Runaway Love

I woke up alert. I looked at the clock and saw that it was four in the morning. Oliver and Sean were both asleep. I rolled over, figuring that was what woke me up. However, once I rolled over, it changed the position of one the babies and I had pee.

I climbed out of bed, night time bathroom trips had become a regular thing the last few weeks, so I was on the outside of the bed so I didn't have to wake up one of the guys. I was officially in my third trimester and was tired of bed rest. I was looking forward to later this week when I had my next appointment. At my last visit my doctor had said if my previa was better than we could talk about doing a modified bedrest. At least then I wouldn't be stuck in bed all day.

I finished my bathroom trip, but was thirsty, so I wandered to the kitchen for a glass of water. I felt like I belonged in the book "If You Give A Mouse A Cookie" but a pregnancy version. If you get up to go to the bathroom, you'll need to get a drink. If you get a drink, you'll have to use the bathroom. I chuckled at my exhausted humor.

Grabbing a cup from the cupboard, I turned to the sink. As I filled the cup something in the window above the sink caught my attention. I leaned a little closer to get a better look.

A shadow was moving outside. My first thought was a deer, but then I noticed it's height. What really got my attention was a glow that moved. I ducked below the counter, my glass shattering on the floor.. That was a man, a man with a cigarette.

I felt panic growing in my belly. I wasn't sure if they had seen me, or heard my glass. I crawled until I was out of sight of the kitchen window. Then I climbed to my feet and ran silently to the bedroom. "Oliver, Oliver, wake up! Oh God, Oliver!" I whispered loudly.

He groaned and rolled over, but did not answer me. The one time this guy doesn't wake up easily, is the one night I need him. I gave up on him and moved to Sean.

"Sean, baby, Sean. Please, wake up, please!" I shook his shoulder.

Sean grunted but opened his eyes.

"Josie, what are you doing out of bed? Are the girls alright?" He asked, sitting up alert, his hand reaching for my belly.

"They are fine, I saw someone outside in the yard when I was getting a drink. Smoking a cigarette." I rushed out.

He instantly got up, tapping Oliver on the shoulder twice. He threw on clothes and Oliver instantly sat up, alert. Sean threw him a pair of pants as he reached for his handgun in the safe.

"We have company. Kitchen window by the sink." He said as he handed a second gun to Oliver after his pants were on.

"Stay here, sugar. Don't leave this room. Stay away from the windows." I nodded and sat on the floor.

I watched them move silently, getting a glimpse at the trained military men they were. It was no wonder why their security business was so successful. They communicated with quick glances and moved silently.

Waiting was unbearable. I looked at the clock, 4:10. The time passed slowly, and silently. I was hoping no noise was good noise, but I hadn't heard anything that indicated something was going wrong. I glanced back at the clock, 4:20. The ten minutes felt like hours.

Finally, I heard the front door shut, I tensed as footsteps came closer. I ducked lower behind the bed, the bedroom dark.

"Josie, it's all clear. I'm turning the light on. Sean's on the phone downstairs, do you want to join us?" Oliver asked.

I quickly blinked away the brightness and launched myself (as much as one can when heavily pregnant) over the bed into Oliver's arms. He caught me, as a sob wracked through my body. "Oh, sugar, it's fine. Everything is safe. We are safe." He cooed as he rubbed my back.

"I was so scared." I cried into his chest.

"I know, we are trained to handle these situations. But that doesn't make it any less frightening for you or us. Know that we are cautious and safe. We have something to come home to, now." He said as he pulled away so he could look me in the eye.

I nodded and sniffled, wiping one eye, as his thumb wiped my other cheek. I clung to him a little longer, before feeling the need to lay eyes on Sean. I needed to see him with my own eyes to verify his safety. We walked to the kitchen, where I could hear him talking very angrily on his phone.

"How did he get through the security system? It should have been triggered, Sam. Did he outsmart our system? I want to know how, and I want to know yesterday." He hung up, dropping his phone on the counter.

Oliver walked to the couch, while I took in Sean from behind. He ran his hands up over his face, then through his hair, tugging it slightly before dropping them to the counter. He leaned for a second, taking a few deep breaths. I walked behind him and wrapped my arms around him the best I could, pressing my belly between us, as I moved my hands up to his chest.

His hands met mine and held them to his front. He kept his head bowed, but rubbed his thumbs over the back of my hands. One of the girls gave a hard kick right into his back. He chuckled and turned around, laying his hands on my belly for a second before pulling me to him.

"Are you alright?" He asked into my hair.

"Yes, a little shaken, but better now that I know you and Oliver are safe and sound." I said, squeezing him a little tighter.

"We are tra-"

"Yes, I know, but that doesn't make me worry any less when you two run headlong into dangerous situations." I sighed against him.

"But we don't run headlong, darling. We enter with caution and precision. Aware of our surroundings and ready for anything. We will always come back to you and the girls. Never forget that." He said as he pulled away to kiss my forehead. "Do you know who it was?" I asked, glancing out the window.

"No, and he didn't leave anything besides his tracks." My shoulders sagged with frustration, I had been hoping for more.

"But tracks tell us a lot." I stared at him with a confused look. "They tell us an approximate size and stature. His gait, which direction he came from, it's too dark to tell much now, but Judd is our best tracker and he's on his way." "Judd?" I couldn't remember him.

"You haven't seen him since you were introduced. He's been away at work for a while." Oliver supplied as he set his laptop on the counter.

I nodded, and started making coffee. There was no way I was going to be able to go back to bed, and I doubt the men would either. I would have to settle for a nap later, maybe I'd be lucky enough to get one of them to accompany them.

I heard Oliver talking to Sean about the security system, and what had happened visually at it. I couldn't understand most of it, there were terms I was unfamiliar with. Apparently Oliver had embraced his inner geek and learned to code and work with tech while in the military.

"So he didn't unarm the system, he confused it? I thought the system was rigged so it couldn't be hacked?" Sean asked.

"You'd have to speak to Sam about that, he's more savvy in that area than I am, but basically you're right. Our trespasser is smart, and knows his tech and maybe even some coding, or knows someone who does." Oliver explained.

"So that rules out a random trespasser or possible robbery attempt. He knew the house, he knew the system. He also did not stick to the woods, so either he didn't care if he was seen, or was banking on us all being asleep. But he didn't try to hide his tracks, so I'm leaning towards not caring." Sean ran his hands through his hair again.

I dropped a mug of coffee in front of both of the boys, and turned to fix mine. If he didn't care, then what would stop him from getting closer or more dangerous. My face fell.

"Me too, but at least we know it's not Josh, he's locked up again." Oliver said as he took a drink.

"What do you mean locked up? I thought he made bail." I asked, turning and leaning against the counter, taking a sip of coffee.

"They were able to link the attack on Gina to him with evidence, so they booked him again. He's waiting for his hearing for bail. Hopefully they won't give it." Sean explained.

I nodded, but wasn't going to hold my breath. Sean had connections, and his father had pull. I wouldn't be surprised if he was out within a week. I was pulled from my thoughts by a knock at the door.

"Judd, thanks for coming, I know that you just got back and were hoping to sleep. Let me show where the tracks are so you can get started and then go get some rest while we piece everything together." Sean said as he led the tall, lean blonde toward the back.

"I'm going to go shower, before I land on the couch for the day." I told Oliver as I gave him a kiss on the cheek.

He nodded and I worked my way towards the bedroom, finding a pair of leggings and a tunic top. My go to lazy outfit. As I walked into the bathroom, I felt exhaustion already pulling at me. I knew it was the drain from the adrenaline crash. I hurried through my shower and soon found myself on the couch, searching through Netflix for something to watch.

Finding Outlander, my newest TV obsession, I sunk deeper into the cushions and relaxed. Letting my stress take a backseat so I could enjoy someone else's drama for a while.