�Thanks, Doc,� Nickolas said.
�How�d this happen?�
�Police business.�
�Just take it easy a couple days.�
�I will.�
�I�ll be right back with a prescription.� Nickolas nodded and Brian walked out. He sat their a few moments thinking then went to put his shirt back on, as Jenai walked in.
�Hey,� Jenai said and Nickolas looked.
�Hey,� Nickolas said grinning.
�Dr. Littrell said you�re going to be all right.�
�Yeah; just fractured ribs.�
�I�m glad.�
�Same here.� He tried getting his shirt on, as Jenai walked over and started helping him. �Thanks.�
�This doesn�t have to do with me, does it?�
�Of course not; they just don�t want our department working on the case.�
�But they think I have the box.�
�Nothing�s going to happen to you.�
�Nick, I know well enough that I pose a threat, as long as they think I have the box. Even if they knew I didn�t I�d still be a threat, because I know what�s in it and so does Dani.� He looked at her. �They�re not going after Dani are they?� Nickolas didn�t say anything. �It�s just me, ain�t it?� He still didn�t say anything. �Damn it.�
�You�ll be fine, because I won�t let anything happen to you.� She didn�t say anything. �I promise.�
�Are ya sure they�re just coming after me?�
�Dani didn�t report anything.�
�They should know I don�t have the box, because you and Kev showed up.�
�Well they probably think that if you know what�s best for you, you won�t turn it over to the police.�
�Well either way I�d be in this situation.� She sighed.
�How�d Callen come across that stuff?�
�I have no idea; she never said. She just said to get it before Detective Fatone did if anything happened to her and not to tell anyone before then.�
�Did he know Callen had it?�
�Yeah; they, uh�they use to date.� Nickolas looked at her.
�I never knew.�
�Of course not, because you didn�t know her.�
�Yes I did; through Dani and the club.�
�Oh.� She lowered her head and started buttoning his shirt. �I didn�t think you knew each other that well. I just thought it was through Aaron and Summer dating.�
�That�s how we met and we became great friends.�
�Right.� She continued with Nickolas� shirt. What was wrong with her? She was actually jealous over Dannika being close to Nickolas. This was so unlike her. Not only was she jealous of another girl, but it was her best friend. She sighed disgustedly at herself.
�I didn�t think the buttons were that tough?� She looked at him.
�Huh?� He grinned. �Sorry; I was just thinking.�
�It couldn�t have been too pleasing.�
�No it wasn�t.� She did the last button. �All done.� She smoothed the front of his shirt and he stopped her. �What?� They looked at each other.
�You�re an amazing young woman ya know that? You�re smart, talented, gorgeous, brave, and strong in mind as well as body. God knows you�re bullheaded and stubborn so you�ll have no problem keeping yourself safe.�
�I am not.�
�I believe so and you�re also sexy.�
�Because you seen me half-naked.�
�Your sexy bod is a plus, but you�re sexy because you�re you and you don�t let people take advantage of you.�
�Well if you had my life you wouldn�t either.�
�It can�t be that bad.�
�You have no idea.�
�So tell me.�
�Excuse me?�
�About your life; I want to know everything.�
�Then tell me about you.�
�After you tell me.�
�No.�
�Why not?�
�Hey, guys,� Kristin interrupted. �Brian had emergency surgery, but he said you�re free to go, Nick.�
�Good,� Nickolas said getting off the bed.
�You�re coming home with JJ and me,� Kristin said.
�What?� Jenai asked.
�I can take care of myself,� Nickolas rebutted.
�I insist,� Kristin said. �And you can stay for dinner.� Nickolas looked at Jenai and she shrugged. �How often do you get a nice home cooked meal?�
�Every Sunday at moms,� Nickolas replied smiling.
�Well you�re staying with us,� Kristin stated. �And no arguing.�
�Do I have a choice?� Nickolas wanted to know.
�No,� Kristin said.
�Then I�m staying at Jakob�s,� Jenai said and Nickolas looked at her. �Living with you and Kev is bad enough half the time let alone having someone else stay with us.�
�It�ll just be a couple days,� Kristin said. �Until he can go back to work. He and Kev can work on the case together.� Jenai just looked at her. �I�m going to need the extra help.� Jenai sighed. �I know you�re 24 and can make your own decisions, but will you do this one favor for me? Please?�
�Fine,� Jenai said. �But don�t think I�m going to be waiting on him whenever he wants something.� She gave a disgusted grunt and walked out with Kristin smiling.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
�Hey, Nick!� Jenai yelled from the kitchen. �Did you want Pepsi or Mountain Dew?�
�MD,� Nickolas yelled in return smiling and shaking his head. He looked back at his papers and read over them a few minutes before Jenai walked from the kitchen. He looked at her and chuckled.
�What?�
�Nothing.� She sat beside him. ��Don�t think I�m going to be waiting on him whenever he wants something�.� He continued chuckling and she glared at him.
�I only agreed, because I was going in.�
�Whatever.�
�I can keep ya out of work a few more days if that�s what ya want.�
�No; I�m still working anyway.�
�What is it anyway?� She took the papers from him and looked at them. �What�s this?�
�Papers from that box. Kevin wants me to go through it and see if I find anything that�s connected to Sergeant Stevens.�
�Why?�
�Well the guys who beat me up want Kevin to hand the case over to Stevens.�
�She�s already working on it.�
�We know that. Apparently they don�t want us working on it, because Stevens� involved.�
�Right.� She looked at the papers. �Isn�t this enough to nail Detective Fatone?� Nickolas sighed.
�Well, yeah.�
�So go get him. At the trial I can tell the judge and everyone else what Callen said to me.�
�It ain�t that easy, JJ.�
�Why not? Detective Fatone is the number one suspect in Call�s death and ya�ll know it.�
�Yes, but��
�He�d kill to get a hold of this box and Cal is dead because of it. I don�t understand why you�re not out there arresting him.�
�Ya can�t arrest a suspect when ya don�t know where they are.� She looked at him. �He took off the day you got this box and no one has seen him since.�
�Oh.�
�I�ve been following you ever since.�
�Why?�
�Kev�s orders.� She didn�t say anything and there was a knock.
�Who is it?� No answer. �Who is it?� Still no answer. �Damn it.� She got up.
�Hang on.� Nickolas got up also and took his gun from its holster, as Jenai watched. They walked to the door and Jenai went to open it, but Nickolas stopped her. �Slowly.� She nodded and did as told, as Nickolas stood there ready. She opened the door completely, but no one was there and only a box on the porch. Nickolas stepped on the porch and looked around, as Jenai picked up the box. She took the note off of it and went back inside.
�Sexy legs, a beautiful smile,� she read from the paper. �Nick, you shouldn�t have.�
�It wasn�t me.� He stood behind her and she continued.
�Dangerous curves and nice round�full�breasts. Each night I lay awake thinking of you and fulfilling my desire. But like all fantasies it must come to an end�just...like�you. So back off now.� She went to open the box.
�You don�t have to.�
�But I need to.� She slowly opened the box and they looked inside. �Ahh!� she threw the box on the floor and buried her face in Nickolas� chest, as he pulled her outside. �I can�t believe this.� She started crying.
�It�s all right.� Nickolas got his cell phone out and dialed a number.
�This isn�t happening.�
�It�s ok.�
�Animal Control,� came a female voice over the phone.
�Yeah, this is Detective Nick Carter; I need some assistance sent over to 4468 Crescent View Drive,� Nickolas said. �ASAP.�
�Alright and what�s the problem?�
�Snakes and lots of them.�
�I�ll send help right away.�
�Make it fast.� He turned his phone off and got his radio. �Kevin, come back.�
�Yeah, Nick,� Kevin said. �What is it?�
�I think you better come home right away.�
�What�s wrong?�
�You won�t believe it unless you see it.�
�I�m on my way.�
�I hate snakes,� Jenai cried.
�Shh, it�s all right,� Nickolas assured her, as she continued crying.
CHAPTER 13
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