Chapter 6

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Chapter 6

Aubrey

After the day I've had I need my best friend back. My work usually is easy, without much stress. I tend to like animals more than people. Today wasn't one of those days.

I had a nail trim appointment and the old girl tried to bite me. A cat took his claws down my arm, a bird bit my finger and I got a new patient that I had to refuse. I don't handle snakes. They give me the creeps.

On top of all that, this whole mess with Lindsey has me stressed. I'm tired, hot, fat, and hungry. I want a hot bubble bath, a glass of wine, and some time alone with no mention of the psycho bitch from hell. I might get one out of the four. Not good odds for me.

No wine for me. Not as long as I'm pregnant. I do miss my glass of wine before bed. I could have the bubble bath but once I'm in the tub I would need Beckett to get me out of it. I can't even see my toes much less bend to put on my shoes! Beckett is smart enough to give me some time alone when I need it but there hasn't been a day in months we haven't talked about Lindsey at some point. It's annoying how she has monopolized our thoughts.

Knowing I could use some girl time and I'm betting Brynn could too, Beckett agreed to let me go, provided I have security. Not that he would allow me to go anywhere without my security guard. I'm not even allowed to go to the bathroom without announcing it. It's really bugging me.

He thinks it's my hormones that are working overtime causing me to flip out. I'll agree minimally. I've had more than my share of Snickers moments lately than normal. I'm starving constantly and have a craving for chocolate covered pretzels constantly. The salty sweet mixture just hits the spot. It's not like I'm eating cockroaches or brussel sprouts. Yuck! The thought of them makes me want to puke.

And I'll agree that the hot and fat feelings are definitely because I'm big as a house and it's the end of an extremely hot summer that's ridiculously humid to boot. I don't think I'll ever get back to my old figure. Who knows when I'll see my feet again.

Nothing will ever be the same again. Beckett says that's because we're having a baby and babies change everything, I'm going through a transition period. Change is never easy for a creature of habit. It's a good change though. I believe that. I'd just like to get back to being me again.

I miss my walks through the preserve. Since Hope was kidnapped, I've stayed close to Georgia's home. Beckett doesn't want me out alone where Lindsey could get to me. He's scared for my safety. I appreciate his concern and I understand his fears. We've been through a lot in the last year.

Going to the hospital to see my friend shouldn't require an armed guard escort. But it does. Because Lindsey will only stop when she's in jail or dead. At this point I'll take either one. I'll even settle for the mental ward.

I don't like knowing that's how I feel. I don't wish harm to anyone. I like to think I'm a good person. I would hope when faced with this kind of choice I would be the better person to do the right thing. But the more she attacks my family, the less I care what happens to her. I don't like knowing that.

I watch the vehicle behind me knowing exactly who it is, and why they are back there. I'm being tailed by my security guards. Plural now. They will keep their distance and give me space but they are close enough to rescue me. It's a comfort and an annoyance.

Heading to the hospital to sit with my friend and give both of us a break from men, I realized I should have asked for a female guard. I bet she'd enjoy getting away from the testosterone too. I hadn't thought of that, next time. I'm sure there will be a next time. There always is lately.

The Lindsey's and Fitz out there seem to be attracted to me. If they aren't crazy then they're a drug addict. I felt sorry for both of them once, I don't now. I won't again.

Walking through the lot, I felt my security presence. I didn't have to see them to know they were there. Just as I didn't have to look around and know that someone else is watching me. I feel their eyes on me along with my security. I look over my shoulder to check but only find my guards. Someone else is there. I know what I know.

Unfortunately, I am on edge from the moment I step through the hospital doors. I swear I'm being watched. Walking through the main level of the hospital, I notice how empty it is. It's quiet and I feel like I'm the only person here.

I'm not. It's just that quiet. Looking around, I spot an older man who looks to be taking a nap in the waiting room, there's a couple holding hands looking through a window. A few nurses and orderlies are walking around but not a word from anyone. It's eerie and spooky.

"No more scary movies for me." I mutter softly, pressing the button for the elevator.

Taking the elevator up to Brynn, I'm alone in the elevator. I have security, I saw him following me from Georgia's house. I saw him park and get out. To anyone else who is around me, it would seem that I'm alone. No guards, no protection, no fear of what could be waiting for me.

That's the point. Beckett hates the idea but I'm the logical choice. Brynn's my best friend. Of course I will be the one to sit with her besides Ethan. It looks like what it is: a friend being there for a friend. With her two security guards, her husband, his three friends and a private investigator. Plus two dogs who will protect me at all costs.

Beckett is keeping them close. Lump and Max, my heroes, I trust them with my life. While I take the front entrance and work my way up, Beckett and Ethan have the dogs in the back stairwell waiting for the signal from one of us to release the hounds.

It's a good plan and Beckett hates it. I'm pregnant and he's overprotective of us. He thinks I'm going to be hurt and I think he underestimates my dogs. I understand why he's worried but Georgia has enough security around me, I can't imagine Lindsey getting close enough to hurt us. And I know that is not a good way to think.

No one is safe. Lindsey has shown us that how many times?

Popping my head into Brynn's room, hoping to find her awake, I find her bed empty. Looking into the bathroom and not finding her, a sense of dread hits me. Did Lindsey strike again?

Rushing out of the room, I start walking the halls. I ask every nurse, every orderly, everyone I pass if they have seen Brynn. I get the same response from each one: no one has seen her.

Going back around the nurses station, I spot her, dragging her IV bag along with her, she shuffles down the hallway. In no hurry to get anywhere, she smiles at an old man reading a newspaper who looks up at her. She stops to talk to him and he glances in my direction.

Receiving a discreet nod from him. I realize he's one of the security guards Georgia has assigned to Brynn. I wouldn't have guessed him to be anything but a harmless old man.

"Brynn! What are you doing?" I call out to her as I close the gap.

"Hi!" She said her goodbye to the old man and greeted me. "I got bored. My butt was numb and I needed to move." That sounds like my best friend.

"I would have gotten here sooner but it's been a day. Come on, let's get you back in bed." Helping her get back to her room, we got her situated in bed. "I'm going to run down the hallway for a candy bar and water. I'll be right back."

Passing the old man, he gives me a smile as I pass and continues to watch me and Brynn's room. The machine is at the end of the hall and fortunately has exactly what I need.

Picking out my favorite chocolate bar and a bottle of water, I happily open the wrapper and take a bite. That's what I'm talking about. Feeling the crankiness diminishing, I head back to Brynn.

As I come back, Brynn is pushing button after button on the remote. She looks frustrated as she tries to use the remote for the TV. "Is it kicking your ass?"

Her head jerks up at the sound of my voice. "I swear they make these things impossible just to occupy your time in here. Can you turn on the food channel please?"

Holding out the remote, I laugh. That's the Brynn I love. She's never been technology savvy. Flipping the channel, I set the remote on her tray as she settled back against her pillows.

"You didn't come alone, did you? Ethan said none of us should be alone right now." Well, that's a switch. Brynn hasn't listened, much less followed, what Ethan has said in years. This should make Ethan happy.

"I'm not alone. I'm with you. How are you?" I ask, sitting next to her. She looks about as annoyed as I feel.

"I want out of here. I'm fine. I told them that. The doctor won't listen and tells me he needs to run more tests. They've already drawn a gallon of blood! How much more do they need?" Again, the Brynn I know is there and gone.

"You aren't a patient person yet you have the patience of a saint when you cook or bake anything." The tease is honest and accurate. I don't have the patience to wait for meat to rest or dough to rise like she does. She has that patience in the kitchen that makes her an awesome cook. "I don't know how you do it."

"It's annoying, huh?" Understanding my problem, she laughs. "It annoys me. How are you? You look beat?"

She's in a really good mood considering everything. I don't think I would be this chipper. But then she doesn't remember what happened to her. She doesn't know the danger she's in. It's just that easy, one explanation of the past and our current situation, to ruin that mood. It won't be coming from me.

"I am." And I tell her about my day. I'm not telling her about the plans. I can't. If we want it to look as normal as possible, then we have to keep our secret between as few people as possible. That means Brynn is kept in the dark for as long as possible.

That means she and I are the bait. If Lindsey is still lurking around the hospital, Brynn and I alone are enough to bring her out. Who knows what damage she'll try to do with access to everything from scalpels to drugs. I'm beginning to see why Beckett doesn't like this idea.

"Sounds like you had a crummy day." Brynn sympathizes with me.

"I did. That's why I want a glass of wine, some chocolate pretzels, a bubble bath and some alone time." Complaining to her is as natural as is her response.

"I'll drink a glass for you, we can share the pretzels, you could probably talk Beckett into joining you in the bath and that alone time." She smiles and takes my hand. "Tomorrow will be better."

God, I hope so!

"So with the way Cole reacted over the flower lady, I'm guessing she is the one Ethan warned me about?" Brynn needs to get her memories back quickly.

"Yes, and I'm going to warn you too. Lindsey is absolutely nuts. You have to stay as far away from her as possible." Not that she has much choice here.

Brynn thinks about that for a moment. I'm guessing she is trying to figure out what connection she has to the lunatic. "If this Lindsey is as crazy as you say, you shouldn't be going off on your own this way."

"I'm fine." And not nearly as alone as she might believe. But I have to play my part. "Have you remembered anything?"

"No." Brynn seems to curl into herself. "It's like I'm walking around a pitch dark room and I'm bumping into walls but can't find the light switch."

I feel for her. It has to suck.

"Would you mind if we walked around a little longer? I've never been so bored in my life." She smiles wanting to get out of here I'm sure.

"Absolutely. I could use some exercise." That's the truth. Not getting my walks with the dogs around the preserve has cut my step count dramatically.

Helping Brynn out of the bed again. We headed back down the hall. "That candy bar looks good. Let's get some more." I'm not arguing with her. We head for the candy machine and laugh as we try to decide on our choices.

Lindsey

The old man watches but doesn't see me on the other end of the hall. He doesn't notice the way I slowly move from one room to another. Poking my head into some, collecting magazines and books from others.

It's a good way to hide. The disguise and the job. No one pays attention to me. I do nothing to attract attention. Step by step, room by room, I close the gap between. Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dumb think they are so safe. They think they are out of my reach.

I'll show them all who they are underestimating. "I'm not going to be ignored, mother! I'm going to get your attention even if I have to kill you again!"

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