Rosy
I glance towards the doorway as Wade walks into the room followed by Micah, Sam and Mitchell. All of them have sober expressions on their faces. The sounds of joking and laughter that usually fill the quarters soon fade away, leaving only the faint sounds of the toms moving expectantly.
"We just got some important news," Micah says, "I'll let Wade tell everyone since he took the call."
"Everyone take a seat," Wade says levelly and all obey even Marissa.
Micah, Mitchell and Sam move to stand among other toms and I glance their way with uneasy curiosity.
"That was Stephan Willoughby ... Steven, Mikkarl, straight out ... Celeste and Andy are still alive and should recover." Wade says firmly.
"What's happened?" Steven demands getting to his feet and I glance his way slightly alarmed. Micah has him by the upper arm either restraining him or steadying him I can't tell which. I glance at Mikkarl and see Mitchell by his side as Mikkarl leans forward with a strained look on his face.
"As you know Andy is visiting your parents for a few days with Celeste turning eighteen. There was a car accident, the car Andy and Celeste were in blew a tyre and went off the road rolling several times. Lucky for them Conner and Kell were right behind them and were able to get them out of the car." Wade explains.
"How bad are they hurt?" Steven breaks in urgently.
"Both have broken bones, bruising and Celeste has some deep lacerations and a concussion but she should totally recover. Andy might have a limp or limited use of one leg but he is alive ..." Wade stresses and stops to take a deep breath. "Kell was turning the engine in the rolled car off when it went up in flames ..."
"No," Kirby yells and I look his way uneasily but Sam and Malcolm have a hold on him and are trying to calm him down.
"Conner?" Timny asks worriedly.
"He managed to pull Kell out of the car. Both are burnt ... Kell real bad, Conner all up one arm and shoulder and across that side of his face." Wade tells us calmly. "Stephan wants you back home at least for a while Steven, and Mikkarl too for a few weeks. Kirby, Timny, Callum if you want to go see your brothers by all means go."
"This is only temporary, until Andy is back on his feet or Dad gets someone to replace him." Steven states as he gets to his feet and heads for the bedroom. Mikkarl follows Steven from the room and I glance at Timny and Callum who are getting to their feet along with Kirby with Malcolm at his side.
"I'll just be a few days if Conner isn't too bad," Timny says glancing between Micah, Wade and Mitchell.
"Me too," Callum adds.
"We all agreed you can take as long as you need," Wade tells them as he pats each of them on the shoulder before turning to Kirby. "You stay as long as your brother needs you."
"Thanks," Kirby says and glances between Micah and Mitchell before he hurries for the door.
Silence fills the lounge room and I look down at the muffin on my plate, I am no longer hungry and I glance around the room noting most of the others haven't finished their breakfasts either.
"I'm making sandwiches they can take with them so they have something to eat, they won't stop for food." I say scrambling to my feet.
"I'll help," Donovan says getting to his feet along with me.
"I'll do some thermoses of coffee," Justin announces as he too stands and follows us into the kitchen. I begin buttering slices of bread while Donovan pulls an assortment of cold meats from the fridge along with cheese, pickles and tomatoes. We soon have a large range of sandwiches made and in plastic bags while Justin adds boiling water to instant coffee in thermoses. I grab several heavy plastic mugs and sit them by the thermoses with containers of sugar and powdered milk.
"You rippers," Steven says as he comes into the kitchen and puts an old esky on the table to pack the food and drinks in.
"You take care of yourself Rosy, make sure you eat well so you're nice and round and cuddly when we dance after the wedding, you hear." Steven orders firmly before dropping a kiss on my cheek.
"You'll be back for the wedding?" I ask in surprise.
"Can't let my best mate get married without me," Steven says then gives a bit of a laugh. "Besides, I want to be there in case you come to your senses and marry me instead."
"You driving?" I ask rolling my eyes and ignoring his teasing remark.
"Yeah, Mikkarl and I will take turns. I don't think the others would do more then some low flying," Steven says with a crooked grin.
"Well you be careful," I tell him as I throw my arms around his neck in a hug, he gives me a gentle squeeze and pats my back before stepping back from me.
Mikkarl and Timny are finishing up packing the sandwiches in an esky while Callum grabs several large packets of chips from the pantry. I watch as Steven turns and leads the way out of the quarters with Mikkarl just behind him. Timny, Callum and Kirby fall into step behind them and the five toms file from the building heading for the shed where all of the vehicles are generally kept. Donovan puts a hand on my shoulder and I glance towards him, he is watching the others leave and I wonder at the closed expression on his face.
"Everything okay?" I ask Donovan as we head back inside when the vehicle is gone from sight.
"You really should have a shower before you go visit Jazzy," Donovan tells me seriously and I suddenly wonder where the spoilt but charming teenager I had come to adore has gone.
"Sure," I mutter and head for the bathroom.
It is not until I am in the shower that I remember Sam talking to me about taking me to see my Unca Dunka – Donald Caruthers who is a vet. I realise he may have some information I can check through to see if I can get any tips to help me gain weight, then I remember five of the warriors have just left, and Jazzy is coming into heat. I sigh and turn off the shower knowing my likelihood of visiting my uncle is probaly now non-existent.
"I'm going over to the house to see Jazzy," I call to Donovan, Justin and Malcolm who are in the lounge room.
"See you when you get back Stray," Malcolm calls bringing a smile to my face.
I walk to the main house slowing with apprehension when I open the yard gate and walk up the footpath, I can't help but remember the last time I walked these same steps. The gun I had hated wielding, the choking fear I would be shut in a cage and the mind numbing terror that I was already too late to be able to help Jazzy.
I raise my hand to knock on the door and freeze as I slowly turn my head to look at the shady spot at the end of the house enclosed by green leafy hedges. I immediately spy the motionless figure leaning back casually in one of the patio chairs, a laptop across his thighs.
"Marissa is in with Jazzy, just go on in." Wade tells me levelly. I inhale sharply in surprise but manage a slight nod before all but bolting into the house. I walk through the house guided by memory and halt outside the solid oak doors that seal the secure room from the rest of the house. I open the door and step inside trying not to remember my own seclusion here months ago.
"Rosy! You came! Mum told me you and Micah are getting married," Jazzy gushes with excitement as she jumps up out of the armchair and rushes over to hug me.
"Of course I came to visit," I tell her with a grin. "And yes Micah and I are getting married. Three weekends from now so it gives you and me a little bit of time to do stuff for the wedding once you're out of here,"
"I'll leave you two to chat together," Marissa says as she gets to her feet. I watch as she leaves the room but I can't control the shudder that goes through me when she locks the oak door behind her.
"You okay?" Jazzy asks with a worried frown.
"Yeah," I give a shrug and head for one of the chairs, my legs feel weak and shaky.
"You sure? Cause you've gone all pale," Jazzy tells me in concern.
"Last time I was here wasn't so pleasant for me," I mutter as I look down at my feet.
"I should have realised! Do you want to go back to the quarters?" Jazzy asks and I can hear the disappointment in her voice.
"I'm okay for now I think," I say with an uneasy smile.
Jazzy pulls the other chair close and sits in it, she watches me for a moment then gives a nod.
"Doc said I'm well enough to invite someone into the cage if I want," She tells me with a wicked little smile.
"Don't tell me you're going to corrupt my brother," I tell her with a laugh.
"Me corrupt him? Mitchell has had me thinking naughty thoughts from when I was nine." Jazzy says with a laugh.
"You've liked him that long?" I ask curiously.
"Yeah, I went on my first run as a cat and while everyone else treated me like a sick little kid he treated me like I was normal." Jazzy recalls with a faraway look on her face. "Don't get me wrong I've had crushes on other toms but with Mitchell it was different and he stayed there at the back of my mind even when I liked others."
"Which other toms, if you don't mind me asking?" I say with a direct glance and Jazzy gives a self-conscious laugh.
"Loci Francis, but he never gave me the time of day after I refused to let him mount me first chance he got. And there was Leon, Malcolm and Chris's brother. We kissed a few times, he wanted to go further but I wasn't interested. I was only mucking around with him trying to get Mitchell to take notice. You remember Robby Inness? He got really friendly a couple of times I stayed in the quarters until Micah told him to keep away from me ... there are a couple of others I had crushes on but I never let them know," Jazzy tells me with a shrug.
"So what finally caught Mitchell's attention?" I ask.
"You tell me when you first decided you liked Micah," Jazzy counters with a grin.
"At my house, near Pete Willoughby's place. I had worked all night helping my Uncle with some cattle mauled by strays and came home exhausted. Pete, Micah and Steven dropped by and stayed for a while. On the way out when I wouldn't have been able to hear if I'd been human Steven made some guy comment about my looks and Micah hit him." I laugh softly as I remember. "That's when I knew liked him more than just thinking he had a hot body."
