AWIO On the Scene Pt 2

"...And you're sure you want this?"

Kea nodded smiling at Rachel as the interpreter translated her answer. "Absolutely!" She looked out the window where Dave was passing out coffees to the AWIO and law enforcement. Everyone else was outside as Dave had insisted. He had seen how so many people swarming around had made her anxious. He'd allowed a single detective, AWIO case worker and a translator then literally shooed everyone else out. The law enforcement detectives hadn't liked that much but Kea was technically still in AWIO care and hadn't commited any crimes (that they knew of. Kea was pretty sure the things she'd taken to survive was that "stealing" thing people got touchy about but since no one asked about it she wisely kept quiet)

"I know I was acting pouty with him when you all got here about being "left out"... but that was all it was. An act. I'm sure he knows it too. How could I be mad at him for wanting to protect me? Everything he's done? Even the ways I've tested and teased him. He's only shown me care in everything single thing he's done. He's possibly too nice! He needs someone to look out for him like he does for others and... I..." she blushed but squeezed her hands into tight little fists determinedly. "I want that! I want to be that for him!" She nodded and smiled completely sure. "The bond has already started and it's strong! He's the one for me! I know it!"

Rachel smiled and nodded adding it to her assessment then she folded her tablet closed and set it aside. "Okay that takes care of the official stuff. Now comes the fun part. Girl talk! How far did you two get? Is he your type? He's pretty dreamy for an older guy!"

Kea laughed as the translator struggled to keep up with Rachel's questions and gossip seeking. Rachel was one of Kea's, and many of the other "Monster Girl" ladies, favorite AWIO staff for that reason. She might come off as completely professional at first but once she warmed to the girls she'd show her true self. Approachable, genuine, caring and even bit silly, fun and quirky.... and it made her extremely approachable and easy to like and relate too.

"He's older than I was expecting but honestly that's appealing in a way! Definitely! Handsome, rugged, fit.. definitely my type but... also way more caring and considerate and thoughtfully sweet than I'd imagined and somehow... that totally makes it even better!" She said biting her lip.

Rachel squeed like a teenager and clapped her hands. "Ooooo good for you girlfriend! Super daddy energy coming from that one! But seriously have you... you know?"

Kea blushed but shook her head frowning. "Not yet. I gave him several opportunities but he didn't take them. I know he wants to... he even promised "later"! But..." she looked down at her lap.

Rachel looked at the translator and she nodded too. "You have doubts or concerns?"

Kea took a breath. "Is he holding back... because he has doubts and concerns? Or is it something else? Why is such a nice human male not taken already?" She looked down and twisted her hands in her lap.

"Oh," Rachel said softly getting up to sit next to Kea instead of across from her, putting her hand on Kea's. "Oh, Kea. He likely doesn't want to hurt you. You say he's very considerate and thoughtfully sweet? Caring and attentive? Don't you think that maybe he's worried about everything that you've been through? We all certainly are! I'm sure he is too! Also..." she hesitated but pulled out her tablet again and opened it back up. "There is something that you should know. As you know we not only screen but do background checks on potential sponsers. He was married a longtime ago."

Kea looked up. She should be surprised but somehow she wasn't. Little things in his behaviors gave it away like being so surprisingly domestic for instance. She felt a tiny, hot pang of jealousy. "He already had a mate a longtime ago? Why would she abandon him?"

Rachel smiled softly calling up the information and sat close to Kea on the couch to show her. "She didn't honey."

Kea watched as Rachel showed her a pretty young human woman. She was taller then Kea, obviously, Slender though and in the next picture it showed her and Dave together. She was rather petite compared to him. Kea also noticed she was a dark-haired beauty with a impish smile. So they had some things in common. The next was a wedding photo of the two of them together. She looked beautiful and Dave was a very handsome young man in uniform and they looked perfectly happy together... and very obviously in love. Kea started to feel frustrated tears stinging her eyes and was about to push the tablet away not wanting to see more but Rachel slid to the next and it was a newspaper article. Rachel looked sad as she softly said, "She died Kea. Shortly after their wedding in an accident. She was hit by a car. They..." she swallowed. "Their happily ever after was very, very short."

Kea cried then. She cried for the young woman who loved the same man as her and didn't get long to enjoy it. She cried for Dave being left all alone. She cried for the young tragic lovers torn apart and- "S-sorry...," she said feeling she had to use her own words and not the translator as she touched the tablet to go back and looked at the ill-fated young woman. "K-Kea sorry! Kea p-pwamise! Kea care D'Hayv good-good-good mate for you!"

Rachel looked at the translator who nodded and stepped away to give them space for a semi-private moment and hugged Kea. "I'm sure Kea and Dave together makes her happy. And hearing that? I'm sure she wishes nothing but the best for both of you! And Dave... well... how do I explain?"

Kea nodded though and sniffed. "Kea knows. D'Hayv good. Good-good-good! Wow!" She shook her head. "Too good! Too good to... to..."

Rachel smiled. "To worry you, Kea?"

Kea nodded. There was that word again. "D'Hayv like that. Too good to worry Kea! Kea know. Worry too much. D'Hayv worry-bad for Kea. Worry-bad Kea too much! Too good mate. Good spawn-sir!" She wiped her eyes and nodded determinedly clenching her little hands into fusts. "Good Kea know! Kea need D'Hayv... but D'Hayv need Kea! Need Kea lots! Kea... do? Wah...?" She tried to find the word she should know. She was-! "Kea war-k? Work! Kea work hard make D'Hayv happy wow! Work hard make Kea-D'Hayv wow! For D'Hayv old mate too!" She blinked. "Why Raychel cry now?"

Rachel shook her head smiling and crying while she hugged Kea. "Kea is so good! So good for thinking like that! All of you girls are so good! You all inspire me! I'll keep working hard too! You can do it, Kea!"

Kea smiled she didn't understand every word her friend said but she understood enough. She hugged her, awkwardly trying to reach around to pat her back. "Raychel good. Raychel work hard good! Kea knows!"

Rachel sniffed and nodded. "Thank you, Kea!" She grabbed them both tissues and they laughed and blew their noses comically hard and dried their eyes. "Kea OK?"

Kea smiled and nodded. "Yes! Raychel OK?"

Rachel smiled and nodded at Kea and then called the interpreter who moved to rejoin them. "Yes! So let's change the subject." She waved her hand indicating Kea's wardrobe. "That's some dress, Kea! It suits you! Did you make it?"

Kea smiled and the interpreter started translating for her again. "I did. Dave wanted to give me something to wear instead of my soiled clothes. The clothes were his size though so I made a few quick alterations."

Rachel looked over the rather sexy alterations. "I see. And how did Dave respond?"

Kea blushed but grinned and pointed down at her lap and then raised her finger pointing up at the ceiling. They both grinned and laughed.

"Well I'd say that's a very positive reaction if you got that once!" Rachel said but stopped when Kea shook her head. "No?"

Kea grinned and held up her hands fingers splayed out.

Rachel bit her lip and nodded. "You got a rise out of him that many times in just one morning? Girl, he's got it bad for you! So... any other concerns?"

Kea nodded emphatically. "I have a really big concern actually..."

"Oh? What is that?" Rachel asked.

Kea held up her hands and spread them apart. "About this big apparently..."

Rachel whistled and narrowed her eyes. "Girl are you bragging?" She watched Kea shake her head blushing. "Oh-kay... You are either in for a big treat or in big trouble. Either way... that monster really likes you... a lot!"

Kea bit her lip, grinning but she did have another question. "Actually there is something else. Can I get my things from the AWIO Acclamation Housing or have them brought here?"

Rachel nodded. "Of course! You can pick them up anytime. I didn't think you had much."

Kea nodded. "I don't," the interpreter translated for her hiding a smile as well. "I don't need anything else immediately except for the medication? Ah! As much as I'm looking forward to it I'd like to not get pregnant immediately, yes?"

Rachel joined her and the interpreter both in laughing. "Understood. We'll have someone come out with your personal effects as soon as possible!"

"...and that settles that," Edward said sitting with Rachel across from Dave and Kea, finalizing their sponsorship. "This sponsorship may have come about unusually and in an unorthodox manner but I have a good feeling about you two. That said there will be the usual check-up visits starting tomorrow."

Kea kept holding Dave's hand and squeezing it. She understood now. Everyone has fears... and this was his. Fear of getting close to someone and losing them again. That's why he was alone. That it had likely been why he was able to be as courageous as he was as a warrior. He'd already lost something, someone, irreplaceable. Had them torn from his life and that had scarred him. Made him tough... but also ****.

But he hadn't hesitated at all to sign off on the paperwork! He was being brave and willing to face that fear for her! He cared for her that much!

"Sorry someone's got to come out on a weekend," Dave said.

Edward shrugged. "It's fine. I'm not sure who it'll be-"

"Me!" Rachel said with excited enthusiasm, even going so far as to raise her hand like a child in school. "I'm coming tomorrow to find out- *Ahem* I meant to say, to check on how you two are "getting along"." She said giving a thumbs-up and a big wink that made Kea giggle.

Edward hung his head, shaking it. "Nice... real subtle, Rachel. Keep it professional, OK?"

Kea was grinning and Dave blushed but said, "Great. That'll be lovely. I'll make breakfast when you do."

Kea looked at Rachel. "Dinner," she said then looked at Dave.

Dave gulped but smiled and said, "Dinner might be too late and I'm sure everyone would like to have evening plans. Compromise... Brunch?"

Kea nodded. "Brunch!"

Rachel nodded too. "Brunch it is!"

Edward sighed. "Please don't feed the case workers."

Rachel crossed her arms. "There isn't any rule against it!"

"Yet," Edward muttered. "There probably should be though. We aren't allowed to accept tips or gratuities and bribes are obviously right out. They should add meals to that list." He looked at Dave. "You don't have to indulge her just because she's my superior."

Dave blinked. He hadn't known that. That also meant she was the boss Edward would be speaking to. He saw her shrug but there was a cunning in her eyes behind the warm exterior. She was smart and used her warmth and charm to disarm people and get a better read on them. *Clever girl,* he thought and raised his estimation of the attractive young woman. None of which changed his good opinion of her. He shook his head smiling. "It'd be our pleasure really!" He looked at Kea. "Kea-Rachel friends?"

Kea smiled at him and nodded. "Raychel-Kea good friends!"

Dave nodded and further adjusted his estimation of Rachel firmly into the positive. "Then that's settled. If Rachel is a friend of Kea's, then she's a friend of mine and welcome anytime! Please come for brunch, won't you? We'd love to have you!" And he meant it. He had a feeling it'd be enlightening and informative as well as genuinely pleasant.

Rachel also smiled at that and her estimation of him rose as well. "Thank you! I'd love too and gratefully accept! I'll be here!"

"Late," Kea said grabbing Dave's thigh and making him blush.

"Whatever time works for you, is fine" Dave said smiling as he put his arm around Kea and pulling her close to his side. She was being bold and flirty but he could see she was tired. She leaned happily against him. "But maybe the later, the better. If you can manage it. Give everyone a chance to rest."

Rachel and Edward both smiled. They were even more certain that this Sponsorship was going to work somehow. They were used to seeing flirty, lusty and even lovey-dovey behavior displays from sponsors and sponsored... but the best signs were attentiveness to, and care and concern for, the other in a sponsor/sponsored relationship. Most bonds didn't get to that stage until after the fact, which was fine, and the goods ones developed it quickly. Seeing one starting that way from the beginning was always a good sign.

"Alright I think we can leave it there for the time being," Edward said. "Rachel will see you all tomorrow and I'll see you at AWIO on Monday."

"Sounds good," Dave said and Kea blinked looking at them.

"Monday? Why?" She asked.

Dave nodded and explained. "Apparently they want to hire me for a job. I'm going to start working with AWIO on Monday to help out with people in bad situations like yours was or worse. It's... kind of my specialty, Kea."

Kea's eyes lit up as they with the help of the translator explained Dave's consultation work he'd be doing, what counciling and therapy was and that they wanted him to advise, and possibly run, rescue operations for Otherworlders in situations like hers or worse. "I was wrong. Not a war wizard? but a warrior-healer." She hugged him. "I think that's wonderful! I know you'll help many people! If I can come with you to the AWIO, I can work on my studies too! Maybe even help! I want that please?""

Dave hadn't thought about that and glanced at Edward and Rachel who nodded indicating that was perfectly fine. He smiled at Kea. "Sounds like a very good plan to me! If that's the case I'll work even harder!"

Kea hugged him nodding. "Kea will work hard too!"

Finally they were alone. Someone from AWIO had brought Kea's meager possessions and the farmhouse that had practically been swarming with people earlier was now empty except for them and the cat.

Speaking of Dave had just finished feeding Mister as Kea watched intently wanting to learn. He was a big, old cat and so he got specialty food several times a day on top of what he caught for himself. She smiled watching. Mister was very doglike for a cat.

When Dave joined her on the couch as Mister, now contentedly feed, settled in the window she leaned against him again and asked, "Kea-D'Hayv alone again good. What D'Hayv want do now?" She had said in a very suggestive tone.

But she was surprised when Dave nodded taking the initiative putting his arms around her. He pulled her against him as he lay back on the couch holding her close on top of him and... kissed the top of her head and stroked her hair.

"Sleep," he told her. "Kea tired."

Kea frowned, "Sleep? D'Hayv! Kea no sleep!" But she stopped and slowly smiled as she listened to his heartbeat. His hands gently soothed her as his embrace promised to keep her safe. She felt relieved... and she felt exhausted. Her mate noticed things about her that she didn't. He was... "Too good," she murmured. "D'Hayv... too good... to Kea..."

"Hush," he said softly as the room became quiet with just the sounds of them breathing and Mister purring. "Sleep now," he said. "Everything else later."

"Layter," she softly agreed, her eyes closing. "Layter... good..."

Dave smiled as she drifted off and he felt her breathing even, in and out... in and out... in and...

Mister smiled seeing them sleeping together and closed his eyes too. He didn't need to watch out for them for a time. With his belly full and the children asleep it was time for a nap and recharge in the sun. A cat's work is never done.