Control

Title: Control
Chapter Twenty-nine
Author: Dee Dee
Rating: NC-17
Summary: Dom forces the truth about the hospital visit from Mikaela.

“Give me my mate!”

Brian handed Mikaela’s unconscious form to Dom. He cradled her gently in his arms and kissed her forehead.

“Dom. We have to get her away from here.”

“You never should have brought her here, Brian!”

“She asked me to, Dom! I’d do anything she asked of me!”

“Why? Why did you bring her here?” The dark rage that Mikaela exhibited earlier was radiating from Dom but Brian did not back down.

“I promised her I would not say. It is for her to tell you. Now please, take her home. I’ll get the door.” Brian clicked the locks and opened the passenger door.

Dom placed her on the seat and belted her in. He shut the door, grabbed the keys and looked at Brian. “Ride home with the others.” Then he went around, got in and shut the door. He lovingly ran his hand down her cheek. “I’m going to get you home, baby. You’re safe now.” He started the engine and drove them home as fast as the car would get them there.

The others followed behind and Mia turned to Brian. “What happened?”

“All I can say is that she asked me to take her there. She does not do well in hospitals and that is why she passed out.”

Dom pulled into the garage, shut off the engine, and went around to her side. He unlatched her seatbelt and picked her up. She looked so small and fragile to him. The whole drive home and even now, she kept a protective arm over her stomach and had yet to wake.

The others had just gotten out of the car and were coming in but he stopped them at the door. “Go home!”

“I’m not leaving until I know she’s ok.”

“Leon…”

“I’m not!”

“Then go next door! All of you!”

“Dom…”

“This is not open for discussion, Brian. I want to be alone with my woman. Go away. I’ll come get you if she wakes up.” He walked inside and slammed the door. “Boys! Door!”

“Brian, what the hell were you thinking?”

“Leon, I was thinking that I was helping my friend. What were you thinking when you ate her out and had your fingers in her?” Brian was yelling and couldn’t see straight through his anger. He turned and walked next door followed closely by Mia.

‘Fuck. What did I do?’ He walked next door and went to his room. He had no intention of leaving until he could talk to her.

When Brian got upstairs, he paced the room until Mia walked in and he pulled her into his arms. “God baby. It was horrible. She went ballistic and she didn’t remember who I was.”

“Why?”

“Mia, she’s empathic. That’s why her and Dom can feel each other. She felt everything that everyone in the hospital was feeling. She felt 3 people die while we were there.”

“Oh my god, Brian. I can’t even imagine what that must feel like.” She thought for a moment and got a confused look on her face. “Wait a minute. Mikaela being empathic explains a lot but how does that make Dom feel her?”

“I don’t know. She kept calling him her mate and he did the same thing when he showed up. Mate is an unusual word to use to describe your girlfriend but the way Dom protects her is almost…animal-like.”

“Then why did he share her with Leon?”

“You were with her earlier, Mia. Was anything going on?”

“She was upset. Dom said something that hurt her feelings. She started to doubt how he felt for her and whether or not she could fit in with the rest of us.”

They walked over to the bed and sat down. “Why would she think that she couldn’t fit in with us?”

“Brian, she hasn’t been around people in over 2 years.”

“She was hiding from that guy for that long?”

“Yes.”

“Well, when her and Leon were alone do you think he straightened her out with all of that?”

“Brian, we were kind of busy but I would guess so.”

They turned when they heard Leon at the top of the stairs. “Why don’t you just ask me?”
~*~

Dom laid Mikaela in bed and curled up behind her. She rolled over and snuggled into his warmth. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her tighter into his chest. “I love you, Mick.” He whispered and kissed her hair.

She mumbled as she ran her hands up his chest. He couldn’t understand her clearly but he could’ve sworn that she said, “I love you both.” He read her and all the horrible things she was experiencing earlier had faded away. *Love. Dread. Happy. Sad. Love. Innocence. Love.*

‘I made a mistake. I shouldn’t have shared her.’ He panicked when he thought he was going to lose her earlier. He said the wrong thing and didn’t take into account her inexperience with relationships and people. She said she felt like an outsider when she was younger even surrounded by friends. He wanted nothing more than to show her life.

He knew she was accepting Leon as a “best friend” of sorts. He was a lot like her in many ways. He hangs back and watches people. He figures them out but he can get actively involved as well. Dom thought she might find a substitute for Rob in him someday. She was going to need someone like him around.

Leon got into her head and assuaged whatever fears she had about their relationship. He got him his woman back. Dom owed him and he knew Leon loved her too. He knew Leon was lonely and he knew Mikaela adored him. Most important was his mate’s anxiety about her sexual inadequacy. He wanted her to know that she was desirable to anyone not just him because of the bond.

“Dominic?”

“Yeah baby. It’s me. You’re safe now and back in my arms where you belong.”

“Is Brian ok? Did I hurt him?”

“No. You didn’t hurt him but he’s pretty shaken up. I guess things got real bad in there?”

“You felt it.” She whispered.

“Yes I did but I got it under control so I could find you. I know what you went through and I’ll do everything in my power to keep you from going through that again.”

“I’m sure the hospital personnel will appreciate that.” She giggled like a little girl. He knew she was child-like in many ways but at the same time old beyond her years.

“Baby, did we hurt you?”

“No, my love.”

“Are your injuries worse than we thought?”

“No.”

“Mick, throw me a line here. I know you would rather die than go to a hospital and now I know why. I felt you die but…not. It nearly drove me mad. Why did you go?” *Love. Dread. Happy. Sad. Love. Innocence. Love.*

She tensed in his arms and he was having a hard time interpreting her emotions. He thought her love was divided between him and Leon. That thought was more than he could bear. “Baby, please tell me.”

She began to tremble and he hugged her to him fiercely. “I’m scared. I don’t want to lose you.”

His eyes clenched and fear ran through him. “You won’t lose me, Mick. I love you. You can tell me anything.”

“I can’t.”

“Mick…”

“Please Dominic. Just give me a little more time.” She pulled back and looked into his eyes. “I’m begging you for a little more time.” She wanted more time with him. She thought she was going to lose him.

“Sure baby.”

“Where are the others?”

“I sent them home. You needed your rest. You didn’t need the 3 of them hovering over you.”

“Three of them? Leon is still here?”

He sighed heavily. “Yeah baby. He refused to leave until he knew you were going to be okay.”

“What was I doing when you showed up?” She averted her eyes from his.

“You were unconscious when Brian carried you out the door.”

“Did he say whether or not I hurt anyone?”

“He won’t tell me shit except that you asked him to take you there!” He flinched when his voice rose in volume. He lifted her chin and looked in her eyes. “I’m getting some extremely mixed vibes from you, Mick. I know you’ve been doing this empathic thing since childhood but I know enough that what I’m picking up from you scares the hell out of me.”

“I’m sorry. I told you nothing good comes from loving me. I defeated my demon and I thought everything would change but I’m still fucked up. This curse of mine has been the problem all along. Nobody else should have to suffer because of it.”

“Mick, shut up. All of that is bullshit. I found something wonderful with you and I don’t ever want to lose it. Everything has changed. We defeated that bastard together and I love you all the more for it.”

“Dominic…”

“No! You listen to me. I need to know what these feelings are that I’m getting from you.”

She got quiet and whispered. “What are you reading?”

“In this order, I’m getting guilt, love, dread, happy, sad, love, innocence, and love. Please explain each one to me.”

“I thought you were going to give me more time?”

“That was for the reason you went to the hospital.”

“They are related issues, Dominic!”

“Mick! We are in a relationship. We need to be able to talk to each other. I know you aren’t use to this but we have to talk about our feelings not just feel each other’s. You asked me why I felt guilty the other day and I answered you. Please explain yourself!”

Her eyes clenched shut and tears flowed freely down her face. “I’m scared. I don’t want to tell you. I’m afraid to tell you!”

“Baby, don’t be afraid of telling me. I don’t want you to be scared of our relationship or me. Now why don’t you start with guilt?”

“I feel guilty about what happened with Leon.”

“Are you upset that I shared you with him or do you feel something for him?”

“Neither. I mean I love Leon like family but nothing more. I’m not upset that you shared me with him. I felt loved. I’m upset that it happened now.”

“Why now?” He was relieved that she wasn’t upset about the threesome and also that her heart belonged solely to him.

“It has to do with something else. The next one is my love for you. It is eternal and completely overwhelms me. I will love you forever even if you leave me. I am dreading this conversation and what I have to tell you. I am happy about what I found out at the hospital but sad because I’m afraid I’m going to lose you.”

He held her shaking body close to his and tenderly ran a hand over her back. “Mick, you are not going to lose me.”

“Dominic, please don’t make me do this.”

He held her face between his hands and saw her terrified eyes. “Baby, calm down and keep going. The next one is love.”

Resigned to her fate, she stared into his eyes and waited for her world to end. “I love someone else.”

His heart stopped and he could barely breathe. “Who?”

“The next is innocence and that is who I love.”

“Who?”

She closed her eyes and whispered. “Our child.” He hadn’t said anything yet and she was afraid to let him. “Dominic, don’t say anything.” Without looking at him, she pulled away and rolled off the bed.

“Mick.”

“Please don’t say a word. I haven’t been happy in such a long time I’d like it to last a little while longer.” She started towards the stairs.

He grabbed her around the waist to stop her from leaving. “Baby, don’t go!”

She was shaking with her tears and could not face him. “I know it seems like I run away a lot, Dominic, but you are in my safe haven. I have nowhere else to go. I have been hiding for so long it is a natural response for me to run. I found enough of my old self to keep from doing that with you but I still need to be alone. The only thing different now is that I don’t have Rob. Please let me go.”

He released her and she went down the stairs. He sat on the edge of the bed stunned by everything she told him. He wanted nothing more than to go after her but he didn’t want to spook her into running instead of just seeking solitude. On second thought it might seem like he didn’t care if he didn’t follow her. ‘Fuck. I’m confused. Do I go after her or not?’

His first instinct was to love and protect his mate and unborn child. ‘I’m a father! She has given me her self, her love, and a baby!’ He got up and headed down the stairs. He went through the house and found no sign of her or the dogs so he ran out the back door. “Mick!” He looked up and down the beach and couldn’t see her anywhere.

He needed help so he ran next door to get the others. “Hey! Get out here! I need your help!”

Brian, Leon, and Mia came running down the stairs in a rush. Mia took in her brother’s panicked eyes and worry hit her hard. “Dom, what is it? Is she awake? Is she ok?”

“She’s awake but she’s gone. She’s on foot so I need us to split up to find her. Mia and I will go down the beach. Brian, you and Leon go up. She has the dogs with her and she wants to be alone so be careful if you find her. She might not be too thrilled about us hunting her down. Let’s go!”

They all headed out the door and split in different directions. “Dom, how long has she been gone?”

“She ran out of the house about 4 minutes before I came to get you.”

“Damn, she is fast. Especially for someone who was recently unconscious.”

“You said it yourself, Mia. She is an amazing woman. Come on. We have to hurry.”

Brian and Leon were at a full run. Both of them were desperate to find their missing friend. They had nothing to say to each other after their run-in earlier so the silence stretched while they searched.

They both came to a dead stop when they spotted the dogs. They were lying in a triangle around Mikaela. She was curled up on her side facing the water. They both approached slowly wary of the dogs. As soon as they got within 10 feet of her, Zeus stood his ground and the others followed suit.

“Brian?” She asked but didn’t turn around.

“Yeah Mikaela. It’s me. Can I come over there?”

“Boys. Sit.”

Brian edged his way past the dogs and sat beside her. “Come here, Mikaela.” He helped her sit up and she leaned against him.

“Did I hurt anyone?”

“You knocked out an orderly and almost skewered the doctor but everyone survived. What happened? Why are you out here?”

“He made me tell him and I’m out here because I want to be alone.”

He nudged her shoulder. “Too bad for you that we won’t let you be alone. Ever. What did he say?”

“He wouldn’t say anything at first and then I wouldn’t give him a chance. I told him that I haven’t been happy in so long that I’d like it to last a little longer.”

“Why don’t you think it’s going to last?”

“I’ll lose him.” She rested her head on his shoulder and silently cried.

Brian put an arm around her shoulders and held her close. “Mikaela, you didn’t give him a chance. He won’t leave you.”

“I lose everyone, Brian! I always lose everyone. My best friend is dead. My first boyfriend is dead. My friends are all gone. They either die or I push them away because I can’t handle being around them. They were all afraid of me. I lose everyone!”

“You won’t lose us.”

She turned and saw Leon standing there. *Fear.* “Why are you afraid right now?”

“I’m afraid that what happened between us messed up our relationship. I’m scared that you’ll shut me out.”

She looked at the stars and tried to handle the exasperation these people were causing her. “Why is losing me a factor when I’ve known all of you less than a week? You guys are more insane than I am.”

“No. You just managed to worm your way into our hearts.”

“Leon, you were wrong. There is nothing special about me.”

Brian gripped her shoulder and drew her attention back to him. “You’re wrong. You didn’t have to do what you did for me. I know about your aversion to people but you said it yourself you got tired of being alone. You want us here and we want to be here.”

“Brian…”

“Mikaela, if you were to lose Dom and the rest of us, you still won’t be alone. That baby will be yours forever. And just for the record, we aren’t going anywhere. Especially Dom.”

Leon heard ‘baby’ and he felt like someone gut punched him. “No wonder. Micki, I’m sorry.”

“Leon, come here.” He walked over and sat on her left. She grabbed his hand and looked into his eyes. “I didn’t know. When I found out, I was embarrassed that I did that when I was pregnant. I love you and I loved the way you touched me.”

“Micki…”

“I mean it. Now shut up. Why are you still here? You need to go so you can be back when I asked. Now beat it before Letty thinks you abandoned her.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes and tell Dominic that I’ll be home shortly.”

He kissed her on the cheek and stood up. “I’ll see you soon. And I’m taking you up on that offer for a house whether Letty wants to come back or not.”

“That’s great but try to get her to come back with you if only just for that day. I have a surprise for all of you.” She gave him a wink and shooed him off.

“Micki…I…I’ll see you day after tomorrow.”

“Bye Leon.”

They watched him walk off and Brian nudged her again. “The sex thing is really bugging you, isn’t it?”

“I feel like a slut.” He laughed. “You think it’s funny? I was a meal for two. It isn’t like I would mind doing it but not with Dom Jr. on board.”

“I’m sorry I don’t mean to laugh. You’ve been with 4 men in your life. You have 1 threesome and you think you’re a slut.” He got his laughter under control. “You are damn close to being an innocent.”

“You wouldn’t think that if you knew the things Dominic and I have done.” She started to laugh too.

“I had a front row seat for one of the events. You looked pretty fucking sexy to me. Seriously Mikaela, give him a chance. I know he won’t disappoint you.”

“Are you sure?”

“Can’t you feel him?” He smiled at her.

“So. You know.”

“We all do.”

“Lovely. Brian, I’d really like to be alone for awhile.”

“Ok.” He got up and squeezed her shoulder. “Look at it this way. You have a support group now. I’ll tell Dom that you’re ok and you’ll be back soon. You will be, right?”

“Yeah Brian. He’s my mate. I’ll be with him until he decides otherwise.” She watched him head back down the beach and then turned to look at the ocean. ‘Rob. Where are you when I need you?’

“Mick?”

“Dominic!” She scrambled to her feet and slowly turned to face him.

He stalked up to her and she instinctively backed away. “I came for you.” He continued towards her and she kept the distance between them. “Why are you running from me, Mick?”

“I don’t know.”

“Come here, Mick! Now!” She slowly walked up to him. He could feel her fear. “You know I love you, right?” She nodded her head but would not look him in the eyes. “I do not want my mate running away from me again with my child!”