Shattered

Chapter 7

Lee

"I need to go home and soak my leg for a bit." I told them and Jackson and Grant knew it was because I couldn't deal with my emotions. I was starting to fray right there on the couch. I gave Davis a look and he nodded, helping me up. "Can you drive?" Carter asked and I nodded, "I'm fine, I use the right foot for driving." He stuck out his tongue, "I meant you just took medication." I snorted, "Dude, it was ibuprofen, not crack. I'm fine." I grabbed my bag that I left by the door and limped toward my truck. I had made it about three feet out the door when I was lifted off the ground. 

"Carter, you are really pushing my human contact limit today, will you put me down?" I grumbled causing him to chuckle, "Nope, don't care, didn't ask. You need to rest that leg." Davis snorted, "Her room is on the second floor so she has a lot more work to do." I groaned, "Seriously? Lt, you are about as subtle as an air strike." He laughed all the way to his car. Jackson grinned, "I'll bring your car to you later, I have a date with Penny in a few hours, she can follow me there." That brought a smile to my face, Penny was a sweet woman, a single mother with the most adorable little girl named Cloe. 

I huffed, "Fine, home, Jeeves." I ordered Carter with a horrible English accent. He grinned and I waved at my brothers as we drove off. "I am not sure where you live, Lee." Carter said as we pulled onto the main road. I gave him directions and we were there in five minutes. He opened my door and gathered me into his arms. I gave him a skeptical look, "Are you really gonna be able to carry me up the stairs?" He snorted, "You are light as a feather, my go bag weighs more than you." I chuckled, "I used to crawl into the General's go bag, hoping he would take me with him, but he always knew I was there." 

"How?" He asked with a grin on his face, "Probably the pile of his shit laying next to it." I laughed. "Keys?" He asked and I noticed we were at my door, damn, he didn't even break a damn sweat. I fished them out of my bag, "You know, I can stand." I told him as he opened my door with one hand. He carried me into my small but nice house. It was a four-bedroom home with four bathrooms, a finished basement, and a nice backyard. I installed a hot tub on the back patio along with an ice tub, all for my leg. 

My home was made for comfort, it was entirely mine. "Nice place. How long have you lived here?" He asked carrying me through the house on a self-navigated tour. "A year and a half, give or take. How bout we stop in the kitchen, I'm starved and I am sure you are too. I can make something since it's obvious that you are staying." He grinned, "Yup, but I'll cook. Where do you soak your leg?" I sighed, "Upstairs, master bathroom. Last door, end of the hall." He jogged up the stairs, careful not to shake me around and headed for my bedroom. This was my sanctuary, no one else has ever been in here before. 

My room was decorated in navy blue and silver, all the wood was dark. It was peaceful and relaxing, unlike my dreams. I was nervous about him being in here. I met his eyes and he smiled, "What are you so nervous about, your practically vibrating?" I sighed, "No one has ever been in here but me, ever." He nodded, "I get it. I leave you to it then, call me if you need help. I fix something for lunch, preferences?" I laughed, "It's my house, if it's here, I'll eat it." He tossed me a salute and a grin before leaving me alone. 

I sighed and limped toward my closet, pulling out a soft pair of black yoga pants, underwear, a tank, and a bra before heading into one of my favorite places, my bathroom. I had the tub modified so that it was easier to get in and out of. I turned on the water, hot as I could stand it and grabbed the Epsom salt, dumping in a few handfuls. After stripping, I climbed into the hot water and practically melted. After about twenty minutes, I drained the tub and got into the shower, quickly washing off and feeling so much better. I dried off and put on everything but my pants, propping myself on the sink, I grabbed my special lotion. It helped with the scars and smelled great. 

I just opened the jar when Carter popped his head in and grinned, "Lunch is finished. What is that?" I snorted, "It rubs the lotion on its skin or else it gets the hose again." He chuckled as he walked to me. "I can help you with that." He grabbed the jar and began to massage the lotion into my leg. I don't like people touching it, but his hands were gentle and it felt wonderful, a moan escaped my lips. "You have to wrong career, you should have been a masseuse." He laughed, "Medic, masseuse, same difference." I met his eyes, "Why do you want to help me so much, Carter. No one has shown any interest in me in years and now I can't get rid of you." 

He kept rubbing my leg, "You are different than anyone I ever met, Lee. I was the first person to find you that day and the image has stuck with me, but then when I saw you again, it was as if it were fate. You are a living, breathing miracle. The more that I see you, talk to you, the more I want to be close to you. It's like a siren call." He met my eyes, blue crashing into green and I saw the sincerity there. "You don't want me, Carter, I'm damaged goods, broken, completely shattered beyond repair. No one can fix me, believe me, they have tried." He cupped my cheek, "You misunderstand me, I don't want to fix you. I like you just the way you are. Sure, I want you to get better, to stop being haunted by the past and sure, I would love to see you pain-free. However, you are perfect. Every scar, every wound, makes you who you are." 

Then, his lips were on mine. I froze and he pulled back, "I'm sorry, I rushed-" I cut him off by grabbing him and kissing him again.