Don't Look Like a Seal Pt. 03

Scott started laughing again but controlled it so he doesn't hurt himself.

"He apologized for about two hours afterwards but you couldn't hear him because your ears were ringing," He laughed.

"I don't believe that for a second," I commented.

"Believe what you want," He said then looked at Michelle. "Michelle, watch out when he takes you for ice cream. The scoop is liable to explode."

"No it isn't," I complained. "Michelle, don't listen to him I think his morphine drip is turned up a little too high."

"Not high enough if you ask me," He complained and winced.

"I think I feel pretty safe around him, Scott," Michelle shared. "The only thing I've seen explode when he's around is the blush on his cheeks when I embarrass him."

"You've got him blushing huh?" He asked then gave me a look that I waved off. "That's interesting but that just means he's due for something to blow up. A couple of days has to be some sort of record for you, Ken."

"It is," I agreed. "It's also been over three years since I've punched you but I'm getting the distinct impression that record is going to be broken very shortly."

"Along with my nose right," He chuckled. "I was just rattling your cage a little, Ken. It's been too long."

"Way too long," I nodded in agreement.

"Wait," Michelle jumped in. "You punched Scottie? Why?"

"That is a story for another time," Scott smiled then frowned. "Ken, I need to talk about something. About what happened out there, I mean."

"Okay, Scottie," I told him. "Do you want us to send Lissa back in?"

"No," He shook his head. "I'll tell her when she comes back in but I want to tell you first."

"You want me to wait outside?" Michelle asked.

"No reason to, Michelle," He assured her. "These guys... the ones that tried to grab Addison and Lis, they were pros, Ken. I'm talking military precision and trigger discipline. It was so familiar to me."

"Familiar as in similar to our training or are you talking about something more specific?" I asked but he shook his head.

"I can't place it! I keep seeing it over and over and every time I get the guys mask off all I see is a skull," He answered and we all heard his heart rate monitor had started to beep louder as he got worked up.

"Take a breath, Scott," I told him as I stepped closer to the bed. "Give yourself some time. You just woke up."

"I'm getting the nurse," Michelle said worriedly.

She started for the door but Scott stopped her.

"Michelle, I'm fine," He assured her and the beeping machines seemed to agree with him. "I just need a minute."

She moved to his bedside and took his hand. He gave her a smile and a nod then looked at me.

"Don't worry about a thing, Scott. T. J. and Ramon are here and they aren't leaving Lissa's side. Alex has another guard here as well but you take this for your own protection," I told him as I pulled my knife from my belt and handed it to him. "I take it that you still know how to use one of these."

"I can," He nodded and placed it under his pillow. "And thanks. I heard what happened with T. J. earlier."

"He's fine," I assured him. "You know T. J."

"Too slow to dodge," He chuckled. "Did they catch the guy?"

"Not yet," I answered honestly. "The detectives are looking over the security footage. They're hopeful."

"You don't sound hopeful," He suggested.

"You worry about getting better and leave the rest to us all right?" I told him.

"He's a good guy, Michelle," Scott stated. "Keep an eye on him okay? Sure, he likes to act all tough but he's a teddy bear."

"A pink teddy bear maybe," She asked with a laugh.

"You just lost any toppings for your ice cream," I informed her while she laughed and Scott looked on confused.

"It was worth it since I don't like toppings on my ice cream," She told me.

I shook my head while Scott looked at the two of us in disbelief.

"Michelle, you're going to have to explain what that was all about," He said to her then he twirled his index finger in the air. "I do mean all of this."

"I will, Scottie," She promised. "Right now you need to rest and we don't want you ripping open your stitches by laughing so hard at your friend here."

"I'll defer to your judgment on that but later on, I need to hear that story," He said. "Can I ask you to do me a favor?"

"Anything," She promised him.

"Watch out for him will you? He has a tendency to get in over his head at times," Scott told her.

"I get in over my head?" I said but they both ignored me.

"I'll keep an eye on him for you," She said then leaned in and kissed Scott on his cheek.

He smiled up at her then glanced over at me.

"Thank you," He said. "Can you give us a second Michelle? I do have some guy talk I want to discuss with him."

"Sure, Scott. I'll be right out here," she answered then stepped out into the hallway.

"She likes you, you know?" He asked me once she was gone.

"I like her too," I admitted. "We're just going to be friends though. She made that clear this morning."

"That sounds like Michelle," He sighed. "Known her for a year and she's still not ready to date after her last relationship."

"A year, I was under the impression that you were just now meeting Lissa's friends?" I asked trying to change the subject.

"I just met Addison but Lissa and Michelle hang out quite a bit," He answered. "Addison has been traveling a lot since Lissa and I started dating so it didn't really come up but Michelle I met after Lissa and I had our third or fourth date, I don't remember which."

"Making sure that you were good enough for her friend huh?" I asked.

"I guess it was a little something like that," He chuckled "Now what war zone did Alex drag you out of to come see me?"

"Calabash," I answered. "I run a fishing charter when I'm between investigations."

"Right in our own backyard," He shook his head. "This whole time, you've been right in our backyard."

"Yeah well, someone needed to keep an eye on you guys. Look what happens when I relaxed a little," I stated.

"Joke all you want, Grayson, but we're your friends," He said.

"I'm a loner, Scott," I said. "I've been alone since I was a kid. It's what I'm used to. I had enough of people having expectations of me on the team."

"And now?" He asked.

"I'm back to being a loner," I told him. "Just like I like it."

"Come on, Ken, I was shot but I didn't go blind. I see the way you look at her," He said and nodded toward the door.

"Michelle's a beautiful woman, Scott, of course I look at her though I think she'd appreciate it if I didn't," I sighed.

"What makes you think that?" He asked.

"She told me that she isn't looking for anything romantic right now. Just broke up with a guy or something," I answered.

"She called it quits with that Ryan douche bag she was dating nine months ago! He's lucky he got out of town or I would have kicked his teeth down his throat for what he did to her!" He related to me.

"I'm good at tracking people down," I offered.

"It's over and done with, Ken. Let it lie," He said.

"People need time to get over things," I shrugged.

"If anyone should know that, I guess it'd be you. What's it been six years since your last serious relationship?" He probed.

"This is not what I came here for," I sighed.

"You have to put that thing with Kris behind you and move on before you miss out on something great," He continued.

"Scott, this is not a conversation I'm going to have right now," I told him.

"Because you know I'm right," He supplied with a grin.

"Nice weather we're having," I stated as I looked out the window.

"I wouldn't know I've been in a coma," He remarked.

"Yeah I wanted to ask you about that. A little bit of overkill for a group of kidnappers don't you think?" I asked.

"What are you asking me here, Ken?" He asked.

"I don't know, Scottie. You tell me these guys looked trained and possibly military yet the one guy puts three in your chest and one in your head. That's overkill," I pointed out. "Could the cops be looking at this wrong? Do you think it's possible that you were the target here and not Addison?"

"It's possible I suppose," He admitted. "God knows we made enough enemies through the years but then they just happened to know Lis would leave her pocketbook at the diner and I'd come to take it to her and not wait until she got back home?"

"They could have been trying to take Lissa and you stumbling on them was just a lucky break for them," I pointed out.

"I suppose so but if that's the case there's been plenty of better opportunities to snatch Lissa or kill me. Why involve the Voss family in this if it's about me?" He asked.

"Yeah, that's the same point I made to Det. Young when she thought this thing might have more to do with us then the Voss'." I sighed and looked out the window. "If this was about us, we would be a lot easier to take out one by one. This brought us... most of us, back together."

"Which makes us stronger," Scott commented. "Look who sent off for his junior detectives badge after all this time."

"Two of them," I chuckled. "I guess that makes what I'm about to ask you a little easier then."

"Don't tell me, let me guess. The cops want you to be the one to snoop around my place and tell them if you find anything that points to me being the target," He said.

"Were you just making fun of me and my junior detectives badge," I smiled at him and he chuckled. "They also don't have probable cause for a warrant and I don't need one."

"You upgraded to the Senior Detective badge didn't you," He said. "I didn't even think about that one."

"You give me the word and I'll tell them I found nothing of interest in your place," I told him.

"Without even taking a peek? Aren't you the least bit curious?" He asked.

"To go poking through your underwear drawer? Not even. I just want to make sure all our bases are covered," I shared.

"Good point. I suppose you want to have a look around my place and see if there's anything there. Like I said before, we made a lot of enemies in our day, Ken," He sighed. "Who's to say it isn't one of them looking to punch our tickets?"

"Hector Chavez's name was brought up already," I told him.

"If that's the case, there's a stunning lack of bullet holes in this place," Scott stated.

"I have been told that this isn't about us," I stated.

"Uh huh and who has the authority to tell you that?" He asked.

"Henry," I answered.

"No way," He stated with his voice full of disbelief.

"Det. Young went poking around our files and you know what that does," I said.

"Shit, he was here? Seriously?" he asked again.

"Yes and up to his same old tricks," I told him. "He told Det. Young and I that it wasn't anyone in our past then vanished before we could ask him anything else."

"If he threw in a puff of smoke he could work Vegas," Scott grumbled.

"If I see him again, I'll pass that along," I smiled.

"If you see him again, shoot him," Scott stated.

"He missed on purpose," I chuckled.

"You've been saying that so long that I think you might actually believe it," Scott pointed out then shook his head. "If he said that it was nothing to do with our past then what's the point of searching my place?"

"Do you trust Henry to tell us the truth about anything?" I asked.

"No," He answered. "With him showing up here... he's up to something."

"That's my thinking on it and I want to get a handle on what it is before the wrong people start dying," I shared.

"I've got nothing to hide from you I guess," He stated. "I guess that Lis has my key. I'll tell her that you're grabbing me some clothes or something."

"Don't start lying to her because of me. I'll tell her exactly what I'm doing and why," I stated.

"There you go, ruining all the mystery and suspense. I bet you read the last page of a book first don't you?" He chuckled.

"I'm a SEAL, Scottie, does it look like I can read?" I laughed.

"Asshole," He shook his head. "Get out of here and send my beautiful lady back in here to me."

"Michelle or Lissa," I grinned.

"You better send Lissa back since you promised Michelle an ice cream," He reminded.

"Better deliver on that promise then," I smiled.

"Yeah and do me a favor? If this friendship between you and Michelle turns into something more... treat her right," He told me.

"I'll treat her right regardless if this... thing turns into something more or not. I like her Scottie, more than a little bit all right?" I admitted.

"Best I can ask for I guess," He nodded. "Now get out of here so I can spend some time with Lissa."

****

I shook my head as I stepped out of the room and found Michelle waiting there for me. I wondered how much of our conversation she may have overheard but she didn't let on that she heard anything. I would hate to have to play poker against her. I had a feeling she'd clean me out with the poker face she was displaying.

"Sorry about all that. I think the painkillers he's on make him a little loopy," I told her as I tried to salvage some modicum of dignity.

"Don't worry," She said as we started to walk back to the lobby. "I went through nearly the same thing with Addison this morning."

Her smile squashed my nervousness and I smiled back.

"Our friends have some strange ideas on relationships don't you think?" She asked.

"Seems like it," I nodded. "Do you still want to take me to find a suit or do you think they have too much ammunition as it is?"

"Ammunition or not I'm not about to pass up free ice cream, Kenny, and from what I hear you might end up driving into a lake or something if I'm not there to guide you," She smirked.

"I'm not that bad," I argued playfully.

"That doesn't seem to be the consensus of your friends," She answered.

"My friends exaggerate," I told her. "They chose to follow me if that tells you anything about how their minds work."

"It does a little," She said then smiled. "Now tell me about this camel."

****

Lissa returned to Scott's room alone after sending Addison and everyone off to get something for lunch.

"How are you feeling?" She asked as she lowered his bed rail and sat on the bed beside him.

"Like I've been kicked in the chest by a mule and then after I was on the ground, he sat on my head just for good measure," He answered.

"Do you need your morphine increased? I can call the nurse to come in," She offered.

"That's just what Michelle said and she's the one that caused this hurt to begin with," He chuckled.

"She did? Why would she do that?" Lissa asked.

"Don't get mad at her, honey," He said. "She just got me to laughing is all but I'm fine really."

"Are you sure you're all right?" She asked worriedly looking him over.

"I will be," He assured her. "How have you been holding up?"

"Terrible. You tried to die on me, Scottie" She said as she choked back some tears.

He reached up and pulled her down until she was lying on the bed with him.

"I'm so sorry baby but when I saw that guy manhandling you I had to do something," He said as he stroked her hair and held her close.

"I know. It's not your fault... not really. You were trying to save us and you did so thank you," She said as she kissed his cheek.

"Does that mean that I get to see Addison in her bikini now?" He joked.

Lissa jerked up quickly and glared at him for a second as he tried not to chuckle but he failed.

"I swear Scott if you didn't almost die on me I might kill you right now," She pouted at him.

"I'm just teasing you, pumpkin," He said. "Now if you were to borrow her bikini so I can see it on you... I'm not teasing about that!"

"What has gotten into you Scottie?" She gasped. "I mean a few days ago you're at deaths door and now you're all horny."

"I missed three days with you," He told her. "Of course I'm feeling amorous. I remember this, I don't know if you'd call it a dream or what since I was in a coma but you and I were getting hot and heavy and..."

He was unable to finish because Lissa had started laughing.

"That was Michelle," She managed to get out between giggles.

"What?" He asked surprised.

"Her suggestion not her physically," She said then explained what had happened. "She read online about how talking dirty might help to bring someone out of a coma or at least give a sign that they can hear you."

"A sign?" He asked with raised eyebrows.

"You know," She said and her hand drifted to his groin where she gave his flaccid member a squeeze. "A sign."

She smiled as she felt him begin to expand in her hand. He smiled back at her both glad that part was working.

"Oh shit... and you did that? Here?" He groaned as she started to slip her hand up and down his shaft over his gown.

"Hey, it seems to have worked. Remind me that I owe her big time for that by the way," She giggled at him.

"And Michelle suggested you try this? Sweet and quiet Michelle?"He said then moaned as she teased her fingers around the head of his cock. "I can't... Oh God baby... can't believe it!"

"You can't believe it? I almost fell to the floor when she suggested that I talk dirty to my comatose Sailor man," Lissa answered as she stroked his fully erect member through his gown.

She glanced at the door to make sure no one had noticed her giving an impromptu hand job.

"Lis, maybe you shouldn't..." he started to tell her but stopped when she slipped her hand inside his gown.

All the dirty talking that she had been trying was working on her as well. After every session she would have to excuse herself to the bathroom to dab herself dry.

"I'm just so happy you're back, Scottie," She purred as she exposed his cock. "If I wasn't afraid of them throwing me out of here I would wrap my lips around my friend here and really show him just how much he's been missed."

"Oh God, I might pop a few stitches if you tried that, baby," He moaned as she stroked him.

She made a show of licking her palm before wrapping it back around his engorged cock. She winked at him then slowly stroked his shaft.

"Lis, I'm not going to last long," He moaned as she teased the underside of his crown.

"I don't need you to hold back, baby!" She urged him as her hand sped up.

"Oh... Oh God!" He cried out as he exploded all over her hand and himself.

"Oops," She giggled and pulled her hand away.

She grabbed a nearby towel and cleaned him off. Just as she was putting his gown back in place a nurse entered the room.

"Is everything okay in here? I thought I heard a shout," She said.

"I'm great," Scott answered dreamily while Lissa blushed.

The nurse saw the flush on Lissa's cheeks and Scott's heavy breathing and contented smile plastered on his face then shook her head.

"Just be gentle with him so he doesn't mess up his wounds," She told Lissa then turned to Scott. "Sir, try to contain your cries. We've got other people trying to rest."

"Are you trying to get me thrown out of here, Lis?" Scott chuckled.

"If it gets you back into our bed sooner then hell yes I am!" She laughed.

"While I might not be up for love making right yet, I can still take care of you," he winked at her.

"I know that you can for sure but you can't do that here, Scott," She protested. "You know how... vocal I can get when you do that. I'd get tossed out of here for sure!"

"You are a loud one," He smiled. "Michelle told you to do that; talk dirty to me I mean. I can't get over that! Then the way she was acting when she was in here with Ken. She's really come out of her shell. What's gotten into her?"

"Addison seems to think your friend has," She answered then noticed the shocked look on his face. "Not like that! Jesus, Scottie, I thought you needed time to recuperate!"

"Physically yes but mentally I'm rearing to go," Scott smiled.

"Anyway Michelle says that they're just friends and I'm inclined to believe her but..." She paused and nibbled nervously bit her lower lip.