Chapter 4

After speaking with Steel at the clubhouse, Bear still had one more stop to make before going to the grocery store for Tessa's weird list. He'd done some research earlier in the day while waiting for the laundry to finish and knew exactly what he was getting, so hopefully the stop wouldn't take too long.

He pulled back up to Tessa's house at exactly five o'clock. He got out of his cage and put on his cut. Then he went to the trunk to get out the grocery bags. Since he didn't have a key, something he'd soon be remedying, Bear had to knock on the door.

She opened the door right away. She was wearing a pair of teal scrubs and white sneakers. Her hair was parted down the middle with two French braids. Her glasses were slightly askew on her freckled nose as she had her phone pressed between her shoulder and her ear.

She waved him in. Bear bent and pressed a kiss to her lips and her cub bump as he passed. Her cheeks flushed. Then she jumped like she'd forgotten there was a phone at her ear.

"What, Mom?"

Bear went into the kitchen with his purchases. He'd planned to stock her fridge completely, but then changed his mind. He didn't know yet if she was sensitive to any specific foods. The reading he'd done on pregnancies had been more of a review, but it had still been informative. Some women were very sensitive to certain smells and tastes during their pregnancy. He needed to ask Tessa if she had any such sensitivities.

"No, Mom. How about Sunday?"

Shit. Bear had been planning on asking Tessa to go on the club run and to their weekly barbecue on Sunday. He hoped she wasn't making plans that would interfere with that.

"Fine, but I don't see why Gina's schedule—" Tessa closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose. "Yes. Look, Mom, I have to get ready for work. I'll call you later. Figure out what days Gina is available and I'll see what I can do."

Tessa ended the call, took a deep breath, and then let out a shout of frustration. Groceries abandoned, Bear went to her.

"What is it, Mama Bear?" He wrapped her up in his arms.

"My mom is always on me about never spending time with her. But whenever I try to make plans with her, she is either busy or Gina is, like I can't have a lunch with my mother without my little sister also being there."

"Gina's the sister you were at the bachelorette party for?"

Tessa nodded, resting her head against him. "I didn't want to tell my mom about the baby over the phone, you know. I wanted to tell her in person. Maybe I should just say it and get it over with. Maybe then she'll actually make time for me instead of just Gina."

Bear was silent for a moment. He didn't have any siblings, so he didn't have any sibling rivalry firsthand experience. But he'd seen it with others. He wasn't sure how to ask, but he'd never been one to beat around the bush. "Your mother favors Gina?"

"Since the day she found out she was pregnant with her." Tessa stepped back, walking into the kitchen. "I get it, believe me I do. I miss my dad every day. At least I got to have ten years with him. Gina never got to meet him and, in a way, Gina is my mom's last link to my dad. So I get it and I try not to be jealous. I shouldn'tbe jealous. But every time my mother says or does something that only raises Gina's pedestal up higher, it's like I have ants crawling all over me. I just want to shout and throw things."

Tessa started unpacking the groceries Bear had left on the counter to comfort her.

"I'm sorry, Mama Bear. I wish there was something I could do to make it better for you."

She shrugged. "I shouldn't let it bother me."

"You're entitled to your feelings."

"Funny part is that the last time I saw her, at Gina's wedding, she was going on and on about how I don't have a man or a baby, how I only have my career. Joke's on her, though, because I was already pregnant. I just didn't know it yet."

Bear smiled. "And she can't say you don't have a man now."

Tessa paused, her hand partway lifting the tub of cottage cheese out of the bag. "I think I need you to stop saying things like that, Bear. At least until we get to know each other better. I just… I don't want to start believing it if it's not true. I like you too much for that to happen. It's just… It's too soon."

Bear watched her for a long moment. He could abide by her wishes, but she wasn't looking him in the eyes as she spoke. She didn't like what she'd said anymore than he'd liked hearing it.

Bear walked around the kitchen island to where she stood. "It's not too soon. In my mind, we're four months behind where we should be. Tessa, honey, I'm not going anywhere. Not just because of the cub, but because of you. I know you doubt me. I get that we don't know each other well, but I need you to believe me when I tell you that we will know each other well. We just need time."

"That's what I'm saying." She still wasn't looking at him. "Give us that time before you decide whether ‘I'm yours' or not."

He heard the quotations in her voice. He reached out and cupped her face. Gently, Bear lifted her head up to meet his eyes. "Do you know what I was doing while you were snoozing?" She shook her head between his hands. "I was calling my parents, telling them about you and our cub. They're thrilled by the way and are cutting their vacation short to come back up to meet you. As soon as my dad asked me details about you, I told him that you were mine. I'd known it from the first moment I saw you in that bar in Pittsburgh.

"Then I went to my best friend Lucky's art studio and told him about you and our cub. He recently found the love of his life, so he knows what I'm going through. He's really excited for us and can't wait to meet you.

"Finally, I went to see Steel. You met him briefly at the hospital this morning. He's my club's President. It's going to take time, but we have about five-ish months before our cub arrives and I wanted to break ground as soon as possible. Lucky recently built a house on club property after he was attacked in his house and it burned down. I liked that idea and thought there's no better or safer place to raise our cub than on club property. So, I talked to Steel. There's a plot of land near Lucky's house I'm going to buy and put our house on.

"Is it soon? Is it fast?" Bear shrugged. "Who cares. Maybe. But I know what I feel, Tessa. I'm not in love with you, but I know I'm damn well on my way to being so. I'm in this for the long haul. If I didn't think you'd say no, I'd already be on one knee asking you to marry me." Her mouth gasped open. "I'm willing to give you as much time as you need, Tessa. We don't have to get married because of our cub. That's not what I'm asking or saying. I'm saying I want you in my life, permanently, and I'm willing to wait however long you need to to make that happen."

Tessa stared at him, speechless.

He leaned down. "Breathe, Mama Bear."

She breathed. "I just… I need time, Bear. Hell, I don't even know your real name. Or your age. You asked mine but never told me yours."

"Terrance Victor Collins. I'm forty. Never been married, one cub on the way. I'm the Road Captain for the Via Daemonia Motorcycle Club. I like jokes and making people laugh. I have one niece, Sissy, and one nephew, Scotty. Sissy just graduated college. Scotty is in high school and has Down Syndrome. My best friend's name is Lucky and his fiancée's name is Harper."

"Wow, that's more information than I asked for."

"I'm an open book, Tessa," he shrugged. "I don't want there to be any secrets or doubts between us. Open communication, honey."

The worry slowly crept off her face. "I like that."

"Good." He turned to the kitchen counter. "Now, what ungodly concoction are you creating for dinner today?"

Her smile turned wicked.

After Tessa packedher meals for her shift, she locked up the house and was ready to go. Bear waited for her at his cage. She paused when she saw it.

"No motorcycle today?"

He shook his head. "Not when I'm transporting you. You're carrying precious cargo." He patted the hood of the pearl white Subaru Ascent Limited. "I'm not taking any chances."

She smiled sweetly at him. He opened the passenger door for her, took her bag as she climbed in, and then placed her bag at her feet. She turned to him, tapping her lips. He eagerly dipped his head down and took her mouth.

She was still smiling when he pulled away. "Thank you, Papa Bear."

"Anytime, Mama Bear."

As he climbed in, he noticed she was looking around. "Your car is really clean. Like really clean. Is it new? It's got that smell to it."

Bear put the cage into reverse and backed out of her driveway. "Brand new. Picked it up off the lot this afternoon."

She turned towards him and gasped. "You bought this today?"

"My old cage—car," he added for her benefit, "wasn't safe enough for you or our cub to be riding in. I called up a buddy of mine who works in the service department at George's Auto outside of town. Told him I wanted the safest, most secure car on their lot that I could fit in." He patted the steering wheel. "This was it. I haven't even had a chance to play with all the features. And check out that cargo area," he threw a thumb over his shoulder. "Seats eight and the seats lay flat so we can keep the back row down for extra trunk space until we need the extra seating."

Tessa's jaw was still dropped with her surprise. "Bear, I can't believe you did this. You only found out about the baby yesterday. And you're already buying new cars and planning on building a house… I just… I don't know what to say."

"Then don't say anything, honey. I told you I was in this for the long haul. I get that all of this is happening fast, but I need you to know that I'm not going anywhere. I'm doing all this for you and our cub."

"Just… Just don't do so much that you wake up one day and think ‘what am I doing?' I don't want to find you randomly gone because you came to your senses."

Bear reached across the wide console. He took her hand and brought it up to his lips. "Not going to happen, Mama Bear."

Tessa stoppedby the ICU to check on Bree before starting her shift. Angel was still present. She wondered if the other woman had gone home at all. Had she slept or eaten? When she offered to give Angel a break, the tattooed woman shook her head.

"I promised her I'd be here when she woke up."

Tessa felt tears in her eyes at the anguish in Angel's voice. The women knew without medical intervention that the teenager was going to die. Was it really their choice to take that away from the girl if that was her wish? Tessa was sure Angel felt as torn as she was by that fact.

Tessa had heard stories of children with deadly ailments, like cancer, who suffered due to their parents' inability to let them go. They were ready for the pain to end, but their parents weren't. Whose choice in the end was the right one? Did the parents have the right to keep their child alive, even if it extended their pain?

Bree didn't have any parents, but she did have adults trying to make decisions for her.

Still conflicted, Tessa started her rounds. Bear was around, but not shadowing her as he had been the night before. He'd told her earlier that he'd returned Carlos's gun to him the night before. He was however constantly texting her to remind her to drink water or to ask her if she needed anything (ie. food, a break, an orgasm…). Tessa had laughed and replied that she was fine on the first two and would take a raincheck on the last one.

Tessa was finishing up with two teenagers who had gotten into a fender bender when one of the nurses poked her head in the room. "Room three next, doc. Possible stomach bug."

"Thanks," Tessa called over her shoulder.

A man sat in room three. The first thing Tessa noticed about him was that he wasn't acting symptomatic. He wasn't clutching his stomach or acting in pain. He didn't look feverish. His eyes kept glancing around, noticing the locks on the cabinets.

Druggie, Tessa thought. It wouldn't be the first time an addict had tried to get a fix through the ER.

Still, she couldn't make assumptions and send him on his way. She would remain professional and diagnose him. If he was an addict, perhaps she could get him into a rehab program.

She pulled the chart from the door hanger as she walked in. He turned towards her, but there was nothing friendly or nice about his expression. In fact, he looked pissed, like she'd disturbed him.

"Good evening. I'm Dr. Fisher," she said, using her stern doctor voice. "How can I help you?"

"Got a stomachache," he said shortly.

"I'm sorry to hear that." She put the chart down on the counter and walked over to the bin of gloves. "Why don't you lie back so I can examine you? Shirt up please."

"Naw. I just need some pills. Something to make me feel better, doc. You know, the good stuff."

She turned, still putting on her gloves. "And what ‘good stuff' would that be, sir?"

"You know, the good stuff. To make the pain go away."

"If you're referring to Opioids, I can guarantee you aren't walking out of here with a prescription for those with or without my examination."

His face scrunched. "I just need something for the pain," he snapped. "I don't need a fucking examination."

Not afraid to give ultimatums, Tessa took off her gloves. "Then you aren't getting anything for the pain. Sorry I couldn't be of any help. I hope you have a nice day." She reached for the door handle.

"Wait!"

She turned.

He was looking down, his arms across his stomach. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean that. I'm just in pain."

Bullshit, Tessa thought. She knew what pain looked like. She knew when people were faking, she knew when people were in pain but claiming they weren't. This man was claiming he was in pain but not even bothering to fake it. If he was trying to score, he was doing a very poor job of it.

"If you want my help, Mr.," she looked down at the chart and tried not to laugh, "Smith, then you're going to have to consent to an examination. If I find nothing is wrong with you, you'll be leaving here empty-handed and without ‘the good stuff'."

He nodded. "Got it. Again, sorry, doc." He laid back on the bed. "Shirt off or just up?"

"Just up is fine," she answered. Tessa went back over and got out a new pair of gloves. "When did the pain start?"

"Yesterday morning," he said. "Thought it was indigestion, but it just kept getting worse."

As he held his shirt up to his chin, Tessa noticed black ink on his forearm. At first, she thought it was a cluster of snakes, but then she realized what she was seeing was roots.

She started palpating the man's stomach. With one hand over the other, she gently pushed down and around. The man's abdomen was soft, which was normal. She didn't feel any bumps or abnormalities.

She also noticed a distinct lack of pain on the man's behalf. He was looking up at the ceiling, not at her.

"Anywhere specific that it hurts?"

"More towards the middle, I guess." She went back to the center of his abdomen above his belly button. "About there."

She felt nothing. She took out her stethoscope and placed it against his skin. She heard the echo of digestion flowing through his intestines. She continued to move the chest piece around, stopping to listen to his bowels.

Finally, she stood up straight.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Smith, I'm not finding any cause for stomach pain. Everything feels and sounds normal. Can you better describe the pain for me? Location, intensity, what makes it hurt worse or what makes it feel better?"

Tessa was standing beside the bed. She was not expecting the man to sit up, placing their faces close to each other. She automatically took a step back, but not before her eyes landed on a scar above his right eyebrow.

She glanced down as he righted his shirt at the tattoo of a tree on his forearm.

Tessa swallowed nervously. He's got a tree tattoo on his left arm, scar above his eyebrow. Bree's words from the night before ran through her mind.

Could it be possible? The man was acting strangely. Could the man who'd kidnapped and raped Bree be sitting on her examination table right now? Was she simply being paranoid? How many people had scars above their eyebrows? Bree hadn't specified which eyebrow.

But the tree on his left arm? That was specific. How many men had a tree tattoo on their left arm and a scar above their eyebrow?

The man had written John Smith on his admission form. She didn't see a badge on him, but that didn't mean anything. He could leave a badge at home; he couldn't leave a tattoo behind.

It took Tessa a moment to realize he was talking to her. Once her brain caught up, she repeated what he'd said back to herself. He'd claimed it was a constant pain, nothing made it better or worse.

Very generic.

"Tell you what, sir," Tessa said as she took off her gloves. "I can't find anything but that doesn't mean something isn't there. I'm going to order a CT for you. I don't know how long they'll be, so it might be a bit of a wait."

"Really, doc? You can't just give me something for the pain?"

"Sorry. Not without finding a reason for the pain first." She hoped he agreed. She wanted to get out of this room. She did not like being in a closed room with this man.

"Fine," he sighed. "I guess I have no choice."

"I'll get the test ordered. A nurse will be in to get you to sign the consent forms then someone from radiology will be down to get you when they're ready for you."

He let out a low chuckle, though there was nothing humorous in his voice. "You guys are really big on consent around here, huh."

I have a feeling you aren't, Tessa's mind snapped back at him. "Just procedure, Mr. Smith."

She had her hand on the doorknob when he called out to her one more time. "Hey. Were you working last night?"

She stiffened. "Yes, I was."

"I heard about the girl who was brought in. Terrible thing. Do you know if she made it?"

Bells and whistles were going off in her head. She needed to get to Bear, to call Carlos. There was no doubt in her mind that this man was Bree's kidnapper and rapist. The same man who'd sold her like an unwanted pet to a pornographer.

"I'm sorry, sir, I cannot discuss other patients. HIPAA laws, you understand."

"Yeah, sure. Just hope she's okay."

You rat bastard! She's a child!"I'm sure wherever she is, she appreciates your concern and prayers." Tessa felt bile rising. She needed to leave for more than one reason now. "Excuse me, sir."

Tessa tried to portray calmness as she exited the room. She tossed the bogus chart on the nurse's station counter and bolted for the lady's room. She barely made it before she couldn't hold back any longer.

She'd touched Bree's rapist. God, why couldn't she have been built bigger and stronger, where she wouldn't have a fear in the world from that man? She would have ripped him limb from limb if she was. A child rapist was in her ER. She needed to stop vomiting long enough to tell someone.

Large hands rubbed along her back. She felt a wet paper towel pressed against her forehead.

"No," she moaned then heaved again.

"Take it easy, Mama Bear?—"

"Stop," she protested again when she could speak. "He's here, Bear. Room three. Bree's rapist. I saw the tattoo and his scar. He's here."

Suddenly those large comforting hands were gone. "Stay here!" he shouted as he left.

Tessa pressed her face to the cool stall wall. Wasn't planning on going anywhere…

Bear ran down the hall.He burst into exam room three, only to find it empty. He went back into the hall, looking around frantically. All he saw were medical personnel.

He pulled out his phone and sent an SOS.

Bear: Bree's rapist was in the ER. Lost sight of him. @everyone, GET HERE!

He went to the nurse's station. The brunette who had told him Tessa had run to the bathroom was still there. "Did you see the guy from exam room three?"

The woman, Melissa her name badge said, shook her head. "Dr. Fisher was in with him. I assumed she had to excuse herself and was going back in because she hasn't processed any orders for him."

Fuck.

He called Carlos. "He's here. Get here now." Then hung up. Next, he called Keys. "Brother, I need you."

"Already on it," Keys replied. "The hospital's security cameras are closed feed. I'm on my way there to get access. I'll let you know once I have something."

"Thank you."

He hung up. He rushed back into the ladies" room, not caring in the least that he wasn't a woman. Tessa still lay on the floor of the stall. He flipped the lock, since technically he wasn't supposed to be in there.

She cracked her eyes open as he approached. "Did you find him?"

"Gone by the time I got there."

Her eyes scrunched closed, and he saw she was fighting tears. "I'm sorry. I should have warned you faster. Once I realized… I couldn't control it. It made me sick to know who he was, that I'd touched him…"

He knelt down beside her. His body didn't exactly fit in the stall. "Not your fault," he told her. "You told me as quick as you could. Angel knows and the others are on their way. We'll get him, Tessa. I promise. He'll never touch Bree again."

"We need to get upstairs. I need to see her."

"Honey, Angel's with her. There's nothing you can do?—"

Her eyes were fierce when she opened them. "You don't understand, Bear. I have to be sure. I have to know that he hasn't gotten to her."

He nodded. He did understand, but combat had made him able to prioritize those urges. "Let's get you cleaned up first."

She let him help her stand. "Thank you, Papa Bear."

"Anytime, Mama Bear."

As Tessa was rinsing out her mouth and washing her face, Bear got a text message.

Angel: Urologist is here. Can you or Tessa come up? I don't understand everything he's saying.

Bear: We're on our way. Tessa's just cleaning up.

Angel: Thanks.

After Tessa reported into the nurse's station that the patient from room three had left, she told Melissa she was going upstairs to speak with the urologist regarding Bree Faux.

Melissa gave her a sympathetic look and nodded. It was common gossip around the hospital that the teenager was refusing treatment. "I'll page you if we need you down here, Doctor."

As soon as they entered Bree's room, Bear knew it wasn't good news. Angel was sitting at Bree's side, the teenager's hand gripped tightly between her two tattooed ones. A man Bear hadn't met before and Dr. Hammon were both in the room.

Carlos had pulled strings with CPS to have a bodyguard in the room with Bree. Though the girl had requested no invasive treatments or procedures, the one thing she had asked for was for Angel to remain with her. She had attached herself to Angel as much as the tattooed biker had attached herself to the teen. Legally, Bree was still a ward of the Massachusetts State and in the custody of the Mount Grove Police Department, so any final decisions still had to be run through CPS. However, Bree was looking to Angel when it came to making decisions.

"Doctors," Tessa said as they entered the room. "What's the update?"

"Dr. Fisher, this is no longer your case," Dr. Hammon said gently.

"I'm not here as a doctor. I'm here as Bree's friend and ally. She asked me to be here. Please."

Bree nodded her confirmation, though technically it had been Angel who'd asked for Tessa's involvement. The two men exchanged looks before continuing. The brief summary was double acute kidney injury, liver failure, and paralysis of lower extremities resulting in low bowel and bladder functions.

"Without a transplant," the urologist told Bree, "you will die. It's not an if, child. It's a when and, based on current damage, soon. I give you a month, two at most."

"We can fight this, Bree." All eyes turned to Angel, but she was looking intently at Bree. "You are strong. You can beat this. You just have to keep fighting."

Bree's voice was low and scratchy. Her eyes and skin were a sickly yellow. She looked exhausted. Her breathing was shallow. "Fight for what? To go back to foster care?" She swallowed hard. "To people who only want me around for the state check that comes each month?" She shook her head weakly. "There's nothing to fight for, Angel. Just let me go."

Angel stood and slammed her hand down hard on the pillow by Bree's head. Everyone in the room jumped except for Bree. "Then fight for those in your shoes who never got a second chance! For those who never got out, those who came before you and who never escaped. If you can't fight for yourself, then fight for them. Let them live on in you. And I swear to you, if you fight, you'll never have to go to another foster home again. When you're ready, you'll come home with me."

Bree blinked slowly. Bear saw the barest flicker of hope cross her face before it vanished. "You heard what they said, Angel. Without new kidneys, I'm going to die anyway." She coughed hard. "There's no fighting that."

Angel reached over and put an ice chip in Bree's mouth.

Tessa stepped forward, tears rolling down her cheeks. "Actually, we just need one kidney. You can live with just one. As for your liver, it's actually a very unique organ. All they need is at least ten-percent viable tissue and they can remove the rest. Your liver will regenerate, healing itself from the good tissue. It's another surgery, but as long as they have at least ten-percent healthy tissue, it can be done."

Bree's eyebrows drew down. "And my legs? They're useless now. Even if I survived all that, it wouldn't be a life. It'd be half a life stuck in a wheelchair."

"That's bullshit, girl." Everyone turned towards the open door where Steel now stood. "I've known veterans who live full and happy lives without the use of one or both of their legs. Sometime, have Angel introduce you to Bones and Gus. They'll tell you firsthand.

"As for the rest? You need a kidney, we'll get you a kidney. We'll deal with your liver as the doctors recommend. We'll get you a wheelchair and into any therapies you require. You don't realize how not alone you are right now, Bree. Angel's claimed you as hers. You now have fourteen big, overbearing uncles, three formidable aunts, and seven and a half cousins looking after you. And, to top it all off, you have the strongest, most badass woman at your back who will face down any enemy for you. She'll be your best friend, your mother, and your protector. Life can't get much better than that, now, can it?" He stepped further into the room. "The question is, how badly do you want it?"

Tears flowed down Bree's yellowish cheeks. She looked from Steel to Bear and Tessa to the doctors to Angel and back to Steel. "I want it," she said softly. Then she turned to Angel, "I don't want to die."

Angel took Bree into her arms. "Then you won't. I swear to you. I'll get you anywhere you need to go, pay any expense. We'll get you healed. We'll get you healthy and, someday soon, you'll get to come home with me. I swear it."

Bree clung to Angel with all the strength she possessed in her little battered, abused body. Even Bear felt himself tear up. Eventually Bree's body sagged as she fell asleep again. Angel still held onto her.

"I'll contact CPS and the Donor Registry," the urologist said. "We need to work fast to get her on the donor list."

"No need, doc." Steel rolled up his sleeve to show a bandage at the crook of his elbow. Then he pointed out the door with a thumb. "There's a waiting room full of people waiting to be tested to figure out who's a match for her."

Bear stepped forward. "I'll test too."

Angel stood, still clutching Bree's hand. "And me."

The two doctors exchanged looks. "Unorthodox, but I'll take it," the urologist said. Then he turned to Angel. "I need you to understand the odds. We can test the entire town and still might not find her a match or we find ten but they're not eligible due to their own lives or lifestyles."

"Then we move onto the entire county," she countered. There was such strength in her voice that there was no way to doubt her. "We search until the last possible moment, Doctor."

The doctors nodded and left.

Tessa stepped forward. "I'd offer, but they'd never even take my blood to test me since I'm pregnant."

Angel nodded. "It's the thought that counts. You carrying a little teddy bear?"

Bear chuckled, his arms going around Tessa's middle. "Fuck yeah, she is."

Angel smiled. "I suspected something was going on between you two last night. Congrats, brother. Looks like we're both going to become parents."

Concern crossed Tessa's face. She glanced down to verify Bree was still asleep. "Angel, I don't want you to get your hopes up. Adoption is not as simple as the desire to do so. Bree is a ward of the Massachusetts State. There's a process, even just to foster her. You might not be able to keep your promise to Bree."

Angel's eyes hardened. "Watch me."

Tessa could not believethe number of people in the waiting room. It got so crowded that the hospital had to set up tents outside the main entrance with flood lights and a makeshift blood drive was created. It reminded her of the setup they had to do during triage following a tornado a few years ago.

Tessa stood by Bear's chair as one of the nurses took his blood. "Who are the cousins, uncles, and aunts Steel mentioned? I met some of you last night, but clearly not all of you."

"All of the club kids refer to each other as cousins, just like us members refer to each other as brothers. Steel and Jenna have three kids, Carter and Jordan, who are both adults, and Melanie, who's seventeen and starting her senior year of high school. Carter is married to Lucy and they just had a kid, Andrew. Then there's Lucky's two kids, Scotty and Sissy. The half that Steel was referring to is currently baking in your oven," he added with a crooked smile.

"As for the Via Daemonia,there are seven officers that oversee the club. Steel's the President, Lucky's VP, Bulldog is Sergeant at Arms, Demo is the Treasurer, Jumper is the Secretary, Scar is an Enforcer, and I'm the Road Captain." She looked around, trying to place a face to the name. Most of the guys giving blood were wearing cuts. "Then there's Keys, Grumpy, Cage, Pumpkin, Ghost, Ranger, and Bones, plus Angel. We have three prospects right now, but we don't count them as brothers to us or uncles to the kids until they get their rockers." Bear indicated to patches on the back of his cut. "Jenna is Steel's wife and ol' lady. She's like a grandma figure but takes the title of aunt. Harper is Lucky's fiancée and ol' lady. And then, of course, you."

"Me?" Tessa gasped out. She pointed to her chest. "I'm an aunt?"

Bear nodded. "You're my woman. You don't wear my cut yet, but you're one of us now."

Tessa really wanted to ask what he meant by wearing his cut, but unfortunately got paged back to the ER. She hastily said goodbye to Bear and rushed back into the building past a long line of people still waiting to donate. It was nine-thirty at night. Where were all these people coming from?

On her way to the elevator, she paused at a familiar voice. It was female. Angel's. "…calling in that favor you owe me. After this, you'll never here from me again…"

The elevator dinged, forcing Tessa to move on. Who was Angel talking to? She was very sure it had to do with Bree's adoption. Who had that sort of pull that could push Bree's adoption through like that, and why did Angel know them?

The ER was extremely busy. Since the blood drive was spontaneous, they didn't have the resources ready to handle people who had reactions to donating or fainted at the sight of the needles. The ER were taking in all the donors who were willing to be tested as Bree's kidney donor too. There was a lot of paperwork that went along with getting their blood drawn. The registry needed their entire history, including family history. Anyone who had kidney disease in their family was automatically eliminated, even if they were a genetic match. Same with people with history of smoking, drugs, alcoholism… There were a lot of ways to get yourself taken off the viable donor list.

The hype of the blood drive continued over the next couple of days. Each time Tessa came in to work, there seemed to be an even bigger crowd outside waiting to donate. Though still concerned about her creepy visitor, Tessa started to put it to the back of her mind. Bree was safe. Angel and other club members were always around her.

Keys had gotten back to them with bad news. The man claiming to be John Smith had worn a baseball hat the entire time he'd been in the hospital, except in the examination room where there were no cameras. He always kept his hat down and his face turned away from the cameras. Keys couldn't get a good image of the man.

Angel wanted to keep the news from Bree that the man they suspected was Bree's kidnapper and rapist had been in the building.

Bear had mentioned to Tessa in private that he didn't understand why that man had come. Per Bree's story, her original kidnapper had sold her to a pornographer. She hadn't known where she'd been kept for the two years she'd been with her original assailant. It could have been in Massachusetts or it could have been a different state. The assumption was that the pornographer was local, since the van had dumped Bree's body just outside of town.

So whether her first kidnapper had been local was unknown, it didn't make sense for him to be the one to come after her in the hospital when he'd already sold her. Shouldn't it have been the pornographer who'd come? Why had her original assailant been the one in the ER?

Tessa had no answers or suggestions for Bear. She could only admit that he had a point.

On the third night of the blood drive, Tessa was just starting to get hungry when Bear came out of the doctor's break room with a plate. He held it out away from him as far as his arm would stretch while holding his nose pinched closed with the other hand. He kept taking exaggerated breaths to the side.

Many people stopped and stared at his dramatics. Tessa just stood at the nurse's station with a huge smile on her face as he approached her.

"Is that for me?" she asked coyly.

Bear put the plate down and stepped back like it was radioactive. "Well, it certainly isn't for me."

She stepped up to him, indicating he bring his face down to her level. He did. She pressed a kiss to his bearded cheek. "Thank you, Papa Bear."

He turned his face and kissed her on the lips. "Anytime, Mama Bear."

All of Bear's brothers and family in the room whooped and hollered at the show. Tessa wasn't one for PDA, but even she had to admit she loved the attention from Bear.

As she bit into her peanut butter and cream cheese sandwich with pickles and olives, Bear pretended to gag. She smiled wider.

Miracle of miracles happened.Cage, one of Bear's brothers, was a potential match for Bree. His blood type was O-negative, the universal blood donor. He was given instructions on things to not start doing—smoke, drink alcohol, take OTC drugs without consult first—and ordered to come back the next day to give a tissue sample. They would cross match that sample against Bree's. He would also need a chest x-ray, EKG, and psych evaluations done before the hospital would consider accepting him as a living organ donor. However, one of many challenges to come had been crossed.

Angel, who was beyond elated that Cage was a potential match, also had concerns. Cage, whom in Tessa's opinion resembled a young Brad Pitt and had the charming smile to match, was a big guy. Bree was a teenage girl who was severely underweight. Could Cage's kidney even fit in Bree?

Tessa explained that, typically, any child over two years old could accept an adult kidney. There was free space in the abdominal cavity which the larger kidney could fit, and the child would grow around the kidney. It would not affect the child's function.

In return, Angel was concerned what the kidney donation would do to Cage. She understood that a person could survive with only one kidney, but what restrictions would this sacrifice put on his life? Tessa told her that, other than immediate post-surgery, there wasn't any. Cage would need to see a urologist annually but there would be no restrictions on his daily lifestyle.

Cage didn't seem concerned at all. He seemed honored that he'd been matched. "Hell yeah, I'll give my new niece one of my kidneys!"

Bree had been awake for that exclamation and had blushed at being called his niece. Despite the tragedies in her past, Tessa wondered if Bree was crushing on the good-looking MC brother.

So much had happened in the past couple of days, that Tessa had forgotten Bear's parents were arriving. She hadn't met them for the first time at their house, or hers, or even at a diner. She'd met them when they'd shown up at the blood drive.

Tessa couldn't believe how much Bear resembled his father. They truly looked like two grizzly bears in a crowd of weak, edible humans. She was glad Bear's mother was more her own height. It gave her hope she wasn't going to deliver a twenty-pound baby.

She fell in love with Bear's parents almost immediately. They didn't judge her for getting knocked up or accuse her of doing so on purpose to trap their son or question whether the baby was even Bear's. They took her into their arms and welcomed her into their family. DeeDee asked more intimate details about her pregnancy and symptoms, but not in a way that made Tessa uncomfortable. Her motives seemed pure and genuine.

Tessa wondered if her own mother would have a similar reaction, or if this would be another comparison on how her life wasn't like Gina's.

All in all, she couldn't believe how the club had rallied for Bree. As she understood it, all but two members, including the prospects, had donated blood to be tested as viable donors. Jenna and Harper, the ol' ladies, as well as Sissy, Lucky's adult daughter, had also donated. Members' families had come, including Carlos, who'd also brought other police officers with him. She hadn't known Carlos's brother was in Bear's club. Though their mother, who was a cancer survivor, was not eligible to donate, she came with cookies for the donors and to show her support.

The local news had also picked up the story. They did not name Bree, but claimed a local family's daughter was in need of a miracle.

And even though it had been announced that Cage had been matched, people still donated and were willing to still be tested in case something happened where Cage was disqualified. Employees from the club's businesses, who were not club members, showed as well.

The spontaneous event lasted for almost a week. People traveled in from around the county when they heard the news story. Even if they weren't willing to be considered as a kidney donor, they still donated blood, water bottles, cookies, food, and other items.

It was nail-biting as they all waited for the news as to whether Cage's tissue sample was a match.

Bear had to go back to work two days after their reunion. He hadn't been happy about it and had left two of the prospects to watch her. Tessa wasn't thrilled about having bodyguards, but she understood it.

Tessa got to meet Lucky and Harper too. They had come to have dinner in the hospital cafeteria one night with her and Bear. She'd been nervous about meeting them, since it was clear that the couple meant a lot to Bear, but her apprehensions proved to be unwarranted. Harper and Lucky were kind, loving, and humorous. Harper was thrilled about the pregnancy, claiming that any child was a gift to their large VDMC family, no matter the circumstances surrounding its conception. Tessa was grateful to hear that, as she'd also been concerned about the engaged couple judging her for getting knocked up during a one-night stand.

The entire time they ate dinner, Bear was touching her in some way. He held her hand or draped his arm around her on the back of her chair or his large thigh was pressed up against hers when he needed both hands. It was a lovely meal, and Tessa felt herself falling for Bear all the more.

Bear made sure she had both Harper's and Lucky's phone numbers in case she couldn't reach him for some reason.

Since Bear worked mornings at the senior living facility and she worked nights at the hospital, it seemed like the only time they got to spend together was in the afternoons. Tessa found she didn't like that. She'd given Bear a key to her house so he could enter without disturbing her sleep. He'd join her in bed, and they'd nap together until she had to get up to get ready for work.

Some of those naps were erotic and some of them were not. Tessa preferred the erotic ones, even if it did make her more tired later on.

They hadn't made love since their reunion. They'd come close, but something always seemed to interrupt them or they didn't have the time before one of them had to leave for work. Something she remembered about Bear from their night in the motel room was that he loved foreplay. She recalled him mentioning tying her up while talking dirty to her. He hadn't mentioned it again, but she was certainly interested. She'd never done anything even remotely kinky like that, and she wanted to experience that with Bear.

He'd eaten her out against the shower wall while on his knees and her legs over his shoulders a few times and he'd even pleasured her while bending her over her kitchen counter once. But his preferred time to put his mouth on her pussy was as a method of waking her up after joining her in bed in the afternoons.

Tessa learned that Bear loved touching her. His hands were always reaching for her. One of her favorite seats was now his lap. He seemed offended when she sat elsewhere, which made her feel giddy and wicked inside.

Tessa spent as much time with Bree and Angel as she could. She never saw Angel not in Bree's room and had spoken to a colleague about putting a cot in Bree's room for her. Sometimes one or two of Bear and Angel's brothers were also present when she dropped in. Tessa liked that they weren't leaving Angel alone with Bree often. The two needed all the support they could get.

Sunday club runs had been postponed. Bear had invited her—a prospect would drive her in a car as Bear had deemed motorcycles unsafe in her condition—and then a couple of days later informed her of the club's decision to wait until Angel, Cage, and, provided a miracle, Bree could join them. Tessa thought it a wonderful thing that family was automatically invited on the runs. The club hadn't made it a members-only event. Per Bear, Scotty loved club runs so much that he often played Musical Motorcycles with the club brothers. Apparently, his dad drove like "an old granny", to quote the goofy teen.

A week later, Cage's test results had come back, and he'd been confirmed as a donor match. Bree was going to get her kidney! The entire club packed themselves into Bree's room to tell her the news.

Tessa had been keeping in touch with Dr. Hammon, her gastroenterologist, and Dr. Forester, her urologist. They seemed to understand Tessa had a personal involvement in Bree's case and were more loose-lipped than they would have been otherwise.

Cage was assigned a donor nurse. He or she would be with him from start to finish, even post-op. Dr. Forester was optimistic. Apparently, Cage had very healthy kidneys. He would be taking Cage's left kidney, which is the preferred in a living donor due to its longer renal vein.

The surgery was scheduled for two weeks.

Dr. Forester wanted to do the surgery sooner, since living donors were so rare, but Dr. Hammon asked for a delay. He was trying a non-surgical procedure to revive Bree's liver. With the additional timeframe added to the surgery date, the two specialists would know if they were also taking part of Bree's liver while they had her in the OR. The argument for this was that it was safer for Bree to not to have to have two major organ surgeries so close together. Her body needed time to heal, to accept the new kidney.

It was Dr. Hammon's hope that by adding antibodies and increasing her blood transfusions, her liver would show signs of improvement on its own. Dr. Forester and Tessa were in agreement. Bree had a higher chance of recovery without complications if her liver could remain whole.

Regardless of if she needed one or two surgeries, the teenager had an army of people rooting for her.