Chapter 4 Three

Nik watched on the news as Lauren walked towards the helicopter and left without giving an interview. He wasn't sure if he should be impressed or concerned by her behavior. Nik scratched his chin as he watched the news.

"It's a good thing they found her. She'll be right," Ethan said.

Rhylie looked a little sad. "She'll be."

He leaned over to Nik, "I think he needs a shandy."

Nik nodded his head in agreement. "I don't think they will let that in the hospital."

A nurse stepped inside their room and paused as the door opened. Her expression was not happy either. Then she popped back out into the corridor. "I found them. They're in here."

Her shouting made Nik cringe, his head was still hurting. The nurse returned. "Okay, you two need to go back to your rooms."

Ethan said, "Ow, I just want to chat with my fellow Kiwi," as the nurse pushed him backward. To keep the pram from moving, he put his hands on the big wheels.

He rolled his eyes at the nurse. "Your fellow Kiwi needs to have an MRI done down a few floors down."

Rhylie lifted his head. "He doesn't have any head injuries he's always like that." He lifted a hand at Nik.

Nik tucked an arm under his head as he watched his two mates. The nurse stopped trying to roll Ethan out of the room since the man managed to lock the pram.

"I think I really do need that shandy," Rhylie said as he looked at the nurse with pleading eyes.

The nurse, Bertha, looked at him with a puzzled look. She had no idea what a shandy was.

Ethan continued with a grin, "I can go for a shark and taties to go with that shandy."

The nurse had grown even more puzzled. It seems she had no idea what they were talking about.

"A snarler would go great with that too," Rhylie said as he looked over his shoulder at the door then back to the nurse whose face was starting to turn red.

Nik tried hard not to laugh at what he was seeing.

"Forget the shandy how about a Steinie?" Ethan said.

Nik remembered a time when the two blokes did this one other time with some tourists from the States.

"I'm choice on that, mate" Rhylie concluded. At that time, the nurse left, Ethan and Rhylie laughed. Nik grabbed the bed's remote and lifted the bed so that he was in a sitting position.

"She'll be right back with some help and you know that as well as I do," Nik said. He greeted each man with a bro-hug.

A minute later, she did and brought others with her who didn't look happy either. "Okay guys, back to your rooms," the large, burly and completely bald orderly told them.

Nik tilted his head toward the door. "Go one, back to your rooms."

Both men groaned out loud as they were wheeled out of their mate's room. Nik smiled as the door closed behind them. His gaze turned to the nurse. "MRI?" he asked.

She nodded. "We have to make sure you're healing. Those were some bad injuries you sustained in the crash." She began to check his vitals. "Someone will be here in a few minutes to take you down for the MRI."

"There is nothing to be afraid of; it is just a type of X-ray that allows the us to see deep into your body."

Nik watched the nurse leave the room. It was good to see his mates again. The pain from the crash wasn't too bad today. As he lay in the hospital, he wondered how long he would be there.

The door opened, and a man with an empty pram entered the room. Nik was helped into the pram and wheeled out of the room. This was the first time since he woke up that he had left the room. Except for the hospital workers, the corridor seemed empty. They walked silently along the corridor toward the elevator.

"Is that a new song you're working on?" the man asked.

"What?" Nik looked up at the man behind him as he spoke.

"I just wonder if that was a new song."

Nik didn't realize he was humming. "Yeah nuh," he replied.

~ * ~

Lauren needed some time off, Emily was right. She couldn't remember the last time that she had a vacation. Years; maybe. She didn't know but she did need some time off especially since she was leaving the country next month. A map of New Zealand was spread out across the table and all she could do was stare down at it. No clue as to where she wanted to go. One thing she did know was that she wanted to avoid any big cities like Auckland and Christchurch.

"Perhaps one of the beaches or an island," Lauren muttered as she continued to stare at the map. Using her cell phone, she began to research the local beaches. She nearly jumped out of her skin when someone knocked on her door. Lauren knew who it was before she even answered it.

"Sir." Lauren saluted the colonel and stood erect.

The gray-haired man nodded, stepped around her, and entered the room. Lauren moved to the side to let him in and then closed the door once he was inside.

Colonel Parker looked around the room with his hands behind his back. When he turned to face her, he told her, "We're going to miss you here."

"I'm going to miss it here," she said. She replied. "Would you like to sit down? A cup of coffee or tea?"

"I decline the offer," he replied, reaching into his bag for a manila envelope. "These are your orders. I wanted to bring them personally."

Lauren looked down at the envelope. Her heart pounded hard against her chest; she hoped the colonel wouldn't hear it.

"Your next assignment will be after your two-week vacation."

As she reached for the papers, Lauren gulped. Her hand was extended to him as she tucked the envelope under her arm. "Thank you very much, Sir. The pleasure of being here has been mine." She smiled at him.

Before he left the room, Colonel Parker nodded at her one final time and spun on his heel. The door closed behind him before she let out a deep breath. She glanced down at her cell phone and noted a message had come through. It was Bertha, the nurse from the hospital she asked to keep her up to date on Nikau. She said he's getting an MRI done and if it went well, he could be released that day.

Lauren texted a 'thank you', so she didn't need to be updated anymore. Lauren ran a hand over her face. Lauren ran a hand along her face. She needed to start packing soon. Additionally, Emily needed to be told that she was leaving shortly. It was impossible for her to leave without saying goodbye to her.

There was a sinking feeling over her; something heavy. She wanted to see someone else before she left New Zealand.

Should I? She wondered quietly. Lauren moved over to the couch and settled in. The envelope was placed on the table and she stared at it. She wondered out loud, "I should be happy to be leaving, but I am not." She stared at the manila envelope with her head tilted to the side. She grabbed it and opened it. As she scanned the official documents, she glanced down. Her paperwork was approved for a two-week vacation and her new assignment. She was going to the State of New York. When she found out what she was going to do, her jaw dropped.

"A recruiting officer," she yelled, leaping to her feet. "No. No. No. That's not right. I'm a medic and rescue officer, not a recruiter." She slammed the paperwork on the table. She began to pace the room as she placed her hands on her hips.

Ultimately, there was nothing that she could do except accept what was ordered.

~ * ~

Nik was glad to finally be out of the hospital. Sienna arrived to pick him up. The nurse, he finally realized her name was Bertha, wasn't going to let him walk out of the hospital. No, he was going to be wheeled out.

Since the clothing he wore after the accident was so dirty and torn, his sister brought him a new set. A quick change from the hospital gown and into a fresh pair of jeans and a T-shirt was in order.

"Let's go," Nik told Bertha, he couldn't wait to get out of the hospital.

As she pushed him out the room, Bertha let out a deep huff.

As he laughed, he said, "I bet you're glad you're yanking me around."

She replied, "I'll take your bet." They entered the elevator and she pressed the button to take them to the floor level. "A car will be waiting for you that will take you to the airfield. From there, you will get on board the copter that will take you to the Auckland airport. From there, there will be another car that will take you home."

"What about my mates?" Nik asked.

Bertha looked down at her watch and noted the time. "They should have returned home by now. They were released hours ago." The elevator dinged and Bertha pushed him out of the elevator. Sienna was standing next to the doors that led to the outside and smiled.

"Arvo," he greeted his sister with a huge smile.

Sienna kissed her brother on the cheek and said, "Arvo."

Bertha huffed.

He turned his attention to his sister and then back to the nurse. "I think you'll be glad to be rid of me."

"Actually, you make my day," Bertha said as she guided him out of the building and into the awaiting car. "Several hundred fans are already lined up waiting for their chance to take a picture of you next to the airfield, but the copter you are getting on is quite a distance from the public access road. It's a private pad."

Nik was happy to hear that part. He wasn't ready for the masses and reporters. Getting away from everyone and into some private time was just what he needed. Nik was helped into the backseat of the car by Bertha. Sienna settled in beside him.

"Do you take care of all the preparations?" As soon as the car pulled away from the curb, Nik asked.

Sienna nodded. Her gaze turned to him as she said, "It's all taken care of." The oldies don't like it, Nik. They don't want you going off all alone not after what had just happened and you just getting out of the hospital."

"I'll have my mobile with me," he told her. "I won't be too far away in case I need you."

Sienna crossed her arms and leaned back in her seat. "We all don't like it."

"The doctor did say that I was fine." They did say that, but they also said the patient needed to take it easy for the next few weeks, so he thought going to the beach would be perfect. Nik just wanted to get away from everyone and to work on the next album.

During that time, he can also learn what he can about Lauren Ryder. While in the hospital, he tried to find out what he could about her but found nothing in the end. The woman was definitely private.

"The last cabin I could get in Kaitaia is a two-bedroom cabin and one of the rooms was already taken. I know you said you wanted to enjoy your holiday alone, but the last cabin in Kaitaia is a two-bedroom cabin. I was assured that the other person is as private as you are, so you won't be completely alone."

At first, Nik didn't say anything, "Sienna.."

"Don't Sienna me, Nik I called other places but none were available or did not rent at the moment because it's off-season. At the moment, it was the only one I could get."

It would be impossible for him to blame her. "Fine with me. Can you tell me more about the other person?"

As Sienna shrugged, she looked down. "I have no idea. They didn't say."

"Make sure a nondisclosure agreement is ready for signing."

"I already made a copy of one for this person. I am not totally stupid, Nik. The other person won't be there for several more days in fact."

"No, you're not." he said as he scanned their surroundings as they flew by. It looked like any other city, except that everyone here was wearing the same clothes. The usual military uniforms.

It didn't take them long to reach the airfield. The helicopter that was going to take him home was on the other side of the tarmac. Something washed over him and didn't know what it was. He was leaving the base and hoped he would never have to come back. It also felt as if he was leaving something behind. As he was seated inside the helicopter and wearing a pair of headphones. He looked out across the tarmac to a row of off-green buildings that were the barracks. Nik wondered if she was in one of those buildings. He placed a hand over his heart when it felt as if it was breaking.

How can I have a broken heart over something I never had to being with, he wondered quietly. It sounded like a good line for a song. As he repeated the line, he titled his head to the side.

~ * ~

"I'm sorry, Em, but the other room is already rented," Lauren told her friend after telling her that she was going on vacation. It was true. She had told her friend about her plans and Emily being Emily wanted to come along but she didn't have the approval for a vacation but she wanted to spend the weekend and by the time Lauren called the rental place, the room was already taken. Lauren questioned the rental about who the other renter was so she could ask the person if they wouldn't letting her use it, she was told the other person was private and no accommodations could be taken.

Lauren said, "I tried."

"I understand. Have some fun without me. But I will come and visit when I can."

While talking to Emily, Lauren couldn't help but think she was pouting. The horizon occupied Lauren's attention as she walked to her room's window. Within a couple of days, she will be on a beach in a rustic cabin nestled into the mountainside overlooking the ocean. However, before she could leave for her vacation there were other things she needed to do. As part of that process, she packed up her belongings.

Being single had its perks..there wasn't much to pack. Her belongings were kept to a minimum and she lived in the barracks on the bases where she was stationed. Saying goodbye was easier when she had nowhere to call home. One of the reasons why she was always on the move and why she didn't get too close to people was because of her secret.

Just like what her grandmother kept telling her while growing up, "No Matter how far you run. No matter how hard you try to hide. No matter where you are, it will find you" And it's true. Lauren had tried to out run her little secret.

Her secret kept finding her. After a while, she gave up running and accepted the fact that she was indeed different. The only problem was that she never told anyone about what she could do. She explained whenever possible that she kept following her gut and finding the missing people because her gut kept telling her to. Lauren explained that she was good at doing her job and kept private. She didn't want anyone to know her secret.

"Fine, Emily. Maybe you can sleep on the couch," Lauren said and smiled. Emily was the only person Lauren allowed to get close to her but she still kept her little secret.

"Where is this place located?" Emily asked.

"It's in Kaitaia. Somewhere north of here," Lauren informed her as she rattled off the address for Emily.

"Okay, got it," Emily replied. There was a slight pause. "I heard they all left the hospital today."

It was already known to Lauren, but Emily didn't have to know it. "Okay," she finally said. She also wanted to tell Emily about the dreams but didn't. She had no idea what they meant or why she was dreaming about Nik. There was something in the background that Lauren heard.

"Lauren, I have to go. My team is on call tonight because there's an emergency on the south island."

Instantly, Lauren's feelings for her friend were different from anything she had ever experienced before. Trying not to sound trembling as she spoke, Lauren beseeched her friend to be careful out there.

"Okaaay," Emily replied with puzzlement. "I have to go I'm being called."

Frowning, Lauren removed the cellphone from the table and placed it back on the desk. Lauren whispered, "Maybe it's nothing," and stood. She needed to pack.

~ * ~

After entering the rental house, Nik was pleasantly surprised to find it so quiet. He knew the other renter will be arriving within a few days and he wanted to make sure everything was in order before their arrival. He set chose one of the rooms, the one facing the ocean, and set his bags down on the bed. He walked over to the large window and peered out to the waves. The sun was beginning to set and made the ocean turned to a pinkish-purple color.

Having unpacked his belongings, he sat on the couch in the living room with his acoustic guitar. He still had a song to finish. Several minutes after trying, he reflected on the woman who saved him. This pained him, and as a result he didn't want to leave without saying goodbye to her. Something felt like it had been torn right out of his chest.

Having thrown the guitar onto the couch, Nik stood up and growled, "Fuck." Having been up all night, he was tired. He felt completely drained of energy. Thoughts of Lauren and the song he was writing filled his head as he lay down on the couch and closed his eyes.

When he fell asleep, the dream came to him.

In the kitchen, they danced so slowly. So tightly did his arms wrap around her waist, he didn't want to let go. Despite being closed, his eyes were closed and his chin rested on her head. His body hardened and his heart began beating wildly as he felt her body glide along his. His body ached to be a part of hers. Her hands sliding along his bare chest caused him to groan with such a need for this woman. The smell of her made him want her even more than ever.

"Nik," she said in a passionate voice, the look in her eyes as she turned to look at him. He wanted her as much as she wanted him.

At that moment, he claimed her lips with his own. Sweet. It was so sweet to taste her. As he lifted her into his arms and carried her into the bedroom, he growled in her mouth. The body of the woman slid across his as he placed her on her feet next to the bed.