Chapter 17

Gray did end up sleeping, held by both his boyfriends. He woke once from a dream in which he was running, pushing himself to move faster, to find Jenna, to save her from the man who was chasing her with a bloody knife in his hand.

He must have called out, because Jack shook him awake and Mason burrowed against his chest. He held the two of them, and they didn't say anything. They didn't need to.

When they were all out of bed the next morning, Jack called Andy. Gray could barely wait until he'd hung up to start firing questions at him. "How is Jenna? Is she going to get a place with Andy? Does he have space?"

Jack was beaming, which had to mean things were good. "She's fine. Awake and wanting to see you. Yes, once the stacks of forms are filled out, and the official approval is made, Jenna should have a place with Andy. He doesn't see any obvious barriers to that working, but you know how slow that process is. He's in paperwork hell right now."

"I thought he said the shelter was full," Mason said.

Jack nodded. "It was, but it turns out a spot has opened up."

Gray could tell Jack was excited about more than just Jenna having a place to go. "What's up?"

"I'm not supposed to know, so keep this to yourselves for now. Henry is getting an apartment. He's saved enough, and he's just made the deposit. I'm so happy for him. He's planning to tell me next time we get together."

"That's fantastic!" Mason said.

Gray smiled. "He's got to be thrilled."

Jack nodded. "Andy says he's going to keep tutoring shelter kids and helping with the cooking classes. I'm so excited for him."

Gray was excited too, but he was impatient to see Jenna. "Do y'all want to come to the hospital with me?"

"Absolutely," Jack said and Mason grabbed his coat.

When Gray got to the hospital, Andy explained that Jenna wouldn't talk to him, the nurses, her doctor, or her social worker. Physically, though, Jenna was doing great, even the worst of her wounds was healing nicely.

"You told Jack she'd asked for me."

"She wrote your name down and pointed to it. I think you're the only one she'll talk to."

Gray hated thinking of her there alone and scared. "Why didn't you call me last night?"

"She was sedated, and you needed to rest."

Gray frowned. "I would've come anyway."

"I know. That's why I didn't call."

Gray glanced at Jack. "You knew, didn't you?"

Andy took his arm. "Come on. Let's go see her."

Gray glared at Jack, but he let Andy lead him toward Jenna's room. Truly, he hadn't been in any shape to help her the night before. Still, he should have been told.

So you'd insist on spending the night at the hospital?

Gray bit back a growl. Even his conscience was against him.

Andy stopped at the door to Jenna's room. "Before you go in?—"

"Don't tell me she's fragile or to be careful with her. She fought her way loose when she'd been stabbed multiple times and was bleeding all over the floor. She was going for the gun Whittaker had taken from me. She was trying to save me."

Andy raised a brow. "I don't think she's fragile."

Damn.Gray closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "I'm sorry. I'm?—"

"Understandably protective and on edge."

"Yes. That." Why the fuck was Andy always so reasonable?

"I hope she'll talk to you. I want her to be comfortable with me, but I know that will take time."

Gray nodded, then knocked on the door of Jenna's room, which was open an inch or two. "Jenna? It's Gray. Can I come in?" No response. "If you don't feel like speaking, just tap on something, and I'll leave."

"You're the only one I want to see," she said.

Gray's relief at hearing her voice had him sagging against the doorframe. He took a slow breath and then entered the room.

He smiled when he saw Jenna with color in her cheeks. "You look much better than the last time I saw you."

"I look like shit, but at least I'm not dead." She had that sharp, sarcastic tone back too.

"Same here."

"You look good like you always do. It's no wonder you've got two men fawning over you."

Gray raised his brows. "How do you know about that?"

"Andy told me."

"Did he now?"

She rolled her eyes. "He said he knew you because your boyfriend worked with him at the shelter. When I didn't respond, he thought he had to keep talking, and he told me how awesome the three of you were, as if that wasn't obvious. Then he told me about Henry. He said he'd bring him by today."

At least it didn't sound like she resented Andy too much.

"But you only wanted to talk to me?"

"Yeah. Stubborn, aren't I?"

"That's a good thing. It helped you survive."

She shrugged. "I guess."

Gray wanted to hug her, but he wasn't sure how she would take that, so he simply said, "Thank you."

"For what? Dragging you into this?" Jenna asked.

"For trusting me and doing all you could to save me."

"I wanted to save myself too, you know?"

Gray didn't say any more. He sensed that getting too sentimental would piss her off.

Her expression softened, and tears gathered in her eyes. "Dammit! I should be thanking you."

Time to change the subject. "Andy's a good guy. You should talk to him. And yes, my boyfriend, Jack, works with him. He's part of the youth task force."

Jenna looked away and wiped at her eyes. "I don't want to go to a shelter."

"I get it."

She started to protest, but he held up his hand.

"I was in foster care for a while. My mom… She OD'd. My dad had run off, and she basically checked out. I was so mad. I wanted to stay on my own, but the family I was placed with were kind and I got real food and security for a bit."

"Is that why you became a cop, because things were rough for you? Are you a crusader for us downtrodden wretches?"

Gray laughed. "Not exactly. I got to be friends with the resource officer in my high school after he caught me stealing."

Her eyes widened. "Really?"

"Yeah. Give Andy a chance and Henry too. He's been at the shelter for a year or so, and he's awesome. He won't talk down to you or try to tell you what to do. He can be blunt, but he's not?—"

"A condescending asshole converted by the system."

Gray smiled. "Right. Is there anyone out there who'll be looking for you?"

She frowned. "Like parents, you mean?"

"Or someone who'll want to silence you for what you know about Andreas?"

She shook her head. "We were kept away from most of Billy's business associates, so I don't think so."

"What about your parents?"

"My mom never wanted me, and I don't think she knows who my dad is."

Someone knocked on the door. "Hi. It's Andy. I wanted to let you know Henry's on his way."

They heard the sound of Andy's footsteps retreating. "I'll talk to him now," Jenna said. "I just… I needed to see you first. I don't know why."

"You do not have to explain. Do you need me to stay while you talk to Andy and Henry?"

She shook her head. "No, I don't want to upset you."

"Upset me?"

"You know, make you relive it all." She was trying to protect him.

"I can handle it."

She rolled her eyes. "You were shaking afterward."

"You remember that?"

She nodded. "And you get this tightness in your face when you're thinking about it."

Damn, she was perceptive. "You don't have to talk to Andy about it."

"I have to tell him something for the fucking paperwork."

Gray smiled. She was going to be just fine. "You do what's best for you. I'll be in the lobby if you need me."

Gray found Mason sipping a soda and staring out a window. He followed Mason's line of sight and saw Jack wrapping Henry in a huge hug. Jack was so excited he lifted the younger man off the ground and spun him around.

"I guess Henry told him," Gray said.

"Ya think?" They both laughed. Then Mason laid a hand on Gray's shoulder. "How's Jenna?"

"Talking now. She's tough, and I think she'll be all right. She agreed to see Andy and Henry."

"Good." Mason checked his watch. "I'm supposed to head to work, but I can call out if you need me to."

"No, I'm fine."

Mason studied him for a few seconds. "Okay. Call me if you need something."

Gray nodded. "I will."

"Promise?"

"Yes, I promise. Now get."

"I'll probably see Toby at Nathan's. We're going to his party tonight, right?"

Gray had forgotten about the party. He wanted to hide at home after the previous night's ordeal, but he'd eventually have to appear in public again. "Yeah, we are."

"Okay, I guess I'll see you there."

They hugged goodbye, and Mason headed for his car.