come back to me. I don't care what happened in that cabin, all I care about is having my Keni back. I can't handle much out here without you. I know you said I was strong, but I'm not, I am the weakest man in the world without you baby, you and our Kenley. Janie and mom said that was a funny name for a girl but I think it's beautiful. Kenley, both our names, because she's both of us." Reaching out, he ran his hand over her stomach. "Doctors said the baby is fine, growing just the way she should be. We were all pretty worried when he took you out of the church, but then we found where you were, and I knew you were alive. That was and is all I care about baby. Just the idea that you and the baby are okay."
He felt the tears running down his cheeks and a soft whisper caught his ears. "You always do talk too much Harley, I'd much rather you play Prince Charming and kiss me awake." Keni gave a soft giggle. "Think you can manage that?"
Harley grinned. "That and a whole lot more babe." He almost jumped from the chair to the bed and bent his head to kiss her gently. "How long you been awake?"
"I been drifting in and out for a while. How long has it been since...?" She stopped and swallowed hard. "Since he died?"
"Three weeks, doctors think you went into some kind of shock. You were pretty beat up, and all..." He still felt anger over the bruises and abuse she had suffered at Max's hands. "Its' all over and done with, as far as the FBI and everyone is concerned, the case is closed."
She looked surprised at that. "But it's not, aren't I going to jail or something?"
Harley grinned. "Why baby, why would you ask that?"
A far away look entered her eyes. "I killed him Harley, I shot him and left him for dead in a burning cabin."
Harley felt surprised but relieved too. "No one cares how he died Keni, only that he's dead. I think if people knew that you had been the one to shoot him, you'd probably get a medal." It was true, and he had a good idea that the rest of the world suspected the truth as it was. It had been her 9mm that was found in the remains of the fire, and while it had been in his hand, and the evidence all pointed to suicide, there were probably few who believed it.
Her face took on a relaxed demeanor. "Then it is over..." She began to cry and Harley held her close until long after the tears had stopped. "I was so scared Harley, so damn scared. He kept telling me he was going to kill me, kill our baby. He made me beg for it's life. All I could think was that he had to die, he had to be put down like a rabid dog."
"Hey, it's done and over, we can go home now, you married me before all of it came down remember?" The small wedding in the small church in town had been just what they wanted. He didn't remember a lot of it because all he had seen was his woman in a dress that made her look like an angel.
She nodded. "Hell of a way to start a honeymoon huh?" Looking around the room, she sighed. "How soon can you get me the hell out of here?"
A chuckle from the doorway made them both look up. "Just as soon as your tests come back and we know you and the baby are okay." The Oklahoma City doctor grinned at them. "You've been taking up bed space we can use, but that was one hell of a long nap." He walked over to the bed and held out his hand to both her and Harley. "Glad to see you Keni, and glad to tell you that except for the few bruises and bumps that man gave you, you're fine."
Keni nodded. "So how long before I can go home?"
"Give me a couple hours. Meantime, you must be hungry. Both of you..." He cast a glance in Harley's direction.
Harley saw his wife look at him as well, and saw the worry in her eyes. Running his hand over her face, he shook his head. "Yell at me later babe, right now I am just glad as hell you're awake."
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Keni nodded. She was too, but she didn't like how exhausted Harley looked. He was pale and haggard through the face, and he looked as if he hadn't slept in days. "How long you been here babe?"