SHIFT EXCHANGE

Chapter 11

Jake spent most of the drive to her house on the phone.

First he called her boss and filled him in that she would be off the rest of the week. Then he called Sergeant Maxwell and arranged for a deputy to meet him at the gas station just outside of town to pick up her car keys. One of the guys would bring it to her house later. A third call assured Anita that Kara would be fine and well looked after for the night.

By the time they pulled into her drive they were both feeling exhausted with several more hours of wakefulness before them.

Kara's mood had turned decidedly sour. Have all the power taken out of her hands and ordered about did not sit well with her. The aching in her head and body probably didn't help her disposition.

Jake had backed into a spot at the rear of the parking lot and was walking to the building when he'd heard a sickening thump and a cry of pain. Looking up he'd seen her lying there on the ground in her bright red coat.

She'd really been out of it when he'd first gotten to her. Staring into space, smiling, and giggling. He'd kept talking to her, trying to ask if she was alright. She hadn't seemed to be hearing him.

Staring down at her confused, muddled expression had scared the absolute hell out of him. All of the discussion with the EMT's and the administration types had just been frustrating. Didn't they see just as well as he did that she needed to get to a doctor? What if she was seriously hurt?

Even in her current surly state she was adorable. At least she wasn't arguing anymore. Every step of the way she kept trying to refuse help, stubborn as stubborn could be. Finally, at the hospital she'd conceded defeat and allowed him to take her home.

Princess stubborn pants was leaned back in the passenger seat of his car with a cold pack to the back of her head with her eyes closed. He had a strong urge to reach over and stroke the side of her face, but held back.

"Kara, sweetheart, we're home. No sleeping!" Her eyes flew open and he chuckled as the narrowed at him in irritation. Jake climbed of the vehicle and hustled over to the passenger side to get the door before she had a chance. She stepped out of the vehicle and swayed a bit on her feet. "Here just lean on me a second while I get your purse and my bag and get this door closed."

He expected argument. Instead, she quietly held onto his arm and leaned into him as instructed. Jake secured his car and carefully assisted her up the stairs, retrieved her keys and let them both into the house.

It was cold and dark. Jake placed her in a large overstuffed chair and moved to the wood stove. A few moments later he had it roaring back to life and heat seeping through the air. He found the main light switch and flooded the room with light.

Her home looked like a home. It was comfortable and warm. Nothing like his stark, modern apartment. Everything about it invited you to settle in and stay a while, right down to the large oriental carpet on the dark wood floor.

Jake looked over and saw Kara slumping into the soft padded arm of the chair. "No sleeping! We still have 6 hours." She huffed and repositioned herself to an upright position with a wince. "I'm going to make us some coffee. Promise me you'll stay awake."

Jake wandered down the hall to her kitchen. There was a paper bag of coffee beans on the red tile counter and a coffee grinder, but no coffee maker in sight. He rummaged around opening cupboards above and below. Finally, he found a small drip coffee machine stored in the back of her pantry.

Jake cleaned it of dust and started a pot of coffee before returning to the living room.

"I know you're a coffee drinker. So what is with the machine being hidden?" He sat down on the soft suede couch by the wood stove where he could see her clearly.