Rock Her(36)

I love this shit! No! That’s the adrenaline working on me!

Kip lowered Sparks mine millimeter and tried to relax. The feeling brought him back to Kandahar. That combat high that all veterans get and has been so richly described in the writings of the world war two heroes since the forties. But Kip did not want to love this shit anymore. And he was mad at himself for thinking he might. He dropped the gun and clenched his fists. Then he realized that Sparks had limped up beside him and picked up the weapon.

“Amazing shot!” Sparks said. “I could not have made it.”

Kip did not answer him or respond in any way. He was wrestling with his demons. And his palms bled around his embedded nails.

Sparks was hunched and kept his hand on his bleeding leg. “Buddy? Hey, you Okay?”

Kip would not respond.

Then Annie was there. She had shuffled up in tears, seeing that Kip was clearly traumatized by what had just happened.

“Stay with him while I call this in,” Sparks said to her.

He didn’t have to call it in. Sirens were already heard even inside the mall, even though it was not in chaos. People were screaming and crying. And a fair number of witnesses had gathered around Kip, who would not respond to anything Annie did to get his attention.

Within minutes, paramedics were there and trying to coax Kip in to a sitting position. Finally, after Annie begged him to focus, he sat, and they took his vitals. Cops were swarming the mall, clearing it, making sure it was safe. Interviews were being conducted. Everyone who had witnessed it had said that Kip was a hero. The shooter was dead, and no one except deputy Sparks had been hit by a bullet except him.

Finally, Kip was convinced to get to his feet and he found himself walking toward the ambulance that was waiting outside. That is when he finally came back to the mall. Annie, who was watching his face intently as he walked, saw the light go back on and his eyes cleared. He looked around, finally setting his eyes upon her.

“Kip, it’s okay. You don’t have to feel bad. He was going to kill me,” she said.

Kip focused on her and then began to move his lips. “I know,” he said. “I don’t feel bad at all.”

Annie’s usual glow dimmed and she looked confused. “Then what is the matter with you?” she asked.

Kip shook his head. “I was back in combat,” he said.

“And I loved it.”



Kip and Annie reached the ambulance and found deputy sparks there in the back, his leg bandaged and an IV in his arm. He also had an oxygen mask on his face. When Sparks saw Kip and Annie approach he sat up and pulled the plastic face mask off, exposing a huge grin.

“That was some unbelievable shit, Mr. Jones!” he said.

Annie shook her head, trying to make him understand that Kip was struggling with what had happened.

The deputy ignored it and turned his attention back to Kip. “You’re a real fucking John Wayne!”

Kip just nodded at him.

Annie shook her head again at Sparks. “Deputy Sparks, please. This is not the time.”

Sparks shrugged her off. “Shit darlin’, there is no better time to tell this guy thanks for saving all of our lives.”

Kip smiled. “You called me Mr. Jones. “So you do know who I am.”

Sparks grinned. “Haven’t a fucking clue. The lieutenant just told me your name. All I know is, you saved my fucking life. And yours,” he nodded toward Annie. “Hell, everybody’s.”

Then several officers approached Kip as he stood at the back of the ambulance, all of them wanting to shake his hand. Even men came up to him when they could break through the police line, and thanked him for saving the lives of their family.

Kip was back fully, then. And he exuded his normal charm and cockiness. He hated that he loved the feel of the gun back in his hand. And he loved it all the same. But he loved being a rocker more and wouldn’t have met Annie if he wasn’t one.



After three interviews with media and more with the police, the excitement started to die down. Kip and Annie were once again offered a ride back to his hotel. Kip asked that the bags of clothes, shoes and jewelry be gathered and he accepted. But before there were escorted to the police car, the same lieutenant that pulled Annie aside earlier had approached her again. This time he did not take her from Kip’s side. He asked her a point blank question directly in front of Kip.

“Looks like we are on for the sting operation for tomorrow. Are you sure you are still willing to go through with it?” he asked.

Annie looked at Kip, who raised his eyebrows at her. She looked back at the lieutenant.

“Absofuckinglutely!” she said.



Chapter Four



Kip and Annie made it back to the hotel without any further incident. Kip found himself sore from the day’s activities. He had been out of the Marines for too long, it seemed. On the way back in the squad car, when he first noticed the soreness in his muscles after the adrenaline had finally fully subsided, he resolved to get more exercise. He looked over at Annie’s breasts sitting high upon her chest and knew he would begin his new exercise regimen just as soon as he got back to the hotel room.