Plans Change The Story Continues 6

  I awoke again in the middle of the night, alone.  I could feel the remnants of whatever I had been given tugging me back to sleep.  I forced myself to get up and still felt the pain in my shoulder but ignored it as I took off the sports wrap.  It was then as my mind focused that I realized I was not in the hotel room.  As I looked around I did not recognize the room, I supposed if I had paid more attention to the southwestern style decor I would of realized I was at Christina's overpriced estate.  My first thought was where were my clothes and then I wondered if they had found the dufel bag.  I saw the dufel sitting in the corner and had decided whoever had moved me had done so swiftly as I went and checked it and found along with several changes of clothes the pouch with the safety deposit keys and the several ID's were there.  It was now evident to me my ex wife had drugged me for what reason I did not know.  I pushed through he pain as I dressed.  When I heard voices outside the door I looked at the french doors leading outside.  I went out the french style doors and found I was on the second floor.  Taking a quick look around I saw the almost enclosed stairs off the porch.  I was into the trees when I heard the building behind me come alive.  I knew quickly I was in the desert.  When I hooked up a ride into town I was grateful the two women were so talkative as it helped me keep my mind off the pain.  I was thinking where to go and that I would need more cash as I did not want to use the card.  In town i was able to catch a cab to the small private airport and after inquiring I found a small charter heading toward Seattle are where I had another safe deposit box.  By late morning I was walking into a hotel near the main aiport.  I waited until the graveyard shift was deep into their nightly audit before presenting m key. I was gone out of there twenty minutes later and on a plane to Florida making use of one of my ID's.  In the Keys I checked into another small inn.  It was Thanksgiving so getting into the local bank would have to wait.  I turned on the television just to keep my mind off the pain.  I knew when I felt the cold sweats I was reminded of the last time I had been addicted to pain medicine.

My only question was why Christina wanted me to be a junkie.to get my mind off of her I started working through the phone call the other day and my trip to the house I had built with Christopher Jr.  We had actually begun developing a father and son relationship.  Even my oldest had joined my company which appeared now she was no longer a part of.  I needed to find out where the investigation was really going.  It took me almost ten minutes to realize my best chance at the moment was to head back to Arizona.  By the time I landed the next morning after several short hops, The pain was almost intolerable. How I managed to drive the rental car back to the ranch I did not know but that was where Steven found me bent over in what had to be the worst pain ever.  By the time my family showed up I was over the worst of it.  Julie wanted to know what was wrong and I told her it seemed I had developed a drug problem recently so I decided to kick the habit.  Christopher asked since when and I told him in the last couple of day.  Christina blew up and told me I was not a drug addict; I asked if she was sure because what I had just gone through felt like withdrawals and the only drugs I had taken recently were the ones she gave me.  All three children had looked at her; I told her thanks for the help but please no more as I had some business to see too.  When I went to get behind the wheel she told me know and I couldn't keep her from taking the keys.  I asked if she was planning on turning me over and sending me back.  The last thing I remembered was someone leaning on their horn and thinking why.

I woke up in a large bed and recognized immediately I was at mom's house. When I realized I was not alone it gave me a start and when I went to get up the pain though not as bad but still enough to cause me to lay back down.  Christina asked how I was doing; I sat up and asked how the children were.  She came to a kneeling position behind me and started peeling off the bandages.  She told me this one was going to leave a nasty scar.I shrugged and asked how the children were.  Leaning over me she told me for one they were no longer children and two they were fine except for being a little mad at her thinking she turned him into a junkie. When she probed the flesh around my shoulder I flinched when pain shot through my entire being.  She told me that was what the pain medication which could be addicting was for but I was no addict,  I told her I was sorry about that, but she got up and put a finger to my mouth and told me I had been in a lot of pain and from the look on my face I still was.   She then asked if I was hungry, when I shook my head she told me I needed to eat something and that beverage she had given me did have something to help me sleep but more to the point was filled with nutrients and calories and her guess in whatever little adventure she went on scaring her half to death when she found me missing out of our room; I stopped her by looking away. She told me okay it wasn't our room per se but it had been her room; she stopped and looking at me told me she was so sorry.  I got up and she told me no; I looked at her and asked if I was now her prisoner.  The look in her eyes stopped me, I told her I was tired.  As she finished putting my newest bandage on she told me she did not know why as I had slept for almost forty eight hours.  I grabbed her hand and told her I still needed to know who; she stopped me with a kiss.

Those dreams of walking in to see her with another man came rushing back; when I laid down again she asked what was wrong.  I did not say anything as I rolled over onto my left shoulder letting the pain push the visions from my mind.  She told me to roll onto my other side, I told her no.  When she told me it would hurt less I growled I preferred this pain.  She asked why, I rolled over and stared at her for a long time.  I finally got up and pulling on my pants in spite of her glaring I walked out.  In the kitchen mom was where I remembered her on so many mornings; she looked up and told me breakfast would be awhile but if I was hungry there was some applesauce in the fridge and jello.  Walking to the fridge I opened it up and she shooed me away and looking at the bandage she asked if it hurt.  I could not lie to her so I told her I would live As the girls walked in she asked how they slept; they looked at me, Julie said they had been sleeping until someone woke them up.  They were followed by two other young women and the Miriam who was wearing a familiar shirt; she asked how I was feeling today; her smile was infectious.  When Christina walked in wearing a short robe; she was smiling but I could tell she had been crying.  Miriam asked if she could help, mom told her at the moment she could go see if the boys were awake as they had been up late working in the barn.  I told her I would go.  Mom looked at Miriam and smiling she said that was probably better.  Smiling she said she would kind of like to see what had been accomplished.  I watched Mom give her the look and she smiled and told me to call for help if I needed any. Leaving by the back door into the Carolina late fall day; I could smell the grass, and horses.  I began stretching my shoulders sending pain through my body.  I smiled as I realized that pain was something that had become tangible to me.  As I approached the barn I turned into a house, I could smell fresh cut lumber and paint.  There were also several RV pulled up as well as tents.  I saw the Colonel already up in the first hints of light sitting by the fire pit.  I also took in the new circular drive going in with the fountain I had always wanted to put in.

As he looked at me he nodded; I nodded toward the barn and he pointed to where Christopher's head was sticking out of a sleeping bag.  I told him I supposed it had been time with how many years of neglect. The colonel pointed to my shoulder and I nodded.  He told me it was time for me to stop and settle down.  I wanted to tell him that was what I had been trying to do over the last few years.  Instead I told him I had some unfinished business.  Pointing to the girls who had come out of the house he told me I saved their life; I said maybe knowing full well it was John who made the call and ordered them to get out when he called.  Christopher woke up at the sound of the girls coming and got out of his bag and headed straight for the woods.  When he came back up he took off his shirt and used the garden hose to rinse off, I could tell which  one of the bed heads was the one I had met before.  Another head started crawling out of a sleeping bag.  It was Christopher's dad.  Within the matter of minutes others began waking up, coming out of tents and RV's..  Christopher came over and stood by the fire as the young lady went into an RV and came out with a clean shirt for him behind her was a middle aged couple, who looked far from the camping type.  I looked at the barn and Christopher told me there had been quite a bit of termite and carpenter ant damage.and with mom planning on moving home to open her new clinic he wanted to take care of it before she moved back in.  I nodded; he asked how the shoulder was; I told him for having it almost ripped off it was not bad, but don't expect to see me playing catcher anytime soon.  I headed back to mom's house and going to my room; I realized it would be some time before I got to use a shower.  I saw the laptop sitting on the writing desk.I was about to sit down when Christina walked in and told me it was my turn.  I looked at her and she asked what was wrong; I told her as I looked out the window I did not belong here.  Shrugging she told regardless as her caretaker she was telling me it was time for my bath time.  She took me to mom's room where I had years ago put in a bathroom for dad in his last years.As it went to turn on the shower she stopped me and pointed to the water closet, I really did not have to go or so I thought.  When I was done and saw that she was going to bath me I told her I had a bad sore shoulder.  She told me if that was all for me to reach the center of my back   I started to stretch my left arm behind me pushing through the pain.  I could not reach my back.

As she stepped forward she told me as she dropped her robe she had done this before and I eyed her and asked if all her customers got the same treatment; she told me for one they were patients and two if they needed a bath they got one; I told her I now knew why she was so popular, she slapped me.  I kept my mouth shut but could not hide the fact from her she still affected me.  When she was done rinsing me off she told me that I could take care of myself.  It was later as I was sitting on the patio alone she came out and apologized for her poor bed side manners as she put her feet on my lap.  I managed to use my left hand to massage one of her feet.  Miriam came over and pulled a chair up and put her feet on my lap as well.  When a tall actress showed up she looked down and sighed; I shook my head and asked what she was doing here; she told me she had been invited and at first was not going to show up but then she realized what the hell her favorite people were here Pushing two pairs of feet I went to use both arms to stand up and pain shot through me but I managed not to go back down and pointed to my chair.  She told me I should really ask my doctor for some of the good stuff.  I wanted to walk out and leave but Christina kept someone on me all the time.  When I came around the corner of the house in an attempt and found her in a close conversation with Christopher's dad I said to hell with hit and started walking.  When Christina caught up to me she asked where the hell I though I was going and I told her I was leaving she asked if I was going to miss our thanksgiving dinner.  I told her when I had something to be thankful for I would call her.  She then asked what about the wedding and I told her to remind me whose wedding as I did not seem to recall getting an invitation; she told me she remembered me asking her to walk down the aisle of the little church.  I told her I had done that and then she went off with her lawyer and then the sheriff who had decided to shoot up his ranch; she told me she was sorry about that and I shrugged.  Stopping me she told me okay she got that I was mad at her but she also knew it was not healthy for me to go on living alone.  I told her lately it was proving to be unhealthy when she was around and moved my shoulder sending pain shooting throughout my body again.

She looked down and told me she would make me a deal she would not push me if I stayed and was nice; I told her I would if she did not go hide with her old flings and would send everyone away; Christina told me as soon as they had dinner most would be leaving.  I shrugged and told her when dinner was over and most left to let me know who was still there and I may decide to join them; she told me I was being stubborn and really hated to do this.  Just then several cars pulled up with the ex marine stepping out of the lead vehicle along with my lawyer.  I looked at Christina and asked if this is where she really wanted to go as it seemed unfair; she asked for who and I pointed to those now standing around who I new were all packing.  When Beth came up with Steve she asked Christina if she was nuts.  Christina told her I was in no shape to go traipsing around the countryside and she was not capable of getting me to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I told her sorry I did not see the tunnel as there were too many others in my way.  When Christina went to slap I stepped out of the way.  A couple of the boys went to step in front of me and I reacted though I did not hurt them badly.  Steven had to jump in front of me and pushed me back against one of the vehicles.  A sheriff deputy came by and asked if everything was all right Christina waved and said yes and I stepped forward and told him actually the truth was I just assaulted two men that were now nursing there wounds and pointed to the two boys I had put down who were now rubbing the various joints I had inflicted with pain.  Steven shook his head and pulled the deputy aside to talk to him; when he came back he asked me if I was done and I told him since I was under the influence I could not promise that I would be able to behave of my own accord and held out my hands.  I had seen the entire crowd from the little gathering watching and the look on my children's faces.  When he went to book me into county jail they would not take me so I was brought back to the station and put into a holding cell.  I was not there long before mom showed up with Christina to have a little chat with me.  I had to tell mom the truth that I still loved Christina and I understood she was sorry for the numerous affairs but for me to have to remain in the same house with men and women who had gotten into my marriage bed was too much.  It was mom's turn to grill Christina who did not want to go into details.  Before we were done with our family chat the feds showed up to take me back to Arizona as there was a warrant for my arrest.

Since I was flying with the US Marshall's finest I got to fly to March Air Force base where I was to be transferred to Arizona State Police.  Even though I was in civilian clothes they were not taking any chances and shackled me hands and feet.  By the time I was off the plane I was almost doubled over in pain and had to be taken to the base hospital where a doctor asked when he saw my shoulder what happened and I told him that little house that accidentally got blown up in Arizona a week or so ago was mine and was proceeded by two boys painting my suburban and someone turning it into tiny projectiles one of which tried to take off my arm.  When he realized I was not joking he got the base commander.  When he asked why I was here after being told the story I told him apparently someone thought it was my fault the US government was now targeting US civilians and their children in their own homes.  The fact I grimaced through the whole explanation had the base commander tell the doctor to give me something for the pain.  I told him nothing that would affect my thinking.  When the state police showed up to collect me the base commander told them no.  It did not take the base commander long to find out who I was.  Over a meal of tea, broth and bananas he came in and asked why he thought someone wanted this hushed.  I asked if I still had clearance and he told me that amazingly I did.  I told him to get a Arizona State Trooper who was married to an assistant DA here as they would want to be in on this and to find the pilots who had been on the training mission that night and find out why they had not talked.  When the Navy Brass showed up and tried to claim it was an accident; I took off my shirt and told them before the house was blown away my suburban a mile down the road was turned into scrap metal shortly after myself and four of my employees all veterans and all experienced in what missiles sound like were less than a hundred yards away.

Over the next days I gave the overview of my career up until I was taken by American Intelligence shortly after I had helped several young women who had been having a very bad time of it at the hands of the good guys.  I detailed my two weeks of hell and my subsequent departure from the unlisted prison.  When asked later where the men were who had been involved with the direct torture I told the officers that I had turned them into the fathers of the girls who had been raped and it was not my fault they were officers in the very army we were training.  When asked where the girls were I told them honestly I did not know as I turned them over to a contact who had ties to a missionary organization, then I dropped the bombshell on them that the man who had me taken and oversaw my torture was now a director for a law enforcement agency or was when after the first attempt on my life.  I then had to detail the last few years after choosing to quit contracting with primarily the Intelligence community.  I was told they would need to confirm my story; knowing what it would mean I nodded and told them at the moment many of the participants were at the home I built for my ex wife.  How they managed to keep their investigation quiet I did not know but I was asked if they could use the estate my wife bought as a safe house.  I told them as long as it was not me they planned on imprisoning there they could have the damn thing.  The fact my company was developing several large projects which meant tax dollars for the three states and the other country we were building in soon got  local authorities involved as well as several congressman.  Most of the meeting were actually held in our new offices back in the Carolina's with some of them taking place on the ranch.