rated *
The Longest Night
by Treanna
Trixie smiled at her friend. "And then she looked up at me with those innocent blue eyes and told me that using the magnifying glass to burn the grass was Matty's idea."
"And was it his idea to let Katie burn a hole in his sneaker with the same magnifying glass," Honey laughed.
Trixie shook her head. "I cannot see it myself."
"And where was Adam during this?"
"My lively five-year-old was taking it all in. I am sure that we are not finished with experiments with magnifying glasses."
Honey smiled at her friend. "Even though they are mischievous, you have three beautiful children. I cannot believe that Brianna, Matthew, Katie and Peter are now seven years old. And that Adam is five and Kirsty is almost five."
"And you only still have one."
Honey smiled. "Having Bri was easy, but we just haven’t got the recipe right since."
Trixie knew that the subject was painful for her friend. She touched her arm gently. "Well, practice makes perfect."
"And we sure do a lot of practicing."
Just then Spider hurried into the room. "Let's go. We have confirmation where the kidnappers have Mr Mason and we are rolling."
Trixie and Honey grabbed their guns and ran after him.
* * *
Trixie kept herself plastered against the wall as she moved towards the men sitting in the middle of the warehouse. She had her gun ready, waiting for the call to move.
It was then that she heard a shout and confusion reigned. Someone had walked up behind Honey and seen her. He had called out to his friends.
Trixie hurried over as two shots were fired. She suddenly came face to face with a masked gunman, his pistol aimed in her direction. She held her gun on him. "Drop it," she ordered.
"I ain’t going back in the slammer," he snarled.
Then, as if in slow motion, she saw him shoot. She shot back and then she heard a yell. She was pushed away as Honey took the full force of the bullet.
Trixie screamed.
11.00P.M.
"Trix, honey, please wake up."
Trixie opened her eyes and flung herself into her husband's arms.
"It’s okay, baby, I am here."
"I tried to sleep," she sobbed. "But every time I close my eyes, I see Honey laying on the floor covered in blood."
"I know, baby, I know."
"Is Mummy all right?" a small voice whispered from their doorway.
Trixie buried her head further into Jim's comforting chest.
"Mummy is upset about Auntie Honey getting shot, baby, but she will be fine."
Moms appeared at the door and put her arms around the three children standing there. "Come on, kids. Back to bed. Mummy is tired and she needs to get her sleep."
Jim smiled his gratitude as Moms shut their door and herded the kids back to bed.
"I am glad Moms is here to look after the kids," Trixie murmured against his chest. "I don’t think I could face them at the moment."
Jim lay back against the headboard and cradled her further into his arms.
"I just wish we hadn’t left the hospital."
"Brian wanted us to go and there was no reason to stay. He told us he would call if there were any change. I think he wanted time with Honey on his own."
She nodded with understanding. "She saved my life Jim. She pushed me out of the way and took the bullet that was meant for me."
"Honey is alive and that is the main thing. She is a fighter."
Trixie lay for a moment longer. She then sat up. "Jim, I want to forget for a little while. Love me."
He smiled slightly as he fingered one of her curls. He then pulled her back into his arms.
12.30 A.M.
Trixie woke up sensing there was something wrong. She reached for Jim but he wasn’t there. She sat up and then heard a steady hum. She got out of bed and headed for the bathroom.
She climbed into the spa and put her arms around her husband. "Are you okay?"
He nodded, resting his head on her curls.
"I am trying to be strong for you, but, Trix, she is my sister."
"I know, baby."
"When my father and, then, Mum died, I thought that I would never find a family again. But you rescued me and gave me a new set of parents and a sister as well. I can’t bear to lose her, Trix."
"Let me be strong for you, Jim."
Jim felt her shiver timeless moments later. "We should get dried and get back to bed, baby."
She nodded as they got out of the spa and quickly dried.
As he walked towards the bed, she stopped. He turned around and she moved into his arms. "You helped me forget, now let me help you forget for a while."
He smiled as she reached up for his lips.
2.00 A.M.
Trixie lay in Jim's arms, her mind going over the last few years. Everything they had been through together had made Honey and her closer than any sister would be. And when one needed the other, they were there.
Trixie leapt out of bed and began to get dressed. Jim sat up.
"What are you doing?"
She turned to him. "Going back to the hospital. I can’t stay away any longer."
He got out of bed and nodded. "Go and tell Moms and I will meet you at the car.
Ten minutes later, they were on their way to the hospital.
2.30 A.M.
As they got out of the car, they saw Mart and Di hurrying over,
"I couldn’t stay away any longer," Trixie told them and Mart smiled.
"Di felt she had to be here, too."
3.30 A.M.
Trixie smiled as Jim handed her a coffee. She walked a little way off slowing drinking the aromatic coffee.
"I saw Brian on the way back and he told me that you girls can go in to sit with Honey in a few minutes while he takes a break."
Trixie nodded.
6.00 A.M.
Trixie and Di again took their place beside their still friend. Brian had told them to talk to her and they did.
"Do you remember the first day we laid eyes on Jim," Trixie began. "He was laid on that dirty torn mattress and even then I thought he was the cutest boy I had ever seen. And the day Brian first saw you he came running towards you wanting to carry your overnight case." Trixie looked up at Di and she smiled, encouraging her on. "I am so glad that you and I became friends. I always wanted a sister and I ended up with two. Dad once said that we are like triplets the way we think alike. We even had our first babies on the same day. I can’t imagine my life without you in it. So you have to wake up and talk to me." Trixie looked at her friend for a moment and let the tears run down her face. She closed her eyes for a moment.
"You’re my sister, too," a small voice weakly said and Trixie's eyes flew open. "Hi, you two."
"Honey, you’re awake," Trixie gasped and Honey smiled weekly.
Di got up and hurried outside. Brian hurried in a moment later.
"Honey."
"Hi, my love."
Brian took her hand in his, tears running down his face. "I thought I was going to..."
She squeezed his hand. "Not getting rid of me that easily."
Doctor Porter walked in and smiled at Honey. "Glad to see you awake Honey. How are you feeling?"
"My chest is a little sore, but, otherwise, I feel fine."
Doctor Porter smiled. "I was coming to talk to Brian here about your blood tests, but now that you are awake I can discuss them with you."
"Is there anything wrong, Mike?"
"I found something I didn’t expect to find."
Trixie stood up. "Should we leave?"
Mike smiled. "No, it is fine. I am sure that Honey will be pleased that you are here when I tell her that she is pregnant."
"What!" Brian gasped looking down at his wife.
"I am not sure how far along you are, but you are most definitely pregnant. Congratulations."
7.30 A.M.
Trixie yawned. "What a wonderful end to such an awful night."
Jim nodded, fitting himself more snugly behind her.
8.30 A.M.
9.30 A.M.
10.30 A.M. AND WELL INTO THE AFTERNOON.
Trixie and Jim slept.
* * *
Trixie laughed until tears ran down her face.
"Brianna was so shocked that she just sat down in the snow and began to laugh," said Honey.
Trixie looked at her husband grinning from the chair opposite her. "So who taught my little man how to make a ‘Ring of Gold’ in the snow?"
Jim looked over at Brian and they both laughed.
"It is something that most boys do when they are young. You girls make snow angels and we..." Jim laughed again.
"I hope I never have the privilege to view one," Trixie told him.
Jim grinned. "Stick with me, kid, and I will show you many wonders of the human body."
She sniffed and then turned to Honey with a smile on her face. "And has Bri recovered?"
Honey nodded. "She told me today she hopes that I am having another girl because boys are extremely gross."
"Getting off the subject." Brian smiled. "You girls had something to discuss with us men."
Trixie looked at Honey and she nodded.
"You know that we have been going to see the police counsellor in the city," Trixie began.
Both men nodded.
"Well, she has been talking to us lately about a new job."
"What kind of new job?"
The police force wants to set up a team to go into local schools and do talks."
"What kinds of talks?"
"Similar to what Honey and I started last year. Talking about safety, stranger danger, gun and anything else the school feels the kids need to know. It will be with puppets for the small ones and small group discussions for the older kids."
"And they want you to give them some advice on how to set it up."
"They want Honey and me to run it."
"Is that what you want?" Jim asked.
Trixie nodded. "Both of us have come to the conclusion that we have had enough of stakeouts and gunfights. We want to get to kids early so that maybe things like this will not occur as often in the future. And with Honey pregnant they have told us we can do the initial setting up and have as much input as we want in it all. We will do all the paperwork and train others to do the legwork. Honey and I will only do the schools in the local area that we can reach within the day. And if it takes off we are hoping to see someone go to every school in America."
"Sounds terrific, babe, if you are sure."
Trixie smiled at her husband. "I have not been as sure about anything in a long time."
Brian smiled at his sister and his wife. "Now, it is my turn for some news. We had the ultrasound today."
"Is everything okay?"
Brian nodded. "More than okay. Guess what, guys? We are expecting twins."
Trixie screamed as she hugged her friend beside her and then got up to hug her brother.
Honey laughed. "It took a while, but we hit the jackpot."
Trixie laughed with her.
When they were seated again, Trixie smiled at her friend. "The night that you were shot Jim and I needed each other more than we had ever done before. And because of that night I found out today that another Frayne is on the way."
Jim leapt up and pulled his wife into his arms. "You're serious."
"You think I would kid you about something like that, Daddy?"
Jim swung her around in his arms and then stopped, gently putting her back on her feet."
"I assume you didn’t know," Honey laughed as she hugged them both.
"Not a clue."
"I was going to tell you later tonight, but circumstances led me to tell you now. Are you disappointed I didn’t tell you on your own?"
He laughed. "I am over the moon. I am going to be a daddy again."
Honey took her friend's hand in hers and smiled. "Well, sister, here we go again."
The End
Took a while to get this one down. But phew I have finally finished. If you are not sure about the ring of gold think hard. It will come to you. Many hugs