Page 42 of Trees Take the Long View

Oh shit, I was scaring him by being too distracted. "Sorry. Nothing bad, no. We just need to help someone. A kid."

"Oh. Okay. Well, why don't we stop at every gas station till we find them? Quick stops okay?"

"That's a good idea. Thanks, Dean!" I relaxed a little in my seat, and gave him a grateful look. It was so nice to have his help. With the intensity of the dream still telling me to be alert, I hadn't thought of it.

He gave me a reassuring smile. "No problem. I'm here for the good ideas—remember?" He winked. "Any clue who we need to be looking for?"

"He looked like a teenager. Homeless, I think. Needs help to get somewhere safe. I think he's gay, but I couldn't swear to it."

Dean nodded grimly. He was no stranger to the fact that gay, bi, and trans teens were more likely to be thrown onto the streets by their parents than almost any other young people. And it was a dangerous world out there for kids on the street. "We'll look till we find him, then."

It took most of the day, our attention on this new mission rather than reaching our next job or enjoying the journey.

I'm pleased to say it was worth it. We found him just past the New Jersey state line, and Dean knew just what to do, earning the kid's trust, finding him somewhere safe to go, and adding one more name to his list of people to follow up with and help. I didn't do much, not really. But I'd helped all the same.

We did have to take a flight in the end. Neither of us complained about the crowded space or the turbulence of that last-minute flight. Dean and I had done something important. He fell asleep against my shoulder: my troubleshooter, my trusting and trusted mate.

He might still have doubts sometimes—I knew he did; he couldn't always hide them—but he trusted me in the ways that mattered, more and more all the time.

#

At last, he managed to get some breathing room between assignments, and we headed back to base—what turned out to be a huge home and massive grounds owned by the married couple who headed the organization, Sahil Singh and his husband (a wolf) Grant Ralstead. We'd give some reports, take a few days of downtime in their spacious home, and then head out again.

Since there were a lot of trees on the property, creating a healthy-looking woodland, and it was a safe place to shift, I was really looking forward to exploring. I would have to meet Ralstead first, of course, and make sure I had his permission as a strange wolf on his land, but Dean said he was very nice, and quite welcoming, so I wasn't worried.

When we got there, I raised my face to the air and breathed deep, smelling all the healthy soil and clean air and plant life, so green and alive. It was early fall, and still hot: the shade of those whispering woods would be incredibly welcoming. I itched to shift and run right into it, but we had to be polite.

Dean touched my elbow lightly, to steer me the right way, and I turned to grin at him. "I like it here already. Can't wait to explore."

"You'll like the food, too. There's so many people through here lately, they hired some professional food preparers, and every meal is a delight. They also cook in, shall we say, large amounts for all the shifters."

I laughed again out of sheer happiness. "I hope we can stay for a while so you can unwind." He looked better already, less stress on his face, and a sweetness to his smile that work often drove away with distraction and stress.

He really did love his job, and I would never ask him to quit it. He did such important things, even if one would be hard pressed to put a single description to all that he actually did. A bit of everything, and wherever he could, he helped. Often unsung, more or less unknown, and yet very important.

I was glad he did it, and glad to help: but I would definitely be pressing for frequent breaks for his health and happiness.

As we got to the main entrance, I impulsively hefted him up so I could carry him over the threshold. His laugh was embarrassed but by no means displeased. "Hey. Put me down," he said, not meaning it at all. He put his arms around my neck and gave me a warmly intimate smile, his eyes dancing. He was such a pretty thing, he really was.

I gave him a quick kiss and carried him inside, both of us laughing for no reason but happiness.

He hopped out of my arms and took me by the hand. "Come on. Let me show you my room."

It seemed almost more like a big hotel or resort of some kind, the way people could just come and go and stay here. Still, it was exciting and I followed him quickly, wondering if I could dare scoop him up for a second threshold crossing when we got there. But I was all turned around by then, and we were through the door before I realized it was even the room.

"Here. Now shut the door and let's have some quality time." He plopped down on the bed and began undoing his button-down shirt, his eyes smoldering up at me.

"Ha ha. Okay. So this is where you stay when you're not on the road, huh?" I spared the necessary three-second glance around the room: tidy, amenities, nice bed, etc.

"Yep. Come here and let me show you how nice the bed is."

"Won't they...well...do we need to say hello first?" We'd basically barged in, grabbed a bedroom, and started to make ourselves pretty intimately at home in it. If there'd been some mix-up—

"Nope. They knew we were coming. Why do you think the room's all ready? Sahil won't interrupt my first day here with my mate!"

I hoped he was right, but really, I could only protest for so long, even halfheartedly, even for decorum's sake, even if someone was to burst in here any second demanding to know who we were and what we were doing. Well—we were going to be doing it.

"Damn, you're beautiful," he said, staring at me, lost in admiration. "I've never seen somebody as fucking gorgeous as you."