The Switch

Chapter 3

After securing Mia in the passenger side, Taryn walked around the car, sliding into the driver's seat. Before she started the car, she leaned toward the other woman and gently kissed her lips, feeling like a teenager who was experiencing their first crush. It was just past 10:30 on Saturday morning, which meant that it was time to get Mia home, but she sure didn't want to. Taryn didn't fully know what their night together meant to the redhead, but it had been magical for her. In fact, she had never felt the way she did last night with Chelsea or any other woman.

As they drove down the street, Taryn came up with an idea to possibly buy herself some time with Mia. Glancing toward the redhead, she almost shyly inquired, "Hey, how about I take you to breakfast before dropping you off?" A roguish grin spread her lips. "I don't know about you, but all that activity gave me a wicked appetite!"

Bursting into laughing, Mia nodded in agreement. "I could use some nourishment too." Reaching over, she briefly squeezed Taryn's knee. "Sounds like a great plan. Let's do it."

"Horny little thing, aren't you?" Taryn teasingly remarked. "That last time in the shower wasn't enough for you?" As Mia had another laugh attack, the driver continued speaking while shaking her head, as though marveled by something. "I swear, the different ways you came up with to use that loofah were truly ingenious. I'll never look at a bath sponge the same way again." She grinned, enjoying Mia's laughter.

Abruptly, a deer, which darted from thick bushes, came to a halt on the road in Taryn's lane as though daring her to strike it. Noticing an oncoming truck in the lane adjacent to hers, the brunette realized she only had three, maybe four seconds to make a decision. Since the few cars trailing behind her left braking out of the question, she either hit the animal or took her chances with the bushes. Deciding on the latter, she quickly swerved to the right as Mia clutched her seat tightly.

"Mia, hold on tight!"

Unfortunately, after the car careened through the bushes, a steep hill lay directly ahead. Before Taryn could even think to apply the brakes (although it probably wouldn't have done them any good), her car tumbled down the hill, rolling several times before a couple of mighty oak trees stopped all movement.

Her hands still wrapped around the steering wheel, Taryn moved backward until her forehead was no longer resting on it while attempting to breathe-- every breath excruciatingly painful. Although it seemed to take her forever to do so, she finally managed to turn her head in Mia's direction. Blood covered the majority of the other woman's face, one cheek pressed against the severely cracked window. Her eyes were open, yet Taryn was unfortunately certain that she wasn't truly looking anywhere. The officer had more experience than she cared to think about with that vacant look, having arrived at her share of crime scenes.

"Mia?" Taryn barely whispered loud enough for her own ears to decipher the word.

She attempted to raise an arm to stroke her cheek and close her eyes, but it fell just a couple inches away from Mia's face. With labored breaths, she watched the still librarian until unconsciousness won her battle to stay awake.

　

Feeling a gentle hand brushing against her cheek, Taryn fought to open her eyes, but felt as though someone had super glued her lids. She took deep breaths, both surprised and relieved that it no longer hurt as much to do so. As someone who sounded like they were standing on the opposite side of a long tunnel began to call her name, Taryn attempted to lift the heavy curtains covering her eyeballs again, this time succeeding.

"Taryn? Sweetheart, are you okay?" a concerned voice inquired.

Her vision blurry, the brunette rapidly blinked as the palm of that hand pressed against her cheek. Within moments, she was able to focus, her weary eyes coming to rest on the woman sitting in a chair next to her bed. Feeling like a ping pong ball was lodged in her throat, Taryn swallowed twice. Coming to her rescue, the woman lightly touched a small plastic pink cup to her lips and allowed the battered patient to take a few sips before removing the cup of water. Her throat feeling better now, Taryn swallowed easier.