Page 45 of Ruled By Their Desires

She cut in. “Director, I think it would be a good idea if Jackson is coming here for Sarah to stay a while, join our fighting teams alongside him. It would be beneficial to them both and ultimately to you.”

He looked pained as well as annoyed. “Agreed. It would. They can both return together.” Then he looked at her father. “Any word on catching one of the human traitors, they might have info on who the traitors are here?”

“We’ll have good news on that real soon.” He didn’t say anymore for obvious reasons.

“Excellent. I’ll be in touch.” He glanced up at her. “Thank you Moon. I have someone here who’d like to say hello and to thank you too.” The Director pressed something and from out of range of the vid camera they could hear a door open and movement, then a wheelchair was wheeled in slightly in front of the Directors desk. Kate. She looked like shit, still in a caste on her leg and arm but she was up and awake. She’d never seen Kate out of her work neck bun. She had so much blond hair, it was thick and long hanging down her left side to her waist covering up some of that plaster. It was beautiful, the contrast to the battered woman under it all, all the more stark.

“Hey Moon.” She waved a little with her good arm. To Moon’s surprise Hawk took a couple of steps forward. She saw Kate glanced at his movement but didn’t show any fear, then looked back at her and smiled. “You got me out with Marcus’ help. Thank you both. I thought I was dead.” Her smile turned pained. Someone said something off screen, and she shook her head before focusing back on her. She was covered in cuts and bruises, her face black and blue and heavily swollen.

“When you said it was probably a party, I gotta tell ya, that kind of party sucked. I’m never listening to you again.” Moon grinned at her. She smiled back. “I hear you’re not coming back, or might not but either way, I’m off the teams, my leg’s shattered, they did a jig on it a few times and it’s pinned. It will always be weak now.” Hawk took another step forward. Moon saw him clenching his hands. “But I’m not dead and can still beat Liam’s ass even in this wheelchair.” Moon burst out laughing. Kate kind of grinned back but grimaced at doing it. It was clear she was in a lot of pain.

“Female, you need to come here.” Hawk called out.

Kate flicked her damaged eyes to him. “And why would I do that Cyborg?”

“I can teach you to kill KC’s from that chair if you never get out of it again or if you do. Either way, you need more than this Liam and I’m it.” He stepped forward again. “We watched that vid of you fighting. Marcus downloaded it.” Hawks words were said kindly but you could see Kate swallow and she sat back a bit in her chair, steeling herself for whatever he was going to say. “You went out fighting, didn’t give them an inch, didn’t bow or break faced with odds you knew you would lose. And it was on your terms. You should be proud of that, but I can make you better.”

Kate shook her head slightly. “No one’s making me better Cyborg. My fighting days are over.”

“Is that your choice?” She shook her head slightly again. “Then come here and I’ll show you just how wrong they are.” Moon watched as Kate thought about it. Then gave a nod to him then turned back to her and smiled.

The screen cut off. And the room remained silent. Likely shocked at what they’d just seen.

“If everyone would give me and my daughter the room.” People got up and started to walk out. Sarah stormed off. Marcus got out of his seat slowly and her uncles left with him. She’d be talking with Hawk later. He was…. interested in Kate. She wasn’t letting him fuck with her. When the room was empty, she went over and closed the door before taking one of the seats opposite him.

“You didn’t have to agree.” Her father told her quietly.

She nodded. “I know that.”

“Do you like him?”

She shrugged. “More than most, he’s sound, a hard worker. Puts his people first, no heirs and graces, gets on with the job. Nice personality.”

“Can you see yourself with him?”

“You know I never saw myself with anyone.”

“Other than Marcus.”

“I was a child.”

“Who became a woman, avoided anything to do with him and eventually left so she wouldn’t have to keep seeing him or hearing about his women.”

“That was never going to happen.”

“Except when you came back from the silo mission it looked very much like it was.”

“Adrenalin. I was tired.”

“He wants you Moon. We’re not stupid, always known it was you and him and now he’s saying it too. It just took him a while to get his head around it.”

She shrugged. “This month’s flavour. He’ll change his mind.”

“You’re a grown assed woman Moon. I’m grateful you offered to speak with Jackson, but I don’t want you to live a half-life because of it. Jackson’s going to have to go back and when he does, he’s going to want to take you with him. I don’t want to lose my Cyborgs over this or you.”

“There are a lot of ifs between any of that happening.” She told him smiling.

He looked at her sideways. “You know what you’re doing?”

---