It happened that one night (closed)

[AmberLSweet]

***3 years earlier***
Toni was dreading tonight. It was the night her former squadron got together for a couple of beers and talked about old times. The squad made it a point to meet every couple of years...although they had only met last year, this year was special because one of their own was killed overseas earlier that month and they wanted to have a drink in his honor.

The only reason she was regretting it was because of Jon--he'd be there too...

It was a good thing she wasn't showing at 8 weeks pregnant, but still, she wore a black leather jacket over her black t-shirt. She had just left work, so she still had her service pistol and badge on her belt as she walked into the bar. Immediately she saw some of the guys there gathered around a few tables that were placed together. A few hugs were exchanged and some handshakes. It must have seemed weird to see all these guys with Toni because she seemed to get a few dirty looks from the waitresses that were serving them.

"We ordered you a beer!" One of them exclaimed and pushed a beer toward Toni.

"Damn, I wish I could fellas, but I'm still on the clock..." she lied. Hopefully they bought it? She hadn't told anyone she was pregnant and so far, no one noticed in the dimly lit, smoky air of the bar.

"Come on Jackson, one won't kill ya!"

Toni laughed and shook her head, "Yeah, but someone has to stay sober to drive all your drunk asses home, right?" They laughed and suddenly, there were talking about old times...Toni seemed to relax a little and started to enjoy herself...she hadn't thought about Jon, even though he was supposed to show but so far, he hadn't... And if he showed, great...and if didn't, then he didn't, then she’d deal with it.


***Present day***
To say the least, Jon didn’t show and perhaps that was a good thing. It meant she didn’t have to deal with any drama that night would bring. Then again, perhaps she needed to tell him? But no… he never returned her texts after that night and she wondered why. There was no way he was dead. No, she had heard rumors from those that knew them that he was alive and had been working for a private security company, or something like that.

But that’s all she about him. As for herself, no one really knew Toni anymore. She had quit her job when she started to show and couldn’t do her job anymore. Thankfully, she had her family’s wealth to depend on when she disappeared also. Toni retreated to an old farm in Colorado, which sat on 20 acres. No one bothered her and her child there. For some reason, she didn’t know why she decided to hide out, but it just seemed right… even now, the only regret she had was not telling Jon about their child.

Yet lately, she felt as if she were being watched. Call it a gut feeling but usually, she never ignored those feelings…

 

[BeachBum25]

Jon Williams would never be the same. He watched his friend die. To be clearer, he watched his friend die in his arms. It was supposed to be their last mission. They had been the best of the best of an elite squad. The mission they were on was top secret and totally black ops. If anything happened to them, the story would be that they went rogue and the government would deny all knowledge and responsibility for their actions.

When he returned to the States, he couldn't face any members of the team. There would be too many questions... questions he could not nor did he want to answer. He avoided everyone... even Toni. She was special. There was a time that he thought he was in love with her.... even thought they would get married, but now that wasn't possible. She would have too many questions for him.

He went to work as a mercenary. Technically it was a security company, but in all actuality, he was a hired soldier. The money was great. He worked when he wanted. he was good at it, because he didn't give a fuck about anything or anybody he was involved with. Leaving emotions out of it allowed him to focus on the job.

When he heard that Toni had quit her job, he was shocked. He always kept an eye out for her,; without her knowing he was doing it. She had disappeared from the radar screen, and it took him a couple of years to find her. After his last mission, he decided to take some time off and make sure she was okay. He placed her under surveillance, and stayed out of sight.

 

[AmberLSweet]

Back inside the house, Maria was watching over Aaron. She did this during the day while Toni worked. Hearing them in the living room, Toni talked with Maria a bit and asked that she please take her son with her tonight. Of course, it wasn't a problem and Maria was quite capable of taking care of Aaron and keeping him safe...she was, after all, a 4th degree black belt, so yeah, she'd keep her little boy safe.

Because it was time to comb her property to see if her gut feeling was true.

Once they were gone, Toni pretended to head to bed but once the lights were out, she got dressed instead and headed out the cellar door and into the night. Yeah, maybe it was a little dramatic but hell, it would make her feel a whole lot better in the morning if she found nothing...

 

[BeachBum25]

Jon knew Toni well enough. When he saw the babysitter leaving with the young girl, he knew something was up. He knew that something had set off Toni's radar. Jon was a little pissed off at himself. Maybe he had pushed it a little too much and got too close. Maybe it was just that Toni was still as good as she always was.

He backed off a little. Jon saw her exit the house through the basement. His anticipation of her coming out to do recon was what kept him from being seen by her. Toni was good, but Jon was the best. It was what had him chosen for every dangerous mission while part of the unit, and why he returned alive from each mission.

He watched her move around, and he countered each one of her movements. When she was finished checking she would be convinced that everything was okay, and it would be. Jon would, however, still be out here keeping an eye on her and trying to figure out why she had gone so deep undercover.

 

[AmberLSweet]

Nothing.

After a few hours, she found nothing. OK, so maybe she was being paranoid. Maybe she was just thinking about him too much lately...maybe it was because their daughter looked like him every damn day and that's why she was reminded of him...

Still, Toni wasn't convinced. So when she got back to the house, she sent a text to Maria that she would be there in the morning to pick up her child. Right now, maybe if she just got some rest, this feeling of being watched would go away...

***

The next morning, Toni returned with Erin after having breakfast in town. Just as she was done putting her daughter down for a nap, a sheriff's patrol car pulled up and parked.

Sam. Sam was one of five sheriff deputies who patrolled the county and he usually stopped by to say hi to Toni when his shift was over. It was obvious he was trying for more but Toni never read into it. She just wasn't interested.

The two talked for a while on the porch and before he left, Sam asked Toni out and of course, she said no... instead of just leaving, he leaned in and gave her a hug, whispering to her that he'll keep asking until she said yes. Toni only smiled and shook her head. That wouldn't happen...

 

[BeachBum25]

Jon was cautious when he saw Toni go back inside. He had a feeling she might use that as a way of lulling whoever she thought was out there into a sense of false security. After a while he could see the shadow of her body move toward the bed. He was fairly certain that she was down for the night.

He took short naps and moved around after each one just in case Toni tried to come outside again. Once the sun started to come up, he backed away and observed from a greater distance. He watched her leave and made a decision to stay on the property instead of following her.

He saw Toni return with the young girl that he had assumed was her daughter. He thought maybe that was the reason Toni had run off. Then, a Sheriff's Department car pulled up. He watched as the Deputy walked onto the porch and talked with Toni. He saw the hug, and, he had to admit, his heart sunk a little. When the Deputy drove off, Jon decided that he no longer needed to keep an eye on Toni. It seemed that she was happy and that she had someone to take care of her and protect her.

It was time for Jon to go back to what he had been doing.

 

[AmberLSweet]

The day passed as any other day did. And the next day, Toni was back at work after her 'weekend' was up. She was able to get herself a job at the local small bank, and of course she didn't have to work but it helped to try to be normal in a small town where everyone knew your business. She didn't want any rumors of her to go around of how she was able to be alone on a ranch with no visible means of income coming in.

All for the sake of cover.

That night, as she walked to her car, Sam drove up and she thought he was going to ask her again to dinner... but no, instead, he came at her with some news...

Seems he had been digging into her past and found out a few things.

Not that that scared her but the way he said, she knew his type. Hell, even the rumors of him were true. He was an ass. When she turned away, he grabbed her arm and whispered something to her... to which she yanked her arm away and pushed him before getting in her car and driving off.

It was time to leave this sorry town anyway...

 

[BeachBum25]

As he was preparing to leave town, he followed Toni to her job. What he witnessed outside of the bank left him a bit unsettled. He pulled over and parked. Maybe he had misunderstood what he saw out at Toni's house.

He sat in the car while the Deputy drove off. He watched Toni go into the bank. He contemplated his next steps. What could he do? What should he do? It was obvious that the conversation Toni had with the Deputy was not a pleasant one.

Jon got out of the car. He looked around, and then crossed the street. He stood in front of the bank, with his back to the building. Looking around again, he saw the Deputy was nowhere in sight. Turning, he walked into the bank.

He saw Toni, and slowly moved in her direction. No startling movements... he wanted her to think he was just another customer. When he got to her, he said nothing until she looked up. Looking into her eyes, "Hello Toni."

 

[AmberLSweet]

She was closing up her drawer after getting the OK from her boss to leave early. She didn't pay attention to the guy who walked up to her but when she looked up and heard his voice, she knew this wasn't a dream and that she was finally face to face with him again.

She quickly embraced him before grabbing his hand and leading him outside and to the side of the building before facing him "Took you long enough to find me..." she said before kissing him hard!

 

[BeachBum25]

"I have been on your trail for over a year. I have known where you were for 6 months. Sometimes work interferes with my ability to watch over you. It has been uncomfortable sleeping in your backyard for the last couple of weeks."

He kissed her and then stepped back. "So, what is the deal with you and the Deputy Sheriff? I saw him hugging you on the porch, which convinced me that I should leave town because you were doing okay and in competent hands."

He looked into her eyes. "Then, on my way out of town I see him grabbing you and you pulling away. That told me there was something amiss. It made me stop, and, knowing that whatever was going on between you two might lead you to pull up stakes and move, I decided that I should come in and check on you."

 

[AmberLSweet]

" oh him," she said, "that was Sam don't pay attention to him he suffers from delusions of grandeur."

She tried to brush away what he had seen but knew that he wouldn't let the subject go besides she owed him an explanation before she was going to start inquiring as to why he was watching her.

" he's just some nobody Sheriff who has the hots for me and mad that I never fell for his games so now he tried to threaten me by saying he found out some things about me... He's no one to worry about OK?"

"Trust me it's nothing... What do you mean you've been watching me?" She asked that she size him up noticing he looked just as good as he did now as he did back then. " I knew somebody was watching me I just had that feeling and to say you've known about me for about 6 months... Why Jon?"

 

[BeachBum25]

"I wanted to make sure you were okay. You dropped off the face of the Earth, and I wanted to see that you were alright. That is why I have been looking for you. I have not been in contact with you, because I did not want to interfere with anything you may have had going on."

He watched her face as he talked to her. "Once I was certain you were okay, I was leaving. Then I saw him grab you. I don't believe you when you say he is nothing to worry about. I know you Toni. I can read you. You were ready to split. That is why I came into the bank."

 

[AmberLSweet]

"I disappeared because..."

'Because I got pregnant' she had wanted to say but there was a more tactful way to tell him... Just now wasn't the time, nor the place..

Just as she was about to say something more, the sound of a siren caught her attention and on instinct, she found Jon pushing her behind him. When he reached to for his gun, Toni stopped him with a slight touch of her hand and a whispered "Don't Jon, let me handle this, OK?"

Before he could say anything, Toni walked up to Sam and told him that everything was OK when he asked about her well being.

 

[BeachBum25]

Jon stared at the Deputy. He respected law enforcement officers, but there were some that were not worthy of the respect. If this guy was threatening Toni, it would not end well for him. Jon didn't worry about the consequences. Nobody would ever find him.

He was ready to react, but trusted that Toni would be able to handle the situation. She was good, and he was confident in her ability to handle this guy. He was, however, ready to act if things did not go the way that he expected it to go.

 

[AmberLSweet]

"Is he bothering you?"

"No Sam, everything is alright!" Toni said, a little too urgently maybe but of course, he wasn't listening. Instead, he pushed Toni behind him, just like Jon had done earlier and he approached Jon, "I've never seen you around here before...who are you?"

"Sam, don't!" Toni warned but he didn't pay attention. He just kept on Jon.

 

[BeachBum25]

"Do yourself a favor sport, pretend like you never saw me. You are right, I am not from around here, and it will be in your best interest if you turn around and go back to playing Barney Fife like you do every other day."

Unfortunately, the Deputy didn't listen. The next thing he knew, he was on his back looking up at Jon. On the Deputy's way down, Jon had disarmed him and had his weapon. Jon tossed it away. "I told you not to. You should have listened. Now, hopefully, you will reevaluate your position. I do not want to hurt you."

Jon looked at Toni. "The black car across the street is mine. Get in it, go pick up your daughter, and get out of town. Barney and I are going to have a conversation. Hopefully he is a good listener." When Toni left, Jon told the Deputy to forget they ever met, and to forget he ever knew Toni. "I have a very special set of skills that I am hoping I will not have to use on you."

 

[AmberLSweet]

She should have been concerned about Sam. His ego was bigger than his dick and just because he was a small town sheriff, everyone was expected to do what he said. Toni knew this about and perhaps, this was why she never fell for his hits.

And well, with Jon... Toni knew that look in his eyes before. It was the look that said 'don't fuck with me' and that's when everyone in the squad knew he had meant business.

Getting in the car, she drove to her place and told the babysitter to go ahead and leave. Before she had left, Toni wrote a huge check to keep quiet about all this.

As if going out of town, Toni packed up a few things for Erin. Everything else could be bought. All of their important documents were kept in a small, portal safe she could just toss into the car. After she had packed, she secured a sleeping Erin in her car seat and drove off. She wasn't sure how or where Jon would know to meet her but she knew he had his ways.

After an hour of driving to the next town, Toni got a room at a hotel and carried her daughter to the room. She wasn't sure why but she was tired as well and the two slept on one bed as they waited for Jon...

 

[BeachBum25]

Fortunately for the Deputy, he didn't do anything stupid. Jon took the Deputy's handcuffs and cuffed him to a railing in the back of the bank. Jon took a rag he found on the ground and stuffed it in the Deputy's mouth.

Jon walked calmly out of the alley and looked around. Then, he got in the Sheriff's Department car and drove off. He had gloves on to make sure that he did not leave any trace of who he was. Once out of town, he pulled the car off the road and torched it.

He had a pretty good idea of which direction Toni was going to go. He hitchhiked into the next town, and when he saw his rental car in the motel, he smiled. When he figured out which room she was in, he knocked softly. "Toni, it is me." When she answered the door, he said, "Get your daughter and your things and let's get on the road. I can drive and the two of you can sleep."

 

[AmberLSweet]

Toni opened the door quietly and motioned Jon inside after she had made sure Erin wouldn't fall by surrounding her with pillows.

She didn't say anything as she led him into the bathroom and shook her head, "No Jon, I'm not moving her again right. It's late for both of us, OK? Let's just stay as long as we can tonight and tomorrow, we'll head out."

When it came to her child, Toni wouldn't relent. She knew what was best and this, staying here tonight, was what was best.

"Please tell me you didn't kill Sam..."

 

[BeachBum25]

"No Toni, I didn't kill him and that is why we have to go NOW. I know you know what is best for your daughter, but moving tonight is what is best for all of us. I have a feeling he will want to come after me,,, and you."

He looked at her. He knew how stubborn she was, but he needed to convince her that it was in her best interest, and her daughter's best interest for them to get moving now. "We won't go far Toni. We just need to get away from here. This is too close. He will find us here. We will drive for a while. Then we will rest for a while and get a new car."

 

[AmberLSweet]

"You're not going to relent, are you?" She said, more of a statement than a question.

Luckily, this time Erin didn't wake as Toni put her back into the car and they drove off again. To her surprise, she had also fallen asleep and woke back up when she felt the car stop.

"Where are we?" she asked as she sat up and looked around. She was pretty familiar with the towns around here but this place didn't seem familiar. "What...Jon, did you just drive all night?"

She looked to the backseat and saw that Erin was still sleeping. As she turned to face Jon, he didn't seem tired, "When was the last time you rested?" She asked him, genuinely concerned for him and his well-being.

 

[BeachBum25]

Once he realized Toni was asleep, Jon drove all night. He intended to drive until Toni and her daughter woke up and then he would ditch the car and find another one at a cheap used car lot. He had to make sure that Barney Fife could not track him. Jon was pretty certain he had lost him by now, but Jon did not survive this long by taking chances.

"Yes, I drove all night. I am fine. I can go days without sleep. You know that about me." he didn't take his eyes off of the road. "I will drive until your daughter wakes up, then we will stop for something to eat and a new car. You can tell me where you want me to take you so you can start over.... again."

 

[AmberLSweet]

'Your daughter'

Toni didn't say anything as they drove in silence for a bit more. "Our daughter, Jon. She's our daughter."

It seemed like a sudden chill filled the car and Toni knew Jon hadn't visibly acknowledge her but for some reason, she felt his demeanor change. Hell, she was surprised he just didn't stop the car right then and there.

Where were the questions? The accusations? Anything?! But nothing came from him. No questions, nothing...

"And I don't know where we'll go. I hadn't planned that far. I have a few properties outside of the states. It's just a matter of getting there safely and in a calm manner so it won't upset Erin."

 

[BeachBum25]

His mind was racing. Jon was trying to take the time to process what Toni had just told him. Was she serious or was she just fucking with him because she was mad that he made her leave the hotel? He stared straight ahead as he drove.

Instead of stopping, Jon decided to go on to the next town. The time on the road would give him an opportunity to process what Toni said. There was a part of him that was angry. He was angry to find out that he had a daughter whose identity had not been revealed to him until now.

When he heard the girl stirring in the back, he looked over at Toni. "Should we stop for something to eat? I am sure the two of you are hungry, and I could use some coffee." He started to say that he had some questions for Toni, but that would have to wait until they were alone.

 

[AmberLSweet]

She had a feeling he was thinking about it all...and she was ready to answer his questions. There would be nothing to hide about all this. Sure, she messed up by not telling him but he was a little hard to find...

They entered a small cafe and took a seat at a booth after Toni returned from the ladies' room wtih Erin, where she had wiped the girl's face (and who luckily didn't put up a fuss like she usually did) and took a seat. When both sat down, Toni noticed Jon had already ordered her some coffee and Erin some juice.

As Toni prepared her coffee she gave Jon a quick look, "So, ask away."