Find a Way to My Heart

Find a Way To My Heart

“Plot them, please,” Captain Mackenzie said easily.

Private Yates, a member of the Ticonderoga’s Marine contingent, pushed a series of controls on her console. Seconds later, an orange trail with a blinking crosshair overlaid the combat information display in front of the Captain. Yates answered, “Course and estimated position on display, Captain.”

“Thank you, Private. Launch a squadron of Tomcats to intercept and confirm,” Captain Mackenzie ordered. She toggled a com on the CID and said, “Chief Brinn, this is Captain Mackenzie.”

“Yes Captain,” Brinn’s voice boomed.

“The Everest, a mining freighter is overdue. Propulsion failure is assumed, and reactor failure is possible. We’re going after them, but we’ll need everything you have,” Captain Mackenzie said.

“Standard flank speed available at your discretion. Give me ten minutes and I’ll see if I can get you more,” Brinn said. “Out…”

“You heard the man,” Mackenzie told her command crew. “Navigation, match bearings and execute intercept. Helm, maximum thrust – push her hard.”

For all her experience, Lieutenant Farrell looked worried when she acknowledged, “Yes Ma’am.”

“Time and tide stand still for no one, Lieutenant – the Everest needs our help. This is a heavy old ship you’re steering. She’ll be just fine,” Mackenzie reassured. “We’ll just get the cobwebs blown out of the Chief’s engines along the way.”

“Indeed you will,” Brinn said as he stormed onto the bridge. A harried engineer’s mate jumped away from the master console to make room, and Brinn immediately filled the void. “One hundred fifteen percent of max engine output available.”

“Let’s go, Lieutenant,” Mackenzie said. She couldn’t help but grin. “Best stick your head out the window and yell ‘Clear the Way’.”

Lieutenant Farrell smiled. “Flank plus fifteen percent confirmed.”

“Communications, put me on all-call,” Captain Mackenzie said. After a nod from the com officer, she continued, “Tico, this is the Captain. We have an ore freighter that is overdue with confirmed propulsion loss. Exact status is unknown. We’re on emergency intercept and will hopefully find her soon. The Everest and her crew needs your very best – so think it through and move with purpose. End of speech – let’s go to work.”
“Tomcat zero-niner on com,” The communications officer announced.

“Put him through,” Mackenzie replied. She waited for the line to open, and added, “Tomcat zero-niner, this is command – report.”

“Command, Everest intercept zero-niner. Everest com failure – signal strobe attempt in progress.”

“Understood, zero-niner. Recon status and report,” Mackenzie said.

“Command, micro-meteoroid damage evident. Reactor ports are cold. Minor outgassing evident.”

Captain Mackenzie winced. “Any contact on…”

“Command, Everest strobe active. Standby,” Interrupted zero-niner’s voice over the com. Mackenzie smiled through the silence before he added, “They’re alive on suit oh-two.”

“Zero-niner, inquire on oh-two endurance,” Mackenzie said. Her smile evaporated. This was life or death.

“Command, Everest signals two-five minutes oh-two stamina,” zero-niner said.

“Time on target?” Captain Mackenzie asked.

“Ten minutes, nine seconds,” Yates replied.

“Grappling, softseal, and recovery?”

“Fifteen minutes, minimum,” Brinn said sternly.

“Balls…” Allison whispered to herself. Anyone that couldn’t hold their breath would die just about the time they got the hatch open. Thinking the obvious, she asked, “Brinn?”

“Not a chance, Captain. We’re already over the redline,” the Chief said.

Mackenzie stopped to think. If you can’t get the mountain to Mohammed any faster…

“Tomcat zero-niner, this is command,” she said gently.

“Command, zero-niner”

“Zero-niner, mag-grapple Everest and thrust bearing…”

“Two-nine-five mark oh-oh-three,” Private Yates filled in.
“Please confirm, Command,” Zero-niner’s voice said hesitantly.

“We only need a few minutes shaved off of the intercept, zero-niner,” Captain Mackenzie explained. “Give her a push this way and see what you can do.” She keyed another control on the Combat Information Display and said, “Doctor Parker, this is the Captain.”

“Yes Captain,” Parker’s voice seemed stressed. “We have our hands full right at the moment.”

“What’s going on?”

"We're preparing trauma teams and moving them to airlock fifteen-ventral for the recovery,"

"Doctor," Allison smiled, "You're a telepath. Please be ready for mass annoxia."

"Already done, Captain," Parker said. "As you say, I'm a telepath."

"Thanks - Out," Allison terminated the comm. "Yates, target status?"

Private Yates stiffened. "Everest speed now positive forty kilometers per minute and increasing."

"Captain, it is dubious that Tomcat zero-niner can sustain this thrust level for long without damage," Brinn scolded boldly.

"Noted," Allison replied with a glare fit to boil steel. She turned back to the CID and toggled yet another comm. "Prepare a shuttle for launch - EVA rescue."

"Private Yates, get the computer crunching on a braking mauver based on closure rate and feed it to the helm, please," Allison said, more composed. "Estimated suit oh-two endurance?"

"Sixteen minutes, thirty seconds." Brinn said.

"Tine on target?"

"One minute, ten seconds," Leiutenant Farrell answered.

"Private Yates?"

"It's borderline, ma'am," Yates said nervously.

"No time," Allison said. "Feed it to helm and execute. Command to zero-niner..."

"Command, zero-niner," Came the pilot's voice over the comm. The sound of engines straining in the background was unmistakable.

"Best head for the high ground," Allison said. "We'll take it from here."

“Roger,” Zero-niner’s voice replied. A booming ‘clank’ echoed through the com. “Zero-niner is clear.”

“Nice work, zero-niner,” Allison said. “You boys come back to the barn.”

“Mag-grapple charged,” Brinn said.

“Time on target?” Allison asked again.

“Twenty seconds,” Farrell said tensely.

“Helm?” Allison asked.

“Computer interlocked,” Farrell said.

“Keep a finger on the bypass,” Allison said. “You never know when…”

“Guidance alert!” Yates interrupted. “Two degree negative portside deviation.”

“Two second pulse, ventral portside reaction control thrust, Lieutenant Farrell,” Allison said. “Auto correct.”

“Aye, Captain,” Farrell acknowledged as her fingers flew across her console. Quickly, she responded, “Maneuver complete.”

“Private Yates?” Allison asked.

“All green as far as I can see, ma’am.”

“Brinn?”

“Go for mag-grapple,” Brinn responded.

“Execute. It’s all yours, Brinn. I’m going to the airlock.”

With a nod of confirmation from the chief engineer, Allison strode out of the command center.

*****

Cheź Perrie was a bit of an oddity aboard Tico. The restaurant was the one place aboard ship where rank, uniform, and particularly military protocol was not only unallowed – it was absolutely forbidden.

Allison felt a bit out of place as she stepped into the lobby wearing a light-weight floral print sundress and heeled shoes, but she always missed her uniform when it was gone.

‘Civillian clothes itch,’ Allison told herself. The thought had her smiling warmly when Jake Connors, CO of the Everest, came to stand next to her. “Hello Jake…”

“Miss Mackenzie, you look absolutely adorable,” Jake smiled. “Not only a lifesaver, but beautiful as well.”

“The flattery is completely unnecessary,” Allison said as her cheeks warmed. She giggled, “But don’t stop on my account.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it,” Jake said.

Allison feigned seriousness. “Was charm school expensive?”

“Indeed,” Jake said, also deadpan. He wiggled his eyebrows to break up the intensity of their locked eyes. “But it was worth every penny.”

“Indeed,” Allison laughed.

“Shall we?” Jake nodded toward the waiting Maitré de.

“Of course,” Allison smiled.

Jake’s fingers brushed the small of her back as he guided her forward with the sweetest of gestures. It was completely innocent, but her body tingled from the contact.

She’d known Jake ever since basic off-planet training, before they’d split off into their respective career fields. He’d been this naturally fun-loving, easy-going character as long as she’d known him – kind of like instant best friend material. Although he wasn’t directly military, the Space Transit Authority and Space Command were definitely family. This association had allowed Allison to watch Jake’s progress, and she’d done so with satisfaction – he’d actually been promoted to Captain much sooner than she had.

Once they were seated, Jake started, “This is pretty fancy. We could do with something like this on Everest.”

“The designers had a lot of forethought when they built her,” Allison said. “They knew we’d need some place to entertain visiting dignitaries.”

“Me?” Jake looked stunned. “A Dignitary?” He straightened his collar and mocked primping his hair. “It’s about time someone noticed.”

Allison laughed.

“You seem well, Allie,” Jake said more seriously. “It’s good to see.”

“You didn’t seem too swift earlier,” Allison said just as sincerely. She reached across the table and took her friend’s hand. “I was worried about you.”

“I was worried about me too for a bit,” Jake said with a small grin. “I never thought a flight of Tomcats would look as good as those did when they showed up.”

“You wouldn’t believe what those guys put themselves through to stay sharp,” Allison said. “Today was a cakewalk for them.”

“Rumor has it you’d have a good idea though,” Jake said. “I heard you got yourself flight rated.”

“I did,” Allison said coyly. “I’ve soloed a time or two – it’s a lot of fun.”

“I can imagine. It’s a little fancier than toodling around in a shuttle, isn’t it?”

“Maybe a tad,” Allison said. “But there’s more to life.”

“Oh?” Jake asked, sounding surprised.

Allison glanced down toward the table, and tried not to smile… “Sure… Like… Chasing boys – or, in your case, girls, and Love, and… Stuff…”

“I’ve only met one girl worth chasing,” Jake said as he reached for his water glass.

Allison’s cheeks warmed again.

“That gal Stykes, your Sciences Chief of Staff… Holy Cow,” Jake said dreamily.

“Oh, yeah,” Allison agreed, a bit sarcastically. “Blond, beautiful, bikini-bodied, and brilliant… I guess she’s okay if you like that sort of thing.”

“We’d never get along, though.”

“Why’s that?” Allison asked inquiringly.

Jake’s brow furrowed just before he took another drink of water. “She’d never let me pull her leg this hard.

“I swear, Connors… One of these days, I’m going to teach you exactly why you shouldn’t tease me.”

Jake’s smile was soothing. “As soon as it’s over for either one of us, it’ll happen.”

Allison stared at him for a long time before she said, “I just don’t want to lose you to someone like Melinda Stykes.”

“Never going to happen,” Jake smiled. “We just worked to hard for command not to enjoy it a bit, don’t you think?”

“It just gets hard sometimes,” Allison said.

“You don’t know the half of it…”

“I can imagine,” Allison said, giggling.

“How’re your parents?” Jake asked once things had settled down.

“I don’t really know,” she said after a few moments of thought. “I talk to my mom once a week, and we write now and again, too. She talks about Dad sometimes, but sometimes I think she only tells me what I want to hear to try and keep me from worrying about things.”

“Maybe it’s for the best, Allison,” Jake said.

“It probably is,” Allison admitted. “But that doesn’t make it any easier.”

“I’m sure it doesn’t,” Jake agreed. “But if it’s enough to keep you from hanging this up and going home to sit by your Dad’s bed, it’s all good.”

“Here I sit, as far from nowhere as anyone can be visiting with a friend and eating my supper. It’s an extraordinary experience, but can you honestly tell me it’s more important than me being there for my Dad?”

“Yes,” Jake said without hesitation.

Allison was quiet for a long time, and Jake decided to leave her in her own thoughts while she ate. She had nearly finished when he asked, “Allison?”

Her focus on her plate, she didn’t acknowledge him.

“Allison,” he said more firmly.

She still gave no sign that she’d heard him, so he reached across the table and lifted her chin with a gentle hand. He found misery embodied, complete with tears welling in her eyes.

“It will be alright, Allie,” Jake said with a full smile.

Her lips curled almost imperceptibly.

“Have I ever lied to you?” He brushed a stray tear from her cheek as he slipped his hand back.

“You better not have,” Allison said with a forced but sincere grin.



Allison’s toes wiggled as she yawned.

“That must take skill,” Jake said as he gently massaged her secret spot – just below her left ear as her head lay across his lap.

She nuzzled his hand like a cat. Her right hand tightened around his free hand and rested on her tummy. She agreed, “It’s an acquired skill.”

Jake glanced around her stateroom. Spacious as it was when compared to his own aboard Everest, it was still tiny by most standards. Filled with paperwork, pictures, and postcards, it was as warm as its occupant.

“You’re going to fall asleep in my arms, Captain Mackenzie,” Jake grinned. “You know that, don’t you?”

Allison yawned contentedly. “Yup.”

“Sweet dreams, then,” Jake grinned.

By way of acknowledgement, Allison yawned one last time as her eyes fell completely closed.

*****

“Hi,” Allison said with a glance over her shoulder. “How’d you sleep?”

“Just fine,” Jake said groggily. He opened his eyes and found her silhouette across the room in dim light. “I can go if you want…”

“That’s alright,” Allison said with her back to him. Her towel dropped to the floor, and she slipped into gray cotton underwear before she turned back to him. “My shift starts pretty soon, and I forgot to set the alarm. It’s kind of lucky I woke up – I was sleeping so good.”

“That’s the first time we ever slept together, isn’t it?” Jake grinned. A hint of moisture leftover from her shower made her hair and body glisten in the light. “I’m glad it was good for you, too.”

Allison laughed. She pulled up the zipper and fastened the waist clasp on a sky-blue duty flightsuit as she crossed the room and knelt by him. She took his hand and squeezed it warmly.

“I really do love you, Jake.”

“And I you.”

“Like a friend?”

“Until tomorrow,” Jake said. He brushed a stray lock of hair back from her forehead, letting his hand linger against her secret spot. His reward was her smile, so he finished, “And tomorrow, and tomorrow…”

“And when tomorrow finally comes?” Allison asked. Eyes closed, she nuzzled his hand.

“We sleep together, again?” Jake asked in return.

“Sure,” Allison said. Her eyes opened, and she grinned. “And grocery shop, and mow the lawn, and maybe even walk the dog.”

“You think so?”

“Yup,” Allison smiled. “You should rest up for it.”

“I think I’ll do just that,” Jake said contentedly. His eyes settled shut again. “I’m going to need my strength.”

“That you are,” Allison agreed. She kissed his forehead and whispered, “Sweet dreams…”

She was careful not to make any noise as she covered him with an afghan and slipped out the door.



“That sounds fine, Chief,” Allison said as she spoke with the engineer over the vidlink. “We can scoot out to the rim for Miss Stykes’ survey, and Everest can head back to Alba under her own power.”
“I’d estimate repair and recharge will be complete in four hours,” Brinn said. He tried to stifle a yawn.

“You’ve done well, Chief. A little over four hours and we’ll have you sleeping like a baby,” Allison said gently.

“Sounds reasonable,” Brinn said agreeably. “I’ll give you a shout when she’s ready.”

“Very well, and thank you,” Allison said as she closed the com connection. She toggled a different control, and the vidlink screen soon filled with the image of an attractive curly-haired blond woman about her own age.

“Good morning, Captain,” The woman began.

“Good morning, Miss Stykes,” Allison said. “What do you hear in the Sciences Department today?”

“Little of any consequence,” Melinda smiled. “To be honest, it’s been a bit boring lately.”

“Perhaps I can do something about that. We have about five hours worth of work to do, and then the ship is yours for the survey of the rim of the Williford asteroid belt.”

“Really?” Melinda asked, obviously surprised.

“Really,” Allison said with a hint of a smile.

“How much time do we get?”

“It’s the only thing on the roster for the time being,” Allison said. “Providing the proverbial phone doesn’t ring, we’ll stay until reasonable completion as defined by you with my oversight. Ticonderoga will have some other operations active, but we’ll stay out of your way.”

“Cool,” Melinda smiled.

“Can you have a preliminary agenda and opening course plots in time for a late breakfast meeting?” Allison asked. “Nothing carved in stone, but a place to start?”

“Of course…”

“Ten hundred in galley two?” Allison asked.

“I’ll see you there,” Melinda said happily.

“Have fun. Mackenzie out.”

*****

Allison couldn’t help but wonder if Jake was still asleep in her cabin. He looked so cute on the couch when she left – just where he’d been as he held her through the night. She also wondered how much he’d seen as she dressed. It wasn’t a big deal… Although she’d never been watched like that, she wasn’t ashamed or embarrassed.

She was just… Curious…

She made it a point to smile warmly as she rounded the corner and stepped into the galley. The room was empty except for Mindy, who was seated at a table and seemed to be talking happily to a crewman who had his back to Allison.

Allison seemed to be unnoticed, so she looked on for a moment as Mindy was in high-flirt mode. Eyes wide, jumpsuit collar open, hands either moving expressively or open toward her friend. The body language was there, and judging by his laughter, her friend was receptive.

‘Good for her,’ Allison decided as she approached. Still smiling warmly, she interjected, “Good morning, Mindy.”

Mindy looked a bit surprised to see someone other than her friend in the room, but recovered easily. “Good morning, Captain. I’d think you must know Captain Connors.”

It was Allison’s turn to be surprised. She didn’t immediately identify the emotion as jealousy as she looked into Jake’s eyes, but her stare made it clear that the green-eyed monster had taken residence in her heart.

Jake looked confused – so much so that he even cringed a little before he offered, “Good morning, Captain.”

“Morning,” Allison answered. “I’m told by Chief Engineer Brinn the Everest should be ready to return to Alba under her own power in an hour or so.”

“That’s good news,” Jake said.

“Yes it is,” Allison said coldly. “I hate to interrupt, but there’s a lot going on today. Are you ready for our meeting, Miss Stykes?”

“Yes Captain,” Mindy said formally.

“Perhaps I should go and get ready,” Jake said as he slid back from the table. “Good bye, Mindy… Captain…”

“Very Well, Captain Connors,” Allison said dismissively as she took his place at the table.



It took Jake the better end of an hour to understand why there as hell between them, but once he figured it out, he understood very well.

She had dropped her guard with him completely for the first time. Everything – from telling him she was afraid of losing him to another woman to allowing him to stay as she’d showered and dressed – exposed a part of who she really was to him. It was wonderful that she felt comfortable enough to open up to him in this way, but not very deep inside it also had to make her feel vulnerable.

Stumbling upon him eating his breakfast and talking so animatedly to Mindy Stykes had helped to comfort her vulnerability in the least. Nothing had happened – he’d wandered to the galley, and Mindy had appeared and all but pounced on him. Stykes was fun to talk to – but she was nothing like Allie.

He thought back and remembered how clipped Allison had been, and that glare.

He swore…

She was pissed…

*****

“Closure rate negative ten meters per second and opening,” Allison’s First Officer Tom Hayes reported.

“Very Well,” Allison said as she keyed the vidlink. She didn’t as much as flinch when Jake’s face appeared on her screen. “Well, Captain Connors, you are on your own.”

Jake smiled. “Thanks for everything, Captain Mackenzie.”

“Just doing our job,” Allison clipped. “Mackenzie out.”

Allison shut down the vidlink, only to find a message indicator marked as urgent and personal flashing on her display. She had an inkling what it was, and her brow took on a dangerous curl as she read the text that scrolled onto her display.

Dear Allison,
There’s so much to say, and no way for me to get it said without interrupting your crew and ship. So, here we are…
I’m a lunkhead. It took me a while to figure out why you were so upset with me – but I see it now, and I’m truly sorry I let that situation hurt you in any way.
I guess I’ll have plenty of time to think about what the right words to say to you would have been. That doesn’t matter much now – as all I can think of is how much this must feel like it will to live my life without you.
I’ll still love you, for tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow.

Be Well,
Jake


Allison read it through three times, then leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes.

“Captain?” Hayes asked finally.

Allison sprang back to reality, closed the message from her display, and stood up. “I have a checkride scheduled with Major Daniels. You have the ship.”

“Understood,” Tom said. He hesitated before he asked, “Captain? Is something wrong?”

“Yes,” Allison said. She turned and left.



“So, how’re you and Jake getting along?” Major Daniels asked conversationally. He smiled as their Tomcat pitched harshly to avoid a nearby asteroid.

Allison rolled inverted and skimmed along the surface of another huge chunk of rock. A collision alert flashed on her visor, and she yawed sharply to avoid a building sized spire jutting from the surface.

“Nice maneuver,” Daniels said. “It’s off the record, Captain. I’ve known Jake for a long time, and just thought I’d offer if you wanted to talk.”

Allison eased the throttles forward and began to weave gracefully between the slowly rotating asteroids. Finally, she said, “I think I goofed.”

“It happens,” Daniels said. “Try using a you auxiliary thruster control a little more. It’ll improve the response time.”

Allison’s arcs around the obstacles became more defined almost at once. “We had a wonderful night together, just being together and talking. Then, I caught him with Mindy Stykes and…”

“Jealousy is normal, but Jake’s a one-woman man,” Daniels said. “You’re doing very well, by the way.”

“I just felt like I could trust him, and… Then… I wasn’t so sure.”
“You can trust Jake. You just have to give him the chance to let you,” Daniels said. “Since I’m happily married with a little one - I can get away with this. You’re a beautiful and talented woman. Jake sees it. Trust me.”

“Tomcat one-one-three, this is the Ticonderoga,” Tom Hayes’ voice broke in over the radio.

Allison keyed the communications controls. “Go ahead, Ticonderoga.”

“We just got a mayday from Everest. She’s under attack – it sounds like she ran across an automated border sentry.”

“Launch everything you have,” Allison said quickly.

“Captain Randall has the entire complement of Tomcats out on long distance navigation maneuvers. They’re about two thousand clicks in the wrong direction. We’re en-route with Tico, but you’re the closest ship.”

“Send us the coordinates,” Allison said. She heeled her fighter around in the approximate direction of the Everest and firewalled the engines. “Get us as much help as you can.”



“It’s a battleball, Major Daniels said as he glanced at his primary scanner display. The graphic slowly rotated, showing a spherical probe covered in thruster and weapons ports. “It’s an Orient Ore Consortium unit – up here to protect what they think ought to be their turf.”

“A nasty way to mark a property line,” Allison agreed.

“We’ll never take it by ourselves,” Daniels said. “I’d recommend we strafe it to get it off of Everest, and try to lead it back to Ticonderoga once we have its attention.”

“Can we outrun it?”

“That’s up to the lady running the stick,” Major Daniels said. “I’ll do what I can with the weapons, but it’s doubtful I’ll do more than get its attention.”

“Tomcat one-one-three to Ticonderoga,” Allison said into the com. “We’ve confirmed the aggressor as an OOC un-manned border sentry. We’re going to see if we can bring her your way. Advise you set condition red and energize the defense systems.”

“There they are,” Daniels said. “Port side, ten o’clock low.”

A threat warning appeared on Allison’s helmet visor just above the Everest. Again, she spoke into the com, “Positive contact, Ticonderoga. We’re going in.”
“Weapons hot,” Daniels said. “Just center him in the sight, and I’ll try and blow him to Neptune.”

As they screamed toward the Everest, Allison could make out random shots from the ball’s particle cannon ports. Impact explosions dotted the Everest’s hull, and clouds of outgassed atmosphere from the ship were evident.

“Here we go,” Allison said. Under her breath, she added, “Leave him alone, you filthy little bugger…”

“Weapons lock,” Daniels announced. “Firing.”

The concussors activated, and Allison saw the ball surrounded by a cloud of fragmentation shells. Only just in time, she ducked her fighter below the battered but active ball. It streaked between the Tomcat’s twin-tails, already firing randomly as the fighter started to run.

“It’s on us,” Daniels said.

“Tico,” Allison said into the com, “We’re engaged – the area is clear. Prep and launch a rescue shuttle for Everest. Arc their trajectory so they stay out of the way.”

“Evade… Evade… Evade…” Daniels interrupted. An explosion rattled the Tomcat before he added, “Minor damage to starboard side concussor port.”

Another explosion shook Allison.

“No additional damage,” Daniels said. “We need more speed.”

“There’s nothing left….”

“Evade… Evade…”

“Ready on the concussors,” Allison said as she heeled back on the auxiliary thruster control. The Tomcat pitched from head to tail in a sickening vertical axis roll. She heard the concussors fire, saw the explosion, felt its force, and then nothing…

*****

“There she is,” a familiar voice said quietly.

Allison’s eyelids fluttered as she pulled them open. There was pain from the beginning, making her sure she was banged up. Things were a little fuzzy, but she knew this wasn’t the cockpit of a Tomcat, or even her stateroom. There was motion, and then weight on the bed next to her hip.

A warm hand took hers, and she instinctively squeezed it.

“You okay, Captain Mackenzie?”

“Jake?” Allison’s voice croaked.

“Yes… Still Jake – thanks to you.”

Allison blinked. She blinked again, and felt moisture on her cheek. “I thought I was going to lose you.” She blinked again, and thought she saw him smile in the dim light of Tico’s medbay.

“That’s funny. I thought I was going to lose you.”

“Did we get him in time?”

“You did,” Jake said gently. “But he got even when he exploded. Daniels is fine, but your Tomcat is going to need some bodywork.”

Allison’s eyelids settled shut.

“You’re going to fall asleep in my arms, Captain Mackenzie,” Jake said softly.

“Yup,” Allison agreed.

Jake smiled. “Sweet dreams, then…”