Page 28 of Chaos has a Name (An FBI Romance/Thriller #66)

The Reservation

Council House

Ten Minutes Later

Finally, they got their asses on the road, and they were heading to meet with the men in charge of the reservation. The Chief, and the council likely already knew they were coming to see them.

Word traveled fast.

You couldn’t do jack shit on this reservation without the men being up someone’s ass.

It was their job, after all.

As they pulled up, Gryphen was in charge of keeping both men safe. So, he laid down the law so there was no ‘interpreting’ what he wanted done.

It was difficult to watch two people at once if they weren’t going to follow protocol.

And Ivan had plenty of protocol set into place for any of the Blackhawks. They just had to obey it.

“Both of you need to stick close, and not try to ditch me. After the stunt in Philadelphia a few days ago, Ivan isn’t taking chances. Are we clear?” he asked.

Callen was amused.

“For the record, we didn’t make a break for it. In fact, I haven’t tried to evade security once.”

Ethan agreed.

“Me either.”

Yeah, and Gryphen wanted it to stay that way. The last thing he needed was to fuck around and find out with one of their lives.

He wanted to reach his wedding date without any major calamities. He’d promised Ian he’d get to the altar, and he absolutely was.

“Well, good. Because your security were shot last, and that isn’t fun. So mind your manners, and I won’t have to tell Ivan you played jackwagon. The little guy gets bitchy.”

Oh, they were aware.

As they got out of the blacked-out ride, Gryphen was scanning the area.

So far, so good.

Their biggest concern was the media tailing them. It looked as if they were staying off the reservation.

As they headed toward the building, they passed by the structure that had been built in honor of Timothy’s life.

It was the center where the kids and people could go if they needed anything. The building stood there, a massive structure made out of wood logs, and indicative to the surroundings.

It looked like a massive log cabin, but it was actually a series of rooms and offices for whatever was needed here.

There was a food pantry inside, and there was a center for kids to do homework and use computers.

Hell!

There was a gym.

When Ethan didn’t move, his brother was worried. He wasn’t sure what was bothering him. Only, he knew his brother. He was coming off a brutal case.

“Bro, are you okay?” Callen asked. “If this is too much, I can do it alone.”

Ethan turned, and he hugged his brother tightly, catching him off guard.

“You did good, CJ. Granddad would be so proud of this. You gave him a legacy that wasn’t us running wild on the reservation. I’m grateful to have a brother who is this sweet and considerate. You have a big heart.”

That touched Callen.

Ethan’s opinion mattered to him.

Because he clearly needed it, Callen held his brother and ran his hands up and down his back.

“We did good,” he corrected. “We’re all part of this. The learning lab was Elizabeth’s idea, and the food and clothing pantry was a no-brainer. The community center is from all of us to the ancestors and people here.”

He broke the hug and held his brother’s hand in his.

The bottom line was that Ethan was emotional coming back here.

As of late, he seemed to always be that. His heart was opening up, and he felt so much for his family, and even for this.

After coming to grips with his feelings, and learning he could let them out, containing them had become difficult to do. Blackhawk wanted to be known for one very important thing.

His heart.

No longer was he going to hold back. Maybe that was because he’d learned he could trust his people. They’d never let him down.

“Can we go in?” Ethan asked. “I know we have to work, but I miss him. He fucked us good with his meddling, but it all worked out. Timothy has been on my mind a lot lately.”

Honestly, Callen didn’t mind at all. He often came back here just to check on it if he was in California.

“Yeah, he did, but Timothy’s middle name was meddling. Let’s go in and take a look. You didn’t see it all in action. It’s a nice feeling.”

Oh, he bet.

Blackhawk had learned that helping others was more important than helping himself. That lesson began years ago when Gene taught him to be a better human.

As they walked up the stairs, and opened the doors to the community center, they could hear kids and noise. While older kids were in school, younger ones were in the funded daycare. It was so their parents could have someone to watch the children as they worked.

Right inside the door, there was a picture of their grandfather on the one wall.

He was in his full regalia.

It was a painting done in bright, cheerful colors. It was a portrait of his face, and it loomed there, so everyone could see it.

Moving closer, they saw the metal plate under the photo.

Just reading it hit Ethan in the feels.

‘Shaman Timothy Blackhawk.’

Below his name was the date of his death. Because it felt so long ago, Callen touched it with his fingers and remembered the day like it was yesterday.

They’d been in a different town, and Wyler had called them to tell them to hurry home. Unfortunately for them, they’d missed his passing. They got to talk to him over the phone, but Timothy hadn’t passed with his ‘sons’ around him.

It still hurt them to know they didn’t get to be there for his death. That was Callen’s one regret. He’d been off chasing a woman, trying to save Desdemona.

It all worked out, but it still hurt. That was the tender spot in his heart.

“I miss the old man.”

They heard the voice approaching.

“Everyone misses him,” the elder said, heading their way.

When Gryphen moved to stand in front of them, Callen patted him on the shoulder.

“We’re good, Gryph. That’s Chief Tom Redbear. We were meeting with him at the council house in a bit. He’s found us early.”

The Marine relaxed.

As the man reached them, he hugged both men with a familiarity. It was clear he knew them both, and well—through his friendship with Timothy.

“It’s been a while, Blackhawk sons. Welcome back to your home.”

Callen had been here six months ago, but Ethan didn’t come often.

With reason.

He was still navigating it in his own time and terrified that the pull here wouldn’t let him leave. That had always been his biggest fear.

“Thank you for welcoming us,” Callen said. “We were on our way to meet with you and the rest of the council.”

He explained.

“They are off at their homes having lunch. I saw the blacked-out SUV, and I knew that few people would show up here with that kind of vehicle. I’m glad I got to see you standing here and thinking about Timothy. You’re now in your element.”

Yeah, well, they weren’t sure that was true. Coming home was always tumultuous.

For.

Sure.

They ran from here, and now, they were back with a vengeance. They came home to make it right.

It was time.

“This building is a blessing,” Tom Redbear said. “You help a lot of the people here. When the food runs out, it is magically replaced. Sometimes, I wonder if it is by the hand of The Great Spirit or mythical forest elves.”

Ethan was honest.

“It’s our wife. She has spies everywhere. When she hears there is no food, she makes sure it’s handled.”

Tom smiled.

“I hope I get to see her when she comes back. It’s always a pleasure. She has a very old soul, and I can see why Timothy loved her as much as he did.”

Oh, well, she was back.

Hopefully, he felt the same after she met with him.

Time would tell.

“We’ll make sure that happens,” Callen said. “We were just going to take a tour and take it in before we met with you. Would you like to join us, Chief?”

He patted both boys on their shoulders.

This was a time to remember and reflect on their pasts. That was best done without an audience.

“I will stay here and talk to my old friend,” he stated. “Timothy is missed. We hoped at some point, one of his sons would take over as Shaman. We’ve been without one for a long time.”

Callen laughed.

“Not it!” he said, making his brother laugh too.

“I dabble,” he admitted to Tom Redbear. “I’m not Timothy Blackhawk. That’s for damn sure.”

He stared at the man.

“You look like Timothy, and your heart is like Timothy’s. Maybe you are more him than you believe. You should trust your heart, Ethan. I know Timothy would.”

Yeah, that was difficult for Ethan.

At that point, he was still stirred up with what happened in Philadelphia, and he’d have to come to grips with the fact that he was born here as a Native.

“You were both born of our people. You are right where you need to be. I believe the ancestors when they talk. You should too. Go into the smoke and find your answers.”

Maybe.

All Ethan knew was that this place had always called to him. In his younger days with the FBI, he’d always been tempted to heed its call.

“Now, go take your tour. We’ll have lunch when you’re done. Will you join me?”

It was rude to say no, so they had no choice.

“We will, Chief. Thank you,” Callen said, kissing him on both cheeks in affection. “Give us a few to take it all in. Sometimes, we miss feeling him around. Sometimes, we miss that connection.”

Tom patted the man on the arm.

“That I understand. I’m proud that you both still keep some of the traditions of his life. He would be proud,” he admitted.

Then, with that, Tom Redbear walked away, heading back out to the council house.

When he was gone, Ethan touched the painting.

“What do you think he’d want me to do?” he asked, curiously.

Callen lifted a brow.

He wasn’t sure what Ethan was asking.

“About?”

He was to the point.

“That no one has replaced the Shaman here. They are waiting for someone to do it,” he admitted, and that someone was him.

Timothy had always wanted him to take over as Shaman.

He told him it was in his blood.

Only, for Callen, that was tough to answer.

Who could follow up that act?