Loving Lacey

***All characters involved in sexual activity are depicted as being over the age of 18***

Early October

Year 5 of Us

Thursday

I got out of the car and went over to Lacey's side. After I opened it, and helped her out, she smiled at me. "You're such a gentleman, my love."

I was warmed by her smile, as always. "I try to be with you and the others." I looked at her after I closed the door. "Nicholas Sparks wrote: You are my best friend as well as my lover, & I do not know which side of you I enjoy the most. I treasure each side, just as I have treasured our life together."

"Oh, Wyatt!" She grabbed me and gave me a hard hug. I looked down and saw a tear in her eye. I wiped it away gently.

"Why the tear?"

"You surprise me sometimes, and I shouldn't be. I know that you're strong, tough, and perhaps the most gentle soul I've ever known." She looked up. "Oh!" Her hand reached to my eye, and wiped away a tear. "See?" She smiled and raised up, wanting a kiss.

I kissed her gently, then she gripped my hair with a hand and held my face to hers as her tongue pressed into my mouth. She moaned, and so did I. I held her for a while, before she finally broke our kiss.

She smiled at me again, then released me. "We have a couple of places to go, mister"

"Oh?"

"Yes. I have packages at the post office, and I want to go to the cooking store."

"Why the cooking store?"

"Kim has a new set of knives she thinks we could use."

I laughed. "You like getting stuff for the kitchen!"

"Our kitchen, mister man, and yes, I do." She giggled, then took my left hand. "Post Office first. It's closer because we're going to need take things back to the car."

"Yes, Beloved," I grinned. She laughed, then led me to the street. We looked for traffic, then started across.

There were shouts, a scream, then several loud pops -- shots. Lacey cried out, then I was pulling her to the street, trying to cover her with my body. She was sobbing, then there were several more pops, followed by two, much louder, shots. I felt something strike my left shoulder, but I was more concerned with Lacey. I heard sirens in the distance as I risked a look, my right hand on the pistol at my hip.

"Wyatt!" Lacey cried. "Something hit me!"

I got to one knee, then looked at her. Her left upper arm was red, and my heart plunged. I scooped her into my arms, then scurried over to the car. I opened the hatch, then set her just inside it, her left arm close to me.

I took her chin into my hand and looked into her eyes. "Lacey. I'm going to pull your jacket down. I need to check your arm." She looked at me with glazed eyes. "Okay? I'm gonna pull your jacket down. It may hurt, and I'm so terribly sorry." She nodded slowly as someone ran up to the car.

I partially turned, my hand on my pistol as I tried to get between Lacey and whoever it was.

"Easy, Wyatt, easy!" I recognized Kyle Vinson's voice as I saw his badge, then relaxed a bit. "You guys okay?"

"Lacey's hurt," I muttered as I reached over to pull the first aid kit to us.

"Damn." He stepped away from us and I heard him talking on his radio. "You two are the next in order for an ambulance."

I nodded as I examined the wound in Lacey's upper arm. "It's a through and through wound, that doesn't seem to have hit the bone," I was talking for Kyle and Lacey. I wiped it down with a betadine patch, then began to wrap it. "She's bleeding steadily, and I hope that this bandage will stop it." I wrapped the wound with the entire roll of bandage.

"Why are you doing that?" Kyle asked as Lacey looked at me.

"Might as well." I looked into Lacey's eyes. "She's getting shocky, Kyle. Put that space blanket around her shoulders and wrap it over her. Stay with me, my princess, please."

Kyle did as I asked while I used my left hand to put pressure onto the wound through the bandage. "Where's that...?" I started as an ambulance stopped right beside us, the EMT's hurried out. One of them started asking questions, but I cut him off, giving all the information that I had.

His name tag read "Lewis", and he looked at me, nodded, then gestured to his partner. "Sit her up on the gurney!" He turned to me, then looked at Lacey. "Are you trying to reduce her blood loss with your *hand*?"

"Yes, I am." I looked at him, and he just nodded.

"Can you turn and set her onto the gurney?"

"Not if I want to keep pressure on the wound." I looked at the EMTs and Kyle. "Lower the back of the gurney and push it into the bumper." I looked at Lacey. "Take her under her legs and we can shift her onto the gurney."

"Sounds good." Lewis turned to his partner. "Do it!"

"Wyatt, I'm cold," Lacey muttered.

"I know, Beloved. We're going to get you on the gurney, then into the ambulance." I grinned at her. "At least we're closer to the hospital this time."

That got a wan smile from her.

"This time, sir?"

Kyle spoke up. "The last time they had to make a run to the ER, they were about twenty miles further out."

"Has she been shot before?!" Lewis' voice went a little high.

"No, I got my leg ripped up. Okay, let's lift her... And now, onto the gurney."

Once we had Lacey safely on the gurney and moving to the ambulance, Kyle spoke to me, very softly, "You need to get in, too, Wyatt. You're bleeding."

"No, that's her blood."

"On the back of your left shoulder?"

"What?"

"Take a breath. You're going to ride in with her, keeping her calm, okay?"

I nodded, then once Lacey was in the ambulance, Lewis tugged my coat down. "Yeah, you need to go in, too. There's blood but not much." He ran a hand over my shoulder, and I winced. "Found it. We'll cover it and then let the docs figure it out."

I nodded and climbed in, sitting right next to Lacey's head. Lewis whispered to his partner, who nodded, then hurried around to get behind the wheel.

"Wyatt?"

"Yes, love?"

I had my right hand on her left shoulder. "Are you okay?"

"Yes, I am. I'm torn, though."

"Torn?"

"Yes, I want to hunt down whoever shot you and end them. I also want to stay with you to make sure you're okay." I guess I was intense, because Lewis looked at me, concern on his face.

"Stay with me, love. Please?" Lacey's voice was shaky as the ambulance pulled out.

"Always, Beloved, always."

She rested her head on my hand. "Wyatt?"

"Yes, baby?"

"My blouse?"

"Your blouse is pretty messed up."

"You got me this blouse."

"I know. I'll get you another one or three." I could feel her smile on the back of my hand. "I'm afraid to say that your jacket is shot, though."

That earned me a giggle, then she giggled again. I looked at Lewis. "Anything added to the I.V.?" I nodded to the bag hanging from the hook at the head of the gurney.

He nodded, then looked at my left hand, then handed me some paper towels. "You might want to try to get some of that off."

I looked down, seeing blood on the back of my hand. When I turned it over, my palm was completely covered by it. "I need my hand for a moment, Lacey," I said as I gently pulled my right hand from under her cheek.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong. I just need to get some blood off my hand."

"Oh. Okay."

Lewis handed me a couple of wet wipes, so I used them and the paper towels to get some of the blood off. When I finished, I put my right hand back on Lacey's shoulder. She murmured, then placed her cheek on it again.

A few minutes later, we stopped, then began to back up. "We're here, love. They're going to take you in without me."

"What?!"

"It's okay, really." I gently squeezed her shoulder as the doors swung open. "I'll be nearby. I love you."

"I love you, too," then they had her out of the ambulance and through the doors into the E.R. Lewis looked at me before he waved at a nurse. He spoke to her, she stared at me, then called for a wheelchair.

"I don't need a chair, Livvy."

She just snorted. "Yes, you do, Mr. Roy. You're very pale, and there's blood all over you!" I moved to the doors, then Lewis and Livvy helped me out.

"Most of this isn't *my* blood. I got it from Lacey after she was shot." I straightened up and the world spun, with Livvy and Lewis holding me until there was a wheelchair behind me. Once I was seated, she poked at my left clavicle. "Is that her blood?"

"Maybe not," I nodded.

She leaned closer. "Your friends know how tough you are, Wyatt, so there's no need to act that way. Okay?"

I nodded again, then they pushed me through the doors. "I need to call home!" I tried to dig my phone out of my pocket, but Livvy stopped me as I winced.

"It's okay, Wyatt. Kyle Vinson is taking of things." I was wheeled into a treatment area, then helped onto the bed. Lewis waved to me, then left. "So, what the hell happened?"

"The shooting in town?" Livvy nodded. "I don't know exactly. I heard a shot, Lacey got hit, I dragged her to the ground, and tried to keep my body between her and the shooter."

Livvy was helping me take my coat off, then we tried to pull my shirt off. That hurt too much, so she just cut it off. As I sat there, I started to hurt, and I still felt dizzy.

"I need you take your pistol off your belt. I'll call security to send someone." She looked at me, and I knew that she was checking my reactions. "They'll give you a receipt and lock it away."

"Okay."

I spent quite a while there, being examined by a doctor, getting my own I.V. started, and when they took me to the X-ray room, they were just wheeling Lacey. They stopped long enough for use to touch hands, then they took her away. "I love you, my Princess!" I called as I went in to get X-rays.

When I got back to the treatment room, Cathy and Mir were waiting for me. They both had terrified expressions on their faces. "I think that I'll live," I said as they started to move.

"Wait," said Livvy. "Let's get him back on the bed. Careful of the I.V." Once I was settled on the bed, she stepped back. "The doctor'll be in to see you in as few minutes."

Before she went through the opening in the curtain, I asked, "Livvy, where's Lacey?"

She smiled at me and pointed to my left. "Right next to you."

"So, that's where Erica and them went," said Mir.

"Who else is with her?"

The curtain slid back, and Travis looked through. "Me and Betty. Willi, Roni, and Toni are with the kids in the cafeteria. My folks are coming over to help."

"Lacey?"

"Yes, my cowboy?"

"I love you... and I'm sorry."

"For what, sweetheart?"

"That I couldn't protect you better."

"Oh, Wyatt... None of this is your fault. Besides, you did protect me." Her voice was loving, and it made me smile.

The curtain slid open, and a doctor walked in. "Mr. Roy? I'm Doctor Yun." He looked at the ladies. "You have two small objects in your shoulder. They're very close to the surface, and we might be able to remove them without major surgery. Are you willing to do it this way?"

I nodded as another nurse moved into the space, pushing a tray table. "Ladies, if you'll excuse us, please?"

Cathy and Mir gave me a kiss, then left. They dropped the bed back until I was nearly horizontal. There was stuff going on that I couldn't see, then Dr. Yun said, "I'm going to numb you, so you might feel a little stab." I didn't feel anything, but a few minutes later, he asked, "Do you feel that?"

"A little push feeling, but that's it."

"Good. This shouldn't take long, they're so close to the surface..." I heard a metal-on-metal sound, then a second one. He raised his voice a bit. "Officer Farrier?"

I heard the curtain open, then a new voice spoke. "Yes?"

"Here they are. Two fragments, one larger than the other."

"Thanks." There was movement, but I spoke up.

"Hey, Farrier?"

"Yeah?"

"They catch the shooter?"

"Yeah."

"Okay, thanks."

"You're welcome, Mr. Roy."

I laid my head back. "That's a relief."

"What is, Mr. Roy?" Dr. Yun asked.

"The shooter was arrested. That means I can keep a promise to my Beloved. I'll stay

with her instead of hunting him down."

There was silence, then Dr. Yun spoke again. "Okay, I'm going to give you a couple of stitches at one wound, and some tape over the over." He worked for a bit, then, "I'm done. Keep the wounds dry for a couple of days. Take some over the counter pain reliever. Come back if you get a prolonged fever, or start to bleed."

"Okay, Doctor Yun. Thank you."

"You're welcome, Mr. Roy," he said before he left.

Livvy came in as the other nurse left. "You up for company?"

"Yeah." As Livvy helped me sit up, the curtain opened and there she was. A little pale, with a different blouse on, but her smile was a bolt of electricity into my heart. The wheelchair was being pushed by Travis, with everyone else crowding in behind.

Livvy laughed a little. "Give me a few minutes, Lacey, and I'll get him cleaned up enough to hug."

"That's fine, Livvy." She smiled again. "I can see him, so my heart is better."

"How are you, my Princess?"

She raised her left arm, showing off the clean wrapping around her upper arm.

Livvy continued cleaning me, using wipes to get most of the blood off my skin. She repeated the doctor's instructions to keep our wounds dry for at least two days before stepping back. "I'll be back with a chair for you, Mr. Roy, and your discharge paperwork."

"Okay."

She stopped and looked at all of us. "Someone needs to help him stand, if that's what he wants to do."

Lacey started to giggle, and all of the ladies joined in.

"I think she knows you, Wyatt," Cathy smiled at me.

I looked around and found my jacket. "I may need some help getting this on," I said.

"You are not putting that bloody thing on, Mister Man. Especially if you want a hug from me!" Lacey was firm.

"Nor from any of us," added Erica as the others nodded. There were some slight smiles, but they all seemed pretty serious about me wearing that jacket.

"Well, then," I looked at Lacey, then at Erica. "What do you suggest I wear? My shirt had to be cut off."

Cathy licked her lips. "You could just strut around like that!" which caused the five women to laugh and nod their agreement.

Erica saved me, though. "Travis, you're a little bigger than Wyatt. Would you let him wear your jacket, until we get them home?"

"Of course," he grinned at me as he shrugged his jacket off, then handed it to me.

"Thanks, amigo!"

He just nodded as Cathy stepped forward and helped me into the jacket. Since Travis was six inches taller, with wider shoulders, the jacket was big, but at least it rested comfortably over my shoulder. I looked at Lacey, and realized that she was wearing someone else's blouse.

I knelt beside her to give her a hug, then I looked at her. "So, whose blouse are you wearing?"

Lacey giggled. "Cathy's." I realized that Cathy was wearing her coat closed.

She smiled at me and gave me a wink. "The lining feels nice on my skin."

I grinned as Livvy returned with an orderly, a wheelchair, and a sheaf of papers in her hand. "We need a few signatures, Mr. Roy, then you can go."

"I need to make a stop at Security before we leave."

Betty looked at me. "Why?"

"He needs to retrieve his pistol," Lacey said. "I heard it through the curtain." She smiled, then leaned forward and whispered, "Nobody took mine."

I simply grinned as I signed where I needed to sign, then Livvy sighed, shook her head, then left.

I retrieved my pistol, then we headed out. As we got to the exit, Kyle Vinson walked up. "Someone can get your car, Wyatt. The detectives are through with it and they're cleaning up the scene." He smiled at Lacey. "I'm glad that all you got out of it was that wrapped bandage, Lacey."

"I am, too," she smiled at him. "So, what happened?"

Kyle frowned. "Some punk tried to rob Kim's Kook Shop."

"Kim's!"

He nodded. "She handed over what cash she had, but as the guy came out, he ran into Mitchell Watkins."

"The retired Chief of Police?"

Kyle nodded, again. "The kid dropped the bag with the money, pulled a gun on Mitch and opened fire. He hit Mitch, there was an exchange of fire, including the bullet that hit Lacey and the one or two bouncers that hit you, Wyatt."

I looked at him before he continued, "From the videos, witnesses, and the angle of fire, the kid was the one that fired those shots." He shook his head. "He'll live, and he's facing some serious charges." He smiled. "Well, I'll let you get back home."

After we reached the van, we met with the kids and those folks who had been with the kids. Duncan and Sam needed lots of hugs and reassurances that Lacey and I were alright. I gave Jean a big hug, getting a few giggles from her.

Roni took my car fob, as Travis and Erica would drop her off to pick up the car. After getting all the kids into their seats, Lacey and I sat in the middle while Mir drove us home. Duncan and Sam chatted with us the entire drive, shifting from excited to scared, and back. Lacey and I tried very hard to reassure them both that things were fine.

I think that they both remembered when Tina had broken her arm. "Duncan?"

"Dada?"

"Are you scared?"

He looked from me to Lacey, then nodded. She reached over and gently patted his thighs. "It's okay, my baby boy." She smiled gently at him. "Mama has an ouchie on my arm. See?" She showed him her bandage. He nodded.

"Mama Catty and Mama Miryam were scared," said Sam.

"I was not!" Cathy sang, in a goofy voice.

"Yes you were!" Sam sang, with a big grin on her face.

Cathy turned as far as she could in the front seat, and struck her tongue out at Sam.

This caused Sam to laugh, which made Duncan laugh, followed by Jean. Haley and Olivia were sound asleep, so they just moved a bit in their car seats.

"Okay," Lacey said, giggling, "now that everybody feels better..." She looked at Sam. "You do feel better, don't you?" Sam nodded, then Duncan did, too. "Good! So, Daddy and I got hurt, but we're going to be okay. I have this ouchie, and Daddy has one on the top of his shoulder." She looked at them. "I'm going to ask that you both be gentle with our ouchie spots. Will you try?" They both gave her small nods.

"Good. As soon as we get home, I'm going to give both of my babies big hugs, and then we're going to cuddle with Daddy on the couch."

They both smiled. "I want cuddles!" Sam said.

"Me, too," added Duncan.

"Well, that's good," I said, "because I want cuddles with everyone!"

"Before cuddles, though, cowboy," Lacey said, "we need to get you into a clean shirt so that Travis can get his jacket back."

"I'll run up and grab a clean one for him once we get home," offered Willi from the far back.

"Thanks, Willi!" I said as the van turned into the drive. There was a car horn beep from behind us, and Willi laughed.

"Roni's behind us, and it looks like Erica is behind her."

I thought about it as the garage door rolled up, then nodded. "Makes sense."

"What does, love?"

"Different directions, but about the same distance."

"For what?"

"Us, from the hospital to home. Them, from the hospital, into town, then home."

Cathy laughed Mir brought us to a stop. "You've never ridden with Roni, have you?"

"I don't think so. Why?"

"Lead foot. She was probably hoping to be here first."

"Ah." I grinned.

Once everyone was inside, true to her word, Willi dashed upstairs while we were greeting all the dogs. LB and Sherlock sniffed at Duncan and Sam, while Princess got to check on Jean. I lowered Haley down enough so that Charlie could sniff her and Mir did the same with Olivia and Teddy. Both babies and dogs seemed happy, which made me happy.

"Take off that jacket, mister," Lacey said with a gentle smile. "I want to see if it needs to be cleaned before we give it back to Travis."

"That really isn't necessary, Lacey," Travis said from behind her. I saw her smile before she turned to face him.