And Hell Itself Breathes Out by A.R. Moler

Author:A.R. Moler
Language: eng
Format: mobi, pdf
Tags: Nightstand, M/M Mystery/Suspense
Publisher: Torquere Press, Inc.
Published: 2010-05-26T05:00:00+00:00

“Yeah, sure, give me a few minutes.”

While she went to the other end of the room to hunt for it, John scribbled Days? Jobs? & Work Schedules? on the board.

***

Fiona had to think for a minute which file cabinet the report would be in. She undoubtedly had a scan of it on her computer, but sometimes John liked to see the hard copies. Fiona fought with a stubborn drawer on one of the filing cabinets. The drawer refused to open. Todd walked toward her. He looked vaguely amused.

“Need a hand?” he asked.

“Unh, this one always jams. Damn thing!” She yanked on it some more without success.

“Looks like you’re getting your ass kicked,” Todd teased.

She made a growl of frustration. “Have at it. Do I get to laugh when you can’t get it open either?”

“Don’t think that’s too likely,” he smirked. Bent forward a little, Todd braced the toe of one shoe against the base and yanked. The drawer dragged open with an amazingly loud and raucous screech of metal on metal.

Behind them, they heard the sound of ceramic shattering on the floor, and the snick-snick of a round being chambered. Todd’s head whipped around as he shoved Fiona back against the wall. John was standing by the white board, eyes wide, body rigid, his gun aimed at the spot where Fiona had been.

“John?” Todd said slowly. “Put the gun down. It’s okay. It was just a noise.” John’s hand shook slightly. He was staring fixedly at... nothing. Todd moved slowly toward him, staying off to one side, out of the direct line of fire. His hand closed around John’s and pressed the gun toward the floor, gently pulling it free from John’s hand. Todd thumbed the safety on and laid the gun on the floor. He carefully gripped John’s shoulders.

“Hey, look at me. You’re safe. It was nothing,” said Todd.

John’s eyes slowly focused on his colleague. “I... It was... I broke... I could’ve...” John mumbled.

“Come sit down.” Todd steered him in the direction of the sofa.

John sank onto it, arms wrapped around his body. “I could’ve shot Fiona...” John whispered. His entire body was shaking.

“But you didn’t. It was a reflex. It happens. I’ve seen a whole lot of soldiers do just about the same thing,” Todd reassured him

***

Fiona had dashed down the stairs to get Cecelia. The two women came into the workroom, and Cecelia crossed quickly to John. She sat on the sofa beside him and cupped his face in one hand, checking his pulse with the other. It was racing, and he was very pale.

“John, honey, I think you should lie down,” Cecelia said.

“I’m okay,” he whispered.

“No, you’re not. Not even close.” She put both arms around him and pulled him tightly against her body, head to her shoulder. She wasn’t sure if holding him so closely was psychically comfortable or not, especially after the things he had intimated he had experienced during the whole scopolamine episode. On the other hand, she wasn’t about to let go, either.

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